7th Cavalry Regiment (United States) - American Indian Wars

American Indian Wars

The regiment was constituted on July 28, 1866 in the regular army as the 7th Cavalry. It was organized on September 21, 1866 at Fort Riley, Kansas as part of an expansion of the regular army following the demobilization of the wartime volunteer and draft forces. From 1866 through 1871, the regiment was posted to Fort Riley and fought in the American Indian Wars.

Its most notorious action of the American Indian Wars was at the Battle of the Washita (also known as the Washita Massacre) in 1868, in which the regiment sustained 21 losses, while inflicting more that 150 deaths on a Cheyenne encampment composed largely of elderly men, as well as women and children.

Typical of post-Civil War cavalry regiments, the Seventh was organized as a twelve-company regiment without formal battalion organization. However, battalions—renamed "squadrons" in 1883—did exist. Companies A–D were assigned to 1st Battalion; Companies E–H were assigned to 2nd Battalion; and Companies I–M (no company J in Regiment) were assigned to 3rd Battalion. Throughout this period, the cavalryman was armed with Colt Single Action Army .45 caliber revolvers and single-shot Springfield carbines, caliber .45–55 until 1892. He used one of the many variants of the McClellan saddle. Sabres were issued but not carried on campaign. The Seventh Cavalry, like the other U.S. Army regiments of the time had a band, which performed mounted as well as on foot, and seated for concerts. Initially established with the support of Major Alfred Gibbs, the 7th's band adopted "Garryowen" as their favorite tune and thus gave the Seventh their nickname among the rest of the Army. The troopers in the Wild West didn't only fight Indians: on July 17, 1870 in Hays, Kansas, a shoot-out between Sheriff Wild Bill Hickok and two troopers resulted in one soldier dying of his wounds and the other wounded.

From 1871 through 1873, 7th Cavalry companies participated in constabulary duties in the deep South in support of the Reconstruction Act, and, for half the regiment, again in 1874–1876. In 1873 the 7th Cavalry moved its garrison post to Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory. From here, the regiment carried out the historic reconnaissance of the Black Hills in 1874, making the discovery of gold in the Black Hills public and starting a gold rush that precipitated the Great Sioux War of 1876–77. Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer was killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876 with 211 men of the 7th Cavalry. Although the Seventh is best known for its famous "last stand" made at the Little Bighorn, the Regiment also participated in lesser known battles, such as the capture of Chief Joseph's Nez Perce at the Battle of Bear Paw in 1877. The regiment committed the Wounded Knee Massacre on December 29, 1890, signaling the end of the American Indian Wars.

A total of 45 men earned the Medal of Honor while serving with the 7th Cavalry during the American Indian Wars: 24 for actions during the Battle of the Little Bighorn, two during the Battle of Bear Paw, 17 for being involved in the Wounded Knee Massacre or an engagement at White Clay Creek the next day, and two during other actions against the Sioux in December 1890.