History of the Cottonbalers

History of the Seventh Infantry Regiment

The rich heritage of the 7th Infantry Regiment spans over 190 years and 12 wars with 76 campaign streamers earned and 14 unit decorations received. The Regiment has served in more campaigns than any other Infantry unit in the United States Army. The Regiment was originally constituted on January 11, 1812 in the Regular Army as the 8th Infantry and was organized in 1812 in Tennessee, Georgia, and the adjacent territories. Their first station was Ft. Hawkins (Macon), Georgia.

Its first encounter against foreign troops took place in the War of 1812 where the Regiment saw action in Canada, Florida and Louisiana. It was the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, while as a member of Major General Andrew Jackson's command, that the Regiment was dubbed the “COTTONBALERS.” During that battle the Regiment successfully held their position against the British forces from behind a breastwork of cotton bales. The nickname “Cottonbalers” was proudly accepted by the Regiment and a cotton bale was incorporated into the Regimental Coat of Arms and to the Distinctive Unit Insignia.

After the war, the 8th Infantry Regiment was consolidated in May-October 1815 with the 24th Infantry (constituted on 26 June 1812) and the 39th Infantry (on constituted January 29,1813) to form the 7th Infantry. The unit was redesignated on August 21, 1815 as the 7th Regiment of United States Infantry.

Subsequent to the War of 1812 the 7th Infantry served in Florida and on the Arkansas frontier. Thereafter, it saw action in the Mexican War in such famous battles as the battle at Monterey, Cerro Gordo, and Vera Cruz. Following the Mexican War, the Cottonbalers were busy with such frontier tasks as building forts and roads, and protecting settlers. Between 1815 and 1846 the 7th Infantry participated in several campaigns climaxed by the Florida War against the Seminole Indians.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, the Cottonbalers went into action, and by 1865...