HISTORY OF 1HE SEVENTH j^UJTny^TmTMa 1HF CITI L ’VAR -(From Official Sources)
After a long and tedious march of 1200 miles over an uninteresting and
monotonous country, the regiment arrived at Camp Floyd, Utah, in September,
1858♦ Here it remained until April, 1860, ^ien it took station in New Mexico,
arriving in Santa Fe in August, from which point it was sent to various posts
in the territory.
In 1861, war having commenced between the North and 'the South, the 7th
Infantry was ordered to concentrate at Fort Fillmore, New Mexico, with a view
of change of station to the States. Major Isaac hynde was then in command. In
July, H.^. and Companies A/B.lhU.C.I and 1C had assembled at Fort * jOillmore
and were awaiting the arrival cf Companies C.F. And li from Forts Craig, New
Mexico and Buchanan, Aricona*
At the same time, the Confederates vere concentrating at Fort Bliss, Tex
as# On the night of the 24th 6 July, when all Hie garrison were sleeping peace
fully, with no more than the customary number of sentinels and no outposts, a
body of about 250 Texas trcops commanded by laeut. Col. Baylor, C.o.A., were
quietly encamped within six hundred yards of the post, intending to surprise
it at daybreak, kill or capture the officers in their quarters and then take
the men prisoners in their barracks. Fortunately for the command, one of the
Confederate pickets — an ol l discharged soldier — deserted from his post,
came in and alarmed the garrison. Ihe Texans drew off to the town of iiesilla,
about two miles from the prst.
At about * o CiCGiC p.m., WilS a liOJ.uum ui wysuyoiucD
B, D,E,G,I and K, 7th Infantry, axil two companies of the Mounted Kifles were
sent call for the ouroose of marching into Mesilla. , Biere w<5XQ J?wrOTP4®c®§_vgf.:,,
artillery with the ccvtianu. and the town was elieXXed. ihe attack, like many in
the early part of the was,was a failure, not having been pushed sufficiently.
Night coming on, the command was withdrawn, returning to die post aoout 10;00
p.m., having lost three men killed and twelve wounded.
- 2he next day, Major Lyrde ordered the post abandoned and the public pro
psty destroyed, and at 1=00 a.in» on the morning of the 27th of July took up
the line of march for Fort Stanton. 3y daylight the command 'ms eight or ten mxi
miles on the road to San Augustine Springs, ihe Co ofederates pursued as soon
as possible* Ihey had about 300 men and Jajor uynde about 500* Notwithstanding
his superiority of numbers, Major Lynda appears to have become panic stricken
and completely lost his courage* In spite of die pleadings and protests of his
officers, he commenced negotiations for surrendering hi3 command, which was
accompli shed,without firing a shot,in a very short time* Before the surrender,
the colors orf the regiment were cut from the staffs, torn to pieces and dis
tributed to those who had fought under then in years gone by.
Ihe surrendered companies were paroled , arrived in Jefferson Barracks m
November and in December they were sent to stations on the northern lakes. A
short time after the event, President Lincoln suixoarily dismissed idajor Lynde
from the Army for his conduct in this affair*
Having escaped the unfortunate fate of the rest of the regiment, Companies
C.F.and H. concentrated at Port Cn5,g. On the 6" 3t, of Peb i’ll ary, 1862, the se
vere battle of VALVUIOE, Hew iiexico, ■'fas fought, in which the three companies
participated. Company F was dominated and both othej s lest bbavily. Captain
Bascorn, contaanding Co. Cf vaa killed. tJic tkras coi-: aiiea lost one officer,
two sergeants and sixteen private?.;, killed; tiiree sergeants, two corporals and
thirty-four privates woundsd, ;n:l four taken priJohur; aggregate loss, 62.
September 30, 1862, T-k... -surrendered companies were released from parole,
and in October joined th-: vt:g*r w division (l6y\ -■/ Kagulars) in the Army of
the Potomac. On December Xlb62, the bloody battle of PHEDERICKSBURC was
fought. Companies A?3fD,Fsl} ar.d I fought in this rattle and displayed great
bravery, arriving at about F:G yards from the f?.uius ikone wall behind which
the Confederates were posted on Ji&rye’s Heights, die troops held on for twelve
long hours but were finally withdrawn under cover of darkness.