The 7th Maine was organized at
Augusta, Maine, and mustered into Federal service for a three-year enlistment on August 21, 1861. After organization and training, the regiment left the state for
Baltimore, Maryland, on August 23. Subsequently, it was attached to Dix's Division and assigned to duty in the city until October 25, 1861. The 7th was then assigned to Davidson's Brigade, W. F. Smith's Division,
Army of the Potomac, until March 1862. It moved to Washington, D.C., and was on duty at Georgetown Heights until November 7. From there, the 7th camped at
Lewinsville, Virginia, until March 1862. It was then part of the brigade's advance on
Manassas, Virginia, from March 10–15. The regiment was then assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division,
4th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to May 1862. It subsequently returned to
Alexandria, Virginia, and thence moved to
Fort Monroe on March 23–24. It took part in the brigade's reconnaissance to Watt's Creek from March 27–31. The 7th was reassigned to the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division,
6th Army Corps. In the spring and early summer of 1862, the regiment participated in Maj. Gen.
George B. McClellan's
Peninsula Campaign. Specific engagements included the following: •
Siege of Yorktown April 5 – May 4 •
Battle of Williamsburg May 5 • Advance up the Peninsula May 9–13 • At White House, Virginia, until May 19 •
Battle of Mechanicsville May 23–24. •
Seven Days Battles before Richmond June 25 – July 1 •
Battle of Garnett's & Golding's Farm June 27–28 •
Battle of Savage's Station June 29 •
Battle of White Oak Swamp and
Battle of Glendale June 30 •
Battle of Malvern Hill July 1 With the end of the unsuccessful campaign, the 7th remained stationary at Harrison's Landing until August 15, when it moved to Fort Monroe. Subsequently, it was stationed at
Centreville, Virginia, until August 31. Although it did not directly participate in the
Second Battle of Manassas, the 7th assisted in checking Pope's rout at Bull Run on August 30 and covered the army's retreat to
Fairfax Court House on September 1. The 7th then took part in McClellan's
Maryland Campaign that September and October, seeing action in the
Battle of Crampton's Gap on South Mountain on September 14. It also was present for the
Battle of Antietam on September 17. Their ranks thinned by the almost continuous campaigning, the 7th Maine was ordered home to recruit fresh troops in October. It remained in
Portland, Maine, until January 21, 1863, when it was transported back to
Northern Virginia. The 7th joined its brigade and division at
White Oak Church on January 25. It then took part in the operations at Franklin's Crossing from April 29-May 2 during the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was part of the successful attack on Maryes Heights during the
Second Battle of Fredericksburg on May 3 and the fight at
Salem Church on May 3–4. The 7th participated in the great
Battle of Gettysburg on July 2–4, and engaged the Confederates several times during their subsequent retreat to Virginia (actions were at Fairfield July 5 and near
Funkstown, Maryland, on July 10–13). During the autumn, the regiment was involved in the
Bristoe Campaign from October 9–22 and the
Second Battle of Rappahannock Station on November 7. It then participated in the
Mine Run Campaign from November 26-December 2. After spending the winter stationary in its camp in Virginia, the 7th was part of
Ulysses S. Grant's
Overland Campaign from the
Rapidan River to the
James River between May 3-June 15, 1864. it fought in the
Battle of the Wilderness May 5–7;
Spotsylvania May 8–12 (including attacking the "Bloody Angle" on May 12). It was then part of the action along the North Anna River May 23–26 and was on the Federal line along the Pamunkey from May 26–28. Other actions included Totopotomoy May 28–31, Cold Harbor June 1–12, and the
Siege of Petersburg from June 17-July 9, as well as the
Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road on June 22–23. The Maine boys then moved to Washington, D.C., July 9–11 and helped repulse
Jubal A. Early's attack on Washington on July 11–12. They were then a part of
Philip H. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign from August 7–21. The regiment was mustered out at
Charlestown, Virginia, on August 21, 1864. The veterans whose enlistments had not yet expired and the recent recruits were transferred to the
1st Maine Veteran Infantry. Those men whose term was over returned home to Maine via train. ==Total strength and casualties==