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7th Rhode Island Infantry

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this unit’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Muster In: Organized at Providence May to September, 1862.1
Muster Out: Mustered out June 9, 1865.2

Commander(s):
Brevet Colonel Percy Daniels
Commander Image

Captain William H. Joyce
Commander Image

Commander 3
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army3,4

Second Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army7,8

Third Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (but acting as Division Engineers from July 2-31, 1864)12,13

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Percy Daniels (July 31, 1864)14
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 51st NY was acting as Division Engineers from July 1-2, 1864, and the 7th Rhode Island was acting as Division Engineers from July 2-31, 1864.  Both regiments belonged to 1/2/IX/AotP and performed line duty as well as engineering duty as needed.15 ,16

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (but acting as Division Engineers)17,18,19,20

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Percy Daniels (August 31, 1864)21
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army22,23

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army24,25

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Percy Daniels (October 31, 1864)26
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Old members of the 4th Rhode Island mustered out October 15, 1864. Veterans and Recruits consolidated with 7th Rhode Island Infantry.27

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army28

  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 4th Rhode Island had three (3) companies at this time.29
  • Note: The 7th Rhode Island had seven (7) companies at this time.30
  • Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army31,32

    • Commander:
      • Captain William H. Joyce (January 31, 1865)33
      • Brevet Colonel Percy Daniels (February 28, 1865)34
    • Unit Strength:
    • Weapons:
    • Note: What was left of the 4th Rhode Island had been permanently attached to the 7th Rhode Island by this time, but was only officially stricken from the rolls with the February 28, 1865 order of battle in the Official Records.35
    • Note: The 4th Rhode Island had three (3) companies in January 1865.36
    • Note: The 7th Rhode Island had seven (7) companies in January 1865.37

    Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army38,39

    • Commander: Brevet Colonel Percy Daniels (March 31, 1865)40
    • Unit Strength:
    • Weapons:
    • Note: What was left of the 4th Rhode Island had been permanently attached to the 7th Rhode Island by this time, but was only officially stricken from the rolls with the February 28, 1865 order of battle in the Official Records.

    Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
    Siege of Petersburg Battles41:

    • Before Petersburg June 16-18.
    • Siege of Petersburg June 16. 1864, to April 2, 1865.
    • Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864.
    • Weldon Railroad August 18-21.
    • Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2.
    • Old members of the 4th Rhode Island mustered out October 15, 1864. Veterans and Recruits consolidated with 7th Rhode Island Infantry.
    • Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28.
    • Garrison of Fort Sedgwick November 1, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
    • Fort Stedman March 25, 1865.
    • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
    • Assault on and fail of Petersburg April 2.
    • Pursuit of Lee to Farmville April 3-9.

    Bibliography:

      Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

      Sources:

      1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
      2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
      3. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 229
      4. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 549
      5. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 7th Rhode Island Entry, Page 63; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
      6. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 7th Rhode Island Entry, Page 63; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
      7. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 229
      8. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 549
      9. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 549
      10. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 7th Rhode Island Entry, Page 63; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
      11. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 7th Rhode Island Entry, Page 63; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
      12. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), Page 260
      13. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 734
      14. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 734
      15. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 259260
      16. Hopkins, William P. The Seventh Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers in the Civil War 1862-1865. Providence, RI: Snow & Farnham, 1903, p. 195: “Saturday, (July) 2d. …The regiment is detached from its brigade and assigned to duty as engineers of the division.  During most of this month we worked on the fortifications, made gabions, dug trenches, and repaired roads.”
      17. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 617: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
      18.  A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
      19. Hopkins, William P. The Seventh Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers in the Civil War 1862-1865. Providence, RI: Snow & Farnham, 1903, pp. 211212: It is clear that although the 7th Rhode Island accompanied its division, it did not participate in the fighting at Globe Tavern in mid-August 1864, instead building breastworks in their role as acting engineers.
      20. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 127: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)”
      21. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 617: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
      22. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1301.
      23. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 142: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)”
      24. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 463: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864): The Official Records still show the 4th and 7th Rhode Island as separate units, but the 4th RI had mustered out on October 15, and everyone left joined the 7th Rhode Island.
      25. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 158: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864”: The Official Records still show the 4th and 7th Rhode Island as separate units, but the 4th RI had mustered out on October 15, and everyone left joined the 7th Rhode Island.
      26. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 463: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
      27. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
      28. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume
        • Commander: Brevet Colonel Percy Daniels (December 31, 1864)[74. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1121: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
        • The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1121: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
        • The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1121: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
        • The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 332: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
        • The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 745: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
        • The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 332: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
        • The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 745: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
        • The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 745: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
        • The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 332: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
        • The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 332: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
        • The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 573: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
        • The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 589: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865”
        • The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 573: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
        • A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
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