Missouri’s contribution to the United States war effort during the Civil War is often thought of in terms of the many German immigrants that answered their adopted country’s call, such as the veteran 15th Missouri Vol. Infantry, whose battle honors record its service.

However, one immigrant regiment, the 7th Missouri Volunteer Infantry, boasted many sons of Ireland in its ranks. Organized as a three year regiment in June 1861, the “Irish Seventh” would see action in some of the costliest battles of the Trans-Mississippi and Western theaters.

The “Irish Seventh” was raised with the enthusiastic support of the commander of the Department of the West, Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon, who wished to draw support from the Irish community of St. Louis for the Union cause.

Of its ten companies, seven were raised in St. Louis County, with additional companies organized in Lawrence and Phelps counties. Company I was unique; it joined the regiment from Cook County, Illinois.

Its original colonel was Virginian John D. Stevenson.

Stevenson would leave the regiment in March 1862, later commanding the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division of XII Corps, which he would lead with some distinction (and controversy) during the Vicksburg Campaign.

After initial service in western Missouri, the Irish Seventh joined the Army of the Tennessee in the Spring of 1862, including service in the Vicksburg, Chattanooga, and Atlanta campaigns.

In December 1864, the regiment would be consolidated with the 11th Missouri.

A “battalion” of veteran volunteers would join its Irish sister regiment, the 30th Missouri Vol. Infantry, the “Shamrock Regiment,” forming the “Missouri Irish Brigade.”

Veterans of the 7th serving in both the 11th and 30th regiment would finish the war together at Mobile, AL.

Though the Irish Seventh took part in several hard-fought battles during its three years of existence, it was the assault on the Great Redoubt or “Black Fort” at Vicksburg on June 22, 1863 that was perhaps its deadliest engagement.

Leading John D. Stevenson’s 3rd Brigade of Gen. John Logan’s 3rd Division in the assault, the 7th was conspicuous for both its emerald green colors and the disciplined spirit of its men. Timothy B. Smith records that the 7th’s colors became an aiming point for the Rebels.

Smith also quotes the 7th’s commander that day, Capt. Robert Buchannan, as claiming that the regiment “lost seven color bearers before we reached the ditch” of the Great Redoubt.

The dogged determination of the 7th would see its colors stuck in the redoubt’s parapet.

Though the attack, like all the others that day, would ultimately fail to break the Rebel defenses, the efforts of the 7th and her comrades in Stevenson’s Brigade would make more progress than most and they suffered greatly for it.