7th Infantry Regiment (United States)

7th Infantry Regiment
The distinctive unit insignia of the 7th Infantry Regiment.
Active	1812–present
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry regiment
Part of	3rd Infantry Division
Nickname(s)	"Cottonbalers"
Motto(s)	Volens et Potens (Willing and Able)
Engagements	War of 1812 Mexican War Indian Wars War with Spain American Civil War Philippine–American War World War I World War II Korean War Vietnam War Persian Gulf War Iraq War War in Afghanistan
Insignia
Coat of arms

The 7th Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army. In its 200-year history it has participated in 12 wars, been awarded 78 campaign streamers, and 14 unit decorations. The regiment has served in more campaigns than any other infantry unit in the United States Army.

It is known as "The Cottonbalers" from an incident that occurred during the Battle of New Orleans, while under the command of Andrew Jackson, when soldiers of the 7th Infantry Regiment held positions behind a breastwork of bales of cotton during the British attack.

The regiment's official lineage is as follows:

ANNEX

The 7th Infantry Regiment, was originally constituted on 11 January 1812 in the Regular Army as a company of the 8th Infantry. was reorganized in preparation for the conflict with Great Britain which came to be known as the War of 1812. Since that time it has remained on duty in one form or another, making it one of the five oldest continuously-serving regiments in the United States Army.

The regiment won 14 campaign streamers for actions during the Civil War.

The Seventh Infantry regiment fought at El Caney and San Juan Hill.

The regiment has been associated with the Third Infantry Division since that unit was established in World War I.

The unit is credited with participation in the Aisne Defensive, the battle of Château-Thierry, the defense of the Champagne-Marne region and the attacks at Aisne-Marne, Meuse-Argonne, and St. Mihiel.