7th Wisconsin Infantry
Posted to the Project on 11 Oct 07
The 7th Wisconsin Infantry was commanded at Gettysburg by Col. William W. Robinson (1819-1903), a farmer from (appropriately enough) Sparta. It was made up of men who came mainly from the counties of Columbia, Dane, Grant, Marquette, and Waushara and numbered just under 350 at Gettysburg. When Robinson fell wounded, Maj. Mark Finnicum (1823-1912) took command of the regiment.
Nothing need be said of the role of the 7th Wisconsin or the Iron Brigade at Gettysburg; the memory of the epic stand of the Brigade on July 1, 1863 will live on forever.
The monument to the 7th is located along Meredith Avenue just on the edge of “McPherson’s” or “Herbst’s” or “Reynold’s” Woods, near where C.S.A. General Heth fell wounded. It is made of red Montello granite, highly polished. The top of the monument features the Iron Brigade badge.
Montello granite is a native Wisconsin stone and the visitor can quickly come to associate monuments of this beautiful red color with the Badger state. This particular monument was dedicated on June 30, 1888.
7th Wisconsin Infantry
Members of the 1st Corps, 1st Division, 1st Brigade
Commanded by Col. William W. Robinson (1819-1903)
Engaged: 343; 21 killed, 105 wounded, 52 missing
Monument: Meredith Avenue, west McPherson’s Ridge
May 27th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Robinson was not wounded - at least to any effect at Gettysburg. Maj. Mark Finnicum took over the regiment when Robinson left to assume the command of the Iron Brigade after General Meredith, was injured when his horse fell and rolled over him severely injuring him. Robinson continued in temporary command of the Iron Brigade until May of 1864.