During the month of June, 1863, by authority of the Secretary of War, another regiment of cavalry was authorized to be raised in Indiana for three years, or during the war. Measures were at once taken to recruit the Seventh Cavalry, One Hundred and Nineteenth Regiment. The place of rendezvous was fixed at Indianapolis, and recuiting progressed briskly during the months of July and August, companies being mustered in as fast as their organizations were complete, and, on the first of October, 1863, the organization of twelve companies was perfected, with John P.C. Shanks (under whose superintendence the regiment was recruited and organizd) as Colonel, and Thomas M. Brown as Lieutenant Colonel. Under the orders of the War Department, a number of volunteers who had enlisted for six months, were permitted to change their term of service, and volunteer for three years in the Seventh Cavalry. The regiment numbered one thousand two hundred and thirteen men, and, for two months were stationed at Camp Shanks, Indianapolis, engaged in learning the various evolutions necessary to make cavalry effective in the field.

On the 6th of December the Seventh Cavalry left Indianapolis under orders to report at Louisville, and upon arriving there, was sent, by the way of Cairo and Columbus, to Union City Tennessee, where, upon its arrival, it formed a camp. On the 14th, a detachment, under Major Beck, moved towards Paris, Tennessee, by the way of Dresden and Como. Upon nearing Paris, the rebel cavalry were found in large force, under Colonel Faulkner, holding that town. There being no hope of success against the strong force of the enemy, the detachment countermarched for Union City. While returning, they were met by Colonel Shanks with a force of three hundred, and again moved for the enemy's position, but a peremptory order was soon received from the General commanding to return. The command accordingly proceeded to its old camp at Union City. The regiment at this time was assigned to the First Brigade, Sixth Division, 16th Army Corps. Brigadier General B. H. Grierson commanding the cavalry divison.

On the 24th of December the regiment moved with a force under command of General A. J. Smith into northern Mississippi, for the purpose of cutting off the retreat of the rebel General Forrest, from Jackson, Tennessee. During that long and dreadful march, the thermometer standing below zero, the soldierly bearing and conduct of the officers and men of the regiment, elicited the praise of the commanding general. The regiment took position in front, flank or rear, as danger threatened, was first in the fight and the last to cover the retreat. The enemy were encountered near Paris, Tennessee, and a brisk skirmish ensued. The enemy fell back, and our forces pursued. At Egypt Station, Mississippi, the rebel rear guard was overtaken, and a sharp fight took place, the regiment losing in killed and wounded. Near Okalona, Mississippi, on the 22d of February,1864, the enemy was encountered in force. A severe battle ensued, lasting all day. The Seventh Cavalry had eight hundred and thirteen of its members engaged in this battle. The overpowering forces of the enemy drove our forces from the field. When the rest of the division had fled, the Seventh Cavalry met and held in check the pursuing and exultant rebels, saved the train, and preventing an utter rout. Late in the evening it made a saber charge upon the enemy, saved a battery that had been abandoned by its support, and, being driven back was compelled to leave sixty of its brave men on the field. The loss of the regiment was eleven killed, thirty- six wounded, and thirty-seven missing, a total loss of eighty- four. The regiment after this disastrous battle, returned with its division to Memphis. Generals Smith and Grierson complimented the regiment for its efficiency and valor. It remained some time near Mamphis engaged in scouting in the vicinity and preparing for another campaign.

General Sherman was at this time moving towards Atlanta, and was dependent for the supply of his forces upon the railroad from Nashville to the point where he was operating, This railroad passed through a hostile country, and had to be guarded by our troops. A cavalry force of the enemy, in northern Mississippi, under Forrest, was waiting to destroy Sherman's line of communications beyond the possibility of further use during that campaign, so soon as Sherman had advanced far enough into the mountains of Georgia to make a retreat disastrous. To guard against this danger, Sherman left a sufficient force in West Tennesse to operate against Forrest. General Sturges was directed to take command of this force and move upon Forrest.

Upon reaching Guntown, Mississippi, on the 10th of June, 1864, the enemy's cavalry were met in large force. A desperate, fight ensued, and our forces wore badly beaten, and driven back in utter rout to Memphis. The Seventh Cavalry took part in this battle, losing eight killed, fifteen wounded and seventeen missing, and notwithstanding the battle resulted disastrously, the regiment was complimented by General Grierson, commanding cavalry division. for its, gallantry. The General said: Your General congratulates you upon your noble conduct during the late expedition. Fighting against overwhelming numbers, Under adverse circumstances, your prompt obedience to oirders and unflinching courage, commanding the admiration of all, made even defeat almost a victory. For hours, on foot, you repulsed the charges of the enemy's infantry, and again in the saddle, you met his cavalry and turned his assaults into confusion. Your heroic perseverance saved hundreds of your fellow soldiers from capture. You have been faithful to your honorable reputation, and have fully justified the confidence and merited the high esteem of your commander."

After this battle the regiment remained near Memphis some time, engaged in protecting the railroad, and doing guard duty. On the 18th of August a detachment of the regiment was engaged in a fight with the enemy at La Mavoo, Mississippi. On the 4th of October seven men of company "F" were killed by guerillas near Memphis.

In November, 1864, the regiment left Memphis, crossed into Arkansas, and, with Generel Mower's division of the Sixteenth Corps, marched through Arkansas, in pursuit of the rebel General Price, then invading Missouri. The pursuit was continued through south-east Missouri as far as Cape- Girardeau. At this place the regiment embarked on steamers, moved up the Mississippi river to St. Louis, and thence up the Missouri river, landing in the interior of that State. The pursuit was resumed, the Seventh Cavalry marching by land, until the western border of Missouri was reached, when further pursuit was abandoned and the regiment returned by the way of St. Louis, to Memphis.

On the 21st of December, the Seventh Cavalry moved from Memphis with a cavalry expedition under Generel Grierson. On the 28th Forrest's dismounted camp at Vernon, Mississippi, was surprised and captured, and a large quanity of rebel stores destroyed, including sixteen railroad cars, loaded with pontoons for Hood's army, and four thousand new English carbines. On the 28th the enemy was attacked at Egypt Station, his forces captured or dispersed, and a train of fourteen cars destroyed. General Grierson continued on his raid through Mississippi, inflicting great damage on the enemy, and reached Vicksburg January 5th, 1865. The Seventh CAvalry, meanwhile, after the fight at Egypt Station, returned to Memphis.

The regiment remained near Memphis actively engaged in scouting and doing provost duty along the Memphis and Charleston railroad, until June, 1865, when it proceeded to Alexandria, Louisiana. On the 21st of July the regiment was consolidated into six companies and supernumerary officers mustered out. From Alexandria the regiment proceeded to Hempstead, Texas. On the 10th of October, Colonel Shanks was mustered out on account of disability, and Lieutenant Colonel Thomas M. Brown appointed Colonel. The regiment was at Hempstead, Texas at the time of preparing this sketch, (December, 1865,) and was the only remaining Indiana cavalry regiment, in service at that date. In the spring of 1865 a number of its members, while returning from rebel prisons, were lost on the steamer Sultana. The regiment has seen hard service, and proved itself an effcient organization.