The Cottonbalers: More Than 200 Years of 7th Infantry History
The 7th Infantry Regiment is one of the oldest active units in the United States Army. Known as the “Cottonbalers,” the regiment has served for more than two centuries and fought in conflicts ranging from the War of 1812 to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Its nickname dates back to the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. On January 8, 1815, soldiers of the 7th Infantry fought under Major General Andrew Jackson as American forces turned back a much larger British assault. The defensive line was reinforced in part with bales of cotton, and the regiment’s connection to the battle eventually gave rise to the name “Cottonbalers.”
The name stuck, but it became more than a reference to one battle. Over time, it came to represent the regiment’s ability to hold its ground when the odds were against it.
From the Frontier to Mexico
After the War of 1812, the 7th Infantry spent years serving along the American frontier. Life in the regiment was not always defined by large battles. Much of its early service involved long marches, isolated posts, harsh weather, and the daily demands of protecting a rapidly expanding nation.
During the Mexican-American War, the Cottonbalers fought in several major campaigns. The regiment took part in operations that carried the U.S. Army from the Mexican coast toward Mexico City, adding new battle honors to a record that was already becoming well established.
The regiment later served during the Civil War and returned to duty on the western frontier. Each generation faced different conditions, but the expectations remained the same: stay ready, accomplish the mission, and take care of the soldiers beside you.
World War 2
The 7th Infantry entered the modern era as part of the 3rd Infantry Division. During World War II, the regiment fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany. Its soldiers took part in some of the toughest fighting of the European campaign, including the drive through Italy and the advance into southern France.
The regiment’s wartime service placed the Cottonbalers in difficult terrain against determined enemy forces. The fighting was costly, but the regiment continued moving forward, earning honors that remain part of its identity today.
Korea and the Cold War
The Cottonbalers returned to combat during the Korean War. Once again serving with the 3rd Infantry Division, the regiment fought through bitter cold, rugged mountains, and shifting front lines.
Korea tested soldiers in ways that were both physical and mental. Units often operated under extreme conditions with little room for error. The 7th Infantry’s performance strengthened its reputation as a dependable fighting regiment capable of carrying out difficult missions in difficult places.
During the Cold War, the regiment continued to train and serve as part of the Army’s effort to deter aggression and remain prepared for conflict around the world.
Vietnam
The 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry served in Vietnam with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade from 1966 to 1970. The Cottonbalers operated mainly around Saigon, Long Binh, and Bien Hoa, including combat during the Tet Offensive. The battalion earned campaign credit for 11 phases of the war and received the Valorous Unit Award for its actions in the Saigon–Long Binh area. Their mission included patrols, search-and-destroy operations, securing roads and installations, and denying Viet Cong forces access to the capital and nearby American bases.
The Cottonbalers in the Modern Army
In more recent years, soldiers carrying the 7th Infantry name have served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other overseas assignments. The weapons, equipment, and missions have changed considerably since the Battle of New Orleans, but the basic demands of infantry service have not.
Infantry soldiers are still expected to close with the enemy, hold difficult ground, operate under pressure, and rely on the men and women to their left and right. That shared experience connects today’s Cottonbalers with the soldiers who served in the regiment generations ago.
"Willing and Able"
The regiment’s motto, “Volens et Potens,” means “Willing and Able.” Few phrases better capture the history of the 7th Infantry.
The Cottonbalers have served from the fields outside New Orleans to the mountains of Korea and the battlefields of the modern era. Their history is not simply a list of campaigns and decorations. It is the story of ordinary soldiers who endured extraordinary circumstances and continued to do their duty.
More than 200 years after the regiment earned its famous nickname, the Cottonbalers’ legacy remains alive wherever soldiers of the 7th Infantry serve.
Willing and Able.
