Overview: The Regiment was encamped about three miles south of Nashville on the Franklin Turnpike, along with the Fourth Michigan Cavalry and the Fourth US Regulars. Together with the 7th Pennsylvania, they made up the Second Brigade of the Second Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland. Eighteen hundred men were equipped with new Spencer carbines, (which were the first repeating rifles used in the Civil War; they held seven metallic cartridges and the Confederates called them "infernal shot towers. They could be loaded on Sunday and shot all week.") improved sabers, and new horse equipment. They were being prepared for the Atlanta Campaign, and care was taken to mount and equip the regiment as completely as possible. As a result the 7th appeared at final inspection with every company full to the maximum, perfectly armed and equipped, and mounted on horses of uniform color. About 600 men from Pennsylvania were sent for duty to Columbia, Tennessee which had been named as the reserve post of the cavalry and mounted infantry of the Army of the Cumberland. Sherman's order to advance was issued April 2, 1864. On April 19 the rest of the Brigade was brought to Columbia. ...................................................... Camp Near Columbia Aprile the 27 /64 we have left the old Camp and ar Now in Camp Near Columbia but we ar going to leave friday next and i think we ar going to hunts ville Alabama the weather is very warm down here Now and every thing Seems like the middle of Sumer i have got but to leters from father Sins i bin here idont understand it William has not got eny and we dont See wat is the reason he dont rite i have rote Loid one and nearly one dozen but have only got to yet igot a leter from cosin Elias Rees and mahala last week iSent my picture to him ...................................................... General Kennard Garrard's Division numbered six thousand strong when, on April 30, 1864, they broke camp and set forth with Sherman toward Atlanta. Thus began one of the most severe campaigns ever endured. On May 15 the brigade was engaged at Rome, Georgia, at Dallas and Villa Rica Road on the 27th, where they lost 3 killed, 6 wounded and 1 taken prisoner; at Big Shanty on the 9th of June, with 1 killed 2 wounded, and 2 taken prisoner; at McAfee's Crossroads on the 11th, 2 killed, 4 prisoners; at Noonday Creek on the the 20th, with 1 killed, 10 wounded and 6 prisoners... ...................................................... June the 25/64 i hav bin in sevral fights a redy irote father for a hat William is well ihant had time to rite much for the last month for all the fiting we bin doing iam very tired and must rest wat ican ...................................................... ...at Kennesaw Mountain on the 27th;... ...................................................... Camp Near Rossville July the 14 /64 the weather is warm here and the harvest is over there is not much fighting going on at this Present time for the last fiew days but icant Say how long it will Stay So i hant Seen eny Rebs Sins the forth of July and then we did not fire on them i am giting to like Soldierin beter evry day only it is So wery hot now we burnt thre factorys at Rossville and ther was over 19 hundard hands working in them ithink that the harvest hands must be Scarce at home this Sumer the country here is very rough and woody and the water is very good i ahv asked for father to Send me a pocket hanchief igot a leter from mahala Rees and She Said they had the momps in ther family ...................................................... ...in a raid on the Atlanta and Augusta Railroad on the 18th of July; in a raid on Covington and the destruction of the railroad on the 21st; at Flat Rock on the 28th, losing two wounded; and on August 1 entered the trenches in front of Atlanta.