The 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment was raised at Madison, Wisconsin, and was mustered into Federal service on September 2, 1861. It was initially mustered with 973 men and later recruited an additional 369 men, for a total of 1,342 men. The regiment suffered 10 officers and 271 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 143 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 424 fatalities (31.5% casualties).

The 7th spent most of the war as members of the Iron Brigade and saw severe fighting in the 1862 Northern Virginia Campaign, fighting at Brauner's Farm during the early part of the Second Battle of Bull Run (II Manassas). During the subsequent Maryland Campaign, they attacked Turner's Gap in the Battle of South Mountain, and then suffered considerable casualties battling Hood's Texas Brigade in the D. R. Miller cornfield at Antietam.

During the first day af the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, the 7th pushed part of James J. Archer's Confederate Brigade off of McPherson's Ridge, and then stubbornly defended the heights later in the day before withdrawing to Seminary Ridge. When I Corps retreated to Cemetary Ridge, the Iron Brigade with the 7th Wisconsin were sent over to nearby Culp's Hill, where they entrenched. They saw comparatively little action for the rest of the battle.

In February 1864, Joseph A. Janes enlisted in the 7th Wisconsin and fought in the Overland Campaign (otherwise called the Wilderness Campaign), the Siege of Petersburg, the Battle of Weldon Railroad and the Battle of Five Forks, all occurring between May 4, 1864 and April 1, 1865. As a result of the defeat at Five Forks, General Robert E. Lee reconsidered his position and surrendered on April 9, 1865.

The regiment participated in the Grand Review of the Armies on May 23, 1865, and then mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, on July 2, 1865.

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Joseph A Janes