The Legacy of the Cottonbalers: 200 Years of ‘Damn Fine Soldiers’

The 7th Infantry “Cottonbalers” Regiment has been fighting America’s battles for more than two centuries. Its story began in 1815 at the Battle of New Orleans, when American soldiers took cover behind cotton bales and repelled the British advance. From that day on, they carried a nickname and a legacy that endures through every generation of warfighters.

When I joined the 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, I inherited not just a unit, but a history. The Cottonbalers fought in every major conflict since 1798, including the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf. Each era added its own chapter, but the spirit remained the same: courage, resilience, and excellence in the face of adversity.

Our motto is “Willing and Able”. It is more than words on a crest. It defines the Soldiers who wear it. Whether they fought with muskets, rifles, or Bradleys, every Cottonbaler carried the same burden: to accomplish the mission, to care for their comrades, and to uphold the honor of the regiment.

When we crossed into Iraq in 2003, I often thought of those who came before us. I imagined the soldiers at New Orleans holding their ground behind cotton bales, the Doughboys slogging through the trenches of France, the GIs storming the beaches all over Europe and North Africa. Their courage became our compass. Their history became our fuel.

Two hundred years later, the Cottonbaler legacy still burns bright because of the character of its Soldiers. Countless medals and campaign streamers bear testimony. They were, and are, “damn fine soldiers.” The name means something. It’s a promise passed down through generations: to lead from the front, fight with honor, and never quit.

That’s the story of the Cottonbalers. It’s not just history, it’s heritage. And it continues today in every Soldier who stands ready to serve, anywhere, anytime, in the proud shadow of those who came before.