The 7th Delaware Infantry Regiment was organized at Wilmington, Delaware for 30 days emergency service on 12 July 1864, in response to Confederate cavalry commander Jubal Early's raid into Maryland and the Union defeat at the Battle of Monocacy, to guard the approaches to Wilmington. Recruiting for the regiment began on 11 July, when Delaware Governor William Cannon issued a proclamation calling for a thirty day regiment to protect the railroads at the request of Wallace. 300 volunteers were recruited from southern Delaware by Provost Marshal Edwin Wilmer who made impassioned speeches from a special train, urging able-bodied men to leave their work and return to Wilmington aboard the train.