The answer to your question depends on the time. Many men have commanded the 7th. George S. Patton in WW2 commanded the 7th and George Armstrong Custer commanded the 7th before Little Big Horn.
It was Captain Thomas Henry French of Company "M" of the Seventh Cavalry.
In the US, prior to 1942, the US Cavalry was a mounted arm (horse units). It's missions were to exploit gaps made in enemy lines, conduct screening/security, and reconnaissance missions. The last US Horse Cavalry unit to fight from horse back was the US 26th Cavalry, which attacked Japanese light tanks in the Philippines during WWII in 1942. Congress officially de-activated (retired) the US Cavalry (Horse) in 1926. Post 1942, armor (tanks) have replaced the horse cavalry.
The US Cavalry.
Black Kettle was a Cheyenne Peace Chief who made many efforts to negotiate a state of calm between the US Army and the hot heads among his own people. He survived the Sand Creek Massacre only to die in the Massacre at the winter camp on the Washita River on 27 November 1868 at the hands of Custer's Seventh Cavalry.
The US 26th Cavalry (Horse) fought the LAST "Horse Cavalry Action" (against Japanese tanks) in the Philippines in 1942. Congress no longer authorized the US Cavalry (Horse) at the end of '42.
The 7th Cav was a grunt unit (Airmobile Infantry, a fancy name for helicopter transported infantrymen). There were many Cavalry outfits in the Vietnam War: (Not full Regiments; the only full regiment was the 11th ACR), just to name a few: 1. 1st Cavalry Regiment 2. 4th Cavalry Regiment 3. 5th Cavalry Regiment 4. 8th Cavalry Regiment 5. 9th Cavalry Regiment 6. 10th Cavalry Regiment 7. 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (11th ACR) 8. 12th Cavalry Regiment 9. 17th Cavalry Regiment
The cast of The Massacre of the Fourth Cavalry - 1912 includes: Charles Bartlett as Lt. Davis William Bertram as Mangus Virginia Chester as Mrs. Davis Mona Darkfeather as Huera Chief Harvey as Chief Ketena Artie Ortego as Talchilsa Chief Phillipi as Chief Naitche Roy Watson as 2nd Lt. Clark
I believe under 35,000. 7th cavalry carried carbines, not rifles
cavalry
1830's
1936
The 7th Cavalry