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9th Illinois Cavalry
in the American Civil War
| Regimental History |
| Ninth Illinois Cavalry. — Cols., Albert G. Brackett,
Joseph W. Harper; Lieut. -Cols., Solomon A. Paddock, Hiram F. Sickles,
Hector J. Humphrey, Henry B. Burgh, Joseph W. Harper, Anthony R. Mock;
Majs., Rosell M. Hough, Hiram F. Sickles, Hector J. Humphrey, William J.
Wallis, Henry B. Burgh, Ira R. Gifford, Linas D. Bishop, Anthony R.
Mock, William McManis, Leander L. Shattuck, Atherton Clark. This
regiment was organized at Camp Douglas, near Chicago, in the autumn of
1861, and was fully mustered into the U. S. service by Nov. 30, for a
term of three years. On Feb. 16, 1862, it started from Chicago and
proceeded by rail to Benton barracks, near St. Louis, Mo., and thence to
Pilot Knob. On May 28 five companies had a skirmish with the
Confederates at Cache River bridge, Ark., routing them with considerable
loss. Three other companies on the same day had a skirmish on the
Augusta road, in which 2 Confederate soldiers were captured, 1 of whom
was severely wounded. In June a party of Confederates attempted to
capture a valuable train near the Waddell farm, 5 miles from Jacksonport,
but were utterly defeated and driven off by two companies of Missouri
cavalry and four companies of the 9th, with a loss of 28 killed, wounded
and missing. The regiment's loss was 13 wounded and missing. At the
fight at LaGrange, Ark., two companies of the regiment, with soldiers of
other regiments and 2 howitzers, behaved very gallantly against a
considerable force of the enemy, who lost over 50 men, while the Federal
loss was inconsiderable. During the night of Oct. 11 a part of the
regiment captured a Confederate picket of 12 men near Helena. The
regiment was engaged with the enemy at Coldwater, Miss., in July, 1863,
at Grenada in August, and then moved to LaGrange, Tenn. It made an
attack upon the enemy at Salem, Miss., in October and drove him from his
position. It met the enemy at Wyatt five days later where the
Confederates fell back after fighting all day and retreated during the
night. In November it was again engaged with the enemy at Saulsbury,
Tenn., and in December the division was engaged at Moscow. In Jan.,
1864, the regiment was in the 2nd brigade, Grierson's division, 16th
corps, Army of the Tennessee, and at Collierville a detachment had a
brisk skirmish with a portion of Forrest's command, which had made an
attack upon the Memphis & Charleston railroad, several of the enemy
being killed and wounded. On March 16 the regiment was mustered as a
veteran organization and the following day marched to Memphis, whence
the men returned to Illinois on the usual furlough granted to veterans.
Returning to the field the regiment formed a portion of the rear-guard
on the retreat from Guntown, Miss., losing 5 killed, 23 wounded and 12
captured out of 160 men. In a severe cavalry fight at Old Town creek in
July the regiment acquitted itself with credit and afterwards returned
to Memphis. In August it marched by the way of Holly Springs to
Abbeville, Miss., where it had a skirmish with the enemy, and on the
11th had another brush at Oxford. A severe fight took place at Hurricane
creek, the regiment taking an honorable share, losing 4 killed and
several wounded. The division to which the regiment was attached did
some hard fighting at Shoal creek, Ala., in November. For several days
after this the regiment skirmished with the enemy's advance and was
hotly engaged at Campbellville, Tenn. It took part in the fierce battle
at Franklin and did what was in its power toward crippling the
Confederate army under Gen. Hood. At the great battle of Nashville it
belonged to the 2nd brigade, 5th division, cavalry corps, and sustained
its well earned reputation for valor. It participated in a well directed
charge upon a redoubt, which was carried, and at the same time captured
4 pieces of artillery and 150 prisoners, sharing in the final rout of
the enemy. Soon the army of Gen. Hood was in full retreat and the
regiment participated in the chase which resulted in its destruction,
skirmishing with portions of it at Brentwood, on the Franklin pike, near
Franklin, at Rutherford creek and Ross' farm. The regiment was mustered
out at Selma, Ala., Oct. 31, 1865, and ordered to Springfield, Ill.,
where the men received final payment and discharge. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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