9th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment facts for kids

The 9th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was a group of foot soldiers, called an infantry regiment, who fought for the Union Army during the American Civil War. They were known for their bravery and for fighting in some very important battles.

How the 9th Illinois Regiment Started

After the first shots of the American Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter, President Abraham Lincoln asked for volunteers to join the army. He needed 75,000 people to serve for three months. The state of Illinois quickly called for its own units to form.

Many companies, which are smaller groups of soldiers, came together. Six companies were from St. Clair County, Illinois, three from Madison County, Illinois, and one from Montgomery County, Illinois. All ten companies met in Springfield, Illinois, on April 23, 1861. There, they officially became the 9th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry.

There were rumors that the Confederate army might try to invade at Cairo, Illinois. So, the 9th Infantry was ordered to go there and protect the area. They arrived and set up their camp on May 1, 1861.

The Regiment's Journey and Battles

For the first few months, the soldiers guarded the Mississippi River near Cairo. Their first three-month service period ended in July. Most of the men decided to stay and signed up again for three more years.

In September 1861, the regiment moved to Paducah, Kentucky. They spent time there practicing their drills and getting ready for battle.

Fighting at Fort Donelson

On February 15, 1862, the 9th Illinois joined the fighting at the Battle of Fort Donelson. This was a tough battle, and they lost many soldiers. Out of about 600 men, 36 were killed and 165 were wounded. After the Confederates gave up, the 9th Illinois soldiers traveled by riverboat up the Tennessee River.

The Battle of Shiloh

They left their boats at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, and camped nearby. On April 6, 1862, they woke up to the sound of cannons. This was the start of the Battle of Shiloh. Before joining the fight, they received new orders: they had to change their gray coats for Union blue ones. This was so they wouldn't be mistaken for Confederate soldiers, who also wore gray.

The 9th Illinois fought hard for most of the day at Shiloh. They had the highest number of casualties (soldiers killed or wounded) of any Illinois unit in that battle. They lost 366 of their fellow soldiers.

Later Service and End of War

The regiment also fought in the Second Battle of Corinth. On March 15, 1863, the 9th Illinois Infantry was changed into the 9th Illinois Volunteer Mounted Infantry Regiment. This meant they would now fight on horseback. Finally, on July 9, 1865, the 9th Illinois Infantry was officially released from military service in Louisville, Kentucky.

What Did the Soldiers Wear?

When they first started, the 9th Illinois volunteers, along with a few other Illinois regiments, wore gray coats with blue trim. They also wore special hats called Zouave caps. However, in 1862, they switched to the same blue uniforms that most other Union Army regiments wore. Most of the Illinois infantry regiments used Springfield Model 1861 muskets, which were common rifles at the time.

How Many Soldiers Were Lost?

The 9th Regiment had many casualties during the war.

• 5 officers and 211 enlisted men were killed in battle or died from their wounds.
• 1 officer and 200 enlisted men died from diseases.

In total, 417 soldiers from the regiment were lost due to battle or illness.

Who Was Their Commander?

The main leader of the 9th Illinois Regiment was Colonel Augustus Mersy. He stayed with the regiment until they were released from service at the end of the war.