9th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, Historical Data

File provided by:
A Captain David L. Payne Camp, 
Sons of Union Veterans, Project.
Walt Cross wcross@okway.okstate.edu

Source: "Union Regiments of Kentucky" Capt. Thomas Speed
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The 9th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry was recruited and organized by Col. Ben C. Grider,
in parts of the state contiguous to Columbia, Kentucky. The regiment was mustered into
United States service on November 26, 1861 at Columbia, Kentucky by Maj. W. H. Sidell,
U. S. mustering officer. In February of 1862 the regiment marched to Nashville and
then to Pittsburg Landing with General Buell. The 9th found itself part of General
Crittenden's division, Boyle's brigade. The division crossed the Tennessee river at
9pm April 6th, and took position in the middle of Buell's army. General Crittenden
stated "We were exposed to several attacks from very superior forces; all were
repelled nobly; my division only left its position to advance." The enemy made an
attack upon the left of the center, where a battery of artillery had been placed. The
9th under Col. Grider and the 59th Ohio were ordered to advance rapidly and engage the
enemy. The charge was successful, although the 9th suffered three officers killed and
ten men wounded. Ironically, the 9th Kentucky had fought against a Confederate
Kentucky regiment along with some troops from Mississippi and Arkansas under the
command of Col. Joseph H. Lewis of Glasgow. At the end of this second day of fighting
at the Battle of Shiloh, the 9th had four captains wounded, three lieutenants killed
and three wounded, fourteen men killed and sixty seven wounded. It was an expensive
baptism in fire. Col. Grider mentioned the following officers for gallantry: Adjutant
J. H. Grider, Capts. Austin, Cram, Baily, Bryan, Veter, Coyule, Chenoweth and Harding
as well as Lieutenants Reed, Moore, Tate, Stout, Jenkins, Underwood, Clark, Faulkner,
Pipkins, and Surgeon John A. Lindsay. After the Battle of Perryville in which the 9th
saw limited action, they followed Bragg out of Kentucky and into Tennessee. At the
Battle of Stone's River the 9th was commended for its fine service. The 9th's colors
were among the first to cross the river, under intense fire and helped capture four
enemy guns. The 9th was soon engaged again and suffered greatly when they were caught
in a flanking attack. The regiment's major and adjutant wounded, two captains killed
and another wounded, two lieutenants were killed and two others wounded. Eighteen men
were killed and eighty wounded. These casualties demonstrate how desperately the 9th
was engaged in the victorious struggle. Soon after the battle, the 9th, along with the
11th Kentucky were ordered home to replenish its thinned ranks. In referring to these
two regiments Crittenden referred to them as "My fighting regiments." In September of
1863 the 9th found itself at the foot of Lookout Mountain, moved to Gordon's Mill
south of Chatanooga, and was engaged in the Battle of Chickamauga. At the point of
that disastrous battle the 9th Kentucky Infantry along with the 44th Indiana and the
17th Kentucky formed a nucleus of resistance against the swarming Confederate forces.
These three courageous units did not leave the field until ordered to do so. Col.
Beatty, the brigade commander stated the 9th and 17th Kentucky held "...possession of
a hill by most terrific fighting until dark, when they withdrew by order and joined
the army at Rossville." The 9th suffered sixty casualties. The 9th remained at
Chatanooga as General U.S. Grant took command of all the Eastern armies. The 9th was
engaged on November 23rd and on the 25th participated in the Battle of Missionary
Ridge, the charge that has no parallel perhaps in any war. The men themselves ordered
the attack, moving forward without orders when the rebel fire became intolerable. The
9th charged up the ridge, ignoring the shot and shell to help capture the nine guns of
the enemy artillery battery. It was in this charge that Arthur McArthur, the father of
the famous World War II hero General Douglas McArthur, won the Medal of Honor. The
enemy counter attacked and the 9th struggled with them until darkness fell, when the
rebels finally retreated, leaving the 9th and the rest of the Union army in possession
of Missionary Ridge. The 9th's casualties were light considering the amount of
fighting they had done, one officer was killed and four wounded, while four soldiers
were mortally wounded and twenty five wounded. The 9th returned to Chatanooga,
refitted, and marched off to relieve Burnside at Knoxville, who was under siege by
Longstreet. The siege being raised, the 9th marched and joined Sherman's army in the
Atlanta campaign. In the months of May, June, July and August of 1864 the 9th was in
contact with the enemy, skirmishing, flanking, building breastworks and fighting.
Crossing the Chattahoochee at Power Ferry, the 9th took part in the Battle of
Peachtree Creek. Casualties from the Atlanta campaign was seventy three, including one
officer killed. After Atlanta surrendered to Major General William Thomas Ward, a
fellow Kentuckian and division commander under Sherman, the 9th went into camp. It was
short lived however, for when Hood made his move to Sherman's rear, the 9th moved out,
marching through the hills of Georgia during the entire month of October, 1864. If a
march in wartime can be called enjoyable, this one was. The weather was fine and there
was no scarcity of provisions. The pursuit of Bragg by the 9th ended when he entered
Alabama. The 9th returned to Nashville and then to Pulaski, Tennessee where their term
of enlistment expired. They returned to Kentucky and were mustered out of service in
Louisville in December, 1864. See: "A Southern Boy in Blue" by Kenneth W. Noe. 


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