The National tribune., 1895-12-19
The Sth Kan.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / see al
article in your valuable paper from the pen O
Arthur Welding, which gives partial histor,
of the 9Th Kan. / also was a member of Co
1, 9Th Kan. remember Mr.. Welding quit
well, and was highly pleased with his letter
which is good as far as it goes. 1t will b.
remembered by those who were members o
the 9Th that but five companies of the regi.
ment went South in the Spring of 1862
Inc remainder of the regiment being scat.
tered among the different forts of the West
watching and combating the willy redskins
Inese hve companies Joined as in the South
In time to participate in the battle of Nash
vile, Dec. 10 and Is, 1864. The 9Th Kan
served in four of the great armies of the
Union. Its service began in what was after
ward known as the Army of the Frontier
early in 1862. 1t was transferred to the
Army of the Mississippi, and in the Summer
OF the same year it Joined the Army of the
Ohio, and in November became a part of the
Army of the Cumberland. The Sth Kan.
was with Gen. Buell. on his campaign against
Bragg In Kentucky; was present ut the bat
tie of Perryville, as well as in all the engage
ments enumerated by Mr.. Welding; was
the rear-guard of the army from Franklin,
Tenn, to Nashville. 1t travelled 10, $50 miles,
and brought back to the State and deposited
at Topeka three flags. Under the first, car
ried until it returned home on veteran fur
Tough in February, 1864, it marched 1851
miles, lost three commissioned officers
and 40 enlisted men killed, 10 commits
stoned officers and 218 enlisted men wounded,
and 20 enlisted men missing. Under the
second, carried until after the battle of Nash
vile, it marched $3.50 miles, and lost three
commissioned officers wounded and one
captured, and 1S enlisted men killed and SO
wounded. Under the third it travelled 44O9
miles, but sustained no loss. In lengthy
description of the battle of Mission Ridge,
published in the New York Times of July
IL, 1876, Maj.-Gen. Thomas J. Wood, who
commanded the Third Division, Fourth
Corps, says: "Willich's Brigade, in the CEN
ter, had with it the heroic and accomplished
Martin, Colonel of the 9Th Kan. What that
regiment could not take it was not worth
while to send any other regiment to look
for. Martin was among the foremost to set
the example Of the upward movement and
among the first to reach the crest" ASH read
these lines penned by the gallant Gen. Wood
j am Carried back and made to again see
the storming of the blazing nights of Mis-
sion Ridge. Well do remember the glad
pride depicted upon the features of our
gallant Col. Martin when he grasped and
shook my hand as / stood upon the rebel
with the colors of the 9Th in my
hand. In letter published in the Cinein-
natl Commercial of Jan. "a, 1876, the late
Brig. Gen. August Which. commander of
the First Brigade, Third Division, Fourth
Corps, states that the orders he received at
Orchard Knob concerning the advance to
- Il
at the foot of Mission Ridge, and to keep
that position" There appeared at
first thought to Gen. Which. holding posi- |
ton about 100 yards behind the rifle-pits, to |
be only three chances; viz, To obey orders. |
and to be shot without effective resistance;
TO fall back, or to charge "The second chance |
being out of the question, galloped, with |
Lieut.. Green, of my staff, up to the 8th Kan.
ying behind the rihe-pits. Col. Martin, |
commanding the regiment seeing me, Jump |
I'd on the breastwords, and shouted: Here |
We are, General; what more?' Forward.
hen; we have to take the works on the
Ridge was my answer. The Colonel:
All together, boys: Forward Hipi hip!
lurrah " Like one man the whole line
With one leap cleared the breastworks; for
ward they moved, and the air was soon filed
With the sound, Forward! forwardp ex-
ending more and more, right and left" The
violence OF these two Generals ought to for
yer set at rest the claim as to who was first
o reach the crest.-WM. SPENCER. Sergeant
o. c, 8th Kan. "Jay Hawkers,n Johns
ILLS, Mo.
The 5Sth Pa.
The regiment was organized at PhiIadel-
hia, Pa, from Sept. %, 1861, to March 1.
962, to serve three years. 1t veteranized at
be expiration of its three-years' term. Col.
ohm Richter Jones was killed in action at
Creek, May 90, 1868. Col. Carl
On B. Curtiss resigned July 2, 1863 During
sitter part of service Col. Cecil Clay COM
landed. At the battle of Fort Harrison.
lille in STANDARDS Division, the regiment
,st "a killed out of 237 engaged, or over IA
er cent. The command also served in
rooks's Division, Eighteenth Corps. It's
'tal loss while in the service was six officers '
nd 6S men killed and four officers and 139 !
en- died. :
The 9th Me. r
The regiment was organized at Augusta. :
e., Sept. %, 1861, to serve three years: left
e State Sept "a, 1861, and early in
ctober sailed from Fort Monroe for Hilton
cad, S. G.. During the year 1862 the regi-
ent was engaged in garrison duty in
IUiluoY Uub Naliy III lOOO IL returned TO |
ilton Head, where it remained until Sum-
er, when it was ordered to join the forces
Charleston Harbor. At Fort Wagner il =
ok part in the conspicuous assault made =
: the brigade commanded by Gen. Strong.
ID composed of the 9th Me-, 10th Pa. and
h Conn. The regiment was led in the
arge by Col. Emery. Col Fox, in his
aegimental Losses" gives the casualties of
e command during the assaults and in the
snches as 189 killed, wounded, and miss =
z. In October the regiment was ordered
Black Island, and there veteranized, with e
er 400 men. The command Joined Ames's 4
vision, Tenth Corps, in April, 1864, and
mt to Bermuda Hundred. 1t engaged in
veral severe battles. At Cold Harbor it
1t 23 killed; at Petersburg, 20; at Peters
re Mine, IL at Petersburg Trenches, 10,
d at Chaffin's Farm, Is. The total enroll
mt of the 9th Me. was 1913 officers and
N. Col. Fox gives the loss as 10 officers sa'
L 172 mel killed and three officers and a aG
men died The regiment served in !
axes Brigade, Ames's Division, Tenth
rps. The Colonies were as follows: Ho-
10 Bisbee, resigned March 49, 1868; Rish-
nth Rich, resigned May 81, 1868; Sabine
lery resigned May %, 1864; Zine III.
binson, resigned Aug. 10, 1864, and :
,rge F. Granger, in command when the s.
iment was mustered out, July Is, 1865. az
3 command was Que of the 800 fighting \