The National tribune., 1907-08-29
THE SPLENDID sTL MD.
A border State 0rxnraization That Won
High Place sIAmsaE the Fighting
Regiments.

| Inc 0tH uHutT tue ScCOuu
call of the President in 1862, was or
ganized at Baltimore from Aug. IL to
Sept. 8, 1862, to serve three years, and
was mustered out, under orders from
the War Department. by reason of the
close of the civil war, June 20, 1865,
at Baltimore. The 9Th was essentially
representative Maryland regiment
Eight companies were recruited inI
Counties representing different sections
of the State, as follows: Co. A, Carroll
County; Co. b, Cecil County; Co. &C,
Carroll County; 90. d, Frederick Coun-
ty; Co. E, Cecil County; Co. F. Bal
timore City; Co. G, Cecil County: Co
H. Washington County; Co. I, Balfi-
more City, Co. X, Queen Anne's Coun-
ty.
After brief period for drill and dis
cipline the regiment left Baltimore
Sept. 20. 1862, to join the Army of the
Potomac, then in western Maryland.
The original field and staff officers were
as follows:
Colonel, George r. Howard; Lieuten-
ant Colonel, John w. Horn; Major,
William A. McKellip: A1jutant, joseph
L. Mahan; Quartermaster, James
Touchstone: Surgeon. Charles F. NJ.
Nelson Assistant Surgeon. Edwin X.
Foreman; Assistant Surgeon. Charles
f. Simper; Chaplain. Joseph T. Brown.
The regiment was assigned to the
Maryland Brigade Gst, 4th. 9Th, 7th
and Sth Nd, Gen. John K. Kenly COM
manding), designated the Third Bri-
gade, Second Division, Eighth Corps.
With the Maryland Brigade the regi-
ment remained on the upper Potomac
until December. 1852, when it marched
to and encamped on Bolivar Hights
Harper's Ferry, Va.
In the Shenandoah Valley.
On March 2S, 1863. the 9Th Nd. was
detached from the Maryland Brigade
and ordered to Berryville. Va, where
it was assigned to McReynolds's Third
Brigade, Second Division, Eighth
| Corps.
on June 13. 1868, Rode's Division of
| the Confederate army, under Lee, at
| tackled this brigade at Berryville. when.
after brief skirmish. McReynolds re-
tired toward Winchester, Va. While
en- route they were again attacked on
the same day at the ford on Opequan
Creek, when the 9Th Md. and section
| of Alexanders Battery of Maryland Ar
tillery handsomely repulsed the enemy,
| with severe loss. Immediately on ar
irving at Winchester the regiment took
| part in the battle then raging there,
where the entire Confederate army WAS
being concentrated, with the hope of
| a speedy capture of Winchester along
with Gen. Milroy's Division Of the
Eighth Corps.
The 9Th Nd. occupied the Star Fort.
and defended it with great gallantry
during the days of the 14th and 18th
of June. 1863, and until ordered tn re-
! tire with the division. In its efforts to
| cut its way thru the enemy'S lines at
daylight on the 18th the 9Th Md took
part in the engagements which eli sued
| on the Martinsburg road, and by
| skilful manuver passed around the enc
my's flank and escaped almost intact,
continuing the retreat to Harper's Fer
ry. The 9th Md. was now assigned to
| the Second Brigade Third Division,
Third Corps, and with 1t participated
| in the battles incident to the move
ments of the Army of the Potomac,
under Gen. George G. Meade. in the
Autumn and Winter of 1S63-64, in
northern Virginia.
Transferred to the Sixth Corps.
At the reorganization of the Army
of the Potomac the 9Th Nd. was trans
| ferred to the Second Brigade. Third
| Division Sixth Corps. and until the
close of the war the history of the reg
iment was coincident with that justly
celebrated fighting corps.
In July, 1864, when the Confederate
army, under Gen. Early, invaded Mary
Hand and attempted to capture the
| Capital of the Nation. the Sixth Corps,
including the 9th Nd, was sent from
Gen. Grants army in front of Peters
! burg TO drive the enemy back. The
| timely arrival of the Sixth Corps not
only saved the Capital, but speedily
expelled the enemy from Maryland. A
new army was created in the Shenan-
doah Valley. and Gen. Sheridan placed
in command. This regiment, with the
Sixth Corps, took a conspicuous part
| In the splendid Union victories, under
Sheridan, that crowned the efforts of
| this army at Winchester. Va, Sept. 10
(where Col. John w. Horn, who sue
ceeded Col Howard. was dreadfully
wounded); Fishers Hill, Va, Sept. %,
and Cedar Creek. Va, Oct. 10, 1864.
After the Confederate armies in the
Shenandoah Valley had been defeated
and scattered the regiment, with the
Sixth Corps, returned TO Gen. Grants
army in front of Petersburg.
The Spring of 1865 opened with the
| final campaign of the war. In the as
sault and capture of Petersburg, April
81. 1865, the 9th Md. was most con-
| spicuous for gallantry, and were the
! first troops over the breastworks. Maj.
Clifton K. Pren;iss. leading the regi-
ment, fell mortally wounded, and near
him lay his brother. soldier in the
Confederate army, also mortally
wounded. Roth were taken back in
the same ambulance. and both died in
the same hospital Gen. J. Warren
Keifer, the brigade commander, in his
official report of this action, says:
MAJ. PrentlSS, 9th Md. with large
portion Of his regiment, was the first
to penetrate the enemy's works, where,
after a most bloody struggle. he fell
lmortally wounded. At the same time
his brother. an officer in the rebel
army, received n mortal wound They
| fell side by side. and recognized each
other. Five other officers of the 9Th
Md. were wounded very soon after en-
tering the Notifications Too much
praise cannot be given the officers and
men of this regiment"
First Over the Works at Petersburg.
The following official correspondence
| relative to the above battle will be of
interest:
Headquarters Armies of the United
States, Washington, May 8. 1865
| "Maj.-Gen. II. w. Halleck, Richmond,
Va.
'Sir: Lieut.-Gen. Grant desires me
to say that the sum of S400 was placed
in his hands as reward of gallantry
| for the man who should first raise our
| dag over Richmond. As Richmond
was not taken by assault he deems the
donors wishes will be best carried out
by dividing the sumlbetween three men,
one TO be selectedsby Gen. Wright as
most conspicuous fer galIantry in car
rying the enemy's lines at Petersburg