The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-08-05
IN MANY BATTLES
 THESE MEN FOUGHT
Scant Hundred Left of ''Fighting Ninth," Which
 Numbered 1000 Men
REUNION AT SAYIN ROCK

While the militia and regulars are assembling around Boston to play at war, there is gathered at the Sea View Hotel in Savin Rock this afternon little band of men who comprise the remnants of a sturdy battle scared fighting regiment of the civil war. While the officers of the regiments taking part in the mimic capture of Boston are figuring out theoretical plans of attack, Colonel Fitzgibbons the old commander of the Fighting Ninth will be recounting tales of the time when with thousand fighting mics line of battle on a dozen fields of the civil war.
 The occasion, which is so in con- trast to the mimic warfare and first is the annual reunion of the Fighting Ninth," the regiment which, compos- ed of Connecticut volunteers, was known by every general in the Union army in the Civil War as an organi zation always ready and willing to go on the firing line and to stay there.
 Out of the original regiment of thousand men there are left today less than a hundred and at the annual re- unions it is possible to get only thir- ty or forty together. During the past year eight of the old veterans have died and each year as the men sit around the banquet table 1t is noticed that one or more of the popular old men is missing.
 The Fighting Ninth gained it's name during the civil war when it showed itself to be composed of men who were willing and anxious to meet Irishmen made up the rank and file and there was not a man in the outfit from the Colonel down who knew what fear was. When ever the army to ioI, I.oln in a tight place the Fighting Ninth was sent for and they generally turn ed the tide of battle.
 The regiment was organized by Col. Fftzgibbons September 3, 1861, at the request of Governor Buckingham, who was then chief executive of Connecti- cut. Its first Colonel was-ThomaS w. Cahill. Colonel Cahill was detailed on ganizati of the regiment and during the battles of the war Lieutenant Colonel Fitzgibbons was it's leader.
 The first detail assigned to the re- giment was with General Buffers ex- petition against New Orleans. After serving in the campaign around New Orleans and Vicksburg, they were or dered to join General Grant. Later under General Hancock they fought at the battle of Deep Bottom. Soon after this the. regiment was ordered to join Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley and accompanied him on his famous raids through the valley, par ticipating in the battles of Winchester and Cedar Creek and defeating the confederate forces under General Early. The regiment has had three chaplains since its organization ih 1861. Originally Father Mullins of New Ha- ven was the spiritual advisor of the soldiers then Father Leo of Winsted and again Father Slocum, of Water bury. Since it's organization the rec ord of the Fighting Ninth has been such as to stand comparison with the fighting organizations of any time or nation and the veterans seek to main tain it.
 At the reunion this afternoon Col. Richard F>itzgibbons, Lieut.. John C. Curtis, Quartermaster w. w. Harral and Privates Andrew B. Graham, Moses Mills, George Rutherford, John Ward and Frank Wallenta all of this city will be present.
 There are today less than one hun dred members of the old fighting re- giment left. The officers elected are permanent and are as follows: Presi- dent Richard Fitzgibbons, vice-presi- dent Captain Lawrence O'Brien, of New Haven, secretary and treasurer, M. P. Conan, of Naugatuck and chap lain W. J. Sloan of Naugatuck.