Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-05
In this fight the 9th took conspicuous

In this fight the 9Th took conspicuous
Fart
In January, 1864. the regiment was
in the second brigade, commanded by
Colonel Albert G. Bracket Of Grier-
sons division. 18th corps, Army of the
Tennessee, at Colliersville, and a de-
tachment under Major Ira Clifford, had
& brisk engagement with portion or
Forests command, which had made
an attack upon the Memphis & Charles
town railroad, in which several Of the
enemy were killed and wounded.
Feb. IL, 1864, the regiment moved
cut, by order Of General Sherman,
against the enemy with the union force
organized under General William Sooy
Smith, with view to overthrow the
rebel cavalry under General Forrest.
He pushed across the country as rap
hatchie Eiver at New Albany without
opposition, and moved on to Okolona,
on the Mobile & Ohio railway, mean
time having been engaged with the
enemy at West Point on the goth Of
| February, at Okolona on the 21st, and
Mount Ivy on the 23rd. While a por-
ton of the command was sent to threat
en- Columbus. the main body moved on,
destroying an immense amount of
corn, cotton and other stores of great
value to the confederates. The regi-
ment returned to and encamped at
Germantown on the oath of February
Although the chief object of the ex-
petition was not accomplished, the
cavalry had Inflicted heavy injuries
upon the confederates.
On the 10th of March the regiment
was mustered as a veteran organiza-
ton, and the following day marched
to Memphis, whence the men returned
to Illinois on the usual furlough grant
ed to veterans.
April % the men of the regiment re-
turned to Memphis from furlough, and
q short time thereafter a portion of
them accompanied General Sturgis on
his expedition against the enemy. At
Guntown, Miss, on the 10th of June
our forces met with a severe check
)
9th formed a portion of the rear guard
, losing five killed, % wounded and Il
captured out of 160 men.
, Upon the failure of this expedition
another under General Andrew J
r Smith was fitted out and marched from
I Saulbury TO Pontotoc, where a fight
q occurred on the 18th of July, ant
4 meeting the enemy in force near Tu
q pelo, another action took place, the
confederates being driven from the
s field, leaving a large number of deaC
r End wounded comrades. The next day
a July IS. severe cavalry fight occur
= red at Old Town creek, where the 9tl
a acquitted itself with credit, and after
wards returned to Memphis. In Aug
n Iist the regiment marched by way o
Holly Springs to Abbeville, Miss
where it had skirmish with the en-
envy, and on the 18th had anotke
brush at Oxford. A severe fight tool
place at Hurricane Creek, the 9th tak
ing. an honorable share, losing fou
| killed and several wounded 1t return
ed to its station at Memphis Sept A.
l. With Captain William c. Blackburn
in command, the regiment moved GU
l. again on the 30th of September, an
~ after crossing the Tennessee river a
:, Clifton, marched by way of Wayne.
boro, Lawrenceburg, Florence Ala
e Waterloo Hamburg and Cavannah t
j. Clifton, pursuing the rebels under Gel
b. eral Wheeler. The command returne
It again to Florence, and there met tn
advance of General Hoods army Tn
n division to which the 9th was attache
is did some hard fighting at Shoal Creel
IL Ala, on the 9th of November. On tn
S. 10Th of the same month, crossed tn
lie river, and two days afterward attacke
Id the enemy near Lawrenceburg, Tenn
r. the 9th cavalry being in the advanc
I'd Two divisions of the enemy comm
e. up, compelled it to recross the rive
I'd and in so doing, one battalion BEGAN
a. detached, passed through the rebel lir
lie and was compelled to remain in II
81 rear of the enemy till under cover
r. the darkness it recrossed the strea
ed and joined it's friends.
a For several days after this the res
ne ment skirmished with the enemy's a
as vance, and at Campbellville, Tenn, {
of the oath of November, was holly e
Is Gagged. Here it kept its ground, hol
Of ing back many times its own numb