History of the Ninth Regiment Illinois Cavalry Volunteers. Pub. under the auspices of the Historical Committee of the Regiment, Part 35

Author: Illinois Cavalry. 9th regt., 1861-1865; Davenport, Edward Adolphus, 1834- , ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: [Chicago, Donohue & Henneberry, printers]
Number of Pages: 954


USA > Illinois > History of the Ninth Regiment Illinois Cavalry Volunteers. Pub. under the auspices of the Historical Committee of the Regiment > Part 35


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44


It will be noticed that the word " deserted " appears against the names of a number of th . former members of this regiment. It will also be observed that it applies mostly to those that en- listed during the latter part of 1864 and in the spring and sum- mer of 1865, and largely from the recruits; very few of the old soldiers are so designated.


It may be said, in behalf of some of those to whom the odium of the word attaches, that they felt that the war was over, and they took this short way of cutting military red tape and the delays thereof, and simply went home, and while it can not be considered otherwise than as disgraceful, the stigma is not so great as if they had deserted in the face of the enemy.


* NOTE, -- There were nurtured into the regiment 2di recruits who were rol assigned to companies, whose names do not appear in this book.


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CHAPTER XXIV.


THE NINTH ILLINOIS. CAVALRY - THEIR DEPARTURE FOR ST. LOUIS -- HIS- TORY OF THE REGIMENT -- ITS ORGANIZATION, EQUIPMENT AND CHARAC- TER - SKETCHES OF OFFICERS.


[From the New York Tribune, February 17. 15]


The Ninth Illinois Cavalry Regiment, Colonel Brackett connanding, which has been quartered at Camp Douglas as a whole since the Ist of November last, commences leaving this city for St. Louis to-day (Monday), in pursuance of imper- ative marching orders received on Saturday morning. The deparime of this regiment, necessarily occupying the larger part of two days, will not probably be completed before Tuesday night. Owing to the large number of horses, and a vast amount of stores, over one hundred and thirty cars will be required, a de- mand upon transportation not easily answered. The St. Louis, Alton & Chicago Railroad Company, however, are using their utmost encigies to meet this call, which was made unexpectedly, and probably Tuesday night will see the regi- ment, which has become familiar to the public from its frequent parades, finally departed, and leaving Camp Douglas almost entirely deserted of troops.


ORGANIZATION, ETC.


Bracket!'s cavalry regiment commenced organizing during the last of Au- gust, 1861, and the first troops came into camp on the 15th of the following Sep- tember. The work of recruiting was carried on vigorously and rapidly under the auspices of Lieutenant-Colonel Paddock and other chicers, and on the 1st of November, 1861, the regiment mustered in for pay. Itis pre-eminently an Ili nois regiment, as will be seen from the following localities of each company:


Company A, Rock Island, Ill .; Company B, Genesco, Ill .; Company C, Geneseo, Ill .; Company D, Chicago, Il .; Company E, Lake County, Ini : Com :- pany F, Chicago, Il .; Company G, Porter county, Ind. ; Company H, Kewance, Ill .; Company I, Belvidere, IN .; Company K, Princeton, IN .: Company L, Chicago, IH .; Company M, Onarga, IN. The regiment now numbers 1,805 men, all told.


EQUIPMENTS, ETC.


The camp equipage of the regiment consists of two hundred and eighty excell- ent tents, costing $20,000. The arms which have not been procured will consist foreach man of one Colt's revolver, one Sharp's carbine, and one regulation saber, the aggregate costing in the neighborhood of $15,000. Of horse equipments, there have been purchased 1,148, costing $38 cach, in all $43,320.


The clothing cost $50,000. During their stay in camp, the monthly bills for forage and food have been 87,500; for rations per day, $139,10, of $1, 175 pe: month; in all, for subsistence about $12,000.


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HISTORY OF THE


HORSES.


The horses purchased for this regiment number 1, 175 and co-1 $129,250. They are decidedly a splendid lot of animals, and are now in excellent condition, showing good keeping and skillful care. During the stay in comp, especial at- tention has been paid to training and drilling the horses, and they are now thoroughly versed in cavalry movements. They are of good size, in excelest flesh, and uniform in color, as will be seen by the following che dication : Companies A, B, E, G, K and M have bay horses Company C, light sorich: Company L. chestnut sorrels; Company D, brown ; Companies Fand I. block; Company HI, gray.


In fact it is doubtful whether any regiment has left us more thoroughly equipped with the single exception of arms in every particular. in the necom- plishment of this desiderotum, the regiment has had the benefit of Colour! Brack- ett's long experience in cavalry service, seconded by the excellent judgment and sound business qualifications of Quartermaster Price. It is not alone inthe ma- terirl of war that this regiment is thoroughly prepared. The clients are all of experience and ability; the men completely fitted themselves in the cavalry delhi. and have spent their catap life to good purposes, as their frequent appearances in our streets have indicated. Their excellent behavior in cump and their gen. uine soldierly appearance have won for them deservedly the appellation of the crack regiment of Catop Douglas. We are sure they will extend that reputation in the future.


The following is the roster of the regiment, revised and corrected :


ROSTEN :.


Colonel, Albert G. Brackett (Captain Second United States Cavalry ) Lienten- ant- Colonel, Solomon A. Paddock : Major, Rosell M. Hough ( Aid-de camp to Me- jor-General Hunter): Major, Hiram F. Sickle -; Major, Hector J. Humphrey: Adjutant, Thomas W. Stevenson ; Quartermaster, Samuel H, Price : Smycon, Jannes W. Brackett; Assistant Surgeon, Charles Bram lett, Chajdan, O. Visor Briggs: Sergeant-Major, Gro. A. Price; Quartermaster Sergente, Diwand A. Davenport; Commissary-Sergeant, William E. Walker.


FIRST BATTALION OFFICERS.


Aljutant, Charles M. Waterbury; Quartermaster, Joseph W. Brackett; Ser- geant Major, Henry Latte . Quartermaster-Sergeant, Charles A Snow; Con u is. sary-Sergeant, Charles B. Paddock.


SECOND BATTALION OFFICERS.


Adjutant, Samuel Rockwood; Quartermaster, Thomas E. Morrison; Sergeant. Major, James Smith; Quarter-master-Sergeant, Malcom J. Bliss, Commissary Ser- geant, Royal Neskins; Hospital Steward, Seldon Miner.


THIRD BATTALION OFFICERS.


Adjusted, Frank Cantello. Quartermaster, Frank Sheffield: Sergeant- Major, Curtis L. Knight; Quartermaster; Sergeant, Willigny G. Metz Comunicary Sergeant, Charles Me Dafie.


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NINTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS.


TROOF OFFICEES.


Troop A, Captain Harry B. Burgh: First Lieutenant, Wilnamn. C Blackburn, Second Lieutenant; William. W. Benton. Troop B. Captain Thaddeus W. O. Brafett; First Lieutenant, Raysom Harrington; Second Lieutenant, Arthur M. Kinzie (Aid-de-camp to Major General Hunter). Troop C, Captain, John S. Buckles; First Lieutenant, Charles W. Blakemore; Second Lieutenant, Francis Il. McArthur. Troop. D. Captain, William J. Wallis; First Lieutenata L. Cowen: Second Lieutenant, John H. MeMahon. Troop E, Captain, Ira R. Gifford; Fir-1 Lieutenant, Richard D. Ellsworth; Second Lieutenant, Benjamin O. Wilkinson. Troop F, Captain, Bernard, F. Stampoffski. First Lieutenant. Marlend L. Perkins: Second Lieutenant, Erastus G. Butler. Troop G, Captain, Henry M. Buel; First Lieutenant, Johu E. Warner: S coad Lieutenant, A. F. Brown. Troop H, Captain Linus D. Bishop; First Lieutenant, Edwin W. Luce, Second Lieutenant, Walter B. Ander. ou. Troop I, Captain. William M. Chidister; First Lieutenant, Joseph W. Harper, Second Lientenant, Leander L. Shattuck. Troop K, Captain, Clearles S. Cameron; First Lieutenant, Joseph H. Knox; Second Lien- tenant, William McManni -. Troop L, Captain, Loni , F. Booth; I fr| Mioutenant, Charles F. Scammon; Second Lieutenant, William E. Bailey. Troop M, Cap tain Eliphalet R. Knight; First Lieutenant, Jacob C. Shear; Second Lientenant, Jacob Riner.


The regiment is peculiarly fortunate in its officers. The vory name of Brack- ett is invested with historie interest. The Colonel is pre-eminently a soldier. bronzed with warfare, though comparatively young in years; under his coun and a splendid future is in prospect, and wherever deeds of daring are to be accom- plished and wherever the fight waxes hottest, there weshall expect to hear of the Niuth Cavalry. And, on the other hand, the oficers are to be congratulated upon the general character, physical strength, genuine martial appearance and excellent drill of their command; qualities that nost tell in the future, and in the present give to this command the reputation of being one of the fivest cov- alry regiments in the United States.


[From Andreas History of Chicago, 2%).]


The Ninth Cavalry was organized at Camp Douglas, Chicago, in September, 1861, by Colonel Albert G. Brackett, of Rock Island, Il., and was mustered into service on November 30th. Among its field officers from Chicago were Major Rosell M. Hough, formerly aid to General Hunter, with whom he had served in Missouri, and later, Colonel of the Sixty Seventh Infantry; Major William J. Wal- lis; Adjutant John H. Carpenter: and Quartermaster Samuel HI. Price.


Company F was reernited in Chicago by Captain Bernard F. Stumpeffski, an old and well known citizen, who had formerly served in the Florida war for for eight months, and as a member of Company F, Second United States Dra- goons; was engaged in the battles of Palo Alto and Repea de la Palma, in May, 1846. Lieutenant Erastus G. Butler, of the same company served in Company F. Third United States Artillery in the Mexican War, and was at the battles of Mon- terey and Buena Vista. The officers of this company were exclusively Chicago- ans during its whole term of service. Captais Charles S. Camcion, of Company K, abandoned a large and lucrative law maire stochter the army. Fint lieu.


368


HISTORY OF THE


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tenant Joseph H. Knox, Company K, son of Hon. Joseph Knox, was e graduate of Williams College, and had just been admitted to the bar when he joined the regiment. He served with the Ninth until April 5, 1862, when he resigned. First Lieutenant Charles T. Scammon, son of Hon. J. Y. Scammon, had just graduated from Chicago University, when he joined the Ninth Cavalry, and waselected Lieu- tenant of Company , serving in that capacity until promoted Captain of Com- pany HI, January 15, 1863. During this time he also served on the staff of Gen- eral Steele in Arkansas. Lieutenant Arthur MI. Kinzie served with Company P until the expiration of his term, September 80, 1861.


The Ninth Ilinois Cavalry left Chicago on February 17, 1862, and moved to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, and thence to Pilot Knob, where it conmerced its long campaign in Missouri and Arkansas, as a part of the Third Brigade of Gen. eral Frank Steele's division. With that command it joined General Curtis'army at Jacksonport, Ark., on May 23d, and during June participated in two serious skirmishes in the vicinity of the camp losing twelve wounded and one missing at. Waddell's plantation, on June 12th; and on June With, at Stewart's plantation, two killed and thirty-five wounded, Colonel Brackett being among the latter. On June 26th, the Ninth with Steele'sdivision commenced the march to Helena, .\rk., arriving July 14th. The troops suffered extremely during the march from lich of water and rations, five men of the Ninth dying from the hardebipsaud privations endured. At Helena the regiment was assigned to the Third Brigade, Fomth Division (Hovey's), ofsteele's Arkansas army.


Two twelve-pounder mountain bowitzers were assigned the regiment on Sep- tember 15th, which, under command of Lieutenant E. G. Butler, did good service during the expedition of General Washburn into Mississippi, of which the regi- ment formed a part.


On January 9, 1863, it embarked with General Gorman at Helena, and pro- ceeded up the White River to Duval's Bluff, which was found evacuated, and the expedition returned to Helena, arriving January 28d. On April 7th, the Ninth moved to Menghis, and thence, on April 12, to Germantown, Tenn., Where. with Colour Metrellis brigade, it was employed in souding mid skinishing in Southern Tennessee and Northern Mississippi through the entire summer, heinz engaged at Coldwater on July 28th; at Granada, Augu-t 18th, Solom, Oftoi er th, and at Wyatt, October 13th. In November the regiment marched from La Grange to Collierville, Tenn., where it was assigned to Grierson's cavalry division, and og December 4th, took an honorable and conspicuous part in the battle at Moscow, Tenn., On February 11th it marched with Generals Grierson and Smith into Mississippi, and was engaged on February 20th, at West Point, February 21st at Okolona, and on the 23d at Mount Ivy. The following day it went into camp at Germantown, Tenn., where, on March 16th, it re-enlisted as a ver ran organiza. tion. On the lith it marched to Memphis and immediately returned to Ilinois on veteran furlough.


On April 29th, the regiment returned to Memphis, and in June a detachment, with Grierson's cavalry, accompanied General Sturgis on his disastrous expedition to Guntown, Miss., acting as rear guard on the retreat of his forces. Dining the expedition the Ninth lost five killed, twenty three wounded wehe captured.ms of one imade Hand SKIN CHLand. It also formel : pat of the land of Oficial


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NINTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS.


Grierson in his expedition with General A. J. Smith to Tupelo, Mis. The Ninth forming the cavalry advance, had a severe engagement at Pomit tee, Mi-s., and Was engaged July 11 hand 15th, at Tupeloand Old Town Creek. Miss. During August it accompanied General A. J. Smith's expedition to the Tallahatchie, meeting the enemy on August 11th, at Oxford, and August 13th, at Hurricane ( rock, inthe latter engagement losing four killed and several wounded. On September ich, it returned to camp at Memphis, and remained until September Both, under Captain Black- barn, Company S. It then moved with Ger cial Hatches division to Chiffer. Tenn., where it crossed the Tennessee, and thence returned to near Florence. Ala , to meet the advance of Hoed's army. On November 5th the regiment drove the enemy from a ford on Shoal Creek, where it was ordered to cross on the 11th, and strike the enemy in the rear. At the same time the brigade was to dislodge the enemy and cross at a lower ford. The command failed to disledge the Con- federates, who held the lower ford in force, but the Ninth by a sudden and mes- pected attack on their rear, caused them to retire from dair positions ficienty to allow the regiment to pass through their lives to the Creek, which they re crossed and joined the brigade. On November 19th the brigade was ordered 10 advance from Shoal Creek to Bailey Springs. It crossed the creek and advanced a short distance, when it encountered General Buford's Confederate cavaliy, which attacked and nearly surrounded it. The command, however, succeeded in re crossing at another ford and on the following day He retired towards Nash- ville commenced. The Ninth was engaged November 24th at Campbellsville. Tenn., in protecting the army train, and participated in the battles at Franklin and in front of Nashville. It then joined in the pursuit of Hodd's army to the Tennessee River, and, at its discontinuance, moved to Eastport, Miss., and finally to Gravelly Springs, near Florence, Ala., where it remained in compat that point until June 230, when it moved to Iuks, Miss., theyce, on July 4th, to Decatur, Ala., and thence to Montgomery, Selma, and to Gainsville, Ala .. soriving at the latter place August 20th.


On October 31, 1965, it was mustered out of service at Schna. Alm, and ordered to Springfield. I., for final payment. arriving on November 1ch.


The Ninth Mine is Cavalry marched twenty thousand tailed, and was never employed in garrison anty after leaving Chicago in February, 1562.


HISTORY OF NINTH CAVALRY.


[From the Adjudant-General's Report of Ilinois. ]


The Ninth Regiment of Cavalry was organized at Camp Donglas, near Chi- cago. Ill., in the antuma of 1861, by Colonel Albert G. Brackett, ard was fully mustered into the United States service by November 30th.


On the 16th of February, 1969, it started from Chicago and proceeded by rail to Benton Barracks, near St. Louis, Mo., and thence to Pilot Knob. From there it matched to Reeve's Station, on the Big Black River, and was assigned to the Third Brigade of General Steele's division, serving in the District of Sontheast Missouri.


From Breve's Station it marched to Jacksonport, Ark., where Colonel Brackett was left in command, the other portion of the division unique on to Batesville, where it joined the Army of the Southwest, under command of Major-General S. R. Curtis.


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HISTORY OF THE


On the 21st of May, Private P. W. Pringle, of Company G, was murdered in cold blood by the rebels and his body left lying in a swamp near Jacksonport. On the 24th the regiment crossed Black River and encamped in the woods.


May 28th, five companies, under Lieutenant Colonel Hiram F. Sickhe, had a skirmish with the Confederates at Cache River Bridge, routing there with con- siderable loss. In this affair Battalion-Adjutant Blackburn and Private Tift were wounded.


Captain Blakemore had a skirmish on the same day on the Augusta read with portions of three companies of the Ninth against a Confederate force. in which two Confederate soldiers were captured, one of whom was very severely wounded.


Upon the approach of the Confederate guuboat Maurepas, Captain Joseph Fry, the Ninth fell back two miles and a half, when the vessel shelled its late camp with sixty-four pounders. This was on the 2d of June. As soon as the boat retired the regiment went back to its former camp.


The Confedate soldiers on the 12th of June attempted to capture a valuable train near the Waddell farm, five miles from Jacksonport, but were utterly de- feated and driven off by Colonel Brackett with two companies of Missouri cas- alry and four companies of the Ninth, with a loss of twenty eight killed, wounded and missing. Our loss was thirteen wounded and missing.


Captain Marland I. Perkins with his company made a reconnaissance toward Augusta, down the right bank of White River, in June, and had two skirmishes with the enemy in which a Confederate soldier was killed, and be had are Forse killed and two wounded. He returned to camp June 283.


Again on the 27th of June, 1562, a large force of the enemy attacked a gov- einment train ner Stewart's plantation; it was beaten off with severe loss, and the valuable train saved. On our side two were killed and thirty one wounded, among the latter being Colonel Brackett. Major Wallis. Battalion Adjutant Blackburn and Captain Knight. Five of the enemy's dead were seen on the ground


This was the day after the regiment had started on the march for Hele, with the whole of General Curtis'aris. During the march five men of the regiment died from birdships it being alno : impossible to obtain water. This was one of the most famous marches of the Civil War.


At Helena the regiment was assigned to the Third Brigade, Colonel Cuts Bassey, of General A. P. Hovey's division, District of Southeastern Arkansas, commanded by General Steele.


The regiment received two small twelve-pounder howitzers on the 15th of Sep- tember, which, being placed nuder command of Lieutenant E. G. Butler, with details from various companies, rendered excellent service.


At the fight at la Grange, Ark., two companies of the regiment, with soldiers of other regiments, under Captain Marland 1. Perkins, with the two howitzers just referred to, behaved very gallantly against a considerable force of the enemy; he losing over fifty men, while our loss was inconsiderable. This was on the 8th of November. The command also repulsed a charge of two regiments of Texans.


During the night of October 11th sport of the regiment captured i robert picket of twelve men near Helena, Ark.


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NINTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS.


Brigadier-General C. C. Washburn led an expedition, composed of parts of several cavalry regiments, from Helera across the Mississippi River into the State of Mississippi, during part of November atal December, 1962. He had a skinn- ish with the enemy at Okolona, on the 6th of Novem! er and at Coffeeville on the 7th, in bath of which he was successful and accomplished the main object of his expedition, which was to give the leaders of the rebel forces an idea that his troops were the advance guard of a large Union army sent to cut off the retreat of Gener: 1 Price and his rebels from their position. Price believed it and left accordingly. In Washburn's command Major Hairy B. Burgh had one hundred and fifty men of the Ninth Ilinois Cavalry.


January 9, 1863, the Ninth matched with General Gorman's command from Helena to Duvall's Bluff and returned. On the the Th of April, it moved up the Mississippi River to Memphis, Tenn., and on the 12th to Germantown, where it was assigned to MeCrillis brigade of Cavalry of the Sixteenth Army Corps. It was engaged with the enemy at Coldwater, Miss, July 28th, and et Grenada August 18th, and moved to La Grange, Tenn., August Both; made an attack upon the enemy at Salem, Miss., October 8th, and drove him from his position: metibe enemy at Wyatt, Miss., October 12th, and after fighting all day the rebels fell back and retreated during the night.


November 8th, moved from La Grange to Corinth, and returned scon after- ward; marched to Colliersville, and was assigned to the Second Brigade Caval- ry Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps; was engaged with the enemy at Saulsbury, Tenn., and on the 4th the division, under commaid of General Grier. son, was engaged at Moscow, Tenn. In this fight the Ninth took a conspicuous part.


In January, 1864, the regiment was in the Second Brigade, commamiled by Colonel Albert G. Brackett, of Grierson's Division, Sixteenth Corps, Army of Tennessee, at Colliersville, and detachment under Major Ira R. Gifford had a brisk skirmish with a portion of Forrest sven mand, which had made an attach. upon the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, in which several of the caany were killed and wounded.


February 11, 1861, the regiment moved out by order of General Sheimen against the enemy, with the Union force organized under General William Socy Smith, Chief of Cavalry of the Division of the Mississippi, with a view to over- throw the rebel cavalry under General Forrest. He pushed across the country as rapidly as possible, crossed the Tallahutchie River at New Albany witheu's opposition and moved on to Okobona, on the Mobile & Chio Railway, meantime having been engaged with the enemy at West Point on the 20th of February. at Okolana the 21st and at Mount Ivy on the 23d. While a portion of the command was sent to threaten Columbus, the main body moved on, destroying an immense amount of corn, cotton, and other stores of great value to the Confederates. The regiment returned to and encamped at Germantown on the 24th of Foliru- ary. Although the chief object of the expedition was not accomplished, the cavalry had inflicted heavy injuries upon the Confederates.


On the 16th of March the regiment was mustered as a veteran organiz tion and the following day marched to Samples, but the men darned to Hitais on the usual furlough granted to veterans.


April 27th, the men of the regiment returned to Memphis from furlough, and


372


HISTORY OF THE


a short time thereafter a portion of them accompanied General Sturgis on his expedition against the enemy. Ar Guntown, Miss , on the 10th of July, off forces met with a severe check and were obliged to give way. The Ninth formed a portion of the rear guard, losing five killed, twenty three wounded and twelve captured out of one hundred and sixty men.


Upon the failure of this expedition another, under General Andrew J. Smith, was fitted out and marched from Sautsbury to Pontotoc, where a fight occurred on the 11th of July, and meeting the enemy in force near Tapelo, another action took place, the Confederates being driven from the field, leaving a large rondier of dead and wounded comrades. The next day, July 15th, a severe cavalry fight occurred at Old Town Creek, where the Ninth acquitted it off with credit, and afterwards returned to Memphis.


In August the regiment marched by way of Holly Springs to Abbeville, Miss., where it had a skirmish with the energy, and on the Hithe had another brush at Oxford. A severe fight took place at Hurricane Creek, the Ninth taking an lien orable :bare, Jo ing four billed and several wounded. I returned to its sotion at Memphis September 19.


With Captain Williama C. Bhekburn in command the regiment moved ont again on the 80th of September, and, after crossing the Tennessee River ; Clif. ton, marched by way of Waynesboro, Lawrenceburg, Florence, Ala., Waterloo, Hamburg and Savannah to Clifton, pursuing the rebel under General Wheeler. The command returned again to Florence, and there met the advance of General Hool's army. The division to which the Ninth was attached did some hard fighting at Shoal Creek, Al., on the 9th of November. On the 19th of the side month crossed the river and two days afterward attached the enemy meer Law- rencehurg. Tenn .. the Ninth Minois Cavalry Ming in the advance. Too divi. ious of the energy coming up compelled it to re cross the river and in sodding, one battalion becoming detached passed through the rebel line, and was colli pelled to remain in year of the energy until, under cover of the darkness, & re crossed the stream and joined its friends.




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