9th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment

The Ninth Infantry was organized at Fort Wayne, near Detroit, and was mustered into the United States service on Oct. 15, 1861, with an enrollment of 913 officers and men. Immediately upon its completion the Regiment was ordered to Kentucky, being one of the first Michigan regiments to report for duty in the Western Department.

In November, 1861, the regiment was at West Point, Ky., where it assisted in fortifying Muldraugh Hill, building roads and bridges. Detachments of the Ninth were sent to Elizabethtown, Ky. and other places surrounding West Point, Ky., where their presence was necessary to gain information, while protecting the countryside from marauding Confederate forces. Colonel W. W. Duffield, having been assigned the 23rd Brigade, Army of the Cumberland, Lieutenant Colonel John J. Parkhurst assumed command of the Ninth and assembling his Regiment at West Point, where it embarked on the Ohio river, proceeding to Nashville, arriving there on Jan. 23, 1862.

The Regiment participated on the march through Kentucky after the Confederate General John Morgan, assisting the 23rd Brigade in driving the notorious raider from the state. In June, the Ninth formed a part of a force of 9,000 troops under command of General Negley, then commenced a movement to capture Chattanooga, Tenn.

After numerous conflicts with the Confederates, Negley's troops arrived before Chattanooga on June 8th, then after a spirited contest, drove the Confederates out of the city. Not having a force sufficient to occupy and hold the works, General Negley divided his forces, placing them at strategic points in the vicinity. In July, four companies under Major Dorus M. Fox were stationed at Tullahoma, the other six companies were under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Parkhurst at Murfreesboro. Here the six companies of the Ninth, together with the Third Minnesota, assisted by a squadron of Kentucky cavalry, were furiously attacked by the Confederate General Forrest at 4:00 A.M. on the morning of July 13th, by a force of 2,500 cavalry.

The attack fell heavily upon the detachment of the Ninth, consisting of about 250 men. The Confederates rode with reckless bravery into the camp of the Ninth, where a hand to hand encounter took place, then after prolonged struggle, the attackers was driven back, the Ninth recovering their overran camp. No support was sent to the Ninth, though Lieutenant Colonel Parkhurst sent messengers to the commander of the post, calling for reinforcements to help him in this desperate condition. The isolated portion of the detachment of the Ninth furnished ample opportunity for General Forest to bring an overwhelming force against it. The obstinate contest lasted from 4 a.m. until 1 p.m., when with no prospect of aid, with one-third of this men killed, wounded or captured, Lieutenant Colonel Parkhurst was most reluctantly obliged to surrender his command to the Southerners. Lieutenant Colonel Parkhurst and his adjutant Henry M. Duffield were taken prisoners in this engagement, the former being held until Dec. 3, 1862, when he was released, the latter August 15, 1863.

During the month of November,the Ninth entered upon the campaign under General Rosecrans, who was operating against the Confederate troops, that culminated in the battle of Stone River and the capture of Murfreesboro. During the campaign; but before, the battle of Stone River the Ninth was detailed by General Thomas as a special guard at his headquarters, as Provost Guard for the 14th Corp.

When the Union right was crushed at Stone River, the Ninth did most gallant service in checking the stampede to the rear, by firmly holding the Nashville Pike, the disorganized forces were stopped and returned to their commands. Major General Thomas complimented Colonel Parkhurst and the Regiment for the very important service rendered at this critical point of battle. The Regiment also was engaged in provost duty at the battle Chickamauga, Ga., and by its prompt action gathered up the stragglers from the commands that were broken up by the furious onslaught of the Confederate columns, returning them to the firing line, where they helped repel the Confederate assaults.

Lieutenant Colonel Parkhurst was commissioned Colonel Feb. 6, 1863, being made Provost Marshal General of the Army of the Cumberland, with Lieutenant H. M. Duffield as his Adjutant General.

The Regiment passed under the command of Colonel Wilkinson, then in November and December, the Ninth was doing provost duty at Chattanooga.

Here the Regiment veteranized, 306 of its members re-enlisting, then were sent to Coldwater, Michigan, where they were furloughed for 30 days. After the expiration of the 30 days furlough the Regiment left Coldwater on Feb. 10, 1864, with 500 men, reporting to General Thomas, then started out on the Georgia Campaign. They were on provost duty in all of the battles from Chattanooga to Atlanta and when Atlanta fell, did provost duty in that city.

The Ninth returned to Chattanooga, then proceeded to Nashville with General Thomas, performing provost duty there until Sept.15, 1865, when it was mustered out and returned to Jackson, Michigan, where it arrived on the 27th, was paid off and disbanded.

During their term of Federal service, they were engaged at:

Murfreesboro,Tenn.	Lavergne,Tenn.	Stone River,Tn.
Chickamauga,Ga.	Mission Ridge,Tenn.	Rocky Face,Ga.
Resaca,Ga.	Dallas,Ga.	Kenesaw Mt.,Ga.
Chattahootchie Rvr.,Ga.	The Siege of Atlanta,Ga.	Jonesboro,Ga.

ORGANIZATION

Organized at Detroit, Mich., and mustered in October 15, 1861.
Moved to Jeffersonville, Ind., Attached to Thomas' Command, Dept. of the Ohio, November, 1861.
October 25, thence to West Point and to Muldraugh's Hill, Ky., and duty there constructing bridges and earthworks till January 4, 1862.
16th Brigade, Army of the Ohio to March, 1862.
23rd Independent Brigade, Army of the Ohio to November, 1862.
Headquarters 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland to February, 1864.
Headquarters Dept. of the Cumberland in the field to May, 1864.
Reserve Brigade, Dept. of the Cumberland, to October, 1864.
Headquarters Dept. of the Cumberland, Chattanooga, Tenn. to June, 1865.
Nashville, Tenn. to September, 1865.

1861-1865

Total Enrollment	1947
Killed in Action	14
Died of Wounds	11
Died of Disease	271
Discharged from Wounds	208
Total Casualty Rate	25.8%

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Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 3391 men. Bibliography for Research: