HISTORY OF THE
NINTH REGIMENT INFANTRY, U. S. COLORED TROOPS,
MARYLAND VOLUNTEERS.
E Ninth Regiment Infantry, U. S. Colored Troops, Maryland Volunteers,
composed of colored men from Maryland, was organized at Benedict,
Maryland, between November 11, 1863, and November 30, 1863.
The regiment remained at camp Stanton, Benedict, Maryland, during
the winter of 1863-4, perfecting the regimental organization and
engaged in drilling and disciplining the command.
On the 3rd day of March 1864, the 9th regiment embarked per
steamship for Port Royal, South Carolina, at which place it disembarked on 7th of the same
month. Remaining at that place a few weeks, it was ordered to Port Royal Island, where it
remained about one month; it then returned to Hilton Head and soon after took part in the
Ashepoo expedition, commanded by General Birney; after this it returned to Beaufort, on
Port Royal Island, where it remained a number of weeks, all the time performing the
common routine of camp duty. In the latter part of June following, the regiment embarked
for the expedition at that time got up against the enemy on John's Island, South Carolina;
July 7th and 9th, they skirmished with the enemy, and in a few days returned to Beaufort
via Folly Island; August 4th following, the 9th regiment embarked for Bermuda Hundreds,
Virginia, landing on the 8th of the same month, proceeded at once to the front; was engaged
with the enemy in skirmishing on the 14th and 15th of August, and on the 16th took an
active part in the battle of Fussel's Mills, Virginia, being the last regiment to yield up its
position and fall back under a galling cross-fire of the enemy; the second day following it
again skirmished with the enemy, and on the 18th of the same month marched to the
Bermuda Front, and soon after from thence, on the 24th, to the trenches in front of Peters-
burg, Virginia, where for a month the severe duties of besiegers told heavily upon the
physical strength of both officers and men. September 29, 1864, the regiment took part in
the terrible and disastrous assault on Fort Gilmer, in front of Richmond, and soon after took
up a position near Fort Harrison.
October 13th and 27th, 1864, following, they were engaged in skirmishing with the
enemy, suffering but lightly in killed and wounded. April 3rd 1865, they took part in the
triumphant entry into Richmond; from there the regiment marched back to Petersburg, and
after a number of weeks in camp at that place and City Point, it embarked on the 7th day of
June 1865, from City Point, Virginia, for Brazos Santiago, Texas, where it arrived July 1st,
|
|