When an advance was made, after halting, in an incredibly short time, breast-works were thrown up to prepare for an attack. It is amusing, even now, to hear the boys laughing at their expertness with the spade. They all turned out to be pretty good Irishmen, so far as the use of the spade is concerned.
Immediately upon the evacuation of Corinth, Gen. Davies' Division, to which the 9th Ill. Inft. belonged, was ordered, with Gen. Pope's army, in pursuit of the fleeing enemy. The rapidity with which that pursuit was prosecuted, will be seen from the following record of our daily marches. Is it to be wondered at that they were not overtaken? On the first day we moved out five miles, and bivouacked for the night near Farmington. Moved forward again on the 31st, three miles, and went into camp on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. Here we remained in camp until the 5th of June.
The following events occurred while in camp here: On the 1st of June the Regiment was paid for the months of January, February, March and April, 1862.
On the 2d of June commissions arrived as follows: First Lieut. James C. McClery, to be Captain Co. K; 2d Lieut. G. G. Low, to be 1st Lieut. Co. K; and Sergt. James Oats, to be 2d Lieut. Co. K. Sergeant Mallmann, to be 2d Lieut. Co. B; and Sergt. Gottlab, to be 2d Lieut. Co. A.
On the 5th of June we again moved forward, eight miles, and went into camp. On the 6th, moved forward and went into camp near Boonville, Miss. Here we remained until the 12th of June. General Davies, commander of the Division, being absent on sick-leave, General Oglesby was in command of the Division; Col. Mersy of the Brigade, and Major Kuhn of the Regiment.
On the 12th of June, the Regiment moved on its return towards Corinth, fifteen miles, and went into camp. On the 13th, moved again and occupied its old camping ground two and a-half miles south of Corinth.
On the 17th of June, Col. Wright, of the 22d Ohio, being senior Colonel, relieved Col. Mersy of the command of the Brigade, and Col. Mersy went home on sick-leave.
The Regiment remained in camp here until August 16th, 1862. During this time the following changes occurred: Captain Webb resigned, and his resignation was accepted July 15th, 1862. Lieutenant Purviance, of Co. I, was discharged August 16th, for inability from wounds received in action at Shiloh.
On the 16th of August, in compliance with orders from Gen. Davies, Division commander, the Regiment moved, with camp and garrison equipage, to Rienzi, and reported for duty to Brig. Gen. Granger, commanding at that place, by whom it was assigned to Col. Schaeffer, commanding 2d Brigade.
Regimental Quartermaster, W. G. Pinckard, was promoted to be Captain and Assistant Quartermaster, to rank from April 30th, 1862.