After joining the Regiment, arrangements were made for regular preaching services on each Sabbath, and prayer-meetings on Sabbath and Wednesday evenings. I would here say, that we have been able notwithstanding the great amount of scouting duty the Regiment has had to perform, to hold our regular services on almost every Sabbath, up to the present time, except the few weeks I was absent from the Regiment, on orders, in Illinois. The Regiment had been without a Chaplain for about 20 months. For several Sabbaths we held our services under the shades of the trees in front of the Colonel's quarters. Soon, however, some of the soldiers volunteered their services, and erected a comfortable chapel, 40 by 24 feet, in which to hold our meetings. We had occupied this but a few Sabbaths, when we moved from our old camp at Pocahontas.
During the first three weeks of September, from one to four companies were out scouting, almost daily. Gen. Chalmers was concentrating a force South of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, to make a dash upon that road, and cut off communication between Memphis and Corinth.
On the 27th of September, the Regiment, under command of Lieut. Col. Phillips, who had rejoined it, moved South toward New Albany. On arriving within six miles of that place, he found the enemy too strong for a further safe advance with the force he had, and returned to camp at Pocahontas on the 29th.
On the 2d of October, the Regiment moved North on a scout. Found and engaged a small force of the enemy, on Forked Deer River. In this engagement, Private Peterson, of Co. K, was killed. Finding no more force of the enemy, the Regiment returned to camp at Pocahontas on the 4th of October.
During the latter part of September and the first week in October, there was much talk that we would be removed, and take up the march somewhere. Gen. Sherman's forces from Vicksburg, were constantly passing towards Corinth, for two or three weeks. It was reported that they would take the place of the 16th Army Corps in occupying Memphis and Corinth and the Railroad between them; and that our Corps would move into an active campaign. Thus we were kept, as soldiers often are, in suspense from day to day. Not knowing what a day might bring forth. In the meantime Sherman's forces passed on towards Chattanooga, and we were still in our old quarters.
As the weather was now becoming too cold for the airy tents, which most of the Regiment occupied, the boys went to the timber, split boards, hauled poles, &c., and put themselves up comfortable quarters. Brick chimneys, left where houses had been burnt through the country, were torn down and brought into camp, and neat little chimneys built to their shanties. Thus the boys were preparing for comfortably spending the winter in their camp.
On the 4th of October, commissions arrived, as follows: 2d Lieut. John Mallmann, to be Captain of Company B; 2d Sergt. L. Grieser, to be 1st Lieut. Company B; 1st Lieut. I. Clements, to be Captain Company G; 2d Lieut. N. G. Perrine, to be 1st Lieut. Company G; 1st Lieut. S. T. Hughs, to be Captain of Company I; 2d Lieut. Wm. Paden, to be 1st Lieut. Company I; Com. Sergt. C. A. Spatee, to be Regimental Quartermaster. Of the above, the following were ordered on duty, in their new rank, viz: Grieser, Clements, Perrine and Spatee.
On the 6th of October, the Regiment, under command of Lieut. Col. Phillips, moved South towards Ripley, on the Jonesborough road, and bivouacked for the night at Ruckersville. Moved forward again at daylight on the 7th, and reached Ripley at 8:30 A. M., and at 9:30 moved North-west towards Salem. When within five miles of that place, an advance was sent out, which ascertained that the enemy were in Salem about 3,000 strong. It was determined by Lieut. Col. Phillips, to attack them on the morning of the 8th, although his force did not exceed 400 men. Hence, early in the morning, one company was sent rapidly forward, and drove in their pickets and developed their forces. This done and they fell back. Soon after, the Regiment moved forward in force. Arriving at the town, it was found that Col. McCrillis was there with his Regiment of cavalry, and that the Rebels had fallen back out of town. It was soon ascertained, however, that their falling back was not a retreat, but a pretense, and that they were preparing to attack us. Hence, the 9th Ill. Inft. was dismounted and deployed as skirmishers, and the two guns of Tamrath's Battery accompanying the Regiment, were placed in position, and opened upon the enemy. In a very short time the enemy made a vigorous effort to drive us, but failed. After engaging this vastly superior force for three hours, and our ammunition failing, we fell back on to the Railroad at LaGrange, and were reinforced. Five of our men were killed and twenty wounded in this engagement.
After reaching LaGrange, a dispatch was sent into camp, for all the men in camp fit for duty, to join the Regiment at that place. Reinforcements were now secured and preparations made for driving the enemy back, or cutting off his retreat. On the 11th of October, the Regiment, together with Col. Hatch's mounted force, moved South-west. Had an engagement with the enemy at Graham's Mills, and another at Wyatt's, defeating them in both engagements and driving them Southward, after severe skirmishing.
Our entire mounted force was commanded by Col. Hatch, the Brigade by Lieut. Col. Phillips, and the Regiment by Captain A. G. Hawes. In these two last engagements, the 9th Ill. lost one man killed and five wounded.