A History of the Ninth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry

by Marion Morrison

The morning of October 30th came, and with it heavy clouds, threatening rain. Baggage must be packed up. Tents must be struck. Wagons must be loaded. By about 8 ½ A. M., all was ready, and we were on the march. About the time we started, it commenced raining, and rained heavily all day. This made it difficult for the Battery wagons to proceed rapidly. Came to Cypress Creek and bottom. The stream was very difficult to cross. There was a swampy bottom, of three miles, which we had to cross. The Battery did not get through it that night, but camped in the bottom. The right wing of the Regiment moved out to the ridge beyond, and there awaited the arrival of Battery and left wing. It being found they could not get through that night, all went into bivouack until morning. At an early hour on the morning of the 31st, the Regiment and Battery were on the move. We reached Corinth about 1 P. M., of the 31st. Here we were relieved as escort to the Battery. Went into camp in the barracks lately occupied by the 50th Ill. Regiment. Here we remained until the morning of the 3d of November.

On the 2d of November, we were mustered for pay. Received orders on the 2d, to move the next morning, as escort to a train, to Iuka. Orders were issued regulating the order of march. There was a train of about 200 wagons and ambulances. The advance was ordered to move at 4 A. M., and the rear at 6 A. M. The whole was under command of Lieut. Col. Phillips. Such was the promptness with which he had each part of the column to occupy its position, that when the rear moved, and he went to the telegraph office to dispatch to Gen. Dodge that all were moving, it lacked ten minutes of six o'clock. Moved on steadily until noon. Halted one hour to water and rest. At 5 P. M., we reached Iuka, a distance of 25 miles. It was regarded a very speedy trip for so long a train. We bivouacked for the night, near Iuka. On the morning of the 4th of November, we moved at 10 A. M., as escort to a train of 150 wagons, to the crossing of the Tennessee River at Eastport. We arrived at Eastport at 2 P. M.

Gen. Dodge's orders to Lieut. Col. Phillips, commanding the 9th Ill. Inft., was, that immediately upon his arrival at Eastport, he should leave the train, together with his own Regimental teams on this side, and ferry the Regiment across the river, so as to be ready to move as early as practicable on the following day. The Regiment was all across by about sundown, and bivouacked one-half mile from the river.

Our Regiment, Lieut. Col. Phillips commanding, was ordered on detached duty, and thus separated from the 2d Brigade, to which it properly belonged.

I might here state that the whole of the 2d Division of the 16th Army Corps, under command of Gen. Sweeney, Gen. Dodge being the department commander, had taken up the march from Corinth on the 2d and 3d of November, and was engaged in being ferried across the Tennessee River at Eastport.

Gen. Dodge's order, detaching the 9th Ill. Inft., assigned it to scouting and foraging for animals. The Division teams needed recruiting. Horses and mules must be procured in the country through which we were about to march, for this purpose. Gen. Sherman had lately marched his army through the same country, and it was very naturally supposed that animals would be scarce. Hence, a part of the order to our Regiment was to gather up all the horses, mules, cattle and sheep that could be found in the country. It was further ascertained that portions of Rebel cavalry had crossed North of the Tennessee River, to annoy our forces on their march. Hence, an additional duty assigned to the 9th Ill. was to make reconnoisances and watch the movements of the enemy.

On the night of the 4th, Lieut. Col. Phillips issued orders to be ready to move at 6 A. M., the next morning. He also issued orders detailing one non-commissioned officer and six men from each company for foraging purposes, and instructing the foragers to bring in all horses, mules, cattle and sheep that could be found on our route. All soldiers were forbidden to leave the ranks, except such as were detailed for that purpose.

On the morning of the 5th of October, the Regiment was on the march by daybreak. Took the Florence road, for about three miles. Turned North, and traveled about ten miles through a poor, rough, broken country. Halted to make inquiry as to the country. Found a good Union man, with a clever family. Had the old man to go with us, as a guide. The Regiment here separated and traveled two different roads. About noon the flankers of the right wing were fired on, near a house. A number of shots were fired. Several horses and some cattle were taken. Halted to feed, two hours. During that time the left wing came in. All having fed, we took up the march again. Proceeded in the direction of Florence. Bivouacked for the night, after dark, about 14 miles from Florence. It had rained almost constantly during the day. Was still raining some when we halted. There was a fair prospect for a disagreeable night for laying out. But it did not rain much during the night. We brought in two men as prisoners, and about forty head of horses and mules, with some cattle.

November 6th, the Regiment moved at sunrise, bearing South. At 2 P. M., we came into a rich country. Plantations large; abundance of negroes; stock was plenty, which was gathered up. At many of the plantations we would collect 20 or 25 mules. Halted two or three hours and gathered up stock and fed. We then moved five or six miles West, and bivouacked for the night near a house owned by a large planter. The woman applied for protection. No one was allowed to enter the house. Negroes came in from different plantations. Through them we gathered much information as to the whereabouts of stock. Did not leave camp until about 11 A. M., of the 7th November. Sent out companies in different directions, to forage for stock. Succeeded in gathering a large amount of it. We were here South of the road leading from Eastport to Florence. We had crossed that road on the afternoon of the 6th.

During both the days we were out, we could frequently hear of forces of the Rebel cavalry on the North side of the river. They were often very near us, but always kept out of our way.