9th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 9th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment was original raised as a Three-Month Regiment in April of 1861, but would ultimately sign on for the duration of the war.
The regiment was organized in Springfield, Illinois, however three of the original companies came from Alton, Illinois including our namesake, The Alton Jaeger Guards, who would comprise Company A.
Two days before the Battle of Shiloh, the men of the 9th Illinois Volunteers were camped at Pittsburg Landing and recieved new uniforms to replace their worn out grey state issued uniforms. These uniforms consisted of a nine button Illinois State Jacket, sky blue trousers and forage caps.
On the morning of the battle, Col. August Mersy, commander of the 9th ordered his regiment to don their new uniforms for an inspection. As fate would have it, due to this, they would find themselves among the first into action at Shiloh. The regiment went into the field with 578 present for duty, and sustained a loss of sixty-one killed, three hundred wounded and five prisoners, and of those prisoners three were wounded, thus showing a loss of killed and wounded unparalleled by the history of any regiment during the war. It was here they earned the nickname, “The Bloody Ninth”.
This is how the men of the 9th Illinois Volunteers, and those of the Alton Jaeger Guard would have appeared after receiving their new uniforms prior to the Battle of Shiloh.
The regiment was organized in Springfield, Illinois, however three of the original companies came from Alton, Illinois including our namesake, The Alton Jaeger Guards, who would comprise Company A.
Two days before the Battle of Shiloh, the men of the 9th Illinois Volunteers were camped at Pittsburg Landing and recieved new uniforms to replace their worn out grey state issued uniforms. These uniforms consisted of a nine button Illinois State Jacket, sky blue trousers and forage caps.
On the morning of the battle, Col. August Mersy, commander of the 9th ordered his regiment to don their new uniforms for an inspection. As fate would have it, due to this, they would find themselves among the first into action at Shiloh. The regiment went into the field with 578 present for duty, and sustained a loss of sixty-one killed, three hundred wounded and five prisoners, and of those prisoners three were wounded, thus showing a loss of killed and wounded unparalleled by the history of any regiment during the war. It was here they earned the nickname, “The Bloody Ninth”.
This is how the men of the 9th Illinois Volunteers, and those of the Alton Jaeger Guard would have appeared after receiving their new uniforms prior to the Battle of Shiloh.
The soldier depicted below is the Color Sergeant, the man assigned to carry, and more importantly, protect the Regiment’s flags. The position of Color Sergeant was a great honor and many men died refusing to allow their regiments colors to fall into enemy hands.
The flag he is holding is an exact copy of the flag given to the 9th Illinois from the citizens of Mascoutah, Illinois and was carried by the regiment at Shiloh. The first regimental colors were presented to the regiment in June 1861. It had 34 stars arranged in a shield shape in the canton.
The flag he is holding is an exact copy of the flag given to the 9th Illinois from the citizens of Mascoutah, Illinois and was carried by the regiment at Shiloh. The first regimental colors were presented to the regiment in June 1861. It had 34 stars arranged in a shield shape in the canton.