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Unit Histories
"The 9th Regiment of Cavalry" 1 (2) (3) (4)
The 9th Cavalry first came into existence by an Act of Congress on July
28, 1866. To the six regular cavalry regiments then in service, this Act
added four new ones, "two of which shall be composed of colored men,
having the same organization as is now provided by law for cavalry regiments."
The organization of the African-American regiments was modified by including
a regimental chaplain, whose duties were enlarged to include the instruction
of the enlisted men. Up to this time all chaplains had been appointed
in the army, designated to posts, and known as post chaplains.
Service in the Civil War left an impact on the officer corps for the new
Unit. Men for the position of first and second lieutenant were to be filled
by selection from among the officers and soldiers of volunteer cavalry;
two-thirds of the original vacancies in the higher grades by selection
from among the officers of volunteer cavalry; and one-third from among
officers of the regular army. It was also decided that to be eligible
for selection, an active service of two years in the field during the
War of the Rebellion was necessary; also that applicants should have been
distinguished for capacity and good conduct.
Another enactment considerably affecting the composition of the regiment, and which, because its requirements have been so enlarged by recent legislation as to embrace nearly the entire commissioned force of the regular army, may be deemed of particular interest, is that referring to the examination of officers prior to appointment. It directed that no person should be commissioned in any of the regiments authorized by the Act, until he had passed a satisfactory examination before a board to be composed of officers of the arm of the service in which the applicant was to serve. This board was to be convened by the Secretary of War, and was to inspire into the service rendered during the war by the applicant, as well as into his capacity and qualifications for a commission in the regular forces. Appointments were to be made without reference to previous rank but solely by a consideration of present qualifications and past meritorious services.
On August 3, 1866, Major General Philip H. Sheridan, then commanding the Military Division of the Gulf, at New Orleans, Louisiana, was authorized to raise, among others, one regiment of colored cavalry to be designated the 9th Regiment of U. S. Cavalry. Men serving in volunteer colored regiments who desired to enlist in regular regiments were discharged from the volunteer organizations. This class of men was desired and many took advantage of the opportunity to join the regular army, and later proved of value as non- commissioned officers.
The mustering officer at New Orleans was directed to take temporary charge of the recruiting, and shortly afterwards it was transferred to Major Francis Moore, 65th U.S. Colored Infantry. The men transferred by Major Moore formed the nucleus of the enlisted strength, and were principally obtained from New Orleans and its vicinity. A little later in the autumn recruiting was established in Kentucky, and all the men for the new regiment were obtained from that State and Louisiana. The horses were obtained at St. Louis and proved to be excellent mounts.
About the middle of September all recruits were assembled in New Orleans, and preparations made for organization. Empty cotton presses were used as barracks and the ration was cooked over open fires. In the latter part of September an epidemic of cholera caused the camp to be moved to Greenville, and later, for other reasons, it was moved to Carrollton, both of which places are suburbs of New Orleans.
During the winter of 1866-67, every effort was made to bring about an efficient state of drill, discipline and organization. The orders regarding stables and the performance of that duty were especially strict. Few officers had as yet joined, and the number on duty with the regiment was so small, that a scheme of squadron organization was resorted to so that at least one officer might be present with each squadron for every drill or other duty. The entire enlisted strength was woefully ignorant, entirely helpless, and though willing enough to learn, was difficult to teach. Hard work and constant drilling made much headway, however, and by the end of March 1867, the troop was ready for duty. The middle of this month found the regiment with nearly its full strength, the return at that time showing a total of 885 enlisted men or an average of over 70 to a troop.
The regiment now practically organized yet still far from being in anything approaching full strength, was ordered to San Antonio, where it arrived early in April and formed a camp of instruction. Troops L and M, however, proceeded directly to Brownsville, Texas, near the mouth of the Rio Grande, where they remained several years. This command was under 1st Lieutenant J.M. Hamilton, formerly an officer in the 9th U.S. Colored Infantry. Hamilton was one of a number of volunteer officers who had been temporarily continued in their volunteer commissions for the purpose of helping organize the new regiments until the arrival of the regularly appointed officers. These officers had a heavy workload during the winter of 1866-67, as the regular officers arrived slowly until after the camp at San Antonio was established.
The 9th made camp near San Antonio for some three months, and the time spent there was used in completing and perfecting the organization and drill. The officers of the regiment were now nearly all appointed, and during the summer of 1867 they were as follows: Colonel Edward Hatch, Lieutenant Colonel Wesley Merritt, Majors James F. Wade, George A. Forsyth, and Albert P. Morrow, Chaplain John C. Jocobi, Captains J.S. Brisbin, Wm. Bayard, G.A. Purington, J.M. Bacon, G.H. Gamble, Henry Carroll, A.E. Hooker, W.T. Frobock, J.C. De Gress, T.A. Boice, F.S. Dodge, and E.M. Heyl. First Lieutenants Michael Cooney, I.F. Moffatt, J.G. Birney, Charles Parker, J.L. Humfreville, Francis Moore, F.W. Smith, L.H. Rucker, Byron Dawson, J.S. Loud, Patrick Cusack, F.S. Davidson, D.H Cortelyou, G.B. Bosworth, and W.B. Brunton. Second Lieutenants I. W. Trask, F.R. Vincent, I.M. Starr, F.P. Gross, E.D. Dimmick, W.W. Tyler, G.W. Budd, T.C. Barden, and J.C. Edgar.
