9th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment

9th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry
Michigan State Flag.
Active	October 15, 1861, to September 15, 1865
Country	United States
Allegiance	Union
Branch	Infantry
Size	Regiment
Garrison/HQ	Fort Wayne (Detroit) near Detroit, Michigan
Engagements	American Civil War Battle of Lebanon First Battle of Murfreesboro Battle of Stone's River Battle of Chickamauga Battle of Resaca Battle of Kennesaw Mountain Siege of Atlanta Battle of Jonesboro
Disbanded	September 15, 1865
Commanders
Notable commanders	Colonel William W. Duffield Colonel John Gibson Parkhurst

American Civil War

The 9th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The Ninth Michigan Infantry organized at Fort Wayne (Detroit), near Detroit, Michigan, from independent companies recruited throughout the state, and mustered into Federal service for a three-year enlistment on October 15, 1861. The Regiment was under the command of William Ward Duffield as colonel and John G. Parkhurst as lieutenant colonel. The Ninth was the first Michigan regiment ordered to the western army or the "Army of the Ohio", as it was called at the time. The regiment was sent to West Point, Kentucky, to build fortifications on Muldraugh's Hill.

March 9, the 23rd Brigade was created, consisting of the Ninth Michigan, the 3rd Minnesota, and the 8th and 23rd Kentucky regiments. Col. Duffield was placed in command of the brigade which was ordered to Nashville. This left Parkurst in command of the Ninth, which was ordered to Nashville. The Regiment arrived in Nashville on March 23, and soon moved South to occupy the important city of Murfreesboro. Colonel Duffield left the brigade on May 9, to take command of the Department of Kentucky from the ailing Gen. Burnbridge. This left Col. Lester of the 3rd Minnesota in charge of the brigade. Monday, June 30, four companies (D, E, F and I) of the 9th Michigan, under the command of Major Fox, left Murfreesboro for Tullahoma. Col. Duffield rejoined the 9th in Murfreesboro on July 11, 1862.

At 4:00 A.M. on the morning of July 13, the Union garrison was attacked by a force of 2,500 cavalry led by Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest in what was to be called the First Battle of Murfreesboro. Because of decisions made by Col. Lester, the various union forces were camped in different locations. The 9th were attacked furiously by Forrest's forces. At three different times during the fighting, the 9th sent messengers to Col. Lester and the 3rd Minnesota requesting reinforcements. Each time, the request was denied, even though the 3rd Minnesota were not under attack. After 8 hours of intense fighting, and suffering casualties of one-third of the fighting force, the 9th surrendered to Forrest. Col. Duffield was wounded twice during the battle and never returned to the Regiment.