I have often heard of the nineteenth century United States referred to as "a nation of immigrants." Recently, I stumbled upon a book which drove that point home to me.We Were the Ninth is a regimental history of the 9th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. According to this book, of 1,155 men who served in this regiment, just fifty-five men were born in the United States. Further, fifty-six men were born in Switzerland, and virtually all of the remainder were born in Germany. Consequently, the original regimental history was written in German. This was truly a regiment of immigrants.

Formation of the regiment

How was this regiment formed? The 9th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was recruited in the mostly-German neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, just after the beginning of the Civil War. The original colonel was Robert L. McCook, whose brother became a corps commander in the Union Army of the Tennessee. Under McCook, the 9th Ohio was drilled and trained well. However, McCook was rapidly promoted to brigade command, and so the 9th Ohio continued training under its subsequent colonel, Gustave Kammerling.

Military Record

The 9th Ohio began its combat experience in McClellan's West Virginia campaign.The men apparently were in several skirmishes, but no pitched battles. Naturally, they were part of Cook's Brigade.

After West Virginia, the 9th Ohio was sent to Kentucky. It was still part of McCook's Brigade, and as such, participated in the small battle of Mill Springs (also known as Logan Crossroads). Battles and Leaders of the Civil War specifically cites the two regiments of McCook's brigade (the 2nd Minnesota and the 9th Ohio) for their excellent training and discipline during the battle. Additionally, Battles and Leaders of the Civil War credits a charge by the 9th Ohio with breaking the Rebel resistance at Mill Springs.

The 9th Ohio stayed on in Kentucky as part of Buell's Army of the Ohio. The men fought in the battle of Perryville as part of Steadman's (formerly McCook's) brigade of the 1st (Schoepf's) Division of the the 3rd (Gilbert's) Corps. The regiment was brigaded with the 87th Indiana, 2nd Minnesota, 35th Ohio, and the 18th U.S. during the battle.

Later, the 9th Ohio fought at Chickamauga as part of Van Derveer's Brigade of the 4th (Reynolds') Division of the 14th (Thomas') Corps. As such, they were part of Thomas' desperate rearguard action which saved the Union army and gave Thomas his nickname, "The Rock of Chickamauga." At Chickamauga, the 9th Ohio was brigaded with the 87th Indiana, 2nd Minnesota, and 35th Ohio.

The 9th Ohio also fought at Chattanooga as part of Van Derveer's Brigade of the 3rd (Baird's) Division of the 14th (Palmer's) Corps. At Chattanooga, the regiment was part of the assault on the Confederate positions on Missionary Ridge. At Chattanooga, the men were brigaded with the 75th Indiana, 87th Indiana, 101st Indiana, 2nd Minnesota, 35th Ohio, and 105th Ohio.

The 9th Ohio began Sherman's Atlanta campaign in Van Derveer's Brigade of the 3rd (Baird's) Division of the 14th (Palmer's) Corps. The 9th Ohio was eventually disbanded, and its survivors were mustered out in May, 1864. At the time, Gustave Kammerling still led the regiment. Perhaps other readers know of similar "regiments of immigrants", about which they would like to tell us.