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*On this date in 1863, the 9th United States Colored Infantry was created. This infantry regiment served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was composed of Black enlisted men commanded by white officers and authorized by the Bureau of Colored Troops.
The 9th U.S. Colored Infantry was organized at Camp Stanton in Benedict, Maryland. The regiment was attached to the District of Hilton Head, South Carolina, Department of the South, to April 1864. District of Beaufort, South Carolina, Department of the South, to August 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, X Corps, Army of the James, Department of Virginia and North Carolina, to December 1864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, XXV Corps, to January 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, XXV Corps, to January 1866. Department of Texas to November 1866. Its commander was Samuel C. Armstrong.
Detailed service
Duty at Benedict, Md., until March 1864. Moved to Port Royal, S.C., March 3–7. Duty at Hilton Head, S.C., until April 1864, and at Port Royal Island, S.C., until June. Ashepoo Expedition May 24–27. Expedition to Johns and James Islands June 30-July 10. Engaged July 7 and 9. Duty at Beaufort, S.C., until August. Moved to Bermuda Hundred, Va., August 4–8. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond from August 1864 to April 1865. Demonstration on the north side of the James River August 13–18. Skirmishes at Deep Bottom August 14–15. Russell's Mills August 16. They moved to the Bermuda Hundred front on August 18, then to Petersburg on August 24, and had duty in the trenches until September 26.
Demonstration on the north side of James September 26–30. Battle of Chaffin's Farm, New Market Heights, September 28–30. Fort Gilmer September 29. Darbytown Road October 13. Battle of Fair Oaks October 27–28. In the trenches before Richmond until April 1865. Occupation of Richmond April 3. Duty at Richmond, Petersburg, and City Point until June. I moved to Brazos Santiago, Texas, from June 7 to July 1 to Brownsville. Duty at Brownsville and on the Rio Grande River, Texas, until October 1866. Ordered to New Orleans, La., October 2.
Casualties
The regiment lost 315 men during service; 1 officer and 46 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded, and two officers and 266 enlisted men died of disease. The 9th U.S. Colored Infantry mustered out of service on November 20, 1866.
