HISTORY
[Source: Loyal West Virginia 1861-1865, by Theodore Lang]

The Ninth West Virginia Volunteer Infantry was organized December, 1861, with the following field officers: Leonard Skinner, colonel; William C. Starr, lieutenant-colonel; Benjamin, M. Skinner, major. The regiment was composed largely of refugees, who, having been driven from home, were fighting with a desperation that was not excelled by any troops in any army. The regiment served mainly in the Kanawha and Shenandoah Valley under Crook, Hunter, Duval and others. It was especially distinguished for bravery at the battle of Cloyd's Mountain. Col. Carr B. White commanding the brigade, says in his report that the regiment carried the enemy's works on the right under fire that killed and wounded more than one third of the regiment, without an officer or man faltering, capturing two guns, one regimental flag, and many prisoners and is designated as one of the most gallant feats of the war. Its loss at this battle attests the desperate character of the assault: 45 killed, 144 wounded. In this action the colorguard entered the enemy's works in advance of the line, every one of them falling, killed or wounded, and after the fight, 21 men lay dead around the flag, 12 of whom were Confederates. Besides this battle the regiment bore a conspicuous part in the battles of Lynchburg, Kernstown, Winchester, Martinsburg, Hunter's raid, etc.

Gen'l I. H. Duval was commissioned colonel of the regiment, September 9, 1862, and although he served much of his term as brigade or division commander, the regiment was generally in his command. Of the regiments he commanded, General Duval says he served longer with the Ninth Regiment than the others, and led it in many hard fought battles; "we were in some defeats as well as many victories, and in our defeats and retreats the Ninth Regiment was never panic-stricken, but always came off as it went into battle, shoulder to shoulder. We never allowed the enemy to go through us in advancing or retreating."

The regiment's losses during the war were: killed and died of wounds, three officers and 96 enlisted men; died of disease or accident, one officer, 107 men. Total 207. The reenlisted veterans and recruits of the Ninth and Fifth Infantry Regiments were consolidated November 9, 1864, which formed the First West Virginia Veteran Infantry.

SERVICE
[Source: Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, by Frederick Dyer]

Organized at Guyandotte November 28, 1861, to April 30, 1862. Attached to District of the Kanawha, West Virginia, to May, 1862. 4th Brigade, Kanawha Division, West Virginia, to September, 1862. District of the Kanawha, West Virginia, Dept. of the Ohio, to January, 1863. Milroy's Command, Winchester, Va., 8th Army Corps, Middle Department, to February, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 8th Army Corps, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, Scammon's Division, West Virginia, to August, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Scammon's Division, West Virginia, to December, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, West Virginia, to April, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, West Virginia, to November, 1864.

SERVICE.--Duty at Guyandotte, W. Va., till April, 1862. Affair at Guyandotte November 10, 1861. Assigned to garrison duty in the Kanawha Valley by detachments at Fayette, Gauley Bridge, Summersville, Point Pleasant, Coalsmouth and Calhoun till July, 1862. Scout in Roane and Clay Counties May 8-21. Affair at Summersville July 25 (Cos. "A," "F"). Moved to Flat Top Mountain July 28. To Summersville and Gauley August 14. Campaign in the Kanawha Valley September 1-16. Repulse of Loring's attack on Fayetteville September 10. Cotton Hill, Charleston and Gauley Ferry September 11. Charleston September 13. At Point Pleasant to January, 1863. Expedition up the Kanawha Valley October 21-November 10, 1862. At Winchester and Beverly January to June, 1863. Scout to Wardensville, Strasburg, etc., April 25-30. Winchester May 4. West Creek May 23. Winchester June 18. Duty in the Kanawha Valley till May, 1864. Crook's Expedition against Virginia & Tennessee Railroad May 2-19. Action at Cloyd's Mountain May 9. New River Bridge May 10. Cove Mountain or Grassy Lick near Wytheville May 10. Salt Pond Mountain and Gap Mountain May 12-13. Hunter's Expedition against Lynchburg May 26-July 1. Lexington June 11. Diamond Hill June 17. Lynchburg June 17-18. Retreat to Charleston June 19-July 1. Buford's Gap June 20. About Salem June 21. Moved to Shenandoah Valley July 12-15. Stephenson's Depot July 20. Battle of Kernstown, Winchester, July 23-24. Martinsburg July 25. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 6-November 1. Halltown August 24 and 26. Berryville September 3. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher's Hill September 22. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. At Camp Russell till November. Consolidated with 5th West Virginia Infantry November 9, 1864, to form 1st West Virginia Veteran Infantry.

LOSSES
[Source: Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, by Frederick Dyer]

Regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 96 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 107 Enlisted men by disease or accident. Total 207.

See also 1st West Virginia Veteran Infantry.

U.S. Army Military History Institute References:

NOTE: Organized Nov 6l-Apr 62; consolidated with the 5th WV Inf (which see) and redesignated lst WV Inf (Veteran) l9 Nov l864.

Dyer, Frederick H.; A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Vol. 2. Dayton, OH: Morningside, 1979. Ref.
See p. 1664 (1 photocopied page) for a concise summary of the regiment's service.

Lang, Theodore F.; Loyal West Virginia from 1861 to 1865.... Baltimore: Deutsch, 1895. E536L27.
See pp. 269-72 (4 photocopied pages) for a roster of officers and brief regimental history.

Starr, William C.; "Cedar Creek." In War Papers (MOLLUS, IN). Indianapolis, IN: By the Commandery, 1898. pp. 73-85 (7 photocopied pages). E464M5.1991v24.

Photo Archive includes images of individuals of this unit.

The following pertinent personal papers are in the Institute's Manuscript Archive:
Davis, Edward - CWMiscColl
Miller, George - MillerColl
Ridenour, Benjamin F. - CWMiscColl

Other References: