Robert H. Milroy, Colonel 9th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Photo taken of Milroy as a Major General of Volunteers.
Enlistment
Six days had passed since Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina had surrendered to South Carolina Militia forces. News of the firing upon Ft. Sumter travelled fast, even to rural Indiana.
In Elkhart, Indiana on Friday April 19th, 1861, citizen George Bickel of Wakarusa, enlisted into Company C, 9th Indiana Volunteer Infantry (also carried on the company muster rolls as Bickle). George is listed as # 57 on the company muster roll with Ambrose G. Bierce (famous post-war author), who also enlisted from Elkhart, as # 58.
Company C was just one of nine companies then being recruited in northern Indiana to fill the ranks of the three month regiment 9th Indiana Infantry. The various companies were ordered to Indianapolis and by April 27th, were fully organized with Colonel Robert H. Milroy as their commanding officer. Captain Theodore T. Mann commanded Company C.
Below identification disc reads: War of 1861, Co. C, 9th Ind., Reg., Engaged in the above Battles. Similar identification disc has been documented in Stanley S. Phillips book: Excavated Artifacts from Battlefields and Campsites of the Civil War 1861-1865, page 116, plate 93, numbers 16 & 17. Disc appears to be made of pewter and the engraving has been highlighted with chaulk dust.
Deployment
The men received arms, uniforms, equipment and were instructed in the "School of the Soldier" while in Indianapolis. Both officers and men learned military discipline, marching movements and the use of their weapons. It is very possible that Pvt. Bickel purchased his "dog tag" from a sutler while in camp during this time of instruction. On May 29th and with just two months of their enlistment remaining, the Ninth received orders to report to Grafton, Virginia. There they were placed under the command of Colonel B. F. Kelley, First Virginia Infantry Regiment U.S..
Veterans
Above: Pvt. George Bickel's identification disc reads: G. Bickel, Co. _ , _ Ind., Vols., Wakrusa. Ind. (note that Wakarusa is mis-spelled).
On Monday, June 3rd, the Ninth saw action for the first time at Philippi, Va.. The Left column under Col. Kelley consisting of six companies of his 1st Va. US, six companies of Col. Irvine's 16th Ohio and Col. Milroy's nine companies of the 9th Ind. were to attack rebel forces with the Right column under Col. Dumont of the 7th Ind.. After a march of twenty-five miles and a short rest, the two columns attacked and routed the rebel forces.
The 9th Ind. infantry were now considered veterans, they "had seen the elephant". Unfortunatly, this American Civil War would not be decided by one battle like many had thought, it would prove to last four long years.
Milroy's Ninth was now placed under the command of Brigidier General T. A. Morris, commanding the US forces now in western Virginia. Under Morris, the Ninth saw further action at Laurel Hill on July 7-8, Bealington on July 10, Carrick's Ford July 12-14 and the pursuit of Rebel General Garnett's forces July 14-17. These early actions in the Appalachian mountains of western Virginia were important in protecting the mainly pro-Union citizens of that region and helped define the boundries of what was to become in 1863, the new state of West Virginia.
Discharged
Late July of 1861 found the three month regiment Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry back in Indianapolis. They were hailed as veterans and saviors of western Virginia and earned the sobriquet "Bloody 9th". While Pvt. George Bickel and others were discharged on July 29th, the Ninth's official discharge is listed as August 2, 1861. The regiment, while in Virginia, lost three enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and two enlisted men by disease for a total of five deaths.
