9th Regiment Conn Vol - 150 Years Ago In The Civil War

On May 31, 150 years ago, Company B of the Ninth Connecticut (Connecticut’s Irish Regiment ) with ten Cheshire soldiers left on a transport heading for Baton Rouge, Louisiana the first step on the way to Vicksburg. The Cheshire men included the following:

• Cpl Farrell Brennan, a 26 year old married farmer born in County Sligo, Ireland.
• Pvt Martin Burke, a 35 year old married farmer born in County Tipperary, Ireland. Injured at Ship Island, MS he had rejoined Company B of the Ninth.
• Pvt John Dawson, a 20 year old single farmer born in County Longford.
• Pvt John Lynch, a single 27 year old born in County Cavan.
• Pvt Alexander Mercier, a 27 year old mechanic (harness maker) born in Canada who was married to an Irish girl named Brennan.
• Pvt William H. Moon, a 21 year old single laborer born in England.
• Pvt John Mulvey, a 35 year old married collier (miner) born in County Leitrim, Ireland.
• Pvt George Hoey, a 22year old born in County Longford.
• Pvt Charles Mulvey born in County Leitrim
• Pvt Michael Reynolds born in County Leitrim.

Earlier in the month, on May 2, the second regiment entered the fallen city of New Orleans where they were chosen by General Butler to conduct a parade through the streets of the Crescent City as “an object lesson to a belligerent populace”. Assignments to area locations included the abandoned Camp Parapet, Carrollton, Louisiana, six miles above New Orleans where they secured arms and made repairs to damaged fortifications. The Ninth was soon on the move again, however, as they began to embark for Baton Rouge by late May under General Thomas Williams.

As part of the first campaign against Vicksburg the Ninth Connecticut was joined by soldiers from Massachusetts, Vermont, Michigan and Wisconsin.

We’ll follow the regiment with occasional reports that coincide with events 150 years ago.