Pennsylvania Volunteers
in the Spanish-American War

1898-1899

Ninth RegimentRegimental History The Ninth Regiment Infantry, National Guard of Pennsylvania, which was composed of eight companies from Luzerne county, reported at Mt. Gretna, Pa., at. six o'clock on the morning of April 28th, 1898, in accordance with the orders of the Governor of Pennsylvania, and for the purpose of volunteering in the service of the United States. In pursuance of General Orders No .9, Adjutant General's Office, series 1898, the regiment was paraded May 4th, 1898, the roll was called, and officers and men of the command signified their intention as to volunteering in the service of the United States. The strength of the regiment at this time was thirty-seven officers and four hundred and eighty-one enlisted men, of whom thirty-four officers and four hundred and seventeen enlisted men volunteered. Two officers and sixty-one enlisted men were subsequently rejected on account of physical disability. The regiment was mustered into the United States service on May 11, 1898, with a total strength of thirty-six officers and six hundred and four enlisted men, which included recruits. In compliance with orders from the War Department, dated May 13, 1898, the regiment left Mt. Gretna, Pa., on the afternoon of May 17, 1898, and proceeded to Camp George H. Thomas, Chickamauga Park, Georgia, arriving there May 20, 1898; bivouacked at Lytle Hill, near Battlefield Station, and on reporting to Major General Brooke, was assigned to the Third Brigade, Third Division, First Army Corps. On May 22, 1898, Colonel Dougherty was assigned to the command of the Brigade and remained in command until July 4, 1898.

Under the second call of the President for 75,000 men, dated May 25th, 1898, the several companies of the Ninth regiment were recruited to a maximum strength of one hundred and six men. Four additional companies were also added to the regiment, making the total strength one thousand three hundred and twenty-three officers and men. The four additional companies were recruited at the following points : Company G, Captain Henry D. Green, at Reading, Berks county. Company K, Captain Henry Adams, at South Bethlehem, Northampton county. Company L, Captain Robert S. Mercur, at Summit Hill, Carbon county. Captain Robert S. Mercur was a Battalion Adjutant of the Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers when he was commissioned captain. On August 5th, 1898, the regimental camp was changed from the original location to the "Smith- White" field. August 20th, the Third Division, First Army Corps,was ordered to Lexington, Kentucky. On August 25th, the sick in the regimental hospital were transferred to a hospital train going north; those too ill to be removed were transferred to the Third Division Hospital. A special hospital train under the individual charge of Governor Hastings or Pennsylvania, arrived at Chickamauga Park August 27th, and the sick of the Pennsylvania regiments who were in condition to travel were transferred to this train, which proceeded to Lexington, Ky., arriving August 28th. The remaining sick of the regiment were placed on this train and removed to their homes. The regiment left Chickamauga Park at 5:30 P. M., August 25th, and arrived at Camp Hamilton about five miles from Lexington, Ky., on August 27th, at 5 :30 P. M. September 8th, the regiment was ordered to be mustered out. On Sunday, September 18th, the regiment left Camp Hamilton, for Wilkes-Barre, Pa., where it arrived Monday evening, September 19, 1898, and was given an enthusiastic welcome, and a supper was provided in the Ninth Regiment Armory, after which the several companies located outside of Wilkes-Barre, proceeded to their home stations by special train. Pursuant to orders directing the muster out of the regiment, officers were granted leave or absence and enlisted men were furloughed for thirty days. Thursday, September 27th, the regiment participated in the Peace Jubilee celebration in Philadelphia. The Ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, was mustered out of the service October 29, 1898.