Weeks 5-8
May - June 1861
Week Five
New Muskets
A full five weeks after Fort Sumter, after weeks of training to become an efficient fighting unit - all without uniforms, equipment, or firearms - the Ninth Ohio was issued weapons.
In addition to the lack of uniforms and equipment, the men of the Ninth Ohio did not have a high opinion of these new weapons, calling them Exerzir-Gewehre ("drill rifles"), Schiessprügel
(“shooting sticks”), and Kuhfüße ("crowbars" - lit. “cow’s feet”). Regardless of their opinion, there wasn’t much time to complain. Orders had just come in...they would be leaving Camp Harrison.
Week Six
Camp Dennison
After a stay of roughly a month at Camp Harrison, the Ninth Ohio was ordered to depart for Camp Dennison, marching about 15 miles.
The newly established Camp Dennison was named after Governor William Dennison, Jr. of Ohio, and was situated along the Little Miami Railroad, connecting Cincinnati to the east side of the state. This camp became the destination for dozens of regiments throughout the war as their final stop before departing for active duty. It was situated just north of Milford. The men of the Ninth Ohio were annoyed at the accommodations awaiting them at their new camp...once again they were forced to construct their own quarters. Taking it all in stride, the Niners got to work and had their cabins finished by the next evening.
Fixing a proper Exerzirplatz out of a cornfield, drillmaster and former Prussian revolutionary Major August Willich got down to work, continuing to hone the men of the Ninth into a fine fighting force. It was not long before this camp, frequented by plagues of spectators from the city, became a destination for them, to come and sit along the fence rails and watch the Ninth Ohio demonstrate their excellent - and peculiar - manner of drill.
According to the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, “In two ways it is found that the Germans at Camp Dennison live like ducks in water: lager beer and military drill...They drill non-stop with tenacity, they know no beginning or end, and have already brought it to an exceptional state of readiness and precision. An old English-speaking officer said recently that the Ninth was one of the best regiments he had ever seen.”
Week Seven
Filling out the Regiment.
The Ninth Ohio’s second week at Camp Dennison arrived with the rumors of a drive for a three year enlistment being confirmed. On May 23rd, Adjutant Major August Willich formed them into a regimental square and challenged the men to extend their enlistment. On May 27th, Robert Anderson, hero of Fort Sumter, swore them in for three years - all but a few dozen had reenlisted.
We relate a story shared in Die Neuner about how the regiment was able to fill up the remainder of its ranks:
“At that time I was staying with a friend in Lexington, KY for work...One day a salesman told us that there was not a single German youth left in Cincinnati who had not become a soldier, and that there was still a demand for more.
“Well that was enough for us. A few days later we were in Camp Dennison, hoping to meet up with the Ninth Regiment. But they had enough men. Company after company refused us as we walked along the company streets inquiring.
“When Captain Kämmerling from 6th Company had told us he couldn’t use us, my comrade said, ‘Well then! We will just have to go try our hand with the Sixth Regiment!’ Just then a bearded old officer who had heard that quickly spun around, keenly eyed us up and down, and exclaimed: ‘What, the Sixth?! Do you both see that fence over there? Jump over it once for me!’
“We were both Turners; so a running start, hands up on the top of the fence, and we were over. We were there and back quickly enough for the officer to receive us with the words: ‘You are both accepted!’, spun to Captain Kämmerling and said: ‘We’ll take these fellows; soon there will some who of those on furlough who don’t return, then there will be plenty enough room.’ That officer was Major Willich.”
Week Eight
New Uniforms.
News from the Volksfreund at the end of May gave an idea of the disorganization of outfitting the number of regiments that had enlisted in service to this point, as well as the rumor mill that accompanies any operation of the sort.
“While the rumors grew in the city that the German regiment would head out - tempered here, debated there - uniforms were being handed out. This fact was the main reason for the rumors that the regiment would be marching off...and at any rate, they have received orders to be ready to march at any moment.”
No matter how many connections the Niners thought they might have with Colonel McCook, supply problems were pervasive, especially in the first few weeks. This often resulted in regiments having a much different look early on than they did as the war dragged on, and the Ninth Ohio was no exception. More from the Volksfreund:
“The uniform consists of a “fatigue” and parade uniform. The former is a long blue jacket that hangs off the body but does not hinder the use of arms. The trousers are made from gray material with black stripes. The parade uniform is a blue uniform jacket with shiny buttons, cut from light cloth and very finely made. Affixed to the shoulder are brass epaulettes which - to be sure - are not pretty, but as old soldiers assure us, will be practical.”
It’s safe to guess that in an army where one usually had to carry everything they owned on their back, these epaulettes didn’t last long in the regimental inventory!