The 9th Illinois Volunteer Infantry was in the continental U.S. during the war. It later served in Cuba as part of the U.S. occupation forces.
The Ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry was mustered into the federal service between July 4 and 11, 1898 at Springfield, Illinois. At the time of mustering in, the regiment consisted of forty-five officers and 1,279 enlisted men.
On August 3, the regiment was ordered south to Camp Cuba Libre at Jacksonville, Florida to join Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee’s Seventh Corps. It arrived six days later and was assigned to the corp’s Second Brigade of the Second Division. While the 9th Illinois was in Florida, an armistice was agreed to between Spain and the United States on August 13, ending the war’s fighting.
On October 21, the regiment was relocated to Savannah, Georgia and reassigned to the Second Brigade, First Division of the Seventh Army Corps. While the regiment was in Savannah, the Spanish American War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898.
On January 3, 1899, the Ninth Illinois boarded the transportMOBILE, in company with the Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for transport to Havana, Cuba, where it arrived two days later. Here it began its service as part of the island’s occupation force. While in Cuba, First Lieutenant S. F. McKnight was killed in an accident on the railroad at Guines.
On April 19, the regiment left Havana, Cuba, aboard the transport DIXIE and arrived back at Savannah two days later. After spending time in quarantine, the regiment arrived in Augusta, Georgia on April 28, where it was mustered out of service on May 20, 1899. At the time of mustering out, the regiment consisted on forty-five officers and 1,095 enlisted men.
During its term of service, the regiment lost officer and two enlisted men who died in accidents, twenty-seven enlisted men who died of disease, and had forty-six men discharged on disability. In addition, one enlisted man was court-martialed and four enlisted men deserted.
“Brook’s Death List,” Brooklyn Eagle. February 27 1899, p.9
Correspondence relating to the War with Spain And Conditions Growing Out of the Same Including the Insurrection in the Philippine Island and the China Relief Expedition. Vol. 1 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1902) , 589, 590.
“Gomez Retires to His Camp,” Brooklyn Eagle. January 6 1899, p.2
Statistical Exhibit of Strength of Volunteer Forces Called into Service During the War with Spain; with Losses from All Causes. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1899).