Active 1863–1864 Type Infantry | Allegiance USA | |
Country United States of America Branch Union Army, American Civil War Engagements Siege of Vicksburg
Battle of Milliken's Bend | ||
The 9th Louisiana Infantry (African descent) was a regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
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Jack Jackson
During the recruiting, one man who joined the regiment somewhat early and was made sergeant was named Jack Jackson. Jackson was very large and strong willed. At some point, Jackson began accompanying white recruiters who were having trouble convincing field hands to join. Jackson's method was very forceful but very successful. At the battle of Milliken's bend, regimental lieutenant, David Cornwell described the attack, saying that the 23rd Iowa was not behaving courageously, but the three black infantry regiments offered great resistance, especially Jackson, who, "Laid into a group of Texans... smashing in every head he could reach", and that, "Big Jack Jackson passed me like a rocket. With the fury of a tiger he sprang into that gang and crushed everything before him. There was nothing left of Jack's gun except the barrel and he was smashing everything he could reach. On the other side of the levee, they were yelling 'Shoot that big [soldier]!' while Jack was daring the whole gang to come up and fight him. Then a bullet reached his head and he fell full on the levee."
63rd United States Colored Regiment Infantry
The designation of the regiment was changed to the 63rd Regiment Infantry, U.S. Colored Troops on March 11, 1864. The regiment served in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee and mustered out January 9, 1866.