Some of the 9th Infantry Regiment historical artifacts.

[edgeer]

These are some photos of the Liscum Bowl of the 9th Infantry Regiment (US). I took them back in 1987/88 when the 1st Bn was assigned to the 7th Infantry division (Light). With it's assignment, 1Bde had the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bn of the Regiment and as a result the 1st Bde was renamed the 9th Infantry Regiment. Furthermore, with the 1st returning back to the States, it brought back all the Manchu historical artifacts.

 

This is the 9th Infantry Regiment Commander's Chair. The brass plats are the names of the regimental commander and the dates they served.

[edgeer]

A photo of Balangiga, Phillipines city bell. The narrative reads.

 

"This bell was used to sound the alarm when the Philippine village of Balangiga and its garrison, C company Ninth Infantry, were attacked by guerrillas on 28 September 1901. In the ensuing savage fight, which ended when E Company relieved the village, only four members of C Company escaped without wounds and over half the company died in battle. The bell was donated to the Regiment when it sailed for home in 9 April 1902 by the people of Balangiga, it has been regimental property ever since."

[edgeer]

Close up of the bell

[edgeer]

Here's 2 photos of overlays for the regiment opord for 19th and 23rd dec 1944.

[edgeer]

photo from the Korean War date: 1951 of a tank from the 9th Infantry Regiment.

[edgeer]

here's the best of the best, the 9th Infantry Regiment's Liscum bowl. i'm going to post the history of it first. My photos do not od it justice. However, I did find a nicer overall view of it. This will be the final photo of the bowl.

 

History of the Liscum Bowl

One of the foremost trophies of any American regiment is the Liscum Bowl, treasured by the 9th United States Infantry. It stands as a monument to Colonel Liscum, regimental commander, who was killed in action at Tientsin, China, on 13 July 1900.

 

The background of the bowl lies in the American Relief Expedition to China. On 13 July 1900, shortly after arriving on Chinese shores, the regiment was engages in the conquest of the walled city of Tientsin. With the exception of a battalion of Marines, the 9th Infantry was the only American unit engaged in the struggle, or in the locale. In the course of an assault upon the walls of Tientsin, Col. Liscum was struck by Chinese fire, and shortly after directing his men to "Keep up the Fire" on the walls of the city, he died.

 

When Tientsin fell, it was divided into districts, each of which was occupied by one of the various nations engaged in the expedition. Portions of the city were in flames, and official seizures, together with private looting, were occurring periodically. Two days after the fall, on 15 July, a government mint was discovered in the American sector and reported to Major Foote, the senior officer present. The area was immediately placed under guard by the 9th Infantry to prevent looting. Colonel Meade, the senior American Officer present at Tientsin, was informed of the discovery. Further investigation revealed the presents of silver bars of an estimated value of $376,000. Col. Meade then directed that the bars be removed and placed in the compound quartering the Marines so they could be safe guarded. When the bars were removed from the mint, it appeared the heat had caused a number of bars to fuse together, resulting in the development of some large molten masses. Two of these formations were among the last of the silver removed from the building.

 

At the time, Captain Frank De W. Ramsey, the regimental Quartermaster and the representative of the 9th Infantry was presented with the two formations. The presentation was ordered by Prince Li Hung Chang, as an expression of appreciation from the Chinese to the Manchu Regiment.

 

In early 1901, while the Regiment was in Peking, Captain Ramsey, the custodian of the property, called an informal meeting of a number of the officers to explore possible actions in use of the fused silver.It was then that the idea of a trophy similar to the existing Liscum bowl was concieved.Before leaving Peking, fifty-two cups, forming part of the collection, were designed and constructed from a portion of the silver by Chinese silversmiths.

 

In April 1902, after returning to the Philippines, the regiment shipped the fused silver to Yokohama, Japan, where Arthur, Bond and Company performed the delicate task of formulating the body of the bowl, the ladle and the heavy circular tray. The ensemble, received a year later, in April 1903, conformed to the instructions forwarded by the Regiment. It was an ornate bowl of large dimensions; the four handles insisted upon by the Regiment consisted of the torsos of four Imperial dragons peering over the edge of the bowl. There was a ladle and a tray. The bowl took eight months to create, and was completed on 2 Nov 1902, but the Regiment did not receive it until stationed at Madison Barracks, New York, in April 1903. It was transported by a U.S. cruiser, via the Suez Canal.

 

Customs immediately began to develop. The first of these centered around the original cups and consisted of an attempt to perpetuate the memory of the commissioned personnel who had served with the Regiment.The first name engraved was that of Colonel Liscum...This collection has been added to by Manchus from WWI, WWII, Korea,. The Liscum Bowl was originally valued at over $50,000. It weighs 90 pounds and has a capacity of 14 gallons.

[edgeer]

here's some more of the bowl.

[edgeer]

Here's a real nice clean photo of the bowl

[Dirk]

Great thread! I recently picked up an photo album belonging to a 9th Infantry soldier who was in Peking at the time the Boxer revolt ended and it has a number of images of his company and the city...right after the fighting. Interestingly, the soldier was discharged in Peking Jul 1902 and stayed on as a jeweler. Having read a great account of the fight for Tientsin written in a 15th Infantry Annual in 1922, by a survivor of that battle it is neat to see such bowl and learn of its history. I wonder if the 9th has a museum that may have additional information on the Regiment's activities in China through Sep 1905 when the last company left Peking. That is one nice bowl!

[Rustykamel]

Hi, That's a most handsome trophy! Does anyone know if a unit of the 9th actually served in Manchuria during the 1900 Boxer Rebellion? If not, why that nickname?

 

Jim

[Dirk]

Jim: I don't think any of 9th served in Manchuria during the Boxer revolt. And after Peking was relieved the Americans restricted themselves to operations around the city. I cant say with certainty why the nickname was applied to them vice the 14th Infantry apart from their bravery during the battle of 13 July, but China was ruled by the Manchu's until 1911.....and it was against regular Manchu troops that the ninth faced at Tientsin.

[bobgee]

Another great historical Forum story and great pics! What a bowl!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for posting...........Bobgee

[Rustykamel]

Jim: I don't think any of 9th served in Manchuria during the Boxer revolt. And after Peking was relieved the Americans restricted themselves to operations around the city. I cant say with certainty why the nickname was applied to them vice the 14th Infantry apart from their bravery during the battle of 13 July, but China was ruled by the Manchu's until 1911.....and it was against regular Manchu troops that the ninth faced at Tientsin.

 

Thank you Dirk. Your information allows me to correct a small error that I made about the Philippine island of Samar.

[edgeer]

To help answer and clarify questions/ comments being posted about the 9th Infantry in China, such as how they earned the nickname Manchu etc. I went to the 9th Infantry Regiment Association's website and extracted the following part of our Regiment's history that pertains to that time in history.

 

Six months later, on 28 February 1899, the Regiment was dispatched to the Philippine Islands to help quell the Philippine Insurrection. Immediately upon arrival in Manila, the Regiment moved on line. It was detailed responsibility for the elimination of insurgents on Luzon Island. After many small, fierce engagements the area was declared clear when General Macabulos, the commander of Tarlac province surrendered on 15, June 1900.

 

In the meantime, foreign dignitaries and missionaries (including Americans) were being subjected to the terrors of a rebellion in China. The 9th Infantry was one of only two American units chosen to protect American interests in China. After landing at Taku Bar, the Regiment began the trek towards Tientsin under the direction of the Regimental commander, Colonel Emerson H. Liscum. The assault on Tientsin began on the morning of 13 July 1900, a day that is deeply engraved in the memory of the entire Regiment. At approximately 0900 hours on that day, the Regimental Color Sergeant, Sergeant Edward Gorman, who was standing beside Colonel Liscum, was severely wounded by the intense fire. Colonel Liscum had been struck in the shoulder but he gallantly seized the Colors from the fallen sergeant, stood fearlessly holding them erect and continued-to direct the assault on the city walls in the face of murderous fire. A few moments later, the Colonel fell mortally wounded and shortly after directing his men to "Keep Up The Fire Men," he died. The regiment remained pinned down by the fierce Boxer fire for the rest of the day, and at dusk was ordered to retreat by General Dorward, the British commander of the multi-national task force. The assault was resumed the next day and the Japanese Infantry broke through the city gate and the city fell.

 

The Regiment participated in another engagement at Yang-Tsun and then participated in the assault on Peking. The Fighting Ninth was the first unit to break into the forbidden city and, after the fall of Peking, a sentry of the Ninth remained on guard at the entrance to the forbidden city for almost one year until the Regiment was withdrawn in mid-1901. As a result of their exemplary performance during this campaign,, the Regiment was awarded the honorary title of "Manchus," earned its foremost trophy, the Liscum Bowl, and its motto, "Keep Up The Fire."

 

source:

http://www.manchu.org/linage/page1.htm

 

During the China Relief Campaign the 9th Infantry earned campaign streamers for Tientsin; Yang-tsun; Peking.

 

FYI, the 9th is one of the most decorated and honored Army Regiments.

 

Campaign Credits

 

Civil War: 8

Indian Wars: 5

War with Spain: 1

China Relief Expedition: 3

Philippine Insurrection: 7

World War I: 6

World War II: 5 (Normandy with arrowhead)

Korean War: 10

Vietnam: 12

Armed Forces Expeditions: 1

 

DECORATIONS:

Presidential Unit Citation (Army): 4

Presidential Unit Citation (Navy): 1 (Hwachon Reservoir)

Navy Unit Commendation: 1 (Panmunjom)

French Croix de Guerre with Palm WW1: 3

French Croix de Guerre Fourragere WW1: 1

Luxembourg Croix de Guerre; 1

Belgian Fourrager; 1

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: 2

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm; 2

Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class: 1

 

additional Decorations for specific units of the Regiment

 

Presidential Unit Citation (Army): C co. 4th Bn 9th Inf

Presidential Unit Citation (Army): 1st Plt, B co., 4th Bn 9 Inf

 

sources: http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestru.../inf/0009in.htm ; http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestru...s/branches/inf/

 

Throughout most of the past century to the present members of the regiment not only wore the regiment's DUI, we also wore the Manchu buckle. Earned by doing the Manchu Mile for the uninitiated that is not a 1 mile walk, its 25 miles with full combat gear done in 1 day. During their stay with the 7th Infantry Division (Light) the Manchu Mile consisted of 25 miles per day for 4 consecutive days. It was initially approved by the US Army Europe (WW1) Adjutant General approved a distinctive buckle for the 9th Infantry, on 2 December 1923. Revoked in 1924. Reapproved on 22 December 1925. Then the War Department approved a sample of the belt buckle, and General Order Number 5, 25 June 1926 was issued:

 

The approved buckle was a full 2 1/2 inches high and included a cam on the back for fastening the buckle to the belts. Several examples of these original buckles still exist. At least two variations of the buckle were made. Different manufacturers and dies used resulted in one being convex as required and the other is a flat design. Both types were authorized and worn by 9th Infantry members. The "miniature buckle" (what we call the DI Pin) was 1 1/10 inches high

 

Then US Army Quartermaster General, on 17 November 1954, revoked the buckle. Then in 1965, Chief to The Institute of Heraldry, Colonel Harry A. Temple, became interested in restoring the 9th Infantry's distinctive buckle. The battalions of the 9th Infantry Regiment supported Col. Temple in his quest. His initiative lead to the approval by The Institute of Heraldry of the current buckle design. This buckle was approved on 5 March 1968, retroactive to 15 April 1966.

 

source: http://www.manchu.org/linage/buckle/

 

Here's the current buckle approved. This is the one I earned at Fort Ord while assigned to Wpns Plt. A co 4th Bn 9th Inf, by doing its first Manchu Mile, all 100 miles of it. We walked from Ft. Hunter-Liggett to Ft. Ord.

[Rustykamel]

Hi, That's a most handsome buckle and a fascinating history of the 9th. I've been to Fort Hunter-Liggett, and agree that hike would be difficult. I hope that I didn't offend by asking how or where the nickname was earned-I just wanted to know more.

 

Thanks for sharing, Jim

[edgeer]

Hi, That's a most handsome buckle and a fascinating history of the 9th. I've been to Fort Hunter-Liggett, and agree that hike would be difficult. I hope that I didn't offend by asking how or where the nickname was earned-I just wanted to know more.

 

Thanks for sharing, Jim

 

None offense taken. a lot of people i've met don't really know how the nickname came about.

 

Yes, it is a handsome buckle. After earning it, I wore it through 6 different battalions and 3 divisions (3/17 Inf & 3rd Bde of 7ID; 1/17 Inf & 5/20 Inf of 2ID (Korea); S-2 3/41 Inf 2AD and S2 1/22 Inf 4 ID) and my retirement ceremony.

 

Ed

[patches]

Just seeing this old topic, what a great one, I seen the bowl up close and personal in January 1982 in Alaska, got to drink from it as well, Hmm Manchu Punch, HICCUP