Several of these companies had formed in early 1860 and began drilling in military tactics as tensions rose prior to the 1860 Presidential Election.

The 9th took part in the Battle of Santa Rosa Island in October,[5] which was an unsuccessful attempt to capture Fort Pickens.

The 9th Regiment, with a reported strength of approximately 450 men,[6] left Pensacola in February and the Confederates evacuated the region in May 1862.

The 9th was ordered to head to the Cumberland Gap, and had reached northern Alabama when they were sent back to North Mississippi to oppose Union General Ulysses S. Grant's advance through Tennessee.

Chalmers' advance against the Union troops commanded by General Benjamin M. Prentiss resulted in a rout of the Federal forces.

The 9th remained in Tennessee until September when they fought at the Battle of Chickamauga in North Georgia, charging the Federal lines four times.

The regiment was ordered to head for the Carolinas in April, 1865, but at this point Sharp's brigade had taken so many casualties that their total strength was only 420 men.