1864
In the American Civil War, Ohio provided the federal government with 260 regiments of men, including infantry, artillery, and cavalry units. Ohioans also served in several other regiments from other states, most notably from Kentucky, West Virginia, and Massachusetts, as well as in federal units.
In the American Civil War, Ohio provided the federal government with 260 regiments of men, including infantry, artillery, and cavalry units. Ohioans also served in several other regiments from other states, most notably from Kentucky, West Virginia, and Massachusetts, as well as in federal units. Almost 330,000 Ohio men, including 5,092 African Americans, served in the Union military during the conflict.
Infantry regiments formed in Ohio became known as regiments of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. They served for varying lengths of time, averaging one hundred days to three years. In 1864, the governors of several Northern states convinced federal authorities to call up state militia forces for regular military duty. The governors believed that these militiamen would free regular soldiers currently serving in forts or guarding other important sites in Northern states for duty with the Union's invading armies in the Confederacy. Hopefully this surge of men, known as Hundred Days' Men, would allow the North to defeat the South in one hundred days or less while keeping Northern states safe from Confederate attack and anti-war unrest.
On May 6, 1864, the 134th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry mustered into service at Camp Chase, at Columbus, Ohio. The men in the regiment were to serve one hundred days. The 134th consisted of Champaign County’s 4th Regiment Ohio National Guard, Companies A and B of Shelby County’s 94th Battalion Ohio National Guard, and one company from Hancock County.
On May 7, 1864, the 134th departed for Cumberland, Virginia via Parkersburg, West Virginia. On June 6, 1864, officials ordered the regiment to Washington, DC and then, by ship, to White House, Virginia. The 134th did not disembark at White House, sailing to City Point, Virginia. At City Point, the regiment constructed roads and pontoon bridges. On June 17, the 134th participated in a battle at Port Walthall during the siege of Petersburg, Virginia. The Confederates killed two men and wounded three other members of the 134th in this battle. On June 22, 1864, the regiment moved north of the James River, where it spent the remainder of its term of service constructing entrenchments. The 134th also served on picket duty. Upon moving to the James River, the 134th became part of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 10th Corps. In late August 1864, officials ordered the 134th to return to Camp Chase, where the regiment mustered out of service on August 31, 1864.
During the 134th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry’s term of service, thirty men perished from disease or accidents. Two men died from wounds received on the battlefield.
