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 137th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry mustered into service at Camp Dennison, at Cincinnati, Ohio. The men in the regiment were to serve one hundred days and originally comprised Cincinnati's 7th Regiment Ohio National Guard.
On May 12, 1864, authorities dispatched the regiment to Washington, DC, but upon the 137th reaching Baltimore, Maryland, General Lew Wallace ordered the regiment to remain under his command at Baltimore. Wallace ordered the 137th to garrison Forts McHenry, Federal Hill, Carroll, and Marshall in the vicinity of Baltimore. The regiment performed garrison duty in these fortifications for most of its term of service. On August 1, 1864, officials ordered the entire regiment to Fort Marshall, and on August 14, 1864, the 137th departed for Camp Dennison, where the regiment mustered out of service on August 21, 1864.
During the 137th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry’s term of service, five enlisted men perished from disease or accidents, while no soldiers died from wounds received on the battlefield.
