A Hundred Days to Richmond: Ohio's "Hundred Days" Men in the Civil War: Ohio's "Hundred Days" Men in the Civil War - Hardcover

This useful and entertaining book presents, mainly in the words of the participants, the experience of the 35,000 Ohioans who served in 100--day regiments during the summer of 1864. Although Lincoln's call for 100--day troops was directed to all of the Northern states, the largest contingent by far was the National Guard of the State of Ohio, whose governor, John Brough, had suggested the 100--day plan to the president. The purpose of the call--up was to provide an additional manpower boost to Union forces at a time when the North believed that a little extra push would win the war. Neither the Ohio National Guardsmen nor the hundreds of thousands of Union troops already in uniform by that time succeeded in ending the war in the summer of 1864, but the 100--day men did make important contributions by guarding Union supply lines and rear areas, replacing more experienced troops. Some of the guardsmen spent their enlistments in monotonous duty guarding depots or prisoner of war camps; others unexpectedly found themselves in frontline combat situations and performed well, considering their inexperience. Their contribution probably shortened the war. All levels.April 2000--S. E. Woodworth "Texas Christian University "

In the spring of 1864, after three bloody years of civil war, victory seemed within reach for the Northern armies. John Brought, Ohio's energetic wartime governor, offered his state's militia for 100 days of federal service. These men were ordered east for duty in forts, railways and prisons, where they freed veteran troops for the last great push against Robert E. Lee and the Confederacy. History soon overtook the Ohioans, however. They fought at Monacan, and under the watchful eye of Abraham Lincoln at Fort Stevens. They battled Mosey and other feared southern guerrillas in Virginia and West Virginia. They fell to John Hunt Morgan's cavalry in Kentucky. They toiled and fought against thunderous Petersburg.Drawn from Civil War diaries, letters and eyewitness accounts, "A Hundred Days to Richmond" tells the complete story of Ohio's 100-day men for the first time. Their individual tales are unique and memorable. Readers hear from not only generals and colonels, but also from the ranks - from a schoolteacher who taught himself artillery, a farmer turned drummer, college students who swapped books for muskets.

Many disliked leaving their families, businesses and farms, but they shouldered their arms and went anyway, hoping to bring an end to the war. Some found themselves battling not only tough rebel enemies, but also heat and disease, tornadoes and cannon fire, and the horrifying conditions in southern prisons. "A Hundred Days to Richmond" contains the contradictory hope, fear, determination, horror, humour and grit that were the Civil War. Its voices are uniquely, unmistakably American.