Synopses & Reviews
"... an interesting and readable account of those whose service to the Blue was brief but in some cases dangerous and exciting." -- The Civil War News
"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." --Choice
Drawn from Civil War diaries, letters, and eyewitness accounts, A Hundred Days to Richmond tells for the first time the complete story of Ohio's "100-day men," state militia troops offered for Union service for 100 days. Their tales--unique and memorable, and unmistakably American--reflect the hope, fear, determination, horror, humor, and grit of the Civil War.
Review
"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." --S. E. Woodworth, Texas Christian University, Choice, April 2000 Indiana University Press
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 255-259) and indexes.
About the Author
Jim Leeke has worked as a reporter in Guam, Michigan, Boston and San Francisco and is now a freelance writer and editor in Worthington, Ohio. His first book was Sudden Ice, a mystery. He is also the editor of Smoke, Sound and Fury: The Civil War Memoirs of Major-General Lew Wallace, W.S. Volunteers.
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations
List of Maps
Introduction
1. The Boys
2. Muster
3. New Creek
4. Washington
5. Maryland
6. The Shenandoah
7. Cynthiana
8. Petersburg
9. Fourth of July
10. Monocacy
11. Fort Stevens
12. Back to the Valley
13. Prisoners of War
14. The Other Enemy
15. Johnny Comes Marching Home
Appendix A: Mr. Lincoln
Appendix B: Family and Friends
Appendix C: Enlistment and Discharge
Appendix D: Roster of Hundred-Days Regiment
Notes and Sources
Bibliography