A Hundred Days to Richmond

"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