The 129th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was organized at Camp Taylor, Cleveland, Ohio, in the summer of 1863. The regiment was mustered into service for six months August 10th, under Colonel Howard D. Johns.  About twenty men were recruited in Union County and assigned as Company G, of which William H. Robinson was elected Second Lieutenant and Chester L. Robinson of Jerome Township was appointed a Sergeant.  Four Jerome Township soldiers served in this regiment.
     A large number of both officers and men had seen service in other regiments, and the 129th was composed of excellent material and was soon under good discipline and well drilled.  Immediately after muster the regiment was ordered to Camp Nelson. Kentucky, and was brigaded with the 86th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, the 22nd Ohio Battery, Light Artillery, a detachment of Tennessee Mounted Infantry, and Colonel De Courcy was in command of the Brigade.  The Brigade was attached to the Ninth Army Corps. August 20th they started on the march to Cumberland Gap by way of Crab Orchard, London and Barboursville.
     The Brigade arrived at the Gap soon after the arrival of the army of General Burnsides from the opposite direction, and the rebel forces, strongly fortified, were completely invested.  A few shells were fired from the forts, with some skirmishing on the picket lines as the Union froces advanced,

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but was a feeble resistance from the strongly fortified position.
     As soon as the line of battle was formed and the 22nd Ohio Battery, under command of Captain Henry M. Neil, was in position, a demand was made on General Frazier, commanding the rebel forces, for the immediate surrender of his army. General Frazier accepted the terms at once and without firing a shot. About 2,500 prisoners were captured, with thirteen or fourteen pieces of artillery, several thousand stands of arms and a large amount of ammunition, commissary and quartermaster's supplies.  A few companies of cavalry made their escape through the Union lines after the surrender. The Brigade was assigned to garrison duty at the Gap under command of Colonel Lemert of the 86th O. V. I.  They were sent out frequently on reconnoitering expeditions and were so employed with guard and picket duty until about the 1st of December. Early in December the regiment received marching orders and arrived on the banks of Clinch River December 2nd. Here the regiment had a brisk fight with a detachment of Longstreet's corps near where the Knoxville road crosses the Clinch River.
     After this fight the regiment was on duty scouting, patroling and watching the movements of the enemy along the river and had frequent skirmishes.  Beginning with the "Cold New Year," January 1st, 1864, the weather was very cold and so continued during the winter.  Having left their baggage at the Gap, the men were very thinly clad and suffered greatly, as their duties were very arduous and rations scarce.
     About the last of December the regiment was ordered back to Tazwell. where they were in such close proximity to the enemy that they could not forage off the country for supplies without being in danger of an attack from a large force of rebel cavalry ever on the alert for foragers.  This condition continued through all the month of January and many men of the Brigade died of exposure.
     A number of the officers of the 129th had seen service in other regiments, where they had a thorough military training,

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and during these terrible days of suffering were untiring in their efforts for the comfort of the men.  It was a campaign of terrible suffering, and it may well be doubted if any other Ohio regiment passed through such a siege of hardships as did the 129th Regiment in the same length of service.
     During all of these days and weeks the men performed their duties like veterans, and without murmur or complaint, as attested by their officers.  About the 1st of February the regiment was ordered back to the Gap and then marched to Camp Nelson, one hundred and thirty-five miles distant.  From there the regiment moved by rail to Cleveland, Ohio, where it was mustered out March 4th, 1864.
     The losses by death during the six months' service were twenty-five.