The 136th
Regiment was organized under the call of the
President for the "Hundred Days' Men," in May, 1864.
It was composed of companies of the Ohio National
Guard from Union County, Morrow County, Crawford
County, and Marion County. Union County had three
full companies in this regiment - Company D,
Captain David S. Norvell; Company H, Captain
Charles Fullington, and Company K, Captain
Alpheus B. Parmeter, numbering in the three
companies 274 men.
Twenty-eight men of Jerome Township served in this
regiment, many of whom were married men and of the
most substantial farmers, leaving their homes just
when the corn and other crops were being planted,
thus entaling heavy financial loss, as but few men
were left at home to farm the land. A majority
of the young men of the township were in the service
and at the front, and this was a most critical time.
A newspaper article published at the time gives a
good idea of the situation, from which the following
is a quotation:
"Fortunate was it for the country that the Governor of
Ohio held in his hand this reserved thunderbolt of
war. The
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crisis of the Rebellion was upon us. The rebel
foe was insolent and sanguine. They were
gathering their whole military power and preparing
to hurl it upon the Union columns in one deadly and
decisive conflict. The hearts of all brave men
throbbed in unwonted anxiety as they looked upon the
formidable array of rebel hosts. They saw that
the impending conflict must speedily occur.
They knew that failure to our arms would be an
inexpressible disaster to the National cause; and
all wanted the assurance of our success made doubly
sure by giving additional strength to our armies in
the field. To render that strength effective,
it must be added at once. The exigency
permitted of no delay. The reenforcements must come
then, or their coming would be useless for the
critical moment of the campaign. It was at
this moment of public anxiety — a moment pregnant
with the Nation's future - that Governor
Brough sent forth the reserved power of
thirty-five thousand brave and gallant National
Guards."
This regiment was mustered into the service at Camp
Chase May 13th, under Colonel W. S. Irwin,
and was immediately ordered to Washington, where it
arrived May 20th and was assigned to garrison duty
at Fort Ellsworth, Fort Williams, and Fort North,
south of the Potomac River, and was assigned to the
Third Brigade, De Russey's Division.
Strict discipline and continuous drill were inaugurated
by the commanding officer and the regiment was soon
in fine condition for an active campaign. They
not only drilled in infantry tactics, but details
were made to man the heavy guns on the forts, and
many of the men became efficient in artillery
practice.
The regiment remained on garrison duty continuously in
the defenses around Washington until the term of
service expired, and won the praise of the
commanding officer of the defenses by their soldiery
bearing at all times. The regiment was
mustered out August 30th, 1864, and the loss by
death was twenty-five.
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