"Union State militia 1863-1865?" Topic
6 Posts
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| glengarry6 | 07 Nov 2025 12:23 p.m. PST |
We all are aware of the role that Union state militia's in the first months of the war but after that what role did Union State Militias have in the later years of the ACW? Did they simply become part of the regular Union army for limited periods or permanently? Provide replacements? Did they have a separate organization and role as local defenders called out when the Confederates crossed into their states? Were they uniformed?
thanks. |
 Editor in Chief Bill   | 07 Nov 2025 12:40 p.m. PST |
I believe when they called up the troops (for 90 days) to protect Washington DC, they were regular infantry, not militia. (My great-grandfather was one of them.) |
| 35thOVI | 07 Nov 2025 1:20 p.m. PST |
Ohio late 1862 and 1864 [ "Squirrel Hunters" mobilization (1862)
Confederate threat: In the autumn of 1862, General Kirby Smith's Confederate forces threatened to invade Ohio.
Citizens militia: Governor David Tod called on citizens to form militia companies to defend the border.
"Squirrel Hunters": Nearly 16,000 men and boys answered the call, coming equipped with hunting rifles and assorted clothing, earning them the nickname "Squirrel Hunters".
Discharge and recognition: Because the Confederate army did not cross the Ohio River, the militia units were sent home. The state legislature later passed a resolution to honor their patriotism and issued them discharge papers.
Further federal service and militia calls (1864) 100-day men: In May 1864, over 35,000 Ohio guardsmen were federalized for 100 days of service.
Eastern Theater: These guardsmen were sent to the Eastern Theater to protect supply lines and railroads, but many saw heavy combat, participating in battles like Monocacy and Fort Stevens.
Contribution to victory: Their efforts were instrumental in blunting the Confederate advance and helping to save Washington, D.C.. ] |
| Frederick | 07 Nov 2025 2:04 p.m. PST |
In 1861 when Lincoln called up the troops he called for 75,000 state militiamen only to discover that there weren't that many around – the first troops around Washington in 1861 were a mixture of three year volunteers (further to Bill's post, my great-grandpa was also one of them) and 90 day militiamen – most of the Union army during the ACW were state volunteers (in my great grandpa's case, the 4th Minnesota) with the regular army being tiny – as noted by 35thOVI, Union militia were called up for invasions – during the Gettysburg campaign the Pennsylvania militia were called up, for example the 26th Pennsylvania Emergency Militia, who were beaten like a drum by Early's troops just before Gettysburg |
| mildbill | 07 Nov 2025 4:59 p.m. PST |
Both Missouri and Kansas used state militias throughout the war. |
| 79thPA | 07 Nov 2025 7:25 p.m. PST |
Came to say the same. Militia units were active in the Western Theater until late in the war. |
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