Description: The Ohio National Guard Armory in Marietta. The early 19th Century saw the creation of what was then the Ohio Militia, this would be the predecessor to what is today the Ohio National Guard. Militias were quite common in this era, and served a purpose much like the National Guard does today, though militias were more localized and served only their own state rather than being a national organization able to be sent abroad. Militias were essential during this time period with the ever looming threat of being attacked by the native people of the region, and the possibility of a rebellion. In the aftermath of the War of 1812, in which Ohioans participated, the militia was not nearly as needed as it once was. The resistance of the native people had been broken in Ohio, and for a time things were quiet in the United States as a whole except for the war with Mexico during the 1840s. The militia had been in disuse for some time until the American Civil War plunged a now divided nation into chaos and war. Suddenly there was now a need for great numbers of men to serve as combatants and defend their country. Despite the waning effectiveness of the militia over the years, they were once again organized and fought against the southern rebellion. Once again, things became relatively quiet for Ohioans and there was little need to have a trained force of men ready at any given time to defend their state, as little threat existed to Ohio. Things changed when the 20th century came around, the National Guard was formed to replace the state militias, once again in a state of disrepair. With the creation of the National Guard, what was once simply meant to protect the state was now able to be sent throughout the country or even overseas if need be. Today many Ohioans proudly serve in the National Guard and continue the tradition of the Ohio militia. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06737
Subjects: Ohio. National Guard--Facilities; Ohio. National Guard; Ohio. Militia; Ohio. Militia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Places: Marietta (Ohio); Washington County (Ohio); Ohio
 

Description: Photograph showing a man posing in uniform for a portrait. The caption beneath the photograph reads: "Capt. William J. Patterson Ohio Vol." By the 1820s and 1830s, the militias of most states were in decline. The U.S. Army increasingly relied upon volunteers or draftees to create a sufficient fighting force to serve with the soldiers in the regular army. The infantry units from Ohio came to be known as Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Typically, volunteers formed their own units and initially elected their own commanders. Often, the officers and men had no formal military training. Quite commonly the men in a company or even an entire regiment came from a single town or county. The Ohio Volunteer Infantry first fought in the U.S.-Mexican War. They also participated in the American Civil War and the Spanish-American War. Following the Spanish-American War, men could still volunteer for military duty. However, they were incorporated into the regular army and no longer served in the state volunteer infantry. Under this new system, volunteers served under well-trained officers and alongside veteran soldiers. This method helped create confidence in the less experienced or untrained volunteers. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08015
Subjects: Portraits; Portrait photography--United States--History; Soldiers--Ohio--Photographs; Ohio--Militia; Ohio. Militia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
 

Description: Portrait of Robert Lucas (1781-1853), who served as Ohio's 12th governor from 1832 to 1836. Prior to his governorship, he served in both the regular army and the state militia of Ohio, rising to the rank of major general after the War of 1812. As governor, he personally led the state militia to the Michigan border during the "Toledo War," in which Ohio and Michigan both claimed the community of Toledo. Eventually President Jackson stepped in, and Congress decided that the land belonged to Ohio and compensated Michigan by giving it additional land in the Upper Peninsula. In 1838, President Martin Van Buren named Lucas the governor of the new Iowa Territory, a position he held until 1841. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL03992
Subjects: Governors--Ohio; Ohio History--State and Local Government; Ohio. Militia; Toledo (Ohio)
Places: Portsmouth (Ohio); Scioto County (Ohio)
 

Description: A Sergeant's commission in the 1st Militia Regiment of Washington County, Ohio, signed by Lt. Col. Return J. Meigs on October 2nd, 1802. Meigs would go on to become Governor of Ohio. Appointed sergeant's name appears to read: "Azeriah Pratt" View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV200_b03_f08_01
Subjects: Northwest Territory; Ohio. Militia;
Places: Ohio; Northwest Territory;
 

Description: The McCooks were a family that sent 14 men to war. This image shows six men, the tribe of John. Two brothers, Daniel and John McCook, and thirteen sons served in the American Civil War. Dr. John McCook served as a volunteer surgeon. Six of the men became brigadier generals or higher. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06584
Subjects: McCook family; Civil War 1861-1865; Ohio. Militia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Places: Carrollton (Ohio); Carroll County (Ohio)
 

Description: The McCooks were a family that sent 14 men to war. This image shows the McCook house. This house was built by Daniel McCook, a Major in the Army. He with nine sons and 6 nephews, fought for the Union side in the American Civil War. The house was occupied by the McCook family until 1848. In 1941 it was purchased by the state of Ohio. It is now run by the Carrollton County Historical Society on a lease from the Ohio Historical Society. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06585
Subjects: McCook family; Civil War 1861-1865; Ohio. Militia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Places: Carrollton (Ohio); Carroll County (Ohio)
 

Description: This is a photograph showing William G. Jones posing for a portrait. The caption beneath the photograph reads: "Col. W. G. Jones- Ohio Vol. Inf." Jones, a native of Cincinnati, served as Colonel of the 36th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was killed in action in the Battle of Chickamauga on September 19, 1863. During the American Civil War, the State of Ohio provided the United States government with three types of military units: artillery units, cavalry units, and infantry units. Ohio supplied the federal government with more than 260 regiments of men, not counting several companies that formed the basis of regiments in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Massachusetts. A total of 310,654 Ohioans served in the Northern army for varying lengths of time. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08014
Subjects: Portrait photography--United States--History; Soldiers--Ohio--Photographs; Ohio. Militia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Places: Ohio