“Ho for Mexico!” Ohio in the War with Mexico, 1846-1848. Featuring Larry Strayer, author, collector, living historian, Dayton.

Larry Strayer returns to speak on Ohio’s participation in the twenty-two month long Mexican War, which saw the smallest number of troops raised from this state of any conflict since statehood- just over seven thousand men. Ohio formed five full regiments, contributed five regular army companies, a company of U.S. volunteers, and over a dozen independent companies (a contribution that great exceeded more populous, eastern states). Almost all of these troops went to Mexico, and three Ohio-raised regiments fought in pitched battles against Mexican Regulars- the 1st Ohio Infantry at Monterey, the “Bloody Fifteenth” Regulars in the Mexico City campaign and the U.S. Mounted RIfles in countless engagements. The presentation will include a discussion of weaponry and include a display of original and museum-quality arms, equipment and garments to help bring alive an era that fostered the cry “Ho for Mexico!”