107th History 1877 to 1945
The 107th Cavalry has a long and storied history serving with honor and distinction for over 124 years.
Forming up in 1877 in Cleveland as a local militia following the great railroad strike, on October 10, 1887,
the Troop was named the First City Troop of Cleveland. On September 10, 1887, the unit was mustered into the Ohio National Guard. On September 12, 1895, by command of the Governor, the organization dropped the name of the First City Troop of Cleveland and became known as Troop A, Ohio National Guard. It was during this period of time that Webb C. Hayes, the son of Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States, served as Quartermaster Sergeant in the Troop. Webb C. Hayes later received a regular Army Commission retiring as a full Colonel. Colonel Hayes served during the Spanish American War, the Philippine Insurrections, the Boxer Rebellion and World War I. For gallant service during the Philippine Insurrection, he received the Congressional Medal of Honor. Shortly after the sinking of the Maine, A Troop was designated as the nucleus of a regiment of eight troops, and called the First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. The City of Cleveland with the aid of Troop A raised an additional two troops of Cavalry (Troops B & C). Other troops were Troop D from Columbus, Troop E from Toledo, Troop F from Dayton, Troop G from Marysville and Troop H from Cincinnati. The First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was organized into two squadrons and mustered into Federal Service, May 9, 1898. Captain Matthias W. Day, USA was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of Volunteers and assigned command of the Regiment. The Regiment assembled for action in Puerto Rico but a shortage of sea transports delayed their sailing and the way ended.
On June 10, 1899 A Troop was called out to perform strike duty. After this duty, A Troop returned to its previous activities of parades and military maneuvers. In 1908, “The Tobacco War” between Ohio and Kentucky began. On May 7, A Troop was ordered to Ripley Ohio to protect the Ohio farmers. B Troop, an unattached cavalry troop fro Columbus, reinforced A Troop. The Troop was relieved of duty on the 21st of May and returned to Cleveland. In 1910, a streetcar strike occurred in Columbus, which caused A Troop to be called to duty, on July 8th. On July 25, 1910 by special order 148, Adjutant General Ohio authorized the formation of the First Ohio Cavalry Squadron including A Troop in Cleveland, B Troop in Columbus, and C Troop in Cincinnati and D Troop in Toledo. Command of the First Cavalry Squadron from its organization to its Mexican Boarder duty in 1916 passed from Major W. C. Scofield to Major Otto Miller and finally to Major D. J. Hurd. After 1910 Troop A returned to its former activities of parades and military encampments.
The Mexican border raids of 1916 found the regiment, which had been redesignated First Squadron, Ohio Cavalry again chosen for a role of responsibility and importance. In March, A Troop commenced a recruiting drive, which brought it up to wartime strength. The Squadron was assembled at Camp Willis, Columbus, Ohio, in July of 1916. The Ohio Squadron left Columbus on the first of September arriving at Camp Pershing, near Fort Bliss, Texas. On October 26th the Squadron was ordered to Fabens, Texas for border patrol A Troop served along with border from October 1916 to January 1917. A Troop then returned to Fort Bliss, Texas, where they were mustered out of Federal Service, on February 26, 1917 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana.
Within two months, the United States declared war. On April 11, 1917 the First Ohio Cavalry Squadron was recruiting to Regimental size. Cleveland was to provide Troops A, K and L, along with a Machine Gun Troop, Headquarters Troop and Supply Troop, Columbus was to supply Troops GB, G and H; Cincinnati, Troops C, E and F; Toledo, Troops D and M; Youngstown, Troop I. On May 18th 1917, the Regiment was organized and federally recognized. When it was found that the horse cavalry would not be used in Europe the Regiment was redisignated as the Second and Third Field Artillery Regiments, Ohio National Guard. A Troop became Battery A, 2nd Ohio Field Artillery. A Troop along with the rest of the Field Artillery Regiment joined the other two regiments as part of the 62nd Field Artillery Brigade of the 37th Infantry Division. The next eight and a half months transformed the former cavalrymen into artillerymen. During this period the Ohio Field Artillery Regiments again were redesignated and A Troop because Batter B, 135th Field Artillery Regiment. In July 1918, they arrived in France at the French Artillery Camp, Camp DeSouge, located at Leognan, near Bordeaux.