While reviewing some Civil War materials, I encountered mention of the New York City Draft Riots, which reminded me of my own experience with the draft back in the late 1960s. Whether there was a war or not, I had no interest in joining the military, but it was out of my hands. Vietnam was getting worse instead of better, and more troops were being sent. When I became eligible to go, America switched to the draft lottery.
While I was still in high school, my number (based on birthdays) came up in the 200s, so I didn’t have to go unless I enlisted. That wasn’t the case for men aged 18–45 during the Civil War. They had options, and not being drafted was one of them.
Few people realize that a draft of sorts was used even in the 1700s, a century before the Civil War, and that it was very similar in nature. The call for troops emanated from a central authority, whether it was the Continental Congress, or later, the President (or the Secretary of War).
Across the land, the order was funneled down to county and town levels, where volunteers were sought. If a town’s quota wasn’t filled by men joining of their own volition, bounties (bonuses) were introduced: the government, the local municipality, or private citizens offered money to entice recruits.
People learned quickly not to volunteer, but instead waited for bounties to become available (like today’s signing bonus). Why join for free when incentives would surely be offered? Thus, bonuses eventually became standard for enlistees.
In 1863, when President Lincoln called for 300,000 troops, every congressional district in the North had to meet their quota. If you were healthy and were among those called, you had several options provided by federal law: pay a substitute to take your place; pay a commutation fee of $300, enabling you to avoid service; or join the fight.
During that particular call for troops, New York State citizens were offered financial enticements (bounties) that were hard to resist for the average struggling family. In all, bonuses from the county, state, and feds brought the ante to more than $700 per man (over $12,000 in 2013).
Substitutes received the same financial benefits as volunteers, and were also officially listed as “volunteers,” even though they were solicited, recruited, and paid to join the army.
Although the cause was noble, the great pride felt by many Northern states for providing volunteers to preserve the nation was not based entirely in honorable intentions. One reason that so many enlisted was because of the bonuses. It was better to take the financial incentives rather than risk being drafted, which carried with it no bonus pay at all.
Truth be told, the reaction to the draft in the 1860s was typical. A small minority of men (but still numbering in the thousands) opted for draft dodging: many went West or paid an extended visit to Canada. For that reason, the President made it a crime for any draft-eligible man to leave his state (or the country), a remarkably deep incursion into personal liberty in a nation that so valued freedom for all (unless you were black, of course). The travel restriction was lifted only after a region’s soldier quota was met.
The majority reacted typically as well, enlisting to take advantage of the financial incentives rather than risk being drafted. As Lincoln himself said, the intent of the draft was not to force men to join, but to increase the number of enlistees (“volunteers”). It mattered not if soldiers were substitutes paid to enlist by either the original draftee or the government.
Though individuals could avoid military service by hiring substitutes or paying a fee, entire counties (dozens of them) took action to avoid the draft for its citizens. Among them in New York was Rensselaer County, which put up $75,000 as bounty (bonus) money, and St. Lawrence County, which took it much further, appropriating more than a half million dollars.
Bonds were sold to finance the plan, backed by St. Lawrence County property valued at more than $15 million. An agent was hired, tasked with the job of recruiting through widespread advertising, and then paying the amounts promised to the “volunteers.”
The process also served another purpose: saving counties the embarrassment of failing to muster enough volunteers to battle for America’s existence. If an outright draft became necessary, forcing men to fight, it might cause others to question Northern citizens’ patriotism.
There were also many private draft agents who were unscrupulous, reaping small fortunes by charging high fees for recruitment of replacement soldiers. Those who weren’t poor willingly parted with substantial cash to avoid joining the battle.
Besides commutation fees and substitutes, there was one other avenue open to those seeking to avoid military service: medical exemption. The government issued an official list of 41 health concerns, complete with detailed levels of disease and disability, that would excuse men from the draft.
Prospective but unwilling warriors perused the list for any symptom, real or imagined, that might save them from service. Doctors reported a surge in self-mutilation (unexplained loss of fingers, toes, and teeth).
The list of exemptive health problems covered the obvious, including insanity, epilepsy, cancer, heart disease, missing limbs, severe skin problems, and more. Others were less common and perhaps surprising: stammering (if excessive, and if proven by evidence under oath); loss of a sufficient number of teeth to prevent mastication of food; a grossly protruding abdomen; and excessive obesity.
Another was cringeworthy enough that I, for one, would have enlisted with enthusiasm: incontinence. Mild enough, sure, but talk about incentives: the only requirement for proof was “introduction of a metallic catheter.” That would have sent me sprinting to the recruiter’s office.
Another affliction qualifying for exemption was “retracted testicles,” but with the rejoinder, “voluntary retraction does not exempt.” Puzzling enough on its own, but it also begs the question: “So this happened enough to merit an entry in the Surgeon General’s manual?”
Read more stories about the Civil War in New York State.
Photos: Civil War recruiting posters included bounty incentives.
Lawrence,
I enjoyed this article very much and was reminded of an old family tale. My father’s people came from Ireland and crossed the St. Lawrence to settle at Carthage NY- wetbacks you might call them. When the Civil War draft was instituted my grandmother’s uncle Michael Clark went back to Canada to avoid it. His father Patrick was so ashamed that he, then around 50, enlisted and fought at Petersburg, returning alive and with all his limbs.
Mike Cooney
What a wonderful story. Lucky this country is to have your family and its descendants. Thank you! Blessings, Michael Clark.
In Huntington, on Long island, a group of about a dozen men created an insurance company to avoid the draft. Each man put up $100. If any of the group were drafted, the $300 commutation fee was paid by the insurance company. Three members were drafted. The $900 in fees was paid and the balance of funds held by the insurance company was returned to the members. In the end, each member paid less than $100, but none served.
An ancestor of mine, a New York resident, avoided Civil War service by paying a fee. Do you know where in New York, from which archival agency, I might access a record of this transaction
My gggrandfather Daniel paid the $300. I would like to find a record of it.
My great-grandfather had only one eye and was exempt from the draft. He was paid by a doctor to serve in place of the doctor’s son. I have not been able to find my grandfather’s Civil War record. Could it be in the name of the original draftee?
Yes if you want your G Grandfathers Civil War records you will have to use the name of the person he enlisted for
I have an ancestor who was drafted during the Civil War in Pennsylvania, but joined Company K 26th Regiment in the Indiana Infantry Volunteer. Why would he do that?
My Great Grandfather came down from Canada to enlist in the Union Army Phebe Gates talked him into enlisting for someone else how much he was paid I don’t know. My father always said it was her boy friend who he was is beyond be.This was in Oswego County.
I have a great grandfather from NJ who was drafted ) I have a copy of his draft record. I cannot find any info about the company he served in. According to family stories, none of our relatives fought in any of the wars. Your article gave me some ideas as to why that may be.I will continue my search….
That’s more of a “proviso” than a “rejoinder.”
Cayuga County nNew York Newspaper Clippings comilation of Draft records. All the great examples from the article, including amputations, teeth, obesity, paying the fee, etc.
Open access/public source, free
http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/counties/cayuga/cayuga_CWN.htm
I am 81…my grandfather would never speak of what his grandfather or ggrandfather did during “a war” My grandfather’s last name was not his heritage name because one of his grandfathers paid someone to take his place and go to war for him and they exchanged last names. What war would that have been?
Does anyone know of a Father who substituted for his Son during the Civil War? Or any records where I would search.
Maybe a keyword search of the pensions at Fold3.com?
I recently found a receipt for my Great Great Great Grandfather’s payment for civil war exemption ($300). I was surprised to also find discharge documents for his service as well as documentation of his pension. Upon further exploration I also found a register of his enlistment with a “bounty” of $1000 listed next to his name. After reading this article I am wondering if he first paid the $300 for exemption and then ended up enlisting when offered the bounty of $1000. Thanks for the info!