Was Your Union Civil War Ancestor Drafted?
By 1863 the Civil War was heading into its third year. The overwhelming enthusiasm of young northern men to volunteer had wained considerably. The glory of war faded when soldiers came home disease stricken, missing limbs or not at all. The prospect of a quick, easy victory had vanished and so had the large number of volunteers enlisting to fight for the Union cause. It was obvious President Lincoln needed to act. He needed to bolster the dwindling number of soldiers within Union regiments. So in March 1863 the president signed the Enrollment Act. The first draft of US citizens in our country’s history. The act called for the registration of all males between the ages of 20 and 45, including aliens with the intention of becoming citizens. Provost Marshal offices were set up in each Congressional district and men were obligated to register. It was from these lists that draftees were chosen. There were three classes of men in this compulsory military draft. Class I were men aged 20-35, who would be subject to being drafted and unmarried men from 36-45. Class II were married men aged 36-44 and Class III were volunteers. What type of info was collected […]