Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-13
curing same and details of the conscription,

curing same and details of the conscription,
or draft
Subsequent to the foregoing act, the party
drafted, or conscripted, bv other acts of
Congress. could not be relieved from the
operation of the draft by the $500 exemption
payment, but, had, if pronounced fit for
service in the army by the surgeon of the
board, after due physical examination un-
der the rules and regulations of the board,
to go as a soldier or furnish substitute ac-
ceptable to the board.
The act of Congress was judicially con-
strued in an opinion of Judge McCandless,
of the United States District Court, in the
case of the United States versus Will. This
opinion was delivered at Williamsport, Pa,
and is reported in volume 2 Pittsburg Re-
ports, page 467.
The Provost MarshaPs Office.
The officials were, viz: j. Heron Foster,
then publisher of The DISPATCH, Captain
and Provost Marshal; Robert B. Simpson,
NJ. D., Examining Surgeon; William Camp
bell, Commissioner. Subsequently J. Heron
Foster became Colonel J. Heron Foster by
promotion from the War Department, Hon.
Edwin NJ. Stanton, Secretary of War.
George w. Murphy and Captain Charles W.
McHenry were Deputy Provost Marshals
under Colonel Foster. All the persons and
officials above named are now deceased.
When the drafting wheel was filled with
the names of those from whom the con-
scrlption was to be made and afterward put
into operation those drafted were duly
notified in writing by paper containing
their names, and their number, ETC., duly
served upon them.
When applying for examination or hear
ing to be exempted from the draft on the
blank used for the purpose, the number of
the applicant on this blank was demanded
and received by the Provost Marshal and
other officers of the board.
Some of the incidents of these hearings
and examinations were of sad nature in
the case of those drafted and pronounced fit
for service who had families dependent
upon them for support. This conscription
was severe upon those who were unable to
get substitutes for want OF means, or other
wise, and consequently had compulsorilY to
go out as soldiers. However, there were
occasions when
Applications for Exemption
from the draft were of humorous charac-
ter. Some of these exemption applicants
satisfied the board and were dis
charged. On the contrary, others did
not satisfy, whether they were
Aliens or ''Haliens," as alleged, OF had
their number, or had forgotten their num-
ber, or otherwise Those draft exemption
applicants physically incompetent from
excessive obesity, or other causes coming
under the exemVtion provisions of the rules
and regulations of the board, were as
promptly disposed of as circumstances al
lowed, and speedily discharged. On the
other hand, those conscripts pronounced by
the drafting board to be competent for
military service, and who failed to
furnish a substitute were soon clothed and
mustered as soldiers in the various camps
or places provided for the purpose, until,
properly drilled, they could be sent to the
tented field capable to discharge their
duties as soldiers. Further, to realize what
is expressed by Campbell:
The combat deepens: On, ye brave,
Who rush to glory or the grave!
PITTsBURG, February II. FRITZ.