The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-07-17
DRAFT OF CIVIL
WAR PERMITTED
MANY TO ESCAPE
Substitute Could be Provid-
ed. for $3oO-No Favorites
Played Now.

During the entire Civil war only H..
9O3 men were conscripted for military
service in Indiana, according to old
records. Under the present selective
transcription plan. 1850 men will be
cOnscripted in the state when the first
draft is made.
However. Indiana furnished 20S,367
men for the armies of the North dur.
ing the four years of the war, caused
partially by the stimulation In recruit
ing following the announcement OF
the CONSUMPTION plan.
All Treated Alike.
Unlike the conscripdon plan Of the
old days, the present army bill. under
which $4,000 will be drafted for mill.
tAry service, plays" no favorites. all
citizens being treated alike. All men,
between the ages of IS and As years
were eligible for service under the law
of that time.
The injustice of the old law is shown
In the fact that men could be relieved
from bearing arms on payment OF $500
and over 1000 were exempted on these
grounds. No one can buy his way
out" under the present law. Rich and
poor are treated alike.
About $4,000 was collected from
these conscientious men, opposed to
Tearing arms" when the matter was
submitted to the secretary Of war. by
Govrnor Morton. Indiana's great war
governor" who recognized the Unequal
ity Of it. The complaints were gener.
al. however, and on July 4, 1864, the
law was repealed by congress.
Indiana's Quota 42,5oo.
The call OF July 2, 1862 for 100000
men was still pending when the call
OF August 4. 1862 was issued for a
similar number. to serve for nine
months. Indiana's quota, fixed on the
tesis Of population. was 42.50O.
But there was 40 tagging on the
part Of the young men and by Septem.
her 20. both calls, with the exception
OF $3.50 men, had been filled.
The draft. looked upon as disgrace
full but still favored because OF the
fact that it would equalize the burden
os bearing arms among the townships.
vas conducted on October 6.
only One Disturbance
A total Of 1908 men was actually
drafted and only one disturbance was
reported. A number of men, in Black
ford county. opposed to the draft, de-
stroyed the box and 1t was several
days before the men were selected.
Jesse p. Siddall, Of Richmond. whose
headquarters was in Indianapolis, con-
Quoted the draft. The mode Of draft.
ing was very much the same as it will
be under the present law, which will
take 1850 men from Indiana in the
name Of democracy.
The names OF all who were liable
to draft in each township were writ
ten on separate ballots which were
folded and placed In a wheel or box
from which some person, blindfolded,
drew a number of ballots equal to the
quota due from the township being
drawn.
Sent to Camp Sullivan
A notice was then served on tho
men selected requiring them to report
at the county seat within five days.
They were then sent to Camp Suli-
van" at Indianapolis.
The draft system continued and on
March 3, 1863, Congress passed the
ENROLMENT Act" enrolling all citi-
zens. capable Of bearing arms between
the ages Of Is and As years, and to
call forth the national forces by draft
any time they were required.
The act of Congress established a
new system of raising recruits for
the army and a new bureau, under the
Provost Marshal General, was created.
After the draft Of 1862 no further
calls we're made until June, 1863,
when a call for six months" men
was issued and filed with volunteers.
Increased to 100000
On October II. OF the same year, a
cal for 10000 men was issued and in
creased to 100000 on February 1, 1912.
On March IA, it was again increased,
this time to 100000. Indiana's quota
calls.
To fill the demands 37,011 men en-.
listed, which, added to the surplus Of
11.011 In excess Of previous calls, left
still surplus in favor of the state of
2.493 men. making the resorting to
the draft law unnecessary.
On July 1s, 1864, another call for
100000 men was issued, Indiana's
quota being 1862. This was filed
with drafted men and substitutes and
naval recruits and re-enlisted veter-
ans. The last call was issued on Dec.
10, for 100000, which was filled prin-
cipally by volunteers. The draft was
conducted in March Of the following
year and 2,424 men were secured in
that way.