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1863 Draftee Paid $300 Commutation Money Civil War Certificate + CDVs Identified

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:700.00 USD Estimated At:900.00 - 1,200.00 USD
1863 Draftee Paid $300 Commutation Money Civil War Certificate + CDVs Identified
Civil War Union Documents
Rare Certificate & CDV Identified Draftee Who Paid His $300 of “Commutation Money” Avoiding Civil War Service
July 25, 1863-Dated Civil War Period, Partially-Printed Document, Receiver of Commutation Money Form, Certificate & CDV Identified Draftee Who Paid His $300 of “Commutation Money” Avoiding Civil War Service just after the Battle of Gettysburg, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Very Fine.
This rare 8” x 4.75” official Civil War Document is a special payment Form issued per the historic and highly controversial payment method which allowed by law, Union Drafted men to pay $300 to literally buy their way out of military service during the Civil War. This important Receipt Form is per Act of July 3rd, 1863 (on July 3, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania came to a bloody end). Its Obverse reads, in full:

“Office of Receiver of Commutation Money, - Twenty-Third District of Penn’a. -- Received this day, from Thomas Still of Duquesne Boro, Allegheny Co., Pa., who was drafted into the military service of the United States on the 14th day of July, 1863, from the 23d Congressional District of the State of Pennsylvania, the sum of Three Hundred Dollars, to obtain, under Section 13, of an Act ‘for enrolling and calling out the National forces, and for other purposes,' approved March 3rd 1863, discharge from further liability under that draft. - $300. -- (Signed) Daniel N. White - Receiver of Commutation Money, 23d Pa. District.”

The printed Reverse side is headed, “CERTIFICATE OF BOARD OF ENROLLMENT.” It further continues to officially document and certify that Thomas Still delivered his Form and $300 payment dated for the Draft of “3rd day of July, 1863, by reason of having paid the sum of Three Hundred Dollars.” - Then certified by a three member “Board of Enrollment.”

This original Document is accompanied by Two period Carte de Visites of a well dressed (apparently wealthy) Man and Woman, simply identified in pencil on the blank reverse of each CDV as “Uncle Thomas Still” and his wife “Aunte Still.” Both CDVs with nice contrast, Thomas Still having a small torn corner to the image at the upper right. (3 items).
The tremendous and obvious unfairness of these $300 “Commutation Money” paid exemptions from the dangers of Civil War military service, and their favoritism towards the wealthy, led to the bloody New York City “Draft Riot” in July 1863. So many people took advantage of this opportunity to avoid the Union Draft that an unexpected windfall of $12 million in gold coin poured into the national coffers!