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Civil War 1863, $300 Application and Voucher for Substitute

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Paper Money - United States Start Price:425.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 900.00 USD
Civil War 1863, $300 Application and Voucher for Substitute
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New York, NY. 1863 document in which James Jones, 35 years of age, working at Engine No. 39 in New York City, paid $300 to have a substitute, Bernard Campbell, fight in his place in the American Civil War. Lot includes Application and Voucher documents, attached at top left with adhesive material. Application includes a red stamp of confirmation, as well as approval signatures. The Enrollment Act of 1863, also known as the Civil War Military Draft Act, was an Act passed by the United States Congress during the American Civil War to provide fresh manpower for the Union Army. The Act was the first genuine national conscription law. The law required the enrollment of every male citizen and those immigrants (aliens) who had filed for citizenship, between 20 and 45 years of age, unless exempted by the Act. Substitutions were available throughout the war. The problem with substitution was that it provided substitutes with powerful incentives to desert soon after enlisting. Career "jumpers" made a living by enlisting as a substitute, collecting their compensation, deserting before their units were dispatched to the front, and repeating the process. The problem was well known to the military commanders who regularly saw the same recruits. In addition, troops furnished by substitution were considered to be of an inferior quality in comparison to regulars and volunteers. Rarely seen Civil War historical document.