Murray Bowden

Date of Award

6-1948

Level of Access Assigned by Author

Open-Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

Abstract

The problem of enforcing conscription in the Northern States during the Civil War was an exceedingly difficult one. The American people abhorred the idea of compulsory military service. The draft laws were formulated to favor the wealthy class at the expense of the poor. This aroused the wrath of the poorer classes. At first, the enforcement of the laws was left to the states, but in 1863, control was transferred to a branch of the War Department, resulting in more efficient administration. Immediately after the Conscription Act of 1863 was passed, riots broke out in Boston, New York and the Midwest. The disturbances were suppressed by troops but the latter were unable to prevent thousands from fleeing to Canada and the Far-West to escape the draft. Throughout the war, the wealthy were able to avoid the draft by paying commutation or furnishing substitutes. Bounty-jumpers and substitute brokers further impeded the purpose of the draft laws. Lastly, the draft was difficult to enforce because of the sectionalism of the country.

The old militia rolls, which had not been revised for years, were used in the administration of conscription in Maine. This forced many towns to supply a larger proportion of men than others and added to the unpopularity of the draft. Maine, like other states, attempted to fill its quotas with volunteers and employed the draft as a last resort. The towns and cities of the state vied with one another in describing the ignominies of the draft and advertising for volunteers. It was the threat of the draft, rather than the draft itself, which enabled the state to supply its quota of men each time a call for troops was issued. In addition, men were led to enlist by offers of exceedingly high bounties.

The mercenary factor in the enlisting and drafting of men is difficult to evaluate. No estimate had been made of the number of persons who enlisted to avoid the stigma of the draft or of those who volunteered solely for mercenary reasons. Many offered their services for purely patriotic reasons. However, bounties and substitute fees played an important part in the war, and they rose to fantastic figures as men became more scarce. Notorious substitute brokers were engaged in selling fictitious lists of names to the hard-pressed towns of the state, providing few men and making additional drafts necessary.

Opposition to conscription in Maine was scattered and weak and the authorities promptly arrested all who attempted to interfere. It was more difficult to arrest deserters, especially those who fled before the draft took place. Many deserters found refuge in Canada while others fled to Aroostook and the West. Of those who failed to report for the draft, many had moved to other localities since the revision of the enrollment lists. Compared to other states, Maine submitted rather passively to the draft.

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