1863 Union Draft Records

I ran across something very interesting when doing research on a Bowman family of Mercer County, Kentucky – the Civil War draft registration records for the Union Army, 1863-1865.  By 1863 it was necessary for the federal government to enroll and draft men.  The Conscription Act declared that men between the ages of 20 and 45 were eligible for duty.  Those exempt from the draft were men who were mentally or physically impaired, the only son of a widow, the son of infirm parents or a widower with dependent children.  A few man paid a substitute to go to war for them.  Prices began about $300, but some went as high as $1,100 or more.

Class I comprised all persons subject to do military duty between the ages of twenty and thirty-five years, and all unmarried persons to do military duty above the age of thirty-five years and under the age of forty-five years.  Class II comprised all other persons subject to do military duty, married men aged 36 to 44.  Class III comprised volunteers.

Consolidated list of all person of Class II, subject to do military duty in the Seventh Congressional District, consisting of the Counties of Lincoln, Fayette, Jessamine, Boyle, Mercer, Bourbon, Nicholas, Franklin, Woodford and Clark, and State of Kentucky, enumerated during the month of June and July, 1863, under direction of Thomas H. Moore, Captain.

The following is just a small sample of the names included.  What I love about these records is the information given – great for genealogists – and another tool to use between the census years!