The Draft
Mechanics of the Draft
The manner in which the drafting is done at least in this State precludes everything like unfairness. We copy the following from the Daily Herald :The method of procedure in making the draft is simple, and a brief description of it will doubtless interest our readers. In accordance with instructions from the War Department, the draft is made by sub-districts instead of towns. So in fixing the number to be drafted from each is given for the excess, if any, which the sub-district has furnished over the quotas of the towns composing it under previous calls.
The names of the persons enrolled are written upon slips of paper of equal size, each slip containing one name, together with the name of the town in which the person designated resides. The slips embracing the names of all enrolled in one sub-district, are placed together in a simple wooden box, so arranged as to revolve by turning a crank at one end. The box is revolved for the purpose of mixing the slips up well together, is opened and one slip drawn out, the name upon it announced, with the residence, and recorded. The box is again revolved, opened, and one other slip drawn, and so on until a number of slips equal to the number of drafted men required from the sub-district in question, are drawn out, the name being recorded in the order in which the slips containing them are drawn. The slips remaining in the box at the close of the drawing, are taken out and sealed up for future reference.
The stage on Saturday was occupied by the board of enrollment, and the deputy enrolling officers of Washington County, and other parts of the District. The box was turned by the Commissioner of the board; the slips were drawn from the box by Mr. Reynolds of Pittsford, a disinterested and respectable person, wo has been totally blind for years, and each slip as drawn was handed by Mr. Reynolds to the Provost Marshal, who announced the name, and it was recorded by the Clerk. At the close of the drawing the slips drawn, and the revolving box used, were submitted to the examination of the person(s) assembled in the hall.
The Daily Freeman (Montpelier), Evening Edition, July 18, 1863
The results of the draft, in the several Congressional Districts, has been as follows:--
FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, OCT. 1, 1863.
Enrolled in 1st Class 7675
" " 2nd Class 3721
Quotas assessed 1505
No. drafted 2256
Accepted men who entered service 79
" " who procured substitutes, 154
" " paid commutation 723 = 956
Rejected for disability 573
Exempted under 2nd section of Act of Congress 190
Exempted for other causes,--alienage, non-residents, etc. 331
Twice enrolled 8
Died 4
Failed to report, and deserted after reporting 163
Drafted men whose cases remain undecided 31
SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, SEPT. 30, 1863.
Enrolled in 1st Class 8816
" " 2nd Class 4637
Quotas assessed 1763
No. drafted 2645
Accepted 1107
Accepted men entered service 124
" " procured substitutes, 261
" " paid commutation 722 = 1107
Rejected for disability 966
Exempted under 2nd section of Act of Congress 246
Exempted for other causes 206
Died since draft 2
Failed to report, and deserted after reporting 68
Cases remaining undecided 59
THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, SEPT. 26, 1863.
Enrolled in 1st Class 7231
" " 2nd Class 3545
Quotas assessed 1447
No. drafted 2170
Accepted 720
Accepted men entered service 115
" " procured substitutes, 215
" " paid commutation 390 = 720
Rejected for disability 625
Exempted under 2nd section of Act of Congress 144
Exempted for other causes,--alienage, non-residents, &c. 326
Failed to report 283
Cases remaining undecided 72
RECAPITULATION.
Enrolled in 1st Class 23,722
" " 2nd Class 11,903
Total enrolled 35,625
Quota assessed 4715
No. drafted 7071
Accepted 2781
entered service 318
Procured substitutes 630
Paid commutation 1833 = 2781
Rejected for disability 2157
Exempted 1426
Died 5
Failed to report and deserted after reporting 557
Cases undecided 145
Courtesy of Linda M. Welch