How could draftees escape service in the US Civil War?

Answer 1

Both the North and the South passed conscription laws. The laws were subject to revisions at various times during the war. The South created a draft in the Spring of 1862. In the North, draft laws took effect in March of 1863.In the South, state governors created various exceptions. One way to Dodge the Confederate draft was to own at least 20 slaves.

In the North, one could escape being drafted by either finding another man to take one's place or to give the US Treasury $300. This increased as dodging the draft developed into a "black market".

Ordinary citizens on both sides of the war believed the draft laws were either illegal or simply unfair. The largest riot in US history took place in New York City when the draft recruiters came to the city to draw names via lottery. Three plus days of unchecked rioting took place. The mobs mainly were anti -Black immigrants.

Since neither the state or the city could control the mobs, Lincoln was forced to send 20,000 troops fresh from Gettysburg to use force and howitzers to end the riots. In the early stages of the draft in the North, $15 million was collected by the US Treasury from men who paid the $300 to avoid conscription.

Answer 2

Draft or conscription laws changed throughout the war, however, here are some interesting facts. The US Congress passed a conscription act in March of 1863. Attempts to draft recruits in New York City in July of that year touched off the largest civil insurrection in American history. The riots against the draft were partly among immigrant workers who could not pay the $300 to the US Treasury to exempt themselves or find another person to take their place. Those were the two main ways to escape military service. The riots were so severe that US President Lincoln ordered 20,000 troops fresh from the Battle of Gettysburg to New York and end the riots with the help of howitzer cannons. The US Treasury collected $15,000,000 in exemption payments.

The draft laws in the South were enacted one year before in 1862.

There was resistance in the South as well. The exemption methods there were more complex and allowed state governors to bend the rules extensively. In the South one could avoid service by having another man take one's place. Worse, was a part of the law that allowed men who owned 20 or more slaves to be exempt.

Answer 3

Paid a set amount of money=bribed somebody

Answer 4

If they were wealthy enough they paid another man to go in their place.