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== Union Draft Records ==
== Union Draft Records ==


By 1863 it became necessary for the federal government to enroll and draft men into the Army. The Conscription Act declared that men between the ages of 20 and 45 were eligible for duty. Aliens who had filed their declaration of intention to become citizens were also eligible. The draft lasted until 1865, when the war ended. The records are part of [https://catalog.archives.gov/id/10461614 Record Group 110 Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau.] Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau (Civil War), 1861–1907 [https://catalog.archives.gov/id/439 NAID 439]
By 1863 it became necessary for the federal government to enroll and draft men into the Army. The Conscription Act declared that men between the ages of 20 and 45 were eligible for duty. Aliens who had filed their declaration of intention to become citizens were also eligible. The draft lasted until 1865, when the war ended. The records are part of Record Group 110 Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau, 3/3/1863-8/28/1866 [https://catalog.archives.gov/id/10461614 NAID 10461614] Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau (Civil War), 1861–1907 [https://catalog.archives.gov/id/439 NAID 439]


Who was subject to the draft:
Who was subject to the draft:
Line 25: Line 25:


Note: A few paid a substitute to serve for them. (The going price was around $300, but quickly went to $1,100 or more.)
Note: A few paid a substitute to serve for them. (The going price was around $300, but quickly went to $1,100 or more.)
=== Consolidated Enrollment Lists ===
The "Consolidated Enrollment Lists, compiled 1863 - 1865" 620 volumes (National Archives Catalog NAID [https://catalog.archives.gov/id/4213514 4213514]  (MLR Number NM-65 172) consist of registers of men eligible for the draft.
The consolidated lists are arranged by state, then by congressional district, and then alphabetically by the first letter of the surname. The lists give name, place of residence, age as of 1 July 1863, occupation, marital status, place of birth, and former military service.
The records were divided into three parts, or classes:
*Class I - men 20-35 subject to military duty and unmarried men 36-44 subject to military duty.
*Class II - married men 36-44.
*Class III - volunteers.
Other titles for this collection:
*[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/4213515 Original Enrollment Lists and Corrections, 1863–1865 NAID 4213515]


''' National Archives Catalog - Related Collections Selected '''
''' National Archives Catalog - Related Collections Selected '''
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*[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5682509 Medical Registers of Examinations of Drafted Men, 1864–May 1865. Western District of Pennsylvania, 13th District]
*[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5682509 Medical Registers of Examinations of Drafted Men, 1864–May 1865. Western District of Pennsylvania, 13th District]


=== Consolidated Enrollment Lists ===
'''<u>Determining Congressional District</u>:'''


The "Consolidated Enrollment Lists, compiled 1863 - 1865" 620 volumes (National Archives Catalog NAID [https://catalog.archives.gov/id/4213514 4213514]  (MLR Number NM-65 172) consist of registers of men eligible for the draft.
Determining the congressional district in which a person lived can be helpful when searching the records, especially in cases where the persons name is very common. The following lists Civil War era congressional districts outlining which counties were located in which districts:


The consolidated lists are arranged by state, then by congressional district, and then alphabetically by the first letter of the surname. The lists give name, place of residence, age as of 1 July 1863, occupation, marital status, place of birth, and former military service.
*"Congressional Directory for the Second Session of the Thirty‑eighth Congress of the United States of America" 1865. This is arranged alphabetically by state, then by Congressional district. The counties are included in each district. {{FSC|1358330|item|disp=FS Library 973 E4uc 1865}}; item 6 {{FSHI|DGS=7962765}}
 
*See also ''Records of the Provost Marshall General's Bureau, 1863-1866 : list of Civil War districts in the States'' {{FSDL|847429}}
The records were divided into three parts, or classes:
 
*Class I - men 20-35 subject to military duty and unmarried men 36-44 subject to military duty.
*Class II - married men 36-44.
*Class III - volunteers.
 
Other titles for this collection:
*[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/4213515 Original Enrollment Lists and Corrections, 1863–1865 NAID 4213515]
*"Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registrations, 1863-1865"
*"Draft Enrollment Registers"


=== FamilySearch Catalog ===
=== FamilySearch Catalog ===
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*{{FSC|110169|item|disp=New York County. Substitute Committee. Substitute soldiers records, 1863-1864, 23 rolls}}
*{{FSC|110169|item|disp=New York County. Substitute Committee. Substitute soldiers records, 1863-1864, 23 rolls}}
*{{FSC|751918|item|disp=Enrollment list of all persons of class I and II, subject to do military duty;16th subdistrict of 11th Congressional District for Orange and Sullivan counties, New York.}}
*{{FSC|751918|item|disp=Enrollment list of all persons of class I and II, subject to do military duty;16th subdistrict of 11th Congressional District for Orange and Sullivan counties, New York.}}
*''1863 Civil War draft list, Guernsey County, Ohio'' Cambridge, Ohio: Ohio Genealogical Society. Guernsey County Chapter, 1989 {{FSC|472073|item|disp=FS Library 977.1 A1 no. 371}}
*{{FSC|249371|item|disp=Philadelphia, Military enrollment book, wards 19 and 20, 1861-1862}}
*{{FSC|249371|item|disp=Philadelphia, Military enrollment book, wards 19 and 20, 1861-1862}}
*{{FSC|244663|item|disp=Descriptive list of deserters from various regiments of Pennsylvania State volunteers, 1860-1865}}
*{{FSC|244663|item|disp=Descriptive list of deserters from various regiments of Pennsylvania State volunteers, 1860-1865}}
Line 73: Line 80:
*{{FSC|123484|item|disp=List of non-reporting drafted men & deserters under the draft of July 1863 and March 1864 ... in Pennsylvania}}
*{{FSC|123484|item|disp=List of non-reporting drafted men & deserters under the draft of July 1863 and March 1864 ... in Pennsylvania}}
*{{FSC|365944|item|disp=Rhode Island. Board of Enrollment of the 2nd Congressional District, List of persons drafted into the U.S. Army, 1863}}
*{{FSC|365944|item|disp=Rhode Island. Board of Enrollment of the 2nd Congressional District, List of persons drafted into the U.S. Army, 1863}}
'''<u>Determining Congressional District</u>:'''
Determining the congressional district in which a person lived can be helpful when searching the records, especially in cases where the persons name is very common. The following lists Civil War era congressional districts outlining which counties were located in which districts:
*"Congressional Directory for the Second Session of the Thirty‑eighth Congress of the United States of America" 1865. This is arranged alphabetically by state, then by Congressional district. The counties are included in each district. {{FSC|1358330|item|disp=FS Library 973 E4uc 1865}}; item 6 {{FSHI|DGS=7962765}}
*See also ''Records of the Provost Marshall General's Bureau, 1863-1866 : list of Civil War districts in the States'' {{FSDL|847429}}


==== Where to Find the Records ====
==== Where to Find the Records ====
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*Geary, James W. ''We need men : the Union draft in the Civil War'' DeKalb, Illinois: Northern Illinois University Press, 1991 {{FSC|429500|item|disp=FS Library 973 H2ge}}
*Geary, James W. ''We need men : the Union draft in the Civil War'' DeKalb, Illinois: Northern Illinois University Press, 1991 {{FSC|429500|item|disp=FS Library 973 H2ge}}
*Murdock, Eugene C. ''One Million Men, the Civil War Draft in the North.'' Westport, Conn.: Greenwood, Press, 1971. {{FSC|574375|item|disp=FS Library 973 M2mu}}
*Murdock, Eugene C. ''One Million Men, the Civil War Draft in the North.'' Westport, Conn.: Greenwood, Press, 1971. {{FSC|574375|item|disp=FS Library 973 M2mu}}
*Cook, Adrian. ''The armies of the streets : the New York City draft riots of 1863'' Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky, 1974 {{FSC|601804|item|disp=FS Library 974.71 H2co}}
*[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/74884497 Annual Report of the Provost Marshal General, November 15, 1864] National Archives Catalog NAID 74884497


{{U.S. Civil War}}  
{{U.S. Civil War}}  


[[Category:United_States_Civil_War,_1861_to_1865]]
[[Category:United_States_Civil_War,_1861_to_1865]]

Latest revision as of 14:58, 28 July 2025

United States
Civil War, 1861-1865
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Union
Confederate
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Union Draft Records

By 1863 it became necessary for the federal government to enroll and draft men into the Army. The Conscription Act declared that men between the ages of 20 and 45 were eligible for duty. Aliens who had filed their declaration of intention to become citizens were also eligible. The draft lasted until 1865, when the war ended. The records are part of Record Group 110 Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau, 3/3/1863-8/28/1866 NAID 10461614 Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau (Civil War), 1861–1907 NAID 439

Who was subject to the draft:

  • All males between 20 and 45 were subjected to the draft.

Who was exempt:

  • Men who were mentally or physically impaired
  • The only son of a widow
  • The son of infirm parents
  • A widower with dependent children

Note: A few paid a substitute to serve for them. (The going price was around $300, but quickly went to $1,100 or more.)

Consolidated Enrollment Lists

The "Consolidated Enrollment Lists, compiled 1863 - 1865" 620 volumes (National Archives Catalog NAID 4213514 (MLR Number NM-65 172) consist of registers of men eligible for the draft.

The consolidated lists are arranged by state, then by congressional district, and then alphabetically by the first letter of the surname. The lists give name, place of residence, age as of 1 July 1863, occupation, marital status, place of birth, and former military service.

The records were divided into three parts, or classes:

  • Class I - men 20-35 subject to military duty and unmarried men 36-44 subject to military duty.
  • Class II - married men 36-44.
  • Class III - volunteers.

Other titles for this collection:


National Archives Catalog - Related Collections Selected

Determining Congressional District:

Determining the congressional district in which a person lived can be helpful when searching the records, especially in cases where the persons name is very common. The following lists Civil War era congressional districts outlining which counties were located in which districts:

  • "Congressional Directory for the Second Session of the Thirty‑eighth Congress of the United States of America" 1865. This is arranged alphabetically by state, then by Congressional district. The counties are included in each district. FS Library 973 E4uc 1865; item 6 DGS 7962765
  • See also Records of the Provost Marshall General's Bureau, 1863-1866 : list of Civil War districts in the States FamilySearch Digital Library

FamilySearch Catalog

Where to Find the Records

Online

National Archives Preliminary Inventories Record Group 110

  • Patricia Andrews, Ellen Garrison, Mark German, and Ruth Johnson. comps. Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the Provost Marshal's General Bureau. RG 110. 5 vols. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1966-1967. FS Library 973 A3pmg

Other Records

Case Files

There are also some case files on drafted aliens in National Archives Record Group 59, General Records of the Department of State. These are arranged alphabetically and include name, age, district from which drafted, country of citizenship, and length of residence in the United States.

Descriptive Rolls

These are arranged the same as the Consolidated Lists and include a physical description of the enrollee, birthplace, and whether accepted or rejected for service.

Further Reading

Civil War draft or enrollment records are discussed in:

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Links to United States Civil War-related articles
Getting Started
Union
Confederate
General
Civil War Pages
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