Union Draft Records: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 21:26, 9 October 2023

United States Civil War, 1861-1865

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Union Draft Records[edit | edit source]

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.

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.)

National Archives Catalog - Related Collections Selected

Consolidated Enrollment Lists[edit | edit source]

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:

Original Enrollment Lists and Corrections, 1863–1865 NAID 4213515
"Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registrations, 1863-1865"
"Draft Enrollment Registers"

FamilySearch Catalog[edit | edit source]

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 (FS Library 973 E4uc 1865; film 1425543 item 6.) This is arranged alphabetically by state, then by Congressional district. The counties are included in each district.

Where to Find the Records[edit | edit source]

Online

U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865 (Ancestry) ($)

National Archives Preliminary Inventories Record Group 110[edit | edit source]

Other Records[edit | edit source]

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.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United States Military Records|U.S. Military]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]]  [[United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865|U.S. Civil War]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Union Draft Records|Draft Records]]''
+{{breadcrumb
+| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]]
+| link2=[[United States Military Records|U.S. Military]]
+| link3=[[United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865|U.S. Civil War]]
+| link4=
+| link5=[[Union Draft Records|Union Draft Records]]
+}}
-=== Union Draft Records  ===
+{{US-civilwar-sidebar}}
-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. Records relating to the draft are at the National Archives in Record Group 110, Records of the Provost Marshal General’s Bureau, and have not yet been microfilmed. They include the following:
+== Union Draft Records ==
-*'''Consolidated Lists.''' These 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; state, territory, or country of birth; and military service (if any).
+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.]
-*'''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. '''Who was subject to the draft''':<br>• All males between 20 and 45 were subjected to the draft. <br>• Those who were exempt from service included:<br>- Men who were mentally or physically impaired<br>- The only son of a widow<br>- The son of infirm parents<br>- A widower with dependent children <br>• A few paid a substitute to serve for them. (The going price was around $300, but quickly went to $1,100 or more.)<br>• The unpopular draft lasted until 1865, when the war ended. <br>• Enrollment districts were divided along the same lines as Congressional Districts.
-'''What draft records contain:<br>'''• Name<br>• Residence<br>• Age as of 1 July 1863<br>• Place of birth<br>• Marital status<br>• Race<br>• Occupation
+Who was subject to the draft:
-INFORMATION FROM: Meier, Michael T. "Genealogy Notes: Civil War Draft Records: Exemptions and Enrollments," Prologue, Quarterly of the National Archives 26:1 (Spring 1994) FHL book 973 B2p.
+*All males between 20 and 45 were subjected to the draft.
-To find a name in the records, you must first determine the congressional district in which your ancestor lived. Congressional district numbers are listed in the following:
+Who was exempt:
-United States Congress. ''[http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&columns=*%2C0%2C0&titleno=1358330&disp=1865++ Congressional Directory for the Second Session of the Thirty‑eighth Congress of the United States of America].'' Washington, D.C.: Philip &amp; Solomons, 1865. (FHL book 973 E4uc 1865; film 1425543 item 6.) This is arranged alphabetically by state, then by Congressional district. The counties are included in each district.
+*Men who were mentally or physically impaired
+*The only son of a widow
+*The son of infirm parents
+*A widower with dependent children
-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.
+Note: A few paid a substitute to serve for them. (The going price was around $300, but quickly went to $1,100 or more.)
+''' National Archives Catalog - Related Collections Selected '''
+*[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/81114571 Register of Applicants for Provost Marshals, Surgeons, and Members of Boards of Enrollment]
+*[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/1224792 Records of Civil War Draft Surgeons, 1863–1865 NAID 1224792]
+*[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/74859665 Register of Disbursements Made]
+*[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/74860188 Register of Accounts Forwarded for Payment]
+*[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/74884497 Annual Report of the provost Marshal General, November 15, 1864. NAID 74884497]
+*[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7424012 Muster and Descriptive Rolls of Recruits - Northern District of Kansas. Draft Rendezvous at Fort Leavenworth 3.3.1863-1865]
+*[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7552130 Medical Register of Examinations of Enrolled Men, Drafted Men, Recruits, and Substitutes Northern District of Kansas. 3.3.1863-8.20.1866]
+*[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7348138 Medical Register of Examinations of Enrolled Men, Drafted Men, Recruits, and Substitutes, Showing Exemptions] Missouri 6th District]
+*[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7551623 Descriptive Lists of Recruits Enlisted in the 27th, 28th, and 30th Sub-districts. Missouri 6th District, 3.3.1863-8.20.1866]
+*[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 ===
+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]
+*"Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registrations, 1863-1865"
+*"Draft Enrollment Registers"
+=== FamilySearch Catalog ===
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/671245 Nancy Justus Morebeck, ''Civil War draft records : an index to the 38th Congressional Districts of 1863'' Vacaville, California : N. Morebeck, c1997 FS Library 973 M2mcw]
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/478818 United States. Provost Marshal General's Bureau, ''Reports and decisions of the Provost Marshal General, 1863-1866 NARA M621]
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1135280 Enrollment lists for Delaware, 1863-1865]
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/110169 New York County. Substitute Committee. Substitute soldiers records, 1863-1864, 23 rolls]
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/244663 Descriptive list of deserters from various regiments of Pennsylvania State volunteers, 1860-1865]
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/18914 Pennsylvania. List of deserters, 1866 : substitutes and deserters from the Fifth Congressional District, 1861-1866]
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/123484 List of non-reporting drafted men & deserters under the draft of July 1863 [and March 1864] ... in Pennsylvania]
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/365944 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 ({{FSC|973 E4uc 1865}}; film 1425543 item 6.) This is arranged alphabetically by state, then by Congressional district. The counties are included in each district.
+==== Where to Find the Records ====
+'''Online'''
+*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1666 U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865] (Ancestry) ($)
+=== National Archives Preliminary Inventories Record Group 110 ===
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/283107-preliminary-inventory-of-the-records-of-the-provost-marshal-general-s-bureau-civil-war-record-group-110-pt-01?offset=1 Part 1]
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/289559-preliminary-inventory-of-the-records-of-the-provost-marshal-general-s-bureau-civil-war-record-group-110-pt-02?offset=1 Part 2: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island]
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/281253-preliminary-inventory-of-the-records-of-the-provost-marshal-general-s-bureau-civil-war-record-group-110-pt-03?offset=1 Part 3: New York]
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/293531-preliminary-inventory-of-the-records-of-the-provost-marshal-general-s-bureau-civil-war-record-group-110-pt-04?offset=1 Part 4: New Jersey and Pennsylvania]
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/298226-preliminary-inventory-of-the-records-of-the-provost-marshal-general-s-bureau-civil-war-record-group-110-pt-05?offset=1 Part 5: Delaware, Maryland,District of Columbia, West Virginia, Kentucky,Missouri]
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/285299-preliminary-inventory-of-the-records-of-the-provost-marshal-general-s-bureau-civil-war-record-group-110-pt-06?offset=1 Part 6: Ohio and Indiana]
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/286640-preliminary-inventory-of-the-records-of-the-provost-marshal-general-s-bureau-civil-war-record-group-110-pt-07?offset=1 Part 7: Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa]
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/517429-preliminary-inventory-of-the-records-of-the-provost-marshal-general-s-bureau-civil-war-record-group-110-pt-08?offset=1 Part 8: Kansas,Nebraska,Colorado, Dakota, Minesota,California,Nevada,Oregon, Washington, Arkansas, Tennessee]
+== 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:
-Meier, Michael T. “[http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&columns=*%2C0%2C0&titleno=283550&disp=Prologue+%28National+Archives%29++ Civil War Draft Records: Exemptions and Enrollments].” ''Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives 26''. (Winter 1994): 282–86. (FHL book 973 B2p.)
+*Meier, Michael T. "Genealogy Notes: Civil War Draft Records: Exemptions and Enrollments," Prologue, Quarterly of the National Archives 26:1 (Spring 1994) {{FSC| 973 B2p}}.
+*Meier, Michael T. “ Civil War Draft Records: Exemptions and Enrollments.” ''Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives 26''. (Winter 1994): 282–86. {{FSC|973 B2p}}
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/574375 Murdock, Eugene C. One Million Men, the Civil War Draft in the North. Wesptort, Conn.: Greenwood, Press, 1971. FS Library 973 M2mu]
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/400322 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.] Digital Images
 {{U.S. Civil War}}
 [[Category:United_States_Civil_War,_1861_to_1865]]