Joining the Union Army | chemungcocivilwar

Goin' For Soldier: Joining the Union Army

The majority of Union soldiers during the Civil War served as volunteers. In Chemung County, recruiters spoke at rallies, put ads in local newspapers and offered hundreds of dollars in signing bonuses. Still, the army needed more soldiers and, in March 1863, a national draft with state quotas was put in place. Under the law, draftees could avoid service if they paid someone to take their place. In Elmira, a committee was formed to raise money to hire draft substitutes. All told, only 2% of the men in service were draftees while 6% were paid replacements.

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In the Army Now

Uniforms of the 23rd NY Volunteers.	Muster Records Because Elmira was a mustering point, men traveled from all over western New York to join up here.
Eligible Males in Southport, 1863 In preparation for the draft, the army created lists of all eligible males between the ages of 16 and 45.	Elmira Daily Advertiser, Jan. 7,1865 In Elmira, men joined at recruitment rallies, the training camps, and the offices of professional recruiting agents.
Harper's Weekly, September 7, 1862 Illustration courtesy of harpersweekly.com	Elmira Daily Advertiser, Apr.10,1865 The citizens of Elmira raised money to help poorer draftees hire a substitute.
Elmira Daily Advertiser, Jun.18,1862 With signing bonuses of a hundred dollars or more, some men would join, desert and join another unit under a different name to cash in.	Frock Coat worn by Lt. Col. William F. Fox, 107th NY Volunteers
Standard US Army issue forage cap	Leather Boots
Enlisted Soldier’s belt that belonged to Jacob Berhelter	Full Dress Epaulets that belonged to Henry C. Hoffman, Colonel in the 23rd Infantry Regiment
Norwich Arms Co. Rifle carried during the Civil War by M.H. Thurston, Co. K, 141st Infantry Regiment	Detail of Norwich Arms Co. Rifle carried during the Civil War by M.H. Thurston, Co. K, 141st Infantry Regiment
Triangular Bayonet with a leather scabbard	Colt Military Revolver
Assorted Union and Confederate bullets collected after battles

Goin' For Soldier: Joining the Union Army

Uniforms of the 23rd NY Volunteers.

Muster Records

Because Elmira was a mustering point, men traveled from all over western New York to join up here.

Eligible Males in Southport, 1863

In preparation for the draft, the army created lists of all eligible males between the ages of 16 and 45.

Elmira Daily Advertiser, Jan. 7,1865

In Elmira, men joined at recruitment rallies, the training camps, and the offices of professional recruiting agents.

Harper's Weekly, September 7, 1862

Illustration courtesy of harpersweekly.com

Elmira Daily Advertiser, Apr.10,1865

The citizens of Elmira raised money to help poorer draftees hire a substitute.

Elmira Daily Advertiser, Jun.18,1862

With signing bonuses of a hundred dollars or more, some men would join, desert and join another unit under a different name to cash in.

Frock Coat worn by Lt. Col. William F. Fox, 107th NY Volunteers

Standard US Army issue forage cap

Leather Boots

Enlisted Soldier’s belt that belonged to Jacob Berhelter

Full Dress Epaulets that belonged to Henry C. Hoffman, Colonel in the 23rd Infantry Regiment

Norwich Arms Co. Rifle carried during the Civil War by M.H. Thurston, Co. K, 141st Infantry Regiment

Detail of Norwich Arms Co. Rifle carried during the Civil War by M.H. Thurston, Co. K, 141st Infantry Regiment

Triangular Bayonet with a leather scabbard

Colt Military Revolver

Assorted Union and Confederate bullets collected after battles