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.