By
January 1863 it was clear that state governors in the north could
not raise enough troops for the Union Army.
On 3rd March, the federal government passed the Enrollment Act. This
was the first example of conscription or compulsory military service
in United States history. The decision to allow men to avoid the draft
by paying $300 to hire a substitute, resulted in the accusation that
this was a rich man's war and a poor man's fight.
The Enrollment Act resulted in Draft Riots
in several American cities. There was heavy loss of life in Detroit
but the worst rioting took place in New York
City in July. The mob set fire to an African American church and
orphanage, and attacked the office of the New
York Tribune. Started by Irish
immigrants, the main victims were African Americans and activists
in the anti-slavery movement. The Union
Army were sent in and had to open fire on the rioters in order
to gain control of the city. By the time the riot was over, nearly
a 1,000 people had been killed or wounded.
It is estimated that of those who took part in the American
Civil War, 75,215 were regulars, 1,933,779 were volunteers and
46,347 were drafted and 73,600 were substitutes. Officially, 201,397
men deserted, of these 76,526 were arrested and returned to their
regiments.
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