Three clippings from Seneca County, New York newspapers in March 1865:
The Terrors of the Draft.
The hardships of the draft are being seriously felt in many parts of the State. – Families are broken up and in many cases left dependent upon the cold charities of the world, while the drafted man is hurried to the front, to engage in war which from his inmost souls he abhors. No drafted man, it is safe to say, will serve his year in the army, if he is able to procure a substitute or has friends enough to procure one for him. It is idle, therefore, to talk about the duty and the patriotism and glory of a conscript’s life. People don’t see it. The draft falls with crushing weight upon all. The most of those drawn are unable to buy out and unable to leave enough to support their families in their absence. Is it not right and proper that those on whom this lot does not fall should contribute to lighten the burden of those on whom it does fall? Do we live for ourselves alone, or do we owe something to our neighbors?
DRAFTED MEN. – It is now understood that drafted men cannot enlist as volunteers. Provost Marshal Fry says so.
MORE DESERTERS. – We learn that twenty-three more soldiers deserted from the barracks at Auburn on Tuesday night. – Only $23,000 is required to make up the deficiency!
