<JDLail@Yahoo.com> wrote in message news:aqirm3pp1br1vtbn6koh7hukljpgdmro89@4ax.com... > On Sat, 22 Dec 2007 12:33:39 -0800, jj206 > <jj206@remoooooooooooovethisdrizzle.com> wrote: > >>Michelle, Sabrina's Mom wrote: >>> Excuse my ignorance on the subject. But I was wondering, if you were 15 >>> in >>> 1870, living in Massachusetts, when you became legal age, would you have >>> had >>> to register for a draft or would going into the military be voluntary? > >>> Thanks, > >>> Michelle >>Keep in mind that not everyone knew their age back then. >>Also kids lied about their age so they could fight along >>side their fathers, cousins, uncles, friends, etc... > >>Genealogy is an art not a science, although with dna >>matching, it might be getting half and half. *smile* > > The answer is no. There was no peace time draft until about 1940 and > that was really in anticipation of WW II. Before that the only draft > was the Civil War in 1862 (Confed) and 1863 (Union). A permanent > peace-time as well as war-time office of Selective Service or its > equivilant did not exist until 1940. The large standing army that > required draftees is purely a Cold War phenomenon. Thanks everyone. I appreciate your replies. Michelle