I found this on another list. Check your ancestors and see if you think it is true. In checking my ancestors it is not true. Is it is true or not true for your ancestors? From: http://www.genealogybulletin.com/archives/HTML/etc70.html According to a tidbit from genealogical society bulletins, 78 percent of the Union Army in the Civil War was comprised of lads 15 to 18 years old. Data gleaned from government records reveals figures that may surprise you. Here are the statistics from the total enlistment of Northern soldiers during the Civil War:       Age    Number of Personnel       10 ............ 25       11 ............ 34       12 ............225       13 ............380       14 ...........1602       15 ........104,987 (3.5%)       16 ........231,051 (8.0%)       17 ........884,981 (28.0%)       18 ......1,158,434 (38.5%)       19-22 .....617,511 (20.5%)       22-44 ......52,696       45+ .....Not given James Downing bgandy007@aol.com http://members.aol.com/bgandy007/genealgy/index.html