----- Original Message ----- From: Pattee Fenn <pfenn@digisys.net> To: <IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, May 14, 2001 2:41 PM Subject: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] Curious In > looking on the USGenWeb Project Illinois page and at the Civil War muster rolls I found a George W. Smith who had volunteered from Marian County in Aug of 1864, 146th Infantry Company D. > > My problem is I am puzzled as to why he isn't in his "home" County of Carroll. I guess he could've been living and working in Salem, Marian County where he lists his residence. I wondered if this was a common practice-would they go to another county to enlist? Pattee, This is general info which I uncovered while researching my ancestor who enlisted as a "SUBSTITUTE" to 36Inf Co H in Oct 64. Died Jan 65 in Corinth, MS a little over a month after his Co was engaged in the Battle of Spring Hill. . He was a resident of Morgan County (probate was filled there by his father including newspaper notices of intent to close estate there) yet my ancestor listed his residence in the neighboring county of Cass on his Muster Roll. After Pres Lincoln enacted a Mandatory Draft (in effect during our ancestor's enlistment), Counties had to meet a certain qouta of enlistees based on the numbers of registered men living there. If the qouta was not met, men were drafted. In Morgan Co, as so many other 'patriotic' counties in IL, the citizens took it as a matter of personal Pride that they could turn out enough numbers of willing volunteers and not face the disgrace associated with forced draft. In Morgan, regular rallies were held, with parades, bands, ect. to drum up volunteers, and local buisnessmen and citizens put up money as bonuses to men who would sign up. I have read mention of bonuses from 2 to 5 hundred dollars. This practice went on in other Counties as well. In fact, as numbers of willing men dwindled and draft loomed over their heads, enterprising businessmen tried to set up "DRAFT INSURANCE" firms which would pay a fee for a man to "SUBSTITUTE' in place of an unwilling draftee. The city council of Jacksonville (Morgan Co.) tried to force these firms out by requiring excessive fees to operate their buisnesses in town. I have never been able to find out how much my ancestor was paid for SUBSTITUTING but I can only guess that it exceeded the going rate of bonuses in his home county where his neiboring cousins signed. In the end, he should have stuck with his cousins and the 101st, and perhaps came home alive as they did. At any rate, sign up bonuses, substitution fees, or the patriotic fervor of a particular community could all induce a man to sign up in a community other than his own. Have you checked the 60 census for Marion Co. Could a young Geoge W be listed with a family other than yours. A suspected second cousin of my ancestor with exact same name, including Middle initial , birthplace, and approx age ,signed up as a resident of a community very close to my ancestor's and was killed in 62. Census info helped me sort out who was who. Sherry PS Anyone researching the 36Th out there ?