FAMILY TIES Article 11 by Dan Burrows I happened upon an excellent genealogical find recently and I think it is worth sharing here. Ben Coleman, my co-instructor for the basic genealogy classes we have taught for years at the Orange County Genealogical Society, gave me some pages from the October 8, 1863 issue of the Middletown Mercury, a former newspaper for Orange County. These pages contained the civil war draft list (also known as the list of conscripts) for Orange County and some interesting stories that went with these names. To my knowledge, this list has never been published which I intend to do in the near future so that other researchers can have this comprehensive list of names available. In the mean time the following article, taken word for word from that paper should make some interesting reading. I have put some notes in parenthesis to help clarify a couple of items. Middletown Mercury, October 8th, 1863 The "lottery of life" for the 11th Congressional District began at Goshen, according to previous announcement, on Wednesday last. In connection with the draft, the authorities at Washington thought fit to send into our county the Fifth Wisconsin volunteers, Col. Allen, four hundred strong, and a section of artillery. These troops are quartered at Goshen for the time being, and their martial appearance and movements, if serving no other purpose, afford a novel and interesting spectacle to the public, unaccustomed to such a feature in the administration of the affairs of a free people. The draft took place in the hall of the brick building opposite the Democrat office (The Democrat was the name of a newspaper published in Goshen). The machinery for drawing the conscripts consisted of a hollow revolving wheel of tin, some thirty inches in diameter, within which were deposited slips containing the names of those enrolled in the first class (I have been unable to determine thus far what was meant by first and second class), each town in its order -- the slips rolled up and compressed by a gutta-percha band. The slips for each town were counted by the Supervisor of the town, before and after the drawing to verify the proper number. In this connection it may be said that the Board of Commissioners evinced throughout the proceedings, and anxious desire to satisfy the public that their duties were discharged with entire fairness and impartiality. At the time and place appointed, a crowd of perhaps a hundred persons gathered to witness the proceedings. Shortly after ten o'clock, Provost Marshall Nanny read the order for the draft, and invited the Judges, Sheriff, and Supervisors of the county, within the bar to overlook the drawing. The quota for the district was fixed by the order at 1926, and fifty per cent additional, altogether 2898; Orange 2131 and Sullivan 767. Marshall Nanny announced that the drawing would commence with the 1st sub-district, Newburgh, and accordingly the slips containing the names of those enrolled in the first class in that town were counted and deposited in the wheel and the drawing commenced. Gabriel Coleman, of Goshen, and aged blind man, officiated in drawing the slips from the wheel, and the names of the conscripts, as they were drawn, were announced by Commissioner Holley. The drawing for the other sub-districts of Orange followed in regular order, and the work for the county was concluded at noon to-day (Friday). We publish herewith a carefully prepared list of the conscripts in this county. It will be noted that here, as elsewhere, the list includes representatives of all classes and conditions. The names of three of the reverend clergy of Newburgh, and two or three elsewhere; of Judge Geo. W. Greene, and Messrs. J. Hallock Drake, John C. McConnell, C. C. McQuoid, B.R. Champion, and E D Stokem, of our county bar; School Commissioner H. H. Clark; Joshua Ward, the champion oarsman, and John Hancon, also a noted oarsman, occur among the conscripts. The names of a number of those now serving in the 19th Regiment were drawn from the wheel; also of others now serving in different Regiments. One man in Cornwall, seventy-two years old, was conscripted; and in several instances were drawn the names of persons who are resting in their graves. That portion of out population styled by Mr. Lincoln "colored Americans of African descent," suffered some; nine were drawn in Goshen, four in Wallkill, and a due proportion in other districts. Among those drafted is the Enrolling Officer of the town of Montgomery, and two of the clerks in the Provost Marshal's office. Where the name of a conscript is twice printed, it will be understood that the name was twice drawn from the wheel. It appears that there were options for these draftees and I quote the following small article from the same Middletown Mercury: What A Drafted Man Can Do ----- A conscript (draftee) can do one of five things. The latter expedient is not "according to Hoyle" and has an unhealthy tendency, as the fugitive runs the risk of being overhauled for desertion. First -- He can report for service. Second -- He can furnish a substitute. Third -- He can pay $300 to the Collector of the District, and present his receipt to the enrolling officer, which will secure his discharge. Fourth -- He can be examined by the government surgeon and be exempted on physical grounds. Fifth -- He can skedaddle. The following similar article shows a slightly different slant to the proceedings. Independent Republican, October 15, 1863 On Tuesday evening about 700 U.S. troops arrived in Goshen to assist in enforcing the Drat and quell any disturbance which might arise. During the night, this force was augmented by the arrival of two field batteries, and the whole force is now located upon the vacant lot owned by A. S. Murray, Esq., opposite the Furniture Store of Conrad Brown. The troops are a hardy, good looking set of men and seem disposed to make themselves sociable and agreeable. Drafting was commenced in this village for the 11th District, (comprising Orange and Sullivan Counties) on Wednesday morning at about half-past ten o'clock, at which time very few of the citizens from adjoining towns were present. During the day, however, large numbers arrived, and seemingly very much interested in the proceedings. Everything connected with the Draft was done in an orderly and satisfactory manner. - (The rest of this article is repetitive of the Mercury article above.) In an advertisement published in the October 20 issue of the Independent Republican, I quote the following: ATTENTION DRAFTED MEN Substitutes can be furnished at reasonable prices by immediate application to Henry M. Little Goshen Oct. 15, 1863. I hope many of you find these accounts of the proceedings interesting and note the fact that things have not really changed in the last 135 years. As stated earlier, the entire list of draftees along with these and other articles are a planned publication of the Orange County Genealogical Society. This will turn out to be an excellent new research tool to find those elusive Orange and Sullivan County ancestors of the mid to late 1800's. Note: A list of the Draftees is not included here as it would be to large to post. It is planned as a future publication of the Society. ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.