These are French Canadians already in the US- Waterville, Maine and were conscripted. They had the choice of going, or escaping back to Canada. It was also the thing to do, much like the later wars against Germany. There were also incentives, the promise of "Join up and see the world", good pay and a promise of land grants after the war. This was especially so for Vermont and New York. Quite a few English Canadians actully joined from the Eastern Townships, I would expect it was for the incentives and adventure in the case or the Townships. No one really had a true knowledge of wars at that time and recruters could promise the equavelent of a victory parade and everyone would believe it. In Lower Canada, along the Richelieu River, US recruters were very active, promising the same things as above, and also paying up to 500$ to the father so he could pay back debts. Any husky farm boy age 14 or older could be signed on. Well to do American families, whose son was on call up would pay extra for the recruter to find a "substitute" In the regiments nominal roles this French Canadian would be enrolled under the American name and may have died under that name. Some regiments gave the real name and "substitute" beside the name. Other men were written as their real names, of course with variants in spelling. The rosters-regiment names of soldiers for Vermont and Maine are available as reprints if anyone wants a copy, please send me an email. I personnally do not have a copy, these are reproduced as needed. About 45,000 French Canadians did serve in the American Civil war. The most famous and well know is Calixa Lavallée who wrote "Oh Canada" our national anthem. He was a musician with a military band, and he too had a bad war experience, definitely not the picnic promised. There is an excellent biography, in French, and I will try to see if this has been published in English as well. My wish to all for a happy new year Marcel Benoit ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alger and Walcott Family" <141asr@surfree.com> To: <QC-ETANGLO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, January 01, 2001 8:27 AM Subject: RE: [QC-ETANGLO] Quebec Civil War participants - Why? > This is fascinating. Later on, when there was a draft, a man could pay > another man to take his place. But I can't imagine it was do lucrative that > 525 men from Waterville would offer themselves up. >(snip)