Volume 38, No. 11 – November 2025
Website: www.CivilWarRoundTablePalmBeach.org

The President’s Message:

The next meeting will be November 12^th at 7:00 PM.  I found a program that Janell Bloodworth was scheduled to do entitled Oddities and Little-Known Facts About the Civil War.  I look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Gerridine LaRovere

October 8, 2025 Program

This program was a tad different as our scheduled speaker could not make the meeting.  Gerridine had slips of paper with notes so that everyone in attendance could role-play an 1863 character.  Small slips of paper were distributed from a basket.  She explained:  We're going to talk about enlistment and going into the Army.  I was always curious about that $300 fee.  If you did not want to serve, you could pay $300.  The Enrollment Act of 1863 was the first national conscription law in U.S. history, enacted to provide men for the Union Army by requiring all male citizens and immigrant applicants for citizenship, aged 20 to 45, to register for a lottery-based draft. 

The law allowed wealthier men to avoid service by paying a $300 fee or hiring a substitute, leading to widespread resentment and sparking the New York City draft riot in July 1863.  This exemption for the wealthy ignited public anger.  Mobs attacked draft headquarters and targeted African Americans because blacks were exempt from service.  There were over 100 people killed in the draft riots.  The newspapers called it, and a lot of people did too, "Rich Man's War, Poor Man's Fight."  The working class and immigrant men who could not afford the fee were very upset about this. 

Each congressional district was assigned a quota of men for the draft.  If the quota was not met by volunteers, a draft would be ordered.  Apparently, there had been some kidnappings where draft aged men were plied with strong drink.  They drank too much liquor and they tried to get them to substitute for them in the morning.  And by the next day they were in a uniform!  The Enrollment Act of 1863 marked a signature. significant shift in the role of the federal government and set a president for future military conscription in the United States. 

A lot of men fled to Canada or Mexico.  You could get a doctor's note saying you were physically or mentally impaired and you couldn't go.  If you had a family that had a connection you could join the state militia, which would become the National Guard.  The term National Guard originated in 1636 with the Massachusetts Bay Colony; however, it was officially standardized nationwide in 1903.

With this as an introduction we began our role playing with Robert Krasner stating “I am Dr. Silas Barrington and I live in a small town in Alabama.  I went to school in New York State.  Should I join up?  Which side should I serve, the Confederacy or the Union?”  Robert’s play-acting went something like this.  At first, this would be strange to me, and I would be confused.  War...  I really wouldn't look at it as a Confederacy.  I would look at where I live, In Alabama.  So, I would think that I had education, but I think the first thing that would hit my mind is protect my whole family, or whatever I have.  I wouldn't give it a deep philosophical dive.  I would serve as a doctor for my State.  

Okay, playing devil's advocate.  I went to school in New York for college and medical school and they were very good to me up there.  Perhaps I might go north and join the Union because I believe in the United States.  That thought would definitely be in my mind.  It's a very good question and it comes up in Civil War history.  If you look in some of the northern counties of northern Alabama, yes, there was sympathy for the Union cause. But even then, I would probably talk to my neighbors about this.  What do you think about this war?  Okay. And friends, my brother-in-law, would be enthused to have me join, and that would be my choice.

I am Calvin Boutwell. I have a cattle ranch in Florida and employ five ranch hands.  I strongly believe in the Confederacy.  Should I enlist?  Well, I'm assuming if he strongly believes in it, he probably should enlist.  Yes, but what's the most important thing the man's doing?  He has a ranch.  And he has cattle, which is supplying beef to a lot of the Confederacy.  He does employ five ranch hands who depend upon him.  He has to supply the cattle.  That would be a conundrum, I would enlist.

I had the next slip and here is my bit part.  My name is Angus Martin McDonald and I am a saddler.  I make saddles, reins, bridles, and any other tack on request.  I use upscale leather and have made a lot of money.  My family lives in a big house and I have the best of everything.  I live in Gettysburg and I am going to assume this is 1863 before the battle.  Sometimes I feel as if I should join the Union forces and enlist.  The South has, at this point, a much better cavalry.  The Cavalry Bureau, established in July 1863, was created to improve the organization and supply of horses for the cavalry.  Giesboro Point Cavalry Depot was constructed for 30,000 Horses.  Over 200,000 horses were received, issued, died, or sold at Giesboro during the war.  Knowing this was in the works, I would make my plea that I should be part of the logistics of the North.  I would volunteer my services to the Army to be of some value to Giesboro.

My name is David Lester Garvy and I am an engineer on the railroad.  I can drive the train and often have to fix things on the engine.  Many of the men in my state of Michigan have joined up.  Should I follow in their footsteps?  My first thought is to take the train and go to Canada.  I like that.  I am a guy who is educated, have a couple of beans in my brain, and other people from this town have joined up so I will enlist.

My name is Abner Brown, and I have the general store in a small Mississippi town.  Most of the young men in town are serving in the Confederacy Army.  Should I join them?  I want my grandchildren to be proud of me.  Well, I definitely would not join the Confederacy.  I'm loyal to my country.  I'll join the Union Army on day one, and all my goods in my general store, I'll somehow get them transferred over to the Union troops, because I will not want the rebels to confiscate my property and use it against my country.  My grandchildren will be proud of me because I fought for my country.  Remember the Constitution is “we the people” it's not we the colonies the colonies did not form the country the people formed from the country and Constitution.  A lot of these states that were in rebellion where our country purchased it either through the Louisiana Purchase or Florida, which we purchased from Spain.  So, all these people had no right to steal a section of the country away from us.

My name is Joseph James Harris.  I'm a farmer who is growing wheat in Maryland and supplying it to the Union army.  Should I give up farming or enlist?  To me that's a very difficult question.  I'm married and I have two children.  And I'm aware of the dangers of going off and leaving my family.  My children are young.  My wife might not be able to keep the farm running.  I stay on the farm.  My wheat is going to the Union Army.  I'm from Maryland which is supplying troops to both sides.  I am reluctant to go out and get shot at so I would stay put and hope I am not drafted.

Gerridine picked up the next role.  I am Patrick Riley Donegan.  I'm a captain of a ship on the Mississippi River that brings cargo to towns along the way.  A lot of men are enlisting.  Should I follow their path?  Now I always thought if you were doing something that was helping the citizens who were in probably dire straits anyway, especially if the battles were coming close to their houses, and I'm going along the Mississippi River I could help.  I might bring supplies that could be of use to the soldiers.  I would stand with the delegate from Maryland and say yes, I would stay as captain of my ship on the Mississippi because I could do so much for the people who may be under fire.

I'm Lionel Westbrook, proprietor of a local saloon and boarding house.  My second wife cooks the meals at the boarding house and takes care of our five children.  I served in the Mexican War and feel as if I should join up for this one.  Would that be a good idea?  Well, if I joined up and something happened to me, my five children don't have a father.  Plus, my wife would have to run the saloon and the boarding house on her own.  I'm torn.  I don't know whether I should leave my wife with all this to do and then possibly she might become a widow.  I am at home with the saloon and people depend upon me.  I will probably not join because I have all these obligations with the family.  I served in the Mexican War and I am up there in age; no spring chicken.  I'm not enlisting.

I am Rufus George Landie.  I'm a young barber in Philadelphia.  I have papers to prove I am a free black man.  Should I join the Union troops?  I want to tell you that I recently heard Frederick Douglass speak when he was in town, and I am very excited to liberate my people.  I am going to volunteer if they'll take me, and I look forward to getting a brand-new uniform and a rifle and fight for the cause.  The audience like this take on the Civil War.  Comments were "Wow.  Congratulations.  Very good.  Go Rufus.  I love it."  Therefore, I am a yes.

My name is Phineas Muldoon.  I own a small newspaper in Georgia.  I do my best to give my readers as much information about the war as possible.  The telegraph line that was installed recently is very helpful for getting current information for print.  My two daughters also work at the paper with me.  Most of the men in town are now serving in the war.  Should I join them? 

Well, I have a good friend who used to be my congressman.  He is from Georgia.  His name is Thaddeus Stevens.  He occupies a very high-profile position now.  He is vice president of the Confederacy.  I own a newspaper, and I think of all those who went off the war.  Their families should know as much as possible about what's going on in the war so as to be well informed.  Our troops and people need positive morale.  I'll do what I can to be fair.  No, I have two daughters with me.  I could go but, could they run my business without me?  Perhaps it's a question I can't answer.  But, looking at this cause, I'm going to have to contact a friend Mr. Stevens and see if we can have an understanding that I would be a valuable asset on reporting the war from a favorable position for our cause.  I will stay at the paper and encouraged people to join.  I will give everybody a positive disposition on what's happening and report on what's coming through the telegraph.

My name is Daniel B. Wesson.  I worked on a farm for my older brother, Edwin, until I was 18.  I have a knack for inventing new gun components.  With my partner, Horace Smith, we are supplying revolvers for the war.  Should I continue in business or enlist?   There's no question that the weapons are important.  I think that I will stay in business and continued to manufacture and supply weapons.  I would be doing more of a service and helping the war effort more than being an enlisted man.  I will not enlist.

I am Alexander McHenry, and I'm the town's telegraph operator.  I'm single and 50 years old.  I see all the young men leaving on the train going to serve in the Confederacy.   Should I join them?  I am good looking and I wouldn't want to get scarred.  If I can get the three hundred dollars, I would do that.  Perhaps I could join the Union Army and be in the Signal Corps.  I just might take my chances with the draft.  So no, I would not enlist.

I am Theodore Grayson. I am a blacksmith in a small Maine town.  I am the sole support of my four sisters and mother.  Should I enlist?  Yes, I will tell his four sisters and mother to fend for themselves.  I am enlisting in the Union Army cavalry.  I am a blacksmith and the Army needs blacksmiths. 

I'm Jesse Trenton Hill.  I'm a Cooper and have the skills to make wooden barrels. and other storage vessels.  Currently I cannot make enough to fill the order.  I received a draft notice.  I can pay the $300. Should I do that or enlist?  Does my country, Virginia need me?  I have seven kids and under those circumstances where I am providing, not only for them but providing benefits to the Confederate Army.  Being better off I will pay the $300 and continue providing the supplies.

I am the Reverend Eugene Lewis Denton.  I am a Lutheran minister.  I hear tell that the Union Army is looking for chaplains.  My wife died and I have five grown children.  Should I offer my services?  My choice is to offer my services or just stay with this congregation?  Well, I will not enlist.