The Louisiana in the Civil War Message Board - Archive

Re: Age of Enlistment
In Response To: Age of Enlistment ()

Both sides required recruits to be at least 18 years of age when the war began. In August 1861, the Union War Department adopted a policy to enlist boys younger than 18 but only with the parents' permission. In 1864, Congress passed a law prohibiting the enlistment of boys under 16 under any circumstances. Confederate policy was similar, except the conscription act was amended later in the war to drop the age of military service down to 17. Neither army enforced these policies very well, however. Birth certificates were uncommon, so it was easy for minors to lie about their age, and some desperate recruiting officials simply did not care about a soldier's age. Musicians, buglers, drummer boys, etc. could be official members of the regiment, enlisting with the parents' permission, or they could be like Johnny Clem (Johnny Shiloh), who was "adopted" by the regiment, provided a uniform, and allowed to serve unofficially.

Messages In This Thread

Age of Enlistment
Re: Age of Enlistment
Re: Age of Enlistment
Re: Age of Enlistment
Re: Age of Enlistment
Re: Age of Enlistment
Re: Age of Enlistment
Re: Age of Enlistment