Considering the number of men left, how many blacksmith's, storekeepers, brickmasons and such were there in the latter part of the 1860's that were able to take on an apprencice? The carpetbaggers weren't taking on apprentices they were bilking the common folks right and left. There was no land left, there was no seed money, there was no livestock, there was very little energy left to hope for anything. Those returning had to dig down deeper and with grit and pure will, take what they could get and it was no better in most cases than what they left behind. Most times it was much worse.
Pam