Center for Technology and Teacher Education

Substitution in the Civil War

Materials Needed:

Historical Background

Substitution during the Civil War was the practice of securing (usually through payment) a substitute to serve for you in the army. In both the North and the South substitution was a controversial but legal practice. In the North Section 13 of the Civil War Draft Act permitted draftees to furnish substitutes for place in the military. The South had an almost identical law. While it was allowed for the duration of the war, substitution only lasted until December of 1863 in the South. The goals of substitution were routed in European tradition. The idea was to allow draftees who worked in essential areas the opportunity to return to their occupations. In practice the act of substitution was often available to those with the means to secure a substitute.

Since substitutes themselves were not available for the drafted their supply was limited. This supply consisted of those to young or old for the draft, previous enlistees or draftees whose tour of duty was over, and blacks.

Center for Technology and Teacher Education, University of Virginia,

This module created by John K. Lee of the University of Virginia.