Draft evader and deserters.

[major bill]

I am reading A South Divided by David C. Downing. Mr. Downing states that "In the Union, there were as many as 320,000 men unwilling to serve. In the Confederacy, there were about 200,000 such draft evaders or deserters." His end note for this in Gallagher, Confederate War, 31; Escott, After Secession, 127. This appears to cover his statement about the Confederacy but not for the Union.

Mr. Downing seems to think the Union with a population of 22 million and the influx of black soldiers could better tolerate the missing 320,000 than the Confederacy could tolerate the missing 200,000.

Was draft evaders and deserters a major contributor to the Confederacy losing the war? I would think the Confederacy could have held out longer if they had the missing soldiers but am less sure if the out come of the war would have been different. I would think the Confederates would have performed better in the Western Theater if they had another 100,000 soldiers and perhaps Lee could have used another 100,000 men. However, the Confederacy cued have never stopped all the loss of men through draft evasion or desertion.

 

[leftyhunter]

I am reading A South Divided by David C. Downing. Mr. Downing states that "In the Union, there were as many as 320,000 men unwilling to serve. In the Confederacy, there were about 200,000 such draft evaders or deserters." His end note for this in Gallagher, Confederate War, 31; Escott, After Secession, 127. This appears to cover his statement about the Confederacy but not for the Union.

Mr. Downing seems to think the Union with a population of 22 million and the influx of black soldiers could better tolerate the missing 320,000 than the Confederacy could tolerate the missing 200,000.

Was draft evaders and deserters a major contributor to the Confederacy losing the war? I would think the Confederacy could have held out longer if they had the missing soldiers but am less sure if the out come of the war would have been different. I would think the Confederates would have performed better in the Western Theater if they had another 100,000 soldiers and perhaps Lee could have used another 100,000 men. However, the Confederacy cued have never stopped all the loss of men through draft evasion or desertion.

I have a thread called"how serious was desertion in the Confederate Army". I do quote Downings book among other plus of course other posters have contributed as well. Many of these deserters became Unionist guerrillas or joined the Union Army vs Union soldiers that did not the same on behalf of the Confederacy. An exception of course was when Gov.Gamble required all able bodied men in Mo to join the Enrolled Militia of Missouri many pro Confedrate men joined the CSA or became Confederate guerrillas.
Since the free white population of the South was only 5.5 million people then by definition desertion was more of problem for the Confederates.
Leftyhunter

 

[leftyhunter]

I am reading A South Divided by David C. Downing. Mr. Downing states that "In the Union, there were as many as 320,000 men unwilling to serve. In the Confederacy, there were about 200,000 such draft evaders or deserters." His end note for this in Gallagher, Confederate War, 31; Escott, After Secession, 127. This appears to cover his statement about the Confederacy but not for the Union.

Mr. Downing seems to think the Union with a population of 22 million and the influx of black soldiers could better tolerate the missing 320,000 than the Confederacy could tolerate the missing 200,000.

Was draft evaders and deserters a major contributor to the Confederacy losing the war? I would think the Confederacy could have held out longer if they had the missing soldiers but am less sure if the out come of the war would have been different. I would think the Confederates would have performed better in the Western Theater if they had another 100,000 soldiers and perhaps Lee could have used another 100,000 men. However, the Confederacy cued have never stopped all the loss of men through draft evasion or desertion.

I just re-posted my thread right above yours. Their should be some good info for you.
Leftyhunter