7. Secret Military History

1863-0615, Race, Black Soldiers Refuse Their Pay.
When black soldiers began enlisting in the Union Army in 1863, they were paid $10 (200-2022) per month while white troops were paid $13 (290-2022.) Officers, naturally, earned more. The black troops were also charged a monthly fee for their uniforms.
They refused to be paid unequal wages by not accepting their pay at all – but still fought the whole time. Black soldiers in the Union Army were not paid for 18-months.
In 1864, Congress ordered they be paid equal wages, with full back-pay. Black soldiers fighting for the South were paid equal wages from the start of the war.


1863-0615, Military, Civil War, Wealthy Men in the South Did Not Fight.
The Confederate Army had a “Twenty Negro Law,” under which anyone who owned 20 or more slaves could sit out the war. The US Civil War was a rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight. Poor men could be executed if they didn’t sign up.

1863-0615, Military, Civil War, Wealthy Men in the North Did Not Fight.
In 1863, citizens were drafted to serve on the Union side in the Civil War. However, a loophole existed and anybody with $300 (6,700-2022) for the Union, and another $300 for your “Huckabee” a man could pay a commutation and avoid conscription. A sum of money far out of the reach of poor and working-class people.
Resentment at the situation eventually resulted in rioting, but those taking part soon targeted coloreds and large numbers were lynched in the streets and had their homes destroyed.
President Lincoln sent militia regiments to pacify the city and by the fourth day, the uprising was crushed decisively. No one can agree on the number of people killed in the rioting or in the military action that suppressed it. Figures vary between 120 and 2000 people killed and damage was $3,000,000 (67,000,000-2022.)

1863-0615, UCMJ, Civil War, Bounty Jumpers.
Bounty jumpers were men who were paid a bounty to enlist in place of another man and then desert. Military draft laws allowed individuals to pay a bounty to someone else to fight in their place. An equal amount was paid to the government to help finance the war. Bounty jumpers were cheats who enlisted numerous times.
Bounty jumping was more profitable in the North, up to $300. The Confederate government bounty was $50 (1,100-2022.)
The Northern government had greater luck with bounties and was more likely to have to deal with bounty jumpers.
Typically, the bounty jumper would desert their unit before arriving on the front lines, traveling to a new area to gain another bounty. Bounty Jumper John Larney enlisted and deserted from 93 regiments.