Rich folks who were drafted could get out of fighting in the Civil War by paying a substitute, and many took advantage. Who did NOT pay someone off?

The first genuine national conscription law was passed in March 1863, requiring men from 20 to 45 to enlist. However, there was a loophole. By paying $300 for someone to fight in his place, many a rich dude escaped the draft, including J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, and Grover Cleveland – oh, and Lincoln too. Although Cornelius Vanderbilt was alive at the time, he was too old to be drafted.

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