Are there any studies on the demographics of older recruits in the Civil War, especially Union or early-war Confederate when it wasn't a matter of desperation or fear of the draft? Let's say in the 40-plus age range, serving as privates?
I'm curious what motivated them to enlist, things like...
Were they generally single, poor, unattached, with the army looking like a good last chance for guaranteed wages?
Or were they generally set up comfortably at home, children grown, business run by associates providing income for the wife, and off for a mid-life adventure?
Were a high proportion veterans of the Mexican War or Indian conflicts, or was it usually their first time in combat?
Did they usually join along with their younger sons, nephews, etc.? Or were they more apt to have brothers, cousins or neighbors of their generation alongside them?
With a lot of reenactors in the "older" age bracket for recruits, I'm curious if anyone has studied the original older recruits and seen any patterns emerge.
Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net
I'm curious what motivated them to enlist, things like...
Were they generally single, poor, unattached, with the army looking like a good last chance for guaranteed wages?
Or were they generally set up comfortably at home, children grown, business run by associates providing income for the wife, and off for a mid-life adventure?
Were a high proportion veterans of the Mexican War or Indian conflicts, or was it usually their first time in combat?
Did they usually join along with their younger sons, nephews, etc.? Or were they more apt to have brothers, cousins or neighbors of their generation alongside them?
With a lot of reenactors in the "older" age bracket for recruits, I'm curious if anyone has studied the original older recruits and seen any patterns emerge.
Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net
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