The following insert was provided by Charlie Lemmex, author of "Faces of a Family". The article appeared in the Perth Courier on January 6th, 1865 commenting on the drafting of 795 males in Lanark County one of whom was his grandfather, Elijah Lumax of Montague Township, born July 17th, 1835.
"A very general idea seems to pervade the classes in the rural districts that the object of the draft lately instituted all over the province, is to call those balloted directly into active service; and place them at once into positions to guard the country against foes which they confidently imagine are our American neighbors or- the Fenians. A great many see nothing in the ballot but the mustering and organizing our yeomen into companies, battalions, and regiments, and then an immediate summons somewhere- to the front likely. The recent troubles about the St. Albans raiders, especially their discharge from custody by Judge Coursol, together with the Fenian rumors, have created in the public mind, a feeling of disquietude. and the draft coming on so soon after the spread of these events, naturally had the public mind into the belief that war was to be immediately instituted between our country and the United States, and the draft was the first move in that direction. So great a hold did an opinion similar to this take on the people of the County of Montmorenci, C E, that a great many of those interested actually resisted the draft, and the disturbance required a force of volunteers to quell it.
Now, we wish to assure our readers that the late draft took place according to the provisions of an act passed in 1862, when there were no signs of war. The Act required a draft to take place the next year, simply to place the militia on a more efficient footing, which even in times of peace is highly necessary. Those drafted will perhaps be required to drill some ten or sixteen days in the year, when pay for that time will be granted by government, and then they will be allowed to go back to their usual occupations.
The following are the 795 drafted in the County of Lanark, -"
Now, we wish to assure our readers that the late draft took place according to the provisions of an act passed in 1862, when there were no signs of war. The Act required a draft to take place the next year, simply to place the militia on a more efficient footing, which even in times of peace is highly necessary. Those drafted will perhaps be required to drill some ten or sixteen days in the year, when pay for that time will be granted by government, and then they will be allowed to go back to their usual occupations.
The following are the 795 drafted in the County of Lanark, -"
RSS Feed
