The Draft and Its Results

Not the least of all the numerous causes of congratulation and rejoicing now gladdening the hearts of the loyal all over the land, is the failure of copperhead predictions in the peaceful and successful enforcement of the draft now in progress. Everywhere this last resort to obtain the needed recruits for the Union army is receiving a popular sanction and support which but a few weeks ago would have been deemed utterly impossible. Not only is there an entire absence of anything like resistance to the allotments of Uncle Sam’s lottery, but also of ill feeling and serious discontent. Those who in Richmond have been confidently calculating on the failure of this effort to reinforce Grant, Sheridan and Sherman, and those who at Chicago who looked forward to the commencement of the draft as the signal for the inauguration of civil war in the north have alike been doomed to disappointment. – the result in the loyal States is that popular confidence in the power of the Government has been greatly increased; while the rebels have learned that the people of the North are so resolutely determined to sacrifice their all for the Union that even the once dreaded conscription has no terrors sufficient to abate one jot of the earnestness and zeal with which the North has ever battled against the rebellion.

In the field where the main issues of the war are soon to be forever settled, the results of the draft are even already apparent. The conquering braves who have so long borne the heat and burden of the day are being nerved to new deeds of heroism and endurance, as they witness the filling up of their shattered ranks. Grant and Sherman are now enabled to press forward against the encompassed foe with such numbers as afford full promise of victory; and the rebels see new legions constantly hastening on to the defeat of the Confederacy. These results and others which are certain ere long to follow may well encourage and inspire every patriot. – Davenport Gazette

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 15, 1864