The Bounty Jumpers Of Indiana

James Barnett is a member of tl\e Society of Indiana Pioneers and has contributed articles to the "Indiana Magazine of History" and the "Indiana History Bulletin." The Bounty Jumpers Of Indiana JAMES BARNETT bounty jumping was an evil that plagued many states during the Civil War. In Indiana the problem became so acute that in 1864 military authorities condemned four men to die before a firing squad in an effort to break upthe practice. The payment to volunteers of a sum of money, known as a "bounty," was started early in the war by the federal government, and was paid from July 22, 1861, through July 1, 1865. The size of the bounty grew from the original $100 to much larger amounts as the need for additional troops increased. Over and above the federal bounty, local bounties were also paid. Early in the war Indiana communities granted a sum of money described as a "duty offering" to the families ofthe men who were going away to the war. It was a material gesture of good will on the part of those who stayed behind , and in the first flush of patriotism in the early days of the war, the bounty was not regarded as a stimulus necessary for filling a community's quota forthe UnionArmy. Through 1863 Indiana furnished volunteers in excess of the quota set by the War Department. In fact, Indiana had one of the highest per capita percentages of volunteers in the Union. But as the war continued and the demand for manpower began to exceed the supply, the state was hard pressed by 1864 to maintain its admirable record. As call after call came from Washington for more troops, Indiana began to show a decline in the number ofvolunteers in relation to her total quota. Only slightly more than 50 per cent of the July 18, 1864, quota was filled with volunteers; of the 429 430JAMES BARNETT total quota of 25,662, 13,186 were volunteers. The draft made up the deficit . Among the draftees, 623 "paid commutation"; since by law, "all who might be drafted could relieve themselves from service by presenting an acceptable substitute, or the payment of commutation money amounting to $300." Presumably the $300 "commutation money" went into the treasury of the local community and was paid out eventually as bounty to a volunteer. In any event, local officials needed all the bounty money they could get, for they had a real problem in trying to fill their quotas with genuine volunteers ; volunteers were the objective of each community. For example, Henry C. Barnett, in his "CWR" wrote: As the war progressed, filling the ranks of volunteers became more difficult and when a township failed to furnish its quota the government resorted to the draft until die required number was secured. The ages included were eighteen to forty-five. No attention was given ... as to whether these men were single or were married. On the date of the drawing, the whole community was wrought up until the result was known and the unlucky ones were notified of the selections. It was not considered any special honor to be drafted. Faced with this problem, local communities fell into line with the custom of the day and reached the obvious conclusion that the draft could be avoided, or its effects minimized, if bounty payments were increased. In spite ofan appeal from state leaders, no uniformity prevailed in the amount ofincrease. In 1863 local bounties had ranged from a low of $10.00 to ahigh of $100. The manpower demands of 1864 resulted in an increase in these niggardly sums to a new low of $100 and a high of $500. Altogether, during the Civil War, Indiana paid out $15,492,876.04 in bounties. Marion County paid out the highest amount, $1,377,199.14, while sparsely settled Starke Countypaid outthe least, $2,719.63. By 1864 many of the treasuries of counties, cities, and towns were empty or had funds only for ordinary expenditures so that the money for the increased bounty payments could be obtained only through loans. Thus, many impoverished communities were forced to issue bonds, most of which were...