The Conscript Act was condemned in unmeasured terms in many places at the South, but its necessity and expediency was never doubted.  To have allowed so great a number to absent themselves from the army at this time, in the face of an overwhelming enemy, and that enemy advancing upon our Capitol, was more than the morale of the army would admit.  Not altogether would the absence of the soldiers themselves effect the army, but in the breaking up of organizations, for in some companies all had re-enlisted, while in others one-half, and in many cases none.  New regiments would have had to be formed out of the re-enlisted companies, and new companies out of the large number of recruits, now in camps of instruction.  So by keeping up the old organizations, and filling up the ranks by the conscripts at home, the army would be greatly benefited.

In some countries, to be called a conscript or drafted man was considered a stigma, but not so in the South.  There is little doubt, had a call been made for volunteers, any number could have been had at a moment’s notice, for there were hundreds and thousands at the South only awaiting an opportunity to enter the army.  In fact, there were companies and regiments already organized and officered, only awaiting arms by the government, but these organizations were all raw men, and at this time it was believed to fill up the old companies with recruits, thus putting seasoned troops side by side with raw ones, would enhance the efficiency of the army, retain its discipline, and esprit de corps.

Then, again, the farms had to be managed, the slaves kept in subjection, and the army fed, and the older men were better qualified for this service than the young.  In reality, all were in the service of the country, for while the younger men were fighting in the ranks, the older ones were working in the fields and factories to furnish them clothes, provisions, and munitions of war.  Our government had no means at home, no ships on the ocean, little credit abroad, and our ports all blockaded.  So all had to enter the service either as a fighter or a worker, and our wisest men thought it the better policy to allow the young men the glory upon the field, while the old men served at home.  On the 13th of May all companies were allowed to elect their officers, both company and regimental, and enter the service for two more years.  As I said in the commencement of this work, at the breaking out of the war men generally selected as officers the old militia officers for company officers and veterans of the Mexican War for field officers.  General Bonham had been a Colonel in Mexico.  Williams, of the Third, had led a company from Newberry to that far-off land.  Kershaw went as First Lieutenant.  Cash, of the Eighth, was a Major General of the militia at the breaking out of the war.  The greatest number of the first Colonels of regiments under the first call were Mexican veterans.  Another qualification that was considered at the first organization was