American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Small folio leather-bound ledger, with gilt labels on spine “Records” and “Militia Exemptions.” Richmond, Virginia, 13-23 March 1862. Partially intact, with numbered pages 5-58 containing manuscript entries, including numbered blank pages 349-392. Earlier pages appear to have been cut out. Most manuscript entries signed by James K. Caskie as Recorder. Caskie, a Richmond alderman, was joined by two other aldermen, William W. Timberlake and George N. Gwathmey.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Virginia law made militia service compulsory for all able bodied men. This ledger is an important record of the official meeting of the board to consider exemptions for militia service, presumably for the city of Richmond. This ledger records the names of hundreds of citizens, some of whom were found to be exempt along with others whose applications were rejected.

Not surprisingly, the board was keenly cognizant of certain classes of civilians who received exemptions: bankers, newspaper editors, reporters and staff, doctors, nurses and hospital attendants, and apothecarists. The city of Richmond sheriff and jailer, as well as the wards of the state penitentiary received exemptions, as did those involved in manufacturing. Tent makers, paper makers, iron workers, dozens of munitions and iron workers were exempted. A smaller number of residents were exempted because they had found paid “substitutes” to take their place. Others were found to be exempt because of permanent disabilities – certified by two physicians.

Officials of various departments of the Confederate Government also applied for exemptions for their staff, including the War Department, Navy Department and Quartermaster Department. Most applicants for exemption were accepted, a mere handful were rejected.

A fascinating glimpse of the workings of the capital of the Confederacy relatively early in the conflict before the tide of War turned against the city and its inhabitants.