ABSTRACT
Many Americans under obligation for military service avoided active duty. All male adult citizens were expected to appear at militia musters and to go with their units into the field when called upon. As the war progressed, draftees were taken into Continental army service. Besides those who were exempted because of occupational status or by providing a substitute, there were those who were counted out of service by their own voluntary decisions or by involuntary circumstances; all experienced some degree of inconvenience and hardship. Conscientious objectors, deserters, the sick, and persons under prisoner of war status formed a class of citizens in limbo, awaiting a future change of events.
