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The Man Paid To Take President Abraham Lincoln’s Place In The Union Army During The Civil War
John Summerfield Staples accepted a $500 payment to legally serve in the place of President Abaraham Lincoln during the war
Throughout history, during times of war nations have often seen their leaders fighting side by side with their troops. This has never been the case with American Presidents, but during the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln following a practice of the time, paid a man named John Summerfield Staples to serve in his place in the Union Army.
No American war has been deadlier than the Civil War, which counted approximately 620,000 deaths (and possibly more) during the five years (1861–1865) of the conflict. Casualties came in many different forms, most prominently including vicious fighting and rampant disease. It was a challenge and a necessity to keep a continuous line of fresh troops flowing into service, leading both sides to get creative with how they recruited troops.
A method used by both sides was conscription — the practice making service for all men of a certain age mandatory, with the only exception being those who could pay their way out of it or find an eligible substitue will to join up with the Army in their place.
