Item No. 1613650

An 1864 broadside poster advertising a community meeting to be held in response to the upcoming draft. The Enrollment Act, passed in 1863, provided a system for conscripting military-age men into the Union Army. The first draft lottery was held in July 1863 and was followed by several additional lotteries in 1864 and 1865. The amendment of February 24, 1864, added a requirement for local and state governments to fill quotas. This broadside advertises that:

A Meeting will be held at Citizens’ Hall, This Monday Even’g Feb. 22, at 7 o’clock, for the purpose of making arrangements for raising a Bounty of $300 to all who are willing to volunteer. The QUOTA of the BOROUGH being ONLY 38 MEN! with a little effort on the part of the citizens, the Draft can be avoided.
MANY CITIZENS

Another copy of this broadside resides in the collection of the Library Company of Philadelphia (link here), which associates the advertisement with Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

The broadside has been matted and framed with overall dimensions of 14” x 16 3/4”. Visible area measures 11” x 13 1/2”. Flattened folds and wrinkles. Some minor areas of chipping and paper loss.