What role did the Amish play during the Civil War?

by tinycole2971
blackcat21

I'm paraphrasing here.

While most of them supported their respective government, The Mennonites and Amish found it hard to justify serving in combat as it was in direct conflict with their faith. In fact, many of the Amish and Mennonites that came to America did so to avoid military service. There were a few Mennonites who fought for the Confederacy, but most tried to avoid the fighting, as a result a number of Pacifists fled their lands at the hands of the Confederate soldiers.

Because of the Amish and Mennonites believed in Pacifism, they had an option, they could pay a fee or they could give up a substitute to serve for them. The prices for these fees varied by state, in Virginia the fee was $500. Luckily for the Amish and Mennonites living in Pennsylvania, Senator Thaddeus Stevens obtained exemptions from service for many of his constituents.

James O. Lehman and Steven M. Nolt, Mennonites, Amish, and the American Civil War (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007.) 132-135

lojafan

In the war itself or in society?

jschooltiger

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italia06823834

What about wars with a draft? We're Amish given an exemption, or did many have to fight?