Exposé of a major wartime recruiting fraud and the fight to recover stolen bounties. This nonfiction work presents a detailed account of how thousands of recruits were defrauded at Lafayette Hall, with Hawley D. Clapp named as a key broker. It traces the allegations, investigations, and legal questions surrounding military enlistment during the Civil War.
This edition compiles official statements, testimonies, and correspondence from General Dix’s administration, offering a clear view of the misuse of bounties, the roles of various officers, and the steps taken to protect recruits and uphold the war effort. It is a historical document that sheds light on wartime governance, accountability, and the tension between rapid recruitment and fair treatment of soldiers.
- Learn how recruitment fraud operated at a central New York hub and who was involved.
- See how military authorities sought to address abuses and pursue restitution.
- Understand the legal and procedural questions about military accountability in wartime.
- Gain context for the broader challenges of sustaining an army under pressure.
Ideal for readers of Civil War history, military governance, and primary-source investigations into 19th‑century American politics and law.