[macebowman]

First, for initial volunteer service, how long was the committment for the North?

Three months

How about the South?

One year.

What doesn’t matter is what happened LATER. When initially faced with a three month or one year enlistment one can’t see into the future. The three month yankee enlistment worked well. Just long enough to get thier butts kicked and run back home with their tail between their legs. Re-enlistment rates were high, got to get back their dignity.

But, you seem all concerned about “equity” like slavery and all. Could a southern planters son buy his way out of conscription? How about a rich yankee’s son? And those black soldiers in Yankee uniform, were they paid the same as the white ones? Meanwhile, back at the Confederate Foundry—how much were those FREE blackmen paid? They paid the same as whites? Rebels pay free black man equal wages to make the bullets while yankees pay black men less to dodge them. Rather ironic ain’t it.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

Could a southern planters son buy his way out of conscription?

They didn't have to. The Confederate conscription law gave automatic exemptions to slaveowners, so they could stay home and suppress servile insurrections and provide all the other worthwhile services to the community typical of the Dixie drone class.

[Non-Sequitur]

What doesn’t matter is what happened LATER. When initially faced with a three month or one year enlistment one can’t see into the future. The three month yankee enlistment worked well. Just long enough to get thier butts kicked and run back home with their tail between their legs. Re-enlistment rates were high, got to get back their dignity.

And three years later when the army could have melted away as the three year enlistments ran out, what made the vast majority of Union soldiers re-up to continue the fight? Was it still 'dignity'?

Could a southern planters son buy his way out of conscription?

Yes, he could. Unless he owned the requisite number of slaves, then he was exempt to begin with.

How about a rich yankee’s son?

Yes, he could as well.

And those black soldiers in Yankee uniform, were they paid the same as the white ones?

After June 1864, yes. When the were granted equal pay retroactively.

Meanwhile, back at the Confederate Foundry—how much were those FREE blackmen paid? They paid the same as whites?

I wouldn't know. What do you have concerning that?

Rebels pay free black man equal wages to make the bullets while yankees pay black men less to dodge them.

How much were the slave workers paid?