Howard Bailey (1849 - abt. 1900)

The family Pennsylvania religious background has been a flummox and its patriotic conflicts between both a Pennsylvania Dutch and Quaker affiliations and its men serving in American Wars including the Revolution, War of 1812 and Civil War. The Pennsylvania Dutch (Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch) maintained numerous religious affiliations, with the greatest number being Lutheran or Reformed, but with many (Amish) Anabaptists as well. My family research leads me to believe that they were not Amish but part of the former affiliations. As to a the Society of Friends (Quakers) family connection the strongest indication seems to be Howard Bailey- Brother of William Bailey, who was on list of Civil War Conscientious Objectors Deposition Number 537, stating his religious doctrine prohibited bearing arms.

Certain pacifist religious groups conflicted with Union and Confederate officials to defend their conscientious beliefs against bearing arms. The largest sects were the Society of Friends (Quakers) and the Mennonites which counted over 200,000 members in 1860. Shakers and Quakers sought blanket exemptions for their draft age men. Often draftees reported to Camp and then refused to serve in any military capacity. They wanted assignments to hospitals. Other said they support the war by furnishing supplies to the army. Lincoln accepted these alternatives at first, Things changed with the draft of August 1863. In Feb, 1864, Congress dealt with the question by ruling pacifists subject to the draft but assuring noncombatant assignments to members of those religious groups whose articles of faith clearly expressed opposition to bearing arms. They were also given option of paying $300 for the relief of sick and wounded men.https://civilwartalk.com/threads/conscientious-objectors-and-the-civil-war.25066/