Lewis James Heatwole

“ In all these sections the destructive effects of war became manifest in robbery, burnings, the slaughtering and driving away of live stock of all kinds, the plundering of homes with the abuse and humiliation of the inmates by an unrestrained soldiery which bespoke the awful verdict that war is relentless and cruel wherever its effects are felt, and that the path of strife and bloodshed ever leads to destruction and death. ”

“ MENNONITES DURING THE CIVIL WAR
The military laws during the Civil War were very exacting, requiring that all men capable of service should enter the ranks at ages ranging from eighteen to forty-five years. Because of the extremity for man-power in the Southern Confederacy being reached at an early period of the War, the age limit was changed to seventeen to sixty years. In the North the laws were less stringent, as the man-power was greater, and it was not until toward the latter part of the war that draft laws were enforced. ”

“ Unlike the wars of 1812 and with Mexico, instead of Mennonites becoming rich and independent because of great profits made in the sale of food products, they, as a people, in the portions of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia were thrown backward financially no less than fifty years on account of the devastating consequences of the Civil War. ”