In this way I worked almost for two years, my wages was raised somewhat in the run of time as everything else was raising in value but later not quite as I thought it should, so I made a change of place, but before this came in I must give attention to some other affairs.

The war went on sometimes favorable for the North, sometimes unfavorable, the Army lost a good deal by desertion and losses on the battlefields and in order to get recruits, the government had to pay high bounty.

I, and my young wife, lived comparatively happy. She was a good housekeeper and really saving, so in spite of war, nothing disturbed our happiness. On the 9th day of October 1862 our second boy William C. was born and so I had a nice little family and I was looking for a place to make a home of my own.

Across Harlem River in Westchester County in very easy reach there was some land laid out in building lots and I purchased one of them lots for $325.00 to build a home after awhile. And so I worked along to get more money. I wrote to Germany my circumstance and they sent me what was coming to me.

The year 1863 came on and as it became harder to get men to go to war, the government ordered a draft of its citizens. They finally began to draft but the second day a riot broke out. The Marshal's Office was demolished and set on fire. The police of the City was unable to do anything, the Militia were all on the seat of war, as the Northern troops had met previous with defeat and the Rebels had fallen into the state of Pennsylvania, so for three days the rioters had possession of New York City.

At first citizens that was liable for being drafted rather sympathized with the affair but it soon proved that it was the rabble of not only New York but all the trash that could reach there for plunder, they burned and plundered most every where and it was really dangerous to go out in good clothing, the more ragged a fellow was the better for safety.

The battle for Gettysburg was fought in those days and the Northern troops, or Union Troops as they were called, were victorious and the Rebels were driven back into Virginia again, and so the Militia came home. The riot was then soon subdued but it took quite a little bloodshed, guilty ones and careless innocent ones also. Now the draft went on again and now our peace was also disturbed! I was among the drafted men. I finally got my notice to appear before the Marshal. I did. I was examined and found qualified for a soldier. Now we were in quite trouble!

My wife came home from the grocery store one day and she was advised that I should join the Militia so I would get clear. After I inquired in the matter I found that there was a Regiment of Militia just forming, (The 2nd Regiment of Infantry New York State Militia) and they wanted men pretty bad to fill their ranks. They promised to assist me in getting clear.

Now as the Common Council of New York City was passing an ordinance to pay $300.00 for each Fireman and each Militia man that was drafted, out of the city treasury, towards a substitute. So I joined the Militia and had the advantage of said act. So I finally got a substitute that went for me in the war. The City paid him $300.00 and I paid him $25.00 and served for six years in the ranks of the "Second Regiment of Infantry, New York Militia."