Here’s another Random Bit o’ History. I found this while researching an upcoming post on Henry Clark and the Civil War draft. It was too good (?) to sit idly by, so here ya go:

“Persons without front teeth” news item, Milwaukee Sentinel, September 9, 1862, page 2. GenealogyBank.com.

Persons without front teeth have been held to be exempt from the draft on account of their not being able to “bite a cartridge.” In consequence of this, a good many fellows, it is said, have had their front teeth pulled. But now an order from the War Department prescribes that the toothless shall not be exempt, but subject to draft for the artillery service. Good enough for them.

Okay, then.

Back soon with more on Henry Clark.