Lessons on Corporate Growth and Culture from the American Civil War

In the early years of the war (1861–1863), all soldiers were volunteers. They were paid a salary to serve, but they were there because they had chosen to join.

By the later years (1864–1865), drafts and bounties had to be introduced. Bounties in the Union states went as high as a thousand dollars. Draftees also had an option to pay a commutation fee…