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Always nice to see a historian who isn’t afraid, as they say, to transgress the boundaries of acceptable discourse. One such is Daniel Grey.

You see, in 1863 Abe Lincoln began to run short of men and drafted babies.

“A fierce patriot, Lincoln felt that all Americans should do their part in the war,” said Civil War historian Daniel Grey. “That’s why the new infantry consisted of drafted infants.”

While the babies in this new infantry weren’t required to fight, they did serve other functions. They were first used in military observation balloons.

“Hot air balloons were used for reconnaissance,” said Grey. “The babies were employed as ballast.

Although the babies were strapped to the outside of the gondolas, surveyors had to keep their ears plugged to block out all the crying. The babies were quite helpful in keeping the balloons from flying away.”

Their drool also kept sabers from rusting.

It must be true, because it’s on the web and in the Weekly World News.

Next—was Judson Kilpatrick an alien? Inquiring minds want to know.

Related posts:

1. Source: George Nafziger Order of Battle Collectionmy of Shenandoah 30 June 1861'>861aj: Confederate ArBack to the George Nafziger American Civil War Order of Battle Collection

                    Confederate Army of Shenandoah                           30 June 1861  Commanding Officer: Brigadier General J.E.Johnston  1st Brigade: Colonel T.J.Jackson      2nd Virginia Infantry Regiment      4th Virginia Infantry Regiment      5th Virginia Infantry Regiment      27th Virginia Infantry Regiment      Pendelton's Battery 2nd Brigade: Colonel F.S.Bartow      7th Georgia Infantry Regiment      8th Georgia Infantry Regiment      9th Georgia Infantry Regiment      Duncan's Kentucky Battalion      Pope's Kentucky Battalion      Alburtis's Battery 3rd Brigade: Brigadier General B.E.Bee      4th Alabama Infantry Regiment      2nd Mississippi Infantry Regiment      11th Mississippi Infantry Regiment      1st Tennessee Infantry Regiment      Imboden's Battery 4th Brigade: Colonel A. Elzey      1st Maryland Infantry Battalion      3rd Tennessee Infantry Regiment      10th Virginia Infantry Regiment      13th Virginia Infantry Regiment      Grove's Battery Not Brigaded:      1st Virginia Cavalry Regiment      33rd Virginia Infantry Regiment  J.G.Nicolay, The Outbreak of the Rebellion, New York, l901 

   Source: George Nafziger Order of Battle Collectionmy of Shenandoah 30 June 1861
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