Charles City County, Virginia World War I Draft Registrations

About 200 men from Charles City County served in WWI. Most of the men were drafted under three conscription acts, the first of which was passed in 1917 only one month after the United States entered the conflict. At first, the duty to register fell on all men residing in the U.S. whether natural born, naturalized or alien who were 21 to 31. Two more conscription acts eventually extended the duty to register to all men ages 18 to 45. Across the country 24 million men registered, but only 2 million were drafted to serve.