Enormous numbers of boys and underage youths served in the military throughout the American Civil War. Constituting roughly ten percent of Union troops and likely a similar proportion of Confederate forces, these young enlistees significantly enhanced the size and capabilities of the armies on both sides. They also created a great deal of drama and chaos. They upended household economies by absconding with their vital labor power. They caused loved ones to suffer untold anxiety for their welfare. And they generated myriad encounters between ordinary people and the institutions of government, at times resulting in dramatic showdowns between military and civilian authorities. How did the United States and the Confederacy, respectively, deal with the presence of so many young people in the ranks? The answers are often surprising and counterintuitive. As the U.S. federal government asserted greater authority over the state-based volunteers, Union families in particular found it difficult if not impossible to recover their sons.