That is not chickening out, your name was not printed in the local paper! Or you could have had a relative crossdress on your behalf? I had done that many many times.
Chickening out may come from an 1864 Union Army enlistment practice in which a chicken was provided to each person who enlisted. The soldier would take the chicken home, clean, dress, and cook it for dinner because there was no refrigeration in those days. The next day he came back to ship off for the Union Army.
However, should he not come back, his name was printed in the local newspaper-very shameful to the family name - not like today. A relative with the same family name could fulfill the Army contract by enlisting instead of the original person. The Union Army didn't care as long as they got someone of worth.
