William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 1

[665] manner in which he has discharged his duties, and for the benefits which the association has received from his name.

At the commencement of the war, a committee of one hundred gentlemen, comprising the Governor, all the living ex-Governors, the Mayors of cities, and all the living ex-Mayors of the State, together with many other distinguished gentlemen in private life, formed themselves into a society to raise and disburse money for the benefit of the soldiers' families. The fund thus raised was called the Massachusetts Soldiers' Fund. We have been unable to learn the precise amount which was raised; but it was between sixty-five thousand and seventy thousand dollars. The fund thus collected was invested so as to produce interest. It was expended under the supervision of an executive committee, of which William Gray, of Boston, was chairman, and who himself contributed ten thousand dollars at one time. Of this fund, there remains about thirteen thousand dollars unexpended.

Another organization of gentlemen was formed in Boston, at a later period, to raise money for the benefit of soldiers' families living in Boston. The fund thus raised amounted to about seventy-five thousand dollars. It was called the Boston Soldiers' Fund. The association organized by the election of Edward S. Tobey, of Boston, as president. Two trustees were chosen from each of the wards of the city. There was also an executive committee, of which George W. Messenger, an alderman of Boston, was chairman. The money which was raised was put at interest, and there remains an unexpended balance of about thirty thousand dollars.

The remains of these funds are still used for the benefit of soldiers and their families, and will be until they are exhausted.

In April, 1862, the Surgeon-General of Massachusetts was the medium through whom donations were received from citizens, and disbursed as his judgment dictated, for the benefit of disabled soldiers, and the families of those who had fallen in battle. The amount received by him during the year 1862 was $504, of which Governor Andrew contributed $250; Miss A. Morton, of Andover, $202; and the Joy-street Baptist Church, $45. During