William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 2

---

[590] pay the allowance of State aid to the families of volunteers as provided by law. January 9th, Aldermen Clapp, Tyler, and Dana, and Messrs. Warren, McLean, Darrow, Park, and Braman of the council, ‘were appointed a committee to have charge of all matters relating to recruiting for the land and naval forces of the United States during the current year, the payment of bounties, and the revision of the enrollment lists in the several wards under the supervision of his honor the mayor.’ A joint committee was also appointed to provide suitably for returning regiments passing through Boston, the same as last year. January 16th, Mayor Lincoln communicated in an eloquent message to the city council the death of the Hon. Edward Everett, and resolutions of respect and condolence were unanimously adopted. April 17th, The mayor communicated in a written message to the aldermen the assassination of President Lincoln, and the attempt to take the life of Secretary Seward. A series of appropriate resolutions were read and adopted, after which on motion of Alderman Dana the board adjourned.

The foregoing is a brief but comprehensive abstract of the action of the city government of Boston during the war. The details were left with committees with full power to act. Each ward was made a military district with its quota of men assigned to it. Therefore the work of recruiting was done by the wards, the city paying the bounties; but each ward raised large sums by private subscription for bounty purposes and recruiting expenses, almost equal in amount to the sums paid by the city.

It appears by the returns made by the mayor in 1866, that Boston furnished twenty-six thousand one hundred and seventy-five men for the war, which was a surplus of five thousand and twenty-two over and above all demands. Twelve hundred and fourteen were commissioned officers in the military service. The total amount of money appropriated and expended by the city on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was two millions five hundred and seventy-three thousand five hundred and four dollars and twenty-two cents ($2,573,504.22).

The whole amount of money raised and expended by the city for the payment of State aid to the families of enlisted men during the war, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: