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

1861. The first legal town-meeting, to act upon questions relating to the war, was held on the 27th of April, when the town voted to furnish a complete uniform to each soldier who should enlist from Taunton, and should be accepted and mustered into the service of the United States; also, to pay each a bounty of fifteen dollars, ‘and such a sum per month as would make his pay twenty-six dollars a month,’ when added to what was paid by the Government. Samuel L. Crocker, Henry Williams, Thompson Newbury, Lovett Morse, Harrison Tweed, Samuel O. Dunbar, and Le Baron B. Church were chosen a committee to carry these votes into effect. Another town-meeting was held on the 13th of July, and six thousand dollars were appropriated for the payment of State aid to the families of soldiers; and still another meeting was held on the 10th of October, when ten thousand dollars additional were voted for the same purpose.

1862. A town-meeting was held on the 14th of August, at which the town voted to pay a bounty of two hundred dollars ‘to each volunteer who had enlisted, or who should hereafter enlist, under the pending call of the President for three hundred thousand volunteers for three years service,’ when mustered in and credited to the quota of the town. Another meeting was held on the 26th of August, at which the town voted to pay each volunteer for nine months service a bounty of one hundred dollars, who should be mustered in and credited to the quota of the town.

1863. No special action appears to have been necessary by the town in its corporate capacity during this year, either in regard to filling its quotas, or in the payment of State aid to the families of the soldiers, although recruiting went on, bounties were paid, and the families were properly provided for.

1864. At a legal town-meeting held on the 4th of April, it was voted to raise thirty thousand dollars to refund money which had been contributed by private citizens for the purpose of procuring volunteers to fill the quotas of the town, under calls made by the President for men. Another meeting was