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

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[436] a preamble, setting forth the actual state of the country, and the determination of the town to do every thing in its power to support the Government. The selectmen were directed ‘to take and appropriate from any money at that time in the treasury of said town during the current year a sufficient sum, not exceeding twenty thousand dollars, to fully arm and equip in the most approved and effectual manner one company or more of volunteer militia who have enlisted, or may hereafter enlist, from said town in the service of the United States.’ The families of the enlisted men were to be provided with ‘all the needed and necessary comforts of life in sickness and in health, as long as the exigency requires;’ and if any of the soldiers should die in the service, the ‘town will tenderly care for their remains, and furnish them a suitable burial.’ It was also resolved, unanimously, that the people of Newton ‘have the most perfect faith and confidence in our present form of Government, and in the wisdom and patriotism of its framers; and that without distinction of party or party lines, in our heart of hearts we revere and love their virtues and their memories. The cause of this Union is our cause, and to its support, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honors.’ The resolutions were discussed by Mr. Mason, J. Wiley Edmunds, Andrew H. Ward, Jr., William McIntosh and others, and unanimously adopted. It was also voted that T. M. Bryan, Jr., E. W. Dennison, and J. C. Potter, Jr., be a committee, in connection with the selectmen, to furnish uniforms, arms, and underclothes for the volunteers. A paper was also read, signed by fourteen of the most esteemed and influential ladies of the town, tendering their services to make the under-clothing for the soldiers, which was properly considered. The selectmen were authorized to pay to each volunteer from the town a sum not exceeding twenty dollars a month, in addition to Government pay while in the service; also to pay to the families of those citizens of Newton who have gone into other companies, the same monthly allowance as those who have enlisted in the Newton Company. The meeting dissolved, after which three cheers were given for the Union, and three for the Newton Company.