[45] Orleans furnished one hundred and seventy-seven men for the war, which was a surplus of twenty-nine over and above all demands. Three were commissioned officers. The amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was eighteen thousand four hundred and ninety-seven dollars and twenty cents ($18,497.20). The amount raised and expended by the town for State aid to soldiers' families during the four years of the war, but which was afterwards refunded by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $12.00; in 1862, $336.96; in 1863, $1,109.77; in 1864, $1,778.35; in 1865, $1,093.20. Total amount, $4,365.28. The ladies of Orleans formed ‘a Soldiers' Aid Society in September, 1862, which continued in active operation until April, 1865. They held about seventy meetings, to prepare articles for the soldiers. They raised, in money, $621.08,’ which was increased fourfold by being judiciously expended for material, that was made into articles of clothing. Many boxes and barrels were filled with their contributions, ‘some of which were sent to the soldiers in camp, some to the sick and wounded in hospitals, and some to the prisoners in Libby Prison.’ As a sample of each, we give the contents of one, sent Oct. 14, 1862, to the Sanitary Commission: 2 pillows, 1 under-shirt, 21 towels, 4 handkerchiefs, 21 shirts, 18 do., 53 pillow-cases, 3 boxes of lint, 1 bundle of pieces, 7 prs. slippers, 3 prs. drawers, 3 prs. socks, 368 yards bandages, 9 dozen stump bandages, 3 dozen hand do., 13 dozen comforters, ‘a few pamphlets,’ 10 sheets, 24 pillow-cases, 53 towels, 23 cotton shirts, 75 pillows, 5 vests, 3 frock coats, 11 flannel under-shirts, 6 packages (individuals), 1 bedquilt, 3 prs. drawers, 3 prs. slippers, 2 prs. pants, 7 prs. mittens, 29 prs. socks, 28 prs. flannel drawers, 1 pr. boots, 38 handkerchiefs, 51 white do., 25 colored do. The society numbered one hundred and fifty-one members. The journal of their proceedings closes with the following words:—
‘The meeting adjourns to meet again whenever the needs of suffering soldiers should demand,—we Hope never again.’
