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

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‘ [83] to be void.’ October 11th, It having been found that the notes thus given could not be negotiated, and were therefore unsuited for the purpose, the town voted to pay the bounty in money.

1863. July 25th, The selectmen were authorized to borrow money to pay State aid to the families of drafted men. September 26th, Voted, to raise seven thousand two hundred and forty-seven dollars and fifty-two cents to settle bounty money, as provided in section 9th of chapter 218 of the Acts of 1863.

1864. April 9th, The bounty for volunteers for three years service was fixed at one hundred and twenty-five dollars, which was the amount paid to each until the end of the war. Several meetings were held during the year to appropriate money for State aid and recruiting purposes, and power was given to the selectmen to recruit men, borrow money, and pay bounties.

The town of Lee, according to the return made by the selectmen in 1866, furnished two hundred and ninety-five men for the war; but as the town furnished its full quota of men upon every call of the President, and had a surplus of fifteen at the end of the war, over and above all demands, it is clear that the number furnished must have been at least four hundred, including those who paid commutation-money. Fifteen were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was twenty-one thousand six hundred and fifty-four dollars and fifty-six cents ($21,654.56). This is exclusive of the money contributed by citizens to encourage recruiting, which was quite large in amount.

The sum raised and expended by the town during the four years of the war for State aid to the families of soldiers, and which was afterwards reimbursed by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $1,367.71; in 1862, $4,905.59; in 1863, $6,253.61; in 1864, $5,149.55; in 1865, $3,100.00. Total amount in four years, $20,776.46.

In regard to the work done by the ladies of Lee, William J. Bartlett, Esq., writes, ‘that $1,005.17 in cash was sent to the Christian Commission during 1863 and 1864, of which the ladies of Lee contributed $470.10; they also sent four ’