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

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[153] when the recruiting officer was directed to enlist eighteen volunteers for nine months service, and to pay the expenses of recruits ‘from home to camp and back, who may be rejected.’ On the 14th of October the town voted to borrow money to pay State aid to the families of volunteers, and twelve hundred dollars to pay bounties to recruits to fill the quota of the town.

1863. A special meeting was held on the 1st of August, at which the selectmen were directed to pay State aid to the families of drafted men; and on the 10th of December the town voted to pay a bounty of three hundred and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer, ‘provided the State will refund the same;’¹ and the treasurer was authorized to borrow money.

1864. A town-meeting was held on the 4th of April, at which eleven hundred and twenty-five dollars were appropriated ‘to reimburse citizens who had voluntarily contributed money to fill the quotas of the town.’ It was also to pay henceforth a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars to each person who should volunteer for three years service, and be credited to the quota of Seekonk. On the 3d of September it was voted to raise seventeen hundred and fifteen dollars ‘to pay recruiting bills;’ and that every person liable to draft should pay five dollars; those not liable, two dollars; and the remainder, if any, ‘to be assessed upon estates.’ At a meeting held on the 17th of September, ‘the tax-collector was instructed to collect to deficiency on the polls of those liable to draft.’ Other meetings were held during the year, but nothing of special interest was transacted.

1865. On the 30th of June a town-meeting was held, the war being over, at which it was voted ‘to raise money by taxation sufficient to reimburse to citizens the amounts they had advanced to encourage recruiting and fill the quotas of the town.’

The selectmen of Seekonk reported in 1866 that the town had furnished seventy men for the war, which must have been of necessity only guess-work. The facts show that Seekonk furnished its full quota upon every call made by the President,