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

Chapter 9: Hampshire County.

The number of men furnished by the several towns in the county, according to the returns made by the selectmen in 1866, was three thousand seven hundred and ninety-three (3,793), which is very near the exact number. Each town furnished its full contingent upon every call made by the President for men, and at the end of the war had a surplus over and above all demands, which in the aggregate amounted to three hundred and forty-four men (344). The total amount of money appropriated and expended by the several towns on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was four hundred and fifteen thousand and forty-two dollars and seventy-six cents ($415,042.76). The total amount raised and expended during the war for State aid to soldiers' families, and which was afterwards repaid by [331] the Commonwealth, was one hundred and eighty-four thousand and seventy-five dollars and seven cents ($184,075.07), making the total expenditure $599,117.83.

The following is the war record of the various towns:—

Amherst

The town-clerk and town-treasurer during all these years was Samuel C. Carter.

1861. May 1st, The selectmen were authorized to borrow not exceeding five thousand dollars to be applied to the purchase of outfits for volunteers, their comfort while in the military service, and the maintenance and support of their families at home.

1862. July 21st, Voted, to pay one hundred dollars bounty to each volunteer who shall enlist for three years in the military service and be mustered in to the credit of the town. Voted, That it is the wish of the citizens that volunteers enlisting from Amherst ‘associate with the volunteers from Hadley, Hatfield, Leverett, Pelham, Sunderland, and Granby, in forming a company.’ August 25th, Voted to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer who enlists in the nine-months service, and is credited to Amherst, ‘provided that the whole number required for this town shall be enlisted before the first day of September.’ ‘Voted, that the first names on the enlisting rolls shall have the first preference to go into the army.’¹ October 11th, The selectmen were authorized ‘to make an arrangement with any other city or town for our surplus of enlisted men, reserving to the town the benefit of such surplus in a future call of the President.’ [332]

1863. No action appears to have been taken by the town in its corporate capacity during this year, in relation to the war.

1864. May 24th, Voted, To assess nine thousand five hundred and twenty-five dollars; of which two thousand dollars is to refund to the volunteer fund what was paid in October, 1863, twelve hundred dollars to fill a deficiency in the quota of the town, and sixty-five hundred to pay bounties to volunteers who shall enlist to the quota of the town during the year ending March 1, 1865.

Amherst furnished three hundred and thirty-two men for the war,² which was a surplus of twenty-nine over and above all demands. Twenty were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town for war purposes, exclusive of State aid, was twenty-nine thousand five hundred and thirty-five dollars and forty-seven cents ($29,535.47). In addition to this sum $23,779.50 were contributed by individuals, and received from fairs held by the patriotic ladies of Amherst for the benefit of the soldiers.

The amount of money raised and expended by the town during the war for State aid to the soldiers' families and which was afterwards repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $672.71; in 1862, $2,995.34; in 1863, $4,612.51; in 1864, $4,810.31; in 1865, $2,676.89. Total amount, $15,769.76.

Belchertown

The selectmen in 1861 and 1862 were Joshua G. Longley, Martin Sedgewick, Henry J. Chandler; in 1863, Leonard Barrett, Wright Barrett, Joshua G. Longley; in 1864 and 1865, Joshua G. Longley, A. Ralph Owen, Henry J. Chandler.

The town-clerk and town-treasurer during all of these years was Edwin R. Bridgeman. [333]

1861. The first legal town-meeting to act upon matters in relation to the war was held on the 30th of April, at which it was voted to uniform and clothe, ‘from head to foot, all who volunteer in the Belchertown company, and to furnish a revolver to each of them who go into active service.’ It was also voted to hire a competent drill-master, and to pay each man for the time spent in drilling; also to pay each volunteer's family ten dollars a month while he is in active service.³ The selectmen were authorized to borrow five thousand dollars to carry out the purposes of these votes. July 6th, The act of the Legislature in relation to the payment of State aid to the families of soldiers was adopted by the town.

1862. July 21st, ‘Voted, to pay one hundred dollars to each recruit to the number of thirty-four, and that the assessors levy a tax upon the valuation of last May, and collect it within twenty days.’ Voted, ‘that the treasurer go to the camp with the soldier, and pay one hundred dollars to each upon his being mustered into service.’ August 22d, A bounty of one hundred dollars was authorized to be paid to each volunteer for nine months service, and a committee was appointed ‘to canvass the town to procure men to fill our quota.’

1863. February 10th, The selectmen were authorized ‘to procure upon the best possible terms eighteen men to fill the quota of the town for the last call of the Government.’ The treasurer was authorized to borrow the money for that purpose. September 23d, Voted, ‘that in all cases when necessary the selectmen may furnish supplies to families of volunteers in addition to State aid.’

1864. June 23d, The selectmen were authorized to borrow not exceeding ten thousand dollars to procure volunteers to relieve citizens who had been drafted or who might thereafter be; and to those citizens who were drafted, and had procured substitutes or had paid commutation, there be paid the sum of three hundred dollars; and for this purpose the selectmen and treasurer were directed to borrow thirty-six hundred dollars.⁴ [334] June 30th, Voted, to raise a sum of money sufficient to procure forty volunteers.

1865. January 2d, Voted to raise twenty-five hundred dollars ‘to procure recruits on the last call of the President for three hundred thousand men.’

Belchertown furnished two hundred and eighty men for the war, which was a surplus of twenty over and above all demands. Nine 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-nine thousand dollars ($29,000.00).

The amount of money raised and expended by the town during the war, for the payment of State aid to the soldiers' families, and which was afterwards reimbursed by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $484.01; in 1862, $3,137.93; in 1863, $3,901.81; in 1864, $3,834.27; in 1865, $2,218.47. Total amount, $13,576.49.

Chesterfield

The selectmen in 1861 and 1862 were Eli A. Sylvester, Loren L. Tower, Samuel House; in 1863, Patrick Bryant, Samuel House, Chauncy Witherell; in 1864, Patrick Bryant, Ebenezer Edwards, Chauncy Witherell; in 1865, Patrick Bryant, Samuel House, Chauncy Witherell.

The town-clerk and town-treasurer during all the years of the war was Albert Nichols.

1861. No action appears to have been taken by the town in its corporate capacity during this year in relation to the war.

1862. At a special town-meeting held on the 5th of August, it was voted to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer who would enlist either for three years or nine months, when mustered in and credited to the quota of the town. The selectmen were authorized to borrow money to pay the same. [335]

1863. At a meeting held on the 17th of January, Samuel House, one of the selectmen, was appointed to visit Boston and obtain information in regard to the number of men the town was to furnish to complete its quota.

1864. On the 2d of April the town voted to pay a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer who shall enlist and be credited to the town; also to raise eight hundred and seventy-five dollars to repay citizens money which they had advanced for recruiting purposes. This bounty was continued to be paid until the end of the war.

1865. At a meeting held on the 22d of May, it was voted to raise by taxation six thousand seven hundred and sixty-nine dollars to pay citizens money which they had advanced for recruiting purposes, ‘one half to be assessed this year, and the balance next year.’

Chesterfield furnished ninety-five men for the war, which was a surplus of ten over and above all demands. Two were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was fourteen thousand six hundred and sixty-two dollars ($14,662.00).

The amount of money raised and expended by the town, during the war for State aid to soldiers' families, and which was afterwards repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $36.30; in 1862, $644.30; in 1863, $1,689.21; in 1864, $1,477.70; in 1865, $1,165.50. Total amount, $5,013.01.

The ladies of Chesterfield contributed three hundred and seventy-five dollars in money, besides clothing and valuable work for the soldiers.

Cummington

The selectmen in 1861 were