[418] A great many citizens' meetings were held during the war, and the votes recorded above are little more than the embodiment in legal form of those passed at those meetings. As regards resolutions, Mr. Wheeler, one of the selectmen, writes: ‘I do not think that any were passed except at one of the earlier meetings of citizens. The feeling of the people, I suppose, was typified by a remark of one of the older citizens: We do not want any more resolutions; but if anybody has got any money or any pluck let him show it.’ Lincoln furnished seventy-nine men for the war, which was a surplus of four over and above all demands. Five were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was ten thousand three hundred and eighty-five dollars and fifty cents ($10,385.50).1 The amount of money raised and expended by the town during the war for State aid to soldiers' families, and which was repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $119.20; in 1862, $591.42; in 1863, $815.00; in 1864, $1,029.54; in 1865, $650.00. Total amount, $3,205.16. The ladies of Lincoln did good service during the war. Mrs. Edward S. Hodges, president of the Soldiers' Aid Society, has written us a most excellent letter, from which we have only space for the following extracts:—
‘However small our work really was it always seemed to be sanctified and ennobled by the blessed spirit which prompted its undertaking, and which kept alive to the last hour of our need the earnestness so noticeable in a New England community. From the first call to arms, which summoned away the men and boys from among us, we realized that there might be needed hospital comforts for which our government, under its long peace, would not have provided; and immediately we called ourselves together, feeling sure we could render some help under the pressure. The vestry of the Orthodox church was opened to us, and the earnest encouragement of every citizen of the town was ours.’ ‘Very soon a society was founded called the “Soldiers' aid,” and in the Town Hall organized work commenced. Money was raised by ’
