[626] of the money. They were to provide for the comfort of the families of soldiers who may be called into active service, to furnish the volunteers ‘with clothing, equipments, and small arms,’ and were authorized to draw upon the treasurer for money. May 4th, A communication was read, signed by the regular physicians of the town, tendering gratuitously their professional services to the families of the soldiers of Fitchburg whenever desired. The following report was made by L. Bradford, which was adopted:—
‘The fact that war now prevails should lead us as patriots to husband our resources, and bend all our energies towards the preservation of our beloved country and the perpetuity of its liberty. We are called upon by every consideration of patriotism to supply our own citizen soldiers for the emergency, and to provide for their families, if they are called to active duty. To do this we should curtail our former lavish expenditures: we should be just to our country before we are generous to ourselves. Our motto now should be, our country first, Ourselves afterwards.’The committee having in charge the disbursement of the ten thousand dollars was given discretionary power to pay any bills contracted by the two military companies belonging to the town, ‘as well before as after they shall be called into actual service.’ June 8th, The act of the Legislature concerning the payment of State aid to soldiers' families was adopted, and ten thousand dollars were appropriated to carry into effect its provisions. November 5th, The selectmen were authorized to send agents to the seat of war ‘to look after and take care of our dead and wounded volunteers.’ December 14th, Dr. Alfred Hitchcock presented resolutions requesting the trustees of the Public Library to take measures to collect and preserve in some permanent form all interesting facts, correspondence, trophies, &c., which ‘will perpetuate to future generations the history of the service in which the Fitchburg volunteers have been or may be engaged.’ Voted, to put one thousand dollars into the hands of Thomas R. Boutelle, Alvah Crocker, L. H. Bradford, Henry A. Willis, and Hanson L. Reed, to relieve incidental wants of soldiers belonging to the town as they may judge best. The selectmen were authorized ‘to pay ’
