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

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[539] at a previous meeting for the improvement of highways; that the selectmen request the county commissioners not to lay out any new road in the county ‘until such time as we shall be able to see with reasonable certainty to what extent we shall be obliged to exert ourselves for the defence of the country.’ That the treasurer be authorized to borrow six thousand dollars ‘as it shall from time to time be needed.’ Voted, to pay each volunteer belonging to the town ten dollars a month while in the military service; also proper aid to his family; and if any volunteer shall be killed in battle or die in the service of disease, his children shall receive proper education, and be ‘put to some honest and honorable calling or pursuit, not as a charity but as a debt due.’ Voted, that each volunteer be furnished with a uniform, ‘and a revolver and Bowie knife.’¹ Artemas Hale, Joseph A. Hyde, Mitchel Hooper, Lafayette Keith, and Joshua E. Crane were appointed to carry the foregoing votes into effect. Rev. Mr. Douglas was invited to close the meeting with prayer. May 20th, Further provision was made for the comfort of the families of soldiers. The committee appointed to recruit a military company reported that eighty-five native citizens of the town had signed a roll, but no more three-months men would be accepted; many of the men enlisted for three years and were sent to Fortress Monroe under the command of Captain Libeas Leach, and afterwards were part of the Twenty-Ninth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers.

1862. July 17th, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer enlisting to the credit of the town within thirty days, and the treasurer was authorized to borrow money to pay the same. August 16th, The bounty was fixed at one hundred and sixty dollars to each volunteer enlisting for three years service. It was also voted, “that the trustees of the Plymouth Agricultural Society be requested to offer to the Government their building and grounds as a hospital for sick and wounded soldiers. August 26th, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars to each volunteer who shall enlist to the credit of the town for nine months service.”