[39] town-clerk and town-treasurer all through the war, in regard to Falmouth, will apply to almost every town in Barnstable County:—
‘At the time of the breaking out of the Rebellion, most of our young men were pursuing their peculiar avocations upon the seas, and most of them on long voyages; nevertheless we were able to fulfil all the requirements of the State and General Governments in furnishing men for the war, and when the struggle was over had the satisfaction of knowing we had furnished a surplus of ten men.’The first action taken by the town, in its corporate character, was at a special meeting held on the 2d of December (‘after one of our citizens had enlisted in the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts Regiment’), at which it was voted to instruct the selectmen to aid the families of those who have, or may hereafter, enlist in the service of the United States. 1862. A special town-meeting was held on the 2d of August, which voted to pay ‘each volunteer citizen of the town, upon his enlisting for three years, a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars, and one hundred dollars in addition when regularly discharged from the service.’ In addition to this bounty of the town, there was raised by voluntary subscription ten dollars to each volunteer, of whom there were twenty-eight who ‘enlisted on the spot.’ Of these, twelve served until the end of the war; ‘the others were killed, died of disease, or were discharged on account of sickness.’ On the 11th of September another special meeting was held, at which the town voted ‘to pay any of its citizens’ a bounty of one hundred dollars upon enlistment for nine months service, and a further sum of one hundred dollars when regularly discharged. ‘Six immediately enlisted, each of whom served his full time.’ October 13th, The selectmen were authorized to enlist men in other places, if a sufficient number could not be obtained in Falmouth; ‘but in no case to pay any higher bounty than that paid to our own citizens.’ December 15th, The town bounty to each volunteer was fixed at two hundred dollars. 1863. A special meeting was held on the 21st of December, when the selectmen were authorized to draw on the towntreasurer
