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

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‘ [487] of those citizens of Brookline who have already gone into service.’ A number of gentlemen addressed the meeting; the roll-list was eagerly signed, and the selectmen were requested to prepare a suitable drill ground. The meeting broke up ‘with three hearty cheers for Governor Andrew, who had by his prompt action placed Massachusetts where she always wished to be, in the foremost rank.’ The military committee was composed of the following gentlemen: Moses B. Williams, James A. Dupee, Marshall Stearns, William K. Melcher, Nathaniel Lyford, Thomas B. Hall, Thomas Parsons, William Aspinwall, J. Murray Howe, and Edward A. Wild. The first legal town-meeting was held on the 29th of April, at which the resolutions passed at the citizens' meeting were presented by Thomas Parsons, and being read were adopted. On motion of William Aspinwall, fifteen thousand dollars were appropriated, ‘to be called the military fund,’ to be expended under the direction of the military committee and the selectmen, for military equipment and the support of the families of volunteers residing in the town. The treasurer was authorized to borrow the money, in whole or in part, as it might be required. The town-clerk was authorized to enter upon the town-records the proceedings of the two informal meetings of the citizens, and the use of the town-hall was given for the purposes of drilling. June 13th, A special meeting was held. Moses B. Williams, chairman of the military committee, read a report, giving a detailed statement of what the committee had done towards enlisting and equipping a company of volunteers for three years service, and the expenses which had been incurred thereby and paid by the committee from the military fund; also thanking the ladies of Brookline ‘for their labor in preparing clothing, and for their unwearied efforts to second the action of the committee.’ The report was accepted. James Bartlett was appointed a member of the military committee, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of E. A. Wild, who had been commissioned a captain in the First Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers.¹ On motion of William Aspinwall,