History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

148 HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
ernment, for auy wlio would enlist. When the
treasury became empty, and the high rate of
money impaired the worth of real estate as security,
then they anticipated the revenue from taxation.
Loans were ordered, and when they could not be
obtained, cattle were offered as bounty. Indeed,
no method of raising troops was left untried, save
that of conscription ; although this was authorized
by the state, the town, rather than adopt arbitrary
measures, preferred to pay the fine for not furnish-
ing the full quota of soldiers for the six and three
months' service in 1781. May 22, 1780, the con-
stitution and frame of the government was submit-
ted to the town and adopted, seventy-five to seven.
In April, 1861, on receiving the news of the
attack on Fort Sumter, immediately a large number
of the leading citizens of all political parties assem-
bled, and discussed the duty of the town in this
emergency. They were of one mind in the opin-
ion that prompt and hearty concurrence with the
government was tlie true policy ; consequently they
urged the selectmen to call a town-meeting, and
prepared for a fit presentation of their views. The
citizens met April 39, 1861; when, in response to
the appeal of the President calling upon all loyal citi-
zens to sujiport the Union, it was resolved, " That
the citizens of Marlborough, in legal town-meeting
assembled, tender our cordial and united support to
the government of the United States ; and pledge
our lives and our fortunes for whatever service our
country may require." Subsequently ten thousand
dollars were appropriated to be used for " the aid
and encouragement of the individuals or for the
support of the families of the individuals compos-
ing the volunteer military company now raised or
hereafter to be raised in this town to meet the calls
of the government."
The selectmen at tliis time (1861) were Isaac Ilay-
den, B. F. Underbill, Stephen Morse, George E.
Manson, John Goodale ; in 1862 and 1863, B. F.
Underbill, William 11. Wood, John F. Cotting ;
in 1861 and 1865, William AVilson, Fred N.
Morse, Charles H. Eobinson. Tlie town-clerk for
1861 and 1862 was John Phelps; for 186:3, 1864,
and 1865, Edward L. Bigelow. The town-treas-
urer in 1861 was AVinslow M. Warren ; in 1862,
186:3, 1861, and 18C5, N. Wctherbec.
July 21, 1862, the following resolutions, pre-
sented by Hon. O. W. Albee, were unanimously
adopted :
—
" lfniere(n, a Rrrat robdlion, cii^ondcrcd 1)V a wicked dc
ery, aud stimulated by an unholy ambition to rule, has set
at naught the legally constituted authorities of this nation
and imperilled constitutional liberty on this continent,
" Therefore, Resoleed, That ilarlborougli is determined
to stand by and maintain the great truths of tiie declaration
of American Independence and the Repubhcau Government
instituted by our Revolutionary Fathers.
" Resolved, That if any oUgarchy or any institution, however
fortified by power and prejudice, stands in the way
of the full realization of our Revolutionary Fathers' ideal,
in regard to the inalienable rights of man, such ohgarchy
and such institutions must perish, rather than that consti-
tutional liberty should fail.
" Resolved, That whilst we honor the patriotism and ac-
knowledge the sacrifices which hundreds of our fellowtownsmen
have shown by devoting their all to theVause of
their country, we would not be unmindful of the glory our
adopted feUow-townsmen have won on many a well-fought
field.
" Resolved, That the names of Carey and Regan, and their
fellows who have fallen in this contest for right, have become
historic, and Marlborough will cherish their memories
and keep their garlands fresh, that posterity may know
their worth and honor them with the inceuse of grateful
hearts.
"Resolved, That to the recent call of the President of
the United States for men to fill the thinned ranks of the
armies of the Republic, Marlborough expects her sons, both
native and adopted, to respond with an alacrity that shall
enudate her past fame aud be a guaranty for the future of
her unwavering determination to sustain the cause of lib-
erty, God, and our country.
"Resolved, That, though patriotism can neither be meas-
ured uoi- weiirhcd by money, yet Marlborough is ready, in
her ci'r|nMatc cMpacity, to pledge herself to compensate, in
part at hasi l\ir pecuniary sacrifices, those brave men who
shall giiKinusly tlirow themselves into the breach iu this
Lour of a nation's peril.
"Resolved, That we pay one hundred and tweuty-five
dollars to each volunteer who shall volunteer, under the
present call of the President of the United States, not to
exceed fifty-two in number."
The total number of men furnished by the town
and actually engaged in tiie war was 869 ; 574 serv-
ing for three years, 91 for one year, ItIS for nine
months, and 96 for a hundred days.
The money expended for the war, exclusive of
state aid, was $51,.jS4.11 ; the amount repaid by
the state was S45,:)(!S. 15.
There were seventeen natives of M;irlborough
in the navy; seventy others were credited to the
town. July 14, 1863, two hundred and thirty-
nine were drafted ;
part of tliesc went into the ser-
vice and are not included in the eidislnient record;
some furnished substitutes, wliile others paid com-
mutation money; and some wert' disciiarged for
disability.
'I'lir r.dldwiiiu' are the n:\mcs of those wlio fell