and the order came down to recapture it if possible. It was a fearful task; and as we stood drawn up, awaiting the word to move forward at the double-quick, we felt instinctively that many of us would stay around the spot where the lost gun was. It scarcely seemed worth the price we were about to pay, and "Roe" seemed to be more thoroughly impressed with this idea than any one else. Suddenly an idea entered his mind; stepping out of the ranks, he stuttered, wildly, as he always did when excited "I

say, kick-kick-captain, 1-1-1-let us gig-gig-get up a s-s-s-s-subscrip. tion and pip-pip-pay for the cussed old gun."

Long before the middle of 1862, it had become apparent to both government and people, that the war would assume enormous proportions, and that preparations for the defence of the country, on a far larger scale than had heretofore been supposed necessary, would become imperative. The President made repeated calls for additional troops, and the "note of preparation," on a grander scale, was sounded throughout the land. Bounties for enlistments began to be offered by towns, and other communities, and the Legislature made ample provision for the families of the soldiers, who were serving in the Union armies. Each little town and hamlet seemed as if actuated by one impulse, and steadily the preparations went on.

On the 24th of July, 1862, Woodbury, in legal town meeting, first took action in the way of granting bounties to the patriot volunteers, when the following votes were passed without dissent;

"Voted, That pursuant to a statute law of this State, the town of Woodbury will pay to each new recruit from said town, who shall enlist with our recruiting officers, the sum of one hundred dollars, as soon as he shall be mustered into the military service of the United States as a private soldier in the ranks of any Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers.”

"Voted, That the Treasurer of the town of Woodbury be authorized to borrow, from time to time, such sums of money as shall be necessary to pay the soldiers who shall be recruited from this town, to an amount not exceeding, in the whole, the sum of Three Thousand dollars, and that he be authorized to give a town note or notes for the sums so borrowed, at the legal rate of interest."

"Voted, That it shall be the duty of the town Treasurer to pay said soldiers, so enlisted, said bounty, upon their being mustered into the service of the United States, and that he shall keep a true record of all soldiers so paid by him, that the number receiving said bounty may apply on our quota of tro ops for the service under the last call of the President of the United States."

"Voted, That the said Town Bounty shall be paid only to the volunteer, or to his order, and shall not be paid on any factorizing or other legal process.'

"Voted, That a committee of five be appointed by this meeting to acquire and keep intelligence of the location of all the soldiers that have gone or may go to the war from this town, learn their wants, and solicit such aid, from time to time, of our citizens, as shall be necessary."

The following named gentlemen were appointed said Committee, viz:-William Cothren, Philo M. Trowbridge, Calvin H. Downs, George Saxton and William A. Gordon.

On the 12th of August, 1862, the following votes were in like manner, passed in legal town meeting;

"Voted, That whereas the late appropriation of this town for the encouragement of enlistments into the United States service has proved inadequate to pay the volunteers which have been found necessary to fill our town quota on the President's several calls, not including the last call for nine month's militia men; pursuant to a statute law of this State, the town of Woodbury will pay to each new recruit from said town, or who shall enroll himself on the quota of said town, both on the deficit in our former quotas, and in our quota of the three hundred thousand nine months men last called for, the sum of one hundred dollars, as soon as he shall be mustered into the military service of the United States, as a private soldier in the ranks of any regiment of Connecticut volunteers."

"Voted, That an additional bounty of ten dollars shall be paid to each such recruit, to make him equal with the first thirty re

cruits from this State, who are to receive said sum as a bounty from Charles G. Judson, Esq., of New York."

"Voted, That the thanks of this town be returned to Charles G. Judson, Esq., of New York, for his very handsome gift of three hundred dollars to encourage enlistments in his native town, and that the Town Clerk be instructed to forward a certified copy of this vote to him, at New York."

"Voted That the Treasurer of the town of Woodbury be authorized to borrow, from time to time, such sums of money as shall be necessary to pay the soldiers who shall be recruited to fill the quota from this town, to an amount in the whole not exceeding the sum of Five Thousand dollars, in addition to the former appropriation of Three Thousand dollars, and also be authorized to give a town note or notes for the same."

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Voted, That it shall be the duty of the Treasurer to pay said soldiers said two bounties on their being mustered into the service of the United States; and he shall keep a true record of all soldiers so paid by him, that the number so paid may apply upon our several quotas for the service."

Voted, That the Town Bounties shall be paid only to the volunteer, or to his order, and shall not be paid on any factorizing, or other legal process, it being intended to put the town bounty on the same footing as the State bounty."

"Voted, That the committee appointed at the last special town meeting, be authorized and requested, in addition to their other duties, to learn from time to time the condition of the families of our volunteers, and relieve their wants by subscription, as shall to them seem necessary."

Voted, That the Treasurer of the town pay the Recruiting officer, or his assistant, the sum of three dollars for each recruit, to meet the expenses of transportation and recruiting men for our quota."

Previous to the 10th of September, 1862, a draft had been ordered, but volunteering had been so active, under the vigorous action of the recruiting committee, and the earnest patriotism of the citizens, that on that date, but five recruits were lacking to fill the town's quota on all the calls to that time. Two more volunteered in that meeting, so that it became necessary to draft only three, and the town voted to pay them, on the spot, a bounty sufficient, with the State bounty, to make the whole sum three hundred dollars, as will be seen by the following votes:

"Voted, That whereas on the 10th day of September, A. D. 1862, there remained five vacancies, necessary to be filled to fill all the quotas of Woodbury under all the calls of the President of the United States for military service to that date, and whereas the said town of Woodbury desires to be generous with its soldiers, and whereas, at a large meeting of the inactive militia of said town, on said 10th day of September, 1862, it was immediately recommended that the said town of Woodbury pay the sum of one hundred and sixty-seven 50-100 dollars bounty, in addition to the present bounty of one hundred and ten dollars, to every volunteer, and drafted men, who volunteered or was drafted on said 10th day of September, 1862, or who shall hereafter volunteer or be drafted, or become a substitute for any drafted man, to count on all the quotas yet ordered by the Governor or President of the United States, up to said 10th day of September, 1862, till said quotas are full, after all requisitions are made up, making, with State bounty for nine months, the sum of three hundred dollars to each man who volunteers, or is drafted, sufficient to fill our quota to said date. And this bounty is given under the consideration, that it shall be paid only to the soldier himself, or to his order, and shall not be paid or given on any factorizing or other legal process whatsoever, the intent of this vote, like the preceding bounty votes of this town being, to present the town gift to the soldier himself, or to whom he shall direct, and to no other person-placing the town bounty on the same footing as the State bounties by statute are placed-said bounty to be paid as soon as the said men shall be mustered into the service of the United States, and that the drafted men and substitutes be paid three hundred dollars, instead of the sum herein named.”

"Voted, That the Treasurer of the town of Woodbury be authorized to borrow an amount of money sufficient to pay the bounties under this, the last vote.

At the annual town meeting on the first Monday in October, the action of the special meeting held in September was ratified, with additions, as will be seen by the following action :

Voted, That it shall be the duty of the Treasurer of this town to pay the volunteers who have enlisted for nine months, under the last call of the President of the United States for 300,000 men, and who have been, or shall hereafter be credited to this

town's quota of seventy-four men, the sum of one hundred and ten dollars; when they shall have been mustered into the service of the United States, as private soldiers."

"Voted, That an additional bounty of one hundred sixty-seven 50-100 dollars be paid by the Treasurer to Elisha Tuttle, who enlisted on the 10th day of September, 1862, when the aforesaid bounty of one hundred and ten dollars shall be due him, on being mustered into the United States service."

"Voted, That the Treasurer be directed to pay the men who were drafted in this town for nine months on the 10th day of September, 1862, or to their substitutes, the sum of three hundred dollars each, when they shall have been mustered into the service of the United States."

"Voted, That the above named bounties be paid only to the volunteers, or drafted men, or to their order, and not on any factorizing or other legal process, putting this gift on the same footings as the State and United States bounties."

Voted, That the Treasurer of Woodbury be authorized to borrow, from time to time, such sums of money as shall be necessary to pay the aforesaid bounties, and to give a town note or notes therefor, at the legal rate of interest."

"Voted, That the record of the last vote, previous to adjournment, passed at a legal town meeting, Aug. 12th, 1862, be altered and amended by the Town Clerk, by the insertion of the word 'hereafter,' in the 4th line after the word 'recruit.'"

The various bounty votes were right in themselves, and were beneficial in their effects. It was right that those who remained at home should contribute of their substance to assist those who were going to the front. To say nothing of the hazards of the service, they were doing more, in a pecuniary point of view even, than their neighbors at home. For there was scarcely an enlisted man who was not earning more money at home than the small wages paid by the government. So that a good share of praise should be awarded to every faithful volunteer, above any consideration that could be reckoned to the credit of the bounty, however large, for the patriotic conduct of leaving family and home, and daring the chances of perilous war.

But the volunteers of 1861 did not much relish the fact, that the new volunteers were receiving liberal bounties, and praise on every hand. The subjoined letter from Lieut. Henry W. Loomis,