Tag Archives: bounties

benefit increase

Reportedly, 150 years ago the United States Congress decided Uncle Sam was going to be more generous with war widows and disabled veterans. From a Seneca County, New York Newspaper in August 1866: EXTRA BOUNTY AND PENSIONS.- Attention is called … Continue reading

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poor conscription

After four years of war it was hard to scrounge up enough new recruits to satisfy the Union government’s draft quotas. The Seneca Falls supervisor was recruiting in New York City. Men were available, but there wasn’t enough money to … Continue reading

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draft dilemmas

150 years ago this month another Union draft was rapidly approaching, but a local town still didn’t know what its quota would be. The town supervisor was down in New York City headhunting for recruits to fill his town’s requirements. … Continue reading

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praying for spring?

Elmira, New York, as a prison for captured rebels and as a recruiting and mustering in place for new Union soldiers, was in the news 150 years ago this month. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 18, 1865: Religion in … Continue reading

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“service years” quota

150 years ago this month a newspaper up in Wayne County, New York complained about how it understood the federal government was implementing President Lincoln’s December 1864 call for 300,000 more soldiers. The new quotas would be based on the … Continue reading

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don’t jump

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in January 1865: Heading off the Bounty Jumpers. The Elmira Advertiser says Maj. J. Ladd, Paymaster U.S. Army, has been stationed at Elmira, for the purpose of taking charge of the money received … Continue reading

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give greenbacks a chance

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1864: The Draft Postponed. The action of Congress continuing the government bounties until the 1st of April, is received by the Secretary of War as an intimation from that body not to … Continue reading

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“counties bounties”, &c.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in February 1864: What it Costs New York to Raise Men for the Army. From the report of LOCKWOOD L.DOTY, Chief of Military Statistics, recently sent into the Assembly, may be obtained some … Continue reading

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Bonds, Town Bonds

Men in Seneca Falls, New York might have been voting mostly Democratic in the early 1860’s, but citizens apparently didn’t mind issuing bonds to help pay bounties to encourage recruits for the military. People still wanted to save the Union … Continue reading

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“Pie women and Apple boys”

Those magnetic greenbacks. The New York First Veteran Cavalry left the state without being paid the state bounty. As SENECA reported, that act of faith was rewarded 150 years ago today. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1863: … Continue reading

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