War Record

Gallatin,

Columbia County,

New York.

By Capt. Franklin Ellis²⁶⁴

1878

    The town of Gallatin was fully awake to the importance of the questions of principle and policy involved in the war waged for the suppression of the Rebellion, and contributed liberally of its means, and promptly furnished its full quota of troops, in order that the integrity of the nation should be maintained, and the union of the States remain unbroken.  Through the first three years of the war, no action by the town itself was had, the efforts being put forth by individuals; but in 1864 it became evident that the town, as an integer of the government, must take a part, and a call  was issued, signed by nineteen prominent men of the town, for a special town-meeting.   The meeting assembled at the house of J. Van Benschoten, on the 16th of July, 1864, and elected Milton Smith chairman and J. H. Duntz clerk.  It was decided to pay a bounty of not more than $500 fo reach volunteer to fill the quota, and Jacob H. Duntz, Isaac Smith, and Adam Piester were appointed as a war committee to procure the volunteers and disburse the money.

     Another meeting was held Aug. 20, 1864 at which Henry Younghanse presided, and John H. Marks was clerk, and it was then voted that if a draft was made every man drafted and held to serve should be entitled to the same bounty as volunteers.  It was also resolved that any one willing to pay the extra sum necessary above the town bounty should be entitled to a substitute from the volunteers already enlisted; and that the supervisor should be authorized to borrow money on the credit of the town to the extent necessary to carry into effect the resolutions already adopted, such money to be repaid by taxes levied on the town in four annual installments, the first to be levied at the September meeting of the board of supervisors.

     In pursuance of the resolutions previously adopted, the committee proceeded to act, and rendered their report to the town board, Oct. 8, 1864, as follows:

Paid for 1 one year volunteer. . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . $ 550

Paid for 9 one year volunteer @ $500. . . . . . . . . . . . $4500

Paid for 5 three year volunteers @ $500 . . . . . . . . . . $2500

Paid for 2 one year volunteers @ $725. . . . . . . . . . . $1450

Paid for 5 two year volunteers @ $725. . . . . . . . . . . $3625

Paid for 6 three year volunteers @ $725. . . . . . . . . . $4350 $16,975.00

Pad to Isaac Smith and Jacob H. Duntz, for

     services and expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .400.00

Paid to town officers for expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    28.50

                                                  _________

              Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$17,403.50

     Of this amount $7246.34 had been raised by tax, and the balance, with interest to October 1, amounting to $10,357.16, was secured by bonds of the town ranging in amount from $157.16 to $1200 each.  $3000 of this amount was payable in one year and five months, $2957.16 in two years and five months, and $4400 in three years and five months.

     A third meeting, held Jan. 13, 1865, passed the following rather remarkable resolution, viz.: "That every person named on the corrected enrolment of the town of Gallatin, subject to the present draft, by paying the sum of ($15)fifteen dollars on or before the first day of February next shall be entitled to the bounty raised by the said town."

     At a subsequent meeting, held at William H. Snyder's, Feb. 4, 1865, this resolution was rescinded, and it was voted that the amount borrowed by the supervisor should be levied in a tax and collected Feb. 20, 1865, at five per cent.  It also authorized a further issue of bonds, and $2400 were accordingly issued.

     The fifth and last special meeting was held at the house of John H. Moore, on the 24th of February.  Andrew Burger presided, and William H. Snyder was clerk.  A motion to issue bonds for the remaining indebtedness of the town was voted down, and a resolution to lay a direct tax to pay it was carried by a large majority.