Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/612

 500 THE HISTORY OF BARRINGTON. ance as needed to bleeding hearts and stricken lives at the home circles, whose light had gone out forever. Mr. Henry Staples was a most valuable aid to the town during the civil War, by his experience in the Providence Militia, holding as he did a commission as Colonel of the First Light Infantry of Providence. He offered his services as volunteer in the army, but was declined, when he applied to Governor Sprague and obtained muskets and accoutre- ments for the use of the Harrington militia in individual and company drill in the town, in preparation for active service in the field. This company, at one time a hundred strong, met for drill in the hall at Nayatt, under Mr. Staples's instruction, twice a week duirng a large portion of the recruiting period of the war. This practise in the manual of arms and in company exercise was of great value to the men who went into service, as it gave them the skill and confidence of veterans when they enlisted, as many of them afterwards did for real war experience. The spirit of our townspeople and their constant loyalty to the government may be evidenced not only by the ser- vices of the boys who went to the front, but by the town legislation, some of which is quoted in this connection. Town Meeting, May 25, 1861. At this meeting it was voted to appropriate two hundred dollars for the assistance of a military company then being formed, and also to grant a bounty of thirty dollars to each man who enlisted in the service of the United States. The part of their act granting a bounty -was repealed April 2, 1862, after $450 had been paid for bounties. July 12, 1862. The following resolutions were passed: " Resolved, that any resident of this town who may volunteer in the service of the army of the United States for three years, or during the War, in any Regiment from this State now called for or hereafter to be called for by the Governor of this State shall receive a bounty of Thirty Dollars from