William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 2

The amount of money raised and expended by all the towns in the county on account of the war, exclusive of State aid to soldiers' families, was $372,068.52. The amount of money raised and expended during the years of the war for State aid to the soldiers' families, and which was afterwards repaid to them by the Commonwealth, was $155,457.38, making the aggregate $527,526.90.

The following is the war record of each town in the county:—

Ashfield

The selectmen in 1861 were Josephus Crafts, A. Howes, Lorenzo Wait; in 1862, Josephus Crafts, Moses Cook, Darius Williams; in 1863, Josephus Crafts, Nathan Knowlton, A. Howes; in 1864, Nathan Knowlton, A. Howes, Josiah Cross; in 1865, Alvan Hall, Frederick C. Howes, Josiah Cross.

The town-clerk during all the years of the war was Henry S. Ranney. The town-treasurer in 1861 was George G. Hall; in 1862, 1863, 1864, and 1865, Nelson Gardner.

1861. The first legal town-meeting, to act upon matters relating to the war, was held on the 6th of May, at which it was voted to pay all inhabitants of Ashfield who have enlisted, or who shall thereafter enlist, to the number of fifteen, twenty-six dollars a month while in the military service. November 29th, The selectmen were directed to pay State aid to the families of volunteers, as provided by law.

1862. August 2d, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars to each volunteer who shall enlist for three years service before the 10th of the month, one hundred and twenty-five dollars to each who shall enlist between the 10th and the 20th, and one hundred to each who shall enlist between the 20th and the 30th of the month, to the number of eighteen, when mustered in and credited to the quota of the town. August 15th, The bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars was continued until the 20th of the month. September 9th, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to volunteers for nine months service. October 15th, The selectmen