Maine Memory Network
Maine's Online Museum

Title: Civil War bounty receipt, Houlton, 1864

Contributed by: Cary Library

Date: 1864-05-04

Location: Houlton

Media: Ink on paper

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Title: List of Veterans who were paid a bounty by the town of Sebago, 1868

Contributed by: Sebago Historical Society

Date: 1868-08-25

Location: Sebago

Media: Ink on paper

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Title: Samuel Spencer claims bounty for Wheat

Contributed by: Baldwin Historical Society

Date: 1838-12-13

Location: Baldwin

Media: Ink & paper

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Bounties and the Need for Soldiers

The continuing need for large numbers of soldiers during the Civil War led the U.S. government to institute a draft and pay bounties for soldiers to enlist and for substitutes. Towns and states had quotas for enlistments.

Home Ties: Sebago During the Civil War

Letters to and from Sebago soldiers who served in the Civil War show concern on both sides about farms and other issues at home as well as concern from the home front about soldiers' well-being.

16th Maine Infantry

Formed in the summer of 1862 for three years of service, the 16th Maine Infantry Regiment had a number of officers with previous experience as well as many eager recruits. Some joined just to be part of the war effort and others were drawn by the bounties offered for service.

Surry by the Bay

The Downeast community's history as presented by a broad-based team of representatives from Surry Elementary School and Surry Historical Society. Topics covered include the Surry Opera House and Surry Playhouse, the Surry Village School and education over time in the community, sawmills, and early property owner Phebe Fowler. Students scanned and transcribed a large number of the items digitized for the project.