THE CrVIL WAR. 



485 



In response to the call of President Lincoln thousands 

 throughout the State offered themselves in the month of 

 April, 1 86 1. Our own town held several public meetings 

 to discuss the burning topic of the war and to kindle 

 patriotism that might lead to enlistments. The recruiting 

 officer in our town hall, after a mass meeting which many 

 citizens still hold fresh in memory, received the voluntary 

 enlistments of all who would sign their names. 



Common, from tttf. North End, about 1840. 



The first one to step forward to take the pen was 

 William F. Thayer, forty-four years of age, with a family 

 of sons and daughters, the oldest just coming to maturity. 

 He was able to go, and he hated slavery and he was not 

 afraid to fight. Another was J. Foster Doane, twenty-five 

 years of age, a grandson of Elisha Doane. A third was 

 Oliver E. Simpson, of twenty-four years. These men 

 could not be taken for the first call of April 16, so they 

 and two others, making five, were enlisted for a three 



