Poughkeepsie Soldiers 1865

[collin]

Hello
        The Poughkeepsie Town Clerks Records  have a  Record of Soldiers & Officers  In the military Service.  There is a section  Bounty Paid By Town  and it says $150 in each  even the ones listed as deserted.   Does this mean that every man received $150 from the town at the end of the war?
Thank you

[ShaunJ]

The bounty was paid to the individual on enlistment.  It was an enticement to volunteer, to avoid the need to conscript. There were many "bounty jumpers" who took the money and then deserted.

[collin]

Thank you I guess that makes sense as a deserter would not return to be paid out. It's just that the record was created 1865-67.  I think our lad had joined the 5th infantry at Boston in 1856 and deserted six months later but there was probably no bounty that time.
Many thanks