XII. Abstract of town reports on the behavior of returned soldiers.
At the close of the war the happy thought occurred to Adjutant-General Schouler of addressing a circular to city and town officers, inquiring as to the conduct of the returned soldiers, some of whom, it must be remembered, had then been at home for several years. This circular was as follows:—Answers to this letter were received from 324 towns, being all but eleven of those addressed. Of these answers 113 were to the effect that the returned soldiers showed social and moral improvement; while 8 testified to the contrary, although in very various degrees and sometimes on trivial points. All these replies, or the essential portions of them, are printed as follows. From the remaining towns replying, there was only the statement that no change was visible, for good or evil, in the returned men. These replies are not here printed. It is to be noticed that the Adjutant-General indicated in advance his own opinion, when writing his letter, and that this might have had an influence on some answers. Yet those who know the spirit of local independence generally prevailing in Massachusetts towns will not attach very much of weight to this consideration; and in many cases the officials go so much into detail as to leave no doubt of the sincerity of their verdicts.
