Editing Dartmouth, Massachusetts (section)

==== 1861 ====
The first town meeting in Dartmouth related to the Civil War was held on May 16, 1861, and contained a preamble about the towns stance on the war.<ref name=":2" />

{{Blockquote|text=The Government of the United States is now in a struggle for National existence, popular Liberty, the perpetuity of the Constitution, and the Supremacy of the Laws against the Myrmidous of Slavery and enimies [sic.] of popular Liberty, Therefore resolved that as patriots and friends of the Constitution the National Government and our righted institutions, we the people of Darmouth in Town Meeting assembled do recognize the full extent of the perilous position of our once happy but now beligerent [sic.] and distrac [sic.] country and also, the duty whiche [sic.] we owe to that Constitution and Flag under which we have lived in happiness and prosperity for more than Eighty Years And that we proffer unreservedly and with cheerfulness our aid and cooperation in defence of our liberties and National Flag.|title=Dartmouth Town Meeting Notes}}

At the onset of the Civil War, the first troops to be sent to [[Washington, D.C.]] in Massachusetts were called by telegram on April 15, 1861, by [[Henry Wilson|Senator Henry Wilson]]. The Dartmouth men enlisted in the first call to arms were enlisted in the 18th, 33rd, 38th, and 40th [[regiment]]s.