State bounty payments to Massachusetts Civil War volunteers were first systematized by St 1863, c 254 (Nov. 18, 1863), which authorized the governor to appoint bounty paymasters in the various regions of the war theater; these paymasters worked in a loose relationship with the governor and the treasurer. On Dec. 28, 1864, General Order 51 established the position of Paymaster General, to which James F. B. Marshall was appointed. The paymaster general was attached to the staff of the commander-in-chief of the Commonwealth (i.e., the governor), and oversaw the operation of the Pay Bureau, consisting of the regional paymasters appointed pursuant to St 1863, c 254. On Dec. 31, 1867, General Order 4 discontinued the office of Paymaster General, but retained paymaster William H. Porter to prepare an index of records. The Bureau of the Paymaster was closed in Feb. 1868, with all cash balances and unpaid bounty rolls and accounts transferred to the state treasurer.
From the description of General letterbooks, 1864-1868. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78680693
