Hatfield Historical Museum Civil War Collection

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108 men from the town of Hatfield, MA, enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War -- about 8 percent of the town's population. They were farmers, laborers, and tradesmen. They were fathers, husbands, and sons -- some just 17 or 18 years old. In 1861 and '62, Hatfield men volunteered to become soldiers to meet town quotas set by President Lincoln. But, by the summer of 1863, with no end of the war in sight, a draft was made, and local men were required to fight -- unless they could find a substitute. By war's end, 24 of them had lost their lives: 14 were killed or mortally wounded in battle, 8 died of disease, and 2 died as prisoners of war.