History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 24

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 700

USA > Massachusetts > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I > Part 24

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

" The rebels had accomplished all they intended, and more, but success had erazed them. The rank and file were elam- orous for a fight, and Shays sent a message to Gen. Shepard demanding a surrender of the court-house. Gen. Shepard did not deem the possession of the court-house worth fighting for, the court having adjourned, and moved his forces to the Federal arsenal, where there was valuable property that re- quired protection. The insurgents, finding no satisfaction in standing guard over an empty building, and not yet being ready to make war against the Federal authority, soon dispersed."

On the 27th day of September the Legislature assembled, according to the proclamation, and the Governor, in an able speech from the chair, presented to the members the alarming state of affairs. The Senate appeared to be decided in their opinion that stringent measures were necessary to be taken, but the lower house, more or less in sympathy with the objeets, if not with the acts, of the insurgents, wavered, and favored conciliation.

Various disturbances occurred in different parts of the State, and the military was called out to protect the courts. Upon hearing this, Shays issued the following order to the insurgents :

" PELHAM, Oct. 23, 1786.

" GENTLEMEN,-By information from the General Court, they are determined to call all those who appeared to stop the court to condign punishment. There- fore I request you to assemble your men togetber, to see that they are well armed and equipped with sixty rounds each man, and to be ready to turn out at n minute's warning ; likewise to be properly organized with officers. " DANIEL SHAYS."

Further disturbances occurred in various parts of the State, and again, early in December, the insurgents were preparing to renew their opposition to the laws in the county of Hamp- shire, as the following address issued at the time will show :

" AN ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE SEVERAL TOWNS IN THE COUNTY OF HAMP- SHIRE, NOW AT ARMS.

" GENTLEMEN,-We have thought proper to inform you of some of the principal t'auses of the late risings of the people, and also of their present movements, viz. : " Ist. The present expensive mode of collecting debts, which, by reason of the

great scarcity of cash, will of necessity fill our gauls with unhappy debtors, and thereby a reputable hody of people rendered incapable of being serviceable either to themselves or the community.

" 21. The moneys raised by impost and excise being appropriated to discharge the interest of governmental securities, nud not the foreign debt, when theso securities are not subject to taxation.

"31. A suspension of the writ of Habeas Corpus, by which those persons who have stepped forth to assert and maintain the rights of the people are liable to be taken and conveyed even to the most distant part of the commonwealth, and thereby subjected to an unjust punishment.

"4th. The unlimited power granted to Justices of the Peace and Sheriffs, Deputy Sheriffs and Constables, by the Riot Act, indemnifying them to the prose- cution thereof, when, perhaps, wholly actuated from a principle of revenge, hatred, and envy.

"Furthermore, Be assured that this body, now nt arms, despise the idea of being instigated by British emissaries, which is so strenuously propagated by the enemirs of our liberties, and also wish the most proper and speedy measures may be taken to discharge both our foreign and domestic delt.

" Per Order,

" DANIEL GRAY, " Chairman of the Committee for the abore purpose."

At the same time another publication appeared in the Hamp- shire Herald, published in Springfield, of similar tenor :

" To the Printer of the Hampshire Herall :

"SIR,-It has somehow or other fallen to my lot to be employed in a more con- spienous manner than some others of my fellow-citizens in stepping forth in defence of the rights and privileges of the people, more especially of the county of Hampshire.

"Therefore, upon the desire of the people now at arms, I take this method to publish to the world of mankind in general, particularly the people of this com- monwealth, some of the principal grievances we complain of, and of which we are now steking redress, and mean to contend for until a redress can be ol tained, which we hope will soon take place ; aml if so, our brethren in this com- monwealth, that do not see with us as yet, shall find we shall be as peaceable as they be.

" In the first place, I must refer you to a draught of grievances drawn up by a committee of the people now at arms, under the signature of Daniel Gray, chair- man, which is heartily approved of; some other also nre here added, viz. :

" Ist. The General Court, for certain obvious reasons, must be removed out of the town of Boston.

"2nd. A revision of the constitution is absolutely nessessary.

"3rd. All kinds of governmental securities, now on interest, that have been bought of the original owners for two shillings, three shillings, four shillings, and the highest for six shillings and eight pence on the pound, nud have received more interest than the principal cost of the speenlator who purchased them, that if justice was done, we verily believe, nay, positively know, it would save this commonwealth thousands of pounds.

"4th. Let the lands belonging to this commonwealth, at the eastward, be sold at the best aulvantage, to pay the remainder of our domestick debt.

"5th. Let the monies arising from impost and excise be appropriated to dis- charge the foreign delt.

"6th. Let that act passed by the General Court last June, hy a small majority of only seven, called the Supplementarey Aid, for twenty-five years to come be repealed.

"7th. The total abolition of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace.

"8th. Deputy Sheriffs totally set aside, as a useless set of officers in the cotu- munity, and Constables, who are really nessessary, be empowered to do the duty, by which means a large swarm of lawyers will be banished from their wonted hannts, who have been more damage to the people at large, especially the com- mon farmers, than the savage beasts of prey.

"To this I boldly sign my proper name, as n hearty well-wisher to the rights of the people.

" THOMAS GROVER.

" WORCESTER, Dec. 7, 1786."

At length, on the 26th day of December, Shays, at the head of an armed mob of three hundred men, marched into the court-house at Springfield, and forcibly prevented the sitting of the court appointed to he held there.

A letter from Springfield to the Boston Chronicle, under date of the 27th of December, gives an account of this outrage, committed there the day before :

" There is a stagnation of almost every kind of Imsiness among us by reason of the tumults which are so prevalent here. Yesterday we had another visit from the mobility : about 350 men marched in hostile array, with drums beating, and took possession of the court-house, commanded by Shays, Day, and Grover, in order to prevent the sitting of the Court of Common Pleas, which by law was to have been held here nt that time. This they effected, as there was no opposi- tion on the part of the goverment. It was not possible for the court (as they were surrounded by an armed force and a guard placed nt the door of the room in which the judges were met) to proceed to do business. They therefore in- formed a committee who were chosen by the insurgents to wait on them that they would not attempt to open the court. After which, about dark, the insur- gents left the town."

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

IX.

THE ATTACK ON THE ARSENAL AT SPRINGFIELD.

This and other outrages incited the Governor and his coun- cil, in the absence of the Legislature, to adopt the most ener- getic measures for the restoration of order and the suppression of the rebellion, now continuing so formidable.

Says Mr. William L. Smith : " The Governor and the mem- bers of the Executive Council were capable and resolute men, and were faithful to their great trusts, but they were power- less. They did not have at their command the means of sus- taining even a single regiment in the field. The emergency was finally met by some of the capitalists and business-men of Boston, who realized the danger to which their interests would be exposed by a revolution, and eame forward with an offer of a loan to the State, trusting to future legislation for their reim- bursement. Their offer was accepted, and there was at onee a change in the condition of affairs. There was a new and wholesome activity in the executive departments. Orders were issued for the raising and equipment of four thousand five hundred men, a considerable army in that day. Public senti- ment at once exhibited a more healthy tone. The wavering and doubting began to get off the fence and range themselves on the side that had troops and money, and the lukewarm and more thoughtful among the insurgents began to think of their allegiance. Shays and his council had heen in deliberation over two distinct plans of operation. The more reckless of the leaders advised an attack upon Boston, for the purpose of releasing two of their number who had been arrested and were held in jail. Others advised that the attack on Boston be delayed until after the seizure of the Continental arsenal at Springfield, with its store of war material ; and this last plan was the one adopted.

" The Hampshire County quota of twelve hundred men were ordered to assemble at Springfield, and Gen. Shepard was placed in command. The Eastern militia were to meet at Roxbury, whenee they were to march to Worcester, and there be joined with the force raised in Woreester County. The chief command was given to Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, an ae- complished officer of the Revolutionary war. Gov. Bowdoin's orders to Gen. Lincoln required him to protect the Court of Common Pleas at the January term at Worcester, and left his further movements against the insurgents to his own dis- cretion."

The orders of the Governor to Gen. Lincoln were as follows : " BOSTON, Jany 19, 1787.

" SIR,-You will take command of The Militia detached in ubedience to my orders of the 4th instant. The great objects to be effected are to protect the Ju- dicial Courts, particularly those next to be holden in the County of Worcester, if the justices of the said courts should request your aid; to assist the civil magis- trates in executing the laws, and in repelling or apprehending all and every such person and persons as shall, in a hostile manner, attempt or enterprise the de- struction, detriment, or annoyance of this Commonwealth ; and also to aid them in apprehending the disturbers of the public peace, as well as all such persons as may be named in the State warrants, that have been, or shall be, committed to any civil officer or officers, or to any other person, to execute.

" If, to these important ends, the militia already ordered out should, in your opinion, he incompetent, you will call on the Major-Generals for further and ef- fectnal aid; And, if you can rely on their attachment to goverment, you will, in the first instance, call on the militia in the neighborhood of your camp. I cannot minutely point out to you the particular line you shall pursne in execu- ting these orders: But would observe in general, that if, to answer the aforesaid falnable purposes, you should judge it necessary to march a respectable force through the western counties, you will in that case do it. This would give con- fidence to the well affected; would aid and protect the civil officers in executing their duty, & would convince the misguided of the abilities of government, and its determination to pursue every legal and constitutional measure for restoring peace and order to the Commonwealth.

" You are to consider yourself, in all your military offensive operations, con- stantly as under the direction of the civil officers, saving when any armed force appears, and oppose your marching to execute these orders.

" That I may be fully acquainted with all the proceedings of the armed force under your command, and with all matters that respect the great objects to la effected, you will give me regular information by every prist. And for inter- mediate and nessessary intelligence you will order the Quartermaster-Gien'l to provid the nessessary expresses.

"On these attempts to restore system and order, I wish the smiles of heaven, and that you may have an agreeable command, the most perfect success, and a speedy and safe return, and am with munch esteem,

" Sir, your most obedient servant,

" JAMES BOWDOIN.

" HON. MAJOR-GENERAL LINCOLN."

We again quote from Mr. Smith :

" Gen. Shepard again anticipated the movements of Shays. Acting under the authority of the secretary of war, he took possession of the arsenal. Gen. Lincoln reached Worcester on the 22d of January, after a three days' march from Rox- bury through the deep snow of midwinter. The court was opened, and proceeded with the business of the term. Order was restored at Worcester, and substantially at all points in the State east of that place. The insurgents were concentrat- ing their strength in the western counties, and it was under- stood on all hands that the issue was to be tried and deter- mined at Springfield.

" The positions of the several armed forces on the evening of January 24 were as follows: Gen. Shepard was posted at the arsenal with about one thousand men. Shays had just reached Wilbraham on his march from Rutland. A part of Lincoln's command was less than two days' march in the rear of Shays. Luke Day, an insurgent leader, was at West Springfield with about four hundred men and boys, well armed and well drilled. There was a good iec-bridge at the time, so that he was within easy reach of the arsenal. Eli Par- sons, a Berkshire leader, was in the north parish of Springfield (now Chicopee) with about four hundred men. The total insurgent force was about double that of Gen. Shepard.

" The inhabitants of Springfield, except such as were within the immediate protection of Gen. Shepard, were kept in con- stant alarm. Respectable citizens were seized in their own houses and taken to Day's camp in West Springfield, where they were kept under guard as hostages and for purposes of retaliation. Men were not sure whether their near neighbors were friends or focs, and unprotected homes were exposed to outrage and plunder. Upon the receipt of the news that Shays had reached Wilbraham, most of the women and chil- dren who had means of conveyance fled from the town, the greater part of them going to Longmeadow.

"On his arrival at Wilbraham, Shays sent a message to Day informing him that he intended to attack the arsenal on the 25th. Day replied by letter that he could not move on that day, but would join in the attack on the 26th. Day's messenger was arrested, and his letter, instead of going to Shays, went to Gen. Shepard. On the 25th, Shays moved upon Springfield, expecting, of course, the co-operation of Day and Parsons. Even if he had received Day's letter, he could not have delayed his attack. His only chance of success was in seizing the arsenal before Gen. Lincoln could come up.

" At that time none of the buildings now standing on the arsenal grounds had been erected. There were two wooden buildings, built for barraeks and for storage, on the brow of the hill looking to the north, on or near the site of the present storehouse. There was a private dwelling-house on the site of the present middle arsenal (opposite the Olivet Church). It was to this house that the dead and wounded insurgents were carried. East of that point there were no buildings except the powder-magazine, that stood in a then remote spot in the woods. Magazine Street has since been located over its site. The present main Armory square was the publie training- field. There were not then any gun-shops on the arsenal grounds. If there was one in the town at the time, it was in Ferry Lane, where government gun-work was originally done in Springfield.

" When Shays left Wilbraham, on the morning of the 25th, Asaph King, a deputy-sheriff, started on horseback to give information to Gen. Shepard. Ile was obliged to avoid the highways, and made his way across the fields, through snow- drifts and over fences, and is said to have accomplished the

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

distance in forty-five minutes. This was the first exact infor- mation received by Gen. Shepard of the approach of Shays, and he proceeded to make ready for his fitting reception. ITis men were stationed near the barracks, and his cannon were planted on the brow of the hill commanding the approach by the Boston road. A part of his force was posted in Main Street, at the point now crossed by the Boston and Albany Railroad, for the purpose of holding Day in cheek in case he should attempt to come to the aid of Shays. A considerable mob collected at that point, but did not attempt an attack upon the militia.

" It was toward the close of the short winter day that the insurgents were seen from the arsenal making their toilsome march through the snow on the Boston road. They were in the best of spirits. Every attempt they had hitherto made had succeeded, but it was not an unprotected court-house they were now intending to occupy. Some of them were to be dead within the next few minutes. Shays was entirely confident. Some of his old army comrades went out to meet him, and advised him to keep out of the range of Gen. Shepard's guns and abandon his treason. He received them pleasantly, told them he was sure of success, and was inclined to be jocose. Ile did not know his own men.

" There is a good deal of loose tradition about the affair of the 25th of January, which is entirely omitted here for the reason that it does not seem to be supported by any trustwor- thy contemporary evidence. There was not any battle. The only firing was on the government side, and there was but little of that. Only one shot seems to have been fired in gen- nine earnest, and that was followed by a panie among the in- surgents and a flight. The official report of the firm but kind-hearted Gen. Shepard to the government gives us relia- ble history. It is as follows :

"' SPRINGFIELD, January 26, 1787.

"'SIR,-The unhappy time has come in which we have been obliged to shed blood. Shays, who was at the head of about twelve hundred men, marched yes- terday afternoon about 4 o'clock toward the public buildings, in battle array. He marched his men in an open column hy platoons. I sent several times, hy one of my aids, and two other gentlemen, Capts. Buffington and Woodbridge, to him to know what he was after, or what he wanted. His reply was, He wanted bar- racks; barracks he would have, and stores. The answer was, He must purchase them dear, if he had them. He still proceeded on'his march until he appreached within two hundred and fifty yards of the arsenal. He then made a halt. I im- mediately sent Maj. Lyman, one of my aids, and Capt. Buffington, to inform him not to march his troops any nearer the arsenal on his peril, as I was stationed here by order of your Excellency and the secretary at war, for the defense of the publick property ; in case he did, I should surely fire on him and his men. A Mr. Wheeler, who appeared to be one of Shays' aids, met Mr. Lyman after he had delivered my orders in the most peremptory manner, and made answer, that that was all he wanted. Shays immediately put his troops in motion, and marched on rapidly tear one hundred yards. I then ordered Maj. Stephens, who commanded the artillery, to lire upon them ; he accordingly did. The two first shots he en- deavored to overshoot them, in hope that they would have taken warning with- mut firing among them, but it had no effect on them. Maj. Stephens then di- rected his shot through the centre of his column. The fourth or fifth shot put the whole column into the utmost confusion. Shays made an attempt to display his column, but in vain. We had one hewit, which was loaded with grape- shot, which, when fired, gave them great uneasiness. Had I been disposed to destroy them, I might have charged upon their rear and Hanks with my infantry and the two field-pieres, and could have killed the greater part of his whole army within twenty-five minutes. There was not a single musket fired on either side.

"" I found three men dead on the spot, and one wounded, who is since dend. One of our artillerymen, by inattention, was badly wounded. Three muskets were taken up with the dead, which were all deeply loaded. I enclose to your excellency a copy of a paper sent to me last evening. I have received no rein- forcements yet, and expect to be attacked this day by their whole forre com- bined. I am, sir, with great respect,

"' WILLIAM SHEPARD.

""On the back,-" By Col. Eli Parsons."

"' His Excellency, JAMES BOWDOIN, Esq.'

" The following is a copy of the paper inclosed in the above letter :

"'HEADQUARTERS, WEST SPRINGFIELD, January 25, 1787.

" The body of the people assembled in aring, adhering to the first principles in nature, self-preservation, do, in the most peremptory manner, demund

"'I. That the troops in Springfield lay down their arms.

"$2. That their arms be deposited in the publick stores, under the care of the proper officers, to be returned to the owners at the termination of the present contest.

"'3. That the troops return to their homes upon parole.

"' Your Excellency's most vbedient, humble servant,

" LUKE DAY. "" Captain Commandant of this dirision.

"' To the commanding officer at Springfield, Jan. 25, 1787.' " **

With the affair at the arsenal at Springfield ended every- thing of importance which occurred during this uprising in the valley of the Connecticut.

On the night of the 25th, Shays retreated to "Chapin's Tavern," five miles cast of Springfield. The next day he marched to Chicopee, and joined the force of Parsons, two hundred of his men deserting by the way.

On the 27th, Gen. Lincoln's army, consisting of three regi- ments of infantry, a body of cavalry, and three companies of artillery, entered Springfield. After an hour's rest, Lincoln's infantry and artillery crossed the river to the west side in quest of Day and his party. At the same time Gen. Shepard with his force moved up the east bank, and the cavalry went up the river on the ice to prevent the junction of Day and Shays. The insurgents manifested no further disposition to fight. The pursuit was kept up with vigor until the insur- gents were all dispersed and their leaders captured or driven from the State.

We again quote from Mr. Smith's paper :

" John Hancock, who was the first Governor under the State constitution, was again elected in 1787. It is no un- favorable criticism of the administration that immediately preceded him to say that his election was generally received as a promise of the removal of the prevailing discontent. The armed insurrection had been suppressed, but the work of bringing the people of the State to a cordial and unanimous support of the constitution and laws remained to be performed. The new Governor assumed this difficult undertaking, and ac- complished it. John Hancock did not believe in the religion of hate. Nine of the leading insurgents, who were convicted of treason and sentenced to death, were pardoned, some of them at the foot of the gallows, the only condition being that they should never hold any office, civil or military, within the commonwealth. A large number of persons convicted of seditious offenses were pardoned unconditionally. A member of the Legislature, who was convicted of treasonable practices, was sentenced to stand for an hour on the gallows, with a rope around his neck, and to pay a fine of fifty pounds. This seems to have been the only sentence carried into execution. It would be a good plan, perhaps, to revive this mode of dealing with recreant legislators. Conciliatory measures were adopted by the Legislature. The sullen mutterings of the defeated insurgents gradually subsided. Commerce soon settled com- mercial difficulties in its own way, as it always does it unfet- tered by meddlesome legislation, and a season of prosperity ensued. The rebellion was ended at last in accordance with the grand precepts of the gospel of forgiveness and of peace. And all history tells us that rebellion is never completely conquered in any other way."

The following is a list of the men whose names will go down in history as leaders in this movement : Daniel Shays, Luke Day, Eli Parsons, Perez Hamlin, Elisha Manning, Daniel Dunham, Ebenezer Crittenden, Jacob Fox.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE WAR OF 1812-15-THE WASHINGTON BE- NEVOLENT SOCIETY. I. THE WAR OF 1812-15.

IT is generally well known that the people of New England were, as a rule, opposed to the war with England of 1812-15.

* This paper, read by Mr. William L. Smith, before the Connecticut Valley Historical Society, was published in the Springfield Republican of Oct. 2, 1877.

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

The declaration of hostilities by the United States occurred on the 18th of June, 1812, and the feeling was so intense among the people of the three river counties that preliminary meet- ings were held and delegates chosen, within a few days succeeding the declaration, to attend a convention to be held at Northampton on the 14th day of July following.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 24

Author: L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts Number of Pages: 700

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 700