USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Proceedings of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, for the year 1881-1882 > Part 8
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* When Burgoyne's army was surrendered, in 1777, Rutland was selected as a place of safety for the prisoners. Here several acres were enclosed by a stockade twelve feet high, within which was constructed barracks for the accommodation of soldiers. These barracks were used by Shays in 1786.
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may have been partly occasioned by the wretched condition of the roads at this season of the year.
It should be remembered that January 1st, 1787, was the limit fixed to the time for taking the oath of allegiance and re- ceiving pardon. A considerable number had availed themselves of this opportunity. But the time had now gone by, and still men were in arms to prevent the action of the inferior courts in several connties in the state, and Gov. Bowdoin issued orders to raise 4400 rank and file, to serve for 30 days if not sooner discharged, and to march for the protection of the courts to be held at Worcester, January 23d, 1787. Seven hundred men were to be raised from the county of Suffolk, 500 from Essex, 800 from Middlesex, 1200 from Worcester, and 1200 from Hampshire ; and Major Gen. Benjamin Lincoln was to com- mand the force. The legislature was not in session, and there was no money in the treasury to equip and maintain such an army ; but a few loyal gentlemen about Boston volunteered to loan the government £6000. and the work of organizing the little army went on, for it might not be safe to trust the fate of the Commonwealth to the militia at this time.
Governor Bowdoin now had something to work with, and January 12th. he issued an address to the people, in which he stated that he had ordered a part of the militia to assemble in arms for the purpose of protecting the Judicial Court at Wor- cester ; of aiding the civil magistrates in executing the laws ; of repelling all insurgents against the government ; and of ap- prehending all disturbers of the public peace, ete ; and appealed to all men of principle, and friends of justice, to give their sup- port to his endeavor. He also issued an order to Gen. Benja- min Lincoln, (Jan. 19th,) to protect the courts at Worcester ; and on the 24th of January he gave him additional instructions at the request of both Generals Lincoln and Shepard, to appre- hend. disarm and secure all persons who in a hostile manner should attempt or enterprise the destruction, invasion, detri- ment or annoyance of the Commonwealth, and particularly all sneh bodies of armed men as were or might be assembled in the counties of Worcester, Hampshire, Berkshire, or elsewhere in the state.
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On Friday Jan. 19th, 1787, this army met by appointment at Roxbury, and soon started on the march for Worcester, where they arrived on Monday the 22d. The presence of so large a body of armed supporters of government contributed greatly to strengthen confidence in the ability of the Governor to sustain the administration, and many persons who to this time had con- tinned to labor with the opposition, were now won over to the side of government rather than encourage a civil war-a calam- ity which there seemed no possible chance to avert should the Regulators, who were well officered and organized, stand and face the enemy sent for their capture or annihilation.
It must be kept in mind that the inhabitants of Worcester County were not and never had been in favor of resorting to armed force ; and as no force came at this time from Hampshire County to prevent the sitting of the courts, they were allowed to proceed without molestation for the first time in five months.
All eyes were again turned towards Springfield, around which place the Regulators were concentrating a strong force. Before Gen. Lincoln left Roxbury with his army, orders had been issued to Gen. William Shepard to collect as many of the militia in Hampshire County as he conveniently could, and take pos- session of that post, all of which he had done, he having about one thousand men at his command. well equipped with arms from the continental arsenal, at which point the miltia were stationed. Capt Shays with 1100 men was also there occupying one part of the town, while Capt. Luke Day with 400 men were stationed at West Springfield. and Capt Eli Parsons with 400 more Regulators from Berkshire County was in possession of the north part of the town .* On Wednesday, Jan. 24th. Capt. Shays sent a message to Day asking his co-operation in a con- templated movement to take place the following day in front of the forces under Gen. Shepard. Day replied that he could not assist him on the 25th, but would on the 26th. This reply was intereepted and fell into the hands of Gen. Shepard. Captain Shays receiving no reply supposed that Capt. Day was going to aet with him on the 25th.
* Minot says of this army, that it was respectable from their numbers and large proportion of old Continental followers.
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The main body of the state troops under Gen. Lincoln was at this time two days march from Springfield, making the situation of Shepard and his meu seem truly a critical one ; and so anx- ious was Gen. Lincoln for their safety that he instructed Gen. Brooks on the 25th to proceed with the Middlesex militia to Springfield with all possible speed. The Regulators concentra- ted here numbered nearly 2000, about double the force under Gen. Shepard, and with the only re-enforcement of state troops two days march distant. Why did not Shays order an assault at once? If he could not defeat Shepard now he certainly could not after the arrival of the forces under Lincoln. Would he not have done so had he contemplated an assault? Neither does it appear that he really thought Shepard would order an attack upon him.
Let me relate what was done according to government report- ers. Shays on the 24th of January, sent a communication from Wilbraham to Major Gen. Lincoln, in which he stated his un- willingness to be accessory to the shedding of blood, and from a desire to promote peace, he asked that the Insurgents might be saved harmless until the next sitting of the General Court ; that persons who had been taken by government should be re- leased without punishment. This being granted, the Insurgents would return to their homes and wait for constitutional relief. Now we have what he did two days later.
[Gen. William Shepard to Gov, James Bowdoin.] "Springfield, January 26, 1787.
SIR :- The unhappy time is come in which we have been obliged to shed blood. Shays at the head of about 1200 men marched yesterday afternoon about four toward the public buildings in battle array. He marched his men in an open column by pla- toons. I sent several times by one of my aids and two other gentlemen. Capt. Samuel Buffington and Joshua Woodbridge to him to know what he was after or what he wanted. His reply was, he wanted barracks, and barracks he would have and stores. The answer returned was, he must purchase them dear if he had them. Ile still proceeded his march to within 250 yards of the arsenal and made a halt. I immediately sent Major William
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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 there by order of your Excellency and the Sec- retary of war, for the defence of public property, in case he did I should certainly fire on him and his men. Mr. Wheeler, who appeared to be one of his aids, met Mr. Lyman after he had delivered my orders in the most peremptory manner, and made answer, that was all he wanted. Mr. Lyman returned with his answer. Shays immediately put his troops in motion and march- ed on rapidly near 100 yards. I then ordered Major Stephens who commanded the artillery, to fire upon them : he accordingly did, the first two shots he endeavored to overshoot them, with the hope that they would take warning without firing among them, but it had no effect. Mr, Stephens then directed his shot through the center of his column. The fourth or fifth shot put the whole column into the utmost confusion. Shays made an effort to display the column, but in vain. We had one howitzer which was loaded with grape shot, which when fired gave them great uneasiness. Hlad I been disposed to destroy them. I might have charged on their rear and flanks with my infantry and field pieces, 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 has since died. One of our artillery men by in- attention was badly wounded. Three muskets were taken up with the dead which were deeply loaded. I have received no re-enforcements and expect to be attacked this day by their whole force combined."
The names of the persons killed at this time were. Jabez Spi- cer, Ensign Zimri Dickenson, Simeon Allen, and Obadiah Ward. Here we have the evidence of Gen. Shepard who was in com- mand of government troops, that not a shot was fired by Shay's men, and it seems conclusive that Capt. Shays gave no orders to return the fire, for had he done so, they certainly would have obeyed. Captain Shays and his followers were no cowards. A long list of them were war veterans, well armed, and more than an even match for their opponents in numbers. From the information before me, it seems more than probable that Shays
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and his men had no idea that the militia would fire upon them, and they were completely surprised. Had not they met before at this very place, when a compromise was effected that recog- nized the presence and authority of the Regulators? If Shays marched his men to the front would they not again be received as equals and another compromise be made? Civil war they certainly did not want or they could have returned the fire.
This tragic movement on the part of the militia struck terror to the heart of many a Regulator; and Shays is reported to have lost 200 men by desertion on his hasty retreat to the town of Ludlow, about 10 miles north-east of Springfield. But Fri- day the 20th he with the remainder of his force formed a june- tion with Eli Parsons and his command at Chicopee. Parsons was called the Berkshire leader. Gen. Lincoln with his men arrived in Springfield on the 27th and 28th, and immediately put in motion the entire goverment force. A portion of the men with artillery and horse crossed the river on the ice to at- taek Luke Day, who with his command was still at West Spring- field. They however made a hasty retreat to Northampton, and the reward of that chase was only a few stragglers picked up by the light horse. In the mean time Gen. Shepard with his Hampshire County militia moved up the river bank to pre- vent the union of Day with Shays, while Gen. Lincoln pushed on after the main body of the Insurgents as rapidly as the se- verity of the season would permit, reaching the town of Amherst just in time to find that Shays with his main army had passed through there on their way to Pelham, and for the time being were out of his reach. so he turned aside to the town of Hadley to quarter his troops for the night. In the morning information came of the capture of a number of Shepard's men by the Insur- gents at Southampton. Col. Baldwin in command of the Brook- field volunteers. 50 men in sleighs, and Col. Ebenezer Crafts of Worcester with 100 horse, were immediately sent in pursuit to retake the prisoners. About 12 o'clock the same night they came up with them at Middlefield ; it was soon ascertained that there were about 80 Insurgents under Capt. Luddington, and that about one half of these men with their commander were quartered at a house together, while the remainder had taken
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shelter at other houses. The house where Luddington had tak- en lodgings was immediately surrounded and the surrender of himself and party demanded. Slight demonstrations towards resistance were made, the alarm was given, and their fellows came to their support and the taking of life was only prevented by the cool calculation and good judgment of those in command of the contending parties ; a few moments parley and with an over estimated understanding of the strength of the state troops before them, the Insurgents laid down their arms, and 59 pris- oners with 9 sleigh loads of provisions was the prize with which Colonels Baldwin and Crafts returned to the head quarters of Gen. Lincoln on the next day.
The main body of the Insurgents under Capt. Shays was now posted on two high hills, known as East and West hills, in the town of Pelham. On Tuesday Jan. 30th, Gen. Lincoln sent a letter addressed to Capt. Shays and officers commanding men in arms against the government of the Commonwealth, the purport of which was an appeal to their best judgment whether the taking up arms in support of their cause had proved an er- ror or not ; and asked them to disband their deluded followers, and warned them that unless snch action was taken, he must advance on them, and if they fired upon his troops, the conse- quences might prove fatal to many ; and in order to prevent the shedding of blood reccommended that they lay down their arms and surrender themselves, and take the outh of allegiance to the Commonwealth, and he would recommend them to the mercy of the General Court. To this Capt Shays replied that whether they had committed an error or not in taking np arms. circumstances had brought them where they were ; that they deplored the state of things and not desirous of staining the land they had helped to acquire in the late war, with the blood of their brethren and neighbors : therefore asked that hostilities might cease on the part of government until the General Conrt might take action on a certain petition which had been submitted. Gen. Lincoln replied. "Your request is totally inadmissible as no powers are delegated to me which would justify a delay of my operations. I have again to warn the people in arms against the government that they must immediately disband to avoid
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the ill consequences that may ensue should they be inattentive to this caution."
It was now evidently the intention of Shays and his followers to gain some position that would be comparatively secure from any further assault until they could gain the attention of the General Court which stood adjourned to the 30th day of Jan., on which day their petition was signed at Pelham. But owing to the excitement and general confusion throughout the state, the representatives could not be collected until February 3d, four days later.
In this petition which the Insurgents had presented to the legislature, they acknowledged their sense of error in having had recourse to arms, and in not seeking redress in a consti- tutional way ; that they were heartily in favor of constitutional government ; that they would lay down their arms and retire quietly to their respective homes, provided they and their breth- ren could receive a general pardon for all past and present of- fences. It was signed by Francis Stone, chairman of the com- mittee of the counties of Worcester, Hampshire, Middlesex and Berkshire, read and accepted by the officers.
All along the line of march of Shays' army from Chicopee to Pelham, the sympathising inhabitants had given them food and shelter, and many had also offered their services to aid the cause. General Lincoln found as he passed through the town of Am- herst, that most of the male population had deserted their homes to follow Capt. Shays. It was estimated that notwithstanding many desertions, he had at least 2000 men with him at Pelham. After the sudden flight of the Insurgents from Springfield the officers of government concluded they might spare some of their volunteers, and about 2000 were discharged and sent home ; but as the accessions exceeded the desertions among the Insur- gents, Gov. Bowdoin issned an order for 2600 more of the mili- tia to take the field. About this time however, it was apparent that a decided reaction was taking place in favor of government was taking place in the central portion of the state, the inhabi- tants of the eastern portion had previously increased their pat- ronage in that direction, many of the towns that hitherto had encouraged opposition to the administration, and furnished their
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quota for Shays' army, were now exerting an influence through their several committees to have that support withdrawn ; and many of the Insurgents were made to see and admit their error in resorting to arms, being quite ready to lay down their weap- ons, take the oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth, and return to their homes wiser if not better citizens. Discourage- ment became so rife in Capt. Shays' camp that to obtain pardon for all, rank and file, was now the chief concern. After a few days of rest and reflection, Shays and his followers left Pelham on Saturday, Feb. 3d, arriving at Petersham the same night. This was the last march made by any considerable number of the Insurgents together, for as soon as intelligence reached Gen. Lincoln at Hadley that Capt. Shays had left East and West hills, orders were issued to have his men ready at a moments warning to march in pursuit. Already the government Light Horse had been dashing close at the heels of the Regulators : and at one time (nine o'clock in the forenoon) were within half a mile of their commander-in-chief, but he was not so easily to be taken by surprise. They did however capture several sleigh loads-some 150 men.
On the report being verified that Capt. Shays had left Pelham, Gen. Lincoln set his army in motion at 8 o'clock on the evening of Feb. 3d, and by 2 o'clock in the morning had reached New Salem. After a very brief halt, the march was continued, the advance guard under Col. Haskell reaching Petersham about 9 the morning of the 4th, covering a distance of 30 miles in 13 hours, in the night time. over rough roads and during a very inclement season of the year-"'an accomplishment," says Mr. Minot, "never before achieved in America." The same writer also says, "had the Insurgents turned upon the government troops at this time when they were so greatly fatigued, they might have given them a severe check if' not a total defeat."
But Capt. Shays made no effort to oppose Gen. Lincoln, and I find no evidence that he even contemplated an attack upon him at any time, much less at this period, when it seemed best to no longer contend even with the show of force. As soon as the government troops reached Petersham, the insurgent army began to disband and scatter to their several homes. only a
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sufficient number of them holding together to safely escort Capt. Shays and other prominent leaders beyond the bounds of this Commonwealth. This they lost no time in doing, going directly to Athol on Sunday, passing through Warwick on Monday the 5th, accompanied by about 100 men including Abraham Gale, who had been severely disabled by a kick from a horse. Eli Parsons went over to Hubbardston before he left for Vermont.
The Insurgents never again appeared in any considerable force, although little bands of them were now and then attract- ing attention in different portions of the three western counties by arresting Loyalists, with the intention of holding them as hostages for some of their own men who had previously been apprehended and were now held by government. Some they paroled as prisoners of war not to take part in favor of govern- ment against people who styled themselves "Regulators."
Friday, Feb. 2d, news reached Gen. Warner, who was in command of the loyal troops at Worcester, that a body of Reg- ulators were at New Braintree arresting people. He immediate- ly sent a detachment of abont 180 men to capture them. They proceeded to the house of Moses Hamilton, a tavern keeper, where it was expected the Insurgents would be found ; but the news of their coming had preceded them, and the Insurgents had posted themselves behind a stone wall ready to receive them, and as the party from Worcester came up, a few shots were leveled at them by men said to be under the leadership of Reuben Lamb of Oxford. Mr. Jonathan Rice, a deputy sheriff, received a ball through his arm, and another through his hand. His horse was also wounded, and David Young received a ball through his knee. The Insurgents then fled towards Rutland, leaving at the house the proprietor and three men guarding Col. Samuel Flag and John Stanton, both of Worcester, who had been captured while attending to private business in Leicester the day previous, by a few men under the lead of Reuben Thayer of Uxbridge, of whom it was reported that he took the oath of allegiance Dec. 30th, 1786, but soon after went to Providence, R. I., purchased some powder and again joined the Insurgents.
Capt. Shays and several of his associate officers were now beyond the reach of Gov. Bowdoin and his troops, and Feb. 4th,
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he offered the following rewards for their capture and return to the proper authorities : For Daniel Shays of Pelham, £150 ; for Luke Day of West Springfield, Adam Wheeler of Hubbardston, Eli Parsons of Adams, £100 cach. Vigorous attention was also given to persons throughout the state who were by speech and actions inciting the people against the administration.
Thursday, Jan. 25th, Col. Luke Drury of Grafton, on account of his inimical disposition to government, was escorted to Bos- ton and placed in prison. Mr. Drury was a representative to the General Court, and as Captain led the Grafton minute men to Concord and Lexington ; enlisted a company April 24, 1775 ; received a commission and joined the forces at Cambridge ; was in the regiment of Col. Artemas Ward of Shrewsbury, and took part in the battle of Bunker Hill. He was often moderator at the public meetings of the town, and filled acceptably the offices of constable, deputy sheriff, collector and selectman. Friday the 26th, Mr. Caleb Curtis of Charlton, was also taken to Bos- ton jail. Mr. Jonah Goulding had previously been incarcerated at Boston for stopping the courts in Worcester, and petitioned the General Court Feb. 7th. 1787, for a pardon.
The most reckless and desperate of the Insurgents were now to be found in Hampshire and Berkshire counties, and General Lincoln turned his attention in that direction, after dismissing 3 companies of artillery and ordering two regiments to Worces- ter. With the remainder of his army took up his march for Pittsfield, passing through the towns of Amherst, Hadley, Ches- terfield, Partridgefield and Worthington, arriving at Pittsfield Feb. 12th. Just previous to this date, about 300 Regulators under command of Major Wiley. concentrated about West Stockbridge and Lee to prevent the action of the courts at the latter place. Gen. Patterson led out the militia in that vicinity and confronted them. A compromise was effected, by which the Insurgents were to disperse, and they would not be arrested or pursued by Patterson or his men, unless further ordered so to do by Gen. Lincoln. Unfortunately, however, as Major Wiley and his men started off, some of them discharged their muskets into the air, which was taken by the state troops as an attack, and they soon arrested about 50 of the Insurgents, a circumstance
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which added much to the feeling of resentment among the latter .*
Immediately on the arrival of Gen. Lincoln and his army at Pittsfield, he dispatched Col. Tyler with a small force to the house of Major Wiley in the town of Dalton, with the hope of apprehending him. He also sent Capt. Francis with a company of militia to Williamstown, hoping to find Parsons and perhaps other chiefs who were supposed to be there. These expeditions were not entirely fruitless, although neither found the object of their search. Col. Tyler returned with six prisoners, one a son and aid to Major Wiley, a Mr. Chamberlin, second in command, and four others. Capt. Francis brought in nine prisoners, none of them prominent men.
About this time Mr. John Wheeler, one of Shays' aids, Mr. Mathew Clark, and Dr. Whiting, judge of the court of Com- mon Pleas for Berkshire County, had been taken into custody. The same week an attempt was made to arrest Capt. Jason Parmenter, who with his associates were seeking refuge in the state of Vermont, across the line from Northfield. Mr. Whit- ney, a representative from that town, with Mr. Jacob Walker of Whately, a member of the volunteer horse from Hampshire County, suddenly came upon Parmenter in the road. Walker fell. shot through the body, and died within half an hour. Par- menter fled to the woods where he was captured the next day by a party under Capt. Buffington. Feb. 21st elosed the time for which the militia under Gen. Lincoln were engaged to serve in the field, and during the last week in February the greater part of his army passed through Worcester on their return home. The General remained in Berkshire County awaiting the arrival of the new quota of four months men raised to finish the contest.
Several hundred Insurgents who had rendezvoused at a place called New Canaan, Columbia Co., New York, proposed to take advantage of this opportunity by making a raid into Berkshire County for the purpose of retaliation, not forgetting even the possibility of carrying off Gen. Lincoln himself should the op- portunity present itself, consequently about midnight, Monday
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