USA > Massachusetts > The story of western Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 39
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WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
the necessity of the case and that necessity should, commonly speak- ing, be apparent to the body of the people. The present earnings or future revenues of the United States should never be squandered away nor unnecessarily anticipated. It will always disgust a free people to see their treasure which is acquired by labor, industry and frugality, wantonly thrown away in schemes and projects which will not be serviceable to the public in some degree proportioned to the expense of executing them. We are naturally led to reflections of the nature from what appears daily before our eyes in the want of economy and prudence in the great part of the public works now carrying on in the town of Springfield, called the laboratory. The general profusion of the public money is attended with a double mischief, viz,-that of increasing the public debt and also raising the prices of every commodity except money. Among a variety of other instances which might be mentioned, we would beg leave to suggest to your consideration the case of the Continental Ferry lately set up at Springfield in order to convey Continental loading and passengers across the Connecticut river. There has been a ferry established here for the public for ages past, which is under the regulation of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace for the county of Hampshire, by whom the ferryman is licensed, his fare stated and himself, with sureties, put under bonds for the faithful discharge of his trust, and in general the ferry has been tended with diligence and despatch. But if that was not the case is there not a speedy and easy remedy by applying to the civil authority that has the inspection thereof and a constitutional redress be obtained. But we are sorry to inform your honors that a very different line of conduct has been observed by some of the officers that inspected the Public Works at Springfield. Whether they were moved thereto by some little private and personal resentments or by their desire to serve the public, we cannot pretend to say, though there are some reasons to suspect the former, but from some of the officers we have received information that General Greene has given orders that a Continental Ferry should be established here. For that purpose a number of carpenters have been procured from the state of New York or the Jerseys, at the public expense, who have been employed in building some scows for the transportation of the Continental teams &c. and some pleasure boats for the private amuse- ment and diversion of the officers, the whole expense whereof is sup- posed to be £1000 or more. In addition to this, a Captain-Lieutenant and Clerk with twelve private men under them are appointed to attend this Continental Ferry, by the information we have received, so that the expense to the public for keeping it will amount to more than £3000 a year, including the pay, rations &c of the officers and men, exclusive of the boats. In addition to the above, we would further inform your honors that the river is commonly frozen over two or three months in the year, when the persons tending the ferry will be destitute of any employment for the public and the expense will be increased by the addition of housing, firewood, &c. Mr. Gideon Leonard, the person licensed to keep a ferry by the Court is also
385
THE CONTINENTAL ARMORY
much injured by the Continental Ferry being established on the spot where his ferry has been kept from time immemorial, by taking away his customers that have no particular connection with the Continental affairs and who, traveling to prosecute their own private business, to whose ferriage he supposes he has exclusive right, by the known laws of the land and we are informed that ferry houses are now erecting on each side of the river, to accommodate the ferry men, which will increase the public expense. We would further suggest to your Honors whether the establishing a ferry in this manner, contrary to the known law of the land is not an instance of the usurpation of the military over the civil government, which ought always to be carefully guarded against. Mr. Gideon Leonard, the present ferryman would give ample security to tend the ferry carefully and in the best manner by keeping a boat ready for passengers on each side of the river to transport the Continental loading and passengers for two hundred pounds a year or at the usual and established fare which is less than one fifteenth part of the expense of what it will cost the public at the present establishment. We have been informed that in order to prevent abuse in the several departments, the Honorable Continental Congress have authorized and impowered the executive authority in each respective State to suspend any subordinate continental officers and to send an account thereof to Congress, therefore under the present circumstances, we assure ourselves your Honors will think we are influenced by a desire to serve the public in giving this infor- mation we consider the above facts are far from the knowledge of the Honorable Congress and of your Honors. We pray your Honors consideration of the above and that a public inquiry may be made in the premises."
Wm. Pynchon, Jr. Reuben Leonard.
Abrm. Burbank
Thos. Stebbins.
Benja. Day. Jona. White,
Thos. Williston.
David Burt. Benja. Ely.
Phineas Chapin.
This complaint made little impression on the Council and no action whatever was taken until a month later, when, on September 30th, it was "ordered that Timothy Danielson and Timothy Edwards be a committee to consider the petition and report what may be proper to be done".
Those were busy times at Springfield. James Byers was casting cannon under a contract made with Congress on September 19, 1777. Jonathan Hale and David Burt had been operating a gunpowder mill, when the establishment had blown up, but the Council granted them a warrant on the treasury for £60 enabling them to rebuild it. It was reported that the quality of the product was noticeably superior. The town was truly becoming the Arsenal of Democracy.
Colonel Smith had organized a branch of the Quartermaster's Department on an efficient basis. Written orders only were recog-
W. Mass .- I-25
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WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
nized, duplicate receipts being required in all major transactions. The following examples illustrate the procedure which was put into effect :
"Received, Springfield, 11th September, 1778 of William Smith, D. Q. M. G. two hogsheads of clothing marked A. Measam No. 539 and 530, one box A. Measam No. 532, two boxes George Measam Esq. which I promise to deliver to George Measam Esq. D. C. C., at Fishkill, having signed duplicate receipts.
JOHN CHAPIN
Received, Litchfield, 14th September, 1778 the within mentioned packages of John Chapin, he not being able to go on to Fishkill, on account of breaking his wagon.
JAMES PERKINS, Conductor.
Received, Springfield, 4 December, 1778, of William Smith, D. Q. M. G. eleven new wagon cloths which I promise to deliver to Major Gen- eral Greene, Q. M. G. at headquarters, having signed duplicate receipts. Said cloth am covering eleven loads of clothing.
NATHANIEL WINCHELL.
I hereby certify that one of the wagon covers was stolen off one load of clothing on the road from Springfield to headquarters; ten accounted for.
WM. SMITH, D.Q.M.G.
June 11, 1779. Mr. Ball,-Please to shoe the horses of Colonel Armand's regiment.
WILLIAM SMITH.
Springfield, June 16, 1779. Received one hundred and seven shoes and put on the horses belonging to Colonel Armand. (This was Teffin Charles Armand, Marguis de la Rouarie of the Third Cavalry, Pulaski Legion.)
Received Springfield, 28 September, 1780, from W. Smith, D.Q.M.G., one side saddle which I promise to deliver Nehemiah Hubbard, Esq. D.Q.M.G at Hartford, by him to be forwarded to General Parsons' lady at Redding, having signed duplicates.
GODFREY WILLISTON.
Received, September 28, 1780, Hartford, the within mentioned saddle, to be forwarded as directed.
WILLIAM CADWEL for N. Hubbard, D.Q.M.G."
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THE CONTINENTAL ARMORY
Life in the army was by no means all work and no play. There were no Salvation Army lasses and no kettles of doughnuts. From Windsor on the Hudson, Brigade-Major James M. Hughes wrote to Colonel Smith at Springfield, on November 16, 1779:
"I arrived at Goshen the evening of the same day I left you, since which I have transported myself to this place, and as soon as I have finished my breakfast, intend to retransport myself to Goshen, God willing. Inclosed I remit you the one-hundred dollars which you were kind enough to let me have, for which you have my acknowledg- ments. Colonel Hughes and family desired to be remembered to you. Sally says that at the first opportunity offered, you shall have some ginger cake. I must hasten to Springfield to court that dear, be- witching girl, Nabby. By Heavens,-she is a Venus. Do be kind enough to do what I dare not. Give her a kiss and tell her it was for me. . what was I going to say? Present myself to her Damn it, give her my love. I shall. this as a prelude to our correspondence."
At a meeting of the State Council on October 16, 1778, considera- tion was given to the report of the committee of two which had in- vestigated the report that "the Continental officers at Springfield are unreasonably lavishing public money of the United States in building boats and houses and establishing unnecessary guards to carry on a Continental Ferry there". It was "therefore ordered that Timothy Danielson, Samuel Niles and Eleazer Brooks be a committee to repair to Springfield and inquire into the conduct of all Continental officers there, civil and military". After a preliminary inquiry, the Committee, on November 25, 1778, called upon the sheriff to "summon Gideon Leonard of West Springfield, John Bryant, Benjamin Hoy, Aaron Ferry, Jonathan Gardiner, Samuel Baker, Daniel Starr, William Richardson, John Smith, James Muckleheron, Ebenezer Stebbins, Joel Day, Andrew Seigourney, Calvin Bliss, Ebenezer Withington and William Lowder, all of Springfield, to appear before the committee at the house of Mr. Zenas Parsons, innholder, on November 27, at nine o'clock in the forenoon, to give evidence relating to any matter that may come under the considera- tion of the Committee".
The hearing lasted for three days and more than fifty witnesses gave evidence of a trivial and petty nature. It was alleged that Colonel Mason took home remnants of the baize used in making cartridges. That he had shoes made for himself, his wife and four daughters, of leather from the military warehouse. On account of the housing shortage, Major Joseph Eayrs, domiciled himself and his family in a house in Wilbraham which was so much in need of repair that he had the use of men from the Public Works for twenty-eight days and secured 663 feet of boards from the Continental stock. Quantities of firewood from the public wood pile were used for the heating of private homes.
388
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
The most serious charges were made in connection with the ferry. Gideon Leonard of West Springfield, owner of a public ferry operating between Springfield and West Springfield, testified that "the Continental boats frequently carried over the river, people and teams which had no connection with Continental business and re- ceived the pay therefor. He offered to transport all Continental loadings for £200. a year. The scows have been up and down the
Dwight House on Maple Street, Springfield, built by Simon Sanborn in 1836
river for loading several times. He has two boats in his own busi- ness and with one more scow and two men more than he now employs he could carry all the public and private loading without delay, extraordinary seasons excepted. The boat, Lady Washington, has been generally used for the officers to cross the river and to go up and down the river. He has known two loads of timber only brought over the river in the Lady Washington boat and does not know but there might be others. He has seen the officers frequently sporting up and down the river in her, which he supposes was the principal use of her. When the ship carpenters first came last spring to build the scows, they used the Lady Washington boat to transport their effects across the river, until it was prohibited to be used for that purpose by Major Joseph Eayrs and then Lieutenant Colonel William Smith ordered the small skiff to be built for that purpose."
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THE CONTINENTAL ARMORY
Captain Thomas Bolter, captain of the Company of Carpenters testified that "he ordered the boat called Lady Washington to be built without any orders from his superior officers, for transporting timber up and down the river &c. He supposes it took two men about ten days to build her. The building of the boat was approved of by his superior officers after it came to their knowledge".
In response, the defense submitted schedules of the work per- formed by the ferry :
"Carried Over the River
Months.
Teams.
Horses.
Men.
August.
459
452
733
September.
500
590
743
October.
472
560
899
November.
314
615
731
150
100
3000
Part of the Convention
Troops.
Total
1895
2317
6106
To Boating sixteen team loads of salt up the river eight miles to the falls at 6s pr. mile a load
£38- 8-0
To Boating 106 barrels of flour
31-10-0
83 days work for the men at the clother's store and other places at 15s
62- 0-0
To fourteen boat loads stone, brick, shingles and boards at 120s
84- 0-0
1895 teams at 6s, 9p
639-10-0
6106 men at 6s
152-13-0
2317 horses at 1s
115-17-0
£1123-18-0
Springfield, 27th November, 1778.
The above is just, THOMAS HUNSTABLE."
The hearings closed without any announcement of the findings of the committee, but more than four months later, on April 14, 1779, Congress listened to "the reading of a letter from General Washing- ton, enclosing the proceedings of the Court Martial held by order of Congress upon the officers of the elaboratory and deputy quarter master at Springfield, whereupon it was ordered that the proceedings
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WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
of the Court Martial be returned to the Commander in Chief and that he take such order thereon as he shall judge proper". On April 18th Colonel Smith issued an order to the blacksmith to "shoe all the horses belonging to the officers of the Court Martial" and the order was endorsed,-"to three new shoes and four old shoes, Hillgrove".
A roster dated at Springfield, August 20, 1779, is of interest in connection with the continued controversy. It is entitled :
"Return of the names of the officers and men belonging to the company of Artificers at Springfield commanded by Lieutenant- Colonel David Mason of Artillery and Director of Ordnance, who belong to the State of Massachusetts Bay together with the towns to which they severally belong."
David Mason
Lt. Colo. Artillery
Boston.
Joseph Eayrs
Major Artificers do
Thomas Bolter
Capt. of Carpenters do
Richard Faxon
Capt. of Smiths do
Edward Boylston
Capt. of Wheelwrights do
William Hawes
Capt. of Harness Makers do
Christopher Minot
Paymaster
do
James Frost
Master Tinman
Cambridge
Samuel Wild
Quarter Master
Boston
Benjamin Hoey
Conductor of the Laboratory Plymouth
Samuel Bridge
Clerk to the Director
Worcester
Thomas Eayrs
Clerk to the Major
Boston
Stevens Mason
Harness maker
Plymouth
John E. Ely
Harness maker
West Springfield
William Hawes, Jr.
Harness Maker
Boston
Edward Boylston
Tinman
Charlestown
John Stearns
Blacksmith
Ashby
On December 11, 1779, Congress "resolved, that a warrant issue on the Treasurer for 200,000 dollars for the contingent expenses of the War and Ordnance Office and for the purpose of enabling Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, Commissary of Military Stores at Springfield, to build a number of houses for the Artillery Artificers at that place". However, later objections prevailed and the resolve was rescinded.
On July 26, 1780, Congress reported that "in order to obtain the most satisfactory evidence respecting the post at Springfield, we directed Mr. Hodgdon, Deputy Commissary General of Military Stores, who is personally acquainted with it, and every officer there, to lay before us the fullest information in his power respecting it. His answer is enclosed, together with extracts from letters to him from divers officers in the department at Springfield; all which clearly evince the absolute necessity of reforming it, especially by removing those who now claim to be its principal directors. We also find that there are some improper and unnecessary officers at other
391
THE CONTINENTAL ARMORY
posts in this department who ought immediately to be removed. We therefore beg leave to report,"
"Resolved,-That Ezekiel Cheever Esq., and Lieutenant-Colonel David Mason, who have been employed at Springfield, in the State of Massachusetts Bay, in the department of the Commissary-General of Military stores, be excused from further service at that post. That the Board of War and Ordnance be authorized and directed to remove any unnecessary officers at that and any other post in the department of the Commissary-General of Military Stores and to arrange the affairs of the whole department in such manner as they shall deem most conducive to the public service, reporting their proceedings to Congress".
At a session of Congress on August 12, 1780, the Board of War reported "that, pursuant to a resolution of July 26, they have enquired into the state of the Department of Military Stores and upon mature deliberation, propose to retain in the service one Commissary- General of Military Stores, one Deputy Commissary-General, one Commissary at Springfield".
Two weeks later, on August 26, 1780, the Board of War reported to Congress that "the board are not satisfied of their powers under the resolution of the 26 ulto, to remove from the service all the officers who may be unnecessary in the Department of the Commissary General of Military Stores, those serving by warrant from this board,-Commissaries, Deputy-Commissaries, Conductors &c., there will be no difficulty in superseding, but there are several persons who hold commissions signed by his Excellency, the President of Congress, in Colonel Flower's regiment and who, though altogether unnecessary in our present circumstances, the board are uncertain of their au- thority to dismiss,-They therefore beg leave to report,-Resolved, that Major Joseph Eayrs and Captain Nathaniel Chapman, who have been employed at Springfield in the department of the Commissary- General of Military Stores, Major Charles Lukens at Carlisle and Captain-Lieutenant William E. Godfrey, at Philadelphia be excused from further service".
From the "headquarters near the Liberty Pole, Bergen County" on August 28, 1780, Washington wrote to Governor Trumbull of Con- necticut that he had "seen Commissary Cheever and had an oppor- tunity of making particular inquiry into the state of the arms at Springfield. He tells me that the repair of such of the old muskets as are worth the trouble and expense, is going on as fast as the circumstances of want of hands and want of money will admit. The greater part of the gun barrels, he says, are absolutely unfit for use, having been taken out of old stocks at various times, and not imported in their present state from Europe".
In the deranged state of affairs and the curtailed labor situation, General Knox sensed a possible opportunity to restore to the Con- tinental pay roll, his old prewar artillery friend, Col. David Mason,
392
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
and he wrote to Washington on Mason's behalf. Washington for- warded the letter to Congress where it was referred to the Board of War, and on November 16, 1780, the War Office reported that it had "been honored by a reference from Congress of an extract of a letter from the Commander in Chief, enclosing a copy of a letter from General Knox relative to Colonel David Mason being detained in public service for the making of fuzes. The Board beg leave to observe that if Mr. Mason's abilities are indispensable in this branch he may be hired as a private citizen, and that it is not therefore necessary for him to hold his rank and appointments merely on this account. But the Commissary General of Military Stores at Philadelphia, if furnished with money and the men supplied with provisions, will undertake to provide all the fuzes necessary for the next campaign as well as all other articles in the Ordnance Department. We there- fore offer to the consideration of Congress, the following resolve,- That General Washington be informed, in answer to that part of his letter of October 21, which respects Lieutenant Colonel David Mason that Congress do not consider the reasons assigned for his continuance in the public service sufficiently strong to induce an alteration of their resolution of the 26th of July on that subject".
Thus the old guard faded out of the picture. It would seem that Colonel Smith, at the age of but twenty-four, had become "the late Colonel Smith" principally through the bickerings and jealousies of a group far less able than himself, as subsequent history reveals. A reminder of his last tour of duty appears in what probably was his final touch with the service,-an order to shoe the horse of the demoted officer :
"Boston, January 1, 1781. Mr. Frost. Sir,- Shoe a horse for Colonel Smith, late D.Q.M.G. at Springfield.
by order COLONEL HAIZER, Gel Kees, A.D.Q."
Affairs at the Continental Armory continued in an unsatisfactory state and on December 29, 1780, the War Office reported that "affairs at Springfield remain in the most deranged situation. A Mr. Hiller who is strongly recommended to the board as a capable person, is appointed Commissary of Military Stores, and is intended to take charge of the business at Springfield, but his instructions are delayed on account of the report of the Board respecting the pay of the department not being acted on by Congress. The season is far advanced and the preparations so essentially necessary for the cam- paign are still delayed. Every day lost at this period will be re- gretted at the opening of the campaign and therefore it is hoped that Congress will excuse the Board for pressing a determination of the report before mentioned and also repeating their request that a sum of money, agreeable to estimate, may be furnished the Commis-
393
THE CONTINENTAL ARMORY
sary General of Military Stores, to enable him to proceed on the duties of his department".
On May 29, 1781, the Board of Treasury reported to Congress "that upon the recommitment of the report of the board, dated the 17th instant, upon the accounts of the Selectmen of Springfield, they have considered the entry upon the journals of Congress dated the 11 Feby. 1779, of a letter from J. Powell, President of the Council of Massachusetts Bay, referred by Congress to the Commander in Chief, directing that the persons accused of misdemeanors be brought to Courts Martial, which entry aforesaid does not mention on what particular subject the said letter from J. Powell was written but the Board are induced to believe it goes to the present case acted upon by the Selectmen of Springfield, whereupon it was ordered that the sum of two hundred and twenty four dollars, sixty-three ninetieths and six eighths specie value, being due to certain claimants for attend- ing a Court-martial upon the trial of Colonel Mason, Colonel Smith and Major Eayrs, as presented to the selectmen of Springfield, be passed to the credit of the State of Massachusetts and that the Board of Treasury furnish the executive of said State with a copy of this order, that the several claimants may receive payment from the said State".
On July 12, 1871, "Congress proceeded to the election of a Commissary-General of Military Stores, and Samuel Hodgdon was elected, having been previously nominated by Mr. Howley".
That same month "the Board of War, having considered the arrangements made and orders given at Springfield by General Cornell when at that place and fully approve of the same and in order that the said arrangements may be made complete, the Board beg leave to suggest the following resolution,-That John Bryant be con- tinued a Captain in the laboratory and William Hawes a Captain of the Artificers at Springfield, and that all and every other officer in the laboratory or Corps of Artificers at that place be and they hereby are discharged from the service of the United States. That the Board of War be empowered to continue such of the officers in the laboratory and artificers at Springfield as the good of the service may require and to remove all and every other officer in the laboratory or corps of artificers at that place and proceed to make such further reforms as they judge may conduce to public interest".
On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, yield- ing up great stores of ordnance and munitions. So confident had Congress been of that eventuality that two months previously it had ordered "that the Board of War and Ordnance be directed to take measures for vacating the contract made by order of Congress the 19th day of September, 1777, with James Byers, cannon founder, of Springfield".
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