History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1779] REVOLUTION—CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. 423
them that they would all be hewers of wood and drawers
of water to British Lords and Bishops, if the great cause
did not succeed. After the men were dismissed he invited
them "to take moderate refreshment but not to excess."*
This occurred on the 1-i"' of July. The men were mustered
in at Springfield with many others. They marched
to Hartford then to Litchfield and thence to West Point,
where they were distributed among the various Continental
regiments. Here they remained four months, and were
then ordered to Fishkill, remaining there in barracks during
the winter, and until their discharge in April. They
were obliged to draw wood by hand for several miles, fifteen
or twenty men being attached to a sled.
The British Raid In July, Gcu. Carlctou sent Gov. Trj^on
Connecticut. with a force of two thousand six hundred
men to raid the towns in Connecticut. After
laying waste New Haven, Fairfield, Norwalk and other
places, he was suddenly recalled. New London was
seriously threatened, and in order to protect that and other
greatly menaced points, a levy of soldiers was made in
Western Massachusetts. Thirty-one men^ from Northampton
marched for that place, about the 24"' of July.
They were paid for forty-two days' service at the rate of £4
per day. The company was commanded by Capt. Joseph
Cook, 1^* Lieut. James Shepherd, 2*^ Lieut. Jonathan
Stearns. It was called the New London expedition. The
soldiers saw no fighting.
The "ciaverack A requisition for two thousand men to co-
Tour." operate with " our French allies," was made
in October for three months' service. The
town voted them 40s. a month in grain at the prices heretofore
quoted, and the standard sum for mileage. They were
also to receive Continental pay, and £16 per month from
the state. Capt. Cook reported for the militia officers (who
had been empowered to give their obligations to the men on
1 It is reported that when orders came for raising men, Major Hawley would appear
with a short sword and address the soldiers in a most animating manner. On
one occasion, when no one else turned out, he marched through the streets escorted
by the drummer ; others soon joined him and the procession rapidly increased. He
engaged a substitute to serve in his place in the Continental army.
2 See Appendix for names.