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

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

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1780.] SHAYS REBELLION. 497<br />

and warrants for the arrest <strong>of</strong> tlie most prom<strong>in</strong>ent men<br />

among the <strong>in</strong>surgents were issued. As the time approached<br />

for hold<strong>in</strong>g the December term <strong>of</strong> the Court <strong>of</strong> Common<br />

Pleas at Cambridge, <strong>in</strong>dications <strong>of</strong> disturbance appeared,<br />

and Gov. Bowdo<strong>in</strong> ordered seven regiments <strong>of</strong> militia to<br />

be ready to march at a moment's notice. Another attempt<br />

to placate the mob, similar to that which had been so unsuccessfully<br />

tried a short time before, was made. Promises<br />

were given by <strong>in</strong>fluential citizens that if the <strong>in</strong>surgents<br />

would make no demonstration, the soldiers would not appear.<br />

In spite <strong>of</strong> this pledge, which was readily accepted<br />

by the agitators, a large body <strong>of</strong> them gathered at Concord,<br />

expect<strong>in</strong>g re<strong>in</strong>forcements <strong>from</strong> Bristol, Hampshire and<br />

Worcester. But the militia received no orders to march.<br />

This new, but by no means unexpected act <strong>of</strong> duplicity,<br />

led the Governor to take more decisive action, and a detachment<br />

<strong>of</strong> horsemen was quickly dispatched to arrest the<br />

leaders. In a short time Parker, Page and Shattuck, were<br />

<strong>in</strong> the hands <strong>of</strong> the law. The latter fought bravely for his<br />

liberty, and was sorely wounded.<br />

A Demonstration at Early <strong>in</strong> December, a thousand men were<br />

Worcester. gathered at Worcester under command <strong>of</strong><br />

Shays, most <strong>of</strong> whom were billeted upon<br />

the <strong>in</strong>habitants. Among the re<strong>in</strong>forcements drawn <strong>from</strong><br />

this county were about one hundred fifteen men <strong>from</strong><br />

Belchertown, West Spr<strong>in</strong>gfield and Longmeadow, commanded<br />

by Luke Day. In addition to the men under the<br />

immediate command <strong>of</strong> Day when he reached Leicester,<br />

about fifty more followed and afterwards jo<strong>in</strong>ed him. Follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />

is an extract <strong>of</strong> a letter <strong>from</strong> Spr<strong>in</strong>gfield, dated<br />

Dec. 4, 1786: —<br />

" By the best accounts I can get, Capt. Day received orders yesterday,<br />

by express, <strong>from</strong> Capt. Shays, to march to Worcester, all the men he<br />

could raise. He hath spared no pa<strong>in</strong>s to collect them. However I expect<br />

two-thirds <strong>of</strong> the men whom he expects, will fail him. Perhaps<br />

his party <strong>from</strong> Westfield and West Spr<strong>in</strong>gfield will consist <strong>of</strong> 100 or 300<br />

men. The mob party <strong>from</strong> Long Meadow have this moment arrived,<br />

after two or three expresses sent them ; but their number is only four<br />

poor boys." ^<br />

1 Hampshire Gazette, Dec. 20, 1786.<br />

38

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