Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1S86. 281
The Boston alarm of September, 1774, had set over forty thousand
soldiers all through New England on the march for the da}' as promptly
as might have been the case in our days of telegraph. But even
more marvellous was the speed with which the news of the battle of
Lexington the next year got to the Connecticut river. The British
soldiers left Boston before daybreak on the 19th of April, 1775, and
on the 20th Capt. P^lihu Kent, within an hour's notice, was at the head
of a Suffield company of fifty-nine men and a provision wagon, rush-
ing for Springfield, where they took supper and pressed on at once.
Each Springfield soldier was given one-half pound of powder.
There were also delivered to the companies here assembled one hun-
dred and eighty flints.
A Longmeadow company, commanded by Lieut. David Burt,
started east on the 21st. When the Suffield company reached
Springfield, on the 20th, the}' found the Springfield minute-men, under
Maj. Andrew Colton, a West Springfield company commanded by
Capt. Enoch Chapin, and a second West Springfield company under
Colton, with Gideon Burt first lieutenant, and probably the South-
wick coutingent. The Springfield taverns and the streets were in a
perfect uproar, and during the 20th and 21st soldiers were con-
stantly forwarded. The British troops had left Boston to the tune
of " Yankee Doodle." In twenty-four hours it was the other army that
was playing that tune. Springfield had been busy for months col-
lecting arms and drilling men. In March the selectmen had given
an order on Treasurer Edward Pyuchon to pay moneys as follows :
Horace White for 2b gun barrels, £35 ; to Martin Ely for 2b gun
locks, £25 ; Reuben
Bliss for stocking 25 guns, chest for same, etc.,
£7-19—6. The town had under its care also sundry of the poor of
Boston sent into the back country. Widow Davis, for example,
'•one of the Dispersed of Boston," was given aid, and the treasurer
paid " To Moses Bliss Esq. for a Horse & Chaise to transport of the
Dispersed of Boston to Wilbraham, 4s 4f/." From the expense
account are taken the following items : —