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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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414 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1778.<br />

ma<strong>in</strong>ly <strong>in</strong> the soiithern part <strong>of</strong> the county, under command<br />

<strong>of</strong> Enoch Chap<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> West Spr<strong>in</strong>gfield. It was stationed<br />

at Spr<strong>in</strong>gfield to guard the public stores, as well as the<br />

British prisoners. Their term <strong>of</strong> service was six months.<br />

Probably no man <strong>from</strong> this town was <strong>in</strong> either <strong>of</strong> these<br />

companies.<br />

The Expedition to In December, 1776, the British had landed<br />

Rhode Island. ^ forcc <strong>of</strong> six tliousaud men under Lord<br />

Percy at Newport, which was at that time<br />

one <strong>of</strong> the most thriv<strong>in</strong>g seaport towns <strong>of</strong> New England.<br />

The alliance with France brought a powerful fleet and an<br />

army <strong>of</strong> four thousand men to aid the cause <strong>of</strong> liberty. In<br />

connection with this fleet it was determ<strong>in</strong>ed to attempt to<br />

drive the enemy <strong>from</strong> Rhode Island. Gen. Sullivan held<br />

the command, and <strong>in</strong> a short time he had a force <strong>of</strong> n<strong>in</strong>e<br />

thousand men ready to co-operate with the French. Stress<br />

<strong>of</strong> weather prevented Count D" Estang <strong>from</strong> mak<strong>in</strong>g a<br />

demonstration <strong>from</strong> the sea, and the expedition failed <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>its</strong> purpose. It was to re<strong>in</strong>force this army that the requisi-<br />

tion for eighteen hundred men, made <strong>in</strong> June, was required,<br />

though the dest<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> a part <strong>of</strong> the troops was<br />

afterwards changed. It is supposed that no men <strong>from</strong><br />

<strong>Northampton</strong> were <strong>in</strong> this army.<br />

<strong>Northampton</strong> Re- The abovc statement <strong>in</strong>cludes all the men<br />

'^ru<strong>its</strong>. <strong>Northampton</strong> was called upon to fjirnish<br />

dur<strong>in</strong>g this year, so far as can be ascer-<br />

ta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>from</strong> the records. Aside <strong>from</strong> those who enlisted<br />

for the war <strong>in</strong> the Cont<strong>in</strong>ental army the year previous, but<br />

few names appear.<br />

The Town Militia. The <strong>Northampton</strong> militia was divided <strong>in</strong>to<br />

five companies <strong>in</strong> 1777 and 1778, number<strong>in</strong>g<br />

about two hundred thirty-one <strong>of</strong>ficers and men. One company,<br />

commanded by Capt. Joseph Cook, covered territory<br />

embrac<strong>in</strong>g the southeast side <strong>of</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Street, West and<br />

South Streets, and a part <strong>of</strong> Lower Farms, and conta<strong>in</strong>ed<br />

fifty-eight names. Another, commanded by Capt. Oliver<br />

Lyman, comprised Bridge Street, or the Pla<strong>in</strong>, Hawley,<br />

Pleasant and Market Streets, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Caleb Strong's

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