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

1783.] REVOLUTION—ARMY SUPPLIES— SAMUEL ELY. 459
They were too late, however. The acts of the mob are thus
described by a contemporary —
:
" Between 4 and G o'clock p. m. about 150 men, from the Northwestern
part of the county of Hampshire, came into Springfield, with
swords and gims, broke open the goal with axes and cleavers, and released
Samuel Ely, one McKnoll, a debtor, and a negro runaway, and
then marched off with Ely. Most of the male inhabitants were absent
at the funeral of Rev. Stephen Williams of Longmeadow. People ral-
lied and pursued them and received 3 persons as hostages for the return
of Ely. * * * Northampton and other towns in its vicinity manifested
a good spirit, and in 24 hours more than 1000 men were under
arms."
The Mob Pursued. CoL Elisha Porter of Hadley, High Sheriff
of the county, proceeded at once to the
scene of operations. With the men from Northampton,
and such others as could be hastily gathered in Springfield,
he organized a company and sent it in pursuit of the mob.
In order to prevent them from crossing the river, Col. Porter
secured all the boats on the east side as far up as Had-
ley. Col. Burt,i who had command of the pursuing party,
overtook the rioters at South Hadley, where, after a blood-
less skirmish, both detachments encamped for the night.
Porter gathered a small force at Northampton the next
morning, and marched to Hadley with the intention of intercepting
the mob. Unable to cross the river, pursued by
Col. Burt, and menaced by Col. Porter, the mob turned
towards Amherst. A detachment under Capt. Solomon
Allen of Northampton, sent to intercept them, came upon
their flank, and a lively ''set to" occurred, resulting in a
number of broken heads. When Col. Porter arrived, a
parley ensued. A conference committee of five from each
party was chosen, and the mob marched willingly to Northampton
to escape the falling rain, while matters were under
discussion. In case no satisfactory arrangements were
made, the lawbreakers were to be allowed to assume their
previous belligerent attitude. While these negotiations
were in progress Ely made good his escape.
1 Col. Gideon Burt of 1"' Berkshire Regiment.