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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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1787.] SHAYS REBELLION. 503<br />

The Insurgents Pre- The addi'ess <strong>of</strong> the GovemoF was dated<br />

pare to Resist.<br />

i[^q jg*'' <strong>of</strong> January. On the 15*'', the <strong>in</strong>surgents<br />

presented a manifesto, signed by<br />

Shays and four other leaders, to the company <strong>of</strong>ficers<br />

throughout the county, urg<strong>in</strong>g the assembl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> their<br />

commands, well armed and equipped with ten days' pro-<br />

visions, and that they march <strong>in</strong> season to be at or near Dr.<br />

H<strong>in</strong>ds <strong>in</strong> Pelham, by Friday, the 19"' <strong>in</strong>st. In this document<br />

it is asserted that the " Governor and his adherents "<br />

had not only determ<strong>in</strong>ed to support the courts "by the<br />

po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>of</strong> the sword," " but to crush the power <strong>of</strong> the people<br />

at one bold stroke, and render them <strong>in</strong>capable <strong>of</strong> ever oppos<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the cruel power, Tyranny by br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g those who<br />

have steped forth to ward <strong>of</strong>f the evil that threatens the<br />

people with immediate ru<strong>in</strong>, to an unconditioned submis-<br />

sion, and their leaders with an <strong>in</strong>famous punishment." ^<br />

The Arsenal to be<br />

Seized.<br />

In Spr<strong>in</strong>gfield had been established dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

i\^q Revolutiou a Federal arsenal. It was<br />

located on the site <strong>of</strong> the present Armory,<br />

and conta<strong>in</strong>ed a number <strong>of</strong> muskets and a few field-pieces,<br />

besides a small amount <strong>of</strong> military stores. Shays and his<br />

party determ<strong>in</strong>ed to seize this depository before the soldiers<br />

under Gen. L<strong>in</strong>coln should arrive. Gen. Shepherd, <strong>in</strong> accordance<br />

with orders <strong>from</strong> headquarters, at once occupied<br />

the post. He had under him about twelve hundred^ men,<br />

militia <strong>of</strong> Hampshire County. A large number <strong>of</strong> these<br />

men were <strong>from</strong> towns <strong>in</strong> this vic<strong>in</strong>ity, many <strong>of</strong> whom had<br />

collected at <strong>Northampton</strong> on the 17"' <strong>of</strong> January. On the<br />

morn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the follow<strong>in</strong>g day, about one hundred sleighs,<br />

filled with soldiers, left this town for Spr<strong>in</strong>gfield. About<br />

one hundred thirty <strong>of</strong> them were <strong>from</strong> <strong>Northampton</strong> and<br />

between fifty and sixty <strong>from</strong> Southampton. Nearly all the<br />

people <strong>of</strong> the Hamptons and Hadleys were on the side <strong>of</strong><br />

the government. The <strong>in</strong>surgents or regulators began to<br />

collect at West Spr<strong>in</strong>gfield on the 19"', and on the 21'',<br />

their number at that place was three hundred fifty, which<br />

was soon <strong>in</strong>creased to five hundred or six hundred. They<br />

1 Hampshire Gazette, Jan'y 24"', 1787.<br />

2 The newspapers <strong>of</strong> the day put the number at fifteen hundred, and Dr. Holland<br />

gives it as eleven hundred.

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