***Daniel Stebbins reminisces of Shays's Rebellion, written 1845***

Dan Stebbins rem. vol. I, pp. 45-9

It had been resolved by the Insurgents, that it was necessary that the
Continental Stores of arms & ammunition at Springfield should be
obtained "peaceably if they could."

A large party of Insurgents, under Capt. Shays, were assembled in
Springfield Street, at the North End, extending near a mile about the
Court House -- the main encampment, was in the street above Ferry Street
-- the numbers daily increasing -. In the meantime, the friends of
Government were busily and expressly engaged to prevent open rupture and
a compromise took place.

As a matter of show - Capt. Isaac Williams of Springfield -- who had
known Shays during the Revolutionary War as a brave soldier -- took
command of a Company of Volunteers hastily collected on the occasion in
support of government, and paraded in front of the Court House opposite
the Meeting House Square on open space -. Where in years preceding Esq.
Williams was \[???\] Capt. Shays was permitted to march his men through
Main Street with full display of military parade and thence on to
Continental Hill along and around the arsenal -- public stores and
buildings -- unmolested - with music -- Colors flying -- nominally to
take possession of the Public Grounds -- but to do no injury -- and in
like peaceable manner to return again to their encampment -- and thence
to dispense his men to their respective towns.

It might have been the wish of Capt. Shays to let his men see the ground
which, at some other day, he hoped to possess with all the military
stores thereon standing -- and that his men, from this eminence, might
see the goodly town of Springfield spread out before and beneath them --
a pleasant sight to behold -- but which, no doubt, some of the beholders
had already adjudged, would become a heap of ruins that another serious
opposition should be made.

The marching of the Insurgents, unmolested, upon -- over and around
Continental Hill, was taking the [Third]{.underline} step in the
Rebellion. The first being the liberation of Parson Ely from jail, by
force,. The Second -- stopping the Courts at Springfield. But, perhaps
the course adopted by the friends of government was wise and proper,
under existing conditions.

Capt. Shays made all the display he could, in passing the Court House --
and the men under Capt. Williams -- and the principle men of the Town.
Between the Court House and the Meeting House, was a large open space,
now filled with a dense crowd of spectators, ready to join the strongest
party.

Capt. Shays marched in front of his men, with Flags flying, a large band
of music with Drums and fifes -. While passing Capt. Williams Company,
with arms presented complimenting each other in the military style,
Shays & Williams exchanged the Wink of the Eyes -. They had known each
other in the Continental service. When Shays' troops had passed, many of
the spectators cast about them what to do, whether to stand their ground
or join Shays whose party numerically appear'd the strongest, when
compare with the small number under arms with Capt. Williams. -- then,
like a flock of sheep, one & another sprang forward, then a general rush
of idle fellows, upon Shays' rear with shouldered stock, & clubs and
then marched on to the Continental Hill, and returned with the party.

The privilege granted the Insurgents of marching on Continental Hill,
under Capt. Shays unmolested, only stimulated them to hope they might
eventually obtain actual possession if the arsenal -- magazine and all
the public stores and public property, with a splendid park of artillery
-- for which purpose, great expectations had been made and were still in
progress -. A large stock of provisions had been furnished by the
farmers. The plan was laid for an attack to be made simultaneously by
Three separate divisions, under as many designated leaders.

At a certain time appointed by Capt. Shays and his Council, were to meet
and take the premises by surprise -- one division under Capt. Parsons,
was to be stationed at Chicopee about 2 ½ miles across the woods, north
of Continental Hill -- another division under Capt. Luke Day in West
Springfield about 1 ½ mile in a direct line distant -. The third & last
division under Shays, the Commander in Chief, was to approach from the
East, by the Great Road across Springfield Plains -- Capt. Parsons to
approach from the North and Capt. Day from the West -.

Arrangements were made, that intelligence should to and from this
Tripple Alliance. An express from Shays' head quarters to Capt. Parsons
& Day, designating the day and hour to concentrate their forces on
Continental Hill -- through the vigilance of General Shepherd then in
command of the Government Party, the express was intercepted --
developing the whole plan of [Shays]{.underline} -- this gave ample time
to prepare for the defense of the public property -.

Capt. Shays was punctual to the hour and to his surprise found General
Shepherd ready to receive him -. The Insurgents halted when they came in
sight of the Public Buildings distant about one or 200 rods -- Capt.
Shays rode to the head of his troops and called about him a Counsel of
Advisor who had followed him as an escort -- a numerous collection of
mounted volunteers, clustered around him, and after an hours
consultation retired to the rear of the troops -.

General Shepherd had caused a line of demarkation to be made & sent a
message to Capt. Shays, that if he attempted to pass that line, he
(Gen'l Shepherd) would feel justified in repelling the violation of his
orders and should defend the public property.

Most of General Shepherd's troops secreted within and behind the Public
Buildings and out of sight -- scouting parties were hovering in the
bushes on the right and left but out of sight -- the Cavalry also in
readiness with mounted Centinels constantly passing and repassing in
sight of the Insurgents but knew when to come in -- the passing of the
Line - & even Capt. Shays and his Council returned from the front -- his
advanced Guard of about 400 Old Soldiers, who had seen service, begun
march toward the Public Buildings -- eight deep, shoulder to shoulder in
plain sight of the writer, commanded with one Capt. White, with whom the
writer became personally acquainted in after years. Captain was a brave
soldier of the Revolution. General Shepherd's aides & cavalry being
called in, were drawn up on the left of the field pieces between the
latter & the General and the General's Guard on the right of the cannon
-- were up the road and in plain sight of Shays' troops -- the field
pieces -- the Insurgents called them "Government Puppies" -- but they
dare not open their mouth and "bark" -- or even dare bark at them.

General Shepherd was true to his orders, but did not put it in execution
untill he saw a determination to persevere -. The field pieces were
elevated so that the balls might pass over the heads of the Insurgents
as far on either side, in hopes that the discharge might check them -.
But it only hastened them onward, the balls passing far in the rear
among the pine shrubbery and within the hearing of Shays' mounted
volunteers, who were so frightened or astonished it was said that no
less than 20 fell from their horses through sheer fright.

The firing of the pieces accelerated the step of the advance Guard into
a trot -- at every flash of the cannons, the old soldiers in range of
the guns dropped prostrate -- but instantly in place again as soon as
the balls had passed.

After the first two discharges, I heard Gen. Shepherd's directions to
lower the pieces [Waistband]{.underline} high. At this time the advance
was passing a curve in the road -- so that a shot to take effect would
reach them about midway of the line -. One of the artillery men who
handled the sponge of one of the guns - supposing that his gun was
discharged -- stepped forward to sponge his gun -- thrust it into the
muzzle while the fuzee was applied. The ball took off both of his arms
of poor Challinder, killed two of the Insurgents and mortally wounded a
third. The rear of Shays' party began to run and so rapid the flight --
that Capt. White, the commander, was left entirely alone -- he halted a
moment -- casting a look of scorn behind and before -- brought the
breech of his gun to his feet, and with contemptuous look upon the
government party and turning toward the party who had deserted him
sprang into the bushes at the top of his speed.

The government cavalry wished to pursue the Insurgents -- but General
Shepherd refused -- with the proviso however, that if they returned
again, the request would be granted. The Insurgents had seen enough to
convince them the government was in earnest, and had no inclination to
return -- but made all possible haste in escaping on the road to Ludlow.

[Anecdote]{.underline}: Being stationed on the right hand of field
pieces and very near them in a position to hear and see all going on the
Feather Bed Company so called, the General's Guard -- composed of
lawyers students merchants and scholars -- being then a member of Old
Yale a sophimore -- was placed in the rear rank, leaving Elias
Hitchcock, who died in Northampton, in the front rank who had been an
Old Soldier & at this time had in his Knapsack his blanket & three days
provision - . Never watched the cat the mouse more attentively than I
did the Insurgents over Hitchcock's shoulders. General Tupper rode in
front of the Company with instructions "that if anyone wish'd to retire
he could do it without disgrace" -- only one had the Bellyache and
retired and his place filled by young James Byers -. I should rather
have been safe in the Walls of Old Yale and did intend to escape with a
whole skin, but could not be called a coward -- therefore stood my
ground watching as above and calculating that if a bullet should strike
Hitchcock its force would be spent by passing through his body & pack
before reaching me -- "[what a brave soldier was I]{.underline}"!!

**Forbes Lib., Northampton, MA**