Daniel Shays and Job Shattuck
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Object type: Print
Date: 1787
Artist: Unidentified Artist
Sitter: Daniel Shays, 1747? - 29 Sep 1825
Job Shattuck, 11 Feb 1736 - 13 Jan 1819
Medium: Relief cut on paper
Dimensions: Image: 9 × 12.9 cm (3 9/16 × 5 1/16")
Book closed: 17.8 × 10.7 cm (7 × 4 3/16")
Book open: 17.8 × 17.8 cm (7 × 7")
Credit line: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Topics: Business and Finance
Social Welfare and Reform
Landowner
Cannon
Natural resources commerce
Insurrectionist
Reformers
Symbols & Motifs
Weapons
Swords
Military and Intelligence
American Revolution (1775-1783)
Military
Farmers
Rebel
Portraits
Flags
Headgear
Tricorne
Agriculturists
Costume
Men
Hats
Militiaman
Officer
Gen. DANIEL SHAYS. Col. JOE SHATTUCK.
Thro' drifted Storms let SHAYS the Court assail And SHATTUCK rifle, illustrious from the Jail In coward Hands let legal Powers expire, And give new Subjects to my founding Lyre.
Remarkable TRANSACTIONS in the LIFE of DAN. SHAYS, Esquire, CHIEF LEADER of the INSURGENTS in the Counties of WORCESTER, HAMPSHIRE, &c.
THIS Personage, lately so much talked of, is descended from a poor family in the County of Worcester, and served his apprenticeship to the farming-business at Brookfield.—From his youth he was remarkable for his stability and dexterity, which, notwithstanding his want of education, was conjectured would one day or other make him famous; the following occurrence will demonstrate the accuracy was not ill-grounded.—At the commencement of the late war, our Hero, then about twenty-three years old, entered the Continental Army, where his activity gained him a sergeantcy:—From a knowledge of his abilities, his Col. thought him a proper person for the recruiting service, and as an inducement to his activity, was promised an Ensign's commission provided he enlisted a certain number of men; this was an opportunity which the ambition of our Hero would not permit him to pass unimproved:—He applied himself with all diligence to his duty, and soon, by intrigue obtained the number; he had now something more in view than an Ensigncy, and continued insisting men, but upon the express condition that he was to be their Commander.—When arrived at camp with his recruits, and the Inspector was proceeding to distribute them among the several regiments, SHAYS presented him the following paper, requesting at the same time a commission to command them, as without it they were not bound to vary.—The army being in want of recruits, a commission at Captain was given him in which grade he continued until a new arrangement of the army took place, when an opportunity was given his Superiors of reviving his dexterity by an arrangement added to the foregoing, another order related of our Hero, placed his character as a soldier, and as a man, in a most disgraceful light. In the year 1780, that distinguished Nobleman, the MARQUESE DE LA FAYETTE, presented the Officers of the Army, each with an elegant sword; this pledge of his affection, which a man of honor and spirit would have sacredly preserved, and handed down to his posterity as a jewel of high price, he was mean enough to dispose of for a trifling consideration.
Though Mr. SHAYS's honour has been called in question, his personal courage is unimpeached:—During the time he passed under General SHEPPARD and himself were at Springfield, an interview was appointed by them to be held between the lines.—As meeting General SHEPPARD complimented our Hero with the title of General—to which he instantly demanded an explanation, adding at the same time, that as he claimed no other rank than Captain, should the General persist in giving him any other, he should consider it as an affront, and would demand immediate satisfaction.
For the Remainder, see last Page.]