Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-03-20

Iresolyed 10 resort TO stop law measures; they
prescribed sheriffs, lawyers, judges and courts.
The disafected succeeded in their attempts to
Exclude lawyers from their seats in the general
court; still the Legislators were unable to re-
dress the fancied grievances of the discomfort
ed. In the autumn of 1886, the malcontents
assembled in mul;tudes at the shire towns, and
by force prevented the sittings of the courts of
justice.
Daniel Shays appeared at the head Of 1000
armed men at Springfield to prevent the sitting
of the Supreme Court Gen. VIM. Shepard,
however, had pre-occupied the court house,
and Shays retired. When the Legislature as
sembled, an act passed to suspend the pri-
vilege OF the habeus corpus, and the gov
ernor (Bowdon) was authorized TO arrest
by state warrant any seditious insurgent,
Iand mprison him without bail or main
prise. Shays and the other insurgent chiefiains
marched TO Worcester and Concord, TO stop the
courts. The governor despatched parties Of
volunteer cavalary from Boston into Worces-
ter and Middlesex counties in November, and
Job Shattuck and several others were arrest !,
ed and confined in Boston Jail AT this time
there were strong apprehensions that the rebel
forces would march TO Boston and make despe- .
rate efforts to liberate these prisoners from Jail
Shays had exclaimed with an oath that he
would have done il, had it not been for that
county OF Essex. Essex was almost the only
county that was perfectly loyal and unaffected.
In Old Hampshire, Shays with 800 of his fol
lowers, took possession of the court house at
Springfield, and prevented the sitting of the
court.
The Governor, finding the posse comitatus
was too weak to resist such violence, ordered
,V,to4 t,t- l.
ltia to be raised, and be ready TO act on the
| 9th of January, 1887, under major general
Benjamin Lincoln. A body of militia reached
tected. General Shepard, with another de.
tachment Of the militia of 100 men, was
stationed at Springfield to protect the arsenal
The rebels under Daniel Shays, Duke Day,
and Eli Parsons, soon gathered force in that
vicinity of 1000 men, and on the 25th Janua-
ry, advanced in II menacing manner towards
the arsenal. Gen. Shepard sent an aid de-
camp to enquire into the design of the move
nrnt, and to warn Shays of his danger. The
answer was that they would have possession of
the barracks; and they Immediately marched.
to within $50 yards Of the arsenal They
were again warned that if they approached
nearer they would be fired on; still they adj
vanced He then ordered the artillery to be
pointed at the centre of their column. The
cry of murder then arose from the rear of the,
insurgents, and the whole were struck with
panic and confusion. Shays lost all control.
over them, and they fled precipitatcly 10 miles,
leaving three dead and one wounded. Genera.
Lincoln arrived on the 9th and commenced a
pursuit of the rebels, which continued until
the principal part were dispersed.
Those who held together, on the Sd day of
February, marched to Petersham. General
Lincoln, with his forces, commenced the pur
suit at o'clock the same evening, and made0
forced march of 80 miles through deep snow,
severe cold and amid violent storm. At nine
o'clock the following morning, he reached Pc
tersham, rushed upon the unsuspecting rebels,
routed them without bloodshed, and took $50
prisoners.
Shays and the other leaders escaped, and
fled for refuge first to the New Hampshire
Grants-since the state of Vermont Gov.
Chittenden, DESTROYS of augmenting the popu-
lation of that territory, was disposed TO give
them shelter; but governor Bowdoin sent to,
demand the refugees. They then fled to the
of retiring to Canada; but the British COM
mander at the latter post refused to allow them
to pass, unless Lord Dorchester, the Canadian
Governor in Chief, first granted permission
They turned back and were sometime conceal~
ed in Vermont
On the 10th of March, tho General Court
appointed three commissioners. GcnerafLin-
coin, Hon. 5. Phillips, jr. and the Hon. 5. A.
Otis, to proceed to the western counties, for
the purpose OF granting indemnify TO the In
Isurgcnts, on their making submission and
taking the oath of allegiance Seven hundred
and ninety persons took the benefit of the COM