The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-06-07

the properly OF an independent company, VIII
were disaffectej with the authorities, but ha
not joined Dorr. The band obeyed his order
and seized the guns, dragged them to his qua,
tiers before the eyes of our citizens, some I
whom were armed and anxions for orders ,
retake them. Governor King did not issue til
order because they were claimed as priya,
property, and he was unwilling to spill bloot
on question of simple theft, reserving it unit
the contest came upon the main question-re
bellion or good order.
Dorr gave his commands that the guns shout
be loaded, and his friends stand ready for i'm
mediate action-his intention was to begin hi
operation that ght by an attack on the Stat
Arsenal Information was Immediately CARR
ed to the quarters of the Governor, who issuet
Proclamation, calling upon the citizens to re
pair to the arsenal and arm themselves. The
call was Immediately responded to and thu
street leading to the arsenal was lined with
men going and returning with loaded musket:
and fixed bayoneis. They took them to theil
homes that they might be ready for action a,
the first alarm:
At Two o'clock on Wednesday morning the
tocsin sounded the alarm, The insurgents had
broken up their encampment. and were in full
march for the arsenal, with Dorr at their head.
1t was defended by three City Companies, the
Marine Artillery and Cadets, reinforced by cit.
liens, who we're stationed within the building
and the Light Infantry, who were posted out.
side, in all about one hundred and fifty men,
with cannon charged with grape and can.
lister. Dorr marched his troops upon the
plain, drew them up in order, and planted his
cannon. He sent in flag of truce demand.
ing possession.
Col. Blodget. who was in command, asked
For whom, ard in whose namel'
The answer was, For Governor Dorr,' in
the name of Colonel Wheeler.
He said that he knew no such man and that
if they attacked the Arsenal it would be de.
Tended. When the flag returned, Dorr gave
orders 10 fire, but his guns flashed three times
II is said that there was dlsaffection in his
ranks, and some of his men had dampened the
powder. Whatever was the cause. the hand
of God was in ii. One discharge would have
moved down ranks Of the best young blood in
our city, but Dorr would never have survived
it. 1t is rumored that ten marksmen lay con-
cealed with their pieces pointed at him, ready
TO shoot him down so soon as a gun was lis.
charged. Finding that it was useless to at
tempt the attack then, and perhaps suspecting
the disaffection, he ordered his troops to re.
prepare for action after breakfast.
Early in the morning the Mayor issued
call 10 the citizens TO repair TO one Of the al
arm posts, armed. He was promptly obeyed,
by numbers of our most distinguished citizens
old and young-among them was one old vet.
eran of eighty, who was so eager to carry his
musket again, that the most earnest persuasion
was necessary to induce him to lay it down.
The troops were drawn up in order about
o'clock, and having been joined by about two
hundred who were collected al moments
warning from the Southern counties, it is said
t:iat the order was given 10 their commander,
Col VIM. Blodget, to take Dorr dead or alive
in half an hour. Five hundred strong, they
took up their line of march, and hating short
distance from the hill. on which The insurgents
were posted, each man was refreshed with a
draft pure water.
DORIS party was most advantageously sta.
toned at the top of the hill, with cannon Gu
ough TO defend every avenue of access. Ma
ny of his men naturally desperate, were rend-
cred almost mad by intoxication. Balls had
been taken from the guns, and instead thereof,
one was charged with several pounds of small
pieces Of iron and lead.
Knowing all this, our men advanced as still
as the grave; not word was said. and nothing
heard but the word Of command and The steady
measured tramp. The thoughts of every man
were spoken in his face. They were away
with their wives and children, their mothers,
their Sisters and their beirothed. Certain
death stared them il the face. and yet they
were willing to sacrifice themselves and all
theirs at the call Of duty.
When they arrived at the foot of the hill.
they were divided into two detachments, one
10 march round, and entering the rear of DORIS
quarters the seize him aud attack his band on
the flank; the other to march up in the face of
his cannon, and make an attack simultaneous.
ly with the first detachment. When the order
was given, two and two they steadily ascend
ed the hill. A crowd of spectators suddenly
rushed aside TO the right and left, and the
way was cleared in front of the cannon. Stea-
Oily and sill our men advanced! They reach
ed the top os the hill and they came within
reach of the cannon-a man was seen 10 Jump
astride one of them, and swearing that he had
no dearer wish than it should be recorded on
his tombstone that this was the first blood shed
in such cause, he brandished his torch aloft
and bringing it down had well mig applied
it to charge which would have scattered death
through noble and devoted band. when fell
low soldier more humane. or more fearful,
struck aside The torch and they were yet safe.
Filing off at the right. the detachment ascend
ed bank which placed them little above the
opposing cannon, where it was more difficult
TO rake them. Their advance was still steady;
not a man fell back-Bot man quailed-not
a man murmured.
The first detachment assembled the hill in the
rear of the house where Dorr was supposed TO
be. No cannon were opposed TO them. As
they approached the house, a large body of the
insurgents met them with bayonets fixed and
muskets pointed. The order was given to halt
and prepare TO charge. Their commander
came forward, ard in the name of Governor