Connecticut western news., 1884-04-09

struggle. On the 30th of May a cal
 was issued for 100000 volunteers tC
 serve three years and then the question
 of arms presented itself with startling
 force. Abram s. Hewitt of New York
 was sent to Europe-to secure arms and
 succeeded in purchasing quite quanti
 ty of refuse Enfield rifles and Austrian
 muskets. The Enfelds were serviceable
 but the Austrians were a miserable apol
 ogy for gun and would puzzle the sol
 dier to determine which would be the
 safest end of the gun when 1t went off
 The capacity of the armory ut Spring
 field had been to manufacture 200 mus.
 kets per day and 1t would necessarily be
 several months before the requisite ma,
 chinery could be put in to very much
 increase the production. The secretary
 of war was therefore authorized to con-
 tract with private parties and contracts
 were gwen out for about 1000, ,0OO, in quantities of 10000 to 100000 each to
 be delivered in monthly quantities of 500 to 2O00, delivery to commence one year from date of contract. Dr W. w.. Welch and associates of this town took a contract to furnish 10000 or so and | although other contractors had the start some two months or more, the work was pushed so that Dr Welch made the sec o'ad delivery of contract arms, Colts Arms Go. with all their facilities being but few days ahead with the first de- livery. The need of arms was so press ing that the secretary of war telegraph ed to Dr Welch to know how soon an- other 800 or 1000 could be got ready.
 The production at the armory had been increased so that at this time (the fall of 1892 they were turning out 1000 rifles per day and as other contractors began to deliver, it was not long before the inspection became more rigid and great many guns that were of service able quality were condemned and left on the contractors hands, to be dispos- ed of outside of government and there being several hundred frst-class guns always on hand, and the second quality accumulating, the armories became in time sort of arsenals.
 After the third call for volunteers had been filled, it was found necessary to make draft and the order was issued in 1863, calling on the different states for their quotas. The idea of being drafted was so repulsive to some natures that considerable opposition was mani fested and in some places, notably in New York city, forcible opposition to the enforcement of the draft was at tempted, but with prompt treatment the riots were quickly put down.
 At the time of the New York riot, or soon after, the matter began to be agi- tated in this town that as there were 5000 or 4000 rifles at the armory and no guard armed and drilled to protect them, raid might be easily organized outside and the arms cleaned out. Shortly after, there began to be whisper ings that there was a considerable terri tory, the headquarters of which was be- ieved to be on high ground in Sandis- field, but extending in several directions where the disafection was universal and the only question as to the advisability of forcible resistance of the draft was that of arms and ammunition. It was soon afterwards rumored that the disaf- fected had organized extensively and were laying in stores of ammunition and an attack on the Norfolk armorY was likely to occur at any time. Dr Welch the contractor was singularly oblivious of the imminent danger to his interests and the peril of the government, and seemed to be wholly indifferent to the matter
 Whether circumstances make the men or men make the circumstances, it is certain that great emergencies call out qualities to meet them and as soon as it was ascertained with reasonable certain ty what day the insurgents would make their descent, measures were taken to remove the arms. After little discus sion it was thought best to make stand at the Stevens house as that was three stories high and in good position, and the night before the rebels were to break camp for the attack, the arms were carted up between 10 and o'clock and safely deposited. where the position was deemed impregnable and so one more danger to the Republic was avert ed by little exercise of prompt intre- pidity.
 Once inaugurated it would have gone hard with the United States to have quelled that insurrection, but so thor oughly were the measures for protection and defense carried out, that it is doubtful if a single insurgent ever appeared in the town. VERITAs.
 MRS HATTIE G. HOUSE.