Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-12-27
THE SHARON REBELLION.
An Incident OF the Construction OF
the Vermont Central Railroad.


the Vermont Central Railroad,
An incident OF unwritten local history
OF the town OF sharon Is thus told BY ii.
W. Vail OF this ee'-About sixty years
ago the Central Vermont railroad Was
built from Windsor 10 81. Albans and
most OF the labor was performed by
lrishmen, A man by the name OF Bel
KNAPP had a contract to build certain
number of miles Of the road, part of
which was in the town OF Sharon, lie
had a large gang OF laborers in his em-
ploy, but unfortunately he failed and was
unable 10 pay his men for the labor
which they had faithfully performed.
The lrishmen naturally did not like this
and thinking that the town In which
they had worked was somehow TO blame
Tor their failure TO secure the wages due,
they threatened TO destroy the little vii
lage OF sharon near which they were.
The peaceful inhabitants were thorough
~ alarmed aud collected the militia of
the neighboring towns TO help defend
them. They also sent for Capt. Alden
Partridge aud his Norwich cadets 10 come
TO their aid. Capt, Partridge had been
superintendent OF West Point academy
and was the founder Of Norwich uniyer-
sity, the military college OF Vermont.
He marched the cadets to Sharon, about
ten miles as the crow flies, and the boys
brought with them cannon belonging
To the institution. This railroad men
were ON one side OF the river whith runs
through the town and we're armed with
pickaxes, iron bars, shovels and anything
else they could find which could be used
as weapon. The military, supported by
citizens, were on the other side OF the
river. There was bridge across and
Capt. Partridge planted his cannon al
1 N nd NJ this ~ "A = N nrFXRnf The CROSS
| ing OF the enemy. Ii was not the bridge
/ OF Lodi and the lrishman had no Napoleon
to lead them, but with the galiantry OF
their race they moved up to their end OF
the bridge and prepared to rush across.
Capt. Partridge had loaded his cannon
with blank cartridge and, as the lrishmen
stepped onto the bridge encouraging each
other with cries OF "Come on, b'ys down
wild the spalpeens % the match, at word
of command, was applied and thunder
Gus report was heard which startled the
enemy and checked the assault. They
saw the fame leap from the lannon's
mouth and cloud OF smoke roll upward
and supposed cannon ball had been
fired at them.
They perceived that the gun was being
rapidly reloaded and they were thrown in
to confusion. At this suspicious moment
the Captain shouted in stentorian tones: =
4 "Chafge ~
With a cheer the cadets and militia
armed with muskets and bayonets, dashed
on TO the bridge. IL was no cause FOL
shame to the undisciplined and unarmec
Irishmen that, seeing the rapid advance o
glistening steel in the hands OF uniformed
soldiers, they recoiled from the attack
They Immediately dispersed and stood no
on the order Of their going. The bloodles
battle OF Sharon Bridge was over and tn
rose OF Sharon bloomed in peace one
more.
Mr.. Vail was a small boy at the time o
the battle but distinctly remembers II
Thirty years later he was business mai
and for time engaged in Transporting
blooded stock from Vermont to the West
On one OF these trips with some carload
of Jersey cattle his train was side-tracke'
. in the suburbs of Chicago and he had L
wait there some hours. Looking acros
the numerous tracks he saw little house
not far away, in the open door OF whicl
stood an elderly stalwart man in hi
J shirtsleeves evidently regarding the cattle
! man with some curiosity. Finally tn
, man in the house descended the steps an
walked over the tracks to the place wher
the other man stood beside car.
"What have We in there ?" was the frs
interrogatory.
"Jersey cattle.n was the response.
"kin see 'em "
! "Certainly," and the younger ma
helped his visitor into the car where b
examined the sleek cattle with pleasure.
; "Where did they come from p was tn
, next inquiry.
"Vermont."
81 know that same. was there wanst.
"What town were you in?"
~Twas Sharon-a name town, too.
5 hate it.n
e "What's the matter with Sharon?
come from there"
e aye do TN tell We. | was workin' Q
q the railroad there and niver got clint II
. it. An the sojers druv Us away wild car
non, or we would av smashed things"
d THAT was good while ago when l W,
boy. How did you get here ?"
81 shoveled livery inch Of me way here,
did-an' / was paid for it,"
4 "That's right, and you ought to ha'
8 been paid in Sharon"
;. 81 had that; but I'm all right now.
d own-that house and Pve good job W
the railroad"
g The old rebel was pleased to meet vii
5 one from the land of his enemies and
8 invited the Vermonter over to his hou
g where he showed with pride his comfor
O ably furnished home, his garden and tru
: trees and, altogether, treated his guest
/; well as though they had fought on t
o same side in the war of the Sharon Rebe
g lion.