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William Shepard to Henry Knox Regarding His "Situation"

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Springfield, Jany 12th, 1787


Dear Sir,

Knowing your anxiety to be informed of every move-
ment, which has or will take place in this State, with a design
to restore peace and tranquility once more in this unhappy
Commonwealth; I enclose to you a Copy of his Excellency's
General orders, and one of a letter from General Lincoln to
me, both of which at present remain a secret, excepting what is
relative to my division. If this letter, with its enclosures, should
unfortunately miscarry, and by that means fall into the hands
of the disaffected, I should never forgive myself for the risque

By the perusal of those papers you will impartially &
clearly judge of my situation. Half the Militia which will
be in the field, for the defence of the public stores, will not have
arms so good as clubs, and there is not a single piece of Artil-
lery in this division. Must I, thus prepared with arms, hazard
the safety of the stores, the defeat of my party, the disgrace
which would fall on myself, and the security of the State,
by a wicked Banditti of rebels? God forbid. You will, Sir, for
a moment consider, that the greater part of the insurgents
will go from from the Counties of Hampshire & Berkshire,
and in their rout probably pass by these stores. If they are
determined to carry their point, and subject the whole State