Justin Hitchcock's Remarks and Observations

74

also probally in self defence as they supposed the
Government might easily thake them if they remained
at home. The party under Shays were at Ludlow
Palmer or Wilbraham. Another party under Capt
Luke Day were at West Springfield and a third
party mostly from Berkshire were at Chicopee
under Eli Parsons. Genl Shepherd with the friends of
Government were posted on the hill to guard
the public stores and had it in their power to be
compleetly Armed and supplyed with Artillery
and amunition. About a week after they had got
collected the Insurgents marched to Springfield
from the East under Daniel Shays Genl Shepherd
sent to them to inform that he had orders from
the secretary of War to defend them public stores if
they advanced he must fire upon them. They
however marched on and the Genl kept his word
and fired with Artillery the second or third shot
killed four of them. And wounded one. The killed
were Spieer of Leyden, Hunter of Shelburn, Root of
Bernardston and Webster of Gill. The effect of this
fireing upon the Insurgents was surprising They
immeatiately retreated and scattered in evry direction
it was said that Shays was backward to head them
That he was constantly surrounded with a council
of old men who rode on each flank in this attack
And when they saw the effect of the Artillery they
turned their horses about and called a loud to