Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810 to James Bowdoin
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03427 Author/Creator: Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810 Place Written: Springfield, Massachusetts Type: Manuscript letter Date: January 28, 1787 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; Height: 30.9 cm, Width: 19.7 cm Order a Copy
Marked "copy." Written from "Head Quarters Springfield." Reports on Shay and his supporters' situation. Relates that he and a number of other regiments arrived in Springfield the day before. Writes, "On my arrival I found, that Shays had taken post at a little village, six miles north of this, with the whole force under his [inserted: immediate] command, and that Day had taken post at West Springfield, & that he had fixed a guard at the ferry-house on the west side of the river. By this disposition, all communication, with the north & west in the usual paths were cut off." For a variety of reasons, they decided to take up arms against the insurgents. They arrived and intended to encircle and frighten the insurgents; the insurgents made a small show of force but scattered into the woods in "utmost confusion & disorder." Has received news of the locations of some of the insurgents. Explains what he and the other Generals plan to do next.
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