---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE PURSUIT OF CAPT SHAYS

Recalled on the Anniversary of Gen Lin-
coln's Visit to Amherst.

To the Editor of The Republican:

One hundred and fourteen years ago to-day
(January 28, 1787) the people of Amherst
looked upon the greatest display of real
fighting soldiers after an enemy that has
ever been seen within the town's borders.
At about noon of that day, or possibly a
little past that hour, Maj Gen Benjamin
Lincoln, in command of four regiments of
Massachusetts infantry, three companies of
artillery, and one company of cavalry,
mostly raised in the eastern part of the
state, marched into the village of Amherst
in pursuit of Capt Daniel Shays and 1100
insurgent followers of the rebel captain,
who at an earlier hour had marched
through the town on his way to Pelham.
Shays and his forces had made an unsuc-
cessful attack upon the militia under Gen
Shepard at Springfield on the 25th, the
purpose being to take the United States
arsenal. Notwithstanding the fact that the
insurgents under Capt Shays were old con-
tinental soldiers, one discharge of a cannon,
directed at the center of the rebel column,
killing three men and wounding a fourth,
was enough for Capt Shays, and his forces
retreated without a musket being fired.

Gen Lincoln, marching from Boston and
Worcester, arrived in Springfield with his
men on the 27th, and on the 28th, at 2
o'clock in the morning, began the march
toward Amherst in pursuit of Capt Shays
and his rebels, slow progress being made
because of the deep snow, and on reaching
this town, Shays and his men were far
away, among the Pelham hills.

Gen Lincoln halted his troops at Amherst
Center, and, making an examination of the
houses, found very few men, mostly wom-
en and children. Giving orders to the peo-
ple not to furnish aid and comfort to the
insurgents, he marched his men to Hadley,
where there was better opportunity for
maintaining his forces in camp. On the 3d
of February, at 8 o'clock at night, Gen
Lincoln marched his men from Hadley
through the northern part of this town,
through Shutesbury and New Salem to
Petersham, making a most phenomenal
march in the face of a fierce northeast
snow-storm and the bitter cold of an old-
fashioned winter, which prevented any halt
for rest or refreshment along the march
over the rough, hilly country between Had-
ley and Petersham. The van of Gen Lin-
coln's troops reached Petersham at 9 a.m.
February 4, 1787, with the rear five miles
away. Capt Shays was greatly surprised,
and he and his insurgent followers fled in
all directions.

C. O. F. [?]

Amherst, January 23, 1901.