The  frequent  popular  meetings,  and  the  prevention  of  the
sitting  of  the  courts,  having  made  it  necessary  to  exert  the
power  of  the  government,  Gen. Lincoln,  as  before  mentioned,
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  a  force,  which  he  con-
ducted to  Worcester,  in  January,  1787. The  arrival  of  these
troops,  at  that  place,  enabled  the  court  to  hold  its  session
there,  undisturbed. The  insurgents  concentrated  their  forces
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Springfield. Luke  Day  was  at  the
head  of  about  400,  and  Daniel  Shays  at  the  head  of  about
1100. The  latter  had  been  an  officer  in  the  continental
army. General  William  Shepherd,  afterwards  a  member
of  Congress,  had  the  command  of  about  1100  of  the  militia  of


ON    PUBLIC    CHARACTERS. 7

the  county  of  Hampshire. Shays  was  on  the  east  side  of
Springfield,  and  Day  on  the  westerly  side  of  it. Shep-
herd, supposing  it  to  be  Shays's  object  to  possess  himself  of
the  arsenal  there,  posted  his  troops  for  its  defence. Lincoln
directed  his  march  from  Worcester  to  Springfield. Shays,
knowing  of  the  approach  of  Lincoln,  found  it  indispensable
to  attempt  the  defeat  of  Shepherd  before  Lincoln  could  ar-
rive. Relying  on  the  aid  of  Day,  on  the  western  side,
Shays  approached  Shepherd's  position  on  the  afternoon  of
January  the  25th. When  they  had  come  within  a  short  dis-
tance, Shepherd  sent  messengers  to  them  demanding  to  know
their  purpose,  and  warning  them  of  their  danger. Shays
answered,  that  he  meant  to  have  possession  of  the  bar-
racks. Shepherd  replied  to  him,  that  he  was  posted  there,
by  order  of  the  Government,  and  of  Congress ;  and  that
if  Shays  came  any  nearer,  he  and  his  body  of  men  would
be  fired  upon. He  was  answered,  that  was  what  was
wanted. The  insurgents  were  within  250  yards  of  Shep-
herd's line ;  and  when  they  had  advanced  an  hundred  yards
further,  Shepherd  ordered  two  cannon  to  be  fired,  but,  un-
willing to  shed  the  blood  of  his  deluded  fellow-citizens,
caused  the  shot  to  be  thrown  over  their  heads. This
measure  not  having  intimidated  them,  as  he  hoped  it
would,  his  guns  were  then  pointed  to  the  centre  of  their
column  and  discharged. 