The federal government had been unable to recruit soldiers for the army because of a lack of funding, so Massachusetts leaders determined to act independently.
On January 4, 1787, Governor Bowdoin proposed creating a privately funded militia army.
Former Continental Army General Benjamin Lincoln solicited funds and raised more than £6,000 from more than 125 merchants by the end of January.
The 3,000 militiamen who were recruited into this army were almost entirely from the eastern counties of Massachusetts, and they marched to Worcester on January 19.

While the government forces assembled, Shays and Day and other rebel leaders in the west organized their forces establishing regional regimental organizations that were run by democratically elected committees.
Their first major target was the federal armory in Springfield.
General Shepard had taken possession of the armory under orders from Governor Bowdoin, and he used its arsenal to arm a militia force of 1,200.
He had done this despite the fact that the armory was federal property, not state, and he did not have permission from Secretary at War Henry Knox.

The insurgents were organized into three major groups and intended to surround and attack the armory simultaneously.
Shays had one group east of Springfield near Palmer, Luke Day had a second force across the Connecticut River in West Springfield, and the force under Eli Parsons was to the north at Chicopee.
The rebels had planned their assault for January 25, but Day changed this at the last minute and sent a message to Shays indicating that he would not be ready to attack until the 26th.
Day's message was intercepted by Shepard's men, so the militia of Shays and Parsons approached the armory on the 25th not knowing that they would have no support from the west; instead, they found Shepard's militia waiting for them.
Shepard first ordered warning shots fired over the heads of Shays' men, and then he ordered two cannons to fire grape shot.
Four Shaysites were killed and 20 wounded.
There was no musket fire from either side, and the rebel advance collapsed.
Most of the rebel forces fled north, both Shays' men and Day's men, and they eventually regrouped at Amherst, Massachusetts.

General Lincoln immediately began marching west from Worcester with the 3,000 men that had been mustered.
The rebels moved generally north and east to avoid him, eventually establishing a camp at Petersham, Massachusetts.
They raided the shops of local merchants for supplies along the way and took some of the merchants hostage.
Lincoln pursued them and reached Pelham, Massachusetts on February 2, some 30 miles (48 km) from Petersham.
He led his militia on a forced march to Petersham through a bitter snowstorm on the night of February 3–4, arriving early in the morning.
They surprised the rebel camp so thoroughly that the rebels scattered "without time to call in their out parties or even their guards".
Lincoln claimed to capture 150 men but none of them were officers, and historian Leonard Richards has questioned the veracity of the report.
Most of the leadership escaped north into New Hampshire and Vermont, where they were sheltered despite repeated demands that they be returned to Massachusetts for trial.
The federal government had been unable to recruit soldiers for the army because of a lack of funding, so Massachusetts leaders determined to act independently. On January 4, 1787, Governor Bowdoin proposed creating a privately funded militia army. Former Continental Army General Benjamin Lincoln solicited funds and raised more than £6,000 from more than 125 merchants by the end of January. The 3,000 militiamen who were recruited into this army were almost entirely from the eastern counties of Massachusetts, and they marched to Worcester on January 19.
While the government forces assembled, Shays and Day and other rebel leaders in the west organized their forces establishing regional regimental organizations that were run by democratically elected committees. Their first major target was the federal armory in Springfield. General Shepard had taken possession of the armory under orders from Governor Bowdoin, and he used its arsenal to arm a militia force of 1,200. He had done this despite the fact that the armory was federal property, not state, and he did not have permission from Secretary at War Henry Knox.
The insurgents were organized into three major groups and intended to surround and attack the armory simultaneously. Shays had one group east of Springfield near Palmer, Luke Day had a second force across the Connecticut River in West Springfield, and the force under Eli Parsons was to the north at Chicopee. The rebels had planned their assault for January 25, but Day changed this at the last minute and sent a message to Shays indicating that he would not be ready to attack until the 26th. Day's message was intercepted by Shepard's men, so the militia of Shays and Parsons approached the armory on the 25th not knowing that they would have no support from the west; instead, they found Shepard's militia waiting for them. Shepard first ordered warning shots fired over the heads of Shays' men, and then he ordered two cannons to fire grape shot. Four Shaysites were killed and 20 wounded. There was no musket fire from either side, and the rebel advance collapsed. Most of the rebel forces fled north, both Shays' men and Day's men, and they eventually regrouped at Amherst, Massachusetts.
General Lincoln immediately began marching west from Worcester with the 3,000 men that had been mustered. The rebels moved generally north and east to avoid him, eventually establishing a camp at Petersham, Massachusetts. They raided the shops of local merchants for supplies along the way and took some of the merchants hostage. Lincoln pursued them and reached Pelham, Massachusetts on February 2, some 30 miles (48 km) from Petersham. He led his militia on a forced march to Petersham through a bitter snowstorm on the night of February 3–4, arriving early in the morning. They surprised the rebel camp so thoroughly that the rebels scattered "without time to call in their out parties or even their guards". Lincoln claimed to capture 150 men but none of them were officers, and historian Leonard Richards has questioned the veracity of the report. Most of the leadership escaped north into New Hampshire and Vermont, where they were sheltered despite repeated demands that they be returned to Massachusetts for trial.
Shays' Rebellion