Page:History of Gardner, Massachusetts (1860) - Glazier.djvu/72

68 was considered reasonable: and the conference terminated. A report of the result was made to the insurgents, who voted it was unsatisfactory, and resolved to remain until the following day.

During the night, the Court House was guarded in martial form: sentinels were posted along in front of the building, and along Main street: the men not on duty, bivouacedbivouacked [sic] in the hall of justice, or sought shelter with their friends. In the first light of morning, the whole force paraded on the hill, and was harranguedharangued [sic] by the leaders. In the forenoon a new deputation waited on the Court, with a repetition of the former demand, and received a similar reply. The justices assured the committee, if the body dispersed, the people of the county would have no just cause of complaint with the course the Court would adopt. The insurgents, reinforced with about two hundred from Holden and Ward, now mustered four hundred strong, half with fire arms, and the remainder furnished with sticks. They formed in column and marched through Main street with their music, inviting all who sought relief from oppression to join their ranks, but receiving no accessions of recruits from the citizens, they returned to the Court House. Sprigs of evergreen had been distributed, and mounted as the distinctive badge of rebellion, and a young pine tree was elevated at their post as the standard of revolt.

The Court, at length, finding that no reliance could be placed on military support, and no hope entertained of being permitted to proceed with business, adjourned, continuing all cases to the next term. Proclamation was made by the sheriff to the people, and a copy of the record communicated. After this, about two hundred men, with sticks only, paraded before the house of Mr. Allen, where the justices had