Page:History of Gardner, Massachusetts (1860) - Glazier.djvu/86

82 grown cold, and Shays expressed to an acquaintance here, the impression that the cause had become gloomy and hopeless. In conversation with an officer of government, he disclaimed being at the head of the rebellion; declared he had come to the resolution to have nothing more to do with stopping courts: that if he could not obtain pardon, he would gather the whole force he could command, and fight to the last extremity, rather than be hanged. When asked if he would accept pardon were it offered, and abandon the insurgents, he replied, "yes, in a moment."

The delay of government, while it afforded time to circulate correct information among the people, left the insurgents at liberty to pursue their measures. The Court at Springfield, on the 26th of December, was resisted, and intelligence was received of active exertions to prevent the session of the Common Pleas, at Worcester, on the 23d of January. Longer forbearance would have been weakness, and vigorous measures were adopted for sustaining the Judiciary. An army of 4400 men was raised from the Counties of Suffolk, Essex, Middlesex, Hampshire and Worcester, for thirty days service. General Benjamin Lincoln, whose prudence, and military skill peculiarly qualified him for the important trust, received the command. Voluntary loans were made by individuals for the armament, pay, and subsistancesubsistence [sic] of the troops.