Page:History of Gardner, Massachusetts (1860) - Glazier.djvu/88

84 sent out on the night of the 2d of February, to capture or disperse the disaffected. Upon approaching the place of their destination, the cavalry were ordered to advance at full speed to surprise the enemy. The insurgents, apprised of the expedition, had abandoned their quarters at the house of Micah Hamilton, and taken post behind the walls of the road-side, and having fired a volley of musketry upon the detachment, fled to the woods: Mr. Jonathan Rice, of Worcester, a deputy sheriff, was shot through the arm and hand: Dr. David Young was severely wounded in the knee; the bridle rein of Theophilus Wheeler, Esq., was cut by a ball. Without halting, the soldiers rapidly pursued their way to the deserted head quarters, where they liberated Messrs. Samuel Flagg, and John Stanton, of Worcester, who had been seized the day previous, while transacting private business at Leicester. Having dispersed those who occupied the barracks at Rutland, the next day the companies returned with four prisoners.

The career of Shays was fast drawing to its close. Driven from post to post, he suddenly retired from Pelham to Petersham, where he expected to concentrate the forces of expiring rebellion, and make his final stand. Intelligence of this change of position reached Gen. Lincoln at Hadley, February 3d, and he determined by prompt and decisive action, to terminate the warfare. When the troops took up the line of march at 8 o'clock, the evening was bright and mild. Before morning the cold became intense: the dry and light snow, whirled before a violent north wind, filled the paths and rendered them almost impassable. The severity of the cold prevented any halt for rest or refreshment.