74
Town History.
sufficient force could not be collected. The first instructions were therefore countermanded, a plan having been settled to raise an army whose power might effectually crush resistance; and the Judges were advised to adjourn to the 23d of January following, when the contemplated arrangements could be matured, to terminate the unhappy troubles.
The insurgents unapprised of the change of operations, began to concentrate their whole strength to interrupt the Courts at Worcester and Concord. They had fixed on Shrewsbury as the place of rendezvous. On the 29th of November, a party of forty from Barre, Spencer and Leicester, joined Capt. Wheeler, who had established his head quarters in that town during the preceding week, and succeeded in enlisting about thirty men. Daniel Shays, the reputed commander-in-chief, and nominal head of the rebellion, made his first public appearance in the county soon after, with troops from Hampshire. Reinforcements came in, till the number at the post exceeded four hundred. Sentinels stopped and examined travelers, and patrols were sent out towards Concord, Cambridge and Worcester. On Thursday, November 30th, information was received that the Light Horse, under Col. Hitchborn, had captured Shattuck, Parker and Paige, and that a detachment of cavalry was marching against themselves. This intelligence disconcerted their arrangements for an expedition into Middlesex, and they retreated in great alarm to Holden. On Friday, Wheeler was in a house passed by the horsemen, and only escaped being captured, by accident. Another person, supposed to be the commander, was pursued, and received a sabre cut in the hand. The blow was slight, but afforded sufficient foundation for raising the cry that blood had been shed, and rousing passion to vengeance. The wounded insurgent was