Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to Marquis de Lafayette

[draft]
New York 13 February 1787.

I wrote you my dear friend by the last packet and then cursorily stated [struck: to you] the existence of certain discontents in Massachusetts. [struck: Since] [inserted: After] that period they [struck: have become more] [inserted: assumed a more] serious [inserted: aspect] but are now in a fair train of being speedily and effectually suspended.
In order to give you a just idea of this affair it may be necessary to have recourse to the first cause at once and to contemplate [inserted: a little] the nature of [struck: the animal] man - That he is the same creature in all ages and Countries - diversified indeed in some instances in an astonishing manner by different Customs and habits - But place him nearly in the same latitudes,; impress him with the same manners and habits; govern him by the same laws and political constitution and his conduct will be [inserted: nearly] the [inserted and struck: nearly] same, whether [struck: the] [inserted: he] follow [struck: ed] and support [struck: ed of] the Grachii [sic] in the time of the [inserted: real] Roman republic, or [struck: a demagogues] [inserted: Harangues] in a Town meeting of [2] Town meeting of Massachusetts - [strikeout] Opinions which [struck: were] perhaps [inserted: were] necessarily diseminated [sic] previous to and during of the revolution, seem to produce effects materially different from what [struck: they] were intended - For instance, the maxims that all power is derived from the people [inserted: and that all government is [strikeout] institutd [sic] for their benefit] [strikeout] [inserted: prevented] by a certain proportion of the people ([struck: to mean] vastly the miniority [sic]) [struck: to mean] [inserted: to effect] an annihilation of debts, and a division of property, [struck: and that the government of the people, means, that the people [inserted: shall] participate of the property of the rich [inserted and struck: wealthy] by a mode different [inserted: strikeout] and less fruitful than industry] - The object and ultimate end of a republican government being thus delusively [struck: established] [inserted: established] in their minds they have no hesitation of embracing any means for the accomplishment of their purposes - [struck: and] [inserted: They] assert roundly they are the majority of the people - But in this they are easily confused for the great mass of the [struck: people] [inserted: Yeomanry] of New England [3] N England [struck: possess land in] [strikeout] are the lords and legal propretors [sic] of the soil, [inserted: and are highly interested, in living under a fixed government] But as faction [struck line] [inserted: exerts every nerve] to gain its end these deluded, people have had recourse to arms, although on the fairest calculation, not only all those who have appeared openly but all who from their pecuniary circumstances were liable to join them however remote from, the [struck: sea] immediate seat of confusion, [struck: could] [inserted: would] not amount to more than 1/5 or 1/6 of the people - [struck: In Massachusetts], In the counties of Hampshire Berkshire and Worcester in Massachusetts these people who have been denominated insurgents have opposed the sitting of the judicial courts, [inserted: for [justice]] particularly those [instituted] for the recovery of debts - The first acts of this [4] kind were in August last and since [struck: that that time] [inserted: then] they have been increasing in numbers so [struck: has have a very serious affect] [inserted: as to alarm highly all true friends to liberty & government] - The legislature and executive government unwilling to have recourse to [struck: bloodshed], [inserted: vigorous procedure] endevored [sic] by every lenient measure to reclaim, them but without effect - An act of indemnity was published for all those without exception who should come in & take the oaths of allegiance before the 1st of Jany 87 [struck: but] a few insignificant persons [inserted: only] complied with this request - & still the courts were opposed - In December upwards 2000 insurgents [inserted: regularly embodied in a military manner] were collected at Worcester and [struck: obliged] [compelled] the judges to adjourn to the 23 January - Every [struck: lenient expedient] [inserted: mild expedient] having been tried in vain, the government [inserted: [strikeout] executive] determined one coercion, and to support by force [5] force of Arms, the administration of justice - accordingly [struck: the] Governor Bowdoin directed [inserted: a] body of about five thousand men, to be drafted from the militia & to [struck: be in motion for] [inserted: march so as to] be at Worcester on the 23 January, to protect the court there to meet there, excepting 1200, who were raised in Hampshire County, and ordered to take post at the federal arsenal at Springfield for its protection against the insurgents [inserted: under the orders of Maj Genl Sheppard, formerly of the Mass line Colo K] - The whole operation was committed to the direction of our friend Genl Lincoln, who is the [senior] Major Genl of the Militia of Massachusetts - His force was collected, with a body of two hundred horse, and 8 field pieces at Worcester on the day directed - The insurgents did not appear, but assembled in different places apparently with a [view] to [6] secure themselves - The principle collection of them was in Hampshire County in the vicinity of the arsenal where Genl Sheppard was posted with Cannon -
A Captain Shays, [inserted: of the Massachusetts line] who was in the light Infantry under your orders in 1780 & who was deranged at the latter end of that campaign was the principal officer among the insurgents - Besides him there were three or four others who had served as officers in the Continental army, [struck: some with and some without much reputation] - But the insurrection originated from designing men who had never served, and the few officers who [struck: had served] [inserted and struck: were] were [struck: has] [inserted: with them were rather] of mediocre characters - while the great body of officers, and all those of superior grade were firm for good government and [many] turned out with [inserted: Genl] Lincoln as volunteers
On the 25th, [inserted: January] Shays at the head of 1200 men made an attempt on [7] Genl Sheppard at the arsenal, but not having Cannon, he was repulsed, [struck: by] & thrown into great confusion by 14 or 15 rounds of grape shot - he had a few men killed and wounded, and immediately retreated - He was to have been seconded in this attempt by a Capt Day who had under his orders six hundred men but who did not [inserted: in this case] fulfil [the expection] of [Shays].
On the 27th Genl Lincoln arrived [struck: in great haste] [inserted: by rapid numbers -] with his army from Worcester apprehensive for the safety of Genl Sheppard - [struck: On his arrival] [inserted: He immediately marched against Day who retreated with great precipitation as did also the same [over] all] the insurgents [strikeout] in the vicinity of Springfield and who amounted to 2500, [struck: he retreated about 20 miles] They were followed the next morning by the army of the Government but on their approach the insurgents retreated to [Pelham] [struck: a strong position] [inserted: a strong [struck: position] position at] - Genl Lincoln [8] covered his [struck: people] [inserted: troops] at [Hadley], after the [fatigues] of a series of [struck: hard marches] long marches, most of which were made during the the nights - On the 2d February instant he [reconnoiterd] the insurgents with a view to approach them the next day - This movement alarmed them, and they retreated the same night to a [struck: place] [inserted: village] called Petersham - (if you have the map of New England you will see these plans marked on it north of Springfield about 20 or 30 miles) Genl Lincoln was informed of this circumstance on the [struck: afternoon] eveng of the 3d, and immediately put his troops in motion towards the insurgents - He marched all night [inserted: part of it] through a severe snow storm and [strikeout] completely suprized the insurgents at 9 OClock on the morng of the 4th having marched 30 miles without halting - Most of his men were frozen in a greater or less degree - had it not have been that the hill on which the village of Petersham is built, was steep and the snow very deep he probably would have taken one half of the force of the insurgents [9] he took however about 150 prisoners and completely dispersed the remainder The suprize was so complete, that [struck: they] [inserted: Shays] had not time to call in his out guards & parties - This will most probably terminate a rebellion which is one of the most singular in history General Lincoln conducted all his operations in a masterly manner, and had he been a young officer he would have obtained credit from the event - But his reputation is too well established for him to deserve any great eclat from so contemptible a foe.
The Legislature of Massachusetts declared the existence of a rebellion and pledged their lives & fortune for its suppression before they knew of Lincolns success -
I have thus [10] given you the [heads] of this business which probably will be displayed [much] to our disadvantage - you may depend on the facts as here detailed for Genl Lincoln has minutely informed me of every thing concerning his operations - You will therefore have the materials to speak with decision on the subject - You may receive different accounts even from this county of the same affair, for the thing is so novel that few people have yet investigated it
Genl Lincoln has marched into Berkshire County in order to check some, risings of the insurgents but, this will be [inserted: probably] but a small affair compared with the other -
Congress have recently met and chosen Genl St Clair their president - They have [11] many weighty affairs before them for their consideration -

[docket]
February 14th 1787.
Copy of a letter to Marquis
de la Fayette -