The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

The following paragraphs appeared in the late papers prior to the account in our last from Hallowell and may serve in some degree to elucidate this unfortunate affair. The disturbance is understood to have commenced with an opposition to the surveying of certain lands in the Province of Maine, in consequence of which violence was offered to the persons of some of the officers employed, one of whom was killed. The ringleaders or persons concerned in the murder were taken and imprisoned, and the insurrection amongst the disaffected was for the purpose of effecting a rescue.

Augusta (Mass.) Oct. 6.

Insurrection.--The inhabitants of this town for about a week past, have been kept in a continual state of requisition & alarm, by bodies of armed men skulking in the neighboring woods, disguised as Indians, and threatening to liberate the prisoners confined in our jail. Guards have been furnished during the night for several days past by the voluntary service of the citizens and militia of this town and Hallowell. And yesterday, we understand, a regular application was made to the major-general of the division by the sheriff and civil magistrates, for a detachment of three hundred men, to guard the prisoners; they are already in motion, to rendezvous in this town, until the pleasure of the commander in chief shall be known.

The following paragraph on this subject is from the Boston Patriot:--

The account from Hallowell, (published in yesterday's Repertory) is distressing in the extreme to those who regard the peace and honor of the state. We have not room for particulars in this day's paper. The substance is--

Eight men were confined in jail, charged with the murder of Paul Chadwick, (as published in the Patriot of the 4th instant)--From Sept. 29, to October 4, the insurgents were collecting, for the purpose of rescuing the prisoners, and at the latter date were stated to amount to from 1000 to 1500. The militia had been called out, and about 400 stationed at Augusta--The disaffection was said to be rapidly spreading.

We cannot but deprecate the recent impolitic and unprincipled conduct of those who have some how or other become the immediate guardians of the state--from whose pernicious example we have anticipated the most disastrous consequences.

We trust however, that on this occasion, and every other, where faction shall its rear impious standard against the laws and the peace of the community, that every good citizen will stand firm at the post of honor, and be ready to discharge his duty.

The clashing claims between those who have the legal title to lands in various parts of Maine, and those who hold them in possession, involve questions of intrinsic difficulty. But it is believed the state has done every thing which it can do by way of accommodation to the possessors. Certainly nothing can justify this treasonable appeal to force, which every well wisher to the commonwealth must disapprove and feel it his duty to suppress.

Augusta, Oct. 4. 1809.

In consequence of a written application from the Sheriff with three of the Justices of the Pleas of the county of Kennebec, in the words and figures following, viz.

"Oct. 4, 1809
To Major General Sewall,
Sir.--By the authority vested in us, by an act passed the 20th Feb. 1787, for the more speedy suppression of tumults and insurrections in the commonwealth, we here certify to you that in our opinion it is necessary for the protection of the Commonwealth's gaol in this county, and for the suppression of a dangerous combination and insurrection, which we apprehend will be excited, to obstruct the course of justice and the due execution of the laws, that a military force shall be instantly raised and called forth for these purposes, to be armed and assembled in the town of Augusta, in the county of Kennebec, and to consist of three hundred men.

JOHN CHANDLER
Sheriff of the County of Kennebec,
JOSEPH NORTH.
DANIEL CONY,
Two of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County.
NATHAN'L. DUMMER,
One of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas."

And the statute above cited, making it the duty of the maj. gen. upon such request being made, to detach such number of the militia as shall be so requested armed and equipped according to law, & also requiring the immediate service of the militia so detached, under the penalty of ten pounds to each non-commissioned officer or soldier--and providing that compensation shall be made by the government to the officers and men so employed.

The major general of the 8th Division while he deeply regrets the unhappy occasion which urges these strong measures cheerfully exercises the official powers with which he is by the constitution clothed, in aid of the civil authority and for the suppression of lawless usurpation--and being fully persuaded of the patriotism of the great body of the militia who are resorted to in this process, that they will also cheerfully execute their duty when thus called upon to support the arm of the civil magistrates--proceeds to direct, that 300 men including captains and subalterns, be immediately detached from the vicinity, for the purposes above mentioned, in manner following that is to say; the north company in Augusta, the North company in Hallowell, the east company in Gardiner, and the east company in Winthrop all within col. Fillebrown's regiment; the east company of Readfield, in col. Tuck's regiment, and the south company in Sidney, in col Sherwin's regiment--and that they march immediately on receipt of these orders to the Gaol in Augusta, completely armed and equipped, with 24 cartridges and balls to a man, and with knapsacks and blankets and three days provision to be provided by the Selectmen of the towns from which the companies are respectively drawn, under the directions of the law for making detachments; and there to be subject to the orders of Gen. Chandler as Sheriff of the county. But the immediate command of the detachment will be exercised by major Samuel Cony of Augusta.

And in order to facilitate and hasten the promulgation of these orders, every captain or commanding officer of a company included in the detachment, the moment he shall receive them will be responsible for their immediate execution within his own company, although they should not pass in the ordinary course through the next superior officers. It is nevertheless required of each and every field officer of the regiment to exert his authority and influence in the speedy accomplishment of their object. And major Samuel Howard is hereby specially charged with the speedy distribution of these orders.

By order of maj. general Sewall,
SAMUEL HOWARD, B. M.
And orderly officer of the division, in this case specially appointed.