The New York Packet

NEW-YORK. FEBRUARY 16.

We present the public our hearty congratulation, on the brilliant success attending the measures adopted by the Supreme Executive of Massachusetts, for protecting the Courts of Law and Justice, and for suppressing the horrid and unnatural insurrection, which has been raised against that Commonwealth, and, on the prospect of their speedily terminating in the full completion of the laudable objects for which they were put into operation.

Important Information.

On Tuesday the 6th instant, arrived in Boston, Major Cabot, who left Head-Quarters at Petersham, in the county of Worcester, on Monday morning -with dispatches from the Hon. Major General Lincoln, to his Excellency Governor Bowdoin.

In consequence his Excellency sent the following message to the Hon. the Legislature of Massachusetts, now sitting in Boston.

Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,

Mr. Cabot is this moment arrived with a letter From Gen. Lincoln, dated the 4th inst. at Petersham: From which place on that day, he obliged the Main Body of the insurgents to retreat with great precipitation, having taken about one hundred and fifty of them prisoners.

For further particulars you will please to be referred to the letter ; and in the mean time will permit me to congratulate you on this important success.

Orders have been issued to reinforce General Lincoln with twenty-six hundred of the militia. I should be glad to know, Gentlemen, whether you would think it expedient that those orders should, in consequence of this success, be countermanded, either in whole or in part.

JAMES BOWDOIN
Council-Chamber, Feb. 6, 1787.

Peterham, Feb. 4th, 1787.

Dear Sir,

I HAVE been honored with the receipt of your Excellency's favors of the 25th ult. and the 1st inst. with the warrants.

In my last I mentioned to you, that I had various applications from the neighbouring towns, and what answers I had given. These I think, had a very happy effect, and the towns have felt themselves much interested, in recalling their men, and in putting an end to the progress of the insurgents.

I remained a number of days in Hadley, refreshing our men, who had experienced severe fatigue; this gave time for the insurgents to reflect upon the offers which had been made them, and for the select men to interpose their advice and authority.

Friday we reconnoitred their post with an intention to approach them the next day. This movement gave them an alarm, and at 3 o'clock, Saturday morning, I received a flag from Wheeler, requesting that he might have a conference with Gen. Putnam. It was granted, and they met Saturday forenoon. To provide for his personal safety, seemed to be the principal object he had in view--no encouragement on this head being given him, he retired; and Saturday evening I was informed, that Shays had left Pelham, and had pointed his forces towards this place, where it was said he expected to be joined by many others, and where he could make a stand, as many towns in this vicinity, were in his interest. At eight o'clock our troops were in motion; the first part of the night was light, and the weather clement, but between 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning, the wind shifting to the westward, it became cold and squally, with considerable snow: The wind arose very high, and with the light snow that fell the day before, and was falling, the paths were soon filled up, the men became fatigued, and they were in a part of the country, where they could not be covered in the distance of eight miles, and the cold was so increased that they could not halt in the road to refresh themselves. Under these circumstances they were obliged to continue their march. We arrived here about nine o'clock, exceedingly fatigued by a march of 30 miles, part of it in a deep snow, and in a most violent storm.-- When this abated the cold increased, and a great part of our men are frozen in some part or other-- I hope none of them are dangerously so, and that most of them will be able again to march in a short time. We approached this town nearly in the centre where Shays had covered his men; and had we not been prevented by the steepness of the hill, and the depth of the snow, from throwing our men rapidly into it, we should have arrested very probably one half his force, for they were so nearly surprised as it was, that they had not time to call in their out parties, or even their guards. About 150 fell into our hands, and none escaped but by the most precipitate flight in different directions; but most of their men fled for Athol. It is said they intended to reach Northfield : This brings him near the line of another State, where he may vainly hope to find an asylum. Thus, Sir, that body of men, who were, a few days since, offering the grossest insults to the best citizens of the Commonwealth, and were menacing even government itself, is fast dissipating, and it will not long, I think, have the least existence. It must be pleasing to your Excellency, to know that this has been effected, and bloodshed avoided, but in an instance or two, where the insurgents have rushed on their own destruction, after every effort had been made, by the officers of government, to prevent it. That so little has been spilt, is owing, in a measure, to the patience, and obedience, the zeal and the fortitude discovered in our troops, to whom too much thanks cannot be given.--A different line of conduct, which Shays flattered his troops would be manifested, would have given them support, and led them to acts of violence, while it must have buoyed up the hopes of their abettors, and stimulated them to greater exertions.

As soon as the troops are able to move, I shall follow Shays, and throw part of our force into Berkshire--before I leave this place, I shall make a disposition of the troops, and discharge such whose services are no longer necessary.

Notwithstanding the present state of things, much is necessary for the General Court to do, and decided measures on their part, will give support to our friends, and dismay to others.

I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, your obedient servant,

B. LINCOLN.

Mr. Cabot will honor this, by being the bearer of it--his great attention to duty, and his knowledge therein, entitle him to thanks--he will give your Excellency a more minute account of matters than I have been able to write.

His Excellency Governor Bowdoin.

GENERAL ORDERS.

THE General congratulates the troops upon the success of the day; that so large a number of the insurgents have fallen into our hands : And that those who have not been arrested, have been obliged to fly.--This has been effected after a long and distressing march of thirty miles, without a halt but for a few moments. It is impossible for him to describe the anxiety he felt during most of the time for the safety of the troops, endangered by the inclemency of the weather, and for the great fatigue they unavoidably suffered in marching through a deep snow, in a most violent storm, in a country- where cover could not be obtained--The patience and alacrity discovered on this occasion, cannot be exceeded in point of merit, but by the noble and virtuous principles which stimulated them to action. The General's most cordial thanks are due to the troops, which he begs them to accept.

Peterham, Feb. 4, 1787

THE Committee of both Houses of the Legislature of Massachusetts, to whom were referred Governor Bowdoin's message of the 6th, with a letter and enclosure from General Lincoln, of the 4th inst. submit the following report.

E. BROOKS, per order.

To his Excellency James Bowdoin, Esq. Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

May it please your Excellency,

THE Legislature have received with the greatest pleasure your important communication and congratulations of this morning.

The ardor and zeal of General Lincoln, and of the troops under his command, in performing march of thirty miles with only a momentary halt, in the most inclement weather; and their perseverance after such extraordinary hardships, in proceeding immediately to action, and repelling the rebels from their advantageous post, merit the highest approbation of the General Court, who request your Excellency to make this communication to the General.

We do not think it expedient to recommend to your Excellency, a countermand either in whole or in part, of your orders for a reinforcement of twenty-six hundred of the militia, but request your Excellency to carry the same into immediate and vigorous effect, as a measure well calculated to restore peace and order to this Commonwealth, without hazarding the effusion of much blood.

In SENATE, February 6, 1787.

Read and accepted, and thereupon ordered, that William Phillips and Tristram Dalton, Esquires, with such as the Hon. House may join, be a Committee to wait upon his Excellency the Governor, with the aforegoing answer to his message of this day.

Sent down for concurrence.

SAMUEL PHILLIPS, jun. President.

In the House of REPRESENTATIVES, Feb. 6, 1787.

Read and concurred, and Mr. Otis, Mr. Jones, and Mr. Dawes, are joined.

ARTEMAS WARD, Speaker.

On Wednesday the 7th instant, Major Haskell and Monsieur Borie, arrived in Boston, who left General Lincoln's Head-Quarters on Tuesday morning the 6th inst. with dispatches to His Excellency Governor Bowdoin.

Head-Quarters, Petersham, Feb. 5, 1787.

Dear Sir,

I am this moment informed, by a gentleman from Chesterfield in the State of New-Hampshire, that he met Shays this morning, about six miles on this side of that town, who had about one hundred men with him in a body ; that he saw on the road scattered the distance of ten miles, two hundred men more; they appeared in a miserable abject state. Other men, who had been with Shays, had, as he heard, taken different routes to their homes.

Thus, Sir, it appears that those men who had been his followers, were so dispersed, that we have nothing to fear from them in this part of the country.

By the last accounts from Berkshire, the insurgents were embodying in different parts, with a design, as General Patterson supposed, to attack him. I shall march into that county with a considerable body of men, taking Northfield and Deerfield in my route. The very shew of a force in different parts of the country, will be of consequence.

Nine o'clock, P. M.

I have received further accounts from Shays's troops; it confirms the above, besides his informing them, that each man must take care of himself.
I have the honor to be, with the highest respect,

your Excellency's obedient servant,

B. LINCOLN.

His Excellency Governor Bowdoin.

Petersham, February 6, 1787, 7 o'clock, A. M.

Dear Sir,

About three hours since I had the honor of receiving

your Excellency's favor of the 4th, with the

doings of the General Court. I am exceedingly

pleased with their decision and firmness. Their

present doings have a complexion which insures that

perseverance necessary for the crushing in the most

effectual manner, a rebellion which has struck at

the very existence of our constitution.

By the dispersed state of the insurgents, I suppose

the sending out other troops will be altogether un-

necessary at present. I think we had better re-en-

list a sufficient number out of those now in the field

as they have obtained some knowledge of duty.

I have the honor to be, dear sir, with real esteem,

your humble servant,

B. LINCOLN.

His Excellency Governor Bowdoin.

The two foregoing letters were laid before both

Branches of the Legislature of the said Common-

wealth, by order of their Governor, and in conse-

quence of their message to him, and the advice of

Council thereon, his Excellency has been pleased to

countermand, for the present, the orders lately iss-

ued for the raising of other troops.

Extract of a letter from Worcester, dated Tuesday

evening, February 6, 1787.

"Matters of great, have swallowed up those of

lesser, consequence.—The important intelligence

which you have undoubtedly received, will make

it quite unnecessary for me to give you any account

of what may have occurred at this post. Yesterday

in the forenoon the principal leaders of the insur-

gents crossed the line over into the State of New-

Hampshire; others are following them—some small

parties are yet hovering about in different parts of

this and the neighbouring counties—" not knowing

where to get rest for the soles of their feet."—

The "great body" of rebellion is broken, and now

languishing!—The main business is accomplished;

but I presume, to restore every thing to good order,

and fix the public tranquility on a solid basis, it

will be necessary to have 1000 or 1500 troops sta-

tioned in those counties for four or five months at

least.—The reasons for such proceedings are obvi-

ous, but too numerous here to mention. We are

all in high spirits, and doubt not our friends in

Boston participate in the general joy."