Manuscript

Commendation for William Shephard

Date: 1787
Creator: Massachusetts Legislature
About this artifact

On February 5, 1787, a relieved and grateful Massachusetts General Court, or Legislature, issued this resolve commending the conduct of General William Shephard in the "Defence of the Arsenal at Springfield against the attempts and attack of the Insurgents. Ten days earlier, General Shepard had ordered militia manning two pieces of artillery commandeered from the Arsenal stores to fire dozens of rounds of cannonballs and grapeshot at the advancing Regulators led by Captain Daniel Shays. Not everyone reacted as favorably to Shepard's decision to fire on the Regulators. Shepard endured death threats, the burning of his wood lot, and the maiming and killing of his horses.

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Courtesy Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, MA