Hi everybody. Ready for a doozy? I think I delivered a chapter that is quite shocking, and I hope y'all enjoy it. I would love to hear some feedback on how it is going so far, but enough chit-chat, here's the next chapter.
“Struck by lightning!”
—J.R.R. Tolkien
The night had grown long as Martin Horn’s army approached Boston on the 28th. Boston was quiet, and the Regulators were able to take the city quietly. The few soldiers still in the city simply surrendered, rather than fight. Job Shattuck was captured in his sleep, completely unaware of Horn’s plot.
However, Clark Hopswood was missing. And alongside the missing Hopswood was a large sum of money. Unbeknownst to Horn, Hopswood had been tipped off by a loyal messenger from Horn’s army, and had fled the city earlier that day. By the time Horn’s army arrived, Hopswood was on a ship bound for some unknown port. While Hopswood didn’t keep a journal, some of his future writings would indicate that he hadn’t initially considered his flight the end of his “revolution.” Despite this, Hopswood would never set foot on American soil again.
Horn was both furious, and somewhat relieved. Although he wanted Hopswood taken care of permanently, Hopswood was still a popular figure in Boston. His flight not only tarnished his reputation, but gave some legitimacy to Horn’s seizure of power. After all, Hopswood had stolen a large sum of money when he fled. Unfortunately for Job Shattuck, he was accused of being in cahoots with Hopswood. While it is unlikely that he knew Hopswood was going to flee, Shattuck was executed as a traitor on May 29th by blowing from a gun. With the death of Shattuck, Horn was the only Executive of Massachusetts remaining.
However, Horn’s rule wouldn’t be without problems. On June 2nd, news of Washington’s army seizing Great Barrington led Horn to rally the Regulator army for “one last battle.” As the Regulators set out, an electric air hung through Boston. Horn had shaken things up, and only a solid victory could keep the Regulator movement together. If he lost, the Regulators were lost. This didn’t demoralize Horn’s army, however. In fact, the Regulator army made record time marching to Springfield, the birthplace of the movement. Four days later, on June 6th, the Regulator army had arrived in Springfield. Three hours after they arrived, Washington’s army arrived.
The first skirmish between the two armies went well for the Regulators. But Washington’s army regrouped and an hour later, the Regulators retreated just outside of the town. Just as Washington’s army began to push the Regulators even farther back, it began to rain. A storm whipped up, and a biblical torrent of rain began to push down upon the armies as electricity blazed in the sky. Washington called off the offensive, as the weather proved too bad to keep the battle going. Horn, however, refused to stop. Calling for his, Horn, sword raised aloft, shouted to his men: “Today, the Almighty has delivered for us our enemies! Men, today, we will have our freedom!” Suddenly, a terrific beam of light lanced out, and a terrible sound shook the night. Martin Horn collapsed, scorched by a bolt of lightning that had struck his sword. The Regulator army collapsed, dispersing into the storm. Many saw Horn’s death as an act of God, smiting him down for his arrogance.
In Boston, the news of Horns death led to protests against the few Regulators still in Boston. Eventually, on June 9th, a group of Bostonians stormed the prison, freeing everyone who had been arrested by the Regulators. One such person was Daniel Shays who had been imprisoned since losing the Battle of Boston. Upon freeing Shays, the crowd convinced him to lead in the taking down of the remains of the Regulator government in Boston. And with a crowd of eighty Bostonians, Daniel Shays marched down to the State House and had the remainder of the Free Regulated Republic of Massachusetts’ government arrested. This small protest became known as Shays’ Rebellion, and June 9th would be remembered in Bostonian history, eventually becoming known as Union Day, and an official holiday in 1847.
The Washington army would arrive in Boston on June 13th and was welcomed by the Bostonians. Shays surrendered to Washington. Immediately after, Washington pardoned Shays. While some towns might hold out against the Union’s regained control, the Regulators were defeated. Peace had come to Massachusetts, albeit with a cost. In the nine month conflict, ten thousand Massachusettsans, approximately 3% of the state's population, had died.
In New Hampshire the final collapse of the Massachusettsan Regulators led to Peabody’s government losing the remainder of its support. On June 17th, a riot forced Peabody to flee Derryfield. Peabody fled south towards the border between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, hoping to join up with any remaining Regulators. However, only three hours into his flight, a New Hampshire militia managed to capture Peabody. He was taken by the militia to the ruins of Exeter, where he was hung in front of the tavern that had been the center of John Sullivan’s stand months prior.
Finally, the Regulator Revolt was over. Despite the ongoing slave revolt in the south, celebrations were held across the Union. The effects of the Regulators had been held throughout the Union. In the south, the Regulator’s principles were dangerous, having been a contributing factor to the slave revolt that still wracked the Carolinas. In large states, such as Pennsylvania or New York, the revolt had been a source of unease for the more successful citizens. While the Regulators’ beliefs never quite caught on in these states, their large populations would not have been capable of being realistically suppressed had they found common ground with the Regulators.
It was in New England, however, that the Regulators influenced the most. While the Regulators’ beliefs had been somewhat popular in the initial period of the revolt, following the Massachusettsan invasion of New Hampshire, and the Battle of Exeter, all such feelings vanished. As the revolt continued to drag on, many in New England began to push for a government that would protect them. One, rather controversial statement published in the Connecticut Courant argued that Washington should a Caesar, not a Cincinnatus and take up the mantle of Dictator in Perpetuum. While the author of the piece was largely ridiculed, he was correct in one manner. In the murky days following the Regulators’ defeat, the fate of the Union rested on the shoulders of Washington. His actions in the remaining months would make the Union, or they would shatter it forever.
