The Heartlands Revolution
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Luke Day (1786 - 1786)
Leader of the Massachusetts Rebellion
It was the Autumn of 1786 and life in the newly free United States was not a harmonious one. Without the British to unite the States in hatred, old rivalries began to surface and the Annapolis Convention of 1876 proved to be an utter disaster. Connecticut, Maryland, South Carolina, and Georgia had failed to take any real interest, while the commissioners from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island were delayed in their attempts to reach the convention. Only to find on arrival that it had ended and they convention had concluded its recommendations to Congress without even considering their proposals. There also quickly had begun to grow a fear that people like Washington, Pickney, Madison and Franklin would see power relocated to a central Government in either Virginia or Pennsylvania, and the disaster of the Annapolis Convention did nothing to sway those fears.
To make matters worse for those in the North of the newly formed country, the boom years had ended swiftly and a financial recession had hit the New England. In August 1786 a group of over 200 marched on the Massachusetts Governor's Mansion to demand that they be afford the war pensions promised to them for their service in the Continental Army, however the demands of the poor veterans was passed off by Governor James Bowdoin. He had ordered that the States Militia escort the farmers back to their lands. Many within the Militia were outraged at their orders but carried them out none the less. Luke Day, horrified at what he say that day went before the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati arguing that the actions of Governor Bowdoin were an affront to the ideals of the Revolution. William Eustis, Vice President of the Society, and former Governor John Hancock also were outraged, enough to publicly scold Governor Bowdoin on the Massachusetts state legislature.
Yet the outrage of the political elites did little to stop the Governor who pushed ahead with his policies of heavy debt and back tax collection. Even neighbouring states began to worry at the zeal with which Governor Bowdoin was collecting taxes. His policies would come to a head in Northampton on August 29th 1786, when Daniel Shays and a well organised group of protesters would storm the Court House and raid Treasury spreading about the town over a months worth of collected taxes. Governor Bowdoin was outraged and ordered the immediate capture and imprisonment of Daniel Shays and his fellow protesters. General William Shepard, was tasked with the command of the Governor's private militia to arrest Shays. On September 1st Shepard finally caught up with Shays and presented him with a warrant for his arrest. Shays and his men refused and what would ensue would later be know as "Shepard's Cataclysm". Shepard, determined to get Shays ordered his men to attempt an arrest at night, but instead of capturing Shays it turned into an all out brawl with the death of Shays and 8 of his fellow protesters. Shepard, unaware of the consequences of his actions, buried him in Hopkinton, Massachusetts and informed the Governor and the State Legislator of the outcome of his interaction with Shays.
In its majority the Legislator took little interest, however William Eustis was outraged. He declared the actions of the Governor and Shepard as criminal and fellow State Legislator William Hull called the actions "impeachable offences". The Legislators ordered the Governor to come before the house to explain his actions, he merely refused. Days later protests broke out across Massachusetts, ransacking Courthouses across the state. It was at this point that Luke Day became the head of this so-called "rebellion". He had led protesters in the sacking of the Springfield Armory, which quickly turned his rag tag band of protesters into a well armed militia. It was here that James Warren wrote to the Continental Congress that "We are now in a state of Anarchy and Confusion bordering on Civil War. New Hampshire, Maine Territory and Rhode Island are all seeing similar uprising. Our nation may well fall before it has even begun."
Warren's letter was concerning enough, but it was followed up by a request for Continental Troops in a letter from Governor Bowdoin on September 12th. Alexander Hamilton, John Hancock, John Langdon and Caleb Strong all spoke out against the idea of sending troops to Massachusetts in fear that it could look like imposition on the people of the states. Despite this the Congress would vote to send troops to Boston to bring peace back to Massachusetts. Nathaniel Gorham, a friend and ally of Governor Bowdoin, did not what to see the state fall into anarchy and so worked to ensure the Congress backed interventionist action. Gorham would soon become seen as a villain throughout all of New England.
As Luke Day's new "Farmer's Militia" gathered more and more support throughout Massachusetts, what seemed like minor revolts in Rhode Island and Maine Territory a month ago now seemed like a pattern. Continental Troops would arrive in Boston on November 8th to a sense of almost foreign invaders. Rufus Putnam was given command of the 1,200 strong force, in the hope his roots in Massachusetts would garner the army some support, but it did not. By the time Putnam had arrived the Massachusetts Government was so reviled by the people that almost a quarter of the State's Legislator had resigned led by William Eustis, yet none of them did take up arms with Day's protesters. Their resignations had allowed Bowdoin and Samuel Adams to pass the "Riot Act" suspending habeas corpus . The move would only result as a rallying call for Day and his movement.
Putnam's forces alongside, William Shepard and the Governor's Militia met at Taunton, where Day's forces had effective control over the town. On November 14th, Putnam tried to treat with Day and offered him and his fellow leaders amnesty on the condition they laid down their weapons. There was some prepared to accept a deal with Putnam, however any chance of it was ended when some of the Governor's militia attempted to break into the city and set it alight on the 16th of November. The orders had come directly from Shepard without the authority of Putnam, but Day and his men could not be convinced of Putnam's good faith. On 18th of November Putnam had considered pulling back from Taunton to regroup and re-consider their position. However Shepard demanded that Putnam march his troops into the city and fulfill the duty he was assigned to do. Reluctantly Putnam did march on the city, a move that left Day no choice but to open fire on the approaching army. The battle would last little over an hour, Day's troops were no match for the well train forces of Putnam. The event would become known as the "Massacre of Taunton", despite only 28 deaths and just over 100 wounded. The Massacre referred to the complete destruction of what seemed like another "people's rebellion". Day was killed during the fight and saw many of his fellow revolutionaries fled to the territory of Vermont. Putnam would write to Gorham in the coming days that he felt he had committed "acts so un-American in nature he did not deserve his rank or authority". Putnam would resign his commission and move to upper Maine Territory within a month. The actions of Putnam, Gorham, Bowdoin and Shepard would scare the State of Massachusetts and the ideals of the American Revolution throughout New England for years to come.
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Luke Day (1786 - 1786)
Leader of the Massachusetts Rebellion
It was the Autumn of 1786 and life in the newly free United States was not a harmonious one. Without the British to unite the States in hatred, old rivalries began to surface and the Annapolis Convention of 1876 proved to be an utter disaster. Connecticut, Maryland, South Carolina, and Georgia had failed to take any real interest, while the commissioners from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island were delayed in their attempts to reach the convention. Only to find on arrival that it had ended and they convention had concluded its recommendations to Congress without even considering their proposals. There also quickly had begun to grow a fear that people like Washington, Pickney, Madison and Franklin would see power relocated to a central Government in either Virginia or Pennsylvania, and the disaster of the Annapolis Convention did nothing to sway those fears.
To make matters worse for those in the North of the newly formed country, the boom years had ended swiftly and a financial recession had hit the New England. In August 1786 a group of over 200 marched on the Massachusetts Governor's Mansion to demand that they be afford the war pensions promised to them for their service in the Continental Army, however the demands of the poor veterans was passed off by Governor James Bowdoin. He had ordered that the States Militia escort the farmers back to their lands. Many within the Militia were outraged at their orders but carried them out none the less. Luke Day, horrified at what he say that day went before the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati arguing that the actions of Governor Bowdoin were an affront to the ideals of the Revolution. William Eustis, Vice President of the Society, and former Governor John Hancock also were outraged, enough to publicly scold Governor Bowdoin on the Massachusetts state legislature.
Yet the outrage of the political elites did little to stop the Governor who pushed ahead with his policies of heavy debt and back tax collection. Even neighbouring states began to worry at the zeal with which Governor Bowdoin was collecting taxes. His policies would come to a head in Northampton on August 29th 1786, when Daniel Shays and a well organised group of protesters would storm the Court House and raid Treasury spreading about the town over a months worth of collected taxes. Governor Bowdoin was outraged and ordered the immediate capture and imprisonment of Daniel Shays and his fellow protesters. General William Shepard, was tasked with the command of the Governor's private militia to arrest Shays. On September 1st Shepard finally caught up with Shays and presented him with a warrant for his arrest. Shays and his men refused and what would ensue would later be know as "Shepard's Cataclysm". Shepard, determined to get Shays ordered his men to attempt an arrest at night, but instead of capturing Shays it turned into an all out brawl with the death of Shays and 8 of his fellow protesters. Shepard, unaware of the consequences of his actions, buried him in Hopkinton, Massachusetts and informed the Governor and the State Legislator of the outcome of his interaction with Shays.
In its majority the Legislator took little interest, however William Eustis was outraged. He declared the actions of the Governor and Shepard as criminal and fellow State Legislator William Hull called the actions "impeachable offences". The Legislators ordered the Governor to come before the house to explain his actions, he merely refused. Days later protests broke out across Massachusetts, ransacking Courthouses across the state. It was at this point that Luke Day became the head of this so-called "rebellion". He had led protesters in the sacking of the Springfield Armory, which quickly turned his rag tag band of protesters into a well armed militia. It was here that James Warren wrote to the Continental Congress that "We are now in a state of Anarchy and Confusion bordering on Civil War. New Hampshire, Maine Territory and Rhode Island are all seeing similar uprising. Our nation may well fall before it has even begun."
Warren's letter was concerning enough, but it was followed up by a request for Continental Troops in a letter from Governor Bowdoin on September 12th. Alexander Hamilton, John Hancock, John Langdon and Caleb Strong all spoke out against the idea of sending troops to Massachusetts in fear that it could look like imposition on the people of the states. Despite this the Congress would vote to send troops to Boston to bring peace back to Massachusetts. Nathaniel Gorham, a friend and ally of Governor Bowdoin, did not what to see the state fall into anarchy and so worked to ensure the Congress backed interventionist action. Gorham would soon become seen as a villain throughout all of New England.
As Luke Day's new "Farmer's Militia" gathered more and more support throughout Massachusetts, what seemed like minor revolts in Rhode Island and Maine Territory a month ago now seemed like a pattern. Continental Troops would arrive in Boston on November 8th to a sense of almost foreign invaders. Rufus Putnam was given command of the 1,200 strong force, in the hope his roots in Massachusetts would garner the army some support, but it did not. By the time Putnam had arrived the Massachusetts Government was so reviled by the people that almost a quarter of the State's Legislator had resigned led by William Eustis, yet none of them did take up arms with Day's protesters. Their resignations had allowed Bowdoin and Samuel Adams to pass the "Riot Act" suspending habeas corpus . The move would only result as a rallying call for Day and his movement.
Putnam's forces alongside, William Shepard and the Governor's Militia met at Taunton, where Day's forces had effective control over the town. On November 14th, Putnam tried to treat with Day and offered him and his fellow leaders amnesty on the condition they laid down their weapons. There was some prepared to accept a deal with Putnam, however any chance of it was ended when some of the Governor's militia attempted to break into the city and set it alight on the 16th of November. The orders had come directly from Shepard without the authority of Putnam, but Day and his men could not be convinced of Putnam's good faith. On 18th of November Putnam had considered pulling back from Taunton to regroup and re-consider their position. However Shepard demanded that Putnam march his troops into the city and fulfill the duty he was assigned to do. Reluctantly Putnam did march on the city, a move that left Day no choice but to open fire on the approaching army. The battle would last little over an hour, Day's troops were no match for the well train forces of Putnam. The event would become known as the "Massacre of Taunton", despite only 28 deaths and just over 100 wounded. The Massacre referred to the complete destruction of what seemed like another "people's rebellion". Day was killed during the fight and saw many of his fellow revolutionaries fled to the territory of Vermont. Putnam would write to Gorham in the coming days that he felt he had committed "acts so un-American in nature he did not deserve his rank or authority". Putnam would resign his commission and move to upper Maine Territory within a month. The actions of Putnam, Gorham, Bowdoin and Shepard would scare the State of Massachusetts and the ideals of the American Revolution throughout New England for years to come.
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I haven't tended to do TL's more just stuff in Shared World. My First TL in a while, so we'll see how this goes hopefully well. It's based on a movement towards an Independent New England. Feel free to chip in with comment, criticisms, advice, general praise on the sheer awesomeness that it is..... really whatever. But i would prefer the later.
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