On January 25, 1787, in Springfield, Massachusetts, militia Major General William Shepard ordered his cannon to fire grapeshot at a peaceful demonstration of 1200 farmers approaching the federal arsenal.
The shots killed four and wounded twenty, marking the climax of five months of civil disobedience in Massachusetts, where farmers challenged the states authority to seize their farms for flagrantly unjust taxes.
Join us as we commemorate the anniversary of Shays’ Rebellion, a critical event in early American history involving Springfield Arsenal. Author Daniel Bullen will talk about his book and offer a new perspective on what happened in Massachusetts in the 1780s.
Seating is limited, call the Armory to register at 413-734-8551.
ABOUT THE PARK: Springfield Armory National Historic Site is the location of the nation’s first armory (1794 – 1968) and was established by George Washington. The site includes historic grounds, buildings, and the world’s largest historic American military firearms collection.
