On the 21st of January, the army took up the line of march from Roxbury. The inclemency of the weather, and the condition of the roads rendered a halt necessary at Marlborough. The next day the troops reached Worcester, notwithstanding the effects of sudden thaw on the deep snow, and were quartered on the inhabitants, the houses being thrown open for their shelter and comfort. Here they were joined by the regiments of the county. The town contributed its quota liberally. In the company under Capt. Joel Howe, were twenty-seven non-commissioned officers and privates. In the artillery, under Capt. William Treadwell, were enrolled forty-three of our citizens. Nineteen served under Capt. Phinehas Jones. Seven dragoons were embodied in a legionary corps. Lieut. Daniel Goulding was at the head of a troop of cavalry. The late Judge Edward Bangs, Timothy Bigelow, afterwards Speaker of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts, and Theophilus Wheeler, Esq., served as volunteers.
Detachments of insurgents collected at Rutland, New Braintree, Princeton, Sterling and Sutton, but, intimidated by the military, hovered at a distance, while the Courts proceeded. On the 25th of January, Gen. Lincoln hastened westward for the relief of Shepherd, and of the arsenal at Springfield, invested by Shays and Day.
Major General Warner was left in command at Worcester, with a regiment of infantry, a corps of artillery, including Capt. Treadwell's company, two field-pieces, and a party from the legionary battalion of volunteer cavalry. Information having been given that a body of about two hundred insurgents had assembled at New Braintree, intercepting travelers and insulting the friends of government, twenty horsemen, supported by about 150 infantry in sleighs, were
