Shays Rebellion was a response in Western Massachusetts to rising debt crisis and tax collection. Benjamin Lincoln, a Continental Army veteran and founding member of Society of Cincinati, was authorized by by the Massachusetts Legislature to "apprehend, disarm and secure" the insurgents. The letter from Lincoln to Governor Bowdoin describes the events following the January 25 events when General Shepard defended the US Arsenal from Shays and his supporters. External Documents links to the site used for this note.