Many, indeed, perhaps most, had
very likely no distinct idea, of personally doing anything, nor was it
at all necessary that they should have in order to ensure the expected
outbreak, when the time should come. Given an excited crowd, all
expecting something to be done which they desire to have done, and all
the necessary elements of mob action are present.
CHAPTER SEVENTH
THE FIRST ENCOUNTER
The next morning by six o'clock, a large number of persons had gathered
on the green at Stockbridge, in consequence of an understanding that
those intending to witness the goings on at Barrington, should
rendezvous at the tavern, and go down together, whereby their own
hearts would be made stronger, and their enemies the more impressed.
A good many had, indeed, gone on ahead, singly, or in parties. Meshech
Little, who lived on the Barrington road, said that he hadn't had a
wink of sleep since four o'clock, for the noise of passing teams and
pedestrians. Those who owned horses and carts, including such men as
Israel Goodrich and Ezra Phelps, had preferred that mode of locomotion,
but there were, nevertheless, as many as one hundred men and boys in
the muster on the green.
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