Now Great Barrington is but four
or five miles from the New York border, while Sheffield is about six,
and as many south of Great Barrington, the road between the two towns
running nearly parallel to the state line. There was nothing to hinder
the rebels, after they had gained their main objects, the capture of
hostages and the release of the debtors, from turning west from Great
Barrington, and placing themselves in an hour's march across the town
of Egremont, beyond the reach of the militia, in neutral territory.
Becoming apprehensive that this would be their course, Colonel Ashley,
instead of keeping on the road from Sheffield to Great Barrington,
presently left it and marched his men along a back road running
northwest toward the state line in a direction that would intercept
the rebels if they struck across Egremont to New York.
He adopted, however, the precaution of leaving a party at the junction
of the main road with the road he took, so that if after all instead
of retreating westward the rebels had boldly kept on the main road to
Sheffield word might be sent after him. It so happened that this was
just what the rebels had done. Not having the fear of the Sheffield
company before their eyes, instead of trying to escape to New York by
the shortest cut, they had kept on toward Sheffield, marching south by
the main road.
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