And not only this, but when they came to the junction
of the main road with that which Colonel Ashley had taken, and learned
by capturing the guard what plan the Colonel had devised, they became
so enraged that instead of keeping on to Sheffield and leaving the
militia to finish their wild goose chase, they turned into the back
road after them, and so the hunters became the hunted. In this way it
happened that while the militia were pressing on at full speed,
breathlessly debating their chances of heading off the flying rebels,
"bang," "bang," came a volley in their rear, and from the stragglers
who had been fired upon arose a cry, "The Shayites are after us."
It is greatly to the credit of the militia officers that the result of
this surprise was not a hopeless panic among their men. As it was, for
several minutes utter confusion reigned. Then one of the companies
took to the woods on the right, the other entering the woods on the
left, and marching back they presently came in sight of their
pursuers, still pushing on pell-mell in the road. The militia now had
every advantage, and Colonel Ashley ordered them to open fire. But the
men hesitated. There, intermingled with the rebels, their very
lineaments plainly to be seen, were the prisoners, the first gentlemen
of Stockbridge and of the county.
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