OPENING ADDRESS. 7 



" The patriotism of Berkshire did not oxliaust itself in holding con- 

 ventions, passing resolutions and suppressing the king's courts . . .The 

 battle of Lexington was fought on the 19th of April, 1775. . . . Berkshire 

 history avers that news of the Lexington battle arrived in this county 

 al)out noon on the 20th and that next morning at sunrise the regiment 

 of Col. I'attison were on their way, completely equipped in arms and 

 mostly in uniform Doubts have been expressed as to the reception of 

 the news of this bailie on the 20th and some have thought it impossible. 

 But the p^ roll of Captain William King's company of Great Barring- 

 ton minute men show that they marched on the 21st." 



The groat marvel in connection ■with the liistory of that 

 period, is how a community in the conditions existing at 

 that time, when the telegraph was undreamed of, when 

 railroads were unknown, when the stage-coach had not made 

 its appearance, and before the postal service had been 

 established, without newspapers to discuss questions of 

 public policy, with all these disadvantages, the people could 

 have been educated to think and act with any degree of 

 unanimity. A comparison of results accomplished then, and 

 now, under existing conditions, leaves us little reason to 

 boast of our own achievements. 



Intense and bitter as the feelings of the people were, 

 immediately before and during the war, towards those who 

 opposed the patriot cause, no sooner was the conflict ended 

 than they showed in various ways that kindness and 

 humanity were characteristic virtues, notably exemplifying 

 this in their treatment of the officers and soldiers of Bur- 

 go^'ue's army, who were quartered for a time in this village, 

 while being taken as prisoners of war to Boston. 



And I may as well say in this connection, that the 

 patriotism displayed by the people of Great Barrington, in 

 establishing the government, was equally prominent in 

 defending it, eighty-six years later. At the breaking out 

 of the rebellion in 1861, the population of the town was 

 3,871. Out of this total population the town furnished 430 

 men for the war, a surplus of eight over all demands of the 

 government. The amount of money furnished by the town 

 and by private subscription, I am unable to give, but at the 

 close of 1864, the town had expended nearly $33,000 for 

 war purposes and the entire indebtedness of the town was 

 liquidated within two years thereafter. 



