<P> They were anticipated by William Shepard, the local militia commander, who began gathering government - supporting militia the Saturday before the court was to sit . By the time the court was ready to open, Shepard had 300 men protecting the Springfield courthouse . Shays and Day were able to recruit a similar number, but chose only to demonstrate, exercising their troops outside Shepard's lines, rather than attempt to seize the building . The judges first postponed the hearings, and then adjourned on the 28th without hearing any cases . Shepard withdrew his force, which had grown to some 800 men (to the Regulators' 1,200), to the federal armory, which was then only rumored to be the target of seizure by the activists . </P> <P> Protests in Great Barrington, Concord, and Taunton were also successful in shutting courts down in those communities in September and October . James Warren wrote to John Adams on October 22, "We are now in a state of Anarchy and Confusion bordering on Civil War ." Courts in the larger towns and cities were able to meet, but required protection of the militia, which Bowdoin called out for the purpose . </P> <P> The Boston elites were mortified at this resistance . Governor Bowdoin commanded the legislature to "vindicate the insulted dignity of government ." Samuel Adams claimed that foreigners ("British emissaries") were instigating treason among the commoners, and he helped draw up a Riot Act, and a resolution suspending habeas corpus in order to permit the authorities to keep people in jail without trial . Adams proposed a new legal distinction: that rebellion in a republic, unlike in a monarchy, should be punished by execution . </P> <P> The legislature also moved to make some concessions to the upset farmers, saying certain old taxes could now be paid in goods instead of hard currency . These measures were followed up by one prohibiting speech critical of the government, and offering pardons to protestors willing to take an oath of allegiance . These legislative actions were unsuccessful in quelling the protests, and the suspension of habeas corpus alarmed many . </P>

Who led the rebellion against the government to stop foreclosures on their land