It's January 1787 at the Springfield Arsenal in Massachusetts, and a battle is about to begin.

General William Shepard grits his teeth as he sits on his horse in front of his troops.

Twelve hundred militiamen,

American veterans of the Revolutionary War. Shepard watches as his gun crew, Paul's cannon

to the front of the line, directly in the center of his ranks. He hopes not to use them today.

On the other side of the battlefield, about 150 yards away, the enemy stands at the ready.

But they're not redcoats. The British have long since left these shores. The enemy today is a

rag-tag group of 1,500 other Americans, rebels, led by a disgruntled farmer named Daniel Shays.

Since the Revolutionary War, America has been suffering an economic crisis.

Farmers like Shays have been crushed under the weight of high taxes and rising inflation.

Last year, Shays went broke. And when the taxman threatened to take his farm away,

Shays took up arms, formed a militia, and started training for combat.

Now, Sheaes and his rebels are here today to sack the Springfield Armory,

seize the weapons inside, and march on Boston.

The only thing standing in his way is General William Shepard.

Shepard hoped for a peaceful resolution.

And a few moments ago, Shepard sent aidesard hoped for a peaceful resolution. And a few moments ago,

Shepard sent aides to meet Shays men for a parley in the middle of the field, hoping to avoid combat. Shepard's aides warned the rebels that if they advanced, they would be fired on.

One of Shay's men replied, this is all we want. After the conference, Sheaes sent Shepard a message that

read, I am here in defense of that country that you are endeavoring to destroy. The parley ended

without a peaceful resolution. So now Shepard stares out across the snowy battlefield. He sees

Shea's rallying his troops, a sword held high above his head.

...