Lt. Col. William Stacy - New Salem, MA
Posted by: WN1E
N 42° 30.003 W 072° 19.891
18T E 719265 N 4708749
Monument recognizing 1st Lt. William Stacy's call to arms April, 20th 1775.
Waymark Code: WM59K0
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 12/01/2008
Views: 4
When the British attacked the the militia men at Lexington April, 19 1775 the reaction across the region was one of anger towards the British. Militias were formed in many small towns and they quickly headed off to support the war efforts in Cambridge, MA. This monument commemorates one such event.
From the plaque:
"Lt. Col. William Stacy
1733-1804
Alarm Bells Called The Citizens To This Green
April, 20 1775 To learn Of The Battle Of Lexington.
There Was Indecision Until 1st Lt. Stacy Stepped
Forward And Said "Fellow Soldiers, I Don't Know
How It Is With You, But For Me I Will No Longer
Serve A King That Murders My Own Country Men."
Pulling Out His Commission From The Crown He Tore It To
Bits And Trod It Underfoot. Amid Wild Cheers A Militia
Company Of Patriots Was Formed And Under The Gallant
Stacy As Captain Marched Off To Cambridge.
May Such Patriotism Ever Be With Us"
William Stacy became an officer in the Continental Army and participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Later he was stationed at Cherry Valley, NY where he was captured in 1778 and nearly burned at the stake. He was eventually freed at the end of the war in 1782.
This monument is located in the small town of New Salem, MA, which is just off of Rt. 202 on the western side of the Quabbin Reservoir.
For more on Lt. Col. Stacy check out his wikipedia page: (
visit link)