General William Shepard Statue (Broad Street/Park Square)

William Shepard, a General in the Revolutionary War, was the highest ranking member of the Continental Army from western Massachusetts. He was wounded, by a bullet in the neck, while protecting General George Washington's retreat from Long Island. He recovered and continued fighting; ultimately, participating in twenty-two battles. After the war he was chosen by President Washington, in 1787, to lead the Federal forces to protect the Springfield Armory from rebel attack during Shay's Rebellion.

The bronze statue of Major General William Shepard was created by sculptor Augustus Lukeman in 1918 and dedicated on September 3, 1919. It stands 8 feet high on a 7 foot pink granite pedestal. The pedestal contains the following inscriptions:

(Front)

MAJOR GENERAL
WILLIAM SHEPARD
1737-1817

(Right Side)

REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL COURT
STATE SENATOR
GOVERNOR'S COUNCILLOR
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTOR
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
U.S. COMMISSIONER TO THE SIX NATIONS
MODERATOR
XII YEARS SELECTMAN OF WESTFIELD
XXVII YEARS DEACON OF THE CHURCH
CHARTER TRUSTEE OF WESTFIELD ACADEMY

(Back)

ERECTED BY
THE DESCENDANTS OF GENERAL SHEPARD
AND
THE PEOPLE OF WESTFIELD
1919.

(Left Side)

CAPTAIN - FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS
1754-1763
MEMBER OF COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE
AND SAFETY
CONTINENTAL LINE
ENGAGED IN XXII BATTLES
1775-1783
COLONEL AND BRIGADIER GENERAL
MAYOR - GENERAL MASSACHUSETTS MILITIA
SUBDUING SHAY'S REBELLION