Springfield Armory National Historic Site - The Wait marker was cratered by grape shot fired by militia artillery at Shays's rebels on January 25th, 1787 (U.S. National Park Service)

A crater on the upper face of the masonic emblem

Richard Colton, Historian, Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

On January 25th, 1787, the storming of Springfield Arsenal by Shays's rebels was repulsed in a hail of solid shot and grape shot, the latter hitting the Wait road marker on both its face and west-facing side. Grape shot consisted, in this case, of dozens of inch-wide iron balls fired from artillery. It was principally an anti-personnel weapon. Four rebels died at the scene and many were wounded.

Richard Colton, Historian, Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

Craters on the image of the Masonic temple on the face of the marker

Richard Colton, Historian, Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS