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BY GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. Fki>\i (iiNi.KAi, (i.akk's Mf-:M()IRS. " Everythini;^ bein,:; ready, on the 5tli (if I'fhruai \'. after receiving a lecture and absolution from the priest, we crossed the Kaskaskia l\i\er with one hundred and >e\ent\' men. marched about three miles and encani[)e(l. where we lay until the [ythj, and set out. The weather wet (but fortunatel) n^i cold for the season) and a ^reat i)art of the plains under water sex'eral inches deej). It was ditricult and \ery fati-uiuL;' marching-. My object was now to keep the men in spirits. I suffered them to shoot game on all occasions, and feast on it like Indian war-dancers, each companN 1)\' turns in\iting the others to their fi'asts. which was the case e\er}- night. a> the company that wa> to gi\e the f>.ast was alwa\s supplied with horses to lay u\^ a sutTicient store of wild meat in the course of the dav. myself and principal officers putting on the woods- men, shouting now and then, and miming as much through the nuid and water as any of them. Thus, insensibly, without a murmur, were those men led on to the banks of the lattle Wabash, which we reached on the i.^th. through incredible diflicullies. far sur[)assing :i!i\thing that an\- of us had e\er experieneed. frequentK' the dixersions of the lUght wore off the thoughts of the preceding da\-. We foiined a camp on a height which we found on the bank of the river, and suffeied our troojis to amuse themsehes. 1 viewed this sheet of w.iter for some time with tlistrust ; but. accusing nnself of doubting. 1 immediately set to work. withtnU holding any con->ultation about it, or suffering an\!)ody else to do so in my |)iesenee; ordered a pirogue to be built iirimediately, and acted as tlKuigh crossing the water would be only a piece of diversion. .\s but few could work at the pirogue at a time, pains were taken to fuul diversion for the rest to keep them in high spirits. . , . In the evening of the 141!., our vessel was finished, manned, and sent to explore the drowned lands on the opposite side of the Little Wabash, with private instructions what report to niaki.-, and. if possible, to find some spot of dry land. 'I'hey found abmit half an acre, and marked the trees from thence back to the camp, and made a very favorable re|)ort. •■ fortunately, the 13th hapjiened to be a warm, moist day for the season. The channel of the ri\er where we lay wa-^ about thirty \ards wide. .\ scaffold was budt on the opposite shore (which was about three feet under water), and our bag- tjaijje ferried across, and put on it. Our lK)rses swam across, and recei\ed their loads at the scaffold, bv which time the (rcjops were also brought across, and we began our march through the water. ... " I5y evening we found ourselves encamped on a pretty height, in high sjiirits. each jiarty laughing at the other, in consequence of something that had hai:)pencd in the course of this ferr_\ ing business, as they called it. A little antic drummer afforded them great di\'ersion by floating on his dinm, etc. All this was greatlv encouraged ; and ihe\- reall\- began to think them- selves sui)erior to other men, and that neither the rivers nor the seasons could stop their progress. Their whole conversation now was concerning what they would do when they got about the eiieniw Thev now liegan to x'.evv the main Wabash as a creek, aiul made no doubt but such men as they were couUl iind a way to cross it. TJiey wound themseUes up to such a pitch that they soon took I'ost \'incennes, divided the spoil, and before bedtime were far advanced on their route to De- troit. All this was. no doubt, pleasing to those of us who had luore serious thoughts. . . . We were now convinced that the whole of the low country on the Wabash was drowned, and that the enemy could easily get to us. if they discovered us, and wished to risk an action ; if they did not, we made no doubt of crossing the river by some means or other. Even if Captain Rogers, with our galley, did not get to his station agreeable to iiis appointment, we flattered ourselves that all would be well, and marched on in liigh spirits. . . . ■' I'he last day's march through the water was far superior to anything the Frenchmen had an idea of. They were backward in speaking; said that the nearest land to us was a sr.iall league called the Sugar Camp, on the bank of the [river?] A canoe was sent off, and returned without finding that we could pass. I went in her myself, and sounded the water; found it cieep as to my neck. I returned with a design to have the men >: * t^an^l)^)^tc(l (tn board liie canoes t** the Sn;;ar Camp, wliirli I knew Would spend the whcjle day and ensuinj; ni_L;ht. .i^ the \e>>i'ls Would pass slowly throu<;h the l)ushes. The loss of so niueh time, to men half-starved, was a matter of conse(|Uince. I would have Ljiven now a ^reat deal for a day's provision or foi one of our horses. I returned hut slowly to the troops. _t;i\ini;' m\self tinie to think. ( )n our arrival, all r.m to hear what was the report. I'.xery eye was tixed on me. 1 unfortu natelv spoke in a seriou.s manner to one of the olTicers. 'I'he whole were alarmed without knowini; what 1 said. 1 \ iewed their Confusion for about one minute, wjiis|)ered to th )se neai me to do as I did: innnediatt^ly put some water in my hand, poured on powder, bhickened my face. L;a\e the war-wliooj), and marched into the water without sayinj; a word. The party ^azed, and fell in. one after another, without sayin;; a worcl. like a llock of sheep. 1 ordered those ne.ir me to l)e|;in a f.norite sonLj of theirs. It soon passed throui;h the line, and the whole went (ju cheerfully. I now intended to have them transported across the dee|)est part of the water: but. wiu-n aliout waist deep, one of the men informed me that he thou-ht Jie felt a path. We examined, and found it so. and concluded that it ke|)t on the hi;j;hest j^round. which it did; and, by takinj; pains to folhnv it, we g(jt to the Su_L;ar Camp vvithout the least diflicnltv, where there was about half an acre of drv ground, at least not under water, where wi' took up our lod^- ins;. Tiie l'""enchmen that we had taken on the river apjieared to be uneasy at our situation. They be-^i^ed that they mi^ht be jiermitted to i;o in the two canoes to town in the ni;i,lit. Thev said that tliey would brinu; from their own houses pro- \ isions, without a possibility of any persons knowiuL; it ; that some of our men should go with them as a suretv of theit good conduct ; that it was impossible we could march from that place till the water fell, for the plain was too deep to march. Some of the [officers ?] believed that it might be done. I would not suffer it. I never could well account for this piece of obstinacy, and give satisfactory reasons to myself or any- bodv else why I denied a proposition ai)j:)arently so easy to execute and of so much advantage; but something seemed to tell me that it should not be done, and it was not done. "The most of the weather that we had on this march was m >ist and warm for the season. 'J'iiis was the coldest night wc had. The ice, in the morning, was from one-half to three- quarters of an inch thick near the shores and in still water, 'ihe mornin;; was the finest we had on our march. A little after siinrisL' 1 Icctuicd the wliolc. Wliat I >>aicl to them I foi-el. I)iit it 111. I)- 1)0 easily iinaL;ine(l h) a peisnii that could possess my alVeclions for them at that time. I coiu hided 1)\' informiii^j tliem that ])assin\'^ Knives. 'I'hese were favorable circumstances; and, as there was but little probability of our remaining until dark undiscovered. I determined to hc'/\u the career immediately, and wrote the following placard to the inhabitants: — "'To nil. J.\ii.\i;ii.\.\ IS ()!• I'osi \iN( i.v.NKs : "' 6V// //(•;//int of some coti- secpience to us to make ourselves appear as formidable, we, in leaving; the covi ri that we were in. marched aiul countei marched in such a manner that we appeared numerous. In raising volunteers in the Illinois, every person that set about the business had a set of colors given him, which they brought with them to tiie amount of ten or twehe pairs. These werr displayed to tiie best achantage; and, as the low plain wc marched through was not a perfect level, but had fretpient risings in it seven or eight feet higher than the common level (which was covered with water), and as these rising>> generally run in an oblicpie direction to the town, we took tlic advantage of one of them, marching through the water inuier it, which completely i)revented our being numbered. l!ut our colors showed considerablv abo\e tiie heights, as thev were li.xed on long poles procured for the pur|)ose, and at a distance made no despicable appearance; and, as our young l-'renchmen had. while we lay on the Warrior's Island, (leco}ed and taken several fowlers with their horses, officers were mounted on these horses, and rode about, more completelx' to decei\e the enemy. In this manner we moved, and directed our march in such a way as to suffer it to be dark before we had advanced more than half-wav to the town. We then suddenlv altered our direction, and crossed jionds where the\' could not ha\e suspected us, and about eight o'clock g;iined the heights back of the tcjwn. As there was yet no hostile appearance, we were impatient to have the cause uririddled. Lieutenant Hayley was ordered, with fourteen men. to march and fire on the fort The main body moved in a dilTerent direction, and took [los- session of the strongest part of the town. "The firing now commenced on the fort, but they did not believe it was an enemv until one of their men was shot down through a port, as drunken Indians frecpiently saluted the fort after night. The drums now sounded, and the business fairly i;omnienced on both sides. Re-enforcements were sent to the attack of the garrison, while other arrangements were making in town. , . . We now found that the (rarrison had known tiolhiti}; of us; that, having I'lnished the fort that evening', they had anuised themselves at different games, and had just re- tired before my letter arrived, as it was near roll-call. Tiu placard beinj; made public, many of the inhabitants were afraid to show themselves out of the houses for fear of giving offence, and not (;ne tiare give information. Our friends flew to the connuons and other convenient places to view the pleasin;^ sight. This was observed from the garrison, and the reason asked, but a satisfactory excuse was given ; and, as a part of the town lay between our line of march and the garrison. \\v c(Hdd not be seen by the sentinels on the walls. C'a|)tain VV. Shannon and another being some time before taken prisoners by one of their [scouting i)arties|, and that evening brought in, the jiarty had discoverecl at the Sugar Camp some signs of us. TIk'v supposed it to be a jiarty of observation that intended to land on the height some distance below the town. Captain J.amotte was sent to intercept them. It was at him the people said they were looking, when they were asked the reason of their unusual stir. Several suspected persons had been taken to the garrison; among them was Mr. Moses flenry. Mrs. Henry went, under the pretense of carrying him provisions, and whispered him the news and what she had seen. Mr. Henry conveyed it to the rest of his fellow-prisoners, which gave them much pleasure, particularly Captain Helm, who amused himself very much during the siege, and, 1 believe, did iiuich damage. "Ammunition was scarce with us, as the most of our stores had been put on board of the galley. 'I'hough her crew was but few, such a re-enforcement to us at this time would have been invaluable in many instances. J^ut, fortunately, at the time of its being reported that the whole of the goods in the town were to be taken for the king's use (for which the owners Avere to receive bills), Colonel Legras, Major J}osseron, and others had buried the greatest part of their powder and ball. 'J'his was immediately produced, and we found ourselves well supplied by those gentlemen. " The Tobacco's son, being in town with a number of war- riors, immediately mustered them, and let us know that he uished to join us, saying that by the morning he would have a hundred men. He received for answer that we thanked him for his friendly disposition ; and, as we were sufficiently strong ourselves, we wished him to desist, and that we would counsel on the subject in the morning ; and, as we knew that there were a number of Indians in and near the town that were our enemies, some cotifiision mi^ht happen if our men should mix. in the dark, but Ijoped that we mi;;ht he f.ivored with his counsel and company during the nij^ht, which was agreeable to him. "The garrison was soop cf)mpletely surrounded, and the firing continued without intermission (except about tifteeii minutes a little before day) ujitil about nine o'clock the fol lowing morning. It was kept up by the whole of the troops. joined by a few of the ycnuig men of the town, who got per- mission, except fifty men kept as a reserve. ... 1 had ni.ide myself fully accpiainted with the situation of the fort and t(jwn and the i)arts relative to ea.h The cannon of the gar- rison was on the upper floors of si ,ig blockhouses at each angle of the fort, eleven feet above tUe surface, and the ports so badly cut that many of our troops lay under the tiic of them within twenty or thirty y; .s of ihe w ,;ls. 'I'hey did no damage, except to the buildings of t' <-' town, some of which hev much shatteierl ; and their nnisketrv, in the dark, em- ployed against woodsm m covered In houses, palings, ditches, the banks of the river, etc., was but of Mttle avail, and did no injury to us e.xcept wounding a man or two. .> >^ we could not afford to lose men, great care wa;i taken to preserve mem suf- ficiently covered, and to keep up a hot fire in order to intimi- date the enemy as well as to destroy them. The embrasures- of their cannon were frequently shut, for our riflemen, fuiding the true direction of them, would pour in such voileys when they were opened that the men could not stand to the guns. Seven or eight of them in a short time got cut down. Our troops would frequently abuse the enemy, in order to aggra- vate them to open their ports and tire their cannon, that they might have the pleasure of cutting them down with their rifles, fifty of which, perhaps, would be levelled the moment the port fiew open ; and I believe that, if they had stood at their artillery, the greater part of them would have been de- stroyed in the course of the night, as the greater part of our men lay within thirty yards of the walls, and in a few hours were covered equally to those within the walls, and much nio'c experienced in that mode of fighting. . . . Sometimes an irregular fire, as hot as possible, was kept up from different directions for a few min.iles, and then only a continual scatter- ing fire at the ports as usual ; and a greai. noise and laughter immediately commenced in different parts of the town, by the reserved parties, as if they had only fired on the fort a few minutes for amusement, and as if those continually firing at the lO fort were only rej:;ularly relieved. Conduct similar to this kepi the garrison constantly alarmed, They did not know what Dioiiient they ini^ht he stormed or [hlown up?], as they could ])lainly discover that we liad Hunjr up some entrenchments across the streets, and appeared tf) be frecpiently very hiis\ under the hank of the ri\er, which was within thirty feet of the walls. 'J'he situation of the magazine we knew well. Captain IJowman began some works in order to blow it up, in case our nrtillerv should arri\e ; but, as we knew that we were daily liable to be overpowered by the ninnerous bands of Ind ians on the river, in case tiiey had again joined the enemy (the certainty of which we were unacciuainted with), we resolved to lose no lime, but t*") get the fort in oiu' possession as soon as possible. If the vessel did not arrive before the ensuing night, we resolved to undermine the fort, and fixed on the .spot and i)lan of executing this work, which we intended to connnence the next dav. "ihe Indians of different tribes that were inimical had left the town and neighborhood. Captain Lamotte continued to ho\er about it, in order, if possible, to make his way good into the fort. Parties at'empted in vain to surprise him. A few of his party were tuken, one of which was Maisonville, a famous Indian parti.-,an. Two lads that captured him tied him to a post in the street, and fought from behind him as a breastwork, supposing that the enemy would not lire at them for fear of killing him, as he would alarm them by his voice, 'j'he lads were ordered, bv an officer who discovered them at their amusement, to untie their prisoner, and take him off to the guard, which they did, but were so inhuman as to take part (if his scalp on the way. Tliere happened to him no other damage. As almost the whole of the persons who were most active in the department of Detroit were either in the fort or Avith Captain I.amotte, I got e.vtremely uneasy for fear that he woukl not fall into our power, knowing that he would go off. if he could not get into the fort in the course of the night. I'inding that, without some unforeseen accident, the fort must inevitably be ours, and that a re-enforcement of twenty men. although considerable to them, would not be of great moment to us in the present situation of affairs, and knowing that we had weakened them by killing or wounding many of their gunners, after some deliberation, we concluded to risk the re-en- forcement in preference of his going again among the Indians. Tiie garrison had at least a month'.s provisions; and, if they could hold out, in the course of that time he might do us TSSS!XSzSSSSi 1 1 1(1 thai liust hen. Iheir b-en '.ns. thev much damage. A little before day the troops were withdrawn from their po.sitions about the fort, e.xcejit a few parties of observation, and the tiring totally ceased. ( )rders were given, in case of Lairotte's approach, not to alarm or tire on him without a certainly of killing (jr taking the whole. In less than a quarter of an hour, he passed within ten feet of an officer and a part)' that lay concealed. Ladders were tlung over to them ; and, as they mounted them, oui" party shouted. Many of them fell from the top oi the walls. — some within, and others l)ack ; but, as they were not tired on, they all got (Acr, much to the joy of their friends. ISut. on considering the matter, they must have been convinced that it was a scheme of ours to let them in, and that we were so strong as to care but little about them or the manner of their getting into the garrison. . . . I'he firing immediately commenced on both sides with dc^uble vigor; and 1 believe that more noise could not liave been made by the same number of men. 'Their shouts could not be heard for the firearms ; but a continual blaze was kept around the garrison, without much being done, until about daybreak, when our troops were drawn off to posts jirepared for them, about si.xty or seventy yards from the fort. A loophole then could scarcely be darkened but a ritle-ball would pass through it. 'l"o have stood to their cannon would have destroyed their men, without a jMobability of doing much service. Our situation was nearlv similar. It would have been imprudent in either party to have wasted their men, without some decisive stroke required it. *'i"hus the attack continued until about nine o'clock on the morning of tiie 24th. Learning that the two prisoners they had brought in the day before had a considerable number of letters with them, I supposed it an express that we expected about this time, which I knew to be of the greatest moment to us, as we had not received one since our arrival in the country; and. not being fully accpiainted with the character of our enemy, we were doubtful that those papers might be destroyed, to prevent which I sent a Hag [with a letter] de- manding the garrison." The following is a copy of the letter which was addressed by Colonel Clark to Lieutenant-governor Hamilton on this occasion : — '' Sir, — In order to save yourself from the impending storm that now threatens vou. I order vou immediatelv to surr'^rder 13 yourself, with all your garrison, stores, etc. F'or, if I am obliged to storm, you may depend on such treatment as is justly due to a murderer, lieware of destroying stores of any kind or any papers or letters that are in your possession, or hurting one house in town ; for, by heavens ! if you do, there shall be no mercy shown you. "(Signed) G. R. CLARK.' The British commandant immediately returned the following answer : — "Lieutenant-governor Hamilton begs leave to acquaint Colonel Clark that he and his garrison are not disposed to be awed into any action unworthy British subjects." "The firing then," says Clark, "commenced warmly for ,i considerable time ; and we were obliged to be careful in pre- venting our men from exposing themselves too much, as they were now much animated, having been refreshed during the flag. They frequently mentioned their wishes to storm the place, and put an end to the business at once. . . . The firing was heavy through every crack that could be discovered in any part of the fort. Several of the garrison got woi.ndtd. and no possibility of standing near the embrasures. Toward the evening a flag appeared with the following proposals : — "'Lieutenant-governor Hamilton proposes to Colonel Clark a truce for three days, during which time he promises there shall be no defensive works carried on in the garrison, on con- dition that Colonel Clark shall observe, on his part, a like cessation of any defensive work, — that is, he wishes to confer with Colonel Clark as soon as can be, and promises that what ever may pass between them two and another person mutuall\ agreed upon to be present shall remain secret till matters be finished, as he wishes that, whatever the result of the confer ence may be, it may tend to the honor and credit of each part\ . If Colonel Clark makes a difficulty of coming into the fort. Lieutenant-governor Hamilton will speak to him by the gate. " ' (Signed) "'24TH Fehruarv, 1779.' HEXRY HAMILTON " I was at a great loss to conceive what reason Lieutenant governor Hamilton could have for wishing a truce of three days on such terms as he proposed. Numbers said it was a 13 scheme to get me into their possession. I had a different opinion and no idea of his possessing such sentiments, as an act of that kind would infallibly ruin him. Although we had the greatest reason to expect a re-enforcement in less than three days, that would at once put an end to the siege, I yet did not think it prudent to agree to the proposals, and sent the follow- ing answer : — "'Colonel Clark's compliments to Lieutenant-governor Ham- ilton, and begs leave to inform him that he will not agree to any terms other than Mr. Hamilton's surrendering himself and garrison prisoners at discretion. If Mr. Hamilton is desirous of a conference with Colonel Clark, he will meet him at the church with Captain Helm. '"(Signed) 0. R. C. '"Febri'ary 24TH, 1779.' )n- ;i' tei at- llv he ■et" rtv- "We met at the church, about eighty yards from the fort. Lieutenant-governor Hamilton, Major Hay, superintendent of Indian affairs, Captain Helm, their prisoner. Major Bowman, and myself. The conference began. Hamilton produced terms of capitulation, signed, that contained various articles, one (jf which was that the garrison should be surrendered on their being permitted to go to Pensacola on parole. After deliber- ating on every article, I rejected the whole. He then wished that I would make some proposition. I told him that I had no other to make than what I had already made, — that of his surrendering as prisoners at discretion. I said that his troops had behaved with spirit ; that they could not suppose that they would be worse treated in consequence of it ; that, if he chose to comply with the demand, though hard, perhaps the sooner the better ; that it was in vain to make any proposition to me : that he, by this time, must be sensible that the garrison would fall; that both of us must [view?] all blood spilt for the future by the garrison as murder ; that my troops were already impatient, and called aloud for permission to tear down and storm the fort. If such a step was taken, many, of course, would be cut down ; and the result of an enraged body of woodsmen breaking in must be obvious to him. It would be out of the power of an American officer to save a single man. Various altercation took place for a considerable time. Cap- •tain Helm attempted to moderate our fixed determination. I told him he was a British prisoner ; and it was doubtful 14 wlit'ther or ikjI he could, with pro])riety. speak on the subject. Hamilton tlien said that Captain Helm was from that moment liberated, and mit^ht use his pleasure. 1 informed the Captain that 1 would not receive him on such terms; that he must return to the garrison, and await his fate. J then told Lieu- tenant-governor Hamilton that iiostilities should not commence until live minutes after the drums gave the alarm. We tcjok our leave, and parted but a few steps, when Hamilton stopped, and i^olitely asked me if I would be so kind as to give him my reasons for refusing the garrison any other terms than those 1 had offered, I told hhn I had no objections in giving him my real reasons, which were sim|)ly these: that I knew the greater part of the principal Indian jxirtisans of Detroit were with him: that I wanted an excuse to i)ut them to deatii or otherwise treat them as I thougiit proper; that the cries of the widows and the fatherless on the frontiers, which they had occasioned, now recpiired their blood from my hand; and that I did not choose to be so timorous as to disobey the absolute connnands of their authority, wiiich 1 looked upon to be next to divine: that 1 would rather lose fifty men than not to em- power myself to execute this piece of business with propriet}- : that, if he chose to risk the massacre of his garrison for their sakes, it was liis own pleasure; and that I might, perhajjs, take it into mv head to send for some of those widows to see it executed. Major Hay paying great attention, i had observed a kind of distrust in his ccnmtenance, which in a great measure intluenced my conversation during this lime. On my conclud- ing, ' Pray, sir,' said he. 'who is it that you call Indian parti sans?' '.Sir.' I replied, 'I take Major Hay to be one of the princi]5al.' I never saw a man in the moment of execution so struck as he appeared to be. — pale and trembling, scarcely able to stand. llamilton l)lushed, and, I observed, was much affected at his behavior. Major IJowman's countenance suffi- ciently ex])lained his disdain for the one and his sorrow for the other. . . , .Some moments elapsed without a word pass- ing on either side. From that moment my resolutions changed respecting Hamilton's situation. I told him that we would return to our respecti\e posts; that I would reconsider the matter, and let him know the result. No offensive measures should be taken in the meantime. Agreed to ; and we parted. What had passed being made known to our ofificers, it was agreed that we should moderate our resolutions." In the course of the afternoon of the 24th the following articles were signed, and the ^-arrison capitulated: — uig The Clark i Kovolii btcaust 7i •• I. Lieutenant-governor Ilaniilton enj^ages to deliver up to ('(jl(jnel ('lark Fort Sackvillc, as it is at present, with all the stores, etc. "11. The {garrison are to deliver themselves as -prisoners of war, and march out with their arms and accoutermcnts, etc. '"111. 'I'he ij;arrison to be delivered up at ten o'clock to-morrow. ■•1\'. Three days time to l)e allowed the garrison to settle their accounts with the inhabitants and traders of ihix jjlace. •■ \'. The officers of the garrison t(-» be allowed their neces- sary baggage, etc. •■ Signed at i'osl .St. \'incent [X'incennes] 24th of {"cbruary, ■• .Vgreed for the following reasons : the remoteness iroiu succor; the state and cpiantity of proxisions, etc.; unanimity of otticers and men in its expediency; the honorable terms alliiwctl; and. lastly, the contidence in a generous enemx'. ••(Signed) HKNR\' HAMILTON, ^^ Lieut-i:;ov. and Suptrinteiuienty '•The business being now nearly at an end, troops were posted in several strong houses around the garrison and l)atroled during the night to prevent any deception that migiit ]je attempted. 'Jhe remainder on duty lay on their arms, and for the first time for many days past got some rest. . . . Dur- ing the siege, I got only one man wounded. Not being able to lose many. I made them secure themselves well. Seven were badly wounded in the fort through ports. . . . Almost t\ery man had conceived a favorable opinion of Lieutenant- Governor Hamilton, — 1 believe what affected mvself made some impression on the whole; and I was liappy to find that he never deviated, while he stayed with us, from that dignity of conduct that became an officer in his situaticjn. 'J'hc morn- ing of the 25th approaching, arrangements were made for receiving the garrison [which consisted of seventy-nine men], and about ten o'clock it was delivered in form; and every- thing was immediately arranged to the best ad\antage." The conquest of the country north of the Ohio River by George Rogers Clark in 1778-9 was one of the most heroic episodes of the period of the Revolution, and one of the most imijortant in its consequences. It was because, owing to this conquest, the country between the Ohio and the lO Mississippi was actually held bjr us, under military and civil rule, at the close of the war, that it was possible for us to secure, in the Treaty of Paris, the concession of the Mississippi instead of the Ohio as our western boundary. It has been properly said that, "with respect to the magnitude of its design, the valor and perseverance with which it was carried out, and the momentous results which were produced by it, Clark's expedition stands without a parallel in the early annals of the valley of the Mississippi." Clark was a young Virginian who had settled in Kentucky in 1775, had secured the organization of Kentucky as a county of Virginia, and been the leader in the defence of the frontier. The Kentucky and Illinois country suffered greatly during the early years of the war from Indian depredations. Clark saw clearly that the sources of these depredations were the British posts of Detroit, Vincennes on the Wabash, and Kaskaskia on the Missis- sippi ; and he went to Virginia and laid before Patrick Henry, then Gover- nor of Virginia, a scheme for the conquest of the North-west, the boldness of which at once enlisted the interest and co-operation of Henry, Jefferson, and other influential men. With his little army of one hundred and fifty men, he surprised and captured Kaskaskia on the night of July 4, 177S, did much by wise diplomjcy to attach the French and Indians to the American cause, and in February, 1779, marched upon Vincennes. The hardships of that march of one hundred and sixty-six miles were almost incredible. In that great era of brave deeds there was no braver deed than this. A por- tion of Clark's own account of the march and the capture of Vincennes, taken from hi>j Memoirs, composed at the special request of Jefferson and Madison, is given in the present leaflet. The weakness of his force alone prevented Clark from moving on Detroit. The county of Illinois was established by the General Assembly of Virginia, covering all the territory; and this remained under the actual control of Virginia at the close of the war and when the Treaty of Paris was under consideration. "The arms of Clark had settled the question of possession and civil as well as military rule of this great territory, which now holds so many millions of people. These prominent facts were before the British minister and before the world. He could not say that this part of the land was in the power of England any more than Virginia herself was after the battle of Yorktown, and he was too accurate a jurist to yield to any claim of Spain or to hear the objections of France." The last years of this great man's life were spent in solitude and poverty near Louisville. He felt keenly the ingratitude of the republic ; and, when late in his life the State of Virginia sent him a sword, he exclaimed to the committee : " When Virginia needed a sword, I gave her one. She sends me now a toy. I want bread ! " — thrust the sword into the ground, and broke it with his crutch. John Reynolds called George Rogers Clark " the Washington of the West," and John Randolph styled him " the Hannibal of the West." See chapter entitled "The itannibal of the West," in Dunn's Indiana, in the "American Commonwealths" series, for the best brief account of Clark's exploits. W. F. Poole's chapter on "The West," in the sixth volume of thf' Narrative and Critical History of America, contains an invaluable mass of material concerning Clark and his work. A good biography of Clark is a desideratum. The memoirs, from which the present leaflet is taken, are printed in Dillon's History of Indiana. A letter from Clark to George Mason, covering his Vincennes campaign, has been published under the title of Clark's Campaign in the Illinois (Cincinnati, 1869).