USA > Illinois > Grundy County > History of Grundy County, Illinois > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
the town at any one time, and they were admitted only at the east and west gates. At sundown the drums beat, and all the Indians were required to leave town in- stantly. There was a council house near the water side for the purpose of holding council with the Indians. The population of the town was about sixty families, in all about two hundred males and one hundred females. This town was destroyed by fire, all except one dwelling, in 1805. After which the present " new" town was laid out.
On the breaking out of the Revolution, the British held every post of importance in the West. Kentucky was formed as a component part of Virginia, and the sturdy pioneers of the West, alive to their inter- ests, and recognizing the great benefits of obtaining the control of the trade in this part of the New World, held steadily to their purposes, and those within the com- monwealth of Kentucky proceeded to ex- ercise their civil privileges, by electing John Todd and Richard Calloway, burgess- es to represent them in the Assembly of the parent state. Early in September of that year (1777) the first court was held in Harrodsburg, and Col. Bowman, afterward major, who had arrived in August, was made the commander of a militia organiza- tion which had been commeneed the March previous. Thus the tree of loyalty was growing. The chief spirit in this far-ont colony, who had represented her the year previous east of the mountains, was now meditating a move unequaled in its hold- ness. He had been watching the move- ments of the British throughout the North- west, and understood their whole plan. He saw it was through their possession of
35
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
the posts at Detroit, Vincennes, Kaskaskia, and other places, which would give them constant and easy access to the varions In- dian tribes in the Northwest, that the Brit- ish intended to penetrate the country from the north and south, and annihilate the frontier fortresses. This moving, energetic man was Colonel, afterward General, George Rogers Clark. He knew the In- dians were not unanimously in accord with the English, and he was convinced that, could the British be defeate I and expelled from the Northwest, the natives might be easily awed into neutrality ; and by spies sent for the purpose, he satisfied himself that the enterprise against the Illinois set- tlements might easily succeed. Having convinced himself of the certainty of the project, he repaired to the Capital of Vir- ginia, which place he reached on November 5th. While he was on his way, fortunately, on October 17th, Burgoyne had been de- feated, and the spirits of the colonists greatly encouraged thereby. Patrick Henry was Governor of Virginia, and at once entered heartily into Clark's plans. The same plan had before been agitated in the Colonial Assemblies, but there was no one until Clark came who was sufficiently acquainted with the condition of affairs at the scene of action to be able to guide them.
Clark, having satisfied the Virginia lead- ers of the feasibility of his plan, received, on the 2d of Jannary, two sets of instrue- tions-one secret, the other open-the lat- ter anthorized him to proceed to enlist seven companies to go to Kentucky, sub- jeet to his orders, and to serve three months from their arrival in the West. The secret order authorized him to arm these troops, to proeure his powder and lead of General
Hand at Pittsburgh, and to proceed at once to subjugate the country.
With these instructions Clark repaired to Pittsburgh, choosing rather to raise his men west of the mountains, as he well knew all were needed in the colonies in the conflict there. He sent Col. W. B. Smith to Holston for the same purpose, but neither succeeded in raising the re- quired number of men. The settlers in these parts were afraid to leave their own firesides exposed to a vigilant foe, and but few could be induced to join the proposed expedition. With three companies and several private volunteers, Clark at length commenced his descent of the Ohio, which he navigated as far as the Falls, where he took possession of and fortified Corn Isl- and, a small island between the present cities of Louisville, Kentucky, and New Albany, Indiana. Remains of this forti- fication may yet be found. At this place he appointed Col. Bowman to meet him with such recruits as had reached Ken- tucky by the southern route, and as many as could be spared from the station. Here he announced to the men their real desti- nation. Having completed his arrange- ments, and chosen his party, he left a small garrison upon the island, and on the 24th of June, during a total eclipse of the sun, which to them angured no good, and which fixes beyond dispute. the date of starting, he with his chosen band, fell down the river. His plan was to go by water as far as Fort Massac or Massaere, and thence march direct to Kaskaskia. Here he in- tended to surprise the garrison, and after its capture go to Cahokia, then to Vineen- nes, and lastly to Detroit. Should he fail, . he intended to march directly to the Miss-
-4
36
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
issippi River and cross it into the Spanish comtry. Before his start he received two good items of information ; one that the alliance had been formed between France and the United States ; and the other that the Indians throughout the Illinois country and the inhabitants, at the various frontier posts, had been led to believe by the Brit- ish that the " Long Knives" or Virginians, were the most fierce, bloodthirsty and cruel savages that ever scalped a foc. With this impression on their minds, Clark saw that proper management would cause them to submit at once from fear, if surprised, and then from gratitude would become friendly if treated with unexpected leniency.
The march to Kaskaskia was accomplish- ed through a hot July sun, and the town reached on the evening of July 4. He cap- tured the fort near the village, and soon after the village itself by surprise, and with- out the loss of a single man or by killing any of the enemy. After sufficiently work- ing upon the fears of the natives, Clark toid them they were at perfect liberty to worship as they pleased, and to take which- ever side of the great conflict they would, also, he would protect them from any bar- barity from British or Indian foe. This had the desired effect, and the inhabitants, so unexpectedly and so gratefully surprised by the unlooked-for turn of affairs, at once swore allegiance to the American arms, and when Clark desired to go to Cahokia on the 6th of July, they accompanied him, and through their influence the inhabitants of the place surrendered, and gladly placed themselves under his protection. Thus the two important posts in Illinois passed from the hands of the English into the pos- session of Virginia.
In the person of the priest at Kaskaskia, M. Gibault, Clark found a powerful ally and generous friend. Clark saw that, to retain possession of the Northwest and treat successfully with the Indians within its boundaries, he innst establish a govern- ment for the colonies he had taken. St. Vineent, the next important post to De- troit, remained yet to be taken before the Mississippi Valley was conquered. M. Gib- ault told him that he would alone, by per- suasion, lead Vincennes to throw off its connection with England. Clark gladly accepted his offer, and on the 14th of July, in company with a fellow-towasman, M. Gibault started on his mission of peace and on the 1st of Angust returned with the cheerful intelligenee that the post on the "Oubache" had taken the oath of allegi- ance to the Old Dominion. During this interval, Clark established his courts, placed garrisons at Kaskaskia and Cahokia, suc- cessfully re-enlisted his men, sent word to have a fort. which proved the germ of Lonis- ville, erected at the Falls of the Ohio, and dispatched M. Rocheblave, who had been commander at Kaskaskia, as a prisoner of war to Richmond. In October the County of Illinois was established by the Legis- lature of Virginia, John Todd appointed Lieutenant Colonel and Civil Governor, and in November General Clark and his men received the thanks of the O.d Do- minion through their Legislature.
In a speech a few days afterward, Clark made known fully to the natives his plans, and at its close all came forward and swore allegiance to the Long Knives. While he was doing this Governor Hamilton, having made his various arrangements, had left Detroit and moved down the Wabash to
37
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
Vineennes intending to operate from that point in redneing the Illinois posts, and then proceed on down to Kentucky and drive the rebels from the West. Gen. Clark had, on the return of M. Gibault, dispatched Captain Helin, of Fanqnier County, Virginia, with an attendant named Henry, across the Illinois prairies to com- mand the fort. Hamilton knew nothing of the capitulation of the post, and was greatly surprised on his arrival to be con- fronted by Capt. Helm, who, standing at the entrance of the fort by a loaded eannon ready to fire upon his assailants, demanded upon what terms Hamilton demanded pos- session of the fort. Being granted the rights of a prisoner of war, he surrendered to the British General, who could searcely believe his eyes when he saw the force in the garrison.
Hamilton, not realizing the character of the men with whom he was contending, gave up his intended campaign for the winter, sent his four hundred Indian war- riors to prevent troops from coming down the Ohio, and to annoy the Americans in all ways, and sat quietly down to pass the winter. Information of all these proceed- ings having reached Clark, he saw that immediate and decisive action was neces- sary, and that unless he captured Hamil- ton, Ilamilton would capture him. Clark received the news on the 29th of January, 1779, and on February 4th, having suffi- ciently garrisoned Kaskaskia and Cahokia, he sent down the Mississippi a " battoe," as Major Bowman writes it, in order to as- cend the Ohio and Wabash, and operate with the land forces gathering for the fray.
On the next day, Clark, with his little
foree of one hundred and twenty men, set out for the post, and after incredible hard marching through much mud, the ground being thawed by the incessant spring rains, on the 22nd reached the fort, and being joined by his " battoe," at once commeneed the attack on the post. The aim of the American backwoodsmen was nnerring, and on the 24th the garrison surrendered to the intrepid boldness of Clark. The French were treated with great kindness, and gladly renewed their allegianee to Vir- ginia. Hamilton was sent as a prisoner to Virginia, where he was kept in close eon- finement. During his command of the British frontier posts, he had offered prizes to the Indians for all the scalps of Ameri- cans they would bring to him, and had earned in consequence thereof, the title "Hair-buyer General," by which he was ever afterward known.
Detroit was now without doubt within casy reach of the enterprising Virginian, could he but raise the necessary forec. Governor Henry being apprised of this, promised him the needed reinforcement, and Clark concluded to wait until he could capture and sufficiently garrison the posts. Hlad Clark failed in this bold undertaking, and Ilamilton succeeded in uniting the western Indians for the next spring's cam- paign, the West would indeed have been swept from the Mississippi to the Allegheny Mountains, and the great blow struek, which had been contemplated from the commencement, by the British.
" But for this small army of dripping, but fearless Virginians, the union of all the tribes from Georgia to Maine against the colonies might have been effected, and the whole current of our history changed."
38
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
At this time some fears were entertained by the Colonial Governments that the In- dians in the North and Northwest were in- elining to the British, and under the in- struetions of Washington, now Commander- in-Chief of the Colonial army, and so bravely fighting for American independ- ence, armed forces were sent against the Six Nations, and upon the Ohio frontier, Col. Bowman, acting under the same gen- eral's orders, marched against Indians within the present limits of that State. These expeditions were in the main snc- cessful, and the Indians were compelled to sue for peace.
During the same year (1779) the famous ' Land Laws " of Virginia were passed. The passage of these laws was of more con- seqnenee to the pioneers of Kentucky and the Northwest than the gaining of a few Indian conflicts. These laws confirmed in main all grants made, and guaranteed to all actual settlers their rights and privileges. After providing for the settlers, the laws provided for selling the balance of the pub- lic lands at forty cents per aere. To carry the Land Laws into effect, the Legislature sent four Virginians westward to attend to the various claims, over many of which great confusion prevailed concerning their validity. These gentlemen opened their court on October 13, 1779, at St. Asaphs, and continued until April 26, 1780, when they adjourned, having decided three thou- sand elaims. They were snececded by the surveyor, who came in the person of Mr. George May, and assumed his duties on the 10th day of the month whose name he bore. With the opening of the next year (1780) the troubles concerning the naviga- tion of the Mississippi commenced. The
.
Spanish Government exacted such measures in relation to its trade as to cause the over- tures made to the United States to be re- jeeted. The American Government con- sidered they had a riglit to navigate its channel. To enforce their elaims, a fort was erected below the month of the Ohio on the Kentneky side of the river. The settlements in Kentucky were being rapidly filled by emigrants. It was during this year that the first seminary of learning was established in the West in this young and enterprising Commonwealth.
The settlers here did not look upon the building of this fort in a friendly manner, as it aroused the hostility of the Indians. Spain had been friendly to the Colonies during their struggle for independence, and though for a while this friendship ap- peared in danger from the refusal of the free navigation of the river, yet it was finally settled to the satisfaction of both nations.
The winter of 1779-80 was one of the most unusually severe ones ever experienced in the West. The Indians always referred to it as the "Great Cold." Numbers of wild animals perished, and not a few pioneers lost their lives. The following summer a party of Canadians and Indians attacked St. Louis, and attempted to take possession of it in consequence of the friendly dispo- sition of Spain to the revolting Colonies. They met with such a determined resist- ance on the part of the inhabitants, even the women taking part in the battle, that they were compelled to abandon the con- test. They also made an attack on the settlements in Kentucky, but, becoming alarmed in some unaccountable manner, they fled the country in great haste.
39
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
About this time arose the question in the Colonial Congress concerning the west- ern lands claimed by Virginia, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut. The agi- tation concerning this subject finally led New York, on the 19th of February, 1780, to pass a law giving to the delegates of that State in Congress the power to cede her western lands for the benefit of the United States. This law was laid before Congress during the next month, but no steps were taken concerning it until Sep- tember 6th, when a resolution passed that body ealling npon the States claiming west- ern lands to release their claims in favor of the whole body. This basis forined the union, and was the first after all of those legislative measures which resulted in the creation of the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minne- sota. In December of the same year, the plan of conquering Detroit again arose. The conquest might have easily been effected by Clark had the necessary aid been furnished him. Nothing decisive was done, yet the heads of the Government knew that the safety of the Northwest from British invasion lay in the capture and retention of that important post, the only unconquered one in the territory.
Before the close of the year, Kentneky was divided into the Connties of Lincoln, Fayette and Jefferson, and the act estab)- lishing the Town of Louisville was passed. This same year is also noted in the annals of American history as the year in which occurred Arnold's treason to the United States.
Virginia, in accordance with the resolu- tion of Congress, on the 2d day of January, 1731, agreed to yield her western lands to
the United States upon certain conditions, which Congress would not accede to, and the act of Cession, on the part of the Old Dominion, failed, nor was anything for- ther done until 1783. During all that time the Colonies were busily engaged in the struggle with the mother country, and in consequence thereof but little heed was given to the western settlements. Upon the 16th of April, 1781, the first birth north of the Ohio River of American par- entage oceurred, being that of Mary Heck- ewelder, daughter of the widely known Moravian missionary, whose band of Chris- tian Indians suffered in after years a hor- rible massacre by the hands of the frontier settlers, who had been exasperated by the murder of several of their neighbors, and in their rage committed, without regard to humanity, a deed which forever afterward cast a shade of shame upon their lives. For this and kindred ontrages on the part of the whites, the Indians committed many deeds of cruelty which darken the years of 1771 and 1772 in the history of the North- west.
During the year 1782 a number of bat- tles among the Indians and frontiersmen occurred, and between the Moravian Indi- ans and the Wyandots. In these, horrible acts of ernelty were practiced on the eap- tives, many of such dark deeds transpiring under the leadership of the notorious front- ier ontlaw, Simon Girty, whose name, as well as those of his brothers, was a terror to women and children. These occurred chiefly in the Ohio valleys. Contempo- rary with them were several engagements in Kentucky, in which the famous Daniel Boone engaged, and who often, by his skill and knowledge of Indian warfare,
A
40
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
saved the ontposts from cruel destruction. By the close of the year victory had perched upon the American banner, and on the 30th of November, provisional arti- cles of peace had been arranged between the Commissioners of England, and her unconquerable Colonies. Cornwallis had been defeated on the 19th of October pre- ceding, and the liberty of America was as- sured. On the 19th of April following, the anniversary of the battle of Lexington, peace was proclaimed to the army of the United States, and on the 3d of the next September, the definite treaty which ended our revolutionary struggle, was concluded. By the terms of that treaty, the bounda- ries of the West were as follows: On the north the line was to extend along the cen- ter of the Great Lakes; from the western point of Lake Superior to Long Lake; thence to the Lake of the Woods; thence to the head of the Mississippi River, down its center to the 31st parallel of latitude, then on that line east to the head of the Appalachicola River; down its center to its junetion with the Flint; thence straight to the head of St. Mary's River, and thence down along its center to the Atlantic Ocean.
Following the cessation of hostilities with England, several posts were still occu- pied by the British in the North and West. Among these was Detroit, still in the hands of the enemy. Numerous engagements with the Indians throughout Ohio and In- diana ocenrred, upon whose lands adventur- ons whites wond settle ere the title had ben acquired by the proper treaty.
To remedy this latter evil, Congress ap- pointed commissioners to treat with the natives and purchase their lands, and pro-
hibited the settlement of the territory until this could be done. Before the close of the year another attempt was made to capture Detroit, which was, however, not pushed, and Virginia, no longer feeling the interest in the Northwest she had formerly done, withdrew her troops, having on the 20th of December preceding authorized the whole of her possessions to be deeded to the United States. This was done on the 1st of March following, and the Northwest Territory passed from the control of the Old Dominion. To Gen. Clark and his soldiers, however, she gave a tract of one hundred and fifty thousand acres of land, to be situated anywhere north of the Ohio wherever they chose to locate them. They selected the region opposite the falls of the Ohio, where is now the dilapidated village of Clarksville, about midway bc- tween the Cities of New Albany and Jeffer- sonville, Indiana.
While the frontier remained thus, and Gen. Haldimand at Detroit refused to evacuate, alleging that he had no orders from his King to do so, settlers were rap- idly gathering about the inland forts. In the spring of 1784, Pittsburgh was regn- larly laid ont, and from the journal of Ar- thur Lec, who passed through the town soon after on his way to the Indian council at Fort McIntosh, we suppose it was not very prepossessing in appearance. He says:
" Pittsburgh is inhabited almost entirely by Scots and Irish, who live in paltry log houses, and are as dirty as if in the north of Ireland or even Scotland. There is a great deal of trade carried on, the goods being brought at the vast expense of forty- five shillings per pound from Philadelphia
41
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
and Baltimore. They take in the shops flour, wheat, skins and money. There are in the town four attorneys, two doctors, and not a priest of any persuasion, nor elmurch nor chapel."
Kentucky at this time contained thirty thousand inhabitants, and was beginning to discuss measures for a separation from Virginia. A land office was opened at Louisville, and measures were adopted to take defensive precantion against the In- dians who were yet, in some instances, in- cited to deeds of violence by the British. Before the elose of this year, 1784, the military elaimants of land began to ocenpy them, although no entries were recorded until 1787.
The Indian title to the Northwest was not yet extinguished. They held large traets of lands, and in order to prevent bloodshed Congress adopted means for treaties with the original owners and pro- vided for the surveys of the lands gained thereby, as well as for those north of the Ohio, now in its possession. On Jannary 31, 1786, a treaty was made with the Wa- bash Indians. The treaty of Fort Stanwix had been made in 1784. That at Fort Me- Intosh in 1785, and through these much land was gained. The Wabash Indians, however, afterward refused to comply with the provisions of the treaty made with them, and in order to compel their adhe- renee to its provisions, force was used. During the year 1786, the free navigation of the Mississippi eame up in Congress, and eansed various discussions, which re- suited in no definite action, only serving to excite speculation in regard to the western lands. Congress had promised bounties of land to the soldiers of the Revolution,
but owing to the unsettled condition of affairs along the Mississippi respecting its navigation, and the trade of the Northwest, that body had, in 1783, declared its inabil- ity to fulfill these promises until a treaty could be eonelnded between the two Gov- ernments. Before the close of the year 1786, however, it was able, through the treaties with the Indians, to allow some grants and the settlement thereon, and on the 14th of September, Connecticut ceded to the General Government the tract of land known as the "Connectient Reserve," and before the close of the following year a large traet of land north of the Ohio was sold to a con,pany, who at onee took meas- ures to settle it. By the provisions of this grant, the company were to pay the United States one dollar per aere, subject to a de- duction of one-third for bad lands and other eontingeneics. They received 750,000 acres, bounded on the south by the Ohio, on the east by the seventh range of townships, on the west by the sixteenth range, and on the north by a line so drawn as to make the grant complete without the reservations. In addition to this, Congress afterward granted 100,000 aeres to actual settlers, and 214,285 acres as army bounties under the resolutions of 1789 and 1790.
While Dr. Cutler, one of the agents of the company, was pressing its elaims before Congress, that body was bringing into form an ordinanee for the political and social or- ganization of this Territory. When the cession was made by Virginia, in 1784, a plan was offered, but rejected. A motion had been made to strike from the proposed plan the prohibition of slavery, which pre- vailed. The plan was then discussed and altered, and finally passed unanimously,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.