USA > Illinois > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Illinois > Part 4
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The commander-in-chief of the king's
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forces wrote in 1769 : " In the course of a few years necessity will compel the colo- nists, should they extend their settlements west, to provide mannfactures of some kind for themselves, and when all connection upheld by commerce with the mother coun- try eeases, an independency in their gov- ernment will soon follow."
In accordance with this policy, Gov. Gare issued a proclamation in 1772, com- manding the inhabitants of Vincennes to abandon their settlements and join some of the Eastern English colonies. To this they strenuously objected, giving good reasons therefor, and were allowed to re- main. The strong opposition to this pol- icy of Great Britain led to its change, and to such a course as to gain the attachment of the French population. In December, 1773, influential citizens of Quebec peti- tioned the king for an extension of the boundary lines of that province, which was granted, and Parliament passed an act on June 2, 1774, extending the boundary so as to include the territory lying within the present states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan.
In consequence of the liberal policy pur- sued by the British Government toward the French settlers in the West, they were disposed to favor that nation in the war which soon followed with the colonies; bnt the early alliance between France and America soon brought them to the side of the war for independence.
In 1774, Gov. Dunmore, of Virginia, began to encourage emigration to the Western lands. He appointed magistrates at Fort Pitt, under the pretense that the fort was under the government of that commonwealth. One of these justices,
John Connelly, who possessed a tract of land in the Ohio Valley, gathered a force of men and garrisoned the fort, calling it Fort Dunmore. This and other parties were formed to select sites for settlements, and often came in conflict with the Indians, who yet claimed portions of the valley, and several battles followed. These ended in the famous battle of Kanawha, in July, where the Indians were defeated and driv- en across the Ohio.
During the years 1775 and 1776, by the operations of land companies and the per- severance of individuals, several settle- ments were firmly established between the Alleghenies and the Ohio River, and west- ern land speculators were busy in Illinois and on the Wabash. At a council held in Kaskaskia, on July 5, 1773, an association of English traders, calling themselves the "Illinois Land Company," obtained from ten chiefs of the Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Peoria tribes two large tracts of land lying on the east side of the Mississippi River sonth of the Illinois. In 1775, a merchant from the Illinois country, named Viviat, came to Post Vincennes as the agent of the association called the " Wabash Land Com- pany." On the 8th of October he obtained from eleven Piankeshaw chiefs, a deed for 37.497,600 acres of land. This deed was signed by the grantors, attested by a num- ber of the inhabitants of Vincennes, and afterward recorded in the office of a notary public at Kaskaskia. This and other land companies had extensive schemes for the colonization of the West; but all were frus- trated by the breaking out of the Revolu- tion. On the 20th of April, 1780, the two companies named consolidated under the name of the " United Illinois and Wabash
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Land Company." They afterward made strenuous efforts to have these grants sanc- tioned by Congress, but all signally failed.
When the War of the Revolution com- menced, Kentucky was an unorganized country, though there were several settle- ments within her borders.
In Hutchins' Topography of Virginia, it is stated that at that time "Kaskaskia contained 80 houses, and nearly 1,000 white and black inhabitants-the whites being a little the more numerons. Caho- kia contains 50 houses and 300 white in- habitants and 80 negroes. There were east of the Mississippi River, about the year 1771 "-when these observations were made-" 300 white men capable of bearing arms, and 230 negroes."
From 1775 until the expedition of Clark, nothing is recorded and nothing known of these settlements, save what is contained in a report made by a committee to Con- gress in June, 1778. From it the follow- ing extraet is made:
" Near the month of the River Kaskas- kia, there is a village which appears to have contained nearly eighty families from the beginning of the late revolution. There are twelve families in a small village at la Prairie dn Rochers, and near fifty families at the Kahokia Village. There are also four or five families at Fort Char- tres and St. Phillips, which is five miles farther up the river."
St. Louis had been settled in February, 1764, and at this time contained, including its neighboring towns, over six hundred whites and one hundred and fifty negroes. It must be remembered that all the coun- try west of the Mississippi was now under French rule, and remained so until ceded
again to Spain, its original owner, who afterwards sold it and the country inelud- ing New Orleans to the United States. At Detroit there were, according to Capt. Carver, who was in the northwest from 1766 to 1768, more than one hundred houses and the river was settled for more than twenty miles, although poorly cultivated- the people being engaged in the Indian trade. This old town lias a history, which we will here relate.
It is the oldest town in the Northwest, having been founded by Antoine Lade- motte Cadillac, in 1701. It was laid out in the form of an oblong square, of two acres in length and an aere and a half in width. As described by A. D. Frazer, who first visited it and became a permanent resident of the place, in 1778, it comprised within its limits that space between Mr. Palmer's store (Conant Block) and Capt. Perkins' house (near the Arsenal building), and extended back as far as the public barn, and was bordered in front by the Detroit River. It was surrounded by oak and cedar piekets, about fifteen feet long, set in the ground, and had four gates-east, west, north and south. Over the first three of these gates were block houses provided with four guns apiece, each a six pounder. Two six-gun batteries were planted fronting the river, and in a parallel direction with the block houses. There were four streets running east and west, the main street be- ing twenty feet wide and the rest fifteen feet, while the four streets crossing these at right angles were from ten to fifteen feet in width.
At the date spoken of by Mr. Frazer, there was no fort within the enclosure, but a citadel on the ground corresponding to
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the present northwest corner of Jefferson Avenue and Wayne Street. The citadel was inclosed by pickets, and within it were erected barracks of wood, two stories high, sufficient to contain ten officers, and also barracks sufficient to contain four hundred men, and a provision store built of brick. The citadel also contained a hospital and a guard-house. The old town of Detroit, in 1778, contained about sixty houses, most of them one story, with a few a story and a half in height. They were all of logs, some hewn and some round. There was one building of splendid appearance, called the " King's Palace," two stories high, which stood near the east gate. It was built for Governor Hamilton, the first governor commissioned by the British. There were two guard-houses, one near the west gate and the other near the Govern- ment House. Each of the guards con- sisted of twenty-four men and a subaltern, who mounted regularly every morning be- tween nine and ten o'clock. Each fur- nished four sentinels, who were relieved every two hours. There was also an offi- cer of the day, who performed strict duty. Each of the gates was shut regularly at sunset ; even wicket gates were shut at nine o'clock, and all the keys were deliv- ered into the hands of the commanding officer. They were opened in the morning at sunrise. No Indian or squaw was per- mitted to enter town with any weapon, such as a tomahawk or a knife. It was a standing order that the Indians should de- liver their arms and instruments of every kind before they were permitted to pass the sentinel, and they were restored to them on their return. No more than twenty-five Indians were allowed to enter
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 IIarrodsburg, and Col. Bowman, afterward major, who had arrived in August, was made the commander of a militia organiza- tion which had been commenced the March previous. Thus the tree of loyalty was growing. The chief spirit in this far-out colony, who had represented her the year previous east of the mountains, was now meditating a move unequaled in its bold- 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
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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 defeated 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 instruc- tions-one secret, the other open-the lat- ter anthorized him to proceed to enlist seven companies to go to Kentucky, sub- ject to his orders, and to serve three months from their arrival in the West. The secret order anthorized him to arm these troops, to procure 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 foc, 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 Lonisville, 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 augured 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 Massacre, and thence march direct to Kaskaskia. Here he in- tended to surprise the garrison, and after its capture go to Cahokia, then to Vincen- nes, and lastly to Detroit. Should he fail, he intended to march directly to the Miss-
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issippi River and eross it into the Spanish country. Before his start he received two good items of information ; one that the allianee 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 fieree, bloodthirsty and crnel savages that ever sealped a foe. With this impression on their minds, Clark saw that proper management would eause them to submit at onee from fear, if surprised, and then from gratitude would become friendly if treated with unexpected lenieney.
The march to Kaskaskia was accomplish- ed through a hot July sun, and the town reached on the evening of July 4. He eap- tured the fort near the village, and soon after the village itself by surprise, and with- ont 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 onee 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 sneeessfully with the Indians within its boundaries, he must 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 eonquered. M. Gib- ault told him that he would alone, by per- snasion, 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-townsman, M. Gibault started on his mission of peace and on the 1st of August returned with the cheerful intelligence that the post on the "Oubache" had taken the oath of allegi- anee to the Old Dominion. During this interval, Clark established his courts, placed garrisons at Kaskaskia and Cahokia, snc- eessfully re-enlisted his men, sent word to have a fort, which proved the germ of Louis- 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 Old 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 eame 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
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Vincennes intending to operate from that point in reducing 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 Helm, of Fauquier County, Virginia, with an attendant named Ilenry, 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 cannon 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 scarcely 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, Hamilton would capture him. Clark received the news on the 29th of January, 1779, and on February 4th, having suffi- ciently garrisoned Kaskaskia and Calıokia, 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
force 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 commenced the attack on the post. The aimn of the American backwoodsmen was unerring, and on the 24th the garrison surrendered to the intrepid boldness of Clark. The French were treated with great kindness, and gladly renewed their allegiance to Vir- ginia. IIamilton was sent as a prisoner to Virginia, where he was kept in close con- 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 easy reach of the enterprising Virginian, could he but raise the necessary force. 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. Had 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 struck, 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."
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At this time some fears were entertained by the Colonial Governments that the In- dians in the North and Northwest were in- clining to the British, and under the in- structions 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 suc- 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- sequence 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- lie lands at forty cents per acre. 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 thon- sand claims. They were succeeded by the surveyor, who came in the person of Mr. George May, and assumed his duties on the 10th day of the month whose namne he bore. With the opening of the next year (1780) the troubles concerning the naviga- tion of the Mississippi commeneed. The
Spanish Government exacted such measures in relation to its trade as to canse the over- tures made to the United States to be re- jected. The American Government con- sidered they had a riglit to navigate its channel. To enforce their claims, a fort was erected below the mouth of the Ohio on the Kentucky 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 Commonwealthı.
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 Colonics. They met with such a determined resist- anee 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.
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Abont 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 upon the States elaiming west- ern lands to release their elaims in favor of the whole body. This basis formed 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, vet 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 Counties of Lincoln, Fayette and Jefferson, and the aet 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.
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