USA > Illinois > Clay County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 37
USA > Illinois > Wayne County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 37
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Lime .- The only rock in the county that seems at all adapted to the manufacture of lime is the limestone above mentioned as overlying the eighteen-inch coal at Lamkin's mine, and outcropping at several other points in the north part of the county. This roek varies in thickness from two to four feet, and seems usually pure enough to afford a fair quality of lime, and has been burned for that purpose in a limited way at two or three points in the county.
Iron Ore .- Bands of iron ore of good quality. intercalated in a bed of shale, were observed in two or three places in the coun ty, especially in the upper course of Elm Creek, and on some small tributaries of the same stream southwest of Flora and near the Wayne County line.
Clays .- Clay suitable for pottery occurs on Mr. Bothwell's place, one mile south of Clay City, and good brick clays may be found in almost every neighborhood in the subsoil of the uplands.
Timber .- Although much of the timbered land has been subdued and brought under cultivation since the first settlement of the county, the rapid growth of the remaining portion, with the addition of the brush lands, which, since the annual fires have been kept down, have been covered with a fine growth of young timber, has nearly or quite kept up the original supply, and there is probably abont as much timber in the county at the present time as there was in its early settle- ment.
Prospects for Coal .--- There is no doubt but
all this portion of Southern Illinois is under- laid with heavy coal veins. But the dip of the rock and the coal is to the northwest, and the Belleville vein is probably 900 or 1,000 feet below the surface. The pit at Mattoon is now being worked, and is over 900 feet deep. The difficulties to contend with here will probably be water or quick sand, or both.
Mineral Waters .- No county in Illinois is probably so well supplied in this respect as Clay. The fame of the Sailor Springs has already extended all over the country, and the healing and restoring properties of these waters are constantly working wonders. Only fifteen years ago, these now celebrated springs, where has sprung into existence splendid hotels and a prosperous village, and where, during the summer months thousands of visitors flock, were considered and called the " poison springs," and the people pre- ferred to go a long way around rather than pass them. They were supposed to be so strongly impregnated with milk-sick that they poisoned the air for a distance around. And the people feneed them up to keep their stock away from them, and by common consent they were called the " Milk-siek Springs."
In 1869, Mrs. Thomas M. Sailor ex- changed property in Urbana, Ohio, for 400 aeres, on which these springs were. Her husband visited the place, examined the wat- ers, tested them and became satisfied they were valuable mineral waters, that gave only health to those who might use them and not disease. There are sixteen of these springs grouped together. Mr. Sailor had one of the largest analyzed, and, without giving the proportions, he found contained in the water sodium, potassium, caleium, magnesium, iron, chlorine, sulphurie and earbonie acid. There are nearly as many different varieties of water as there are springs; and this constitutes one
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of the great values of them. Some of them are as fine artesian springs as have been found in the country. There is a constant emission of strong gases, which can be caught, and burns with a strong white light, much re- sembling the electric lights.
Two large hotels, containing together
about 100 rooms, are filled during summer months, and hundreds of people are in tents all about the grounds. New and important improvements are projected and are much needed by the constantly increasing public patronage that flows toward these celebrated waters.
CHAPTER II.
1778-GEORGE ROGERS CLARK-CAPT. HIELM AND PRIVATE HENRY-CLAY COUNTY REVOLUTION- ARY GROUNDS-ITS SOIL MADE SACRED BY TIIE TREAD OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMY -THE HANNIBAL OF THE NORTHWEST-AN ARMY OF AN OFFICER AND PRIVATE-OUR LAND TITLES-NAMES OF SOME OF THE ARMY THAT PASSED THROUGH CLAY COUNTY, ETC., ETC.
A LONG the Atlantic Coast the conflict for American independence was raging fiercely with the armies of England. The American settlements in the West were beset by the bloodiest savages, urged on in their hellish work by British emissaries. The West just then was in great distress and often was threatened with extermination, and the truth is the country here was just then sadly in want of a hero to prevent these indiscrim- inate slaughters of the people and to wrest this great Mississippi Valley from the Crown. At the critical moment the hero came- George Rogers Clark-who has been not in- aptly called the Hannibal of the West.
To know that this remarkable man and his equally remarkable band of less than two hundred men were once encamped and marched through and won their imperishable victory, and countermarched again through Clay County, is enough to demand of us more than a passing account of the com- mander and of his army, as well as a word in reference to their accomplishment.
George Rogers Clark was born in Albe- marle County, Va., November 19, 1752, and when only a well-grown lad, the stories of the West attracted him irresistibly, and he followed the bent of his inclination; and when a very young man he was the chief act- or, assisted by Gabriel Jones, in the erection of the territory and the forming of the coun- ty of Kentucky. Here would have been a sufficient work for an ordinary man to have been content with, as he had not only been the architect of the State of Kentucky, but, at the head of the militia, he had fought out the bitter fight with the foe that has given it the name of the "Dark and Bloody Ground." He was the first to discover and carry to Gov. Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson the in- telligence that the Indian outrages were caused largely by British emissaries. To this discovery do we owe the fact that Gov. Henry sent Clarke with a force to dislodge the British strongholds in this portion of the country, especially Indiana and Illinois. Clark started down the Ohio River on the
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24th day of June, 1778. The day is posi- tively fixed by the fact that almost at the moment of launching the expedition the sun was in total eclipse. He dropped down the river to near Fort Massac, where, concealing the boats in a small creek, the expedition started across the country for Kaskaskia. Everything depended npon secrecy. They came in the vicinity of the place on the 4th of July, 1778. He reconnoitered during the night, and the next day the bloodless victory was made and the American flag floated in triumph over the place. So complete was the surprise that not a gun was tired, and so wise and just was his government on taking pos- session, that at once the entire population were won over and remained true and loyal. M. Rocheblave, the British commandant, was not aware that he was a prisoner till the offi- cer of the detachment which had captured the fort, entered his bedroom and tapped him on the shoulder.
An equally bloodless victory and surprise captured Cahokia.
When the Virginia Legislature learned of the conquests of Clark, the Legislature of that State in October. 1778, organized the county of Illinois, which included all the territory of the commonwealth west of the Ohio River. This immense region, exceed- ing in superficial extent the whole of Great Britain and Ireland. was at that time the largest county in the world, and contained the garden spot of the continent.
Gen. Clark now turned his attention to the British post of Vincennes (called St. Vin- cents). He therefore called in M. Gibault, the Catholic priest of both Vincennes and Kaskaskia, and through him secured an em- bassy favorable to securing a transfer of allegiance of the people of Vincennes. The embassy under De Lafont and a spy went to Kaskaskia, and in a short time fully ac-
complished their mission, appointed a tem- porary Governor and returned to Kaskaskia. This expedition returned and reached Kas- kaskia about the Ist of August. The his- torian of the expedition modestly concludes his narrative by saying: "This news was both a source of astonishment and gratifica- tion, as such a result was hardly to be ex- pected."
Thus, in three short months, by a mere squad of ragged, half-starved, half-equipped patriots, and without bloodshed, was accom- plished the most marvelous campaign in history, the most splendid conquests in all the annals of war. The essence of true great- ness and heroism are the same, whatever may be the scale of action, and although numbers are the standard by which military honors are usually awarded, they are in reality only one of the extrinsic circumstances.
But it is of the recapture of Vincennes by Gen. Clark in person, and the marvels of that. expedition, that we propose mostly to speak of him and his army, because it was this that brought this heroic band into the confines of Clay County, and the fact that they had kindled their camp fires here should inspire the entire people to learn to know and ap- preciate them more completely than they have heretofore.
After his great conquest, he commenced the work of negotiations and treaties of peace and friendship with the surrounding Indians. While thus engaged, the British Governor at Detroit heard of Clark's invasion, and was incensed that the country which he had in charge should be wrested from him by a few ragged militia from Virginia. He therefore hurriedly collected a force, consisting of thirty regulars, fifty French Canadians and 400 Indians, and marching by way of the Wabash, appeared before the fort at Vin- cennes on December 15, 1778. The inhab-
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itants made no effort to defend the town, and when Hamilton's forces arrived Capt. Helm and a man by the name of Henry were the only Americans in the fort. Henry loaded a cannon and placed it in the principal gate- way, Capt. Helm taking his position be- side it; as soon as Hamilton's army came within hailing distance, he called " Halt! " The British officer halted, but demanded the surrender of the place. Helm replied that no man could enter there until he was informed of the " terms offered." Hamilton replied, " you shall have the honors of war." Thereupon, Capt. Helm and private Henry surrendered with the "honors of war," and is it now too much to say that they also had something of the honors of immortality!
It was six weeks before the news of this reached Gen. Clark at Kaskaskia. He at once sent Col. Vigo to reconnoiter. An ad- mirable selection it proved to be. When within five miles of Vincennes, he was capt- ured by the Indians and taken before Gov. Hamilton. He was regarded as an American spy, but being a Spaniard, and well known to all the people about Vincennes, and very popular, the Governor did not dare.to treat him severely. Hamilton agreed to let him go if he would agree during the war to do no act injurious to the British. Col. Vigo re- fused these terms, but agreed to do no act prejudicial on his way home. He returned to St. Louis, remained long enough to change his clothes, and reported to Gen. Clark. He informed Clark of Hamilton's intentions of regaining Illinois at all hazards, and then to push his victories until he had re-conquered all to Fort Pitt, so that he would be master of the Virginia territory between the Alle- ghanies and the Mississippi.
Clark, realizing the critical state of affairs, wrote the facts to Gov. Henry, and at once
commenced preparations to attack Hamilton, because, as he afterward said, "I knew if I did not take him he would take me." Vigo had informed him that there were eighty men, three cannon, and some swivels, and now if he could attack the town before Ham- ilton could recall his troops which he had dispersed, he might succeed, but in no other way. Without a moment's delay, a galley was fitted up, mounting two four pounders and four swivels, and placed in charge of Capt. John Rogers, with forty-six men, with orders to force their way to the mouth of White River, and there await orders.
On February 7, 1779, just eight days after the reception of the news, the little army of 170 men started overland from Kaskasia to Vincennes. On the 13th, four days out, they reached the forks of the Little Wabash, the low bottoms of which were covered with water. At this point of the stream, the banks were five miles apart, and the water so deep in many places as to be waded with the greatest difficul- ty. It rained almost incessantly. They con- structed a raft to ferry over their baggage. The men had not murmured, although their sufferings had been great from the start, until now. A little Irish drummer boy would wade along until he came to water too deep, when he would mount his drum and request some tall soldier to push him along, when he would sing a comic song, at which he was most excellent, and this simple fact would often cheer the others to another effort when they were ready to lie down in despair.
On the morning of the 18th. eleven days after leaving Kaskaskia, they heard the sig- nal guns of the fort, and the evening of the same day arrived at the Great Wabash, nine miles below Vincennes. The galley had not arrived, and hence the exhausted supplies could not be replenished, and the men were
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
almost starving. It is doubtful if there were many other men alive who could have kept up the spirits of the men as did Clark.
Fortunately. from this point on, we have a description of the journey in Gen. Clark's own words, and no human pen can tell them half so well, and we prefer to give as we find them:
" The nearest land to us in the direction of Vincennes was a spot called the .Sugar Camp,' on the opposite side of the slough. I sounded the water, and finding it as deep as my neck, returned, with the design of having the men transportod on board the canoes to | the camp, though I knew it would spend the whole day and the ensuing night, as the ves- sel would pass slowly through the bushes. The loss of so much time to men half-starved was a matter of serions consequence, and I would now have given a great deal for a day's provision or one of our horses. When I re- turned, all ran to hear the report. I unfort- unately spoke in a serious manner to one of the officers; the whole were alarmed without knowing what I said. I viewod their con- 1 fusion for a minute, and whispered for those near me to do as I did. I immediately put some water in my hands and poured powder on it, blackened my face, gave the war whoop, and marched into the water. The party immediately followed, one after an- other, without uttering a word of complaint. I ordered those near me to sing a favorito song, which soon passed through the line, and all went cheerfully. I now intended to have them transported across the deepest part of the water, but when about waist deep one of the men informed me that he thought he had discovered a path. We followed it, and finding that it kept on higher ground, without further difficulty arrived at the camp, where there was dry ground on which to pitch our lodges. The Frenchmen that we
had taken on the river appeared to be uneasy at our situation, and begged that they might be permitted during the night to visit the town in two canoos, and bring from their own houses provisions. They said that some of our men could go with them as a surety for their conduct, and that it would be im- possible to leave that place till the waters, which were too deep for marching, subsided. Some of the officers believed that this might be done, but I would not suffer it. I could never well account for my obstinacy on this occasion, or give satisfactory reasons to my - self or anybody else why I denied a proposi- tion apparently so easy to execute and of so much advantage; but something seemed to tell me it should not be done.
"On the following morning, the finest we had experienced, I harangued the men. What I said I am not now able to recall, but it may be easily imagined by a person who possesses the regard which I at that time en- tertained for them. I concluded by informing them that passing tho sheet of water, which was in full view, and reaching the opposite woods, would put an end to their hardships; that in a few hours they would have a sight of their long-wished for object, and immedi- ately stepped into the water without waiting for a reply. Before a third of the men had entered, I halted and called to Maj. Bowman, and ordered him to fall into the rear with twenty-five men and put to death any man wlio refused to march with us, as we did not wish to have any such among us. The whole gave a cry of approbation, and on wo went. This was the most trying of all the difficulties we experienced. I generally kept fifteen of the strongest men next myself, and judge from my own feelings what must be that of others. Getting near the middle of the in- undated plain, I found myself sensibly fail- ing, and as there were no trees for the men
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
to support themselves, I feared that many of the weak would be drowned. I ordered the canoe to ply back and forth, and with all diligence to pick up the men; and to encour- age the party, sent some of the strongest forward, with orders that, when they had ad- vanced a certain distance, to pass the word back that the water was getting shallow, and when near the woods to cry out land. This stratagem had the desired effect. The men, encouraged by it, exerted themselves almost beyond their abilities, the weak holding on the stronger. On reaching the woods, where the men expected land, the water was up to their shoulders; but gaining the timber was the greatest consequence, for the weakly hung to the trees and floated on the drift un- til they were taken off by the canoes. The strong and tall got on shore and built fires; but many of the feeble, unable to support themselves on reaching land, would fall with their bodies half in the water. They were so benumbed with cold, we soon found that fires would not restore them, and the strong ones were compelled to exercise them with great severity to revive their circulation.
" Fortunately, a canoe in charge of some squaws was going to town, which our men captured, and which contained half a quarter of buffalo meat, some corn, tallow and ket- tles. Broth was made of this valuable prize, and served out to the most weakly with great care. Most of the men got a small portion, but many of them gave a part of theirs to the more famished, jocosely saying some- thing cheering to their comrades. This lit- tle refreshment gave renewed life to the company. We next crossed a deep but nar- row lake in the canoes, and marching some distanco, came to a copse of timber called Warrior's Island. We wero now distant only two miles from town, which, without a sin- gle tree to obstruct the view, could be søen from the position we occupied.
"The lower portions of the land between us and the town were covered with water, which served at this season as a resort for ducks and other fowl. We had observed several men out on horseback shooting them, half a mile distant, and sent out as many of our active young Frenchmen to decoy and take one of them prisoner, in such a manner as not to alarm the others. Being successful in addition to the information which had been obtained from those taken on the river, the captive reported that the British had that evening completed the wall of the fort, and that there were a good many Indians in town. Our situation was truly critical. No possibility of retreat in case of defeat and in full view of the town, which at this time had 600 men in it-troops, inhabitants and Indians. The crew of the galley, though not fifty men, would now have been a reinforce- ment of immense magnitude to our little army, we could not think of waiting for them. Each had forgotten his suffering, and was ready for the fray, saying what he had suffered was nothing but what man should bear for the good of his country. The idea of being made a prisoner was foreign to every man, as each expected nothing but tort- ure if they fell into the hands of the Indi- ans. Our fate was to be determined in a few hours, and nothing but the most daring con- duct would insure success. I knew that a number of the inhabitants wished us well; that many wero lukewarm to the interests of either party. I also learned that the Grand Door had but a few days before openly declared, in council with the British, that he was a brother and a friend of the Long Knives. Those were favorable circumstances, as there was but little probability of our remaining until dark undiscovered. I determined to commence operations immediately, and wrote the following placard to people of the town:
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"' TO THE INHABITANTS OF VINCENNES:
"'Gentlemen-Being now within two miles of your village with my army, determined to take your fort this night, and not being willing to surprise you, I take this opportunity to request such of yon as are true citizens, and willing to enjoy the liberty which I bring you, to remain still in your houses, and those, if there be any, who are friends of the king, let them instantly repair to the fort, and join the Hair Buyer General and fight like men; and if any of the latter do not go to the fort and shall be dis- covered afterward, they may depend upon severe punishment. On the contrary, those who are true friends to liberty, may depend upon being well treated, and I once more request them to keep out of the streets, for every one I find in arms on my arrival shall be treated as an enemy.'"
We don't care to give the details of the capture of Gov. Hamilton and his forces in the fort and running up again over the stronghold the American flag, although it, like nearly every act of the great Clark's life, was a historical fact that transcends in thrill- ing interest all fiction. Nothing, reader, could interest you more, if you are not al- ready familiar with the story, than to read in detail the history, as made by George Rogers Clark, of how the great Mississippi Valley was saved from the British Empire. There is not a line in the history of his transactions while here, by order of Gov. Henry, but that is material enough and to spare for the biography of almost any other hero. If there was any man in American history, except George Washington, who contributed as much to the material glory of our country, and who toiled amid greater pri- vations and sufferings and with truer heroism, we are frank to say we do not just now re- member him. He was a true hero, great soldier and wise statesman, and it is strange the neglect that has followed his memory. There were Vigo, Helm, Private Henry and their superb commander. Clark, who here made the very ground of Clay County sacred by their presence here, as one of the most
important parts of the Revolutionary army. We know of no other warrior in history who won as many battles-battles of more impor- tance than Waterloo or Thermopylæ-without firing a gun or wasting a drop of blood, but solely by his commanding and overpowering presence. With his little ragged squad of tatterdemalions, yet, each in his suffering, starvation and rags, made a sublime hero because of his commander, and with this burlesque of our ideas of an army, he never hesitated to invest any stronghold of the enemy, and to boldly demand an unconditional surrender. He always struck his blow when most unexpected, and the language that he used in his bold demand was of itself a panoplied army, and before the enemy had time to recover from the blow of the an- nouncement of his investment, he would be so pressed that he would call for a conference, and then Clark's victory was assured. The conference convened, his demands were only the more peremptory, and he stood, in the presence of the already conquered the one supreme master spirit, and the truce always ended by his receiving the enemy's surrender on his own terms, and then he would exhibit almost a stern ferocity, and just as the fallen foe had given up all for the executioner, he would, as he had intended all the time, at the last moment, relent, and bid the trembling supplicants stand up and be a brother, and then show them how magnanimous he could be as a friend, and thus the wisest purposes were carried out. This original diplomacy, especially with the Indians, made those people both fear and love him, above, per haps, any other man who appeared in that age. And the descendants of the pioneers of all this great valley have really little or no conception of the debt of gratitude they owe the memory of Clark, in this particular respect, if in no other way.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
Thus, all this magnificent domain of the northwest was acquired, or rather we have briefly mentioned a few of the acts of the man to whom we owe this rich and magnifi- cent empire that has literally already fed the world.
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