USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 1 > Part 15
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The danger from the waters was now past, but the danger from the living enemy was at hand. Clark's narrative, from which we can . make only brief extracts, now continues : "Crossing a narrow, deep lake in the canoes and marching some distance, we came to a copse of timber caller the Warrior's Island. We were now in full view of the fort and town, not a shrub between us, at about two miles' distance. Every man now feasted his eyes and forgot that he had suffered anything, saying that all that had passed was owing to good policy and nothing but what a man could bear, and that a soldier had no right to think, etc., passing from one extreme to another, which is common in such cases. It was now we had to display our abilities. The plain between us and the town was not a perfect level. The sunken grounds were covered with water full of ducks. We observed several men out on horseback, shooting at them, within half a mile of us, and sent out as many of our active young Frenchmen to decoy and take one of these men prisoner in such a man- ner as not to alarm the others, which they did.
The information we got from this person was similar to that which we got from those we took on the river. except that of the British having that evening completed the wall of the fort, etc., and that there were a good many Indians in town. Our situation was now truly critical-no possibility of retreating in case of defeat-and in full view of a town that had, at this time, npwards of six hundred men in it, troops, inhabitants and Indians. The crew of the galley, though not fifty men, would have been now a reinforcement of immense magnitude to our little army (if I may so call it) ; but we would not think of them. We were now in the situation that I had labored to get ourselves in. The idea of being made prisoner 'was foreign to almost every man, as they expected nothing but tor- ture from the savages if they fell into their hands. Our fate was now to be determined, probably in a few hours. We knew that noth- ing but the most daring conduct would insure success. I knew that a number of the inhab- itants wished us well; that many were luke- warm in the interest of either; and I also learned that the grand chief, the Tobacco's Son, had, but a few days before, openly declared, in council with the British, that he was a brother and friend to the big knives."
Clark now took a bold course. It was all that could save him or bring success to his enterprise. He sent a placard to the inhabit- ants, by the hand of the prisoner just taken, announcing his presence and that he was pre- pared to take the fort that night. He called upon the people to remain in their homes; that those who were friends to the English King should at once betake themselves to the fort; and any persons found in the streets would be treated as enemies, and punished accordingly. One object in sending in this proclamation was to give out the idea that this was an army from Kentucky; for the people would not believe it possible that it could be Clark or that he should have been able to march across the country from Kaskas- kia. That was the effect, the people believed
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that the message came from some Kentucky officer who made use of Clark's name. "A little before sunset," says Clark, "we moved and displayed ourselves in full view of the town, crowds gazing at us. We were flinging ourselves into certain destruction-or success ; there was no midway thought of. We had but little to say to our men, except inculcating an idea of the necessity of obedience, etc. We knew they did not want encouraging, and that anything might be attempted with them that was possible for such a number-perfectly cool, under proper subordination, pleased with the prospect before them, and much attached to their officers. They all declared that they were convinced that an implicit obedience to orders was the only thing that would ensure success, and hoped that no mercy would be shown the person who should violate them, but should be immediately put to death. Such language as this from soldiers to persons in onr station must have been exceedingly agree- able. We moved on slowly in full view of the town; but, as it was a point of some conse- quence to ns to make ourselves appear as for- midable as possible, we, in leaving the covert that we were in, marched and countermarched in such a manner that we appeared numer- ous. "
The Virginians directed their march in such a manner, in and out from the cover of the hills, so that it was dark while they were yet a mile from the town. It turned out that, partly through fear of Clark's threat, and partly through love of the American cause, not an inhabitant of the town gave notice to the garrison of the presence of the little army of patriots. The British garrison felt abso- lutely at their ease and were in total ignorance of Clark's presence, until the Americans fired upon the fort. Even then it was thought to be some wild shooting by drunken Indians. The persistence of Clark's attack, however, soon brought Governor Hamilton, the British commander, to realize that his fort was besieg- ed by what he, too, believed to be a formid- able army. The fighting continued all the
night of the 23rd; and on February 24, 1779, after some negotiations, the fort was surren- dered. The terms of this surrender, as dic- tated by Clark himself, are in these words :
"1. Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton en- gages to deliver up to Colonel Clark Fort Sackville, as it is at present, with all the stores, etc.
"2. The garrison are to deliver themselves as prisoners of war and march out, with their arms and accoutrements. etc.
"3. The garrison to be delivered up at ten o'clock tomorrow.
"4. Three days' time to be allowed the garrison to settle their accounts with the inhabitants and traders of this place.
"5. The officers of the garrison to be allowed their necessary baggage, etc.
"Signed at Post St. Vincent, 24th, Febru- ary, 1779.
"Agreed for the following reasons: The remoteness from suecor; the state and quan- tity of provisions, etc. ; unanimity of officers and men in its expediency; the honorable terms allowed; and, lastly, the confidence in a generous enemy.
" (Signed)
"HENRY HAMILTON,
"Lieutenant-Governor and Superintendent."
So signal a victory, with such slender means and in the face of such formidable obstacles of nature, and against so strong a force and so well fortified a post, places George Rogers Clark and his army of Virginians and Frenchmen in the foremost ranks of all heroes.
Clark's history from the day of his first broaching his plan to Patrick Henry; his re- cruiting an army in the wilds of Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky ; his march across southern Illinois, from the Ohio to the capture of Kaskaskia and the other British posts on the Mississippi; his winning the confidence and affection of the French inhabitants: his securing the good will of the Indians, and his noble conduct in his refusal to allow them to participate with him in the war. even when he sorely needed help ; his trust in Father Gibault in the first taking of Vincennes: but, above all, his march in mid-winter, with his Franco- Virginian heroes, through leagues and leagues
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
of water-covered plains; and the brilliant close which resulted in the conquest from the power of Britain of the great northwest, now the heart of the republic,-reads more like a chapter from knight errant romance than from sober, modern American history. Strang- est of all, however, is the apparent neglect of this great episode in our history by Americans themselves. It is only recently that we have come to realize how great a debt of gratitude we owe to this young Virginian, who is worthy to stand by the side of the other great men of the Revolution from his own great state,- George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry and their illustrious compatri- ots. Without George Rogers Clark we should have no Indiana, no St. Joseph county, to write about; and it is to our credit as a state that there has been such a revival of the fame of this great man. His statue stands at the base of our noble soldier's monument at Indianapolis, placed there February 25, 1895, as that of our most fitting representative of the Revolutionary period; and, finally, the hand and heart and brain of an Indianian, our own William H. English, has lovingly picked up every thread of Clark's history and woven it into an inspiring story of heroes, to be read of all time.
Other great men also have spoken in fitting terms of this savior of the west; and we close our reference to him with this fitting eulogy taken from President Roosevelt's "The Win- ning of the West":
"Much credit belongs to Clark's men, but most belongs to their leader. The boldness of his plan and the resolute skill with which he followed it out, his perseverance through the intense hardships of the mid-winter march, the address with which he kept the French and Indians neutral, and the masterful way in which he controlled his own troops, together with the ability and courage he displayed in the actual attack, combined to make his feat the most memorable of all the deeds done west of the Alleghanies in the revolutionary war. It was likewise the most important in its
results, for, had he been defeated, we would not only have lost the Illinois, but in all prob- ability Kentucky also."
IV. THE COUNTY OF ILLINOIS.
Sec. 1 .- FIRST MEASURES TAKEN BY VIR- GINIA .- The victories of George Rogers Clark added enormously to the territory subject to the control of the old dominion of Virginia. Her authority now extended from her own Atlantic Coast, by way of Kentucky and the northwest, to the extreme western limits of Lake Superior and the headwaters of the Miss- issippi. That the people of Virginia appre- ciated the glory of the achievements of their own officers and men may well be believed. Soon after the capture of Kaskaskia, Clark sent a party with dispatches to Virginia, and with them went Mr. Rochblave, the British commander of the fort. "The arrival of the party in Virginia," says Mr. English," "with this prominent representative of the king in the Illinois country as a prisoner, and the startling news that all the British posts and towns on the Mississippi, from Kaskaskia to Cahokia, had been captured and were in pos- session of the Virginia troops, created the most intense excitement everywhere. It was indeed a most important event to the whole country, and particularly to the Old Domin- ion, for these were her troops, led by Colonel Clark, one of her favorite sons. As the news spread, pride and gratitude took possession of every patriotic heart, and words of praise were upon every lip. The governor, evidently greatly elated at the joyful news, communi- cated it to the Virginia delegates in congress by letter, dated November 16, 1778."
"When the legislature met," says Mr. Eng- lish, "the popular feeling was embodied in formal legislation." On November 23, 1778, resolutions were adopted giving thanks to "Colonel Clark and the brave offieers and men under his command, for their extraordinary resolution and perseverance, in so hazardous
a. Conquest of the Northwest, Vol. 1, p. 245.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
an enterprise, and for their important services thereby rendered to their country."
Mr. English also tells us, in the same con- nection, that the legislature of Virginia "realized the necessity of extending more effective civil government over the conquered Illinois country, and promptly passed an act organizing it into `the county of Illinois.' " Except in saying that the legislature "promptly" passed the act. Mr. English does not indicate the date of its passage. Dillon says that it was passed "in October, 1778."a In Smith's history of Indiana, the same state- ment is made.b In a history of Randolph county. Illinois, in which county Kaskaskia is situated, the writer also says that the act creating the county of Illinois was passed "in October, 1778."e As however the letter of Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia, an- nouncing to the delegates in congress from that state the news of Clark's success, was dated November 16, 1778, and the resolution of thanks to Clark and his command by the legislature of Virginia was adopted Novem- ber 23, 1778, it would seem that Mr. English's statement. that the act of the Virginia legis- lature organizing the county of Illinois was passed "promptly," must be taken to mean that it was passed soon after the governor had announced the good news to the delegates in congress and the legislature had voted its thanks to Clark. Plainly, the act for the organization into a county of this vast terri- tory, now embracing five great states of the union, was a more deliberative measure then the impulsive and patriotic communication to the delegates in congress or the voting by the legislature of thanks to the conquerors. The document is printed in full, but withont date, in Mr. English's great work. It is expressly stated in the act itself, that it was passed to establish "some temporary form of govern- ment," and that it was to be in foree "for and during the term of twelve months, and
Hist. Indiana, p. 136.
b. Hist. Indiana, Vol. 1, p. 97.
c. Hist. Randolph County, Ill., by E. J. Mon- tague, p. 30.
from thence to the end of the next session of assembly, and no longer." The duration of the aet was however afterwards extended, by the general assembly.
Sec. 2 .- NATURE OF THE COUNTY GOVERN- MENT .- This "temporary form of govern- ment." established by the legislature of Vir- ginia for the county of Illinois, is worthy of particular attention as being the first govern- ment set up under American authority for the territory now comprising the five states of the northwest. It is probably true that, at least for some time, no part of the county of St. Joseph, and, indeed, no part of the St. Joseph valley, was actually subject to the provisions of this government organized under Virginia auspices; for, it is to be remembered, that, at the time of the passing of that act, the British flag still floated over Fort St. Joseph ; and it was more than two years later when the Spaniards from St. Louis took and destroyed the old fort. Yet, as Virginia con- tinued to hold and govern the county of Illinois for some time after the treaty of peace with Great Britain, there was, in fact. an interval, following the date when England and Spain were forced to yield their shadowy claims, and preceding the date of the cession, to the United States by Virginia ; and, during this period, that is, from the treaty of peace. September 3, 1783, to the deed of cession, March 1, 1784, St. Joseph county was within the wide limits of the county of Illinois, and, as such was a part of the dominion of Vir- ginia, and subject to its laws and government. made so by the victories of George Rogers Clark, and asserted by the act organizing the county of Illinois.
Two paragraphs of the aet will be suffi- cient to show the general character of this first form of free government applicable to the soil of St. Joseph county: even though we know that there were then, almost to a certainty, no white inhabitants in St. Joseph county, or indeed in this part of the state, to whom the law could apply. The act of the Virginia assembly provided :
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
"That all the citizens of this commonwealth who are already settled, or shall hereafter settle, on the western side of the Ohio afore- said, shall be included in a distinct county, which shall be called Illinois county; and that the governor of this commonwealth, with the advice of the council, may appoint a county lieutenant or commandant-in-chief in that county, during pleasure, who shall ap- point and commission so many deputy com- mandants, militia officers and commissaries, as he shall think proper in the different districts, during pleasure. all of whom, before they enter into office, shall take the oath of fidelity to this commonwealth and the oath of office, according to the form of their own religion, which the inhabitants shall fully. and to all intents and purposes, enjoy to- gether with all their civil rights and property.
And all civil officers to which said inhabit- ants have been accustomed. necessary for the preservation of peace and the administration of justice, shall be chosen by a majority of the citizens in their respective districts. to be convened for that purpose by the county lieutenant or commandant, or his deputy, and shall be commissioned by the said county lieu- tenant or commandant-in-chief, and be paid for their services in the same manner as such expenses have been heretofore borne, levied and paid in that county; which said civil of- ficers, after taking the oaths as above pre- scribed, shall exercise their several jurisdic- tions and conduct themselves agreeable to the laws which the present settlers are now accustomed to."
Colonel John Todd of Kentucky was ap- pointed by the governor of Virginia, and re- ceived his instructions, December 12. 1778. as the first county lieutenant of the county of Illinois, but did not arrive at Kaskaskia until June 15, 1779, when he proceeded to put in operation the civil government established for the county by the legislature of Virginia. The instructions received from the governor by the county lieutenant were, as might be expected, coming as they did from the liberty-
loving Patrick Henry, quite in accord with the spirit of the act organizing the county. One paragraph from these instructions will show the liberal character of the free institu- tions under which the government of our northwest started into existence :
"And I know no better general direction to give than this," wrote Governor Henry, "that you consider yourself as at the head of the eivil department, and as such having the com- mand of the militia who are not to be under the command of the military, until ordered out by the civil authority and act in conjunc- tion with them. You are on all occasions to inculcate on the people the value of liberty and the difference between the state of free citizens of this commonwealth and that slavery to which Illinois was destined. A free and equal representation may be expected by them in a little time, together with all the im- provements in jurisprudence and policy which the other parts of the state enjoy."
One of the earliest and most important aets of the county lieutenant affecting the terri- tory now constituting the state of Indiana was the establishment at Vincennes, in June, 1779, of a court of civil and criminal jurisdiction. This court was composed of several magis- trates, presided over by Colonel J. M. P. Legras, commandant of the post. For three years Colonel Todd continued to administer the affairs of the county of Illinois .- a terri- tory so vast that it is now divided into five great states, and these states subdivided into no less than four hundred and thirty-four counties. In 1782, he went to Virginia on business connected with the county, and on his return through Kentucky met with his old companion Daniel Boone whom he accom- panied in an expedition against the Indians. During the course of this expedition Colonel Todd was killed at the noted battle of Blue Licks.
As an indication of the equal place to which the French inhabitants had attained in the new government and the confidence reposed in them as American citizens, it is interesting
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
to note that the suceessor of Colonel Todd in the high office of county lieutenant was Timothy de Montbrun, a Frenchman. This was a fitting recognition of the faithful peo- ple who had received and stood by Colonel Clark so patriotically, and who formed so efficient a part of the brave army that im- mortalized itself in the capture of Vincennes.ª
Sec. 3 .- CLAIMS MADE BY OTHER STATES .- Virginia was not the only state that made in- dividual claim to large parts of the western country. Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina and other states also had their elaims. Connecti- cut claimed the territory west of Pennsyl- vania, to the Mississippi, from latitude forty- ·one degrees to latitude forty-two degrees and two minutes north; while Massachusetts elaimed the strip north of the Connecticut claim, to latitude forty-three degrees and thirty minutes. The claims of Connecticut and Massachusetts overlapped and of course conflieted with the Virginia claim, which last included the whole northwest. It is not easy at this day to appreciate the grounds of the claims made by the two New England states. Those claims seem to have been based upon the theory that no western bounds had been fixed for those commonwealths in the royal charters originally establishing the colonies and defining their limits, and consequently, that these states, to their full width north and south, reached to the west without limit .- even to the Pacific ocean, if there should be any American territory extending so far. We may note, as a matter of local interest, that St. Joseph county is included wholly within the bounds of the Connecticut claim : so that the soil of our county was at the same time elaimed by Virginia and by Connecticut. It is but the simple truth to say, in the calm light of history, that it now appears very clear that the claim of Virginia is the only one that had any substantial foun-
a. Conquest of the Northwest, Vol. 1, pp. 248- 252, Vol. 2, p. 1037. Montague, Hist. Randolph County, Ill., pp. 30-31.
dation in fact or in right reason. The Old Dominion, single-handed, under direction of her governor, Patrick Henry, with the sage counsel of Thomas Jefferson, George Mason and other wise and far-seeing statesmen, com- missioned the young Virginian, George Rogers Clark, who with his little army of Virginians, Pennsylvanians. Kentuckians and Frenchmen, won from British power this splendid north- west. Had Clark not made that mid-winter march through the iey waters of Illinois and Indiana, and met and conquered Hamilton at Vincennes, it may be doubted whether there would now be any northwest for us, and whether the western boundaries of the nation would not be the Alleghanies, or at most the Ohio, rather than the great lakes. Great Britain retained Canada at the treaty of peace ; but without Clark Canada would have extended at least to the Ohio and the Missis- sippi. And, afterwards, without our bound- ary on the Mississippi; what likelihood is there that we should have obtained Louisiana from Napoleon ?
See. 4 .- CESSION BY VIRGINIA .- The Vir- ginia claim, then, was good as against that of any other state. But the question became broader. Was it good as against all the states, against the Union itself? The people of the whole republie, and, finally, even the people of Virginia themselves, felt that this great northwest was too vast to be the property of any state; that while it had been won solely by the wisdom and valor of Virginia, yet that it was won by her while aiding in waging war against the common enemy. In the treaty of peace it was the nation that was recognized; and when the great lakes were made the northern boundary, it was the boundary of the American Union, and not that of any state. that was recognized. Very early, there- fore, Virginia began to feel that. in the in- terests of harmony and the general welfare of the common county which that great state had done so much to establish, she ought to yield her undoubted rights to the general good : that while her claims were superior to
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those of any other state. yet that they should be yielded as her imperial gift to the United States itself.
Accordingly, by an act of the general as- sembly of Virginia, passed December 20, 1783, but a little over three months after the ack- nowledgment of the independence of the United States, the delegates of Virginia in the congress of the United States were author- ized and empowered, for and on behalf of the state of Virginia, "to convey, transfer, assign and make over to the United States in con- gress assembled, for the benefit of the said states, all right, title and claim, as well of soil as jurisdiction, which this commonwealth hath to the territory or tract of country, within the limits of the Virginia charter, situate. lying and being to the northwest of the river Ohio."
One of the conditions of the act of eession was: "That the territory so ceded shall be laid out and formed into states, containing suitable extent of territory, not less than one hundred, nor more than one hundred and fifty miles square, or as near thereto as cir- cumstanees will admit; and that the states so formed shall be distinct republican states, and admitted members of the federal union, hay- ing the same rights of sovereignty, freedom and independence as the other states."
Another condition was: "That the French and Canadian inhabitants and other settlers of the Kaskaskias, St. Vincents, and the neigh- boring villages, who have professed them- selves citizens of Virginia, shall have their possessions and titles confirmed to them, and be protected in the enjoyment of their rights and liberties."
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