USA > Indiana > An illustrated history of the state of Indiana: being a full and authentic civil and political history of the state from its first exploration down to 1879 > Part 7
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CLARK'S CELEBRATED MARCH AGAINST VINCENNES.
over to them, and as they mounted them our party shouted. Many of them fell from the top of the walls-some within. and others back; but as they were not fired on, they all got over, much to the joy of their friends. But, on considering the matter, they must have been convinced that it was a scheme of ours to let them in, and that we were so strong as to care but little about them or the manner of their getting into the garrison. ** * The firing immediately commenced on both sides with double vigor, and I believe that more noise could not have been made by the same number of men-their
RESIDENCE OF HON. F. P. RANDALL, FORT WAYNE. See page 21.
shouts could not be heard for the firearms; but a comuniai blaze was kept around the garrison without much being done until about daybreak, when our troops were drawn off to posts prepared for them abont sixty or seventy yards from the fort. A loophole then could scarcely be darkened but a rifle-ball would pass through it. To have stood to their cannon world have destroyed their men without a probability of doing much service. Our situation was nearly similar. It would have been imprudent in either party to have wasted their men without some decisive stroke required it.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
"Thus the attack continued until about nine o'clock on the morning of the twenty-fourth. Learning that the two prison- ers they had brought in the day before had a considerable number of letters with them, I supposed it an express that we expected about this time, which I knew to be of the greatest moment to us, as we had not received one since our arrival in the country; and not being fully acquainted with the character of our enemy, we were doubtful that those papers might be destroyed -to prevent which I sent a flag [with a .etter] demanding the garrison."
We include here a copy of the letter which Colonel Clark addressed to the British Governor:
"SIR: In order to save yourself from the impending storm that now threatens you, I order you immediately to surrender yourself, with all your garrison, stores, etc. For if I am obliged to storm, you may depend on such treatment as is justly due to a murderer. Beware of destroying stores of any kind, or any papers or letters that are in your possession, or hurting one house in town -for, by heavens! if you do, there shall be no mercy shown you."
In answer to this bold letter, Governor Hamilton sent this reply:
"Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton begs leave to acquaint Colonel Clark that he and his garrison are not disposed to be wed into any action unworthy British subjects."
On receiving this refusal the firing was resumed, and con- tinued in a spirited manner until evening, when a flag appeared with the following proposals: "Lieutenant-Governor Hamil- ton proposes to Colonel Clark a truce for three days; during which time he promises there shall be no defensive works car- ricd on in the garrison, on condition that Colonel Clark shall observe on his part a like cessation of any defensive work; that is, he wishes to confer with Colonel Clark as soon as can be, and promises that whatever may pass between them and another person mutually agreed upon to be present, shall
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CLARK'S CELEBRATED MARCH AGAINST VINCENNES.
remain secret till matters be finished, as he wishes that what- ever the result of the conference may be it may tend to the honor and credit of each party. If Colonel Clark makes a difficulty of coming into the fort, Lieutenant-Governor Ham- ilton will speak to him by the gate."
Clark was at a loss to understand what reason Hamilton could have for wishing a truce. Some of his officers believed it to be a scheme to get him within the fort. Although he had the greatest reason to expect a reinforcement in less than three days that would at once put an end to the siege, yet he did not think it prudent to agree to the proposals, and sent the following answer: "Colonel Clark's compliments to Gor- ernor Hamilton, and begs leave to inform him that he will not agree to any terms other than Mr. Hamilton's surrendering himself and garrison prisoners at discretion. If Mr. Hamilton is desirous of a conference with Colonel Clark, he will meet him at the church with Captain Helin."
They met at the church, about cighty yards from the fort- Colonel Clark, Governor Hamilton, Major Hay, Captain Helm, and Major Bowman. Hamilton produced terms of capitula- tion containing various articles. After deliberating on every article, Clark rejected the whole. Hamilton then asked him to make a proposition. Clark told him that he had no other to make than that he had already made- that of his surren- dering as prisoners at discretion. He told him that his troops had behaved with spirit, that they could not suppose that they would be worse treated in consequence of it; that if he chose to comply with the demand, though hard, it would be expedi- ent to do so immediately; that it was in vain for him to make any further propositions; that he :must be aware that the gar- rison would. fall; that all blood spilt from that hour by the garrison would be regarded as murder; that the American troops were already impatient, and called aloud for permission to tear down and storm the fort; that if such a step were taken, many of course would be cut down, and that it would be out of the power of an American officer to save a single man.
Considerable discussion followed; Captain Helm attempted
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
to moderate their fixed conclusions, but Clark told him that he was a British prisoner, and that it was doubtful whether or not he could with propriety speak on the subject. Hamilton then said that Captain Helm was from that moment liberated,
O. P. Morton
See page 21.
and might use his pleasure, but Clark informed the Captain that he would not receive him on such terms; that he must return to the garrison and await his fate. Clark then informed
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CLARK'S MOVEMENTS AT VINCENNES.
Hamilton that hostilities should not commence until five min- utes after the drums gave the alarm. At this they parted, but the British officer, after a moment's hesitation, turned about and politely inquired Colonel Clark's reasons for refusing the garrison on any other terms than an unconditional surrender. The latter explained at some length, but before completing his reply secretly resolved to change the conditions of his demands. Ile told Hamilton he would consider the matter and let him know the result at an early hour. In the course of the afternoon of the twenty-fourth, articles of capitulation were signed, and on the following day, at ten o'clock, the gar- rison was surrendered, and the bold, courageous Clark took possession of the fort. On the twenty-seventh the vessel with the stores and provisions arrived in good condition, and the Americans in Vincennes were rejoicing over their conquest.
CHAPTER V.
CLARK'S MOVEMENTS AT VINCENNES.
0 N the day succeeding the occupation of Vincennes by Clark's forces, the irrepressible Colonel sent a detach- ment of sixty men up the river Wabash to intercept some boats laden with stores and provisions from Detroit. The detachment proceeded up the river in three armed boats about one hundred and twenty miles, when the British boats, seven ยท in number, were surprised and captured without firing a gun. The English boats had on board about ten thousand pounds worth of goods and provisions, and were manned by about forty men. These were taken prisoners and the goods divided among the soldiers.
Having organized a military government in Vincennes, and appointed Captain Helm as commandant of the town, Colonel Clark returned in the vessel to Kaskaskia, where he was joined
.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
ny reinforcements from Kentucky, under Captain George. Meanwhile, a party of traders who were going to the falls, were killed and plundered by the Delawares of White river. The news of this disaster having reached Clark, he sent a dis- patch to Captain IIelm ordering him to make war on the Del- awares, to use every means in his power to destroy them; to show no mercy to the men, but to save the women and children. This order was executed without delay. Their camps were attacked in every quarter where they could be found. Many fell and others were carried to Post Vincennes and put to death. The surviving Delawares at once pleaded for mercy, and appeared anxious to make some atonement for their bad conduct. To these overtures Captain Helm replied that Colonel Clark, the Big Knife, had ordered the war, and that he had no power to lay down the hatchet, but that he would suspend hostilities until a messenger could be sent to Kaskaskia. This was done, and the crafty Colonel, well understanding the Indian character, sent a message to the Delaware, telling them that he would not accept their friendship or treat with them for peace, but that if they could get some of the neigh- boring tribes to become responsible for their future conduct, he would discontinue the war and spare their lives; otherwise they must all perish.
A council was called of all the Indians in the neighborhood, and Clark's answer was read to the assembly. After due deliberation the Piankeshaws took on themselves to answer for the future good conduct of the Delawares, and the Grand Door, in a long speech, denounced their base conduct. This ended the war with the Delawares and secured the respect of the neighboring tribes. Clark's attention was next turned to the British post at Detroit, but being unable to obtain suffi- cient troops he abandoned the enterprise.
Colonel Jolin Todd, the county lieutenant for the county of Illinois, in the spring of 1779, visited the old settlements at Vincennes and Kaskaskia, and organized temporary civil gov . ernments in nearly all the settlements west of the Ohio. Previous to this movement Clark had established a military government at Kaskaskia and Vincennes, appointed com-
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CLARK'S MOVEMENTS AT VINCENNES.
mandants in both places, and taken up his headquarters at the falls of the Ohio, where he could watch the operations of the eremy and save the frontier settlements from the depredations of Indian warfare.
On reaching the settlements Colonel Todd issned a procla- mation* regulating the settlement of unoccupied lands, and requiring the presentation of all claims to the lands settled. IIc also organized a court of civil and criminal jurisdiction at Vincennes in the month of June, 1779. This court was com- posed of several magistrates and presided over by Colonel J. M. P. Legras, who had been appointed commandant at Vin- cennes. Acting from the precedents established by the early French commandants in the west, this court began to grant tracts of land to the French and American inhabitants, and down to the year 1783, it had granted to different parties about twenty-six thousand acres of land. From this date down to 1787, when the practice of granting lands was prohibited by General Harmer, the quantity of land granted exceeded twenty-two thousand acres. The tracts granted were gen- erally small, ranging from a small "house lot" to four and five hundred acres. But aside from the granting of these small tracts, the court entered into a stupendous speculation- one not altogether creditable to its honor and dignity. The
ILLINOIS [COUNTY] TO WIT- Whereas, from the fertility and beautiful situation of the lands bordering upon the Mississippi, Ohio, Illinois, and Wa- bash rivers, the taking up of the usual quantity of land heretofore allowed for a settlement by the government of Virginia, would injure both the strength and com- merce of this country; I do, therefore, jesuc this proclamation, strictly enjoining all persons whatsoever from making any new settlements upon the flat lands of the said rivers, or within one leagne of said lands, unless in manner and form of set- tlements as heretofore made by the French inhabitants, until further orders herein given. And, in order that all the claims to lands in said county may be fully known, and some method provided for perpetuating, by record, the just claims, every inhabitant is required, as soon as
conveniently may be, to lay before the person, in cach district, appointed for that purpose, a memorandum of his or her land, with copics of all their vouchers; and where vouchers have never been given, or are lost, snch depositions or certifica es as will tend to support their claims :- the memorandum to mention the qiart.ty of land, to whom originally gran'cd, and when, -deducing the title through the various occupants to the present posses- sor. The number of adventurers who wi_ shortly overrun this conntry, renders the above method necessary, as well to ascer- tain the vacant lands as to guard against trespasses which will probably be com- mitted on lands not on record. Given under my hand and scal, at Kaskaskia, the fifteenth of June, in the third year of the commonwealth, 1779.
JOHN TODD, JE.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
commandant and magistrates over whom he presided, sud- denly adopted the opinion that they were invested with the authority to dispose of the whole of that large region which,
1
See page 21.
in 1742, had been granted by the tribe of Piankeshaw Indians to the French inhabitants of Vincennes. Accordingly a very convenient arrangement was entered into by which the whole
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CLARK'S MOVEMENTS AT VINCENNES.
tract of country mentioned was to be divided between the members of the honorabie court A record was made to that effect, and perhaps the meet interesting part of this job - modern politicaas w . it ca. it a steal -was that each mem- ber found conven'en to be absent from court on the day that the orde was made in his favor .*
During the progress of the conflict between civilization and barbarism in the northwest, from 1779 to 1787, the date at which the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio was organized, there were but few events of importance in which the settlements in Indiana were not concerned, or by which they were not affected. In the fall of 1780, LaBalme, a Frenchman, made an attempt to capture the British garrison of Detroit by leading an expedition against it from Kaskaskia. At the head of thirty men he marched to Vincennes, where his force was slightly increased. From this town he proceeded to the British trading post at the head of the Maumee, where Fort Wayne now stands, where he plundered the British traders and Indians and then retired. While encamped on the bank of a small strea'n on his retreat, he was attacked by a band of Miamis, a number of his men were killed, and the expedition against Detroit ended in ruin. Thus ran the current of border war, sometimes resulting in a victory for the Americans and sometimes for the enemy, during the long struggle for inde- pendence, until in 1783, the treaty of Paris was concluded, and the Congress of the United States declared a cessation of hostilities between the United States and Great Britain.
Up to this date the territory now included within the limits of the State of Indiana belonged, by conquest, to the State of Virginia, but in January, 1783, the General Assembly of that State resolved to cede to the Congress of the United States all right, title and claim which it held to the territory northwest of the Ohio. The conditions offered by Virginia were accepted by Congress on the twentieth of December of the same year, and the transfer was effected carly in 1784. In the year pre- ceding, however, the Assembly of Virginia passed an act for
* Harrison's Letters.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
platting the town of Clarksville, at the falls of the Ohio. The act stipulated that the lots, consisting of half an acre cach, should be sold at public auction to the highest bidder, and that purchasers were to hold their lots subject to the condi- tions of building on them within three years from the day of sale.
In the spring of 1784, after the deed of cession* had been accepted by Congress, the subject of the future government of the territory was referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. Jefferson of Virginia, Chase of Maryland, and Howell of Rhode Island. The committee reported an ordinance for the government of the territory northwest of the Ohio, which, among other things, declared, that neither slavery nor involun-
* That the territory so ceded shall be laid out and formed into States, contain- ing a snitable extent of territory, not less than one hundred, nor more than one hundred and fifty miles square ; or as near thereto as circumstances will admit; and that the States so fornied shall be distinct republican States, and admitted members of the Federal Union; having the same rights of sovereignty, freedom, and indc- pendence as the other States. That the necessary and reasonable expenses ineur- red by Virginia in subduing any British posts, or in maintaining forts and garri- sons within, and for the defense, or in acquiring any part of, the territory 80 ceded or relinquished. shall be fully reim- bursed by the United States. That the French and Canadian inhabitants, and other settlers of the Kaskaskia, Post Vin- cennes, and the neighboring villages, who have professed themselves citizens of Vir- ginla, shall have their possessions and titles confirmed to them, and be protected in the enjoyment of their rights and liber- ties. That a quantity not exceeding one hundred and fifty thousand acres of land, promised by Virginia, shall be allowed and granted to the then Colonel, now General George Rogers Clark, and to the officers and soldlers of his regiment, who marched with him when the posts of Kas- kaskia and Vincennes were reduced, and to the officers and soldiers that have been since incorporated into the said regiment, to be laid off in one tract, the length of which not to cxcced double the breadth,
In such place on the northwest side of the Ohio as a majority of the officers shall choose, and to be afterward divided among the officers and soldiers in due proportion, according to the laws of Virginia. That in case the quantity of good lands on the southeast side of the Ohio, upon the waters of Cumberland river, and between the Green river and Tennessee river, which have been reserved by law for the Virginia troops upon continental estab- lislunent, should, from the North Carolina line, bearing in further upon the Cum- berland lands than was expected, prove insufficient for their legal bounties, the deficiency shall be made up to the said troops, in good lands, to be laid off' be- tween the rivers Scioto and Little Miami, on the northwest side of the river Ohio, in such proportions as have been engaged to them by the laws of Virginia. That all the lands within the territory so cedes to United States, and not reserved for, or appropriated to any of the before meu- tioned purposes, or disposed of in bonn tles to the officers and soldiers of th. American army, shall be considered as a common fund for the use and benefit of such of the United States as have become, or shall become, members of the confed- eration or federal alliance of the said States. Virginia inclusive, according to their nsual respective proportions in the general charge and expenditure, and shall be faithfully and bona fide disposed of for that purpose, and for no other use or pur- pose whatsoever.
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EARLY SETTLEMENTS AND LAND GRANTS.
tary servitude, otherwise than in the punishment of criminals, should exist in the territory after the year 1800. This article of the ordinance was rejected, but an ordinance for the tem- porary government of the county was adopted, and, in the following year, laws were passed by Congress for disposing of lands in the western territory, and for prohibiting the settle- ment of unappropriated lands by reckless speculators.
CHAPTER VI.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS AND LAND GRANTS.
F ROM this date, 1784 to 1787, when the northwestern ter- ritory was organized, we have but little to record in the history of Indiana. Land speculation in Ohio, and on the borders of the Ohio and Wabash rivers, was exciting consider- able attention, and large associations, representing consider- able means, were formed for the purpose of monopolizing the trade in land. Tracts of millions of acres were sold at one time by Congress to associations on the installment plan, and so far as the Indian titles could be extinguished, the work of settling and improving the lands was pushed rapidly forward. The passage of the "ordinance of 1787," created the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio, which of course included the whole of the territory now embraced in the State of Indiana. On the fifth of October, of the same year, Major General Arthur St. Clair was elected by Congress Governor of the territory. He was instructed, on entering upon the duties of the office, to ascertain the real temper of the Indians and do all in his power to remove the causes for controversy between them and the United States, and to effect the extin- guishment of Indian titles to all the land possible. The Governor took up quarters in the new settlement of Marietta, Ohio, where he immediately began the organization of the
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
government of the territory. The first session of the general court of the new territory was held at that place in 1788. The judges were Samnel II. Parsons, James Mitchell Varnum, and John Cleves Symes. Under the ordinance, Governor St. Clair was president of the court.
KERHODIGH
B. TRENTMAN, ESQ. See page 21.
After the session of the general court at Marietta was con- eluded, and the necessary laws for the government of the ter- ritory passed, Governor St. Clair, accompanied by the Judges, visited Kaskaskia for the purpose of organizing a civil govern- ment there. Meanwhile full instructions had been sent to Major Hamtramck, commandant at Vincennes, requiring him
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EARLY SETTLEMENTS AND LAND GRANTS.
to ascertain the exact feeling and temper of the Ina an tribes of the Wabash. These instructions were accompanied by speeches to each of the tribes. On the fifth of April, 1790, a Frenchman named Antoine Gamelin, was dispatched from Vincennes with these speeches. He visited nearly all the tribes on the Wabash, St. Joseph and St. Marys rivers, but was coldly received, most of the chiefs being dissatisfied with the policy of the Americans toward them, and prejudiced through English misrepresentation. Full accounts of his adventures among the tribes reached Governor St. Clair at Kaskaskia in June, 1790. Being satisfied that there was no prospect of effecting a general peace with the Indians of Indiana, ho resolved to visit General Harmer at his headquarters at Fort Washington, and there to consult with that officer upon the means of carrying an expedition against the hostile Indians. Before leaving Kaskaskia, however, St. Clair intrusted the Secretary of the territory, Winthrop Sargent, with the execu- tion of the resolutions of Congress regarding the lands and settlers on the Wabash. He directed that officer to proceed to Vincennes, lay out a county there, establish the militia. and appoint the necessary civil and military officers. Mr. Sargent at once proceeded to Vincennes, where he organized the camp of Knox, appointed the necessary civil and military officers, and notified the inhabitants to present their claims to lands. In establishing these claims the settlers found great difficulty, and regarding it, the secretary in his report to the President remarked :
" Although the lands and lots which were awarded to the inhabitants, appeared, from very good oral testimony, to belong to those persons to whom they were awarded, either by original grants, purchase, or inheritance, yet there was scarcely one case in twenty where the title was complete, owing to the desultory manner in which public business had been transacted, and some other unfortunate causes. The original concessions by the French and British commandants were generally made upon a small scrap of paper, which it has been customary to lodge in the notary's office, who has seldom kept any book of record, but committed the most important
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
land concerns to loose sheets, which, in process of time, have come into possession of persons that have fraudulently destroyed thiem, or, unacquainted with their consequence, innocently lost or trifled them away; for by the French usage they are considered as family inheritances, and often descend to women and children. In one instance, and during the gov- ernment of Mr. St. Ange here, a royal notary ran off with all the public papers in his possession, as by a certificate produced to me. And I am very sorry further to observe that in the office of Mr. Le Grand, which continued from the year 1777 to 1787, and where should have been the vouchers for important land transactions, the records have been so falsified, and there is such gross fraud in forgery as to invalidate all evidence and information which I might otherwise have acquired from his papers."
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