USA > Indiana > Knox County > Vincennes > Historical sketches of Old Vincennes, founded in 1732 : its institutions and churches, embracing collateral incidents and biographical sketches of many persons and events connected therewith > Part 2
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"On the Wabash, near the present site of Vincennes, was an important Indian village, known as Chip-kaw-kay, and it is probable that when the French settlers arrived they heard stories of prior visits made by traders, and after a lapse of time those traditions became transposed into facts relating to the first actual settlement. To hold their claim upon the Mississippi valley the French, in 1702, determined to establish some posts along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and M. Juchereau did ereet a fort at the mouth of the Ohio."
This same author says, on page 18 of his said work: "One of the best evidences that it (a post) was not estab- lished in an earlier year, to which the date (1727) has been assigned, lies in the fact that all persons concede that it was established by Francois Morgan, Sieur de Vin- cennes. He did not succeed to the title until late in the year 1719. He was a son of the sister of the elder Sieur de Vincennes, and succeeded to the title on the death of his
uncle, which took place at * * * the Indian village on the Maumee. It is very possible that French traders had visited the Indian village of Chip-kaw-kay many years previously, but the fact is apparent that no settlement was made or post established before 1727. Some eight years later a number of French families settled there, and it be- came the first actual settlement in the State. It was called,
# Dunn Hist. Ind., p. 53.
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in the first record, 'The Post,' 'Old Post,' 'Au Poste,' and remained the only settlement of whites in the State until after the Revolutionary war, although a military fort was maintained both at the head of the Maumee and at Ouiate- non by the French until the country was ceded to Great Britain."*
In a Memoir of M. de St. Denis, Commandant, dated Natchitoches, November 30, 1731, he says: "On the Ouabache, which has always been neglected, on which, in my opinion, by the information I have had, we should be the first to form an establishment, for, by report, it is a key to the English, by which they would be better able to get hold of the Province of Louisiana than any other place and to entice away some of our tribes. I would advance the number needed there, so to speak, to four hundred men rather than three."+
This statement shows that up to this date there was no "Post" then established at this point on the Ouabache, that is, up to November 30, 1731, and if no post, no mis- sion, as they could not exist without protection.
In Law's History, touching this officer's movements: "Vincennes," he says, "was in the service of the Governor of Canada as late as 1725. At what time he took posses- sion here is not exactly known; probably somewhere about 1732."± He alludes to a sale recorded at Kaskas- kia, January 5, 1735, and says the document styles him "an officer of the troops of the King," and "Commandant au poste du Ouabache," and he says further, the will of Monsieur Philip Longprie, his father-in-law, dated March
" Smith's Hist. Ind., p. 12.
+ Ind. Hist. Society, p. 296.
# Law's Hist. Ind., p. 19.
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10, 1735, gives him, among other things, eight hundred and eight pounds of pork, which he wishes kept safe until the arrival of Monsieur Vincennes, who was then at the post. There are other documents there signed by him as a witness in 1733-4, among them one receipt for one hundred pistoles, received from his father-in-law on his marriage. From all these proofs I think it evident that he was here previous to 1733.
The late Orlan F. Baker, in his artiele on the "History of Knox County," says, in reference to the French com- mander, Francois Morgan de Vincennes: "For gallant conduet at this siege (Detroit) De Vincennes was restored to a rank forfeited by a previous disobedience of orders in Europe and promoted to a command for the King in Illi- nois, and sent by M. de Vandrial, Governor of Canada, to Sault Ste. Marie, at which place and Maehilamaekinae he remained until 1732, when under the orders of Longen- ville, for the King, he repaired to the command of the 'Post des Ouabache.'
"The Ouiatenon settlement was now broken up, and the inhabitants removed to the poste."*
The foregoing corroborates the inference of Law as to the advent of Vincennes to this place, and doubtless from the period of his arrival, 1732, may be taken as the time of the beginning of the settlement or founding of Vin- cennes.
To settle the question, inference lends its aid while con- sidering collateral subjects.
Count Volney, who visited America and was in Vin- eennes in 1796, says : "From the best information I
* Hist. Knox County, p. 26.
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could obtain from the inhabitants, I judged the first settlement was not much earlier than 1757, but giving the benefit to the traditions of some of the oldest inhabitants, the time might be as early as 1735.""
That a Jesuit missionary may have been here a few years preceding the advent of Morgan de Vincennes is not unlikely, for in December, 1726, there departed nine Jesuit priests from France for New Orleans, where there were others, making in all twenty-one, to be distributed, by the order of the Bishop of Quebec, in the Province of Louisiana. In this distribution we find that the Jesuit Father, Pierre D'Outrelean, was assigned to the Oua- bache, 1728, and this is the first mention of a priest being sent to the Ouabache (except that of Pierre Mermet, who was with Sieur Jucherean, who was in fact not here, but at the mouth of the Ohio, then called Ouabache, near the site of Cairo, among the Mascouten Indians). The Father's place of residence is not definitely known. It might have been among the Indians on the Upper Wa- bash, at Kaskaskia or at the month of the Ohio, until his appearance again at New Orleans, to which place he had started and came near losing his life on the way by the Indians in 1730.+
The first advent of an itinerant missionary or erratic traders could not in a correct sense be called a set- tlement, even if the Father and some traders had been here previous to 1732, and it has been shown no post had been established here prior to that date. Then it becomes necessary to indicate a period to which a settle- ment might be reasonably ascribed.
* Law's Hist. of Vincennes, p. 12; History Knox County, 236.
+ Dunn Ind. Hist. Society, p. 274; from Sister Madeline Hachard's Journal, New Orleans.
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The arrival of F. Morgan de Vincennes and the trans- ference of the colonists from Ouiatenon (near Lafayette) to the Che-pe-ko-ke village in 1732, may be taken as the time of the beginning of the settlement of this "post," and the subsequent marriage of Commander Vincennes to a French lady, daughter of Philip Longprie, at Kaskaskia, in 1733, but emphasized and gave impetus to the settle- ment when he brought his bride to the new nueleus of civilization, Post Quabache. That the French people of the Indian village so understood that time as the begin- ning of the Caucasian settlement, finds corroboration in a report made to the civil officers of the United States Gov- ernment in 1790. When Winfield Sargent, Secretary for the Territories northwest of the Ohio river, was sent here to organize a county (which he called Knox) he found much of the land adjacent was elaimed by the villagers. and so reported to the Washington Government, where- upon he was requested by the same to ascertain of them upon what authority they based their rights. A commit- tee of the leading settlers answered, in part, as follows in their report: "We beg leave to inform you that their prin- cipal reason is, that since the establishment of the country the Commandants have always appeared to be vested with the power to give lands : their founder, M. Vincennes. began to give concessions, and all his successors have given lots and lands." Signed, "F. Busseron, L. E. Delisle. Pierre Gamelon, Pierre Querez, July 3, 1790."# In this report it is seen that the French villagers claimed that F. Morgan de Vincennes was the founder of this settle- ment or post. This declaration indicates the commence- ment of the French settlement of Vincennes, according to
# Letter to Winthrop Sargent; Hist. Knox County, p. 124.
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the views of the people themselves ; and, hence, the conclu- sions, from all the evidence adduced, that the settlement of Vincennes cannot be rightfully placed at an earlier date than 1732.
Since the foregoing was written the President of the Vincennes University received photographic copies of two letters from the Honorable Jacob P. Dunn, Secretary of the Indiana Historical Society, written by the founder of Vincennes, dated respectively March 7 and 21, 1733, and procured for that society from the French archives by Consul-General J. K. Gowdy, at Paris. These letters are timely, as there is an awakening of Indianians about their colonial history, and they add to our scant stock of reliable knowledge on the subject. While these letters do not fur- nish the exact date of the settlement of Vincennes, they come so close to it that they aid us in forming reasonable conclusions about it. The information gained through the letter of March 7* settles the question of when the first fort was built and by whom it was done, and is as follows: "March 7, 1733-Monsieur: To make reply to the honor of yours, I will commence by informing you that the Quabache nation is composed of five tribes, which includes four villages, of which the least is of sixty men bearing arms, and in all about 600 or 700 men, whom it will be necessary for the good of the service to gather together and remove from proximity to the English. It has been impossible for me to bring together all these tribes because I have always lacked merchandise in this place. . The fort which I have had built is 400 leagues up the Ouabache, above the rivers by which the English will
* Addressed probably to the Governor at Detroit, as no address heads the let- ter. Ind. Historic Transactions, p. 304.
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be able to descend and open trade with these tribes. The place is well fitted for the location of a large establish- ment, which I would have made if I had had the troops. In regard to the trade which can be had, it is in furs. It is possible to send out from this post every year about 30,000 skins. That, monsieur, is all the trade that can be secured for the present.
"There has never been so great need of troops at this place as at present. The Indians, Illinois as well as Miamis and others, are more insolent than they have ever been, and that since the Foxes have been overthrown. The little experience I have acquired in the twenty years I have been with them makes me fear some bad return from these nations, especially mine, which sees an establishment that I have begun and which there has appeared no desire to continue in the past three years. The only thing that can come in the meantime, monsieur, is the loss to us of all the tribes, both of the lakes and of other places.
"You have done me the honor to ask me to send you a statement of the works finished and to be constructed. There is only a fort and two houses in it, and there should at once be built a guard-room with barracks for lodging the soldiers. It is not possible to remain in this place with so few troops. I will need thirty men with an officer. I am more embarrassed than ever in this place by the war with the Chickasaws, who have come here twice since spring. It is only twelve days since the last party brought in three persons, and as it is the French who have put the tomahawk in their hands, I am obliged to be at expense continually. I hope of your kindness that you will give special attention to this place and to the trouble which I
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experience, as well for myself as for the little garrison that I have. It is a favor expected of you by him who has the honor to be with profound respect, monsieur, your very humble and obedient servant,
"VINCENNES,
"Of the Fort of the Ouabache, this 21st day of March, 1733."
M. de Vincennes speaks of "the fort I have built," etc. Again he says : "Monsieur, you asked me to send you a statement of the amount of the work finished and to be constructed. There is only a fort and two houses in it, and there should at once be built a guard-room, with a barracks for lodging the soldiers. It is not possible to remain in this place with so few troops. I will need thirty men with an officer." This statement indicates that he had been at this point not exceeding a year, and that he felt insecure, although he had a fort; then how could it be reasonably supposed that a mission had existed there previously, as the work commenced had not been com- pleted ? In the letter he alludes to the time of his service against the Indians, which serves, indirectly, to fix the time of his advent in Che-pe-ko-ke village. He says: "The little experience I have acquired in the twenty years I have been with them, makes me fear some bad returns from these natives," etc. He speaks of his small force, and says: "The Chickasaws are menacing me, having been to the post twice since spring." All of which goes to show that he had not fully established himself and felt insecure in March, 1733, and had been there only a short time. It is stated that in May, 1712, at the instigation of the English interests in New York, a desperate attempt was
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made to destroy the fort near Detroit. Two villages of the Mascoutens and Ongatagniers had been established and fortified within a pistol shot of the French garrison. The Indians had determined to annihilate the posts and called to aid two large bands to help them. On the 13th of May, 1712, Francois Morgan de Vincennes arrived with seven or eight Frenchmen. That night a Huron came into the fort and announced that the Potawattomie war chief desired to counsel with the French, and would meet them at the old Huron fort. Vincennes went over and was told that six hundred men from the villages upon the St. Jerome ( Wabash) would soon arrive and help the garrison. Upon Vincennes' return Duboison, the Commander, at once closed the fort and prepared for a siege. The next day Duboison ascended a bastion and casting his eye toward the woods, saw the army of the natives of the south issuing from it. They were the Illinois, Missouris, Osages and other natives yet more remote. The battle began at once, etc., resulting in a victory for the French and their allies." This quotation is introduced to show the time M. de Vincennes arrived in Detroit. Now, bear in mind the statement, in his letter of March 7, 1733. when he speaks of his dealing with the Indians twenty years ; and, adding that number of years to the year of his arrival in Detroit, 1712, and we have the year 1732 as the time of his advent here.
The French King decided to establish two posts in 1731 -one at Illinois and one "at the Onabache," "to com- mence July 1, 1731."+ Let it be remembered that Com- mander M. de St. Denis, Commandant at Natchitoches,
Duboison's Diary, p. 2.
+ Ind. Hist. Society Publications, p. 297 (1902).
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as late as November 30, 1731, deplored the fact that no establishment had been erected up to that time on the Ouabache, and the only evidence to show that a post was commenced that year is the half-yearly allowance made to the officers from July 1 of that year (1731). From the time the ediet was issued to the time the same would reach M. de Vincennes, would be probably six months, and then the year 1732 would have been ushered in, but the officers would rightfully draw half-pay for that year, which they did. The allowance for salaries for one-half a year is not positive evidence that Vincennes arrived here in 1731. The presumption is that his orders did not arrive before January 1, 1732. In 1732 the first full year's salary was allowed. Taking into consideration the fact of the little work done on the fort and buildings up to March, 1733, as given in the late published letters of Vincennes in connec- tion with the one given by St. Denis (that no fort had been established in 1731), just stated, the legitimate conclusion to be drawn from them is that the year 1732 is the earliest date of the founding of Vincennes.
The foregoing facts and arguments set forth about the first European settlement in Indiana ought to be consid- ered sufficient proof as to the period Vincennes was first settled. The French government occupied the country until Canada and the Northwest Territory were ceded to Great Britain at the conclusion of their war, 1763, when it became a bone of contention between the latter govern- ment and the federal colonies of North America. It proved to be a point rich in splendid results, and a prize worthy of the most astute diplomacy and consummate strategy and prowess in warfare, and the contention for it
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culminated, finally, on February 25, 1779, when it passed under the control of the State of Virginia, through the ageney of Colonel George Rogers Clark, whose skill and daring had not been surpassed by any military officer in American history. The subjeet is full of interesting inei- dents, but to enter upon a more elaborate history would require the presentation of more faets and statisties than would be profitable or interesting to the casual inquirer.
Francois Morgan de Vincennes, military commander, having taken possession of Che-pe-ko-ke late in 1731, or early in 1732, a stockade and two houses were built for defenses against the attack of the Indians, and as a protec- tion to the traders. He remained in command here until 1736, when he was ordered by the French Governor of Detroit to join M. D'Artegette in his campaign against the Chickasaw Nation with a force to be sent from New Orleans ; but owing to mishaps, the forees did not form a junction, according to instructions, and the commander made the attack with his own troops and was defeated, captured and burned. For his heroism in the battle he, it was said, was sainted by his church, and the post chris- tened "Post St. Vincennes." and was so called until the simple name of Vineennes was adopted. About the year 1749, the fort's name became that of Fort St. Ange, in honor of the snecessor of Vineennes in command of the post, he having. it is said, improved the church and placed on it a belfry and bell.
Chapter II.
CLARK'S CAMPAIGN.
C OLONEL GEORGE ROGERS CLARK, having been sent out by Governor Patrick Henry, of Vir- ginia, with a small army of Virginia and Kentucky volunteers, to capture the outposts of Great Britain in this part of the Northwest Territory, and having succeeded in capturing Kaskaskia, on the Kaskaskia river, her greatest stronghold in 1778, mostly by boldness and strategy, he conceived the idea of making a dash for the seizure of Vincennes, having learned of its weak condition and the friendliness of the citizens of the village through a resi- dent priest of Kaskaskia. To this end he sent there Father Pierre Gibault, the priest, an intelligent gentleman, whom he had found to be friendly to America, to ascertain the obstacles to be overcome in the accomplishment of the scheme. The priest assured him that although secular matters did not pertain to his calling, vet if the Colonel would commit the whole matter to him, there need be no further uneasiness, for he might give them such spiritual advice as would do the business. Accordingly, on July 14. 1778, Father Gibault, with Dr. LaFonte, Civil Magistrate : Captain Leonard Helin, representing the military, and Moses Henry, Interpreter and Envoy, were sent to Vin- cennes, and the peaceful reduction of the fort was under- taken. Fort Sackville was then garrisoned by the militia under St. Maria Racine. Governor Abbott had gone to
-32-
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Detroit the month before to assure the military officer there that the rumored demonstrations from the Ohio bor- der must prove futile.
The commissioners of Clark, having arrived at the vil- lage, and communicated with the traders and citizens, a meeting was called at the church, the time seeming pro- pitious for a coup d'etat, and on the 6th of August Francis Busseron, the Mayor, to whom the priest had imparted an account of what had occurred in Illinois, and the purpose of the visit to Vincennes, arose in the church. at the close of the services, and in the presence of the detained audi- ence, interrogated the holy Father so skillfully concerning the power of the arms of Virginia and the justice of the cause of the colonies against England that all the assembly were at once inclined to make friends with the new power. "Then," said Busseron. "why delay? Let us show him that we are his friends, and if Virginia will receive us, let us become her subjects."* LaFonte said that he was au- thorized to accept their allegiance and to pledge them the whole power of the Confederate Colonies to protect them. Without a word more, a roll of citizenship was displayed and each adult, attaching his name in America's Doom's Day Book, repeated after the priest a vow of fidelity to republican institutions. * * * The assembly with great joy, after electing Captain Helm to command, with drum and instruments of music, marched to the fort and received from the wily commander the master keys. In a few hours after the glittering stars and blazing stripes climbed the bastion of Sackville and floated out in the summer air to the astonishment of the
Busseron was commissioned Captain by Clark, August 16, 1778.
[3]
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Indians, who were told their Old Father, the French King, had come to life again .*
Judge Lasselle, a citizen of Logansport, Indiana, has in his possession Captain Busseron's account book, which fur- nishes hitherto unpublished matter in relation to accounts against Captain Leonard Helm. Captain Busseron was authorized by him to organize a military company. So we find a part of the record runs:
"November 4, 1778-For having raised the company, 500 (presumably francs).
"November 12, 1778-Paid to St. Maria for 5 ells of red serge for the flag, 5. Paid to Mr. Dagenet for 33 ells of green serge at 10-37-10. Paid Madam Godare for mak- ing flag, 25."
Judge Lasselle adds: "From these entries we can obtain almost a full and precise description of the flag. It consisted of two stripes, one of red and the other of green ; the extra link of the red stripe of one and three-fourths ells. The French ell being forty inches in length, and taken off to form the shield in its proper place, left the
flag about eleven feet in length. % * It was a famous flag for reason that it was the first American flag in all that vast extent of territory of the present United States, extending westward from the Blue Ridge moun- tains in Virginia to the Pacific ocean."
This is the flag around which Maurice Thompson has woven the thrilling incidents pictured in his popular romance.
* Hist. Knox County, p. 4.
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Thus, it will be observed, without the firing of a gun, through strategy, Fort Sackville was delivered by its militia officer, St. Maria Racine, into the hands of Captain Leonard Helm, and the interpreter, Henry. The Indians. who were the friends of the English, immediately sent runners to Detroit to inform the British commander there of the result at Post Vincennes, and preparations were commenced to retake the fort and village; to this end Langlade was dispatched to assemble the Indians near the village, while Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton prepared a fleet to take through the lakes to the head of the Wabash river: and early in October he and Major Hay. with eighty-four soldiers and one hundred Indians, started to recapture Vincennes and destroy Clark's forces at Kas- kaskia. Captain Helm, fearing that he could not be rein- forced at an early day and suspicioning that a Detroit force might be sent against him. sent out a spy to keep him advised of any approaching danger, but his messenger was captured and killed and all his papers seized; thus the flo- tilla of Hamilton and his army from Detroit arrived within three miles of the village before it was discovered. Captain Helm and his interpreter. Henry, were the sole occupants of the fort when its surrender was demanded by Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton, the native militia failing to support Captain Helm. He stood by one of the can- nons, it is said, with torch in hand, ready to fire it, and thus answered Hamilton: "By Heavens, no man enters here until I know the terms." 1135560
"You shall have the honors of war," responded Hamil- ton, and then, as the British army, at parade rest. saluted the lowering of the flag, the officer with his command of
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one man, with military precision, marched out of the forti- fications .* Thus again, Fort Sackville, without bloodshed, passed under the sway of Great Britain, but not long to remain so. The re-establishment of the English with increased forces and Indian allies all around the post, Clark's situation at Kaskaskia became critical, if not really untenable, and Hamilton conceived the idea of capturing him by surprise. He sent ont scouts for that purpose, but the winter was so inclement and traveling so bad, they failed to get to Kaskaskia. In the meantime Clark was concocting a scheme to surprise and take Hamilton and his forces. Although the time of enlistment of many of his soldiers had expired, and their places were to be filled with the new citizens from conquest, he determined to send an envoy to Vincennes to learn the temper of the people there, the probable number of Hamilton's force, the strength of the defenses to be overcome, and then take liis chances for victory. After retaking the fort at Post Vin- cennes, it is somewhat remarkable that Hamilton did not follow up his success by pushing on to Kaskaskia and engaging his opponent, whose strength had been weakened by the expiration of the enlistments of the bulk of his soldiers, and before his little army could be recruited and reorganized and reinforcements could arrive, promised by the Governor of Virginia.
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