USA > Indiana > Knox County > Vincennes > History of Old Vincennes and Knox County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 24
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Clark thereupon decided to beard the British lion in his den, as it were, and, instead of waiting for Hamilton to come and get him, deter- mined to sally forth and get Hamilton, while the latter was yet pleasantly ensconced in his winter quarters. Clark knew that Hamilton, in the spring, by the junction of his northern and southern Indians, would be at the head of such a force that nothing in this quarter could withstand his arms; that Kentucky was doomed to fall, and that the desolation the Briton sought would not end there. "If we could immediately make our
*Dillon's publication of Jefferson's Correspondence, i, 451, and Clark's MS. Memoir.
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way good to Kentucky," reasoned Clark, "we were convinced that before we could raise a force even sufficient to save that country, it would be too late-as all the men in it, joined by the troops had, would not be sufficient ; and to get timely succor from the interior counties was out of the ques- tion. We saw but one alternative, and that was to attack the enemy in their quarters. If we were fortunate, it would save the whole. If other- wise, it would be nothing more than what would certainly be the conse- quence if we should not make the attempt."
During all of his stay in the Illinois country Clark had not received a "scrip of a pen" from Governor Henry. He was, therefore, without instructions from his superiors and virtually destitute of means to procure the necessaries of life for his soldiers, let alone carry on a warfare against a "foe worthy of his steel." His situation was truly desperate, and he declared that it was "at this moment I would have bound myself seven years a slave to have had five hundred troops." But Colonel Vigo assured him that he would advance the funds to carry on the campaign; and, with tears of gratitude trickling down his cheeks, the valiant Virginian thanked the kind and patriotic Spaniard, and accepted his generous offer.
"Orders were immediately issued for preparations," wrote Clark, "and the whole country took fire at the alarm; and every order was executed with cheerfulness by every description of the inhabitants-preparing provisions, encouraging volunteers, etc." To convey the artillery and stores a large Mississippi boat-subsequently named "The Willing"-was purchased and fitted out as a galley, provided with two four-pounders and four large swivels. It was manned by forty-six men under command of Captain John Rogers, who "set sail" on February 4. 1779. with instruc- tions to force his way up the Wabash as high as the mouth of White river, and to secret himself until further orders; "but, if he found himself dis- covered, to do the enemy all the damage he could without running too great a risk of losing his vessel, and not to leave the river until he was out of hope of our arrival by land; but by all means to conduct himself so as to give no suspicion of our approach by land."
Father Gibault again appeared upon the scene, and busied himself in behalf of his friend Clark and the cause of Virginia. In the line-up of Clark's men, gathered from the French settlements, were a goodly number who enlisted at the solicitation of the patriotic priest, who had also been among his parishioners pleading with them to encourage the young men to stand by their guns for the sake of American liberty. The pretty black- eyed Creole girls urged the brave fellows on, presenting their sweethearts with mementos of affection, and bestowing on the regiments beautiful banners (pavillions) of brightly colored silk and satin which their deft hands had wrought.
The marshaling of Clark's forces at Kaskaskia on the morning of February 5, 1779, furnished a beautiful and inspiring scene in the great drama of change, in which the climax was reached on the very eve of
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departure, when Father Gibault, in the presence of the entire populace, who had assembled on the banks of the Kaskaskia river to accord the departing heroes a farewell cheer, after delivering a soul-stirring lecture to the men in arms, gave absolution to one hundred and seventy as brave soldiers as ever marched under the victorious banner of a righteous cause.
The "little army," having crossed to the opposite bank of the river, deserted their boats and proceeded to a point about three miles distant, where they lay in camp until the morning of February 7th, when there hegan a march that, for the display of human endurance, intensity of suf- fering, continuity of hardships, imminent perils and dangers, deeds of valor, bravery, skill, ingenuity, daring, rashness, defiance and perseverance, has never met with a counterpart in the military annals devoted to the marching armies of either the old or new world. The weather for several days had been unusually mild for the season and climate and heavy, inces- sant rains had caused the streams to leave their banks and inundate the lowlands to a great depth. In the verdant glow of summer or the golden haze of autumn, when the numberless streams were confined to their natural courses, the region of country traversed by Clark and his chivalrous, patriotic and devoted band, with rivers and lakes, woodlands and prairies, presented a landscape picture of dazzling beauty, and afforded an avenue of travel over which one could pass with comparative ease. The worldly wastes of water, however, not only made the established route utterly impassable, but had obliterated every vestige of it, and in making that wonderful pilgrimage from Kaskaskia to Vincennes the men composing the expedition walked over two hundred and forty miles.
Clark says he could not account for it, but he had an inward assurance of the success of his undertaking, which the weight of circumstances could not make doubtful. His first object, however, was to keep his men in good humor, which he did by encouraging them to "shoot game on all occasions, and feast on it like Indian war-dancers; each company by turns inviting the other to their feasts; which was the case every night; as the company that was to give the feast was always supplied with horses to lay up a sufficient store of wild meat during the day ; myself and principal officers putting on the woodsmen, shouting now and then, and running as much through the mud and water as any of them."
With such freedom as this, and by the introduction and encourage- ment of other diversions, the troops, without a murmur, were led insensibly, through incredible difficulties, to the banks of the Little Wahash, which they reached on February 13th. By the glow of the log-heap fires, with jest and song and story, the unpleasant incidents of the preceding day were forgotten in the diversions furnished hy the night. Forming a camp on a single knoll on the bank of the river, the troops were suffered to amuse themselves in any way they saw fit, while the commander-in-chief silently viewed the sheet of water with feelings of apprehension and dis- trust. The two branches of the river had converged, forming a lake prob-
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ably five miles in width. But fearing he might be accused of doubting, Clark, without consulting anyone, and not suffering others to consult in his presence, ordered a pirogue to be built at once, suggesting that to cross the stream would only afford a new piece of diversion. The pirogue was completed on the following day, and a party sent forth to explore the drowned lands on the opposite side, where a half acre that had not been submerged was discovered. The 15th was a warm, moist day, for the season, and the men were early put to work building a scaffold on the opposite shore, which was covered with about three feet of water, and to this the baggage was ferried over; then the pack horses, after swimming across the channels of the two rivers thirty yards in width, were brought up to the scaffold and, standing belly-deep in the water, received the loads.
Then began the march through mud and water, the disagreeableness of which was forgotten at the close of day, when the party ascended the elevated plateau discovered by the advanced guard of boatmen. Mirth and jollity banished all feelings of misery and woe entertained on the march, and the men laughed heartily and twitted one another over some of the ridiculous incidents that had taken place in ferrying across the river or walking through its surplus waters-the antics of the little drummer boy, who had floated on his drum, furnishing them with no end of amusement. Clark encouraged the spirit of levity which had taken possession of his men, and they really began to think themselves superior to other men, and that neither the rivers nor the seasons could stop their progress towards the citadel of the Hair-Buyer General, whose scalp they were all eager to obtain. Clark says that the spirits of his little band on this occasion reached such a height and that "they wound themselves up to such a pitch that they soon took Post Vincennes, divided the spoil, and before bedtime were far advanced on their way to Detroit."
Clark now fully realized that all of the lowlands on the Wabash were overflowed and that it would be an easy matter for the enemy to get to him, if discovery was made, and they had any desire to risk an action. But he kept his counsel to himself, not wishing to disturb the minds of his followers. He resolved, however, if not discovered by the enemy, to cross the river, by some means or other, even though Captain Rogers, with his galley, did not arrive at his station at the appointed time.
The next morning ( February 16) after marching a half day in the cold, drizzling rain, the "little army" crossed Fox river, near where Olney, Ill., now stands. It rained almost every day since the party left the first camping ground. The weather had begun to tell on the men, and physically, as well as mentally, they were becoming more distressed. Provisions were running out, and game had become painfully scarce, and some of the volunteers, under breath, were talking of retreating. It was the unrest among his soldiers that led Clark to hastily jump into dangerous places and carry liis forces hurriedly and farther towards the point of destination so as to thwart any hope of retreat. The crossing of the
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Little Wabash was an undertaking attended with the greatest hazard, and would have balked the most daring of men not in the same frame of mind as the dauntless Virginian. It was made at a time of greatest danger, so as to impress the men with what they would be obliged to forego were they to retrace their steps.
All day long "the low-hung clouds dropped their garnered fullness down," and Clark, commanding and impetuous, led his disheartened fol- lowers through seas of ice, mud and water, praying that the frigidity of the weather would become intense enough to freeze the watery wastes and banish all hopes of retreat. The night was passed in camp on one of the northwestern tributaries of the Fox river, in proxmity to the St. Louis trace ; and the next morning, (February 17) with a view of reaching the troublesome Embarrass river before nightfall, an early start was taken by the weather-beaten, half-frozen, half-starved band of patriots, who were compelled to cross some very deep runs in an endless sea of water. The sun was an hour high in the heavens when the Embarrass was sighted, and the wordly wastes of water satisfied Clark, at that great distance, that the Wabash, too, was out of its banks. More than ever was he convinced that to have success attend him in his invasion of Vincennes, he must catch the enemy off their guard by perfecting a speedy surprise ; that unless secrecy was enjoined the presence of his forces in the vicinity of the fort would be revealed and preclude all hope of its capture; that were the invading party discovered, Hamilton, who was well equipped with boats, would ride out on the boundless bosom of the Wabash and have Clark and his men completely at his mercy. As a precautionary measure, Clark sent Mr. Kennedy, a commissary, forth, with three guards, to cross the Embar- rass, if possible, and gain what information he could pertaining to Vin- cennes. This occurred near Lawrenceville, whence the party followed the course of the Embarrass towards its mouth for a mile or two, often wad- ing in water up to their arm-pits vainly striving to find the Wabash, and tramping until darkness overtook them, in mud and water, without locat- ing a spot on which to camp. Mr. Kennedy and his men, finding it impos- sible to cross the Embarrass, returned and joined the forces who, after traveling some distance further, found a small knoll from which the waters had receded, and. huddled and cramped, spent the night, benumbed with cold and weakened by hunger.
On the morning of the 18th, at break of day, they heard Hamilton's morning gun. The Embarrass was a barrier against their further approach to the town, and they retraced their steps, following the ridges in the direc- tion of St. Francesville, which was reached about two o'clock in the after- noon. Here upon the rock* that lies at the foot of the town, Clark put his men to work building pirognes, in which to cross the river, with instruc-
*The river bank at St. Francesville is of rocky formation.
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tion to steal boats if any were to be found on the opposite side, and at the same time select a camping place.
On the morning of the 19th the men returned, having spent the preced- ing night on some logs in the water and reported that there was not one foot of dry land to be found. Captain MeCarthy's company had been busy making canoes, and in one of these the captain and three men embarked on a voyage of exploration. At the same time two men were sent down the Wabash to meet the galley, with instructions for them to come on day and night ; that being the last hope for the starving troops to get food. Captain McCarthy and party returned soon after embarkation, having discovered four large fires about a league distant from camp around which were as- sembled whites and Indians.
The whole "little army" was much dispirited, having now been without food for two days. The Creoles were much cast down and still talked of returning home, and the report from the morning and evening guns at the fort, which came floating o'er the waters, did not lessen that desire. The Kentucky and Virginia backwoodsmen were less complaining, although all of them sorely felt the pangs of hunger and cold. Clark made fun of the poor wretches who talked of turning back, and told them to go out and bring in a deer and have a feast. He knew that their detention could be effected without resort to drastic measures and hence attempted none.
The morning of the 20th found all the men weakened from exposure and starvation and drenched with cold rains that had been falling for two nights and a day. About noon, however, their drooping spirits were raised by the appearance of a boat from Vincennes, containing five French- men, who had been hailed by the sentry and brought to shore. The voyageurs told Clark that neither Hamilton or the inhabitants had an inkling of the approach of the Long Knives, and also informed him that two canoes were adrift some distance above. Captain Worthington was ordered with a party to go in quest of the boats, returning at a late hour with only one. One of the men, acting on Clark's suggestion, had gone out and killed a deer and brought it into camp, much to the delight of his starving companions.
On the morning of the 21st the nose of a mamelle was discovered through the thick growth of trees on the Indiana shore, about an eighth of a mile up the river from St. Francesville and about equi-distant back of the eastern shore line. It took the greater part of the afternoon to ferry the troops across. The horses were abandoned on the opposite side. The whole army being over, the march was resumed and the men plunged into the water with a look of despair on their countenances, wading sometimes up to their necks for a distance of more than a league-when they reached another mamelle (hill.) The spot is designated as Compangionet Hill, an elevation on the east side of the Cathlinette road where the same is inter- sected by the St. Francesville ferry road.
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Here a much-needed rest was taken, and the fresh vension brought from across the river prepared and devoured with a relish, notwithstand- ing the quantity was only sufficient to deal out in limited portions. Another plunge into the icy water and the forlorn band groped and floundered about for a distance of more than a mile, when they reached the old Bouchie farm,* now owned by W. H. Brevort, where they stopped for the night, the "little antic drummer,"t as Clark called the youth, keeping the men in good humor with jokes and funny sayings.
Next morning (22d) the march was resumed. As far as the eye could reach, save where a few hillocks reared their small heads above the flood, the land was covered with water. Bearing towards the east, the "little army" plodded on in the direction of town, until they got opposite Horse Shoe Pond, when they veered to the west and followed a ridge that parallels the pond, which brought them in sight of Sugar Camp, a mile ahead, and at the foot of a stretch of water of greater depth than they had just been through. Here, through pure exhaustion, some of the men balked. The stronger ones, however, waded painfully in, while the weaker and famished were taken in canoes, the progress of which was so impeded by under- brush and bushes that the boats made little better headway than some of the men. Clark, always in the lead, continually tirged the men on. At one place the water came up to Clark's shoulder, and the men seeing this fal- tered, but the tall Virginian determined that there should be no standing still or turning back and, blackening his face with gunpowder he gave an Indian war-whoop and dashed on through the icy water, gave his officers orders to close up the rear and shoot the first man who refused to march. On reaching Sugar Camp, which was on the old John Deloria farm, about six miles south of town, between the Cathlinette and the New York Central railroad, the men were well nigh exhausted. Wet to the skin, frozen to the bone, and famished for food, even the sinewy, lion-hearted and steel- nerved backwoodsmen winced and wore a look of utter hopelessness, but
*An elevation on the east side of the Cathlinette, where the same is intersected by the St. Thomas road.
tWhile many of the writers are silent on this point, Winston Churchill in The Crossing, and Judge Law, in his Colonial History of Vincennes, tell rather a pretty story about the drummer boy. Clark speaks of the little fellow in his memoirs, from which no doubt Judge Law takes the picture. to which he adds his own coloring. He says : "In one of the companies was a small boy who acted as drummer. In the same company was a seargeant, standing six feet two inches in his stockings, stout, athletic, and devoted to Clark. Finding that his eloquence had no effect upon the men, in persuading them to continue their line of march, Clark mounted the little drum- mer on the shoulders of the stalwart seargeant, and gave orders to him to plunge into the half-frozen water. He did so, the little drummer beating his charge from his lofty perch, while Clark, sword in hand, followed them, giving the command as he threw aside the floating ice-'Forward!' Elated and amused with the scene, the men promptly obeyed, holding their rifles above their heads, and in spite of all obstacles, reached the high land beyond them safely."
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Clark was buoyant and hopeful and showed no sign of discouragement. The night was intensely cold and a thick coat of ice formed on the surface and along the edges of the still water, and from sheer exhaustion the men sank to sleep on the cold ground.
The most trying of all the ordeals with which the men had to contend was yet to come, when on the morning of the 23d they looked out from the little island upon Horse Shoe Plain, which the floods had converted into a lake four miles wide. It lay between Sugar Camp and Warrior's Island,* the only dry spot visible. The sun came above the eastern horizon with a brilliant glow and Clark, his face wreathed in smiles, told the men, in a burst of eloquence, that before the god of day sank in the west they would have attained the goal of their hopes and reached Vincennes. And without waiting to hear a response, he plunged into the water with a cheer, and his men took up the glad acclaim and followed him in Indian file. When a dozen or so of the more stalwart followers reached his side the water was breast high to him, and it showed no diminution in depth as they advanced towards the farther side. When the middle was reached, some of the men became so weakened from cold and exhaustion that the canoe men had to exercise the greatest dexterity in taking them aboard to save them from drowning. Those who were still able to stay on their feet clung to their stronger comrades in arms, Clark all the while infusing them with animation by encouraging words and the display of his hercu- lean strength. At a clump of woods, forming a sort of an island in the lake, the water became so deep that it reached to the shoulders of the tallest man, but to the limbs and bushes and drift and logs the weaker ones and those of lower stature could cling until rescued and taken in canoes to dry land. The more hardy fellows got to shore and built fires, and took care of the weaklings, many of whom fainted on landing, falling prone upon the icy ground, some with their faces in the water, who would have drowned had they not been rescued. To some of them the fire had no life-giving properties, and the only way they could be revived was to be taken up by the arms between two strong men who ran them up and down.
How opportune was the appearance of a canoe at this juncture, paddled by squaws, which was run down by one of the men in a dug-out. Besides the Indians, it contained a quarter of a buffalo, a saddle of venison, corn, tallow and an iron kettle. These articles seemed to have come to the starv- ing backwoodsmen through a providential act, and the owners parted withi them almost without protest, all of which made the broth, that was hastily prepared, taste all the better. There was plenty to go around, but the weaker ones were given their portions first. These morsels of food, which were the first the men had seen or partaken of in days, had an exhilarating
*Warrior's Island is an elevated piece of ground south of the residence of Jacob Kline, on the Cathlinette road, now covered by the barn lot.
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effect, and put them in a mood to laugh, jest and joke the same as they did immediately after crossing the Little Wabash. The rich broth, the bright sunshine and the thought of being so near their destination put them all in the most pleasant frame of mind they had found themselves since leaving Kaskaskia,
They were now within three miles of town, which was plainly visible from Warriors' Island, although the fort could not be seen. The plain that stretched from east to west between the town and the island was well covered with water, yet it contained many shallow places, and seemed to afford a gathering place for water-fowl, of which large numbers were noticeable. Observing a number of mounted horsemen with fowling- pieces, in quest of game, Clark sent out a trio of young Creole soldiers to bring in as a prisoner one of the hunters, which was soon accomplished. From the prisoner, who was a Frenchman, it was learned that neither Hamilton or any one else had the least suspicion of an attack being made on the fort at this season of the year; although just the day before two or three hundred warriors, supposedly British allies, had entered the town. Clark was not disposed to receive kindly the latter part of the hunter's information, since he opined that Hamilton's forces, including English, French and Indians, were five times more numerotts than his own. The odds were so heavy against him that the advantages of a surprise were greatly lessened, notwithstanding he had every assurance that his follow- ers would fight to the last ditch before they would take chances of capture and the subsequent torture, which was sure to come with defeat. "A thousand ideas," says Clark, "flashed in my head at that moment." His pet scheme-the surprise !- became a dubious proposition. He argued that if he were to take the populace unawares, in the fight that was to ensue some of the friendly French and *Indians might be killed and thus bitter enemies would be made of all the rest, for his captive had told him that the French were not at all loyal to the British and would not take up arms against the Long Knives unless forced to it. He resolved, therefore, to appear as bold and daring as possible, in order to give the enemy the impression that he had a band of soldiers who were both numerous and courageotis. Accordingly, he "determined to begin the career immediately, and wrote the following placard to the inhabitants," entrusting the hunter prisoner with its delivery :
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