USA > Indiana > Knox County > Vincennes > History of Old Vincennes and Knox County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 25
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"To the Inhabitants of Post Vincennes.
"GENTLEMEN : Being now within two miles of your village with my army, deter- mined to take your fort this night, and not being willing to surprise you, I take this method to request such of you as are true citizens and willing to enjoy the liberty I bring you to remain still in your houses. And those, if any there be that are friends to the King will instantly repair to the fort and join the hair-buyer General and fight
*"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's Memoirs.]
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like men. And if any such as do not go to the fort shall be discovered afterwards they may depend on severe punishment. On the contrary those who are true friends to liberty may depend on being well treated; and I once more request them to keep out of the streets. For every one I shall find in arms on my arrival I shall treat him as an enemy.
"G. R. CLARK."
After the messenger had departed Clark marshaled his forces as one company, marched down the Cathlinette road until a point through which the city ditch now runs was reached, when the column veered to the east and south, and following the higher ridges marched to the thill whereon the brick house of William Brevoort is located, southeast of the city cem- etery. Here the men rested, dried their powder and clothing and got their long-barreled rifles in trim. Saplings were cut and the vari-colored flags the Creole girls had given the troops on their departure from Kaskaskia were fastened on poles held high in the air to deceive the townspeople into the belief that a dozen or more companies had assembled on the hill, the rapidly-gathering dusk aiding in the deception. In the falling shades of evening the descent of the hill was made and the troops were drawn up in line at the foot of Tenth street, where the same intersects Willow, and two divisions consisting of two companies each was formed, Clark assuming charge of one division and Bowman the other. Clark's final instructions to the men were to maintain perfect silence, march with regularity and obey their superiors. Captain Charleville, who was with Clark's detach- ment, proceeded with his men along Willow street to Sixth, thence to Vigo, thence to Ninth. Bowman, with whom were Captains McCarthy and Worthington, proceeded up Tenth street to Church, thence to Sixth; and Clark, who entered Sixth from Willow, marched up Sixth to Dubois, to Fifth, and to Barnet.
fIt is as much an error for writers to claim that Clark marched his men to Bun- ker Hill as it is to aver hie crossed the Wabash near the mouth of the Embarrass. Had he gained the eastern shore of the Wabash nearly opposite the Embarrass it is not likely that he would have gotten anywhere near Horse Shoe Plain or Warrior's Island. The route followed by Clark and his men on this side of the Wabash was pointed out to the writer by Mr. W. H. Brevoort, on a bright afternoon of last December, after Mr. Ike Henderson had placed his touring car at our disposal. While it differs in some respects from accounts hitherto published, it is probably nearer correct than any of the others. Mr. Brevoort has studied the route, which he learned from the older descend- ants of the first French settlers who were here forty-five years ago when he came to Knox County. He says he has surveyed the territory in the height of the greatest floods, taken mental observations of the land when it was completely inundated, and that it would have been impossible for Clark at that time to have followed any other route than the one we have attempted to describe. Another fallacy, not quite as popular today, however, as it was years ago, is that when Clark left the Cathlinette road at the city ditch he proceeded in a circuitous course to Sugar Loaf Mound, which he encircled with his marching troops, Indian file, to give the impression to the townspeople of the numerical superiority of his forces. This would have certainly been a ridiculous move, inasmuch as the Sugar Loaf could not be seen from the site which the town then occupied.
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At eight o'clock that night Clark gave Lieutenant Bagley fourteen picked men with instructions to march directly under the fort and open fire upon its port-holes. This was a signal for all the commands to move. Charlesville, who had come double-quick, sheltered his men behind houses in the rear of the fort and fired a volley into the barracks. Bowman brought his command to the river front at the foot of Main street. Lieuten- ant Bagley, having been re-enforced, now opened fire upon both the rear and front of the fort. The garrison, thinking that the fusillade was the prank of some drunken Indians, gave no response. A moment later a British soldier, pierced by a rifle-ball, fell dead at a port-hole. Then, it was that Captain Helm, a British prisoner, engaged in pleasant conversa- tion with Hamilton, rose suddenly from his seat with an oath and exclaimed, "By the eternal, that's Clark." Immediately Hamilton gave orders to beat the drums, and as the long roll of alarm was sounded the men scampered from the barracks across the parade towards the fort, the sure-shot back- woodsmen and Charleville's French volunteers, who had been joined by quite a number of young men of the village, dropping several in their tracks as they ran.
Immediately upon Clark's entry quite a number of the Indians, who were there by IIamilton's invitation, left town. Some Kickapoos and Piankeshaws, however, to the number of about one hundred remained, armed themselves and volunteered their services to the Americans which were promplty declined with thanks, the colonel informing the friendly red skins that all he asked of them was to occupy neutral ground. The Indians vied with the French in their admiration for the bold Virginians.
Nearly all of the Creole inhabitants were overjoyed at Clark's arrival and rendered him every assistance. Major Busseron and Colonel La Gras replenished his scanty stock of ammunition by supplying the troops with powder and ball, which they had buried on learning of Hamilton's approach. Tobacco, the Indian chief, mustered thirty of his warriors to fight with the Long Knives, and begged Clark to "let these young men go to the front : they will climb in." But Clark, while expressing himself as grateful, refused to accept the proffered assistance, explaining to the chief that there were a great many Indian enemies in and near the town, and in the darkness confusion was likely to occur; that he hoped, however, the chief would give him his company and counsel during the night, to which Tobacco readily assented. The women busied themselves in supply- ing food for the famished Americans, who were not, however, permitted to partake thereof until the next morning, when they had breakfast "in the street behind the church, the first food," says Clark, which "the men had tasted for two days."
Notwithstanding a small detachment of the American troops had been detailed to guard against any relief from without, while the remainder were devoting their attention to a concerted attack on the fort, Hamilton's scouting party sent out the night before to ascertain the cause of Clark's
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camp-fires, crept in unobserved, lay in an old barn all night and before daylight next morning rushed into the fort unharmed. The firing was kept up almost incessantly all night long. The heavy artillery of the fort shattered some of the houses, but did no damage to the wily backwoods- men, who sought protection behind cabins, palings, ditches and the banks of the river. At one o'clock the moon sank to rest, and taking advantage of the darkness Clark threw up an earthen embankment within rifle shot of the strongest battery, which comprised two guns. All of the cannon and swivels in the fort were planted on embrasures at a height of about eleven feet from the ground and occupied the block-houses forming the angles of the palisaded enclosure. Clark had no cannon, having been forced to abandon his artillery on the march shortly after leaving Kaskas- kia. Bowman, in anticipation of the arrival of artillery on the Willing, began some works near Vigo street for the purpose of blowing up the fort's magazine. Clark had determined, if the vessel did not arrive before the following night, to undermine the fort, selecting the spot and perfecting plans for the execution of the work.
The British had become painfully aware of the unerring aim of the backwoods riflemen before the battle had progressed far. Eight of Hamil- ton's men had been picked through one loop-hole before the cannon had been fired thrice. The embrasures of the cannon were frequently shut as the riflemen poured such volleys into them that the gunners could not stand the fire. The Americans by taunts and jeers sought to make the British open their ports and fire their cannon that they might have the pleasure of cutting them down, and the instant a port flew open forty long- barreled rifles were levelled at the opening. The Americans lay within thirty yards of the walls of the fortress and had the British stood courage- ously at their posts, "I believe," says Clark, "the greater part of them would have been destroyed in the course of the night."
The methods adopted by the backwoodsmen mystified as well as alarmed the British. "Sometimes an irregular fire, as hot as possible," says Clark, "was kept up from different directions for a few minutes, and then only a continual scattering fire at the ports as usual ; and a great noise and laughter immediately commenced in different parts of the town, by the reserved parties, as if they had only fired on the fott a few minutes for amusement; and as if those firing at the fort were only regularly relieved. Conduct similar to this kept the garrison in constant alarm. they did not know what moment they might be stormed or blown up, as they could plainly see that we had flung up some intrenchments across the streets and appeared to be frequently busy under the bank of the river, which was within thirty feet of the walls of the fort."
At daylight on the morning of the 24th, taking advantage of an opening, the riflemen from the entrenchments sent a perfect hail of shot into the loop-holes of the battery and completely silenced both guns, mortally wounding one of the gunners. Soon after the troops were withdrawn
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from their positions about the fort, with the exception of a few sharp- shooters, who were kept to take observations, and the firing practically ceased.
Captain Lamothe, Hamilton's right-hand man, who had been out in charge of an Indian foray party, was hovering around, awaiting an oppor- tunity to make his way good into the fort, and had evaded the clutches of a searching party, who suceeded in capturing several of his companions, of whom one was Francois Maisonville, a famous Indian partisan. The two young men who effected his capture during the storming of the fort, tied him to a post in the street and fought from behind him as a breast- work-supposing the enemy would not fire at them for fear of killing him, as he would alarm them by his voice. Discovered by an officer while thus amusing themselves, the young men were ordered to untie the prisoner and take him to the guard, which they did; but were cruel enough to take part of his scalp on the way. But aside from this no damage was done him.
Clark was anxious to get Lamothe in his grasp and feared if the British officer found he could not get in the fort he would go out and do more proselyting with the Indians. "Finding that without some unforseen acci- dent," says Clark, "the fort must inevitably be ours, and that a reinforce- ment of twenty men, although considerable to them, would not be of great moment to us in the present situation of affairs, and knowing that we had weakened them by killing or wounding many of their gunners, after some consideration we concluded to risk the reinforcement in preference of his going again among the Indians." Orders were therefore given in case of his approach not to fire on him, without a certainty of killing or capturing the whole party. In less than a quarter of an hour he passed within ten feet of an officer and some soldiers who lay concealed. "Ladders were flung over to them," relates Clark, "and as they mounted them our party shouted. Many 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." And Clark took the cheerful unction to his soul that by him allowing Lamothe and his followers to scale the fort walls without molestation the British would think him indifferent as to the men compos- ing it or the size of their garrison.
No sooner had Lamothe and his friends been safely ensconced behind the walls of the fortress than there came boldly marching into town another band of Hamilton's murderous Indians, who had been out on a scalping expedition towards the Kentucky frontiers, bringing back many trophies of their bloody work. They had not heard of the turn affairs had taken at the Old Post, and scarcely before they realized it were in the hands of Clark's avenging backwoodsmen. Two Frenchmen were discovered among the number taken prisoners. One of these happened to be the son of a lieutenant in one of Clark's companies, and after the father and his friends had pleaded piteously for the young man's release he and his col-
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league were allowed to go. Clark had resolved, however, to make a dread- ful example of the six Indian captives, both for the purpose of striking terror to the hearts of the hostile red skins and to illustrate the powerless- ness of the English to protect their savage allies; and he had them led in full view of the fort, where they were tomahawked and their hapless bodies thrown into the river-a spectacle which the garrison failed to enjoy.
This performance called for a restimption of hostilities, which had suffered temporary suspension-the firing commencing simultaneously on both sides with renewed vigor; and "more noise," says Clark, "could not have been made by the same number of men; their shouts could not be heard for the fire arms, and a continual blaze was kept around the garri- son. A loop-hole could scarcely be darkened but a rifle ball would pass through it. To have stood to their cannon would 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."
It was about nine o'clock of the morning of the 24th when the bom- bardment ceased. A survey of the field showed that the attacking party, in spite of the heavy artillery and musketry of the defenders, had suffered but little, having lost but one man and four wounded, although some of the houses near the fort were demolished by cannon balls. The British loss was seven or eight killed or wounded. Learning that the two prisoners brought into the fort the day before had a large quantity of letters on their persons. Clark says, "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 be destroyed to prevent which I sent a flag (with a letter) demanding the garrison." The letter, which was addressed to Lieutenant Governor Henry Hamilton, reads as follows :
"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., 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 heaven! if you do, there shall be no mercy shown you.
G. R. CLARK."
In answer to the foregoing the British commandant immediately returned the following reply :
"Lieutenant Governor Hamilton begs leave to acquaint Col. Clark that he and his garrison are not disposed to be awed into any action unworthy British subjects."
The order was again given the Americans to open fire, and the exchange of shots between the contending forces became spirited and was kept up for quite a while, during which period Clark found it necessary to caution his men, who had been animated by Hamilton's rejoinder to his message
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to not venture too far beyond the danger line. Bullets were sent whizzing into every crack discernible about the fort, which led Bowman to exult- antly remark, "Fine sport for the sons of Liberty." The sharpshooters were steadily advancing towards the stockade, precluding all possibility of the defenders standing near the embrasures, and a dozen British soldiers lay fatally wounded within the inclosure. The silence of the batteries made the crack of the long rifles grate harsher on the British ears, and there were evidences of disconcerted action within the fort. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon Hamilton ran up a flag of truce and sent a messenger to Clark with the following proposal :
"Lieutenant Governor Hamilton proposes to Colonel Clark a truce for three days, during which time he proposes there shall be no defensive works carried 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 two, and another person mutually agreed upon to be present, shall remain secret till matters be finished ; as he wishes, that whatever 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 Hamilton will speak to him by the gate.
"February 24, 1779.
HENRY HAMILTON."
Clark was at a "loss to conceive what reason Lieutenant Governor Hamilton could have for wishing a truce of three days, on such terms as he proposed." Some had suggested to the Virginia colonel that it was a scheme to entrap and take him prisoner, which he would not entertain, for the reason he argued, that such an act on Hamilton's part "would infallibly ruin him." Notwithstanding he had every reason to expect reinforce- ments within three days, which would virtually mean the end of the siege, he did not think it the better part of valor to agree to such a proposal, and immediately had conveyed to Hamilton the following answer :
"Colonel Clark's compliments to Lieutenant Governor Hamilton, and begs leave to inform him that he will not agree to any terms, other than Mr. Hamilton's surren- dering 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 Helm. "February 24, 1779.
G. R. C."
The conference was accordingly held at the church, where four months before Father Gibault had induced the natives to oppose the cause Hamil- ton espoused. Hamilton was attended by Major Hay, British superintend- ent of Indian affairs; Clark was accompanied by Major Bowman; and Captain Helm, still a British prisoner, was mutually agreed upon as a witness. Hamilton produced terms of capitulation, already signed, the articles of which provided that the garrison should be surrendered on con- dition that the officers and men be allowed to go to Pensacola on parole. After deliberating on each article separately the whole was rejected by Clark, who was then asked to make a proposition. He replied that he had none to offer other than the one already made-that Hamilton and his Vol. 1-14
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men surrender as prisoners at discretion. Telling Hamilton that his troops had behaved with spirit, but that they should not suppose they would be worse treated in consequence of it, it were far better for him, though hard it seemed, to comply with the request. "You," said Clark, addressing Hamilton, "must be sensible that the garrison will fall; and both of us must view all blood spilt in the future by the garrison as murder." Clark's men it seems were thirsting for British gore, for the commander declares that "my troops were already impatient, and called aloud for permission to tear down and storm the fort. If such a step were taken many of course would be cut down; and the result of an enraged body of woodsmen breaking in must be obvious to him. It would be out of the power of an American officer to save a single man. Various altercations took place for a considerable time. Captain Helm attempted to moderate our fixed determination. I told him he was a British prisoner and it was doubtful whether or not he could with propriety speak on the subject." Hamilton thereupon interrupted with the remark that "Captain Helm is from this moment liberated and may use his own pleasure." "Upon no such terms will I receive him," said Clark; "he must return to the garrison and await his fate." And with these words, Clark told Hamilton that hostilities should not commence until five minutes after the drums were sounded. And thus ended the conference.
The party had only proceeded a few steps outside the church door and were on the eve of parting when Hamilton stopped suddenly, saluted Clark and asked him politely if he would be kind enough to give his reasons for refusing to grant the garrison any other than the proposed terms. Clark, as if glad of the opportunity, gave his reasons in an elevated tone of voice in which he took occasion to let Hamilton know that he knew the greater part of the principal Indian partisans of Detroit were with him, and that he wanted an excuse to put them to death or subject them to such other treatment their conduct merited. "The cries of the widows and the father- less on the frontiers, which they had occasioned, now require their blood from my hands," spoke Clark, "and I do not choose to be so timorous as to disobey the absolute commands of their authority, which I look upon to be next to divine; and I would rather lose fifty men rather than not to empower myself to execute this piece of business with propriety." Clark further told Hamilton that if he choose to risk the garrison for the sake of these murderers it was his own pleasure, and that if Hamilton persisted, he "might perhaps take it into his head to send for some of those widows to see justice executed."
Major Hay, who had been an attentive listener, wore a look of dis- trust on his countenance all the while Clark was speaking, and at the con- clusion of the remarks hesitatingly enquired, "Pray, sir, who is it that you call Indian partisans?" "Sir," promptly replied Clark, "I take Major Hay to be one of the principal." Abashed, pale and trembling, Hay skulked back at this last remark, Hamilton blushed a deep crimson, and the features
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of Bowman's face betrayed the disdain he felt for the one and the sorrow he experienced for the other. For a moment the little group stood in silence, and in that moment sympathy, provoked by Hamilton's humilation, softened Clark's heart, and the attitude of the Virginia colonel towards the British general was completely changed. Clark then told Hamilton, in a softer tone of voice than he had yet spoken, that they would return to their respective posts, where the matters discussed at the conference would be reconsidered and the results attained subsequently made known; that in the meantime no offensive measures should be adopted by either side. The agreement being mutual, the officers parted, to meet again in the afternoon, when previous resolutions were modified, the following articles duly signed, and the garrison capitulated :
I. Lieutenant Governor Hamilton engages to deliver up to Colonel Clark Fort Sackville as it is at present with all the stores, etc.
II. The garrison are to deliver themselves as prisoners of war, and march out with their arms, accoutrements, etc.
III. The garrison to be delivered up at ten o'clock to-morrow.
IV. Three days' time to be allowed the garrison to settle their accounts with the inhabitants and traders of this place.
V. The officers of the garrison to be allowed their necessary baggage, etc. Signed at Post St. Vincent [Vincennes] 24th of Feby., 1779.
Agreed for the following reasons: The remoteness from succor; the state and quantity of provisions, etc .; unanimity of officers and men in its expediency ; the hon- orable terms allowed; and, lastly, the confidence in a generous enemy.
HENRY HAMILTON. Lt. Gov. and Superintendent.
In compliance with the articles of capitulation on the morning of the 25th, at the hour appointed, Lieutenant Governor Hamilton and his gar- rison, consisting of seventy-nine men, filed out of the fort past the com- panies of Bowman and McCarthy, while Captains Williams and Worthing- ton, at the head of their respective companies, passed inside, relieved the sentries, hoisted the American colors and took possession of all the arms. Thirteen guns were fired as a national salute and as a signal for a general jubilation, in the midst of which, unfortunately, by the premature explo- sion of a box of cartridges belonging to one of the batteries Bowman, Worthington and four privates were seriously injured. As a mark of respect to the patriotic governor of Virginia, by whose grace Clark was enabled to formulate his plans for the conquest of the Northwest Terri- tory, the name of the fort was changed from Sackville to Fort Patrick Henry.
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