History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 8

Author: Bradsby, Henry C
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : S.B. Nelson & co.
Number of Pages: 1032

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

that the Indians generally had left it, and at present all was quiet. We soon procured a sufficiency of vessels, the more in ease, to con- vey us across the river.

" With one of the divisions I marched to the fort and ordered the other two into different quarters of the town. If I met with no resistance at a certain signal, a general shout was to be given, and certain posts were to be immediately possessed, and men of each detachment who could speak the French language were to run through every street and proclaim what had happened, and inform the inhabitants that every person that appeared on the streets would be shot down. . This disposition had its desired effect. In

a very little time we had possession, and every avenue was guarded to prevent any escape to give the alarm to other villages in case of opposition. Various orders had been issued not worth mentioning, I don't suppose that greater silence ever reigned among the inhab- itants of a place than did at this at present; not a person to be seen, not a word to be heard by them for some time, but designedly the greatest noise kept up by our troops through every quarter of the town, and patrols continually the whole night around it, as inter- cepting any information was a capital object, and in about two hours the whole of the inhabitants were disarmed and informed that if one was taken attempting to make his escape he should be immediately put to deatlı."

This is the story in Gen. Clarke's own words of the capture of the British post of Kaskaskia-a bloodless but a great victory.

The next morning, July 5, some of the leading citizens were arrested and put in irons, and Gen. Clarke assumed the severest bearing toward the people. Soon the village priest, in company with several of the aged men, visited their supposed implacable conqueror, and begged that the people might be permitted once more to assemble in their church, and there to tell each other a final good-by. They expected to be separated as families, and many of the men put to death. The General consented, and the entire people in deepest misery assembled. At the close of the meeting a deputation was appointed to wait upon their conqueror to beg that they be not separated hopelessly from their families.

Matters had now reached the desired point, and Gen. Clarke from his assumed severity turned to the people in utmost kindness, liberated at once those arrested, and told every one they were at liberty to go and come at pleasure; that they were as free as ever they were and would not be wronged or even annoyed by his sol- diers. He then explained his conduct to them fully, and told them it was because they had been told such bloody stories about the rebels that he had come to undeceive them and that they would find in him and his men only good friends.

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

This conduct of the commander and the news to these French people of the alliance between the French and Americans, made the whole population gladly take the oath of allegiance to Virginia. Their arms were then restored to them and they regarded their con- querors as their liberators. Several of the citizens joined a detach- ment of Clarke's army that was sent on the expedition to take Caho- kia. The inhabitants of this village on hearing what had taken place at Kaskaskia gladly took the oath of allegiance.

Then Gen. Clarke turned his attention to capturing Post Vin- cennes. He sent for the Kaskaskia priest, Gibault, and had a con- ference with him on the subject. Vincennes was a part of the juris- diction of this churchman. The priest told him that he could capt- ure Vincennes with but little trouble-that the governor had gone to Detroit; that the place was a strong fort and that there were many Indians in that part, etc. But when the French or Indi- ans heard what had happened at Kaskaskia and how glad the peo- ple there were at the change that their sentiments would also change; that his (the priest's) appearance there would have great weight with the people and offered to go on a mission of winning over the people, he only asked that another person might accom- pany him and take charge of the temporal affairs of the expedition, etc. Gibault, with Dr. Lafont, was at once sent to Vincennes.

This mission of the representative of the church and the army was completely successful. Upon their arrival at Vincennes they spent a day or two explaining matters to the people, and all readily assented to their proposals. The few emissaries left by Abbot at once left, when the whole population took the oath of allegiance. They elected officers, displayed the American flag to the astonished Indians, and all was happily settled. Thus all this part of Indiana thus peacefully ceased to be British and became citizens of the United States. They informed the Indians that their father, the king of France, was come to life again and was mad at them for fighting for the British; advised them to make peace with the Americans, otherwise they might expect the land to flow with blood. This language from their ancient friends of the Wabash had a most beneficial effect upon the red men.

Gen. Clarke awaited the return and the report of Gibault and party with keenest interest, and when it came was overjoyed. He was the bloodless conqueror of a great country in the wilderness with no instructions what next to do. He never hesitated, but pro- ceeded to organize and strengthen the new order of affairs.

He sent Capt. Leonard Helm to take command of Vincennes. This was the first governor of the State of which Vigo county is a part, under the authority of the United States. Soon after Capt. Helm's arrival the whole of the Indian tribes along the Wabaslı

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

went to Vincennes and made their allegiance to the American cause.

Gen. Clarke had soon made a treaty of peace with all the Illinois and Wabash Indians to the lakes, and had effectually conquered and possessed all this country.

When Gov. Henry received full information of Clarke's success the general assembly of the State of Virginia, in October, 1778, passed an act, of which the following is an extract: " All the citi- zens of the commonwealth of Virginia, who are already settled or shall hereafter settle on the western side of the Ohio, shall be in- cluded in a distinct county, which shall be called Illinois County; and the governor of this commonwealth, witli the advice of the council, may appoint a county lieutenant or commandant-in-chief in that county during pleasure who shall appoint and commission so many deputy commandants, militia officers and commissaries, as he shall think proper in the different districts during pleasure, etc. And all civil officers to which the inhabitants have been accus- tomed necessary for the preservation of the peace and the adminis- tration of justice shall be chosen by a majority of the citizens in their respective districts, to be convened for that purpose by the county lieutenant or commandant or his deputy, and shall be com- missioned by the said county lieutenant or commandant-in-chief."

If the city of Terre Haute had then been in existence it would have been in Illinois county, Va., and a lot of declared rebels, and for the first time living under the authority represented by the stars and stripes. However before the provision of Gov. Henry's law for Illinois county liad been fully put into effect, the British commander at Detroit raised an army and passed down the Wabash to recover Vincennes and Kaskaskia. He had thirty regulars, fifty French volunteers and 400 Indians. Thus Vigo county was an actual part of the marching armies of the Revolution. The British army was here, but there were then no curious school children to rush down to the river's bank and cheer for Washington and Gen. Clarke. They proba- bly stopped at the Indian village and tried to induce the Indians to go with them to war. The English army reached Vincennes Decem- ber 15, 1778. The entire army to guard that post was Capt. Helm and his single man-of-all-work. Nothing daunted, the brave captain shotted to the muzzle his one little old cannon, wheeled it out on tlie embrasure and threatened to blow the English army back into the lakes or to the general bow-wows, he didn't care which. A flag was sent to him and a surrender demanded. This he positively refused. After more visiting he finally agreed to surrender only with the honors of war-retaining his side arms and all the other perquisites belonging even to the greatest army and soldiers. He had talked so bravely that the British were doubtful of the attack

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

and granted him the most liberal terms. When they entered and demanded he turn over his force, their amazement may be imagined when he and his one man stood up to be inspected and catalogued.

When this news reached Gen. Clarke he was aware that the British had determined to recapture all his prizes and drive him out of the Illinois. Knowing that the British army would soon continue on their march from Vincennes to Kaskaskia, this great soldier took steps to anticipate the English, and instead of waiting for them to come and attack him, he would go to them and capture them. His plans were immediately formed. He sent a portion of his force by boat, called " The Willing," with instructions to Capt. Rogers to proceed down the Mississippi, up the Ohio and Wabash and secrete himself a few miles below Vincennes and prohibit all persons from passing up or down. With the other part of his force he moved across now Illinois through the wet prairies, swamps and marshes and swollen streams (in February), and the whole . country was flooded with rains and melting snow, and he, after a severe march of many days, reached the Wabash near where is now St. Francisville, where, after wading for miles through the bot- toms, they crossed the river and marched down in the rear of Vin- cennes, reaching this point just before daybreak. So secret and rapid had been Clarke's movements that Gen. Hamilton had had no notice of his having left Kaskaskia. The noted Indian, the son of Tobacco, and who was widely known as "The Door of the Wabash," had joined Gen. Clarke with a force of 100 warriors of the Pianka- shaws. Gen. Clarke declined this friendly offer with thanks, and informed the Indians his force was sufficient.

The fort was at once invested and a galling fire poured upon the gunners. The town had immediately surrendered to Gen. Clarke with joy. After some sharp fighting the fort offered to surrender with terms-after the fashion of Capt. Helm. The offer was refused, when Hamilton and Clarke met in conferenoe, and in the afternoon of February 24, 1779, the fort and garrison, consisting of seventy- five men, surrendered at discretion, Hamilton and his whole force were made prisoners of war. This ended the struggle of war be- tween the English and Americans for the possession of this terri- tory, and the authority of Virginia was again re-established over all the northwest.

The expedition of Gen. Clarke to capture Vincennes gave rise to the train of circumstances that gave Vigo county its name, the particulars of which are given in the biographical sketch of Col. Vigo, in another part of this work.

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

CHAPTER V.

COLONEL FRANCIS VIGO.

TT was stated in the preceding chapter that it was one of the circumstances and men intimately connected with the fortunes of the remarkable expedition of Gen. George Rogers Clarke, who has often been called "The Hannibal of the Northwest," that most appropriately resulted in giving this county its name.

It has already been told how Gen. Clarke pushed out in the bold enterprise with less than 150 men to capture Kaskaskia and Vin- cennes, that were then British military posts, and by virtue of which they were holding as conquerers the northwest, or all that empire of wealth that is in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michi- gan. And further the expedition and capture of Kaskaskia and Vincennes has been described, and then how the British General Hamilton came from Detroit down the Wabash river and recaptured Vincennes, and tore down the American flag and raised that of England.

Gen. Clarke knew of the loss of Vincennes. This was a terrible blow to him, and he could hope for so little succor from Virginia that his dilemma grew more and more perplexing. In this condi- tion of affairs he remained until January 29, 1779, when he was suddenly and happily relieved by the unexpected appearance of Col. Francis Vigo. This circumstance and its attendant results was the auspicious moment that linked forever so intimately his memory and name to the history of Vigo county. The people of the mag- nificent county that bears so proudly his name will some day observe January 29 as the recurring anniversary of the first meeting of Clarke and Vigo, now one hundred and eleven years ago.

These men were necessary to each other; they were necessary to that greatest era in all human affairs, and it is permitted now to us to look back over the more than one hundred years that have passed, and to see some of the results that were made possible by the time- ly conjunction of these two men's lives. Without the auspicious meeting of these men, in the very heat of the struggle for independ- ence, the Union would have been a feeble republic, skirting the Atlantic shores and running west to the Mississippi, and its north- ern line would have been the Ohio river, whose banks would have been lined with spies and hostile officials, to prevent that natural

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

flow of trade, commerce and those unrestricted friendly relations so imperative to the people on both sides. The power and arrogance of England would have remained supreme on our continent, and the permanent effect of our Revolution, not only on us but on mankind, there is but little doubt, would have been radically differ- ent from what it really was.

Francis Vigo was a Sardinian, born in Mondovi, in 1740. He left his home when a youth, and joined a Spanish regiment, with which he went first to Havana, and thence to New Orleans, then a province of Spain. In a short time he left the service, and became a trader among the Indians, as an employe of some capitalists of New Orleans. He made his way up the Mississippi and to St. Louis, where he soon engaged in the fur trade for himself, and then was interested in the business with Gov. de Leyba. From St. Louis he traveled and traded with the Indians, both east and west, and was favorably known to many of them. He understood the Indian character well, as is evidenced by his reply to Gen. Clarke, when he inquired of him how to win the red man's favor: "Always tell them the truth and they will tell you the truth." In other words, it was as true of the savage as the white man: Honesty is always the best policy.

When Vigo realized the danger threatened to Gen. Clarke and his army, by the re-capture of Vincennes by the British, he at once left his business, and went to Kaskaskia, to aid all he could in the cause of American independence, where he arrived on the day above mentioned, and at once tendered his services. Clarke commissioned him to go to Vincennes, observe and report as often as possible the exact condition of affairs. Taking with him one servant, he started at once across the Illinois country. When he had reached the Em- barrass river, and had gone into camp on its banks, he was captured by a band of hostile Indians, under command of a British officer, and carried to Vincennes and delivered to Gen. Hamilton, charged with being a spy. On his way he ate the paper that would have convicted him of the charge, and thus destroyed all evidences of guilt. He was held on parole at the fort, simply being required to report to the commander each day. The pure and gentle priest, Father Gibault, who had been chiefly instrumental in securing to Gen. Clarke the post of Vincennes, was then at Vincennes, and deeply interested in the welfare of Vigo. He had made every endeavor to secure his liberation, and finally, one Sunday morning in January, he, after church services, went to the fort, at the head of his parish- ioners, and informed Hamilton that they would furnish no more supplies to the garrison until Vigo was released. Hamilton, it seems, was a fair and just man. He had failed to find any evidence against the prisoner, and realized that he could not forfeit the good-

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

will of the villagers. . Vigo claimed that he was a Spanish subject, and as a merchant he had a right to travel among the Indians not hostile, and to trade with them, not giving aid or comfort to the enemy. Hamilton had from the first offered to release the prisoner on parole, but these terms Vigo had refused. But upon the repre- sentation of the villagers, under Father Gibault, he did release him with no other condition than that he should "not do anything injurious to the British interests on his way to St. Louis." "' Vigo at once embarked, with two companions, and in all haste passed down the Wabash, down the Ohio, and then up the river to St. Louis. Reaching this point as quickly as possible, he had fulfilled his terms of release to Hamilton. In haste he changed his apparel, and without stopping to refresh himself, was again in his canoe, and swiftly going down the river on his way to Kaskaskia, where he un- folded to Clarke the exact situation of affairs at Vincennes. It was this information that quickly determined the movements of the general, and resulted, as related in the previous chapter, of the expedition that captured Hamilton and made the British army pris- oners of war. The inside history that enabled Clarke to make this important expedition was what passed chiefly between Vigo and Clarke. This was the generous offer of Vigo to furnish all the money he could spare to enable the general to organize and lead his forces to Vincennes. The situation was desperate. Clarke could execute and Vigo could provide ways and means. The one was as essential to the enterprise as the other, and each was ready to fling the gauntlet in the face of fate. He at once placed a large amount of money in Clarke's hands, and this induced the French merchants to contribute liberally. Clarke gave to Vigo four drafts on the financial agent of Virginia, O. Pollock, then at New Orleans, in all amounting to $11,387.40. All knew that it was doubtful if these drafts would be promptly paid on sight, for all understood the dis- tress of the government for means to supply its armies and carry on the war. But no one could believe that payment would be delayed a moment after payment became possible.

For the credit of the American character for honesty and grati- tude the history of its treatment of Father Gibault, Gen. Clarke, Francis Vigo, and the French merchants who made the sacrifices that brought our countrymen so much, should be written in the sand or on the water. And of all these the cases of Clarke, Vigo and Gibault will forever stand the most conspicuous, and Marshall in his Life of Washington is of the opinion that of these cases of ingratitude and neglect " that of Francis Vigo was the worst of all." His services, outside of the money advanced, were great and daring. He was widely known as "the Spanish Merchant;" he was robbed of a valuable horse, $500 in money, and other valuables when cap-

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

tured as a spy, and after he had advanced the money, being a wealthy man, had made no hurry to get his dues from Virginia. In 1788 he met O. Pollock in Pennsylvania, and the second time pay- ment was refused for "the want of funds." The agent could only advise him to keep his drafts, as they would be paid " some time or other." Vigo in time, being hard pressed, sold the smaller drafts at a discount of eighty per cent, but held the large one $8,616, until 1799, when in his extremity he handed it to Judge Burnet and Arthur St. Clair, Jr., for collection. Not a move was made even looking toward the payment for more than the third of a century. With his other misfortunes about that time Vigo was overtaken with sickness that confined him to his house for a space of five years, and during that time his business became so deranged that he was reduced to utter poverty.

Col. Vigo had continued his valuable public services after the conquests of Clarke. He understood the Indian character well, was respected by these forest children, and in him they placed implicit reliance. He was often sent on important missions, and his integ- rity and ripe judgment were never at fault. He was appointed col- onel, and was in command at Vincennes. He was the principal and trusted agent to visit the Indians and adjust matters between them and the whites. In all the years he mixed and had dealings with them they never mistrusted him, never doubted his word or his friendship, and they would not deceive him.

In 1802 he and Gov. Harrison were elected delegates to the In- diana Territorial convention. These were the principal leading, public-spirited men at that time in this important body, whose coun- sels were as valuable as had been their actions in the preceding bloody dramas. July 20, 1790, Gen. Knox, then secretary of war, addressed a letter to him, expressing the thanks of the President and his own appreciation of the valuable services he had rendered to the country and his zeal for the public welfare, making especial mention of the services rendered to Maj. Doughty, Maj. Ham- tranck and Gen. Harmar. And in December of the same year the secretary of war addressed another letter to him again thanking him " for other and distinguished services."

When past middle life, Francis Vigo married Miss Shannon, whose father was a settler on the Wabash, a little below Vincennes in 1784, from Maryland. All the family were massacred by In- dians except Mrs. Vigo, two sisters and a brother, who were at the time fortunately absent at Vincennes. No issue was born of this marriage.

The nineteenth century dawned upon a free and happy country- peace, with all its blessings, had come. The wounds of war were healed, and the air was vocal with the songs of brightening cheer

HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

and hope. At this hour, at his home in Vincennes, was the poverty- stricken invalid, with no hope for the future save that of an abiding faith in the ultimate justice of his adopted country, for which he had done so much and for which he had sacrificed all. His attor- neys pressed his claim, and, no doubt, contrary to his wishes, told in glowing terms of his labors and sacrifices, and of his necessities that urged him ever to press his claims. His attorneys were active, and his friends who knew him best were earnest in his assistance and pleading for justice to the poor old broken man. They bore willing testimony to his good name and great deeds, and begged for justice. In 1834 President Harrison wrote:

"I have been acquainted with Col. Francis Vigo, of Vincennes, for thirty-nine years, and during the thirteen years I was governor of Indiana I lived in the same town with him, and upon terms of the most intimate friendship With reference to his credibility, I solemnly declare I believe him utterly incapable of making a mis- representation of the facts, however great may be his interests in the matter; and I am also confident that there are more respecta- ble persons in Indiana who would become the guarantees of his in- tegrity than could be induced to lie under a similar responsibility to any other person. His whole life, as long as his circumstances were prosperous, was spent in acts of kindness and benevolence to individuals, and his public spirit and attachment to the institutions of our country were proverbial."

Gen. Clarke, date August 1, 1811, addressed a letter to Col. Vigo, in which occurs the following :

" A letter from a man who has always occupied a distinguished place in my affection and esteem must insure the warmest and most cordial reception; an affection, the result, not so much of being associated in the placid stream of tranquility and the benign sun- shine of peace, as companions amidst the din of war and those struggles where the indefatigable exertion of every muscle and nerve were demanded. But it may be enough to remark that while one is the effect of your uniformly discreet and irreproachable con- duct in the intricate paths of civil and domestic life, the other is wrought by a strong sense of that gratitude due from your adopted country, having myself both witnessed and experienced the signal advantages flowing to our common country from your inestimable conduct; and what is more enhancing to such services, having ren- dered them at a time when under the cloud on which fate assumed the most menacing aspect."

John Badolet, register of the land office at Vincennes, in a communication, testified as to his knowledge of Col. Vigo, and of his high sense of honor: "If the alternative were presented him of receiving a large pecuniary recompense for his inestimable services

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History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 8

Author: Bradsby, Henry C Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago : S.B. Nelson & co. Number of Pages: 1032

Author: Bradsby, Henry C
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : S.B. Nelson & co.
Number of Pages: 1032