USA > Indiana > Pioneer history of Indiana : including stories, incidents, and customs of the early settlers > Part 3
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"At length the Captain was summoned to the Indian Council and informed by Tobacco that he had maturely con- sidered the case in hand and had had the nature of the war between us and the English explained to their satisfaction. As we spoke the same language and appeared to be the same people, he always thought that Big Knife was in the dark of it, but now that the sky was cleared up he found that Big Knife was in the right. Perhaps. he said, if the English conquered they would serve them in the same manner that they intended to serve us. He told the Captain that his ideas- were quite changed and that he would tell all the Red people on the Wabash to bloody the land no more for the English. He jumped up, struck his breast, called himself a man and a. warrior; said that now he was a Big Knife and took Captain Helm by the hand. His example was followed by all present and the evening was spent in merriment. Thus ended this valuable negotiation and the saving of much blood. In a. short time almost all of the various tribes of the different nations on the Wabash as high up as the Ouiatenon, came to Post Vincennes and followed the example of the Grand Door chief, and as expresses were continually passing between Cap- tain Helm and myself, during the entire time of these treaties,
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the business was settled perfectly to my satisfaction and greatly to the advantage of the public."
Governor Henry soon received intelligence of the success- ful progress of the expedition under the command of Colonel Clark. The French inhabitants of the village of Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Post Vincennes, having taken the oath of allegi- ance to the state of Virginia, the General Assembly of that state in 1778 passed an act which contained the following provisions, viz :- "All the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia who are already settled or shall hereafter settle on the western side of the Ohio, shall be included in the district county which shall be called Illinois county and the Governor of this Commonwealth, with the advice of the Council, may appoint a County Lieutenant or a Commander in Chief in that county during pleasure, who shall appoint and commission so many Deputy Commandants of military officers and commis- sioners as he shall think proper in the different districts dur- ing pleasure; all of whom, before they enter into office, shall take the oath of fidelity to this Commonwealth and the oath of office according to the forms of their religion; and all the civil officers which the inhabitants have been accustomed to, necessary for the preservation of peace and the administration 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 commissioned by the said County Lieutenant or Commander in Chief."
Before the provisions of this law were carried into effect, Henry Hamilton, the British Lieutenant Governor of Detroit, collected an army consisting of about thirty regulars, fifty French volunteers and four hundred Indians. With this force he passed down the Wabash and took possession of Post Vincennes on the fifteenth of December, 1778. No attempt was made by the population to defend the town. Captain Helm was taken and detained as a prisoner and a number of the French inhab- itants were disarmed. When Governor Hamilton entered Vincennes, there were but two Americans there, Captain Helm, the commander, and a soldier by the name of Henry.
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The latter had a cannon well charged and placed in the open fort gate, while Helm stood by with a lighted match in hand. When Hamilton and his troops got within hailing distance, the Captain in a loud voice called out-"Halt." This stopped the movements of Hamilton who in reply demanded a surren- der of the garrison. Helm exclaimed, "No man shall enter here until I know the terms." Hamilton answered, "You shall have the honors of war." The fort was surrendered with a garrison of one officer and one private.
Lieutenant Governor Hamilton, before leaving Detroit, made all the arrangements for a grand onward rush against the settlements west of the Allegheny Mountains in the early spring of 1779.
Colonel George Rogers Clark in the latter part of 1778 had marched into the wilderness of the Northwest with less than two hundred Virginians, captured Kaskaskia and Caho- kia and made a peaceable conquest of Vincennes in the heart of the Indian country. He was now in position to check the savages if they persisted in their attacks on the young settle- ments in Kentucky and Virginia and to break up their confed- erations with the British. Lieutenant Governor Hamilton de- termined, if possible, to recapture the lost forts, and to this end, he left Detroit with a company of Regulars and Volun- teers and gathered an army of Indians three times as large as Clark had. Having recaptured Vincennes without any op- position, he went about repairing the fort to make suitable quarters for the garrison. Being late in the season and the weather very bad, he sent his Indian army away in the com- mand of some of his Canadian Indian partisans to the Ohio river to watch for and intercept reinforcements to Clark's army and to annoy the settlements on the borders of Ken- tucky and Virginia. He sent delegates to the Southern Indians to prepare them for the coming raid when spring should open and selected points to rendezvous in the spring, in order to be in a position to dislodge Clark and drive him out of the country.
His intention then was to overrun the country west of the Allegheny Mountains with his northern and southern Indian confederates and sweep away all opposition to the British in
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all the vast region between the Mississippi river and the Alleghany Mountains. Fortunately for the American cause, Hamilton had underrated his rival who was a much better soldier and much more resourceful than he was.
After Post Vincennes had been recaptured by Hamilton from Captain Helm, Clark was at Kaskaskia and had no in- formation of the situation there until the latter part of Janu- uary, 1779. He met with Francis Vigo, who was a trader at that time in St. Louis and favorable to the Americans. He tendered Clark his services and was requested to go to Post Vincennes to report the condition of things at that place. Vigo readily accepted the hazardous service and started, but before he got to his destination he was captured by hostile Indians and carried a prisoner before Governor Hamilton who had then been at the Post only a few days. For some three weeks Vigo was held a prisoner on parole, requiring him to report daily to the fort then called Fort Sackville. He refused to be set at liberty which was offered him if he would swear that he would not do anything during the war that would be inimical to the British interest. Father Gi- bault, who was a great friend to the Americans, as we have shown, interested himself in Vigo's behalf and after services one Sunday morning, the latter part of January, went to the fort, attended by a large number of parishioners and notified Hamilton that they would not sell any more supplies to his troops until Vigo was released. Hamilton had no evidence against him so he agreed to release him on condition that he would not do anything to injure the British interests on his way to St. Louis. Vigo started with two companions down the Wabash and Ohio and went up the Mississippi until St. Louis was reached. He was only a short time in securing some needed clothing and supplies, and was soon in his pirogue going down the Mississippi as fast as his boat would take him. Arriving in a short time at Kaskaskia, he gave Clark a minute account concerning all matters at Vincennes.
Seven days after receiving Vigo's report, Clark, with a force of one hundred and seventy men, started on a dreary march from Kaskaskia on the Mississippi to Vincennes
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on the Wabash river. At the same time he despatched an armed galley with forty men under Captain John Rogers to go down the Mississippi river, up the Ohio and Wabash to a point near the mouth of White river. The route Clark fol- lowed was an old Indian trace through forests and prairies. The weather being uncommonly rainy, all the large streams were out of their banks. These hardy woodsmen, weighed down with their arms and provisions, pressed along on foot through forest, marshes, ponds, broad rivers and overflowed lowlands, until they reached the crossing of the Little Wabash where the bottoms were overflowed several miles in width to the depth of three to five feet. The troops waded into the water, which in some places was up to their arm pits, even to the necks of some of the shorter men, and commenced to make their way across. During the journey a favorite song would be sung, the whole detachment joining in the chorus. When they had arrived at the deepest part from whence it was in tended to transport the troops in two canoes which they had ob- tained, one of the men said that he felt a path quite perceptible to his naked feet, supposing that it must pass over the highest ground. This march was continued to a place called "The Sugar Camp."
Clark's Memoirs gives the following :- "Where we found about half an acre of dry ground, at least not under water, there we went into camp. Most of the weather we had on this march was warm for the season. The night we went into camp was the coldest we had and the ice in the morning, which was the finest we had on the march, was from one- half to three-quarters of an inch thick near the shore and still water. A little after sunrise I lectured the men. What I said to them I have forgotten but I concluded by informing them that passing the place that was then in full view and reaching the opposite woods, would put an end to their fatigue. I told them that in a few minutes they would have a sight of their long-looked-for object and immediately stepped into the water without waiting for a reply, whereup- on there was a great huzza. As we generally marched through the water in line, before the third man entered I
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halted and called to Captain Bowman. ordering him to fall in the rear with twenty-five men and put to death any who re- fused to march, as we wished to have no such persons among us. All gave a cry of approbation and on we went. This was the most trying of all the difficulties we had experienced. I generally kept fifteen or twenty of the strongest men near myself, and judged from my own feelings what must have been that of others.
"When I reached the middle of the plain, the water being about mid-deep, I found myself sensibly failing and as there were no trees or bushes for the men to support them- selves by, I feared that many of the weak would be drowned. I ordered the canoes to make the land, discharge their load- ing and play back and forward with all diligence, and to pick up the men and encourage the party. I sent some of the strongest men forward with orders that, when they got to a certain distance to pass the word back that the water was getting shallow and when they got near the woods to cry out-'Land'. This strategem had its desired effect. The men encouraged by it exerted themselves almost beyond their abil- ities, the weak holding by the stronger, the water never get- ting shallower but continuing deeper. Getting to the woods where the men expected land, the water was up to my shoulders, but gaining the woods was of great consequence. All the short and weakly men hung to the trees and floated on the old logs until they were taken off by the canoes. Those who were strong and tall got ashore and built fires. Many would reach the shore and fall with their bodies half in the water, not being able to support themselves without it. This shore was a delightful dry spot of ground of about ten acres. We soon found that the fires did not avail to warm the men and bring back the circulation, but two strong men had to take the weaker ones by the arms and run them up and down along the path in order to restore the circulation and, it being a delightful day, this had the desired effect. Fortu- nately, as if designed by Providence, a canoe of Indian squaws and children was coming up to town and took through this plain as a near way. It was discovered by our canoes as
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they were out after the men and they gave chase, taking the Indian canoe captive. On board there was a half a quarter of buffalo, some corn, tallow and kettles. This was a grand prize and was invaluable. Broth was immediately made and served to the weakest ones with great care. Most all men got a little but a great many gave their share to their weaker comrades, jocosely saying something cheering to them as they did so. By the afternoon this little refresh- ment and fine weather gave new life to my men.
"After crossing a narrow, deep lake in the canoes and marching some distance we came to a copse of timber called "Warrior Island." We were now about two miles distant from the town and in full view of the fort, with not a shrub between us. Every man feasted his eyes and forgot that he had suffered anything; saying that all that had passed was owing to good policy and nothing but what a man could bear, and that a soldier had no right to think; passing from one extreme to another, which is common in such cases. It was. now that we had to display our abilities. The plain between us and the town was not a perfect level. The sunken ground was covered with water, full of ducks and we observed sev- eral men on horseback shooting them, within half a mile of us. We sent out a number of our young Frenchmen to decoy and take one of these men prisoner, in such a manner as not to alarm the others, which they did. The information we got from this prisoner was that the British had that evening com- pleted the walls of the fort and that there were a good many Indians in town. Our situation was now truly critical as there was no possibility of retreating in case of defeat and in full view of the town that had at this time upwards of six hundred men in it. The crew of the galley, though not fifty men, would now have been a reinforcement of immense mag- nitude to our little army. But we would not think of them. We were now in the situation that I had labored to get our- selves in. The idea of being made prisoner was foreign to al- most every man as they expected nothing but torture from the savage if they fell into their hands. Our fate was now to be determined, probably in a few hours, and we knew that noth-
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ing but the most daring conduct would insure success. I knew that a number of the inhabitants wished us well, that many were lukewarm to the interests of either and I also learned that The Grand Door, 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 Knife. These were favorable circumstances and as there was but little probabil- ity of our remaining until dark undiscovered, I determined to begin the career immediately and wrote the following placard to the inhabitants-
"To the inhabitants of Post Vincennes, Gentle- men :- Being now within two miles of your village with my army, determined to take your fort this night and not being willing to surprise you, I take this method to request those of you who are true citizens and willing to enjoy the liberty I bring to you. to remain still in your houses; and those, if any there be, who are friends to the King, will instantly repair to the fort and join the "Hair-buying Gen- eral" and fight like men, and if any such as do not go to the fort shall be discovered afterward, they may depend on severe punishment. On the contrary, those who are true friends of liberty may depend on being well treated and I once more request them to keep out of the streets for every one I find in arms on my arrival I shall treat as an enemy."
Signed, G. R. CLARK.
"I had various ideas on the supposed results of this let- ter. I knew it could do us no damage, but it would cause the. lukewarm to decide, encourage our friends and astonish our enemies. We anxiously viewed this messenger until he en- tered the town and in a few moments could discover, by our glasses, some stir in every street that we could penetrate, and great numbers running or riding out on the commons, we supposed to view us, which was the case. The thing that surprised us was that nothing as yet had happened that had the appearance of the garrison being alarmed-no drum, no guns. We began to suppose the information we got from our prisoners was false and that the enemy already knew of us and were prepared. A little before sunset we.
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moved and displayed ourselves in full view of the town, crowds gazing at us. We were plunging ourselves into cer- tain destruction or success, nothing less than these being thought of. We had but little to say to our men except to inculcate the idea of the necessity of obedience. We knew that they did not need encouraging and that anything might be attempted with them that was possible for such a number of men to perform. They were perfectly cool under subordina- tion, pleased with the prospect before them and much at- tached to their officers. They all declared that they were convinced that implicit obedience to order was the only thing that would insure success and hoped that no mercy would be shown to persons violating such orders. Language like this from soldiers to persons in our situation was exceedingly agreeable.
"We moved on slowly in full view of the town, but as it was a point of some consequence to us to make ourselves appear as formidable as possible, in leaving the covert which we were in we marched and countermarched in such a manner that we appeared numerous. In raising volunteers in IHli- nois, every person that set about the business had a set of colors given him which they brought with them to the amount .of ten or twelve pair. These were displayed to the best advantage and as the low plain we marched through was not a perfect level but had frequent raises in it, seven or eight feet higher than the common level, which was covered with water, and as these raises generally ran in an oblique direc- tion to the town, we took advantage of one of them, march- ing through the water under it, which completely prevented our being numbered. Our colors showed considerably above the heights as they were fixed on long poles for the purpose and at a distance made no despicable appearance. As our young Frenchmen, while on Warrior Island, decoyed and took several fowlers with their horses, officers were now mounted on these horses and rode about, more completely to deceive the enemy. In this manner we moved and directed our march" in such a way as to suffer it to be dark before we had advanced more than half way to the town. We then suddenly altered
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our direction, crossed ponds where they could not have ex -. " pected us and about eight o'clock gained the town. As there was yet no hostile move we were impatient to have the cause of this unriddled, and Lieutenant Bayley, with fourteen men, was ordered to march and fire on the fort. The main body moved in a different direction and took possession of the strongest part of the town. The firing now commenced on the fort but they did not believe it was an enemy, as drunken Indians often saluted the fort after night, until one of their men was shot down through a port hole. The drums now sounded and the business fairly commenced on both sides. Reinforcements were sent to aid the attack on the garrison while other arrangements were making in town. We now found that the garrison had known nothing of us. Having finished the fort that evening, they had amused themselves and had just retired before my letter arrived. As it was near roll call, the placard being made public, many of the inhabitants were afraid to show themselves out of their houses for fear of giving offence and no one dared to give in- formation. Our friends flew to the commons and other con- venient places to view the pleasing sight. This was observed from the garrison and the reason asked, but a satisfactory excuse was given, and as a part of the town lay between our lines of march and the garrison, we could not be seen by the sentinels on the wall.
"Captain W. Shannon and another, being some time be- fore taken prisoners by one of their scouting parties and that evening brought in, the party had discovered at the Sugar Camp some sign of us. They supposed that it was a party of observation that intended to land on the height some dis- tance below the town and Captain Lamotte was sent to inter- cept them. It was at him, the people said, they were looking when they were asked the reason of their unusual stir. Sev- eral suspected persons had been taken to the garrison, and among them was Mr. Moses Henry. Mrs. Henry, under pre- tense of conveying him provision, went and whispered to him the news and what she had seen. Mr. Henry conveyed it to the rest of his fellow prisoners which gave them much pleas-
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ure, particularly Captain Helm, who amused himself very much during the siege and, I believe, did much damage. Ammunition was scarce with us as most of our stores had been put on board the galley and though her crew was small, such a reinforcement at this time would have been of incalcu- lable value in many ways. Fortunately for us, at the time of its being reported that all the goods in the town were to be taken for the King's use (for which owners were to receive bills), Colonel Legras and Major Bosseron and others, had buried the greater part of their powder and balls. This was immediately produced and we found ourselves well supplied by those gentlemen. The Tobacco's Son (with a number of his warriors) immediately mustered his men and let us know that he wished to join us, saying that by morning he would have a hundred men. We thanked him for his friendly dispo- sition, said that we were sufficiently strong ourselves and that we would council on the subject in the morning, as we knew there were a number of Indians in and near the town that were our enemies and some confusion might occur if our men should mix in the dark, but hoped we might be favored with his council and company during the night, which was agreeable to him.
"The garrison was soon completely surrounded and the fire continued without intermission (excepting about fifteen min- utes a little before day ) until nine o'clock the following morn_ ing. It was kept up by all the troop, excepting fifty men kept in reserve, joined by a few of the young men of the town who got permission. I had made myself fully acquainted with the situation at the fort, the town and the parts relative to each other. The cannon of the garrison was on the upper floor of the strong block houses, at each angle of the fort eleven feet above the surface. The ports were so badly cut that many of our troops lay under the fire of them within twenty-five yards of the walls. They did no damage except to the buildings of the town, some of which were badly wrecked. Their musketry in the dark employed against woodsmen, covered by houses, palings, ditches and the banks of the river, was of little avail and did no injury to us ex-
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cept wounding a man or two. As we could not afford to lose men great care was taken to preserve them, sufficiently cov- ering them and to keep up a hot fire to intimidate the enemy as well as destroy them. The embrasures for their cannon were mostly closed, for our riflemen, finding the true direc- tion, would pour in such a volley when they were open that the men could not stand to the guns and seven or eight of them were killed in a very short time. Our troops would frequently abuse the enemy in order to aggravate them to open their ports and fire their cannon that they might have the pleasure of shooting them down with their rifles, fifty of which would be leveled at them the minute the port flew open. I believe if they had stood at their artillery the greater part of them would have been destroyed in the course of the night, as most of our men lay within thirty yards of the walls, and in a few hours were covered equal to those in the fort and much more experienced in that mode of fighting. Sometimes an ir- regular fire as hot as possible was kept up from different di- rections for a few minutes and then would follow only a con- tinual scattering fire at the ports as usual. A great noise and laughter would immediately commence in different parts of the town by the reserve parties as if they had fired on the fort a few minutes for amusement and as if those contin- ually firing at the fort were only regularly relieved.
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