USA > Kentucky > A history of the commonwealth of Kentucky > Part 6
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
vernor was captivated by the brilliant prospect of striking such a fatal blow against the enemy, and in the heart of their savage allies; yet a detachment on so distant a service, appeared hazardous and daring to an alarming degree; particularly as the secrecy indispensable to success, forbade the communica- tion of the plan to the legislature. The Governor held several private conferences on this interesting measure, with several gentlemen of high character, who inquired minutely into Clark's plans, and particularly into his proposition, in case of repulse, (which seems to have been quite expected) to retreat to the Spanish possessions on the west side of the Mississippi. The result of these deliberations was, a full approbation of the scheme, and in order to encourage the men, these *patriotic gentlemen, like worthy sons of Old Virginia, pledged them- selves by an instrument of writing, in case of success, to exert their influence to obtain from the legislature, a bounty of three hundred acres of land for every person in the expedition. The executive and his council, now entered so warmly into the scheme, that every thing was expedited with "very little tron- ble" to Clark. So that, on the 2d of January, 1778, he received two sets of instructions; one public, directing him to proceed to Kentucky for its defence; and the other secret, ordering an attack upon the British post at "Kaskaski." The humane and generous spirit in which these instructions of the immortal Henry were penned, will ever reflect honor, amidst the provo- cations of a relentless enemy, on the early councils of Virginia. They form a monument of durable glory in the Revolutionary annals of our parent State. Twelve hundred pounds (in depre- ciated paper it is presumed) were advanced to Colonel Clark, with suitable orders on the Virginia officer at Fort Pitt for am- munition, boats, and all other necessary equipment. Major William B. Smith was dispatched to the settlement on Holston, to recruit; as well as Captains Leonard Helm, of Fauquier, Joseph Bowman, of Frederick, William Harrod, and several others, in other quarters. It was desired by the government,
« George Wythe, George Mason, and Thomas Jefferson, in their letter to George Rogers Clark, Faq., January 3, 1778.
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that the troops should be raised west of the Blue Ridge, so as not to weaken the Atlantic defence. On the 4th of February, Colonel Clark set off. "clothed with all the authority" he says, "I could wish." At Fort Pitt, he met with some difficulties ari- sing from the disputed dominion, which then agitated the friends of Pennsylvania and Virginia; many thought the detachment of- troops to Kentucky, was a wanton dispersion and divison of strength. The secrecy of his real destination, and the ostensi- ble one of Kentucky, led many to declare it better to remove the Kentuckians, than weaken the country by undertaking their defence. Little did these objectors know the innate vigor, the indomitable energy of the backwoodsmen of Kentucky, and of the west, when they talked of removing them like so many chattels. At this very time, Clark received letters from Ken- tucky, informing him of their increased strength since he had left them; and from Major Smith, that he had raised four com- panies for the expedition, among the people of the Holston set- tlements. This intelligence, together with the knowledge that Captains Helm and Bowman's companies would join him at Redstone, the present Brownsville, on the Monongahela, ren- dered Colonel Clark less strenuous in urging bis levies about Pitts- burg. It was late in the season before he could depart with three companies, and "a considerable number of families and private adventurers." The voyage was prosecuted as it re- quired to be, with great caution; at the mouth of the Great Ken- hawa, Colonel Clark was pressed by a Captain Arbuckle, com- manding the fort at that point, to join him in pursuit of a party of' two hundred and fitty Indians, who had attacked him the day be- fore; and had now directed their course against the settlements on Greenbrier river. The temptation of success was great, but the importance of his own expedition was greater, and fortu- nately for his country, Clark knew his duty too well, and dis charged it too faithfully, to be diverted from his purpose. He continued his course to the mouth of the Kentucky river; here he landed, and for some time thought of fortify ing a post at this place; but looking to his more western destination, very judi- ciously abandoned his intention for a more desirable position at
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the Falls: where the craft of the river trade would be compelled to stop, in order to prepare for the passage of the Rapids, and which, without fortification, would be much exposed to the hostilities of the Indians. At the former place, Clark had the . mortification to hear, that the company of Captain Dillard was the only one of Major Smith's men, who had arrived in Ken- tucky. He immediately wrote to Colonel Bowman, informing him of his intention to fix a post at the Falls; and that having an object in view of the greatest importance to the country, he desired Bowman to meet him at that place, with all the men re- cruited by Smith, and as many others, as could be spared from the interior stations. The detachment proceeded to the Falls, where he selected and fortified Corn Island, opposite to Louis- ville. On the arrival of Colonel Bowman's party, the forces of the country were found too weak, to justify taking many from Kentucky; Clark, therefore, engaged but one company, and part of another, from this quarter, expecting them to be re- placed by the troops of Major Smith. Here Clark disclosed to the troops his real destination to Kaskaskia; and honorably to the gallant feelings of the times, the plan was ardently concur- red in by all the detachment, except the company of Captain Dillard. The boats were, therefore, ordered to be well secured. and sentries were placed where it was supposed, the men might wade across the river to the Kentucky shore. This was the day before Clark intended to start; but a little before light, the greater part of Captain Dillard's company, with a Lieutenant whose name is generously spared by Colonel Clark, passed the sentinels unperceived, and got to the opposite bank. The dis- appointment was cruel, its consequences alarming; Clark im- mediately mounted a party on the horses of the Harrodsburg gentlemen, and sent after the deserters, with orders to kill all who resisted; the pursuers overtook the fugitives about twenty miles in advance; these soon scattered through the woods, and excepting eeven or eight, who were brought back, suffered most severely every species of distress. The people of Harrods- town felt the baseness of the Lieutenant's conduct so keenly, and resented it with such indignation, that they would not for E
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some time, let him or his companions, into the fort. On the return of this detachment from the pursuit. a day of rejoicing was spent between the troops about to descend the river. and those who were to return on a service, little inferior in danger and privation, the defence of the interior stations. The next day,* when the sun was in a total eclipse, the boats passed the Falls. This circumstance divided the men in their prognosti- cations, but not quite with the terror and alarm we read of in ancient armies. All the baggage beyond what was necessary to equip the party in the barest Indian manner, was left behind, as the commander had determined, in order to mask his opera- tions, to march to Kaskaskia by land, from the nearest point on the Ohio. Colonel Clark for some time meditated a blow against St. Vincents, but on reviewing his little body, consisting after a rigid selection of but four companies, under Captains Jo, Mont- gomery, L. Helm, Joseph Bowman. and William Harrod; he determined to prosecute the original object of his expedition. The facility of retreat to the Spanish possessions, as well as the more dispersed state of the French settlements in the Illi- nois, as it was called, seem to have had great weight in this selection. To this was added, a hope, that he might attach the French to the American interest, whose influence over the In- dians throughout these extensive territories, was strengthened by time, and maintained by a tact and versatility, which have been undiminished for two centuries. To this day our inter- preters, our spies, and some of the subordinate agents, are Frenchinen. Spaniards have always been much despised, and are so at this day on the Mexican frontier; the English are not much regarded, our own countrymen are dreaded, but the French are beloved. On the passage down the river, Colonel Clark most fortunately received a letter from Colonel John Campbell of Fort Pitt, informing him of the French alliance, a circumstance, as subsequent events shewed, of the utmost mo- mont to the American arms. At the mouth of Tennessee, the party landed on an island, which is called tBaritaria, in the
* This must, by the catalogue of eclipses, have happened on the 24th of June, 1778, when there was a solar eclipse. Eve Ferguson's Tables.
1 Possibly a mistake from the obscurity of the manuscript.
€
.
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memoir of Clark; a few hours after his arrival, a person of the name of John Duff, and a party of hunters, were stopped by the guard. These persons, though originally from the Ameri- can settlements, had recently come from Kaskaskia, and com- municated the most important intelligence: from them it was learned, that M. Rocheblave commanded at Kaskaskia; that the militia were kept in good order; spies were stationed on the Mississippi; and all Indians and hunters ordered to keep a sharp look out for the rebel Virginians. The fort, which commanded the town was kept in good order as a place of retreat; but with- out a regular garrison, and the military defence was attended to, as a matter of parade, rather than from any expectation of its necessity to guard against an attack. If this should be antici- pated, the force of the place, they said, was capable of giving the Americans a. warm reception; the inhabitants were led by the British to entertain the most horrid apprehensions of our countrymen, as more barbarous, and more to be dreaded, than the Indians themselves. But if we could surprise the place, these hunters thought, there would be no doubt of our capturing it; they offered their services to effect this result, and solicited to be employed, This offer was readily accepted, and the whole meeting proved a most essential service, in the absence of all intelligence from the enemy's country, since the return of the spies employed by Clark in the previous year. One portion of their information particularly pleased him, and which he determined to employ to promote his purposes; it was the dread and horror in which our countrymen were held by the inhabitants. In consequence of this sentiment, he thought the more violent the shock might be, which his arrival should pro- duce, the stronger would be their sensibility to his lenity, so little to be expected from the barbarians they were represented. In fact, Colonel Clark determined to enlist this national appre- hension in his service, and employ it as an auxiliary to his diminutive forces.
Every thing being ready for the march the boats dropped down a short distance above Fort Massac, (contracted from Massacre) where they were concealed; and the party marched
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with their commander at their head, sharing in every respect the condition of his men, in a north-west direction, through the present State of Illinois, for the ancient French village of Kas- kaskia. This march was attended by little that was unusual in these times of privation, beyond the ordinary sufferings of such expeditions through the forests. Game and water were, how- ever, scarce; but on the third day, John Saunders, the principal guide, got so bewildered, that he had forgotten all the features of the country. This excited immediate suspicion, and a gene- ral cry arose among the men, to put the traitor to death; he solicited permission of his Colonel to go into a prairie, which was full in view, to try and recover himself. His application was granted; but some men were sent with him to prevent his escape, and he was sternly told, that if he did not conduct the detachment into the hunters' road, which lead into Kaskaskia, from the east, and which he had frequently described and tra- veled, leading through a country not easily forgotten by a woodsman, he should surely be hung. After an hour or two spent in examining the neighborhood, the poor fellow discover- ed a spot which he perfectly recollected, and his innocence was established. On the evening of the 4th of July, 1778, the ex- pedition reached within a few miles of the town, where it lay until dark, when the march was continued; a house was then taken possession of, about three quarters of a mile above the town, which lay on the opposite, or westerly side of the Kas- kaskia river. Here it was learned, that the militia had a few days before been under arms; but no cause of real alarm hav- ing been discovered, at that time, every thing was quiet: that there was a "great number of men in the town; the Indians had, however, mostly gone." A sufficient quantity of boats for transportation of the troops was soon procured; two divisions of the party crossed the river, with orders to repair to different parts of the town: while Colonel Clark, with the third division, took possession of the fort (afterwards called Fort Clark) on this side of the river, in point blank shot of the town. Should this detachment meet with no resistance, upon a signal given, the other two parties were directed, to possess with a shout,
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certain quarters of the town; and to send persons who could speak French, through the streets to give the inhabitants notice, "that every man of the enemy, who should appear in them, would be shot down." These dispositions had the most com- plete success; the fort was taken; Clark entered it by *"a postern gate left open on the river side of the fortification," which was "shewn by a hunting soldier, who had been taken prisoner the evening before." The town, of about two hundred and fifty houses was surrounded, every avenue guarded to pre- vent communication of intelligence, and "in about two hours the inhabitants were disarmed," without one drop of bloodshed. During the night, our men were ordered to patrol the town with the utmost tumult and whooping, after the Indian fashion, while the inhabitants preserved the most profound silence. The arti- fice, however painful and alarming to their feelings, was, at least, one of the most innocent stratagems of war. M. Roche- blave, or Rocheblawe, as Mr. Jefferson has it, the British go- vernor was taken in his chamber; but very few of his public papers could be secured, as they were secreted or destroyed, it was supposed by his wife. This lady is represented as pre- suming a good deal on the gallantry of our countrymen, by im- posing upon their delicacy towards herself, for the purpose of screening the public property and papers. from the hands of the Americans. But better, ten thousand times better were it so, than, that the ancient fame of the sons of Virginia, should have been tarnished by-insult to a female. Although it was sus- pected that many important papers might be concealed, in the trunks of the Governor's lady, they were, however honorably respected, and not examined. During the night several persons were sent for. to obtain intelligence, but little information could be procured, beyond what had been already received, except that a considerable body of Indians lay at this time in the neigh- borhood of Cahokia, about sixty miles higher up the Mississippi; and that M. Cerre, (the father of the present Madame Auguste
* Judge David Told, of Minenuri, obligingly communicated this circumstance, from the pepers of the late General Levi Todd. who neted as aid to Colonel Clerk. Our country- men were called Bestor by the French, at this tune.
E *
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Chouteau,) of St. Louis, the principal merchant of Kaskaskia, was, at that time, one of the most inveterate enemies of the Americans. This gentlemen had left the town before Clark had captured it, and was now at St. Louis, on his way to Quebec, whence he had lately returned, in the prosecution of extensive commercial operations : his family, and an extensive assortment - of merchandise were in Kaskaskia. By means of these pledges in his power, Colonel Clark thought to operate upon M. Cerre, whose influence was of the utmost consequence in the condition of the American interest, if it could be brought to be exerted in its favor. With the view of gaining this gentleman, a guard was immediately placed round his house, and seals placed on his property, as well as on all the other merchandise in the place. On the fifth, the troops were withdrawn from the town to different positions around it; during these movements, as all intercourse with the soldiers had been forbidden under heavy punishment, and even those who were sent for by Clark, had also been ordered to have no communication with the rest; dis- trust and terror overspread the town. In possession of an ene- my, of whom the inhabitants entertained the most horrid appre- hensions, and all intercourse either with one another, or with their conquerors sternly prohibited, the anticipations of the in- habitants might well be gloomy. In this state of things, after the removal of the troops, the people were permitted to walk about freely; when finding they were busy in conversation with one another, a few of the principal militia officers were apprehended by orders of Clark, and put in irons without assigning any rea- son, or suffering any defence. This immediately produced general consternation, and the worst consequences were ex- pected from the enemy, whom their suspicions had invested with such terrors. Yet these measures were taken from no wanton cruelty, for of all men, Colonel Clark enjoyed the mild- est and most affectionate disposition, and he severely felt. as he says, every hardship, he believed himself compelled to inflict. After some time M. Gibault, the priest of the village, got per- mission, with five or six elderly gentlemen, to wait on Colonel Clark. Shocked as the citizens had been by the sudden cap-
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ture of their town, and by such an enemy as their imaginations had painted, this party were still more evidently shocked when they entered Clark's quarters, at the appearance of him and his officers. Their clothes dirty and torn by the briars. their others left at the river, the appearance of the chiefs of this little band was indeed frightful and savage, as Clark himself admits, to any eyes. How much more so to this deputation, may be easily conceived by those who are acquainted with the refinement and delicacy of the ancient French. It was some time after entering the room where Clark and his officers were seated, be- fore they could speak; and not then, until their business was demanded; they asked which was the commander; so effec- tually had this backwoods expedition confounded the differ- ences of rank. The priest then said, that the inhabitants ex- pected to be separated, perhaps never to meet again; and they begged through him, to be permitted to assemble in the church, to take leave of each other. Clark, aware they suspected their very religion to be obnoxious to our people, carelessly told him, that he had nothing to say against his church, it was a matter Americans left for every man to settle with his God; that the people might assemble at church if they would; but at the same time if they did, they must not venture out of town. Some fur- ther conversation was attempted on the part of the Kaskaskia gentlemen, but it was repelled by saying there was no longer leisure for further intercourse, in order that the alarm might be raised to its utmost height. The whole town assembled at the church, even the houses were deserted by all who could leave them. Orders were honorably given to prevent any soldiers from entering the vacant buildings; the people remained in the church for a considerable time, after which the priest, accom- panied by several gentlemen, waited on Colonel Clark, and ex- pressed in the name of the village, "their thanks for the indul- gence they had received " The deputation then begged leave, at the request of the inhabitants, to address their conqueror on a subject, which was dearer to them than any other; they were sensible, they said, "that their present situation was the fate of war, and they could submit to the loss of their property; but
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they solicited that they might not be separated from their wives and children; and that some clothes and provisions might be allowed for their further support." These gentlemen assured Colonel Clark that their conduct had been influenced by their commandants, whom they considered themselves bound to obey, nor were they sure, that they understood the nature of the con- test between Great Britain and the United States; as the oppor- tunities of this remote region were very unfavorable to accu- rate information. Indeed many of the inhabitants had fre- quently expressed themselves in favor of the Americans, as much as they durst. The utmost hope of this close repetition of the case of the citizens of Calais, with ropes about their necks, at the mercy of the third Edward of England, was, for favor to their wives and children. In this distress of the villagers, Clark, who had now wound up their terrors to the desired height, resolved to try the force which the lenity his whole heart had all along intended to grant, might receive from the sudden contrast of feelings. For this purpose, he abruptly asked these gentlemen, "do you mistake us for savages? I am almost certain you do, from your language. Do you think that Americans intend to strip women and children, or take the bread out of their mouths?" "My countrymen," said Clark, "disdain to make war upon helpless innocence; it was to prevent the horrors of Indian butchery upon our own wives and chil- dren, that we have taken arms and penetrated into this remote strong hold of British and Indian barbarity; and not the despi- cable prospect of plunder. That now the king of France had united his powerful arms with those of America, the war would not, in all probability, continue long; but the inhabitants of Kaskaskia were at liberty to take which side they pleased, with- out the least danger to either their property or families. Nor would their religion be any source of disagreement; as all reli- gions were regarded with cqual respect in the eye of the Ameri- can law, and that any insult which should be offered it, would be immediately punished. And now, to prove my sincerity, you will please inform your fellow-citizens, that they are quite at liberty to conduct themselves as usual, without the least ap-
'
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prehension; I am now convinced from what I have learned since my arrival among you, that you have been misinformed and prejudiced against us by British officers; and your friends who are in confinement shall immediately be released." The agitation and joy of the village seniors, upon hearing this speech of Clark, may well be conceived; they attempted some apology for the implied imputation of barbarians, under the belief, that the property of a captured town belonged to the conquerors; Clark gently dispensed with this explanation, and desired them to relieve the anxieties of the inhabitants immediately, re- quiring them to comply strictly with the terms of a proclama- tion, which he would shortly publish. The contrast of feeling among the people upon learning these generous and magnani- mous intentions of their conquerors, verified the sagacious an- ticipations of Colonel Clark. In a few moments the mortal de- jection of the village was converted into the most extravagant joy; the bells were set a ringing, and the church was crowded with the people, offering up thanks to Almighty God for their deliverance from the horrors they had so fearfully expected. Perfect freedom was now given to the inhabitants to go or come as they pleased; so confident were our countrymen, that what- ever report might be made, would be to the credit and success of the American arms. Some uneasiness was still felt respect- ing Cahokia, whose capture, Colonel Clark determined to at- tempt, and gain in the same way, if possible, as he had taken Kaskaskia. For this purpose, Major Bowman was ordered to mount his company on horses, with part of another, proceed to Cahokia, and take possession of the village for the State of Vir- ginia. Upon this intention being known, several of the Kas- kaskia gentlemen very handsomely offered their services to join our men. and effect any thing Colonel Clark desired. They assured him, that the people of Cahokia were their relations and friends; and they entertained no doubt of prevailing upon them to unite in the same political attachments, so soon as the circumstances in which they were placed should be fully ex- plained to them. This offer Clark readily embraced; it indeed very fortunately presented itself, in the weakness of his small
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