Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-04-03

Hestern Country 1778-9 A
e CONCLUDED Faom our LAST
A tempest, however. was hanging yer him,
which perhaps, M efforts but his could have dis
?ei'ed. The governor of Detroit, Hamilton,
man no less remarkable for his boldness and &C.
tivty, than TOR his bsrbarous disposition, and his
tyranncal abuse ofdeiegated power, formed the
daring project of driving Clarke from his con
quest. On the 18Th of Dec with a strong body
of men, he took possession of Fort st Vincent
repaired its u,ned battlcments-ani converted
1t into formidable repository of warlke implc-
ments OF every description. His plan was to at
ack kaskaskias in the spring This place he
considered as an easy conquest. Two hundred
Indians from MichillmachiDac, and five hundred
Cherokecs and Chickasaws, were then 10 Join his
banner. With this body he intended 10 pene
trate, up the Ohio, to Fort Pitt-the devastation
OF Kentucky was branch ofhis extensive scheme
OF ruin--lIe proposed to sweep It's principal set
Elements on his way. For this purpose, he was
suppl Ell with light brass caRnon--and, as in his
advance, he expected to see his numbers swelle,l
by hourly accessions of Indians, he proudly aid
confidently anticipated the subjugation and ruin
OF all West Augusta. In no resource CONNECTED
with the success of his plan, was Hamilton def
cieht The British commander in Canada had
furnished him with ample means. Destruction
lowered on the Western borders of the common
weaith-Clarke received no reinforcements-In
ms letter to Governor Henry, written on the 18TH
April, 1879, he save that, at the time of those
formidable preparations, he had not heard from
the Executive for nearly twelve months. The
communication was difficult and uncertain. Al
ready hostile detachments infested the neighbor-
hood of KaskasSas, but they did not presume TO
attack Under these circumstances, Clarke
thought 1t prudent to concentrate his small force
MAJOR Bowman was directed to eyacuate tle
fort at the Cones, in order to strengthen the prn
cipai point OF defence When comparing his 81
tuation with that of the expected assailants,
Clarke despared of his ability to keep possessi
on of the coun,ry-Still, he was resolved 10 main
tain siege, and preserve, at least, the post of
KaskasiSias, or die in the attempt To this end
he and his gallant associates were making active
preparations streng henng The ifications of
| the place-erecting or demolishng, as necessity
Idictated.-Whlst they were thus EMPLOYED. a
Spanish merchant, who had been at fort st.
Vincent arrived. He inf rmed Col Clarke thst
Hamilton had weakened himself by sending his
| Indians against the frontiers, and UP the Ohio
In the fort, he had only retained eighteen men.
three pieces OF cannon, and few mounted sw,
, vels--Hls intention was 10 attack Kaskasl,ias az
SION as the season would permit--and he had no
DOUBT of clearing the Western waters before the
Autumn. This Information was for the genius
Of Clarke, fash OF electric light II discovered
to HIM, not only safety, but new glory. He saw
the whole by intuition. Hamilton must be at
tackled before he gould collect his Indians-There
was no other means of saving the coufIry--With.
Clarke, to resolve AMI execute required but n
moment--Immediately dspatchiRg small gal.
ley which he had fitted Gp, mounting two four
Founders, and four swivels, with c 'mpany of
men, and necessary stores on board, he directed
the, Person whom he appointed to colAmand her.
to force his way up the Wabash. f possible, and
station himself a few miles below the enemy
su1erlng nothing to pass-and awaiting further
orders In the mean time, garrisoning Kaskas-
kIas with militia, embodymg the inhabitants for
me protection OF the other towns, and enlIstine
nr the expedition several oftheir young men who
displayed the most promising ardor. he himself
marched across the country, with one hundred
and my gallant comrades, on whose devotion.
lntrePidity and perseverance he could well rel,
uough MS bard was small and unincumbered
with heavy baggage, such was the inclemency of
he season, and such The difficulty of the route.
mat ne slowly advanced, not without apprehensi-
o e Hot u''lIhate taiiue- When within three
leagues OF the enemy, it took this Spartan band
iye days TO cross the drowned lands of the wa.
ibash-h9yipg 80 wade, often upwards of two
'eagues5 - SSeT breast in water.t Had not ,iu. I
ring ms period of the expedition. the weather
assumed and preserved milder character. all |
ihesebrave men must inevitably have perished |
IieSVenseemed to shield them. On the evening |
OF tbS I'D, they reached the ury land ,inperce;v
ell ny ne enemy, yethaving themselves suf;c; |
en- view OF the tort.--No time was to he uaeteJ |
no oeloeratIon to precede the long meditated /
toW--at seven o'clock, the attack was made he |
lore the enemy knew any thing of the ass,ilan,e
Inc Town immediately surrendered with iov ond \
assisted IN the siege of the fort. For IL bours
continual hre was kept up on both sides. CnI /
tlarket did not calculate on CARRYING, thu Fort |
before the arrival Of his Artillery. D1r;no the
night, however, after the setting of the moon
ne had an mtrepchment thrown IN. within "a
shot OF the enemy's strongest battery. and ot
morning poured into theirposts such shower
OF well directed balls. that he silenced. in *
minutes, two pieces of cannon, without hsv;no. |
one OF ms men killed or even wounded Asb;Se
numbers were small, he took every possible rrs
caution to prevent a waste Of lives--On the Eol.
lowing day, Governor Hamilton demanded mar.
lev; and intmated an intention 20 SURRENDER
difficulties arose-but IN the evening, the terms
OF the surender were arranged The Governor
and the garrison became prisoners of war and
considerable stores fell into the hands of The
eJnqueror.
In the height Of the attack upon the fort. one
ofthe Indian parties detached on all sides by H.
milton, returned. Ignorant ofwliat had hammer
ed, the savsges we're marching into the town
with two prisoners. Clarke, upon hearing oF
this, detached party of his men to give them
battle in the commemorative Indians were taken
and the two prisoners released.
other circumstances, equally auspiciou crown
ed TINS wonderful success A convoy of goods |
from Detroit was on its way to the Post. Clarke |
informed OF this, sent party of 60 men. in arm
ed boats, well mounted with swvels, TO surprIze |
and intercept the convoy The plan was com. |
pietely effeeted-40 prisoners, goods and PROV |
sions to the amount of i0,0OOf-tbe mail Com
canada TO Governor Hamilton, were brought to