Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-11-02

rounu the sqHare, a0o examine every
house or other suspected place for the
person who shot the arrow; diliceot
search was made but without effect
AS soon as Gen. Clarke understand
that Gov. Hamilton bad taken NJ Vim.
cetlnes aud discharged al bis men ex.
cept about 6ne bun3red, he determin.
ed to disIodge bim before he obtained
a enforcement, which he knew was
intended as sooti IS The winter was so
far gone as to make it practicable for
them to come from Detioit. Although
it was in The middle Of the winter. the
waters were not frozen, and the sea:
son was very wet; he therefore manned
boat with upwards of forty men.
with a piece of cannon, with direc.
tons to descend the Mississippi, and
ascend the Ohio and Wabash rivers:
and meet him al point little below
Vincennes. The General, with about
ore hundred, marched across by land
from Kaskaskias to st. Vincennes, q
great part of the way was covered
with water, and many places more
than knee deep. They arrived on the
Wabash at the tir1e appointed, late in
the evening, but there was no appear
ance Of The boat. Knowing that he
was undiscovered, and that delay
would jeopardize success. be determin.
ed to attack the town that night, and
not attempt to wait for The arrival Of
his artillery. He therefore marched
bis men up, and so placed them as
10 kin o. wound every sentinel if ha
attempted TO show himself above the
works or at port hole. AS soon a.
ne got his men placed, tremendous
fire commenced, and SO efficien. was
the attack, and so many of their sen.
tinels wounded, that they could mol ba
kept a. sheir posts.
When the first fire was given, Gov.
ernor Hamilton, Capt Helm and Sc
verat other gentlemen, were seated at
game of Whist, (of which Helm
was remarkably fond J The instant he
heard the fire, he jumped to his feet
and exclaimed aloud, "By G. that's
Clarke.
Finding there was no possibility Of
getting possession of the town that
night, he drew OF bis men TO where
they could encamp comfortably, leaving
as many as would keep the town on ths
watch during the night.
In the course of The night, Clarke
procured trusty Canadian, who was
we'll acquainted with the town, 10 en-
deavor to get admi.iance 90 a friend
under The pretence Of giving infnrma.
ton of Clsrke's approach: be succeed.
ed, and informed the Governor (be.
fore whom he was tsken,) that it was
not the Intention of Clarke to have
made the attack with small arms. buk
with cannon, which was on the way
up the river, and was 10 have met him
that evening, and had not arrived, bus
was confidently expected the next day,
with an addition Of fifty or sixty mora
men. This iuformstiou seemed TO
produce considerable damp on the
spirits Of the whole town; the Canadi.
an was Immediately ordered into the
guard house, to be carefully watched.
Ii was an understanding between the
General and the Canadian, that If he
could not obtain Abundance, he was 10
resurn; bus if he could, no would Ger.
tsinly give the information agreed on.
Nothing having been heard from the
Canadian, early the next morning,
Clarke, as soon as it was light paraded
his men on the eide OF small emf.
hence. within cannon shot of the fort,
and so marched and cOuntermarcbed
them as to expose them to the view of
the people of the fort, only as they
marched one way in order that their
number should appear double what
they really were; he also exhibited the
appearance of cannon, and of plant.
log it on the top of The rise from
whence The fort could be battered.
About ten o'clock, all motion ceased,
and Clarke sent flag demanding the
surrender ofthe fort forthwith. Three
flags passed before the terms were a.
greed on, when Hamilton surrender.
ed to Clarke, garrison wellurnished
with every thing necessary for its de.
fence, including greater number Of
etflcient men than were opposed tohim.
10 very few days after the surren.
der of Vincennes Clarke received no.