Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-11-16

the States Of Virginia and North Car.
DINA would intersect that river, which
he effected.
After fixing fort Jefferson, General
Clarke left at that place about one han
dred men, and with the remainder Of
his force assembled the Mississippi,to re.
lieve Coho and St Louis, which were
besieged by a considerable force Of
French and Indians, assisted by the
British, and who, before he arrived,
had killed fifty three ofthe inhabitants.
When Gen. Clarke arrived at Coho,
he was informed that the number of
men at st. Louis, collected from Kas
ksskia and other places was between
three and four hundred. He went o
YER to st Louis to review the troops as
well as the works of defence. The
Spanish commandment at ST Louis had
built blockhouses and strengthened
other parts Of the place, and on the ar
rival Of Clarke, offered him the COM
mand ON both sides Of the Mississippi
river, bat Gen. Clarke declined taking
the command, until he could ascertain
where The assault would be made; he
continued only about two hours in St
Louis, before he returned 10 Coho.
The Commandant at st. Louis was
disappointed in Clarke's leaving him so
soon, he expected he would have staid
to dinner with him, and to entertain
him the better, he had sent cut hun
ter to kill some ducks for that purpose
The hunter fell in with spy from the
Invading army, near the margin of the
river, who entered into conversation
with him, and asked kia great many
questions, and amongst others, who
commanded at Coho? The hunter
answered Montgomery had heretofore
commanded, bat that Clarke had just
arrived with great force, and that Co
he was now commanded by him. The
spy replied, that was impossible, as he
knew Clarke was is Kentucky:f Cor an
express from the Governor of Virginia
with dispatches to General Clarke,
addressed to him at louisville, had
lately been killed by the Indians, and
therefore he knew Clarke could not be
al Coho. The hunter said it was i'm
meteriai about the dispatches, but that
Clarke was at that momeat in ST. LoH
IS, and that he had come out to Kill
some ducks for his dinner.
In the evening, an attack was made
OF the town of 1t. Louis by the inva
ding enemy, and shortly after similar
attack was made on Coho.--Clarke
drew out bis forces at Coho. but only
a slight skirmish took place before the
enemy retreated; he had two men kill
ed. Immediately after the enemy with
drew, Clarke sent over three hundred
men to the relief Of St. Louis, and on
their approach the enemy retired from
that place also. This invading enemy
had come from Michilimackinac.
Whilst Gen Clarke was at Coho,
several French desegters came 10 and
gave him the information of the inten.
ded expedition against Kentucky, nm
der the command of Col. Byrd from
Detroit. He sent three or four hun
dred men up to Illinois, and to Rock
River, who destroyed several towns.
Soon after, receiving certain intelIi |
genee of Byrd's intentions, Gen. Clarke,
Major Harlan, and Capt. Consela, !
with few others, set out from St |
Louis, for Fort Jefferson, and sent so |
men up to Louisville with ammunition
for the purpose Of carrying an expedi.
ton into the enemies country, and, i'll
possible, intercept Byrd on his march
to Kentucky.
From Fort Jefferson, Clarke, Har. |
Ian, and Consola, set off on foot for
Harrodsburgh, in Kentucky. twas
a remarkable wet season, all the riv-
ers were very full, SO that they were
obliged to make RATS to cross both the
Tennessee and Cumberland rivers,
the smaller rivers they swan. A short
distance from the Tennessee river, they
were discovered by party of Indians,
and pursued and very narrowly esca.
ped the Indians having crossed the
Tennessee above them, and waited to
meet them on their landing; but fortu.
nateiy, discovered the Indians in time
to make their landing below the mouth
OF wide and deep creek, and imme
diately on landing, were out of sight;
not long after leaving the Tennessee
they came across bear, and being al
most out of provisions they killed it.