Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-12-05
y X.
EXTRACT FROM AN ADDRESS,
Delivered before the ViRcennes Historical and
Antiquarian Society. by Judge LAW,
February 22, 1889.

February %, 1889.
There is, in the annexed Revolutionary inciden,
much to arrest attention-disclosing a selEdeyo,ion.
and constancy in suffering, unknown and scarce i'm.
agined, by4he men of the present generation. i,
10 a duty, as it should be a pride, to preserve these
relics of the olden times. "Reminiscences, OF the
border troubles, and, indeed, the details of striking
neighborhood occurrences, in every region of tho
country, during the feriod. refer.
red to in the extract, should be preserved, with Sc
dulous, antiquarian care. Their moral and social
influence, if teH, is invaluable, in these maddened
days OF party intolerance aud individual avarice.-
There needs a stilling of the troubled waters
1t was on the 5th of February, 1879, that a spar.
tan band of one hundred and seventy men. headed
by az gallant a leader as ever led men to battle,
crossed the knskaskia river. on their march to this
place. The incidents OF This campaign, their ne.
rils, their sufferings, their constancy, their courage.
their success, would be incredible, were they NOT
matters OF history. In my opinion, as / have be-
fore remarked, no campaign, either in ancient or
modern warfare, taking into consideration, the force
employed, the want of material, the country passed
over, the restitution of even the necessaries of life,
the object to be accomplished, and the glorious re-
suits flowing from it, is to be compared to 1t. And
what is even yet more astonishing, 10 the fact, that
a battle which decided the fate OF an empire, a CAM
paign which added to our possessions a country
more than equal in extent to the United Kingdoms
of Great Britain, Scotland, and Ireland, has scarce
ly even a page of our revolutionary annals devoted
to its details, OF making even honorable mention Of
the brave and gallant men, who so nobiy and sue
~cessfully conducted il.
Time would fail me, and your patience would be,
perhaps, exhausted, were l to follow step by step,
and day by day, this small, but brave, devoted, pa
triOtic, and Chivnlroils earns tbrat4uh the uv,I1a,naa.
from haskaskia to this place. 1t would be but a
repetition OF daily sufierings, of fatigue, of peril,
OF constancy, of perseverance,, and Of hope. Day
after day, without provisions, wading in ice and
water to their necks, through the overlooked bot
toms OF the Wabash, carrying their rifles above
their heads, their gallant chief taking the lead fore
most in difficulty and in danger, did these patriotic
soldiers struggle on, faint, weary, cold and star.
wing, until the prize was in view, and their OBJ
Ject was accomplished. Look around you, nv
friends, and see what this portion of our beloved
Union IL now. Look ahead, and tell, me if YOU
can, what it is to be a half century hence, suppo-
sing the improvements to progress as they have the
last twenty years-and the advancement will be
geometrical-and then go back with me sixty years
since, Mis Oery day, and learn from an actor in the
scene-one holding command, and from whose un-
published journal l make the extract, what the
country was, and the difficulties and dangers. the
perils and suterings those endured who conquered
hV' yVui u youfss ana snoulQ you, or those who
4 are 10 come alter you, to the latest generation for
get them, " may your right hands forget their cum
ming"
February 22d, 1879. Col. Clark encouraged
his men, which save them great spirits. Marched
on IN the water; those that we're weak and famish.
ed from so much fatigue, went in the canoes. We
came three miles farther to so,ne sugar camp,
where We stayed all night. Heard the evening
and morning guns at the Fort. No provision yet.
The LORD HELP US,
"23d. Set of to cross the plain called Horse
Shoe flain, about four miles long, all covered with
water breast high. Here we expected some of our
brave men must certainly perish, the water having
froae IN the night, and SO long fasting. Having no
other resource but wading this lake of frozen water.
we plunged in with courage, Col. CLARK being first.
We took care to have boats by, to take those who
were weak and benumbed with the cold into them.
Never were men so animated with the thought of
a~venging the ravagcs done to their back settlements,
az this small army was. About one o'clock we
came in sight of the town. We halted on a small
hill of dry land, called Warren. Island" where
~e took a prisoner hunting ducks, who informed
US that no person suspected our coming in that sea.
son OF the year. Col. Clark wrote a letter by him
to the inhabitants as follows:-
TO The Inhabitants Of Post Vlncennes.
"GENrLEMEN: Being now within two miles of
your village with my army, determined TO take your
tort this night, and not being willing to surprize
you; l take this method of requesting such OF you
as are true citizens, and willing to enjoy the liberty
bring you, to remain still in your houses. And
those, If any there are, that are friends to the King,
will instantly repair to the Fort, and Join the HAIR.
BUYER GENERAL, and fight like men. And if any
such as do not go to the Fort shall be discovered al.
forwards, they may depend on severe punishment.
On the contrary. those who are true friends to lb-
erty, will be we'll treated.
G. r. CLARK"
In rrdar IN n,ra aN,,t A. ,L.. 49, II =. l. :.
communicated to the French inhabitants, the army
encamped until about sun down, when they common
ced their march, wading in water breast high, to
the rising ground on which the town is situated
One portion of the army marched directly up along
where the levee is now raised, end came in by the
steam-mill. While another party under Lieutenant
Bradley deployed from the main body, and came in
by the present Princeton road. An entrenchment
was thrown up in front of the Fort, and the battle
commenced from the British side by the discharge,
though without effect, of their cannon, and the re-
turn on our side of rifle shot-the only arms which
the Americans possessed. On the morning of the
2sth, about 8 O'Clock, Col. Clark sent in a flag Of
truce, with a letter to the British Commander, du-
mig which time there was a cessation of hostiitiss,
and the men were provided with IA hreakfast-the
trst mea! that Meyhad6ad SINCE the 1871, sac days
0gore, The letter OF Clark is so characteristic Of
the man, so laconic, and, under such trying circum-
stances, shows so much tact, self-possession, and
htmness, that / will read il:
siR In order to save yourself from the inn
pending storm that now threatens you, | order you
smmedtatety to surrender yourself, with all your
garrison, stores, &c. &c. For i'll am obliged to
storm you may depend on such treatment as is just
ly cue to a murderer. Beware ofdestroying stores
OF any kind, or any papers or letters that are in your
possession, or hurting one house In town. Fer hy
Heavens, if you do, there shall be no mercy shown
you. &C. II. CLARK.
ITO Gov. HAMrLrox.'
Since the days Of Charles the XIIth, ofSweden,