Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1840-12-05

delivered up tnelr arms 10 the conquer
er. Not drop of blood had been
shed, though the victory was complete.
The whole management displayed in a
most admirable manner, what the
French style ruse de guerre,' the poll
cy of war. NJ. Rocheblavc, the gov.
ernor, was taken in his chamber; but
his public papers and documents were
admirably concealed or destroyed by
his wife.
From this night we date the inde.
pendence of Illinois.-Throughout the
night the Virginia troops were ordered
to patrol the streets, with yels and
whoopings after the Indian fashion,
which though alarming 10 the conquer
ed inhabitants, was a stratagem Of
Clark to accomplish his purposes.
One of the richest and most dstin>
guished citizens Of Kaskaskia at that
period was M. Cerre, said by Col.
Clark to have been most bitter enemy
10 the Americans He had long been
successful trader, but had left the
place before the arrival Of the Amcri.
cans, and was then at st. Louis on his
way to Quebec.
"The commander, at once, deter>
mined to bring him and all his influence
to the side of the American interest.
Accordingly he took possession Of his
house and extensive merchandise and
placed a guard over the property. Ano-
ther stratagem was to prevent all inter-
course between his men and the citi-
zcns, and TO admit none Of the latter TO
his presence except by positive cons
mand for them TO appear before him;
or apparently in great condescension
when urgently solicited to gran, an au-
dience to some humble petitoner.-By
this course Of policy he contrived at
first to confirm all the worst suspi-
cions the British had instilled into the
minds of the simple villagers, of the
ferocity Of the 'Long-knives,' and
then, by undeceiving them, produce
revulsion of feelings, and gain their
unlimited confidence. In this he was
completely successful. The town was
in possession of an enemy the inhabi-
tants had been taught were the most
ferocious and brutal of all men and Of
whom they entertained the most horri-
BILE apprehensions, and all intercourse
was strictly prohibited between each
other and the conquerors. After FIVE
days the troops were removed to the
outskirts of the town, and the citizens
were permitted to walk in the streets.
But finding them engaged in converse.
tion, one with another, Colonel Clark
ordered some of the officers TO be put
in irons without assigning a single
reason, or permitting a word Of defence.
This singular display Of despotc pow
er in the conqueror, did not spring from
cruel disposition, or disregard 10
the principles of liberty, but it was the
course he had marked out to gain his
object.
"Of all commanders, perhaps, Col
Clark had the readiest and cleares, in
: sigh, into human nature. The effec
, of this stretch Of military power, at frs
was to fill the inhabitants with cons,er
! nation and dismay.
g "Afler some time M. Gibault, tht
$ parish priest, got permission to wait or
e Col. Clark, with five or six elderly gen
9 tlemen.
Y elf the inhabitants Of the town wer,
: filed with astonishment al the sudden
:, ness Of their captivity, these men wer
: far more astonished at the persona
: appearance Of Col. Clark and his sol
,, diers. Their clothes were dirty an
y torn, (for they had no change Of appaI
r. eD-their boards of three and fou
\. weeks growth, and, as Clark states i
e. his journal, they looked more frightfl
ir and disgusting than savages.
= "Some minutes passed before th
le deputation could speak, and then the
at felt al a loss whom they should addre,
n as commandanl, for they saw no diffe
rs cnce in the personal appearance b,
he tween the chieltain and his men.
h, FINALLY, the priest, in the most su
ha missive tone and posture, remark'
as that the inhabitants expected to
ID separated, perhaps never to meet agai
MS and they begged through him, as
,se great favor from their conqueror, to
er- permitted to assemble in the churC
ird offer up their prayers to God for tn,
kla souls, and take leave of each othe
er> "The commander observed, w
an apparent carelessness, that the Anne
Ugh cans did not trouble themselves abb
on, the religion of others, but left eve
lth- man to worship God as he pleased, 4