The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-08-07
6EORaE ROGERs CLARK.

III StINlCtc 10 not toO CohhNN
GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.
AT that time the exploits of General Glars
whose military talents were of e high order
were fresh in the recollection of the country
Early in the Revolutionary War, while private
citizen, holding no commission, civil OF militia
~, he distinguished himself by his efforts 10 pro
tect the frontier settlements of Virginia am
North Carolina, against the incursions Of the
Indians.
He led the party which made the first loCg-
ment at the Falls of the Ohio, where an improve
ment was then commenced, from which the
splendid city of Louisville has grown up. Tie
was the leading commissioner in negotiating a
treaty between the United States ana the chiefs
and warriors of the Shaw nee nation, ineludinga
part of the Delawares, at the mouth Of the Big
Miami, in January, l7c6. by which the United
States were acknowledged to be the sole anc sb-
solute sovereigns of all the territory ceded BY
the treaty of peace with Great Britain in l7-3
"His expedition 10 the Mississippi. in H.,
was then part of the unwritten history Of th-
Revolution, but il was universally known. anc
Justly appreciated in the W est and il gave HIM
a high rank among the military men of his day.
When the Commonwealth Of Virginia sent him
a colonel's commission. accompanied with
warrant TO raise regiment OF volunteers, anc
for tina; purpose 10 make contracts on thu
with funds for the purpose. hut lef, him to pro-
cure them in the best way he could: either on
their credit. on his own. Vet such was ms
perseverance,, and so unboun0ed was his conf
dence in the honor of his native State, and sGch
was his influence with the people Of the West,
who knew his bravery and mis- military talents.
tkat he soon raised regiment Of hardy keniuek-
ians, whom he inspired with his own spirit, ana
having attached them warmly 10 his person, lee
at kaskaskias and Chaokia- The inhabitants Of
these villages. On receiving promise of Protsc-
ton. declared allegiance TO the United States
At that time, Governor Hsmilton was at Fort
Nincennes, making his arrangements 10 capture
Clark ana his band of heroes, which he e1pectec
10 accomplish with but little difficulty. Clark,
however, was aware Of the Governors purpose,
and also Of the danger Of his own situation, and
determined To- anticipate his enemy. Having
left a sufficient number of men TO insure the
safety of the conguesis he had already made. he
proceeded with the residue, BY a forced march
through swamps and quagmires to the Wabash.
where he arrived. without the loss of a man,
though the country flooded that they
were sometimes compelled 10 swim. The az
vance of the troops was 50 arranged, as 10 bring
them 10 the village before the dawn Of day. ana
before the governor was advised of their move
ments from the Mississippi The consequence
Was, the post was carried by storm, and the gov
ernor and his troops made prisoners of war.
"The expedition was not eycelled in din
Guilty and suffering. in daring courage, by the
the memorable march Of Arnold, 10 Quebec in
lss5.
"General Clark succeeded in retaining mill
tary possession Of that extensive country till tie
close Of the war, and by that means secured il
to the United States. The fact il well known.
that in arranging the articles of the treaty Of
peace, at Paris. the British commissioners insist
ed on the Ohio river part Of the northern boun-
dairy Of the United States; and that the Count
de Vergennes favored that claim IL appears
also from the diplomatic correspondence on that
subject. that the only trnable ground on which
the American commissioners relied. to sustain
their claim TO the Lakes, as the boundary, was
the fact that General Clark had conquered the
country, and was in the undisputed military
possession Of il at the time Of the negotiation
The fact was affirmed and admitted, ami was
the chief ground on which the British commits
sioners reluctantly abandoned their claim
at is a fact Of Importance in estimating the
character and claims of General Clark, on the
American people, that the Legislature Of Viz
ginia did not furnish him with money or other
means to accomplish the service they had aP-
pointed him to perform They merely sent
him commission, accompanied with power
to recruit men, and make contracts obliga-
tory on the State. But the Stat having no
credit, he was cast on bis OWE energy, AM
relied on his own personal eirts 10 raise
and equip his troops, and to feed and cioihe
them during the time Of their service, which
continued TO the end Of the war. The task
he undertook was a herculean one. Thers
were but very few who could have accom-
plished II; and nothing but the most ardent
attachment 10 his country could have promP-
ted him 10 undertake il, and to perscvere as
he did.
patriotism, and a laudabei desire of mili-
tary fame, were the governing influences OF
his mind. They led him to incur great haz-
ards, and enabled him to accomplish much
During his campaign-and in fact from the
day ne began to recruit his regiment till he
had taken Fort Vincennes by storm, and cap
tured the garrison with the British governor
-he had no time to reflect on consequence
His troops were subsisted on a scaniy allow
ance, such as they were able to carry on
their backs on a rapid march. But when
the campaign was over, and his mind became
occupied in devising means for the future
Subsistence Of his troops, and to retain the
posts he had taken, he discovered his situation
to be apparently hopeless; but despair formed
no part Of his charaeter-it was feeling he had
| never iadulged-snd he resolved to assume the
responsibility Of sustaining his regiment. and
holding ths Posss in his Pessessisa - the con-