Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-04-28

and, like Washington, also, be was en-
ployed for seveal years in land surveying.
Little is known of his early years. or the
| manner aud extent of his education He
Is said TO have been much devoted to
mathematical studies and was also dis
tlnguished for his minute. correct and ex-
tenslve knowledge of geography In
Dunmore's War, as it was called in Vir-
ginia, be commanded a company, and per-
formed valiant services against the In
dlans. So much of military talent did he
display, that he was offered commission
in the Royal service, which, from the trou-
bles then arising between the Colonies
and Great Britain, he patriotically de-
clined
At the period of his first visit, Ken
lucky was the favorite theatre for young
men of romantic enterprise, who painted
for chivalroHs achievements In 1875,
he visited Harrod's Station, and other
places. He then held the title, if not the
commission of Major, and by general con-
sent was placed at the head of the irreg-
ular troops of Kentucky. The same sea
son, at bis suggestion, a general meeting
of the settlers was called at Harrod's
Station, Ito consult upon matters pertain
ing to their common interests J and Clark
aud man by the name of Jones, were
chosen delegates to the General Assem-
bly, of Virginia. The appointment could
give them no authority to seat, for Ken
tucky was not then legally attached to
the Old Dominion, (Virginia) but it gave
them Importance as the agents of the
Kentucky colony.
Ry tho ti,na of +hoir rival +ba
lature had adjourned; but they remained
to obtain from the Governor aud Council
supplies for the defence of the settlements
against the Indians. After much negoti-
alton he succeeded in obtaining four hun
dred pounds of powder, to be delivered
to his order at Pittsburgh, for the use of
the inhabitants of Kentucky.
| At Fort Pitt, Clark and Jones found In
dians lurking about as spies on their
movements and, with several boatmen,
and by indefatigable effort, they reached
+ Limestone safe with the ammunition For
several succeeding months, Clark was en-
gagged in contests and skirmishes with the
Indians, who at that period necessarily
barrassed the settlements of Kentucky
He saw that the source of Iudlan depre-
daGious existed in the British posts of
Detroit, St Vincent and Kaskaskia. If
these could be taken, the streams of In
dian barbarity, which spread desOlation
ov r Kentucky, would be dried up, and a
cOunteracting influence exerted over the
savages. 50 strongly was be impressed
with the Importance of such movement,
that, III the summer of l777, he sent two
trusty men, by the names of Moor and
Damn 1p1ar tho pf Indian +ra1arS
but In reality as spies, to reconnoltre
these remote posts of the enemy. These
emlssaries returned successful, and report
ed great activity on the part of the mill
tia, aud that great encouragement was
given to the Indians in their barbarous
and unprovoked warfare upon Kentucky.
They reported also, that constant efforts
were made by the British garrisons to
prejudice the French population against
the Long knlUcS," as the Virginiaus were
called; representing them, aud especially
the frontier people of Kentucky, as be-
ing far more barbarous and ferocious
than the Indians This exploration Clark
kept a secret, even from the Keutuckians
In October, !777, he again visited Vir
ginia, to divulge his plan of the conquest
of Illinois to the Governor and Council
of that Commonwealth. and obtain such
aid as they could bestow. He first open
ed the project to Patrick Henry, the Gov
e-nor, on the 9th day of December At
first, the Governor was captivated by the
brilliant project of striking such blow
against the enemy, and the savage allies
but it was hazardous, and success depend
ed mainly on secrecy. Several conferences
were held with the Governor aud Council
to whom Clark divulged all his plans, and
answered all objections. To bring the
subject before the Legislature would de
feat the object of their expedition, the
success of which depended SO much on
secrecy.
The result of these conferences was full
appreciation of the project and Patrick
Henry, George Wythe, George Mason
and Thomas Jefferson, like true patriots
and worthy sons of the "Old Dominion"
pledged themselves in a written obliga
tion, that should the expedition prove sue
cessful, their whole influence should be
employed with the Legislature to obtain
a bounty of three hundred acres Of land
for every person who would volunteer and
serve in the expedition.
of instructions were made out by the
Governor and Council-the one public
and directing Clark to raise troops and
proceed to the defence # Kentucky the
other private and confidential, directing
him, as mode of defending Kentucky,
to attack the British posts at .Kaskaskia
Twelve hundred pounds, in deprecated
currency, was advanced him, with an or
der on the Virginia officer at Fort Pitt,
for ammunition, boats aud all necessary
equipments Recruiting officers were then
sent forth. The western parts of Penn
sylvania and Virginia, and the new settle
mencs of Kentucky furnished recruits of
a hardy. daring and enterprising charac-
ter. After eneounterihg difficulties of no
ordinary kind, and considerable delay in
procuring supplies Clark arrived at the
Fails of Ohio in June and encamped and
threw up a slight fortifcation on Corn Is
Land opDoSita Louisville uhera ha uac