Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-05-05

and explicit Information of the condition
of the British forces at Vincennes. the
projected movements of Hamilton. and the
friendly feelings of the French towards
the Americans From him Col. Clark
learned that a portion of the British
| troops were absent on marauding parties
with the Indians, that the garrison con-
sisted of about eighty regular soldiers.
three brass field pieces, and some swiyels,
and that Gov. Hamilton meditated the re-
capture of kaskaskia early in the spring
Col. Clark determined on the bold project
of an expedition to Vincennes, of which
he wrote to Gov. Henry and sent an ex-
press to Virginia AS a reason for this
hazardous project Col Clark urged the
force and designs of Hamilton, saying to
Gov. Henry in his letter-"T knee If I
did not take him. he 1oould take me r'
A boat, fitted up as a galley, carrying
two four Founders and four swiyels, and
commanded by Capt. John Rogers, with
forty-six men. and provisions, was des-
patched from Kaskaskia to the Ohio with
orders to proceed up the Wabash secretly
as possible to a place near the mouth of
the Embarrass Two companies of men
were raised from Cahokia and Kaskaskia.
commanded by Captains Macarty and
Charleville, which, with the Americans,
amounted to one hundred and seventy
men.
The winter was unusually wet and the
streams all high, but on the 9TH of Feb
ruary, 1879, this fragment of an army
commenced its march from Kaskaskia to
Port Vincent. This was Que of the most
dreary and fatiguing expeditions of the
revolutionary war. After incredible hard
ships they reached the Little Wabash, the
low bottoms of which for several miles,
were covered with water, as Col Clark's
report atfirms, generally three feet deep,
never under two, and frequently over four
feet" Every traveller, who ever passed
this swamp between the Little Wabash
and Muddy Fork in a season of high
floods. will form correct ideas of the expo
sure and fatigue of Col Clark and his gal
liant band. Hitherto they had borne their
extreme privations and difficulties with
incredible patience, but now the spirits of
many seemed exhausted. There was an
Irish drummer in the party who possessed
an uncommon tact in singing comic, Irish
songs.
While the men were wading to the waist,
and sometimes to the armpits in mud and
water, and the fertile ingenuity of Col.
Clark, who never failed in resources, plac-
ed the Irishmau on his drum which read
lily floated, while he entertained the ex-
hausted troops with his comic musical
powers.
On the 18th day of February, eleven
days after their departure from Kaskas,
kia they heard the morning gun of the
fort, and at evening of the same dav they
were on the banks of the Great Wabash
below the mouth of the Embarrass The
party were now in the most exhausted,
destitute and starving condition, and no
signs of their boat with supplies The
river was out of its banks, all the low
grounds covered with water, and canoes
could not be constructed to carry them
over before the British garrison would dis
cover and capture or massacre the whole
party February goth, they hailed and
brought to a boat from Post Vincent, and
from the crew, whom they detained, they
learned that the French population were
friendly to the Americans, and that no
suspicion of the expedition had reached
the British garrison. Having crossed the
river in the boat, and finding his men II
resO!ute to enter the water, wide sheet
o. which lay in their course, after they
had crossed the channel of the river, Col.
Clark gave the signal, blackened his face
with powder and raised the Indian war
whoop. The talents of the musical drum
mec were again exerted with happy effect.
one 0f his fayorite songs was sung, and
the whole company joined in the chorus
After 5raversing an elevated plain called
the Sugar Camp" another sheet of water
lay before them, with no timber or brush
wood to mark out their path, or enable
them to ascertain its depth Post Vim
cent the object of all their toll and suffer
ings, was IN sight. After a spirited ad-
dress Col. Clark again led his troops into
the water to the armpits This time he
stationed Capt Bowman with a corps Of
twenty five men in the rear, and gave strict
orders to shoot any man that refused to
march forward, declaring that amongst
a company of such brave persevering aud
determined men, no coward should live.
This was received with a general shout.
the men rushed into the water, and after
the most severe struggling and deep wad-
ing they reached the timber and high
ground So much were they exhausted
by fasting, and such long exposure in the
water, that many of them fell when they
reached the land They were so fortun-
ate as to capture an Indian canoe with
quarter of beef, and some corn and tallow
This, made into soup, recruited the al
most famshed men
Having captured a Frenchman while
shooting ducks, Col Clark availed him
self of the opportunity to execute most
singular stratagem. He wrote a letter
addressed to the people of Vinoennes, as
follows
To the inhabitants of Post Vincennes:
Being now within two miles of your
village with my army, determined to take
your Fort this night, and not being will
ling to surprise you, take this method
of requesting such Of you, as are true cit
liens, and willing to enjoy the liberty l
bring unto you, TO remain still in your
houses And those, if there are, that are
friends n the KING will Instantly rarair