The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-06-13
AN ILLINOIS HERO.


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AN ILLINOIS HERO. r
sketch of uens deorge Rogers Clarke, the
Ga. m CAP or of Kaslsskia. 4ga
From the Alton nl J Telegraph !,
In a previous article we have spoken
of the conquest of Illinois from the Brit
ish in 177S, and will add a brief sketch
of Gen. George Rogers Clarke. who
commanded the Virginia forces in that
campaign. a Gen Clarke, one of the
founders of Kentucky, was also one of
the most distinguished of the early set
tiers of the West. He was born in Al
bemarle County, Va, in 1859 He be-
gan life as a surveyor, and subsequently,
served in Dunmore's war He first Wis.
tied Kentucky in 1775, and located there
permanently in 1776. He had previ-
ously made extended explorations of the
Western country, and was thoroughly
acquainted with the Indian habits and
character. Deeply imbued with anxiety.
for the future of the young Common.
wealth which he lad made his home, he
early became aware that the salvation
of all the settlements west of the Ale
gheny Mountains depended upon the
capture from the British of the forts at
Detroit, Vincennes, and Kaskaskia. 1t
was from these points that the British
sent forth those Indian expeditions
which laid waste and destroyed the
homes of the pioneers- In 1777 Clarke
became aware that a gigantic coalition
of all the Indian tribes of the West
and South was being organized by the
British for a combined attack upon the
struggling Eastern Colonies. How to
break up this coalition was the problem
he was called upon, to solve He soon
became convinced that by the capture
of the British posts in Illinois and on the
Wabash a barrier would be placed be-
tween the Indians of the North and those
of the West and South, and the coali
ton of the various tribes be thus pre-
vented. Full of this project, Clarke
started for. the Capital of Virginialr the
fall of 1777; had q; conference, with the
Governor, Patrick Henry, and the Leg
islature, who warmly approved his
scheme. He was authorized to enlist
troops for the expedition. and in the
course of a few months had organized
four companies of frontiersmen, who
rendezvoused at the Falls of the Ohio
We have previously spoken of the bril-
liant campaign which followed; the cap
ture of Kaskaskia, on July 4, 177S; of
the taking of Cahokia and other towns
in Illinois; of the terrible march on Vim
cennes in February, 1879, and the cap
ture of the post after q severe battle
Clarke not only conquered the Illinois
country, but he held 1t true to the Amer
lean allegiance. He established a re-
publican form of Government; made the
French settlers his devoted allies; and
struck such terror TO the Indian tribes
throughout the West by his warlike
deeds that they abandoned the British
alliance incontinently. Clarke's success
in breaking up the great coalition of In
dian tribes was complete. By his cour-
age, address, and military skill, he pre-
vented the threatened onset of savage
foes, led by British Captains, which was
designed to overwhelm the border col
onists from New York to Georgia, cause
diversion of Continental troops to the
West, and thus render the conquest of
the Colonies by the British regulars an
easy matter. This scheme, which was
concocted by Gov. Hamilton, the Brit
ish commander of The Northwest, was
probably the greatest Indian conspiracy
ever formed in this country, and, had it
been carried out, the War of the Revo-
luton would either have been indefinite-
ly prolonged or would have had differ
determination. larkecompletely frus-
trated this scheme by his conquest of
Illinois, and sent its cOncoctor, Gov.
Hamilton, whom he captured at Vim
cennes, a prisoner 10 Virginia. "But
for Clarke's army of fearless Virgin
ians," says Mr.. Peck "the union of
all tribes from Maine to Georgia, might
have been effected against the Colonies,
and the whole current of our history
changed. The conquest of Clarke
changed the face of affairs in relation to
the country north of the Ohio River,
which would, in all probability, have
otherwise been the boundary between
the United States and Canadapi Jmn 9ii
After the capture of Vincennes, Gen!
Clarke planned the reduction of Detroit,
but was prevented by the inability of the
Governor of Virginia TO furnish, him the
necessary troops. 81. I..r5I
During the remainder of the Revolu-
tionary war Gen. Clarke was engaged
in various military expeditions, mainly
against the Indians north of the Ohio
River. He was subsequently a Major
General in the French service in Ameri-
ca. After an eventful career, filed with
great and daring deeds, he died in 1918
at his home in Kentucky, aud is buried
near Louisville. Gen. Clarke had all
the attributes of a natural leader, and
was loved and trusted to the utmost by
his soldiers. When he made the con-
quest of Illinois he was young man of
only 20, but he eyinced military talents
second to no commander among the
Continental Generals. His was the
grandest figure of our border history,
and his memory should be revered by
every Illinoisan. Hesit-was who con-
quered this prairie-paradise from foreign
and savage foes, who opened the gates
for the eager immigrant to enter and |
possess the land. The great deeds of
this man should be fittingly commence
GRATED at the coming centennial ami
versaries the next 4th of July, and his |
name and fame committed to the watch
full care of future generations.
Chinese Exercising the Devil.