The New York herald., 1879-02-25
The Centenary of the Conquest Of
the Northwest.
GEORGE ROGERS CLARKE
His Brilliant Capture Of Kaskas-
kia and Vincennes.
AMERICAS FORGOTTEN HEROES

one Of the most gallant and deserving the heroes
OF the American struggle for independence. While
insignificant skrmishes in the Eastern States have
been celebrated in prose and poetry and have be-
come the staples Of school histories, campaign
which, in its reaching results one Of the de-
cisive of American annals is almost unknown
to the of the present generation. and its heroes
deprived of that need of fame which is justly their
due. There are few romantic exploits recorded
In the story OF any country than the expedition Of
Major George Rogers Clarke, in 177s-9 with hand
tul of Vrgnan volunteers through the pathless wds
of the great Northwest Territory. resulting in the
conquest and permanent annexation to the revolted
colonies of the strongholds of British power in
region peopled by l0,0OO.O0O Of the most pros
porous of American citizens Few Americans have
any knowledge of the annals of tho
great West. For them the history of Ohio Indiana,
Illinois. Michigan ana Wisconsin begins with their
settlement by emigrans from the Eastern States
subsequent to the of the Revolution. and 1t is
only in recent times that Francis Parkman's charm
ing volumes have recalled to memory that there is
history of French occupancy Of the Northwest, COW
ering full century before that territory passed into
English hands.
FRENCH EXPLORATION THE NORTHWEST.
The heroic achievements of the early French ex-
plorers La Salle Joliet vncennes and Others added
to Canada the whole region Of the great lakes and
Ohio During the silent decades Of the first half of
the eighteenth century. while Washington was sur
veying the Businesses Of the valley of Virginia and
Franklin experimenting electric phenomena at
Philadelphia, there slumbering in unrecorded
obscurty numerous French villages on the Illinois
and Wabash rivers Founded before the close Of the
seventeenth century. they were remote both from
the French capital at Quebec and from the
western outpos.s of the English colonies. that
they might well have been in the heart
of Africa for all that was known of them
at Downing street. at Williamsburg at Philadel-
phia. The issue of the ''Seven Years War;" which
i'll 1868 dentively extinguished French dominion in
America had but slight effect in directing attention
to these remote settlements. They added to tho
Province of Quebec" with which the people of tho
thirteen English colonies felt that they had little
concern and the greed for new territory had still
vast regions to appropriate before the value Of the
great Northwest could be appreciated.
SITUATION OF THE BRITISH POSTS.
At the outbreak of the Revolution the Northwest
territory, considered a part of the Province Of
Quebec. was administered from Detroit by Colonel
Henry Hamilton. with the title Of Lieutenant Gov
Hamilton brave but unscrupulous
officer. who enjoyed great influence with the
Indians and did not hesitate to pay them high
bounties for the scalps of tho insurgent from
tiersmen. The three principal outposts of
the region under his command were the old French
settlements of Kaskaskia. Cahokia and vincennes.
Kaskaskia, founded by La Salle in 1852. is situated
the mouth of the navigable Kaskaskia River in
the present Randolph county. Southern Illinois,
nearly opposite st. Genevieve, Mo. Though an
insignificant village it for more than a century
the largest settlement Of the Northwest. and for
several years prior to 1913 the capital of Illinois
Territory. Cahokia is almost y suburb OF st.
Louis. being situated the Illinois shore Of the
Mississippi. four five miles south of that city.
Vincennes the county seat of Knox county, Ind, is
situated on the western bank OF the Wabash River,
opposite Lawrence county, Iii. 1t is thriving city
OF some seven thousand inhabitants, nearly midway
between Cincinnati and St Louis, by the Ohio and
Mississippi Railroad: is surrounded by hundreds
proudly recalls the fact that it was the
capital of the Northwest Territory during
its whole existence, and OF Indiana Terri
tory until 1913. 1t founded trading post
about 1712 by Jean Baptiste Bissot. Sieur de Vim
cennes, native of Quebec, and kinsman of the
explorer Joliet who from his childhood had taken
active part in Western explorations long resi-
dent among the Miami Indians. and in 1876 joined
the expedition Of Chevalier dArtaguette against the
Chickasaw Indians, by whom. after several victories
he was taken prisoner and burned alive, along with
many companions. including Pere Senat and D'Ar-
taguette himself.
EARLY CAREER OF CLARKE.
At the commencement OF the War OF the Revolution
Kentucky had not attained even the dignity of q
county. but was known '.the western precinct Of
hundred settlers had followed the lead Of Daniel
Boone and Colonel James Harrod, and two towns.
gathered around blockhouses the Kentucky
River year or two before Hither came in IT'S the
hero Of the conquest of the Northwest, George
Rogers Clarke, then youth of twenty three years.
but having already gained distinguished record as
backwoodsman and Indian fighter He was OF
good family in Mbemarle county, Va, and was born
Charlottesville, November 10, 1752. Like Wash
ington. who was twenty years his senior he COM
menced his active career land surveyor. He had
visited Kentucky before the first permanent settle
ment was made there by Boone having padded
down the Ohio River in i772 as companion 10 the
celebrated Rev. David Jones aftcrward chaplain to
ST. CLAIR and Waynel. when on his enterprising but
ware Indians" At this time he was deeply impressed
with the importance of the fertile valley of the Ohio
and the necessity Of securing il for settlement by his
narrates l"Feld Book. vol. H.. 2ss the Immediate
sequel
sonal courage of the truest stamp; his energies,
physical and mental. always vigorous, and he
became an oracle among the backwoodsmen. He
commanded company In Governor Dunmores
army IN IVA During the years 11'5 and
ness south Of the Ohio studied the character
of the Indians. chiefly from the observations Of
others. aud sought to discover plan by which tide
Of emigration might flow unchecked and secure into
that paradise OF the continent He soon became
WINGED that the British garrisons at Detroit, Kas
kaska and Vincennes were the nests OF those vuures
who preyed upon the feeble settlements of the West
and deluged the virgin soil with the blood Of the
pioneers"
BnILLrAScY OF THE EXPLOIT
Mr.. Bancroft. who cannot be accused OF undue
enthusiasm respecting this portion OF the annals Of
the Revolution. remarks at this juncture AN enter
prise is now to be recorded which, tor the valor Of
the actors. their fidelity to another. the seeming
feeblcness OF their aud the great result Of their
hardihood remains for memorable In the history
of the world" On the 9th of June, l776. the emf.
grants In the western precinct OF Fincaste county"
met IN convention at Harrodsburg and elected Cap
tain George Rogers Clarke along with another Of
their number TO proceed to the capital of Virginia
and solicit the formation of their settlements into
acounty. Before the two delegates could reach WILL
iamsburg the Declaration of Independence had been
promulgated aud the Legislature of Virginia had adj
Journed. Al the winter session. however December
9. 1T,G. the county of Kentucky organized with
the limits Of the state OF the name and Clarke
returned down the OHIO the following spring. Dur
ing the summer of 1T17 Clarke sent young hunt
to reconnoitre the French villages In Illinois and
the wabash IL was learned that the British gar
rison of Kaskaskis had been withdrawn year or two
before. and the custody of the fort conn mittcd to
Philip ROcheblave. q Frenchnnan. who had neither
troops money. Lieutenant Governor Hamilton,