The New York herald., 1879-02-25

the defence Of Kentucky" the other private direct
ing an attack upon the British fort at Kaskaskia.
The commanders of Fort Pitt at Pittsburg. was or
dered to furnish Clarke with ammunition, boats aud
other necessary equipments.
fastening across the ADeghanes Clarke quickly
established recruiting stations ut many points in
Western Virginia and fxed his headquarters at Red
stone Old Fort, on the Youghiogheny River lnow in
% rayeats county Ps where with the cordial AID d Of
ammunition Here he joined by Captain
Leonard Helm. of Fauquier county. and Captain
Joseph Bowman, OF Frederick, each with less than
half q company. In few weeks nearly thousand
hardy backwoodsmen joined his standard including
some from the remote wilds OF the Hoiston hver;
at Fort Kanawha and were there reinforced in May,
177s. by Captain William Harrod with Kentucky
company. The next halt was at Corn Island. at the
Falls of the Ohio. Louisville where Clarke took
up his residence in later years. There he was
Joined by one OF his scouts, simon kenton. youth
of twenty-five years, afterward celebrated one of
the bodest pioneers of the West and by Captain
John Montgomery. with few Kentuckians
CAPTURE THE ILLINOIS POSTS
On June 26 Clarke set out from the Falls Of the
Ohio and proceeded down the river on his memora-
BILE srrand with oars double, manned s Doubling
arrived unheraded at creek mile above Fort Mas
July g. and striking the treeless plain
the next day 70 Kaskaskia distance of seven miles,
captured the post surprise the evening of July
4. l77S The attacking party numbered about one
hundred and eighty men. detachment under
ceived without opposition. The French inhabitants
Of both places willingly pledged their allegiance to
the newcomers. knowing that France had concluded
an alliance with America
GOVERNOR HAsILroN's PROJECTS.
The actual occupation of the Illinois country was
thus consummated without boodshed The reduc-
ton of Vincennes remained to be achieved, and
an enterprise of greater difficulty In the first in.
stance indeed the people Of Vincennes gave in their
allegiance to Clarke without resistance through the
persuasons of Pere Gibault, q Catholic priest de-
spatched thither with small party from Kaskaska.
But a. soon as tho news reached Governor Hamilton
at Detroit he set out for the Wabash with consider
able body Of troops accompanied by $50 Indian war
riors of thirteen different tribes He took posses
sion of Fort vincennes December II without opposi-
ton. the people returning to their allegiance Hamil
ton settled himself down for the winter without fear
of moestaton, and announced by letter to the
Spanish Governor Of Louisiana his intention of
covering the Illinois country in the spring. and
threatened invade Louisiana if hospitality should
be given to the fugitive insurgents (Clarkes party)
Moreover. he summoned vast number of Indians
to his standard and projected the reduction OF the
whole Ohio and Allegheny country.
THE MARCH TO vINCENNEs.
Clarke and his resolute band not to be
daunted by these dire threstenings Learning from
Francois vigo. trader at St. Louis. that Hamilton
had weakened himself by sending out hordes Of In
dians he resolved to attack vincennes before their
return. BY his orders Captain Bowman evacuated
Cahokia, and, leaving small garrison in Kaskaskia
Clarke set out February with 130 men on his adven
turous march across southern Illinois. He had pre-
viously despatched February A. Captain John Rogers.
on q small galley mounting two rpounders and
four swvels with orders to enter the Wabash river
and take up position few miles below Vincennes.
SURRENDER OF vINCKNNEs.
Eleven days were consumed in reaching the
margin of the drowned lands" of the
Wabash Vincennes, and five days more
were required to traverse them, often wading
up to the breast in water, SO that they could
make but four or five miles day Had the weather
suddenly become cold they must all have pcrished.
Fortunately the winter was unusually open and the
enemy was strangely oblivious of their presence:
Even the 23d detachment of British troops left
vincennes on distant foray. unconscious of the
vicinity OF invader. The town left
indefensible, and on February "a, 1879, Major
Clarke and his heroic companions entered Vincennes
at the lower end Of the village, with drums beating
and white flag flying. The townsmen gladly
newed their allegiance to the Continental Congress.
and aided in the seige of the fortress, which i'm
mediaely invested. It surrendered before nightfal
and occupied on the morning of February rs.
l779 hundred years ago to-day Thus the last Brit
sured to our youthful Republic. Colonel Hamilton
and Captain Rocheblave were sent prisoners to Will
iamsburg. relief expedition from Detroit sur
prised and captured few days later
cLARKE's LATER CAREER.
The Legislature of Virginia testified its spprecia-
tion of Carkes services by the most complimentary
resolutions. The Illinois region was made county
OF Virginia Clarke in The spring Of $780, built Fort
jefferson on the Mississippi River, five miles below
the mouth of the Ohio. He was made brgadier
general, conducted successful campaign against
the Miami Indians and subsequently Joined Steuben
in the Eastern States. In 17SG lac commanded an
pedition Of 1000 raen against the Indians on the
Wabash, but it proved . failure. The memory
of his great services quickly forgotten
and he passed the last years OF his life near Louis
ville KY in poverty and obscurity, parayzed by q
rheumatic affection. He died there February L. 1873
-Four OF his brothers were actively engaged in the
war OF the Revolution. Of them being killed in
battle and another murdered by Indians on the
Wabash. A still younger brother the General
William Clarke celebrated as the companion of Meri-
wether Lewis in the exploration of Oregon in 1S06
and afterward for many years stationed at st. Louis
as Superintendent OF the Western Indians. A COM
pendious sketch Of the campaign of George Rogers
Clarke published at Cincinnati in 1869 by Mr. H.
Pirte. but the subject remains fascinating for
the elucidation Of future historians of the Great
West.