The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-17
GEORGE ROGERSCLARKE.
coyTyyUA TON or THE SKETCH or
HIS CAREER.
ne Establishes the Authority Of Virginia
over the Northwest Colonel John Todd
disappointed in His Schemes Against
pctroit The County of Illinois. Etc.


pctroit The County of Illinois Etc.
Il was fortunate for Clarke that he
bsA adopted the decisive measures re-
corded in our last account Of his opera
ions arains, Nincennes His spprehen-
SONS in regard to the return Of some Of
f,e enemys forces were verified while his
,uack upon the fort was in progress A
.arfy Of Indians who had been out ma
rauding were approaching the scene of
action. As soon as he was informed Of
Ibis he dispatched part Of his force to
,atorccpt, and IL possible scatter or de
str0y them. This was effectively done,
flc detachment soon returning with nine
prisoners. among whom were two French
men. who had been captured by the
saysrcs After the surrender Of the
Tort, information was brought 20 him Of
the approach of convoy Of boats laden
Nth goods, provisions, etc, from Detroit.
They were some distance up the Wabash
river. but he did not hesitate 20 send a
considerable portion of bis command 70
meet and capture The convoy before they
could get news of what had occurred at
Vincenncs This expedition, composed
Of sixty men in boats, armed with swiyeis,
succeeded in capturing forty prisoners,
al the goods and provisions During the
general rejoicing consequent upon these
successes, William Morris Clarke's
famOus bearer Of dispatches 10 the
Governor Of Virginia, suddenly ap-
reared with letters from the cap
isl. This event gave relief 20
Clsrkcs anxiety and added TO The joy
Of the garrison. by the terms in which
their previous services 20 their State had
been mentioned Al home such was the
effect upon them. that Clarke expressed
tae opinion, in giving account Of the cap.
ture of NnCcunes 90 the Governor that
bad he ordered il, they would have
marched at oucc upon Dcitoit itself.
This had long been the chief object of his
wishes He knew that If his stronghold
of the enemy could be reduced, the
British power IN the West would be per
manently broken. and VII Ibis would be
Dissolved all their alliance with the say
ages Bat bis present force was INSULT
Gent for such AN undertaking. lie was
Already 80 encountered with prisoners
that be could neither afford 20 feed or
guard them and had finally o. discharge
most Of them on parole. There was one
o. them. however. be determined should
be secured, and, as he hoped, brought %
TRIAL for his cruelties and habitual dis
regard of the laws OF civilized warfare.
Governor Hamilton, The late commander
Of Fort Sackyille rs the English called
work al Vincennes, al bis officers and
some OF his soldiers were put in charge
of Captain Williams and carried 20 Ken
lucky on their way 20 Virginia
In the meantime Colonel Clarke took
steps 10 avcnge the death OF the innocent
people who had fallen under the knife
and the TOmahaWk Of the savages serving
under the British flag The more effect
ually 20 carry out this he caused the
latter ensign to De kept flying over the
fort as decoy to the bands Of warriors,
who might be returning from time 10 time
from their bloody forays. To complete
the deception be caused many OF his
men TO be dressed in the Uniforms OF
British soldiers, lately reCciN IN the
captured stores, and placed the ENTRY on
guard al the gate of the fort, c ed in the
red coat OF TIE English The tin was at
hand when the Indians, WHO had been
sent to sCOur the country along the OHIO,
should return 20 Join Hamilton in his
contemplated campaign against hasAaS-
ki4 n wos rrt long before they h@@'n
70 appear Having received no inform
tiOn of the serious change OF Affairs al
Vnccnucs that had occurred I'M their
absence, they did not hesitate TO APP
proach the fort The French inhabitants
had taken special care 20 contribute to-
waIds the successful exercise Of this ruse
on the par, of Clarke They were well
aware Of the course Hamilton and lis
cruel allies had pursued, aud were more
than willing 20 see their friends the
Americans avenged.
At length a band of warriors APP
preached The fort confident Of warm
reception by their British allies. They
came decktd oil with the scalps of women
ana children hanging at their belts. As
soon as they entered the fort vOlley OF
rife-sh0is. from men concealed Tor the
purpose. brought them 10 the earth.
Numbers OF these hired assasslns were
thus disposed Of before the ruse was de-
,ected.
AZ soon as Colonel Clarke had sent dis
patches TO the Governor, with accounts
OF his laie success. he proceeded TO m axe
treaties with the Indians In doing this
D. made use of the tact and wisdom for
which ne was so noted consequently ii
was not long before the savages aban-
donod their hostile position. They both
feared and admired the man who had not
only ouiwitled and made prisoner their
communicative chief, but had Sh wn them
bis power a. a leader and capacity as a
neh,cr. ~ soon. therefore, a. Ae had
provided for the security OF the country
hrltlt "a sufficient garrison at Nlucccrrs
4ndre,urncd 20 Kaskaskia Colonel tlihc
was sorc.y Disappointed lot being able
10 reduce the post AT Detroit. Ills far
reaching sagacity assured him that until
this was done there was always an appre-
hen,ion Of attack from that quarter. The
capture of Hamilton, however had the
effect of mitigatir this, inasmucn as the
British had no successor to that officer
who riyallod him in activity
and address. particularly with the tribes
ofthe North. Although this was true,
An atrtmpt wgs made early IN the year