The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-03

rhetr Protector Capture of kasksskia
and all the British Posts on the Upper
Mississippi
Within the wear after Clarke had re-
turned from Williamsburg with aid de
rived from the government OF Virginia,
ne saw tina, his hours Of inaction were
A. an end. The people Of the country
had. in the meantime, learned TO regard
him no, only as their recent benefactor,
but as the particular person upon whom
,hey were % depend for protection in
the future The Indians on the north
aide Of the Ohio river and along the
uppcr Mississippi were becoming more
and more aggressive A cloud of war
was evidently gathering in that direction
which would need effective resistance.
In addition 10 this trouble from without,
the savagcs within the bounds OF Ken
lucky itself were assuming threatening
attitude Indeed there were signs OF us
affection among the Southern tribes with
whom the KentucSians had made treaties,
and from whom agents from virginia
had made large purchases oil land. Among
these was the powerful Cherokee nation,
whose Chief OcOnOstOta,o or the Dragging
Canoe" had generally conducted the
negotiations on the part OF his own peo-
ME Under these circumstances Clarke
saw that something had TO be done, and
done al once. If the country was 10 be
saved from ruin lie rapidly formed his
own plans. and, with his accustomed
self-reliance and decision, fastened TO
nut them into execution. In order TO
satisfy himself as 10 the truth OF TIE
various and conflicting reports that were
ALWAYS abroad. and To find out the state
of the public mind among the French
inhabitants OF the towns now under the
dominion ~ the English power. he sent
emmssaries amongst them, and spies
among the sayages. il was well known
that the British authorities at kaskaskla,
CahOSia. and Nincenncs were taking
sfcps to strengthen these thee fortified
posts. From ,hese depOts Of supplies,
arms ammunition, and provisions were
furnished the Indians The tribes along
the Wabash acting with ibo British we're
supplied from that important post, ana
under the inspiration of their White allies
had for a long time been committing
horrible crUe.ties upon the Americas
south Of the Ohio. 50 also. from the dl-
rections of kaskaskia and tahokia, on
the Mississippi. the same policy had been
carried out bv the British, and the like
crueties praciiced Finding themselves
secure. far away from the kentucky lines
and enclosed bv swarms of their blood
thirsty ,llies. these English garrisons
formed q basis Of operations from which
the enemies OF America could, with com
paratiye safety, sally out upon any point
they might choose TO attack. The de
fenseless people along the southern
shores Of the Ohio had no rest from these
outbreaks Clarke saw that there was no
hope for relief unless these posts could be
csptured He was probably the only
man who had the genius TO conceive so
Commemorative and bold scheme, and
certainly the only one in all the country
who had the capacity 10 carry IT out
lie al once dispatched spies into the
French communities 10 learn their feel
ings toward the Americans, and their
sentiments in regard to the government OF
Nirrinia i'm particular They had instruc-
tions also I'd had out the strength of the
several rarri,0ns and the probable plans
20 be adopted bv the enemy in the future.
lie succeeded in engaging the services OF
well known hunters, whose familiarity
with the country and knowledge oil the
Indian character would enable them to
render him valuable service should oc-
casion occur These plans were entirely
successful He found that the English
had been making every effort 20 prelu-
dice the minds of their French subjects
against The American settlers IN Ken
tucky. and. unfortunately, had been emi
pently succe-, ful in arrayng the Indians
against them They paid them for the
scslps of every white they murdered,
whether man woman or Chlldand reward
ed them for all the settlements they might
destroy from the head waters OF the ONO
TO its mouth. and this, too, when II was sup
nose the war was being carried on 10y two
civilized nations The British had not,
however been able to poison the mind OF
fine French inhabitants against their
American neighbOrs. There was cause
for this. and ii was a fortunate clrcum
stance Before the English had gotten
pOssession of that country there was
much 10 be found in common between
abe French ard the emgrants who had
then found homes in "Ihe Kentucky, as
il was called at that time They were
not Of the same race or religion; but
they we're surrounded by common
enemy. their free and untrammelled lie
cave them habits alike, and had The effect
Of kindling sentiments OF mutual sympa-
thy and regard Then, too, the French
men felt themselves a subject people, un'
der the eve of their conquerors, aud were
not disposed 20 be inimlcal to those to-
wards whom there could be no cause for
dislike
At the same time that the English were
endeavoring 10 injure the ken,uckians In
the ewes of the French they mad uSeI
every means os Cancellation with the lat
ter. Their property was protected, they
were encouraged TO take office under their
Government. and at this very time the
post of Kaskaskia was commanded 10y
a Ffeuchman under the Bristish Nag.
II wa, now late in the year 10.
.f .r..f .f.,. ., for 4l lac and his fUl-