The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-24

shaped head, ample bro =, expressive blue
eye, and acquiline features produce the
&c Dnviction In the mind of the beholder
that this was indeed man OF extraordi-
nary gifts.
That Clarke had uncommon natural
abilities cannot be denied. Had he been
well educated and received the training
necessary to the development of the sol.
der we do not doubt he would have dis
played all the traits OF great cOmman-
der upon proper field of action. I'm
fortunately for him, the facilities Of ac-
quiring information were comparatively
few at The time he lived. Judging him
BY the modern standard, be would be de-
scribed as an illiterate man. Whatever
OF education he had was given him either
at his fathers fireside or acquired in one
of those country log school houses so
common in Virginia even to compare
lively late date Many of Clarke's letters
have been published which, to the unin-
| formed reader, appear to have been writ
ten by one well skilled in epistolary lit
erature These must have undergone re-
vision before being put into print. A
single specimen of his peculiar style will
be enough to illustrate this fact Writing
! 10 the Governor OF Virginia in regard TO
the stale of affairs at Vincennes, just be-
fore his expedition against that post, he
says
Yesterday | fortunately got every
peace OF Intelligence that | could wish
for as Il spanish Gent that made his es-
cape from Mr.. Hamilton No attact to
be made on the Garrison at Kaskaskia
until the Spring. The passage is too diff
cult at present, his --- sent to war
against Different parts Of the --
Especially Kentucky. Belts, presents,
and speeches sent to all the Nations
South OF the Ohio Amediately to meet ct
a General Council at the Mouth Of the
Tennessee II. to lay the Best plans for
eating OF the Rebels at Illinois and Ken
lucky, &c. The Grand Kite and his ma
ton Icing at Post st. Vincent tole Mr..
Hamilton that he and his people was Big
Knives. and would not give their hands
anymore to the English, for he would
shortly see his Father that was at Kas-
kaskias Ninety Regulars in Garrison, a
! few volunteers, and about fifty Sawany
Indians, that is shortly to go to war, they
are very Busy in Repairing the Fort
which will be very Strong etc.
4 short review Of what was
accomplished by our hero will
| bring 10 an end these hurried sketches of
man whose life has vet to be written,
and whose exploits are in the bands of
the future historian, to compose one Of
the most brillian. pages in the annals OF
Virginia No undertaking, no campaign
of the entire revolutionary war secured
to the United States more valuable ac-
QUESTION than that obtained by the con
quering arm of George Rogers Clarke
| We need only to quote the language OF
one who had given his closest attention
to this subject, when he declared on
memorable occasion that Clarke BIZ that
| campaign added territory embracing
| three of the finest States in the Union,
| Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, a terri
| tory which, but for this very c0Dques;
must now have been subject to British
I dominion For the only pretense OF title
which our commissioners, in the nego-
tiatiors which resulted in the treaty Of
peace in 1883 set up to this immense
| territory was the capture oft by Clarke
and the possession of it by the Americans
at the date OF the conference" But for
this conquest by the Virginians, the Ohio
river would have been the boundary line
between the United States and the British
| dominOns. BY breaking the power OF
the English on that frontier Clarke dis.
solved the hostile combinations that held
the sayages 10 the service OF our power
full adversary. In like manner by his
wisdom and tact he cOncillated the
foreign clement of the population and
finally induced them to become in cor
p0rated into the American communities.
! The reader will be interested to observe
at this day. the number of Spanish and
French names Of towns, rivers, and creeks
which will ever stand as memorials of
| those who shared the fortunes OF Clarke
and his follower in the early days of the
| Republic.
And yet what has been done to per
petuaie the memory OF him who did so
much for his country, or for those who
shared with him his hardships and his
triumphs!
| The same writer TO whom We referred
above has given appropriate answer to
| this inquiry, when he said And what
| even YET uOIc - the
| fact that battle which decided the fate
of an Empire, campaign that added to
our possessions country more than
equal in extent to the United Kingdoms
of Great Btitain, Scotland, and Ireland,
has scarcely even a page of our Revolu-
tonary annals devoted to its details, or
making even honorable mention OF the
brave and gallant men who so nobly and
successfully conducted it,"
| Had George Rogers Clarke been born
in some other part OF the country than in
Virginia, the pages of history would have
| glowed with accounts of his mighty
deeds his name would have been the
theme Of story and of song, and the
genius of the artist would have been
hastily summoned by greatfui Common
wealth 10 perpetuate in stone orin bronze
| the memory of her heroic son.
Instead Of this, after long life spent
in her service, his native State allowed
him 10 pass his later years in poverty and
in great differing His proud and sensi-
tive spirit felt this neglect AT last, worn
ont by the pains of disease contracted
amidst the exposures and hardships in
cident to his eventful life, he was re-
| 1 A l. /. AZ A..t D. I'M ba