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

the East
The State just at this time was greatly
In want OF all the men she could com
mand, for the Continental army as well
as for her defenses at home Invasion
had followed invasion; her property was
destroyed, and her people harrassed I'M
Ill crisis in her affairs was impending:
Hence the difficulties Clarke encountered
in securing the men he wanted. How
ever, he finally succeeded. The Legisia-
ture of Virginia, early in l"o, passeu an
act 10 raise regiment Tor CiafRes es
pecial use, and of which he was maze
colonel. He was invested with authority
! 10 use this force as his discretion should
suggest, or as the wants OF the country
he was 10 defend should demand After
a great deal of delay in enlisting about
three hundred men, and procuring the
necessary arms and outfit for them. he
proceeded TO march from Williamsburg
10 the head waters Of the Monongahela,
whence he was to proceed by water TO
his field of operations. One can scarcely
realize at this day the tedious delays, the
accumuating dangers, and numDerless
difficulties Of such an undertaking as mat
now before the inflexible Clarke. The
garrison at Fort Pitt, then in possession
of Virginia, hal orders to give him all
necessary assistance At this place he
was Joined by thirteen families going or,
As permanent settlers. They took ad-
vantage of this military escort and went
with him as far as the falls OF the ono,
where they stopped, and so began the city
of Louisville Clarke, knowing tina, sue
cess depended upon celebrity OF movement,
hurried on 10 spot some distance above
the mouth of the Ohio, where he EN-
barked his men. preparatory to the march
upon Kaskaskia, on the Mississippi. 80
far Ee hal not been discovered. 50 rapidly
and cautiously had he moved. The enemy
had never known of his expedition TO
! Virginia, much less Of its object The
original design Of Clarke was to attack
| first the British post at NincenneS, on the
/ Wabash His view was that the fall OF
this. the strongest pace, would the more
certainly ensure the capture Of the
/ weaker posts on the Western frontier.
/ But having found out through his spies
| that Hamilton had quite a large force OF
regular troops and Indians al that place,
/ he thought it best TO change his plans.
Having secured the aid Of some hunt
ers as guides he began his march in a
northwestcrly, direction through the vii
dcrncss towards Kasksskia. He had
then between two hundred and three
hundred men. a few volunteers having
Joined him on the way from Kentucky
/ He had now to traverse nearly hundred
miles of country, part of which was
swamps and water and infested by Indian
| hunters or wanderers. At the head OF
his command he Choeriully lead the way
| on foot. encouraging his men and main
tanning the silence and secrecy so neces-
sary on such expeditions. Had single
strargiing Indian discovered his move
ments he would have been swift 10 give
warning to his friends, the enemy. After
more than two DAYS march, and after all
his provisions had been exhausted, the
gallant Nirginian and his little band
found themselves in the night drawn up
before "A town Of about two hundred and
fifty houses. well fortified and garrisoned.
The place was taken entirely by surprise.
Not suspecting danger from any quarter,
the people and the soldiers were all
asleep. The village was at once sur
rounded and no one allO we'd 10 escape so
as to carry the news Of what had hap
pened TO the other posts. Both garrison
and town surrendered at discretion. For
time great uneasiness prevailed among
the captives. They knew the kind Of
warfare the British and Indians had
waged against the Americans, and there
fore feared the worst from the invaders
The wisdom of Clarke soon assured
them. He only required that they should
at once take the oath Of allegiance TO the
United States Their persons and prop.
ertv were protected. no Expectations
were allowed, and no leyies made upon
them except for the support Of his troops
The inhabitants were chiefly French, and
not being particularly attached TO their
English governors were easily persuaded
into terms. IL is an interesting coinci-
dcnce that this important event occurred
on the night of the 4lh July, IT'S, and
without the loss of "A single man. 1t may
also be well to mention that when Clarke
and his small but determined band first
set out on their march to kaskaskia,
there was u total eclipse of the sun, an
event well calculated 10 produce dis
couraging effect upon the minds 81 men
embarked upon dangerous and doubt.
full expedition apid the gloom of path
less wilderness
As soon as Clarke had secured posse'-
sion of Kaskaskis, he dispatched mount
ed force 10 seize upon Cahokis, fortified
post some sixty miles higher up the Mis-
sissippi also to take possession OF all the
smaller settlements made by the Engll:h
along that river. The effect of this short
but decisive campsign upon the Western
country was Immediately felt The French
Inhabitants we're soon Informed by
Clarke of the treaty which had been late
Is m ode between The Governments OF the
United States and France, news OF which
had been sent to him while he was on bis
late expedition from the capital OF VIZ
rinia to Kentucky This fact, with the
policy of Cancellation adopted by Clarke,
soon enlisted to considerable degree the
social and political sympalhieS OF peo-
ple already hostile at heart to British IN
iere.ts. Under the operations OF these
81. ar.i-