The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-10
OLD "REMINISCENCES.
noyrryUA TON or TIRE STORY or
cOL GEORGE ROGERS CLARKE
Critical Condition OF His Troops on the
Frontier His Complaint to Governor
,ererson-Undertakesa New Campaign.
csntnrc Of yincenpss. Etc.


Although Colonel Clarke had realized
10 certain degree the plans he had set
ont TO execute he was in the position OF
one who had seized upon prize he could
not secure. He held immediate posses
sion of the posts on the Mississippi, while
Captain Leonard Helm represented him
A, The post of Nincennes, on the Wabash
This was a tenure calculated 10 give him
more anxiety than qualification. Before
he could make bis situation known at
the capital Of Virginia. the enemy would
have returned in force Il rccapiure Vim
cennes and proceed 10 regain the losses
he had sustained elsewhere by Clarke's
uuexpccicd blows He had reason 10 fear
that William Morris his tTusiy bearer Of
dispatches had been lost or murdered on
his way to Virginia His position was
becoming more and more perilous, when
m opportunity was opened 10 him by
means Of which relief might be made pos
sibie Bcilg threatened by an attack
upon Kaskaskia from the savages, who,
encouraged by his forced inaction, had re-
turned in swarm, 20 that country. he
ordered the evacuation Of tabOkia and
other captured posts. ana their garrisOns
@ Join tim at the former place. This
would enable him 10 stand seige il attack
Cd. but paralyzed FOR the time any active
measures on his part The opportunity
Afforded in this dilemma was b. the sud
den appearance of friend, whose devo
ton TO the American cause prompted
him 20 make extraordinary sacrifices in
its behalf and TO display the greatest
fdeliiy aud attachment 20 the person of
i.s heroic defender
From August, l77s 90 January, l759,
Clarke had not been able 10 receive in
formation of any Kind from Nincennes
although Captain Helm was still there,
and the inhabitants had remained true to
.lc Government of Virginia This con
d,ion of thing, added greatly to his
anxiety of mind His efforts were chief
is directed towards obtaining food for
bis men. and encouraging their dropping
spirits When hc had first taken The post
al Kaskaskia he received visit from an
iuhabitant of st. Louis. then Spanish
trading post This mans name was
Nigo lie, ike Gibault sympathizcd with
Clarke and the objects he had IN view.
He was so concerned az the precariOus
condition Of Clarke and bis garrison,
that he at once offered him any assistance
in his power Clarke az once rcsOrted TO
the same policy he had so successfully
employed with the FrcnChmau in his late
campaign He desired 10 learn how mat
ters were at Nincennes. and begged that
Niro would undertake 10 make "a Journey
90 that place, and if possible return with
Che information so much desired. The
generous and daring Spaniard did not
hesitate moment Accompanied by his
servant only. he proceeded on his way TO
Vincenncs through painless wilderness
OF more than one hundred miles, and in
tested by hos lie savages. On the way,
and when not far from NinCennes, he
was taken hy Indians, plundered, and
carried prisoner 90 Governor Hamilton
40 that place 10 turned on, that during
the month of December ms, Just six
months after Clarke's capture of kaskas
kia. Hamilton had made a descent upon
VIncennes with "a sufficient force had
Fetaken the place, restored and strength
cncd iis dtfeHses, and had retained Cap
tain Helm prisoner Of war This was
not Am encouraging circumstance TO the
mind of Nigo, who himself was
now in the same category with
Helm How long he was detained
hy Hamilton We cannot say.
But it appears Dee made good use of
h.s opportunities, while the unwilling
guest of the British commander After
having found out the strength OF the
garrison, and the temper of the inhabi-
tants. he demanded his release. He was
a Spanish subject. "a neutral he had not
been charged with any overt act against
the British cause, because he had com
mitted nothing 20 warrant il. Hamilton
had allowed him TO 90 at large on parole
on this account, but had suspicious of
his motives These suspicious were
strengthened in his own mind, when he
perceived the favor in which NlgO was
held by the French inhabitants At
length, after much hesitation and reluc
lance. Governor Hamilton was con
strained 10 give his Spanish prisoner his
liberty. on condition, however, that he
would not do anything against English
interests on his way back TO ~. Louis. OF
course NigO had expressed his desire to
return To his own home. To have done
otherwise would have at once cOmprO
missed his already doubtful position. As
soon as he arrived at st Louis, he hast
cned to advise Clarke OF all he had
earned while a prisoner at Nincennes.
This was not a breach of his parole. He
had strictly MAINTAINED his neutra' posi-
ton on the way to ST. Louis, and this
was all he had promised to do.
And now began new era in the career
o. our hero What h had learned from
Y spanish friend inspired his soul with
|dr, and energy that never declined I'M
I'D hr-aW the consummtiion of his highest
ambition llurke could never have &C
.lm1ishei what lc subsequently
.ch.eyed. had not this un-eldsL and &c
voted friend succeeded in the enterprise |
undertaken at his request. Virginia |
would probably never have seen her flag
waving over the English stronghOlds /
from Fort Pit to the Upper Mississippi |
and the lakes, had no, her devoted son /
received this timely and prOydcnlial
assistance II was now Clarke's oppor-
ur'y He had been informed of the cx- |
nct strength of Hamilton's force had |