The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-10

lery with which TO reduce Fort Pitt OF
any other fortified post. With this for
midable force he had expressed the de-
termination to crush first Kentucky, then
take Fort Pitt, and then make a descent
upon West Augusta, or that part
Of Virginia extending from the
country Immediately east OF the
Blue Ridge TO the Ohio river.
In connection with this extended field Of
operations il had been arranged that an
attack was TO be simultaneously made by
the British and their savage allies upon
the remote western settlements OF New
York and Pennsylvania.
The concern, with which Clarke re
rarled this thealcned combination, can
be well imagined. The fate Of all the
American frontier IN that direction seem
ed fixed. He afterwards gave expression
to his feeling when in writing to Cover
nor jefferson he said Having not re-
ceived "a scrape Of a pen from you for
near twelve months, ! could see but little
probability of keeping possession OF the
country, as my number of men was 100
small to stand a siege, andmy situation too
remote to call for assistance Ii was at
this crisis that Nigo arrived al kaskaskia
and announced TO him the important fact,
that Governor Hamilton, by way OF keep
ing his Indian allies employed, had sent
them away from Nincennes on an eX-
petition along the Ohio river, and that
when he left bat place only eighty whites
garrisoned the fort, which was defended
by three pieces Of artillery and some
smaller swivels This information deter
mined Clarke to attack Nincennos before
the return Of Hamilton detached forces.
He saw that this too must be done at once
if done at all No man in his situation
could have displayed greater activity OF
mind or capacity for action than did he
on this occasion Finding he could get
assistance neither from Virginia or Ken
lucky, instead OF abandoning himself 10
what might be considered inevitable late,
he made the circumstances by which he
was surrounded the incentive 20 higher
efforts and more determined action. le
reader. by casting his eye over the map,
will observe Clarkc'- present position
From Kaskask a his march was to be in
"A line directly across the country 10 VIA
cennes But before setting out upon
this b divided his small force into Two
parts One he employed in fitting out a
galley on which he mounted tw0 four
FOUNDER guns and four swifels, and hay
ing supplied the necessary men and pro-
visions. sent her down the Mississippi
river TO the mouth Of the Ohio, and up
that river to the Wabash. Her command
er had orders 10 proceed up the latter To-
point few miles below Nincennes, to
allow no one to pass, ana 10 await
further instructions from him
With the other part Of his little army he
meantime was TO set out for the point Of
attack. 90 the 9Th Of February with
only one hundred and thirty men, he ltit
Kaskaskia, garrison ed by a small body Of
militia. Now here in the annals of war,
ancient or modern, when all the circum-
stances surrounding ii are considered,
can there be found a more brilliant ex-
ample of the heroic than was DISPLAYED
by this gallant band and their determined
leader. With few provisions ami little
clothing they were about 70 traverse "A
wilderness On their way they were to
encounter the dangers Of discovery, eX
pOsure to the inClcmcncies Of the season.
and the fatigues of a doubtful and I'M
certain way. If We were TO attempt a
detailed account Of this famous march 1t
would be a daily record of sulferings,
mental as well as physical. often had
their heroic leader to resort TO every pos
sible appeal to his despOndinG followers.
they for DAYS at time waded through
water and ice, carrying their rifles over
their heads On one occasion, as Clarke
"a q q
of two leagues in water up to their
breasts 1t was here that his soldiers
became most discouraged. Ii was on the
morning Of the 22d February. The men
were nearly exhaused for want Of food
and exposure 10 cold They were ia so
desperate a state that even the influence
of their leader seemed ebout 10 fail. In
one of his companies there was drum
mer boy, and in the same company was
sergeant much over six feet IN height
and a giant in strength. This man was
devoted to Clarke When the latterfOund
his persuasiOnS and appeals began TO lose
their effect upon his men he mounted The
little drummer boy upon the willing
shoulders of the stalWart sergeant an
babe him beat the charge to action, AT the
same time, sword in hand, he hlms III
plunged into the wntery current utterlng
the command Forward" 10 his men
who. cheered and elated by his sudden
device, obeyed their leader and succeeded
in reaching dryer land in safety.
After sixteen days march the weary
and exhausted little army arrived within
sight of Nincennes on the evening of The
23d Of February, 1919, and halted once
more upon dry ground. Her they came
suddenly upon a man hunting, who as
sured them that neither the people or the
the garrison at the town suspected au at
tack al such season. Clarke did not
lose moment, time. As soon as il was
night he marched directly 20 the village
and had surrounded it before the com
mandeI al the fort knew of his presence
The Inhabitants, muca to his delight
proved faithful to the last and aclua ~
Joined Iii, forces in beseising the fort
During the hit Colonel Clarke drew hi,
lines closer about the enemy's defenses.
and threw up an earthwOrk TO shield his
men from their artillery. His had not
been brought up from the galley he had
dfepafchp1 from IA asEa. kia as above dc