The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-02-02
WHO SAyEDTHE WEST
The RAID N ST. LOUIS ~ I7so.
w;nsons America.

Wilson'S America
A new Interpretation is given to TIE raid
mAde on the Spanish post a ST. Louis, in
Nay. I7s0. by $50 Sioux and other north
ern Indians, accompanied by some Eng
lish and Canadian traders. The afsair has
been the occasion Of many conflicting state
ments as 70 the time It occurred, the num-
Der Of persons killed and captured, and
why it was that so large . body Of Indians
came 20 far and did 30 little that was war
like. Il has often been asserted, and rs
often denied. that George Rogers Clark Was
on the opposite side Of the river, near Co
hokia. ready TO give aid TO the Spanish
governor at St. Louis It was here shown
that Clark and his men were near at hand.
having hurried mp from the falls Of
the Ohio for that purpose. and that
the St Louis raid was . part Of =
much larger scheme devised in Lon
don By Lord George German. secretary for
the colonies, for the complete capture of
the West from the SpaEiards and the vir-
ginians. The scheme was early discovered
through captured dispatches by Clark, and
BY Calves, the Spanish governor ct New
Orleans; and Galvex responded by captur-
Ing Ill the English posts on the Mississippi,
also for attacking Pensacola This ener-
getic action prevented General Campbell,
at Pensacola. from carrying out his part Of
the Germain scheme; that is, Of bringing
an English feet and army up the Mississ-
ippi 70 cooperate with tho Indian expedi-
tons coming down from the North. The
Indians. when they arrived before ST. Louis,
probably heard for the first time OF the
failure OF General Campbell's plans, and
hence their undecisive attack and speedy
return home. The proximity of Colonel
Clark, for whom the Indians had mortal
dread, doubtless contributed TO their de-
moralization. The feeble raid on St. Louis,
therefore, was an event of historical i'm
portance. as it was the outcropping Of q
well-constructed and dangerous project
which has hitherto escaped the notice OF
historical writers; and if It had been car
ried ont. would have been disastrous to the
United States. The writer says:
The scheme advised by Lord George
German for the complete conquest OF the
West-of bringing down . large party Of
Northwestern Indians upon st. Louis; of
sending an expedition from Detroit to in
wade Kentucky and keep Colonel Stark
busy; Of bringing up the Mississippi to
Natchez. under General Campbell, q feet
and army, there to mite with the North
ern expeditions, and from thence to cap
turc the Illinois country, and all the
Spanish settlements on the river--was from
. military point of view an excellent one,
and had every promise of success. st.
Louis was in no condition to resist an
assault, and rank cowardice marked the
conduct of the governor and the few
soldiers stationed at the post when the
Indian raiders appeared. The Illinois
country was very feebly garrisoned. and
not . soldier or . shilling had been con-
tributsd by the continental congress
for Its conquest or defense. The
scheme failed because Of the prompt
ness and exceptional activity Of the
6paniards under Governor Galvez and the
watchfulness and energy Of Colonel Clark.
II was the last concerted effort of Great
Britain to regain possession of the West;
Is the campaign OF Clinton and Corvallis,
the capitulation of the latter one year later
at Yorktown. was her expiring effort on
the Atlantic coast If the Western scheme
OF GERMAN had been successful, the
country north of the Ohio river would have
been part of the province of Quebec, and
might have remained Canadian territory
until this day. In negotiating two or three
years later the treaty of peace with Great
Britain under such circumstances, il is diff
ficult to see what boundaries the United
States could have secured. Spain. there
fore. rendered an invaluable service TO the
United States by enabling George Rogers
Clark to hold with his Virginia troops the
country he had conqured from the British,
until the treaty of peace confirmed to the
nation the Mississippi river rs its western
BOUNDARY