The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-02

part IN tne capture OF ioit '"N"
port Nincennes). Besides all these MS
tOrical treasurers Mr.. Engiishs "oIh -
made fun of life and attraction oy nun,
dreds OF illustrations and fac-sinIIes' anu
likeness OF such men as Helm, liatiOu,
Montgomery and Bowman, the Hiua 'ior %.
captains of Clark's nrst cothHiA''' on
OF whom were Nireinlails' -. &c.. -
clark having secured authority lot ms
oxnedftion from the Governor anu Los
tsIature of Virginia left NlliiaIlsolls
for the Northwest I'm January LOO ~
June. 177S. he recruited tour cOiipalies
commanded by the four captains nanieN
above. They were assembled anu u'aelP
lined at the falls OF the ohio, us 80,
the river from the present site u
Vile BOUNDED by Clark. -.
ON The 9th of June IFS, Clark proke
camp and set out upon
r,arvelous expedition OF conquer
ING the Northwest with lour
counanies consisting of only 10 10
ooo men After going down the ONO ~
boats 10 Fort Massac, near the hiouN' ~
liz Tennessee. he marched his command
i9o miles through a hostile country
1CaslaeLia- a British fort on the MIS-
sisslnpi lie made a night attack on july
an 1.7s SURPRISED the garrison ana cap
tured the fort without the loss Oh slIisl'
man. lie Immediately sent Captain 20"
man with his company to capture AM
kia. a British fort higher up the river;
IN which enterprise Bowman one "
Clark's best officers. WAS sishai'y SUI
cessful. .,.t,,,-
Clark displayed much address in MAKING
friends of the French inhabitants OF
Kaskaskia and Cahokia, and he sho"s"
equal tact in conciliating many OF the
Indian tribes.
Through the influence Of the French
r,ndcr The lead of Father Gibauip clark
got possession Port Nincennes on the
east hank of the Wabash and placed cap
Tain Helm with a small body OF men III
command there whilst Clark reinalneo az
X skaskla making friends or the J. teie..
and treaties with the Indians walllhs io'
achievements TO attack r oil ~,
heavily rarrisoned and 10 the North OF
yincennes, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I"'''l W. ~,
commanding at Detroit with 100 or 81"
n,en I'm December. 171S. overwhelmed Cap
tain Helm and his little pahd' anu s'i''7
" fortified Nincennes.
Clark was aware that ne must reoccupy
Viucounos or soon be driven out or the
Northwest. With reiniorcements ne
could. he believed. accomplish IL ln the
spring. and perhaps capture Detroit
besides. But he despaired OF getting the
ecessary reinforcements. lie seemed FOR
gotten bv his Government. Poor virginia
had her hands full at home.
He realized that, ii ne waited tih spring
and got no reinforcemonts none were eN-
nectefD. no would be overwhelmed by the
British. who would march upon him with
five times his number OF men.
He had either 20 abandon the country
or by an unloOked-for winter campaign
when the garrison at Nincennes was re-
duced. surprised and recapture II. Des-
perate and dreadful as was the venture
81 a winter campaign with only about
rs men. Clark had the courage and the
fortitude 20 make a. BY march OF l.V
miles through a hostile country, unparal-
lelei IN history for its dangers, its daring
and its privatlous. his men az last
reached Vnctnnes by fordng the Wabash,
I'm some places Up 20 their necks ana
breaking the ice as they moved forward.
\ uicht attack was made February a,
1919. and next day Fort Sackville surren-
dered at discretion, and Governor Hamil-
ton and some Of his officers were sent as
prisoners 10 WILLIAMSBURG.
From that time till 1883. Clark and his
little command, never reinforced, held
possession of the great Northwest and IN
| that year the title OF Virginia 20 10 was
recognized by Great Britain in the articles
of peace then made with the American
| colonies
All this wonderful story is told by Mr..
English in "a most charming way HIS
style Is clear and animated. and every
statement he makes is fortified 10y indis-
putable evidence. BY this conquest Of the
Northwest, Virginia acquired measure
less empire. out OF which six great States
Ohio. Indiana, Illinois. Michigan, Wis
consn and Minnesota (n parO been
! formed.
For this great achievement I am sorry
10 have 10 say that Virginia made but
a poor return 10 her devoted ana distin-
guished son.
In 1888. as soon as peace was declared
and Virginia's title 10 his great conquest
was confirmed. General Clark was dis
missed from her service on the score OF
state economy.
Nor is this ALL In this same memroa
| Bile year OF 1888, when Virginia 'i'ie ~
an empire was made secure ciaIh' I'M
poverished by advances, MADE lo' tu'
/ state 10 secure supplies for his men, Nisl-
| tod Richmond. and by letter asked that
| he be allowed something 'on account
| ,.itb which To procure necessary cieth-
ine," MS claim was not allowed I'LL
fffv wears after no was retired from the
| earrie. of his state. and then amounted
"a over $4,000. Of which no never received
| or entoved a cent, as he had been IN ms
grave some fifteen or twenty years "heh
| II was al last allowed. IL Is true that IN
| 1912 Virginia gave her devoted son a small
annuity of 500 This was thirty-three
wears after Clark's conquest, and but SIS
| years before his death. When he received
| mis- pittance he certainly needed 1t. He
was then poor. old, and paralyzed
| Wen did Senator Daniel, Of Virginia, say
| OF hin on the door OF the United states
senate. There is none who can stand by
him. or be mentioned on the same page
/ with him. who has been so much neglect
ed" And well did Senator sherman OF
| ohio say OF him upon the same floor
| "This typical hero and founder OF five
| great States was as distinguished I'm I'M
/ neglect and injustice done him by hh
! cOuntrymen as In the brilliancy ana Inn
n0rtance OF his services 90 his country.
Cannot the Nirgnians OF this day do
! something TO repair this neglect? An,
| will not Albemarle help now TO do homo
90 tho greatest man, jefferson excepted
who was ever born on her soil?
| When the Washington Monument wa
erected IN 1858 there should have beef
one more pedestal placed below Washing
| ton IS equestrian statue. And upon tina
pedestal should have been placed thl
! statue OF George Rogers Clark, worth
% stand in close cOmpani0nship with IA
| statues OF Henry. Mason. jefferson, Mar
shall and Lewis occupying the other -
! de5tals. | would Ike 10 See this don
| now: but. IL il would mar the symmetr
| 81 CraWford's splendid design. then LET
Virginia erect a separate statue TO De
long neglected hero. and place IL on be
| Capitol grounds near the statue OF Stone
| wall Jackson, kindred spirit TO CLARK
whom John Randolph called "Hanniba