Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-03-21

save Detroit alone. 1t was triumph
of military skill and diplomacy. Flat
ed by his successes, he ardently longed
to proceed at once against Detroit, but
the Indian spies sent out brought back
the discouraging report Of the rather
singular fact that the French of De-
troit, unlike the citizens of the other
posts, had no sympathy with the AM
ericans and could not be won over to
his cause. In view of the limited mum !.
ber of his men and the great extent OF
country which would have to be ira
versed he dared not hazard an attack
and gave it up for the time, the chief
ambition of his life.
When the good news of what he had
done reached VIRGINIA with the arrival
of De Rochblane, the prisoner comman-
der of Kaskaskia, the enthusiasm of
that State was unbounded. The Gov
ernor at once communicated the joyful
intelligence to the Legislature which
Immediately sent a warm letter of
thanks to Clark and his soldiers, prom
ising reinforcements whenever needed
to hold the new possessions. But un-
fortunately the messenger with ths
letter never reached his destination.
and some time in February despair
ing letter came to the Governor from
Colonel Clark. He made the startling
loti hof he DY-;f fch
commander of Detroit, had begun
vigorous campaign for the re-taking of
the posts and had already captured
Vincennes, which he was now fortify-
ing. His Indian spies were sent out
in all directions to harass the Ameri
cans and gain knowledge of their move
ments. BY spring he expected to seize
Kaskaskia and to wholly drive Clark's
army from the country. II almost de-
spair' the letter ended gloomily. that
| any relief will be sent me. Being SEN
sible that without reinforcements,
which at present | have hardly right
to expect, l shall be obliged to give up
the country to Mr. Hamilton. | am
resolved to take advantage of his pres
ent situation and risk everything in a
single battle. know the case is des .
perate, but, Sir, we must either quit
these lands or attack Hamilton. Who
knows what fortune will do for us?
Great things have been effected by a
few men, we'll conducted. We have
| this consolation that our cause is just
and that our country will be grateful
| and not condemn us if we fail. And if
we do. l believe that this country as
well as Kentucky is lost to America" :"
Clark's situation was even more des-
perate than he stated to the Governor
He had now but little over hundred
American soldiers. Since the arrival
| of Hamilton's army he no longer felt
| secure in the aid of the mercurial
Frenchmen and the Indians, for the
same cause, were beginning to turn
against him. He had but little money,
almost no provisions and was far from
source of supplies. A less brave
man or one less able would have gone
down before such seemingly insur-
mountable difficulties as these, but the
trying occasion merely brought into
strong evidence the genius, strength
and energy which made him one of the
really great commanders of the period.
Hamilton, with force of five hundred
men, shrank from attempting in that
bitter winter season the capture of
Clark at Kaskaskia; Clark instantly de-
termined, with his meagre force of not
two hundred soldiers to march to Vim.
cennes and capture Hamilton. Father
Gibault was at hand to help him in
spire the now discouraged army with
fresh hopes. He had, too, the valuable
services of Frances Vigo, a wealthy
| Spanish gentleman, as much looked up
| to in the French towns in matters of
| credit and finance as was Father Gil
bault in things of the spirit A true
| friend to Americans, he did his utmost
to aid Colonel Clark at this time, let
ting him have supplies on credit, and
coming voluntarily to him after visit
to Vincennes, to report the extent of
Hamilton's forces and his unprepared
condition for an attack That Francis
Vigo died in poverty, having involved
himself in financial ruin to aid our
country, is curious, but not unusual
instance of the ingratitude of govern
| ments.
On the fifth of February, 1879, Clark
started for Vincennes-an expedition
which changed the boundaries of ma
tions and made lasting impress upon
history. The route lay over the old
ST. Louis trail and covered a distance
of about 10 miles.
Those of you who have read Alice of
Old Vincennes, by the late Maurice
Thompson, will recollect the chapter
headed "a March Through Cold Wat
q. a. ~.