Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-03-21
bed 10 which | have referred.

Ter 10 which have referred.
There is a tradition that when Clark
began his attack, some of the British
officers were enjoying game of cards,
as well as little hot whiskey toddy,
which was being prepared under the
direction of Captain Helm, the Ameri-
can officer who had been made prison
er by Hamilton but who had won the
favor of his captors by his genial bear
ing and skill in preparing toddies.
Some of the balls of the first yolley
fired by Clark's men struck the chin
ney and brought down lot of dirt in
! to the vessel holding the Kissing drink.
Helm instantly recognized hesituation
and exclaimed with an oath: Gentle
men, those are Clark's soldiers and
they will take your fort. but regret
fully, they ought not to have spoiled
that apple toddy." For two days the
Americans kept up a steady and skill
full fire and on the third day Hamilton
surrendered, hampered by the surprise
of the attack and promptly deserted by
all the citizens of the low-roofed old
Creole town.
Upon the news of the last and great
est success the whole country was
aroused into enthusiasm. Especially
was there rejoicing in the Old Domin-
ion; the House of Delegates at once re-
solved that an elegant sword be pre-
sented to Colonel Clark in testimony
of appreciation of his services. 1t was
the proudest and, as afterwards proved,
the happiest moment in Clark's career,
for very soon the clouds which were
ed about him, never to lift again.
After his conquest of the Northwest
Territory Clark-now raised to the
rank of Brigadier General-met with
one trouble and disappointment after
| another An expedition which he led
against the Wabash Indians resulted
| disastrously from the desertion of the
men, weary of campaigns and hard
ships. The campaign against Detroit
which he finally undertook, ended in a
crushing defeat. for which he was Sc
verely, although unjustly, criticised.
Finally. Virginia in an effort to reduce
her expenses. exhausted as her treas
ury was by war expenses, relieved him
of his command, very bitter blow 70:
a soldier not yet too old for services.
| They could not even compensate him
| of his Illinois regiment for what they
had done, save with promise of few
| thousand acres of land-a poor reward
| for the man and the men who had
wrested millions of acres from an ene-
| my's grasp and given their country ali
empire. General Clark had not only
given his youth and vigor to his work
but had spent his modest fortune as
we'll. so that now. thus cast adrift by
his State. he was left in a condition OF
miserable poverty. From this time OF
| trouble. disappointment and neglect
dates his excessive use of liquor which
so weakened him mentally and physi
cally in the last years of his life. 1t
was a not surprising weakness in the
sore old soldiers life. Although he
made no public complaint he felt his
situation most keenly. In answer to an
appeal made by him to Virginia he was
granted a small pension, but this not
until twenty years after his dismissal
from service. when he was helpless
cripple from exposure in the field.
When finally the land promised was
granted, with the provision of the es-
tablishment in it Of a town named in
his honor. Clarksville, he was too old
and too sicl, to be more than vaguely
pleased. At Clarksville hepassed most
of his remaining years in a lonely
house without the solace of companion
ship. Here there befell him the great
est blow of all. when stricken with
paralysis he fell forward IN the hearth
of the log fireplace, burning his leg
so severely as to make amputation nee :
Cocul ~ NeiS pSiCiS ShS hoSp Vi e'h
aesthetics; the brave old soldier caused
flies to be played and drums to be beat
en- about the house during the opera
ton, which he bore with heroic forti-
tude.
Not long after this Virginia presented
her son, old, paralyzed and crippled,
with another sword to replace the ore
she had given him many years before
after the victory at Vincennes, which
under the impression that she had
treated him unjustly, Clark had proud
ly broken and thrown away. There is
legend that when the second sword
was presented by committee of pol
ished Virginia gentlemen, General
Clark looked at it in gloomy silence,
then exclaimed: when Virginia needed
sword, gave her one. Now she
sends me toy. / want bread" An
other story runs that taking it in his
\,