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

Legislature the organizations of Ken.
lucky as a county, having its present
boundaries and name, he had practi.
cally established this important South
ern commonwealth. That as a youna
man, untried in statecraft, George
Rogers Clark was instrumental IN
founding such State was assuredly n
not unworthy augury that in after life
he would win the vast North Terri
tory for his country, from which has
sprung six other States of like prosper
ity and Importance.
Having secured defense and an orga
nized government for Kentucky Clark
turned his thoughts to an aggressive
warfare against the pioneers ever pres-
ent enemy-the Indians. He realized
that the land northwest of the Ohio
was the open door through which the
savages raided the white settlements
along the frontier and that these raids
were largely planned and instigated
under the direction of the officers of
the British military posts. Detroit, Vim
cennes, Kaskaskia and Caliokia-the
old French forts now under the do
minion of England 1t was at this
time that the dream of military great
ness began to unfold itself before him
By an advance against the Indians into
the territory drained by the Illinois
and the Wabash, he hoped not only 10
protect the white settlements, but 10
capture the British posts as well. AL
ready the taking of the red-coat army
under Burgoyne had encouraged the
Americans, who were beginning now
to feel more and more that they might
carry the war into the enemies country.
1t was a favorable season for Clark TO
come once more before Governor Henry
to again enlist his aid and that of his
State, although this time for an under
taking so great and so hazardous that
1t made the astute southern statesman
catch his breath. 1t was a signal tri-
umph for the young Virginian that his
plans for an expedition against the
British possessions met with the cor
dial support of the Governor, the privy
council and the Legislature. In jan
uary, 177S. he received his intructions
and 1900 for his use in the campaign.
with an order on Pittsburg for boats
and ammunition. He had stated TO
the Governor that he needed five hun
dred men for the success of his tnder-
taking, but in recruiting his companies
he failed to gather together that num-
ber. But although he was able to
muster only about 150 men from both
Virginia and Kentucky, there was to
him no such word as fail, and even so
humbly equipped for a campaign as
this, he embarked on the Ohio river.
coming in the latetr part of May, ITS
to the Falls of the Ohio.
At Corn Island, lovely little bit of
water-enclosed land which has since
ben worn away, the final preparations
were made for the expedition but in the
face of the greatest Encouragement.
The extent of the enterprise had been
kept secret from the men, who thought
that when they came to the Falls they
had reached their destination; when
Colonel Clark told them that they were
to proceed against Kaskaskia, several
of them deserted and there was a gen
eral panic of fear among them. For
tunately Clark had as Captains four
men of sterling worth and of much
military sagacity-Bowman, Harrod,
Helm and Montgomery-who were
great sources of strength to him at this
luncture and to whom he had from the
first intrusted his full plans. He had
expected to recruit more soldiers at the
island but although disappointed in
this, he gave the orders to go forward
not daring to delay on account of the
frightened condition of men. my
situation" he afterwards said, "was
hazardous in the extreme, but the moro
| reflected on my weakness, the more
! was pleased with my undertaking.
1t was on a pleasant morning in June
that he again embarked on the river
with. his troop. Nature added to the
solemnity of the occasion, for at the
very moment that the party shot the
Falls in their tableaux, there occurred
great eclipse of the sun, darkening
all the brightness of THE day and fill
ing every heart with superstitious awe.
On reaching the mouth of the Tennes
see river the party left the river and
started on the march across the wilder
ness of the Illinois country to Kaskas-
Iia. "Clark's warriors" wrote Cover
nor Reynolds, had no wagons, pack
horses, or the means of conveyances OF
their munitions of war or their bag
gage save their robust and hardy
selves. The Colonel himself was Ma
tures favorite in person and mind, fit
~ ovnndf