Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-01

HAMILTON MOVES.
But Clark was in a precarious posi-
| ton. Detroit was the base of Eng
| lish supplies. The points he had cap
tured without the loss of q man were
only the southern stations of the ter
! ritory into which he had penetrated
His small force was outnumbered 20
or 40 times by the Indians the English
had armed and equipped. and Lieut..
Gov Hamilton was certain to hurry
to attack him. Not only that. but the
time for which his men had enlisted
was up, and they were eager to return
home. He had to use the utmost per-
SuaSion to induce 100 OF his men to re-
enlist, and he had to use the utmost
art and diplomacy to win the creoles
OF Cahokia and Kaskaskia to raise
companies and join his force The In
dians had far moro regard for the
French than the English. and Clark's
diplomacy had the effect of bringing
about a better feeling on the part of
some OF the Indian tribes. Not only
that, but Clark got into communica-
tion with the Spanlards who held the
country beyond the Mississippi, and he
made such a friend of Don Francisco
de Leyba, the lieutenant governor, that
the don was willing to give him ref
uge beyond the Mississippi should II
be necessary for him to retreat there
Meanwhile Hamilton was not idle.
No sooner did he hear the news from
KaskaSkia, Cahokia and Vincennes
than he gathered formidable war
party to drive out the invaders. AT the
head of a mixed force of whites and
Indians he left Detroit in October and
had no difficulty in retaklng VIM
cennes. Then he committed a grave
mistake. Had he pushed on to
Kaskasltia he probably would have
destroyed Clark, but winter was set
ting In and he determined to await the
spring before resuming the offensive.
He sent back part of his force to
Detroit and remained with the rest at
Nincennes. 1t was nearly a month be-
fore Clark heard the news from Vim
cenncs. Then he started for Cahokia to
hold a conference with the leading
citizens of that town. on the way he
narrowly escaped capture by a force
sent by Hamilton to take him prisoner.
AT Cahokla a report came to him that
Hamilton. with 500 men, was within
three miles of KaSkaSltia. He hurried
back to find the inhabitants in terror
The army of 500 men proved to be
the force of forty whites and Indians
sent to capture Clark. 1t was not until
nearly the end of January. 1879, that
oldlh N Eol CledT We" OIL tnc situation
Then Colonel Francis Vigo, after
whom Vigo county Indians is named,
arrived In kaskaskia. Vigo was a Span
ish merchant with an extensive busi-
ness In the upper Mississippi valley At
Clark'S request he had gone to Vim
cennes. He returned in January with
the information that Hamilton intend
ed to remain inactive until the spring,
and that the people of Vincennes were
In hearty sympathy with the Ameri-
cans.
VINCENNES.
Hamilton had some suspicion of
Nigo's GRAND and hold him prisoner
LOT time, When he released him it
was on his pledge that he would do
nothing Injurious to England's in
terests on his return trip to st. Louis,
Vigo scrupulously kept his pledge He
went to st. Louis, But from st. Louis
he hurried to Kaskasgia- Not only
ttat' but he helped Clark with money
and supplies that were sorely needed.
Thereupon Clark did a thing that
only great commander would do.
Realizing that II he waited until
spring Hamilton would crush him he
determined to carry the fight to
Hamilton. He rlgeed up a batteau,
armed II with such cannon as no could
get ana manning 1t with a force OF
40 men. commanded by Captain
Rogers. he sent 1t down the AIIssIssIppi
TO go up the Ohio and approach with
In 80 miles of Vincennes. Then, with
inc rest OF his force, he started over
land to Vincennes In all history
there are few instances to surpass that
overland trip BY the route the force
proceeded the distance was a little
less than 200 miles. Ordinarily the