The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-09-03


when he became President years
later and purchased Louisiana from
Napoleon.
Clark Made a Colonel.
Clark was commissioned as colonel
by Governor Henry. He was given
twelve hundred pounds in deprecated
Virginia currency and an order for
powder at Fort Pitt. He was instruc-
ted to raise force of seven hundred
and fifty men for three months SER
vice to guard the Kentucky and Vir-
ginia frontiers from Indian attacks.
Secret instruction authorized him to
march into Illinois whenever he saw
fit and occupy the empire of the north
west.
Clark went back to Kentucky and
after many difficulties assembled sew
eral hundred men at Corn Island. in
the Ohio River, near where the pres
ent city of Louisville now stands.
Here he drilled his men and prepared
| them for their adventurous task. Many
of them deserted when they learned
that they were to invade Illinois in
stead of repel attack. Clark found
himself with only one hundred and
fifty men when the time to leave came.
But that did not daunt him. He load
ed his men into boats and began the
journey. That was in June 1873.
For four days they went down the
river to an old French post called
Fort Massac. Here they met a party
of American hunters returning from
Kaskaskia. They reported that Kas-
Kaskia was poorly garrisoned and
negligently guarded. Clark decided
at once to launch his attack there. The
American hunters begged to be in
cluded in the, party and Clark accept
ed them as guides.
1t is told that the guides lost their
| way for few days and were in dan
ger of having them lives taken by
the indignant Americans. But they
found the track and later demonstrat-
ed their complete loyalty to the Unit
ed States.
An Apparition at the Dance.
The little force reached the vicinity
of Kaskaskia July 4. They marched
up the river to opposite the town un-
discovered. They put the inhabitants
of farmhouse under guard and sent
out scouts.
The scouts reported that the COM
mandment of the garrison, Frech-
man named NJ de Rocheblave, was
giving a dance for the officers of the
Creole militia that night and that
everyone intended to attend. Clark
| decided to take advantage of the care
less guard that would result from the
| dance and attack that night.
He procured boats, crossed the riv-
er and marched to the outskirts of the
town. No one in the town dreamed
that hostile force was near. Clark
and his men stole cautiously into the
town. They captured the few SEN
tries and placed them under guard. No
shots were fired.
The fort was taken easily. A prison
er admitted the Americans through
the postern and furnished them with a
lantern. Clark took few Of his men
and marched silently to the dance
hall. So quiet were the Americans
that Clark opened the door of the
dance hall and stepped into the room
before he was discovered.
An Indian saw him first and gave a
tremendous warwhoop and started to-
wards Clark. The latter. with sense
of dramatic fitness, never moved He
raised his hand and the Indian halted.
Then he informed the commandment
that the town was in the hands of
Americans and all were prisoners.
''But the dance may continue"
Clark said. However, you will dance
in honor of General George Washing
ton and the United States of America
instead of King George and Eng
land"
In this way did the vast territory
comprising the present states of Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois and parts of Michigan
and Wisconsin come into the United