The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-08-25
CHAPTER xv-continued.

camp winter was setting in, that ter
rible winter of '79-of deep snow and
hunger and cold. When he reached
Kaskaskla, Captain Clark had gone to
Kentucky, and Erskine found bad
news. Hamilton and Hay had taken
Vincennes. There Captain Helms Gre
oles, as soon as they saw the red
coats, slipped away from him TO sur
render their arms to the British, and
thus deserted by all, he and the two
or three Americans V it'll him had to
give up the fort. The French reswore
allegiance to Britain. Hamilton con-
fiscated their liquor and broke up their
billiard tables. He let his Indians
scatter to their villages, and with his
regulars, volunteers, white Indian
leaders and red auxiliaries went into
winter quarters. One band of Shaw
nees he sent TO Ohio to scout and
take scalps in the settlements. In the
spring he would sweep Kentucky and
destroy all the settlements west of
the Alleghanies. SO Ersklne and Dave
went for Clark; and that trip neither
other since late November and the
snow lay deep. Cattle and horses
persisted, deer and elk were found dead
in the woods, and buffalo came at
nightfall to old Jerome Sanders fort
for food and companionship with his
starving herd. There was no salt or
vegetable food; nothing but the flesh
of lean wild game. Yet, while the
frontiersmen remained crowded in
the stockades and the men hunted and
the women made clothes of tanned
deer hides, buffalo-wool cloth. and net
fle-bark linen, and both followed 'nOg-
gins" out of the knot of tree, Clark
made his amazing march to Vim
cennes, recaptured it by the end of
February, and sent Hamilton to VIII
liamsburg a prisoner. Erskine pleaded
to be allowed to take him there, but
Clark would not let him go. Perma-
nent garrisons were placed at Vim
cennes and Cahokia, and at KaskaslSia.
Erskine stayed to help make peace
with the Indians. punish marauders
and hunting bands. SO that by the
end of the year Clark might sit at
the falls of the Ohio as a shield for
the West and sure guarantee that
the whites would never be forced to
abandon wild Kentucky.
The two years in the wilderness
had left their mark on Erskine. He
was tall, lean. swarthy, gaunt. and
vet he was not all woodsman, for
his born inheritance as gentleman had
been more than emphasized by his as
sociation with Clark and certain Gre
ole officers in the Northwest, who had
improved his French and gratified one
pet wish of his life since his last visit
TO the James-they had taught him to
fence. His mother he had not seen
again. but he had learned that she
was alive and not yet blind. OF Early
Morn he had heard nothing at all.
Once q traveller had brought word of
Dane Grey. Grey was In Philadelphia
and prominent in the gay doings Of
that city. He had taken part In a
brilliant pageant called the "Mischi-
anza." which was staged by Andre, |
and was reported close friend of |
that Inflated young gentleman.
After the fight at Piqua. with Clark
Erskine put forth for old Jerome San
ders' fort. He found the hard days |
of want over. There was not only |
corn In plenty but wheat. potatoes.
pumpkins, turnips, melons. Game was
nlentiful. and cattle, horses and hogs
had multiplied on cane and buffalo
clover. Indeed, it was comparative
lv peaceful fall, and though Clark
nleaded with him, Erskine stubbOrnly
set his face for Virginia.
At williamsburg Erskine learned
MANY things. Colonel Dale. now u
general, was still with Washington and
Harry was with him. Hugh was with
the virginia militia and Dave with
Tarleton's legion OF rangers in their
white uniforms were scourging Vir-
yipia as they had scourged the Car
DlInas. Through the James River
they had gone with fire and
sword. burning houses. carrying OF
horses. destroying crops, burning grain
in the mills, laying plantations y
waste. Barbara's mother was dead.
Her neighbors had moved to safety.
,ut Barbara, he heard. still lived with
I'D Nanny and Ephraim at Red Oaks.
lnless that, too, had been recently
out to the torch. Where, then. would
ne find her?
Down the river Erskine rode with a
,ad heart. At the place where he
lad fought with Grey he pulled Fire
iy 10 a sudden halt. There was the
boundary of Red Oaks and there
started d desolation that ran as far
is his eye could reach. Red Oaks
lad not been spared, and he put Fire
ly to a fast gallop. with eyes strained
ar ahead and his heart beating with
Igonized foreboding and savage rage.
soon over n distant clump of trees
lie could see the chimneys of Bar