The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-06-22

- ~ VII Liz DSAAs " NAaks So !
tie stone church in the center of the
village, sweet-toned bell rings to yes
pers Dark settles down and in a lit
tleSwhile lights begin to twinkle in the
windows. A scene of peace in strange
contrast to the warlike sounds which
are soon to shatter the stiffness when
that little army. which now lies in the
timber that lines the bluffs above Kas-
kaskia. shall sweep down upon the
village and raise the dreaded war-cry
Of the Long Knives of Kentucky"
For stirring events are about to take
place in this sleepy little town, events
which in the light of the century and
a half that have interviewed, we now
realize were history making.
But lei the leader of the invaders
tell his own story. as he does in the
book "The Capture of Old Vincennes--
The Original Narratives of George
Rogers Clark and of His Opponent.
Gov Henry Hamilton" edited by Milo
NJ. Quaife and published recently By
the Bobbs-Merrlll company, in the fol-
lowing words:
On the evening OF July fourth we ar.
rived within a few miles OF the town.
where we threw out some scouts In
advance and lay until nearly dark. We
then resumed our march and took pos
session of house on the bank of the
Kaskaskia river, about three-Quarters
of mile above the town, occupied by
a large family. We, learned from the
inmates that the people had been UNI
der arms a few days before but had
concluded the alarm to be groundless
and at present all was quiet. and that
there was a large number or men in
town, although the Indians were for
the most part absent. We obtained
from the man boats enough to convey
us across the river, where ] formed my
force in three divisions. i felt conf.
dent the inhabitants could not now oh
tain knowledge Of our approach In
time to enable them to make any re-
sistance. My object was now to get
possession of the place with as little
confusion as possible. but to have It
II necessary at the loss of the whole
town. ] did not entirely credit the
information given us at the house. as
the man seemed to contradict himselG4
informing us among other things that
a noise we heard in the town was
caused by the negroes at dance
set out for the fort with one division,
ordering the other two to proceed to
different quarters of the town II
met with no resistance, at a certain
signal a general shout was to be given
and a certain part OF the town was
to be seized Immediately, while men
from each detachment who were able
to talk French were to run through
the streets prociaiming what had hap
pened and informing the townsmen to
remain in their houses on pain Of be-
ing shot down.
These arrangements produced the de-
sired effect, and within a very short
time we were In complete possession Of
the place, with every avenue guarded
to prevent any one from escaping and
giving the alarm to the other villages.
Various orders not worth mentioning
had been issued for the guidance of
the men in the event of opposition.
Greater silence, Il suppose. never
reigned among the Inhabitants of
town than in KaskaslSia at this juno
ture; not a person was tosbe seen or o
word to be heard from them for some
time. Meanwhile our troops purposely
kept up the greatest possible noise
throughout every quarter OF the town.,
while patrols moved around 1t con-
tinually throughout the night. as 1t was
a/capital object to intercept any mes
senger that might be sent out. In about
two hours all the Inhabitants were dis
armed. and informed that any one who
should be taken while Alternating to