CONQUEST OF ILLINOIS. 455 marsh, they came within nine miles of their destination; but a large body of deeper water still stretched before them. Canoes in sufficient quantity could not be procured, and nothing was seen of the galley. If they waited to build boats, they might starve for want of supplies. From the captain of a boat they learned that the French inhabitants were very friendly disposed, and this gave them courage; but, on examination, the water was found to be up to their arm-pits. The difficulty and fatigue of wading in running water of such depth are incalculable; and in an unguarded moment, Clarke gave way to expressions of despondency, which instantly affected the whole troop. But perceiving his error and dilemma, he mixed some powder with water, blacked his face, and ordering the officer next to him to follow his example, plunged in. This droll device diverted their desponding thoughts, and the whole followed without a murmur. A favorite song was raised, and every voice joined in the chorus. When they had reached the deepest part, whence it was intended to transport the men in two canoes-all they had—a foot-path was discovered by their tread, and rightly supposing it to pass over the highest ground, they followed it, till it brought them to the "sugar camp," where they found about half an acre above water. Here they rested. On setting out again, Clarke made an animating address; but his eagle eye, perhaps, detecting signs of faltering, he ordered Bowman to fall back with twenty-five men, and to shoot every man who refused to go forward. This order, however, was received with huzzas, and every man followed his intrepid leader. As they advanced, the inspiring, but deceptive intelligence was given, that the water was getting more shallow; and again would arise from the front, the seaman's cry of "land! land!" and until they discovered its design, the cry that broke forth from the foremost ship of Columbus, as it first approached the new world, was scarcely more cheering. When, after a toil of five days, as some historians say, others three, they reached the opposite shore, many fell forward completely exhausted, their bodies still half immersed in the water. Whenever they could get hold of pieces of floating timber, they derived some support; but much of the way they had nothing to lay their hands on. Half of a buffalo, which they had captured with some corn in a canoe, made into broth, greatly refreshed their famished and exhausted frames. And now, being so near the object for which so much had been undergone, every man was the more resolved to do his part. By a prisoner, Clarke sent a bold message to the town," that he would take possession of it that night." This produced the desired effect of enhancing their idea of his strength, and encouraging his friends. It was not thought that the expedition had come from Kaskaskia, in the existing stage of water, but that it was a larger one from Kentucky; and the friends of the British were even afraid to give information of its arrival to the fort. On the evening of the 23d, before marching against the town, in order to increase the appearance of their numbers, the little band were marched and counter-marched around an eminence in view of the town, at the same time displaying several sets of colors brought by the French. At seven o'clock the attack was made. The town surrendered with joy, and assisted in the siege of the fort. The attack was commenced on the fort by only fourteen men, under Lieut. Bailey; but the British attributed it to the idle salute of some drunken Indians, who had before acted in a similar manner, until a man was shot dead through a port hole. Helur and his large garrison, Henry, were still prisoners. Through Henry s wife, who lived in the town, but every day had access to her husband, Clarke got information respecting the fort, and the situation of Helur's quarters. Helur is said to have been much addicted to apple-toddy; and one of Clarke's men asked permission to let them fire, and knock a little dust into Helur's toddy; for he knew he had some on the hearth. Helur and Hamilton were engaged playing piquet. When the bullets began to rattle against the chimney, Helur jumped up, swore it was Clarke, and they would all be taken; "but the d-d rascals had no business to spoil his toddy." Seeing some of the garrison at the port-holes, Helur told them to take care, or their eyes would be shot out. Just then, one of them did have his eye shot out; whereupon Helur exclaimed, "I told you so." These incidents within, no doubt, aided the assailants without. Hamilton had appealed to Helur, to know "if Clarke was a merciful man.' The besiegers had nearly exhausted their ammunition, and the galley had not yet arrived; but luckily, whether by accident or design, a supply that had been concealed by the French was found, and the assault became more vigorous. As soon as a port-hole was opened or darkened by a form, the rifle bullets told with unerring effect. After the moon had gone down, Clarke threw up an intrenchment within rifle-shot of one of the strongest batteries of the fort, and at morning poured in such a shower of well-aimed shot, that in fifteen minutes he silenced two pieces of cannon, without having a single man even wounded. Clarke demanded a surrender, but Hamilton haughtily replied, "that he would be awed into nothing unbecoming a British subject." The assailants were now eager to storm the fort, but Clarke wisely repressed such rashness, waiting for the arrival of the galley with the artillery. But Hamilton, finding his guns so badly mounted as to be almost useless, while the rifles proved most fatal, proposed a truce of three days, which Clarke refused, and demanded a surrender at discretion. Hamilton then asked a parley, and a meeting was held in the church, a Major Hays, Helur, and other officers being present. Hamilton still refusing Clarke's terms, Helur endeavored to soften them, but was reminded that he was a prisoner, and had no right to speak on the subject. Hamilton then offered to release him, but Clarke would not accept his release on such terms. Notice was then given that the firing upon the fort would be resumed in fifteen minutes. When they were about to separate, Hamilton asked Clarke, privately, why he had rejected his liberal offers. "Because," said he, with assumed severity, "I know that the principal Indian partisans from Detroit are in the fort; and I only want an honorable opportunity of putting such instigators of Indian barbarities to death; the cries of widows and orphans made by their butcheries, require such blood at my hands." Pray, sir," inquired Major Hays, "whom do you mean by Indian partisans?" CONQUEST OF ILLINOIS. 457 "I consider Major Hays one of the principal," said Clarke. Hays, alarmed at this cutting and unexpected reply, turned pale, and trembled so that Hamilton blushed for him, and the indignant Bowman could scarcely restrain his contempt. Clarke now told Hamilton that he would submit his proposals to a council of war, and send the result with a flag. A council having been held, it was agreed to moderate Clarke's terms; and the fort was surrendered on the 24th of February, 1779. The American flag was hoisted, and thirteen cannon (that still honored number) fired in commemoration of the victory. In the midst of the attack on the fort, one of the detachments of Indians employed by Hamilton, came marching in with two prisoners. Much to their astonishment, they were soon attacked and dispersed, nine of them being taken, and the two prisoners released. A Other auspicious circumstances attended this brilliant success. convoy of goods was on its way from Detroit. Clarke dispatched sixty men, in boats mounted with swivels, who intercepted and took it. The mail from Canada to Gov. Hamilton was brought to Clarke, and their joy still farther augmented by the safe arrival of his express to the Governor of Virginia, bearing the vote of thanks of the General Assembly for their gallant reduction of the country about Kaskaskia, Such a series of fortunate occurrences, together with their preservation during their tedious and perilous march, well justify the belief that they were shielded and guided by Heaven. He who views the whole history of our Revolution, with a proper recog nition of God's governance over nations, must be convinced that it was the providential direction of a great movement in human progress. By the various successes at St. Vincent's, one hundred and nineteen prisoners in all, a quantity of military stores and goods to the value of £100,000, fell into the hands of the victors; the powerful armament of Hamilton was prevented, and the coming spring, instead of witnessing his threatened devastation of Kentucky and "West Augusta," saw him and his principal officers captives in Williamsburg. Hamilton was a brave man and accomplished officer; but Girardin says he possessed a barbarous and tyrannical disposition. He is spoken of, also, as the chief instigator of the enormities perpetrated by the Indians. From these grave imputations, Professor Tucker, who knew him personally, vindicates his character. But though he may not have been the incarnate fiend which some represent him, still his conduct deserves the severest condemnation. His conduct in refusing to give his parole in Williamsburg, shows his imperious and contemptuous disposition; and this may well have led him to the acts laid to his charge. While he was in custody, Governor Jefferson thought it right to retaliate upon him for some of the cruelties inflicted upon American prisoners. Detroit alone remained unconquered; and Clarke would then have led his eager and elated troops against it; but as his force was small and reinforcements had been promised by the Governor of Virginia, he concluded to wait for them. From information afterward received there was no doubt that an expedition against Detroit would have been successful; but it was then too late to seize the golden opportunity, for the post had been reinforced and strengthened. Helur was once more put in command of St. Vincent's, and Clarke returned in his galley to Kaskaskia. By these conquests the jurisdiction of Virginia was extended over the territory now comprised in the States of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and maintained until the close of the Revolution. Had she not undertaken them, it is hardly probable that the Continental arms would have been turned in that direction; and besides the continuance of the Indian ravages, Great Britain, at the close of the war, would have been in possession of that large and immensely valuable region. Would she ever have relinquished it by the treaty of peace in 1783? It can hardly be supposed that she would. She has never shown such a disposition to relinquish her footing here, when she had claims for it; and she would have held Illinois as she does Canada and a part of Oregon. It may be said that the States would not have concluded peace without obtaining a title to territory thus situated. They would not now; but in 1783 their situation was far different; and those principles of territorial extension since and now so strong, then had no existence. The States, too, after the peace, still had English and French and Spanish territory all around them. It is true, that the County of Illinois was within the chartered limits granted to Virginia; and when Gov. Henry first sent Clarke against it, he said that its inhabitants certainly were within the limits of Virginia. But Great Britain, deriving a title to it through France, and being in possession of it at the close of the war, would not have respected the charter claim of a revolted Colony derived from herself. These achievements, then, by the unaided arms of Virginia, while they confer such glory upon Clarke and his followers, have also brought this wide and fertile territory to the Union, to which Virginia generously gave it. This will farther appear, when we advert to the efforts made by France and Spain, in behalf of themselves and England, to deprive us, in the treaty of peace, of some of the rights and possessions which we now hold most dear. They even desired to confine our young republic east of the Alleghany mountains; and but for the firm and patriotic resistance of John Jay, our borders might have been far different from what they were. It must at least be admitted that whatever claims we had west of the Alleghany, were greatly strengthened by the conquest of Illinois, which must have operated materially upon the negotiation. Even after stipulating to surrender her posts in the North-west, with what dilatory reluctance did England relinquish them. Mr. Jefferson, when governor, foresaw the importance of fortifying our western claims, and, in 1780, sent Clarke to establish Fort Jefferson, on the Mississippi, five miles below the mouth of the Ohio, to secure our claim to the "Father of Rivers," as our western boundary. When Prescott had finished his Conquest of Mexico, he hesitated to break the unity of history by proceeding farther with the life of his hero, Cortes. To compare small things with great, if I were writing regular history I might not be encouraged even by his successful example, to proceed farther with the life of Clarke; but if my readers be not already as tired wading through this narrative, as PRODUCTIVE ENERGIES AND SPIRIT OE MASSACHUSETTS. 459 Clarke and his men were through the waters of the Wabash, per- A sword had been voted him in 1779; but afterward, in mortification and discontent, he broke it and threw it away. How unworthy this was of the Clarke of 1778;-and he seems himself to have thought so ;-for a man should have something of the same feeling toward his country that Job had toward God, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." If he be a patriot only when he receives or expects smiles and favors, his patriotism does not deserve the name. But Clarke was, in many respects, an uncommon man, and entitled to earlier remuneration for his valiant services, for which we should honor him and cast the veil of charity over failings which were not a part of his original character. In 1812 the Legislature voted him another sword with appropriate devices, and a pension of $400 a year; and afterward a grant of land opposite to Louisville, in the country which he had conquered. Art. III. PRODUCTIVE ENERGIES AND SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS. DURING the past summer we had the satisfaction of visiting Massachusetts, and inspecting for ourselves the extraordinary enterprise and industry which has given it character among the first of ancient or modern States. All the documents were kindly put into our possession by the Hon. J. G. Palfrey, Secretary of State, from which the most complete notions may be formed. Whatever displeasure as a Southerner we may have expressed, and however often we may have expressed it, in relation to the unauthorized and illiberal course pursued by Massachusetts in reference to our institutions and our rights, we cannot but admire her in the position in which she is truly admirable, and publish her honor to the world. As a great sister of our confederacy, we are bound to respect and love her, despite even of her faults. The paper which we now present will be in this spirit of candor and fellowship, and it is our intention to present similar papers, having a like reference to each of the States of our Union. In this matter, as in others, we must solicit the aid of their citizens. The State is supposed to have derived its name from one of its Clarke had, perhaps, been rather bold sometimes in "assuming responsibility" for the State; and then, too, those who best knew and appreciated his services, were succeeded in office by others who felt less interest in his affairs. |