falo. He began to despair, and resigned himself to his fate. At this time, the day began to break. He at length resolved to make another and last effort, and by pulling the rope, by putting his fingers between it and his neck, to his surprise it easily untied, and he slipped it over his head. He then stepped over the warriors as they lay, looked back to see if he had disturbed them, and sprang over the fence into a cornfield. He had not gone far, before he came across a squaw with four children, sleeping under a tree. He then changed his course for part of the commons of the town, on which was a number of horses feeding, and having caught one, and taking the cord from his arm, with which he had been tied, he used it for a halter, and a piece of an old quilt which he had found near, for a saddle, he mounted and rode off at full speed. It was now daylight; but the horse being strong and swift, and the country open and level, he crossed the Scioto about fifty miles distant by ten o'clock.Having travelled about twenty miles further, his horse gave out, when he instantly left him, and run on foot about twenty miles further, making in the whole distance, about ninety miles. Being perfectly acquainted with the route, he reached Wheeling on the third day, nearly famished with hunger, and exhausted with fatigue. (1)

Thus ended this disastrous campaign. It was the last one which took place in this section of the country during the war of the revolution. It was undertaken with the very worst views-those of murder and plunder. It was conducted without sufficient means to encounter, with any prospect of success, the large Indian forces, upon the plains of Sandusky. There was not that subordination and discipline which is always necessary to success; and it ended in total discomfiture, and an awful sacrifice of life. Never did any enterprise more signally fail, and never was a deed of blood more terribly revenged, than the murder of the Christian Indians at the Moravian towns.

"The enlightened historian must view the whole Indian war, from the murder of Cornstalk, Ellinipsico and Red Hawk, at the commencement of the war, to the inhuman burning of Colonel Crawford, in no other light than a succession of the most wonton murders of all ages, from helpless infancy to decrepid old age, and of both sexes: without object and without effect. It was a war of mutual but unavailing slaughter, devastation and revenge, over whose record humanity still drops a tear of regret, but that tear cannot efface its disgraceful history."(2)

(1) Incidents of Border Life, p. 145-46-47.

CHAPTER XII.

CAPTURE OF KASKASKIA, AND OTHER BRITISH POSTS ON THE MISSISSIPPI IN 1778, BY COLONEL GEORGE ROGERS CLARKE-HIS SURPRISE OF VINCENNES, AND ITS SURRENDER BY GOVERNOR HAMILTON TO THE AMERICAN COMMANDER-THE FOUNDING OF LOUISVILLE-THE DARING EXPLOITS OF SIMON KENTON, HIS CAPTIVITY, SUFFERINGS, AND ESCAPE-COLONEL DANIEL BOONE'S EXPEDITION TO AN INDIAN TOWN ON PAINT CREEK-HIS DEFENCE OF BOONESBORO' AGAINST 500 INDIANS UNDER DU QUESNE, A BRITISH OFFICER.

One of the most extraordinary expeditions during the war of the revolution, was that of Colonel GEORGE ROGERS CLARKE, in 1778, against Kas. kaskia and Vincennes, then in possession of the British. These places supplied the Indians with munitions of war, and enabled them to harrass the frontier settlements of Virginia, now the State of Kentucky. (1)— The capture of these posts was deemed so important, that the Legislature of Virginia voted to raise a regiment of State troops for the purpose. The command was given to Colonel Clarke, who planned the expedition, and who possessed great courage, uncommon energy of character and capacity for Indian warfare. He was a man of extraordinary talents, and possesed a military genius which enabled him to plan with consummate wisdom, and to execute his designs with decision and promptitude. Having visited the western settlements the preceding year, he was satisfied, that in order to curb the Indians effectually, it was necessary to strike at the powerful, though distant allies, by whom they were encouraged and supported. His great mind readily comprehended the situation of the country; he made himself acquainted with the topography of the whole region, as far as it was then known; with the localities of the enemy's posts, and the strength of their forces, His representations induced the Legislature of Virginia to enter with vigor into his plan, and such was the confidence he inspired into the public mind, that a regiment consisting of nearly three hundred men, were raised without delay, and placed under his command. (2) He was duly authorized to act against the British posts on the Mississippi and the Wabash; yet the object of the expedition was kept a profound secret. (3) With this force, he left Virginia, crossed the mountains to the Monongahela, embarked in boats, and descended to the falls of the Ohio, where he was joined by some volunteers from Kentucky, then western Virgi nia. At this place he left thirteen families, who had descended the Ohio (1) Kentucky was separated from Virginia in 1786, after which it was a territorial government, until 1792, when it was admitted into the Union. Hall's Sketches of the West, Vol. II. p. 118.

with him for the purpose of making a permanent settlement in that country. No such settlement had yet been made at the Falls, where Louisville now stands; and so exposed was the situation, that they built their first houses on the island in the river. (1)

Having halted a few days to refresh his men, he proceeded down the Ohio, to a point about sixty miles above its mouth, where he landed and hid his boats to prevent their discovery by the Indians. He was now distant from Kaskaskia, about one hundred and thirty miles, and the intervening country must have been, at that period, when in a state of nature, almost impassable. His route led through a low, flat region, intersected by numerous streams and ponds of water, and entirely covered with a most luxuriant vegetation, which must have greatly impeded the march of the troops. Through this dreary region, the intrepid leader marched on foot, at the head of his gallant band, with his rifle on his shoulder, and his provisions upon his back. After wading through ponds, which could not be avoided, crossing creeks by such methods as could hastily be adopted, and sustaining two days march after the provisions had been exhausted, he arrived in the night before the town of Kaskaskia. Having halted and formed his regiment, he consulted his officers, and made a brief speech to his men, containing only the pithy sentiment, that "the town was to be taken at all events," when he led them direct to the attack. The town contained about two hundred and fifty houses, and was sufficiently fortified to have resisted a much more formidable army, had the garrison been apprised of its approach. But the distance from any known foe, having excluded all apprehension of danger, confidence superceded all precautions against surprise. The approaches of Colonel Clarke had been so silent, and rapid, that the assault gave the first intelligence of his arrival. Not a scattering hunter had espied his march; not a roving Indian had seen his trail; the watchman was sleeping in fancied security; the inhabitants of the town were resting from their labors, and the garrison of the fort was not alarmed, until the citidel was taken, and the flag of stars and stripes was proudly waving upon its battlements.

The astonishment and mortification of the vanquished, were equal to their negligence. Col. Clark, required the inhabitants to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, and the Fort at Kaskaskia, became his head quarters. The right of property was not molested, and no pillage was permitted or attempted; on the contrary the humane and friendly treatment of the people, and the security afforded to their per

sons and property, effected a speedy reconciliation to the new order of things. The utmost care was taken that none should escape to spread the news, while detachments were sent out, that captured the open settlements and villages in the vicinity, without the least resistance. In the meantime, a portion of the army mounted on the horses of the country, left Kaskaskia for the purpose of taking by surprise the villages higher up the Mississippi. These all fell into the hands of the invaders by an unresisted and easy conquest. Thus fell the power of Great Britain, upon the banks of the Mississippi; and this fertile and extensive valley, which will one day be the centre of population of this great Republic passed from under her authority forever.

The success of this expedition had the happiest effect upon the Indians. Struck with fear and astonishment on seeing a victorious enemy in the country, without knowing whence, or how they came, they fled to their hiding places in the wilderness, or to their distant towns for safety; or else repaired to Vincennes, a post on the Wabash, still in possession of the British, for protection. (1)

This bold and brilliant military achievement of Col. Clarke, was succeeded by one still bolder, more difficult, and quite as successful. Kaskaskia was not very strongly fortified; and no attack in so remote a spot could reasonably be apprehended. But Vincennes, situated in nearly a direct line between Kaskaskia and the falls of the Ohio, distant one hundred and sixty miles from the former place and two hundred miles from the latter, had been considered within the reach of an attack from the American settlements, and was strongly fortified. It was well garrisoned with British troops, commanded by Gov. Hamilton, in person, an experienced officer, who was quickly apprized of the capture of the ports on the Mississippi, in his rear, and prepared to expect an attack from Col. Clarke, at the head of his victorious troops.(2) His regular force, was greatly superior to that of the American commander, both in numbers and equipment, and in addition, he had under his command six hundred Indian warriors.

With this force Gov. Hamilton, determined to retake Kaskaskia, and regain the posts on the Mississippi. But Col. Clarke, sent a party to reconnoitre Gov. Hamilton's position, and make observations. The intelligence received from the detachment on its return determined him, immediately to attempt to take Vincennes, as the best means of defending himself, notwithstanding its strength and the force stationed for its (1) Marshall's History of Kentucky, Vol. I, p. 68-69.

defence. In the meantime, he took measures to strengthen the defences of Kaskaskia, and resolved to maintain the possession at all hazards. While he was digesting the plan of his future operations, he received undoubted information, from a Spanish merchant, who had recently left Vincennes, that Gov. Hamilton, reposing on the security which the superiority of his force afforded, contemplated leisurely, the execution of his projects. These were, in the first place, to retake Kaskaskia; in the next, to cut off the inhabitants residing upon the Ohio, up to Fort Pitt; after which he intended to desolate the remaining frontiers of Virginia. In addition to these projects, arrangements were made to destroy the frontier settlements of New York and Pennsylvania, by a combined force of British troops, and Indians of the northern tribes. He also learned from the same source, that the approach of winter, had induced a postponement of the campaign till the opening of the next spring-and that in the meantime, the Governor to keep his Indian auxiliaries employed, had sent them to obstruct the passage of the Ohio, and to harrass the frontiers of Western Virginia, while the regular soldiers, were kept in garrison under his immediate command.

Col. Clarke, at once perceived that his own situation was most critical. He was too remote from the Atlantic border, to receive any assistance from that quarter; and the western settlements were invaded by the savages. He knew that his force was too weak, to maintain his present position against the British army under Gov. Hamilton, supported by the whole body of Indian warriors, from the Lakes to the Mississippi, by whom he was to be attacked on the return of spring. In this emergency what was to be done? The Indians were now ravaging the frontiers, and Gov. Hamilton and the British troops, were alone at Vincennes. He instantly determined to capture Vincennes, or perish in the attempt. The resolve had been made,-the blow was now to be struck-and although the winter had now set in, no time was to be lost, as the Indians might return, and the British commander, might awake from his dream of security.

He then fitted up a small galley which lay in the Mississippi for defensive purposes, and put on board a large quantity of provisions. This vessel was armed with a few pieces of cannon, manned by a company of soldiers, and the captain ordered to proceed down the river, to the mouth of the Ohio, and then to ascend it to the mouth of the Wabash. Here he was directed to disregard every difficulty, and force his vessel