beyond the Rocky Mountains and into the far West. Yet, however, some of the most bloody struggles of the Indians against the onset of civilization, of which we have next to treat, were, in a great measure, consequent upon the war of the Revolution. The savages had, to a great extent, been engaged on the side of England, and in 1776 most of them were regarded by the colonists as being engaged in the war. The nations nearest the Americans, and, perhaps, interested in their behalf, found themselves pressed upon and harrassed by the more distant bands, and through the whole winter of 1776-7, rumors were flying along the frontiers of Virginia and Pennsylvania of approaching troubles. Nor were the people of New York less fearful. Along the Mohawk and upper Susquehanna the settlers were standing in constant dread. However, the winter and spring of 1777 passed without an outbreak. At length the blow was struck. It was brought on by the murder of Cornstalk, the leading chief of the Shawanoes, of the Scioto. This truly great man, who was himself for peace, but who found all his neighbors, and even those of his own tribe stirred up to war by the agents of England, went over to the American fort at Point Pleasant, at the mouth of the Great Kanawha in order to discuss the situation with Capt. Arbuckle, the commandant. This was in the beginning of the summer of 1777. The Americans, being aware that the Shawanoes had taken up arms for England, decided to retain Cornstalk and Redhawk, a young chief of note, who was with him, and make them hostages for the good conduct of their people. The old warrior, accordingly, after he had finished his statement of the position he was in, and the necessity under which he and his friends would be of joining in with the popular voice of his people unless the Americans would guarantee protection, found that in seeking council and safety, he had walked into a snare and was secure there. However he did not complain but waited the result with great composure. On the following day Ellinipsco, the son of Cornstalk, came to the fort and was also made prisoner.

* Doddridge's Indian Wars-Stone's Works.

Withers' Border Warfare.

The three noted Indians now sat down calmly and waited the course of events. They had not been confined but three days when two savages in the neighborhood, unknown to the whites, shot a white hunter towards evening. Instantly the friends of the murdered man declared their intention of killing the three chiefs within the fort. The commandant endeavored to prevent them, but they were too furious to listen to his words, and his own life was threatened. They rushed to the house where the captives were confined. Cornstalk met them at the entrance but fell pierced with seven bullets. His son and Redhawk shared his fate. "From that hour," says Doddridge, "peace was not to be hoped for."

Meanwhile throughout the scattered settlements of Kentucky, Indian hostilities had been raging, but I have no space for the details of these. At times the stations were assailed by large bodies of savages, and again single settlers were picked off by skulking warriors. The numbers of the settlers became fewer and fewer, and from the older settlements little or no aid came to the frontier stations, until Col. Bowman, in August, 1777, came from Virginia with one hundred men. This, as the reader will remember, was a period of great distress throughout all the colonies, but of course none suffered more, or evinced more courage and fortitude, than the settlers of the West. On the other hand, these men bore an important burden of the war for independence. What might have become of the resistance of the colonies had England been allowed to pour her troops upon the rear of the Americans, through Canada, assisted as they would have been by all the Indian tribes? No doubt the contest before the stations of Kentucky and Clark's bold incursions into Illinois, and against Vincennes, had much to do in deciding the fortunes of the great struggle.

CHAPTER XX

THE CONQUEST OF ILLINOIS-COLONEL GEORGE ROGERS CLARK - HIS EXPEDITION AGAINST THE POSTS IN ILLINOIS-A BLOODLESS CONQUEST - SINGULAR STRATAGEM - COLONEL CLARK'S SPEECH TO THE INDIANS-INTERESTING INCIDENTS.

THE pioneers of the west, although surrounded by those dangers and difficulties in 1777, held fast to their purposes. In the autumn of this year the settlers of Kentucky began to organize, and George Rogers Clark, her chief spirit, he that had represented her beyond the mountains the year before, was meditating a trip to Williamsburg, for the purpose of urging a bolder and more decided measure than any yet proposed. He understood the whole game of the British.* He saw that it was through their possession of Detroit, Vincennes, Kaskaskia, and the other western posts, which gave them easy and constant access to the Indian tribes of the northwest, that the British hoped to effect such a union of the wild men as would annihilate the frontier fortresses. He knew that the Delawares were divided in feeling, and the Shawanoes but imperfectly united in favor of England ever since the murder of Cornstalk. He was convinced that could the British in the northwest be defeated and expelled, the natives might be easily awed or bribed into neutrality; and by spies sent for the purpose, and who were absent from the twentieth of April till the twentysecond of June, he had satisfied himself that an enterprise against the Illinois settlements might easily succeed.

George Rogers Clark, whose portrait appears on another page, was truly the founder of Kentucky, and the most eminent of the early settlers of the west. He was born November 19th, 1752, in Albemarle county, Virginia. † In early life he

* Western Annals.

+ Clark's Papers.

had been, like Washington, a surveyor, and more lately had served in Dunmore's war. He first visited Kentucky in 1775, and held apparently at that time the rank of major. Returning to Virginia in the autumn of 1775, he prepared to move permanently to the west in the following spring. Having done this early in 1776, Clark, whose views reached much farther than those of most of the pioneers, set himself seriously to consider the condition and prospects of the young republic to which he had attached his life and fortune.

As we have seen, he was now preparing to move against the British posts in the west; and accordingly, on the first of October, 1777, he left Harrodsburg, Kentucky, and reached the capital of Virginia on the fifth of November. Telling no one of his purpose, he diligently watched the state of feeling among those in power, waiting for the proper moment to present his pian. Fortunately, before his arrival Burgoyne had surrendered, which animated the Americans with new hope. On the tenth of December Colonel Clark presented his scheme to Patrick Henry, who was still governor. Henry received the idea with favor. Already the necessity of securing possession of the western outposts had been presented to Congress, and many events that had taken place on the frontier combined to urge the expediency of the plan. Clark having satisfied the Virginia leaders of the feasibility of his plan, received, on the second of January, 1778, two sets of instructions - the public one authorizing him to enlist seven companies to go to Kentucky, subject to his orders, and to serve for three months from their arrival in the west; the secret orders provided for the expedition against Kaskaskia, the British post in Illinois.*

* "VIRGINIA: SECRET. IN Council-Williamsburg, January 2, 1778. Lieut. Colonel George R. Clark: You are to proceed, with all convenient speed, to raise seven companies. of soldiers, to consist of fifty men each, officered in the usual manner, and armed most properly for the enterprise, and with this force attack the British force at Kaskasky.

"It is conjectured that there are many pieces of cannon and military stores to considerable amount at that place, the taking and preservation of which would be a valuable acquisition to the State. If you are so fortunate, therefore, as to succeed in your expedition, you will take every possible measure to secure the artillery and stores, and whatever may advantage the State.

"For the transportation of the troops, provisions, etc., down the Ohio, you are to apply to the commanding officer at Fort Pitt for boats; and during the whole transaction you are to take especial care to keep the true destination of your force secret. Its success

With these instructions and twelve hundred pounds in the depreciated currency of the time, Colonel Clark started for Fort Pitt. As the country was in need of all the soldiers that could be mustered east of the Alleghanies, Clark therefore proposed to raise his men in the neighborhood of Fort Pitt, while, for the purpose of hurrying up the enlistments, Major W. B. Smith went to Holston, and other officers to other points. They did not succeed, however, as they had hoped to. At Fort Pitt Clark found the people unwilling to forsake their own homes, which were in imminent danger, to defend Kentucky. At length Clark, with three or four companies, which was all he could raise, descended the Ohio, which he navigated as far as the falls, where he took possession of and fortified Corn Island, opposite the sight of the present city of Louisville. At this place Colonel Bowman was to meet him with additional troops. At this point he told his army their real mission. Having waited until his arrangements were all completed, he departed on the twenty-fourth of June, and descended the river. His plan was to follow the Ohio down as far as Fort Massac, and thence to go by land direct to Kaskaskia. But little baggage

depends upon this. Orders are therefore given to Captain Smith to secure the two men from Kaskasky. Similar conduct will be proper in similar cases.

"It is earnestly desired that you show humanity to such British subjects and other persons as fall in your hands. If the white inhabitants at that post and neighborhood will give undoubted evidence of their attachment to this State (for it is certain they live within its limits), by taking the test prescribed by law, and by every other way and means in their power, let them be treated as fellow citizens, and their persons and property duly secured. Assistance and protection against all enemies whatever shall be afforded them, and the Commonwealth of Virginia is pledged to accomplish it. But if these people will not accede to these reasonable demands, they must feel the miseries of war under the direction of that humanity that has hitherto distinguished Americans, and which it is expected you will ever consider as the rule of your conduct, and from which you are in no instance to depart.

"The corps you are to command are to receive the pay and allowance of militia, and to act under the laws and regulations of this State now in force, as militia. The inhabitants at this post will be informed by you, that in case they accede to the offers of becoming citizens of this Commonwealth, a proper garrison will be maintained among them, and every attention bestowed to render their commerce beneficial, the fairest prospects being opened to the dominions of both France and Spain.

"It is in contemplation to establish a post near the mouth of the Ohio. Cannon will be wanted to fortify it. Part of those at Kaskasky will be easily brought thither, or otherwise secured, as circumstances will make necessary.

"You are to apply to General Hand, at Pittsburgh, for powder and lead necessary for this expedition. If he can't supply it, the person who has that which Captain Lynn brought from New Orleans can. Lead was sent to Hampshire by my orders, and that may be delivered you. Wishing you success, I am, sir, your humble servant, P. HENRY."