was taken. He depended for success entirely upon surprise. Should he fail, he intended to cross the Mississippi and escape into the Spanish settlements. Before he commenced his march he received two pieces of information of which he made good use at the proper time, by means of which he conquered the west without bloodshed. One of these important items was the alliance of France with the colonies. This at once made the American side popular with the French and Indians of Illinois and the lakes; France having never lost her hold upon her ancient subjects and allies, and England having never secured their confidence. The other item was that the inhabitants of Kaskaskia and other old towns had been led by the British to believe that the "Long Knives" or Virginians were the most fierce, cruel and blood-thirsty savages that ever scalped a foe. With this impression on their minds Clark saw that proper conduct would readily force them to submit from fear, if surprised, and then to become friendly from gratitude when treated with unexpected kindness.

After some time the party landed at Fort Massac, and secured their boats in the mouth of a small creek. From this point their route lay through a wilderness without a path a distance of over one hundred miles. After a tedious journey they approached, on the fourth of July, 1778, near the town, and secreted themselves among the hills east of the Kaskaskia river. Colonel Clark sent forward his spies to watch the proceedings of the people, and after dark put his troops in motion and took possession of a house, where a family lived, about three-quarters of a mile above the town. Here they found

boats and canoes. The troops were divided into three parties, two of which were ordered to cross the river, while the other, under the immediate command of Col. Clark, took possession of the fort. Kaskaskia then contained about two hundred and fifty houses. Persons who could speak the French language were ordered to pass through the streets and make proclamation, that all the inhabitants must keep within their houses, under penalty of being shot down in the streets. The few British officers, who had visited these French colonies since the commencement of the rebellion of their Atlantic colonies, as

1

they termed the Revolution, had told the most exaggerated stories about the brutality and ferocity of the "Long-Knives;" that they would not only take the property of the people, but would butcher, in a most horrible manner, men, women and children! The policy of these stories was to excite in the minds of these simple-hearted French people the most fearful apprehensions against the colonists, that they might be watchful and be prepared for a determined resistance, should any attempt be made on these remote posts. These stories were a stimulus to the French traders to supply the Indians with guns, ammunition and scalping-knives, to aid their depredations on the settlements of Kentucky.*

Clark had possessed himself of these facts, and respecting them says: "I was determined to improve upon this, if I was fortunate enough to get them into my possession; as I concieved the greater the shock I could give them at first, the more sensibly they would feel my lenity, and become more valuable friends."

Clark's plan was to produce a terrible panic in the town, and then to capture it without bloodshed, and with his keen sagacity, he accomplished it in a perfect manner.

The two parties having crossed the river, entered the quiet and unsuspecting village at both extremes, yelling in the most furious manner, while those who made the proclamation in French, ordered the people into their houses, on pain of instant death. In a few moments all were screaming, "les long Couteaux! les long Couteaux!"- the long knives! the long knives!

Not more than half an hour after the surprise of the town, the inhabitants all surrendered and delivered up their arms to their conqueror. No blood had been shed, yet the victory was complete. M. Rocheblave, the governor of the place, was taken in his chamber, but his public papers and documents were either concealed or destroyed by his wife. Throughout the whole of the following night the troops marched up and down the streets, yelling and whooping after the Indian fashion. This was a part of Colonel Clark's plan to terrify the inhabit

*Peck's narrative.

ants.

Indeed, he took every possible measure to raise the fears of the people. The town was in possession of an enemy the inhabitants had been taught were the most ferocious and brutal of all men, and of whom they entertained the most horrible apprehensions, and all intercourse was strictly prohibited between each other, and the conquerors. After five days the troops were removed to the outskirts of the town, and the citizens were permitted to walk in the streets. But finding them engaged in conversation, one with another, Col. Clark ordered some of the officers to be put in irons, without assigning a single reason, or permitting a word of defense. This singular display of despotic power in the conqueror, did not spring from a cruel disposition, or a disregard to the principles of liberty, but it was the course of policy he had marked out to gain his object.

At length M. Gibault, the parish priest, got permission to wait on Col. Clark. He was accompanied by several of the elderly inhabitants of the place. When they came into the presence of Clark and his soldiers, they were shocked at their untidy personal appearance. Their clothes were dirty and torn, their beards of four weeks' growth, and they looked as frightful as native warriors. Finally, the priest, in a very submissive tone and posture, remarked that the inhabitants expected to be separated perhaps never to meet again, and they begged through him, as a great favor from their conqueror, to be permitted to assemble in the church, offer up their prayers to God for their souls, and take leave of each other!

Colonel Clark replied carelessly, saying that the Americans did not trouble themselves about the religion of others, but left every man to worship God as he pleased; that they might go to church if they pleased, but on no account must a single person leave the town. Thus saying, the Colonel dismissed them abruptly, hoping to raise their alarm to the highest pitch.

The priest and the Frenchmen hurried away and in a few hours the whole population assembled in the church, where, as for the last time, they mournfully chanted their prayers and bid each other farewell, "never expecting to meet again in this world." After the service, the priest and the old men of