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pography of the whole region, as far as it was known, with the localities of the enemy's posts, and the strength of their forces; and was enabled to make such representations, as induced the legislature of Virginia to act with vigor. A regiment was authorized to be raised for the defence of the western frontiers, without designating the particular object of the enterprise, which remained a profound secret; and such was the confidence inspired by Colonel Clarke, that between two and three hundred men were raised without delay.

With this force, he crossed the mountains to the Monongahela, and descended by water to the falls of Ohio, where he was joined by some volunteers from Kentucky. Having halted a few days to refresh his men, he proceeded down the Ohio to the neighborhood of Fort Massac, a point about sixty miles above the mouth of that river, 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 with which the writer is familiarly acquainted—must have been at that period, when in the state of nature, almost impassable. His route led through a low, flat region, intersected by numerous streams and ponds, and entirely covered with a most luxuriant vegetation, which must have greatly impeded the march of 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, crossing creeks by such methods

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as could be hastily adopted, and sustaining two day's march after the provisions were exhausted, he arrived in the night, before the village of Kaskaskia. Having halted and formed his men, he made them a brief speech, which contained only the pithy sentiment, that "the town was to be taken, at all events." And it was taken accordingly, without striking a blow; for, although fortified, the surprise was so complete, that no resistance was attempted. A detachment, mounted on the horses of the country, was immediately pushed forward to surprise the villages higher up the Mississippi; they were all taken without resistance, and the British power in that quarter completely destroyed It is said, that a hunter had discovered the American troops, and apprized the inhabitants of Kaskaskia of their approach; but that his story was considered so improbable, as to obtain no credit. It was an improbable story, although it turned out to be true. A law had been passed for the raising of a regiment, the troops had been enlisted, officered, and equipped, transported thirteen hundred miles by land and water, through a wilderness country, inhabited by the Indian allies of the enemy, and marched into a garrisoned town, without the slightest suspicion, much less discovery of the movement. When we observe the amount of time and labor which is now expended, in making a journey from Virginia to Kaskaskia, with all our improvements, and reflect how incalculably greater must have been the difficulties of such a journey sixty-five years ago, when there was no road across the mountains, nor any boats in which to navigate the

rivers, but such rude craft as the traveler might construct for his own convenience; and when we take into consideration the difficulty of transporting provisions and ammunition through a wild region, the successful expedition of Colonel Clarke, will present itself to the mind as a brilliant military achievement. His next exploit was bolder, more arduous, and equally successful. Kaskaskia was not strongly defended; no attack by a civilized enemy, was apprehended at this remote spot, and the approach of Clarke was unsuspected; but Vincennes, situated nearly in a direct line between Kaskaskia and the falls of 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 Governor Hamilton in person, an experienced officer, who was quickly apprized of the capture of the posts on the Mississippi, in his rear, and prepared to expect a visit from the daring Clarke and his victorious troops. In addition to the regular force, which was greatly superior to that of Clarke in numbers and in equipment, he had under his command six hundred Indian warriors; and being an active, skillful officer, he proposed to march as soon as possible upon the American commander. But the season was such, as to render any immediate military movement difficult, and apparently impracticable. The rivers and smaller streams, all of which, in this level region, overflow their banks rapidly after heavy falls of rain, were now swelled,

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and the passes of the country blocked up. to march his own troops under such circumstances, he considered that Clarke would be confined by the same causes to the shores of the Mississippi, where no reinforcement could reach him, and where he could attack him, with the certainty of success, upon the subsiding of the waters.

Colonel Clarke, who, with his other accomplishments, possessed a singular capacity for penetrating into the designs of his enemy, became informed, as well of the present delay, as of the ulterior plan of the British commander, and determined to anticipate his intentions, by marching instantly against the post of Vincennes. To effect this, it was necessary to pass, without any road, over a surface of one hundred and sixty miles of fertile soil, whose light, spungy loam, saturated with water, afforded no firm footing to the steps of the soldiery, and to cross the Kaskaskia, the Little Wabash, the Embarras, and the Great Wabash rivers, besides a number of their tributaries, all of which were swollen, and margined by wide belts of inundated land. But the undaunted leader pressed on-without wagons, without tents, with only such provision and ammunition as could be carried on the backs of a few pack-horses, and the shoulders of the men-toiling by day through mud and water, and sleeping at night upon the wet ground.

Upon reaching the waters of the Great Wabash, our adventurous troops beheld before them an obstacle, which must have daunted the hearts of warriors less resolutely determined than themselves, upon the successful achievement of their enterprise. On the

eastern bank of the river, stood the British fort, on a high shore, swept by the foaming current of a great river; on the western side, was a tract of low alluvion land, five miles in width, entirely inundated. The whole expanse of water to be crossed, was nearly six miles in width-first, the marshy flat, in whose treacherous quicksands, the writer has seen the horse sink under his rider, and become instantly buried in the mire, now covered with water, too deep in some places to be forded, and too shallow in others to admit of navigation by boats, and impeded throughout, by growing timber, floating logs, or tangled brushwood—and then, the swift, powerful current of the river.

Colonel Clarke was laboriously employed for sixteen days, in effecting the march from Kaskaskia to Vincennes; five of which were consumed in passing the wilderness of water just described, through which he meandered in such a manner, as to conceal his forces from the enemy, by avoiding the prairie, and keeping as much as possible under the cover of the timber-wading sometimes breast deep, sometimes proceeding upon rafts and canoes, and at last, crossing the river in the night, and presenting himself suddenly before the town, which was completely surprised.

It was here that the western Hannibal, as Clarke may be justly called, performed a manœuvre, which shows that he was prudent as well as daring; and that while he possessed the hardihood to attempt the most desperate enterprises, he was fertile in expedients, and cautious in availing himself of any inci

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