forit. The council was uncertain how the Legislature would view the matter, and felt unwilling to act on a subject involving people and interests so far off when every bit of ammunition was sorely needed at home. Clark, after some argument, left the room, resolved to return to Kentucky and organize the people into a separate state, which resolution he imparted to the council in a letter. The councillors believing Kentucky to be helpless and dependent, had hesitated on that account. Major Clark now told them he would ask no more, as a country not worth claiming was not worth having. On reading this letter, so much in tone like the note of a great general telling the defenders that he will not accept the surrender on their terms, but will batter down their walls at once, the councillors opened their eyes to see that they had acted very like fools in declining to sanction the organization of a new county, an empire in extent, and destined to be of great importance. If the Kentuckians were able to organize themselves into a State, Virginia would gain fresh glory and prestige by having that State within her borders, even if it did cost some one 500 pounds of gunpower. They found Clark a high-minded man, who had authority and leadership before him. They recalled Clark in haste, accepted his propositions, and in a short time the Kentucky hunters filled their horns with the powder sent by the thoroughly awakened Virginia statesmen.

Henderson and Campbell, by a

treaty made for them by Daniel Boone with the Cherokees in 1775, gained a claim to all of Kentucky, the Indians agreeing to the sale; but Virginia refused to recognize the sale as valid, and asserted her jurisdiction over the entire territory as before. Henderson & Co. brought the matter up for settlement; it drifted into the Legislature, and as Henderson & Co. were authorized only to locate land-bounty warrants and a large county could be added to Virginia by disallowing their claims, Kentucky was, in 1776, made a separate county, and Henderson & Co. were pacified by a grant of 200,000 acres on Green river. The first plan Clark laid was thus accomplished. In all that was connected with its success, he bore an honorable part, though he came near to playing bluff on several occasions, and manifested at all times the ability to put the best foot foremost, and to make the worse reason appear as good as the best.

Having made Kentucky his home, Major Clark sought something to do. He delighted in a great event for breakfast, and while pleased with his adventurous life, he longed for larger things than chasing a few Indians through the woods. He had not far to look to discover a curse that needed removal. One of his clearness of vision could not long be ignorant of the fact that Detroit, Kaskaskia and Post Vincents were the fountain-heads whence flowed the Indian wars and outrages that kept the west in terror and prevented its progress.

He had succeeded in showing the Virginia statesmen how Kentucky was a barrier between them and the western Indians, and felt sure that they would also see how necessary it would be to capture the three British posts. Accordingly he sent two spies to the posts early in 1777; they returned in the fall with a favorable report, saying that, though the garrisons were strong, a sharp look-out was maintained for Americans, and the most shameless lying was done to prejudice the French settlers against the colonists, there was an air of insecurity about the places, and the French were friendly to America. They also confirmed Clark's opinion that all the Indian wars originated in the posts. Armed with these facts and more than ever skilled in the arts of insinuations and persuasion, Clark easily secured the consent and aid of Virginia to the reduction of the forts in the northwest. Two sets of instructions were issued to him by Gov. Henry, Jan. 2, 1778, each styling him "Lieut. Col. George Rogers Clark," authorizing him to raise "seven companies of men officered in the usual manner," and commanding the county lieutenants to assist him in recruiting the men. But one set, intended for the public, directed him to enlist the men to serve in Kentucky under his orders; the other, private, ordered him to "attack the British posts at Kaskasky."

Colonel Clark says that on his "arrival at Town (Williamsburg), I found to appearance a friend in many gen

tlemen of note that offered their interest to me in case I should offer at any post," but these tenders of friendship and assistance, if sincere and active, were insufficient, even when they were extended to a man whose plans had the sanction of law and the support of the State, to supply Clark with an army of respectable size. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Colonel a letter from Williamsburgh, in which he observed that much solicitude will be felt for the success of your expedition to the Wabash; it will, at least, delay their expedition to the frontier settlements, and if successful, have an important bearing ultimately in establishing our northwestern boundary."

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Some of the county lieutenants in Virginia opposed Clark, other individuals induced many volunteers to desert, and after all his talents for enlisting men on his side had been put to their utmost stretch of ability, he could count hardly more than 150 men when he sailed down the Kanawha, (Canoeway, he spelled it) and stopped at the falls of the Ohio. Here to receive re-enforcements from Kentucky, but learned with deep. disgust that some of the men had deserted; in some localities they had been forced to abandon his cause by threats of imprisonment if they went to him, and when all his men were encamped at the falls, they numbered little more than 200. He pitched his camp on an island at the falls to prevent desertion more easily, and began disciplining his army. His rule was

always rigid, and soon he had satisfactory subordination in the army that was to conquer the Northwest.

Camp was broken June 26, 1778, and the falls were passed in boats as the sun was being eclipsed, a circumstance which filled the superstitious with terrible conjectures. Four days later they landed. on an island near the mouth of the Tennessee, where a party of hunters who had left Kaskaskia eight days before, were captured. Col. Clark, fearful lest their reports might discourage his men, suffered none to talk to them until they had taken the oath of allegiance, when he questioned them alone. he had anticipated, their reports were depressing, and he gave them permissio to go with him, taking care to tell them what to say about Kaskaskia. Up to this point, Clark had intended to attack Post St. Vincents first, but the information gained from the hunters caused him to attack Kaskaskia instead. Hiding their boats in a creek near old Fort Massac on the north side of the Ohio, the march to Kaskaskia was begun.

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Various and tumultuous were the feeligns that filled the young commander. He was a lover of pomp, he delighted in the ceremonious formalities of great occasions and of ancient customs, he longed for and loved glory, he gave rein to an ever-leaping ambition, he yearned for a nation's applause. He was going forth on a mission whose greatness he and he alone realized to that point where the realization made

the heart swell and beat fast, and the true idea of the mighty results he was to accomplish to give to the imagination the wings of speed and of freedom, enabling him to have notions and fancies that marked him then as a lunatic, now as a seer standing on the hill of prophecy. He was going of his own impulse, of his own seeking; no king, no hero, had ordered him, but only his own patriotism and ambition; patriotism that led him to do great things for millions, ambition that would find gratification in that work. Some generals fear failure because it will bring disgrace; he, feared it because it would. lead to national disaster. He went according to no one's orders, he was subject to no one; few, if any men, who have ever led troops in our country were so perfectly free and untrammeled as he. None of the soldiers who have added territory to the United States did so as much of their own accord and by their own plans. He went into the wilderness with a feeble band and came back with a mighty empire, without having ever received a solitary command from any man. Virginia gave her countenance, but she gave little else. He alone, of all the magnificents of America, deserves. to have for his epitaph, "He gave to us a splendid empire."

He feared that his army would be discovered in crossing the "meadows" of southern Illinois and captured. One day John Saunders, the guide, became confused and lost his way. Clark refusing to let him leave the command

alone, gave him two hours to find the path or die. Recovering his old familiar route, the guide conducted the army safely across the country, Kaskaskia being reached at the close of the day, July 4th, 1778.

Late in the day Clark seized a house a short distance above Kaskaskia; then dividing his forces, he took the town by surprise. Runners were sent through the streets notifying all to stay in their houses. The fort was taken without firing a shot, the whole time spent in the actual work of capture not exceeding fifteen minutes. The English agents, as was known to Clark, had assiduously trained the French to believe the Americans more brutal than the Indians, more savage and ferocious than ever known; and when the people looked on the frontier riflemen, large and massive of frame, clad in the rude garments of western hunters, and upon the large-faced, largefeatured leader, stern, cold and resolute in his looks, they conceived that the day of doom had come, and that they were in the hands of men who respected nor feared man, God nor devil. Spending the night in fears and prayers, they waited next morning on Clark, headed by their priest, Father Gibault, and their most prominent men. Their estimate of American cruelty was known to Clark, who let them alone in their fears, choosing to undeceive them not gradually but by one signal stroke. The leaders of the Kaskaskians declared their intention to submit to the lot which was theirs'

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as pioneers of war, but asked that they might be allowed to see their families once more and hold church services undisturbed. At the proper moment Clark assumed a dramatic attitude, and with the gestures and voice of a dramatist asked, "Do you take us for savages? ? It was to secure to you the blessings of liberty and protect you against the savages that I came. make no war on women and children. As for your religion, our Government leaves that for every man to settle for himself. You are to go about your business as usual." The effusive, mercurial French, true to their race nature, went nearly wild with joy. Taking the oath of allegiance, they advised the Indians to join the Americans, and a company of the young men of Kaskaskia and Cahokia was added to Clark's army.

The terms of enlistment of his men expiring, some of them refused to re-enlist and were sent home, reducing the already small army to a mere handful. Surrounded by foes and far away from the whites, among a people whom he suspected of treachery, the Colonel was put to trouble to appear as if supported by a large force. He talked of a large army at the falls, and finally began preparations to leave town. The inhabitants besought him to stay, and he agreed, not having really intended to leave. Headquarters were, were, however, fixed at Cahokia; and the Indian problem was taken up. Col. Clark knew the red man, and his method of handling him

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was admirable. He sent to the Indians a speech setting forth the cause of the of the revolution, and artfully framed, not at all times with a strict regard for truth, so as to make friends. is interesting reading now, this speech, as showing how Clark's mind acted and how he looked at great questions. Soon the red men came to Cahokia anxious to make treaties. The town was overflowing, and distrust grew apace as the Indians became boisterous. One night a party of chiefs tried to force into Clark's lodgings, but were put in irons, which caused great excitement among whites and Indians. All attempts of the Indians to gain audience with Clark failed, he sending them word, that he believed them a set of villians in British pay, and would like to meet them in battle. By night of the day after the arrest, Cahokia was on edge with excitement, no one but Clark being self-possessed. He stayed in his quarters some distance from the fort, apparently unguarded; a guard of fifty men was concealed in a room adjoining. further manifest his contempt, Col. Clark "assembled a number of gentlemen and ladies and danced nearly the whole night."

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On the next morning the savages were called to council, the prisoners being released to attend. Col. Clark brought out a bloody belt of wampum and told the offending chiefs he knew they were in favor of the English, that they ought to be men, that the English needed help and he didn't, that their late

offense would have caused any other people to put them to death, that he scorned taking a mean advantage, that he would treat them as they treated him, that he did not care who was his friend or foe, that he was ordered to make war on some bad tribes to give his young men something to do, that he did not ask for peace, but offered them peace and war, and they might choose. He closed by presenting the bloody wampum, saying they would soon see who would make it bloodier. Submissive speeches were made by various tribes, and all accepted the peace belt joyfully, but Clark refused to smoke the peace-pipe till they had proven their sincerity. The guilty chiefs asked for mercy, but Clark seemned bent on inflicting some terrible punishment. Finally, a thing rare among Indians was done: they selected two young men willing to die and offered them to Clark to be killed as an atonement for the crime of the chiefs. The young men came forward and prepared themselves to die for their people and their erring leaders. "This stroke," says Clark, who was negotiating in this high-handed style for peace," prejudiced me in their favor." A treaty was immediately made, the Colonel being satisfied that the Indians were sincere.

About this time rumors set in that Governor Henry Hamilton was coming with a large force from Detroit, and Clark's anxiety increased. He had averawed the Indians and bulldozed the French, but tactics like these would