formants, if the place could be surprised, there could be no doubt of our capturing it; they moreover offered their services to effect this result, and even solicited to be employed. The offer was readily accepted; the intelligence was most opportune, indeed, in the absence of any other, since the return of Clark's spies during the previous year.

by the inhabitants.

One portion of this information particularly pleased Col. Clark, and which determined him to employ it to promote his purposes; it was the dread and horror, in which our countrymen were held In consequence of this apprehension, he thought the more violent the shock might be, which his arrival should produce, the stronger would be the sensibility to his lenity so little to be expected from the notorious barbarians, they were represented to be. In fact, Col. Clark determined to turn the national prejudice, which had been excited by the enemy, in his own favor, and employ it as an auxiliary to his diminutive force.

Everything being ready for the march, the boats were dropped down a short distance above the site of Fort Massae, below the mouth of the Tennessee, forty miles above the mouth of the Ohio, (contracted it is said by some, from Massacre,) where they were concealed; and the party took up their toilsome march through swamp, and over deep and muddy creeks with their commander at their head, sharing in every respect the condition of his men. They pursued a north-west direction through the south-western portion of the present State of Illinois, to the ancient French village of Kaskaskia. The march was attended by little that was unusual in these times of privation, beyond the ordinary sufferings of expeditions through the forest and the wilderness. Game and water were, however, scarce; but this did not affect these hardy men so much, as the bewilderment of their guide.

On the third day's march, John Saunders, the principal guide, became so confused that he had lost all recollection of the features of the country. This excited immediate suspicion, and a general cry arose among the men, to put the traitor to death. He solicited permission of the Colonel, to go into a prairie, which was full in view, to try and recover himself. His application was granted;. but some men were sent with him, to prevent his escape, and he was sternly told, that if he did not conduct the detachment into the hunters' road, which led into Kaskaskia from the east, and which he had frequently described and travelled. leading through

a country not easily forgotten by a woodsman, he should surely be hung. After an hour or two, spent in examining the neighborhood, the poor fellow discovered a spot, which he perfectly recollected, his innocence was established, and the detachment proceeded on their route.

On the evening of the 4th of July, 1778, the expedition reached within a few miles of the town; where a halt was ordered, until dark. The march was then resumed. A house was taken possession of, about three quarters of a mile above the town, which itself lay on the opposite, or western side of the Kaskaskia river. Here, it was learned, that the militia had a few days before been under arms; but no cause of real alarm having been discovered, they were dismissed, and at the time everything was quiet; that there was a "great number in the town, the Indians had, however, mostly gone." A sufficient quantity of boats for transportation of the troops was soon procured. Two divisions of the party crossed the river, with orders to repair to different parts of the town; while Col. Clark with the third division took possession of the fort, (Fort Gage, afterwards called Fort Clark), on the eastern side of the river, in point blank shot of the town. Should this detachment meet with no resistance, upon a signal given, the other two parties were directed to possess certain quarters of the town with a general shout; and to send persons, who could speak French, through the streets to give the inhabitants notice, "that every man of the enemy, who should be found in them, would be shot." These dispositions had the most complete success; the fort was taken possession of without resistance; there was no garrison to make it. Clark entered it by a western gate that had been left open on the river side of the fortification. The town of about 250 houses was surrounded, every avenue guarded to prevent communication of intelligence, and "in about two hours the inhabitants were disarmed" without one drop of bloodshed.

During the night our men were ordered to patrol the streets with the utmost tumult and whooping after the Indian fashion; while the inhabitants preserved the most profound silence. This artifice, however painful and alarming to the feelings of the inhabitants, was, at the worst, but an innocent stratagem of war. Rocheblave, or Rocheblawe, (as Mr. Jefferson has it,) the British governor, was taken prisoner in his own chamber; but very few of his public papers could be secured, as they were secreted or de

M.

stroyed (it was supposed) by his wife. During the night severa persons were sent for from whom to obtain intelligence; but little could be procured, beyond what had been already received, except that a considerable body of Indians lay at this time in the neighborhood of Cahokia, about sixty miles higher up the Mississippi, and that M. Gabriel Cerre, then the principal merchant of Kaskaskia, was one of the most inveterate enemies of the Americans.

*

This gentleman had left the town, before Clark had captured it; and was then at St. Louis, on his way to Quebec, whence he had lately returned in the prosecution of extensive commercial operations; his family and an extensive assortment of merchandize were at Kaskaskia. By these pledges in his power, Col. Clark thought to operate upon M. Cerre, whose influence was of the utmost consequence to the American interest; if it could be brought to be exerted in its favor. With a view of gaining this gentleman over to this interest, a guard was immediately placed round his house, and seals placep on his property, as well as all the other merchandise in the place. On the 5th the troops were withdrawn from the town to different positions around it; during these movements as all intercourse with the soldiers had been forbidden under heavy punishment, even those of the inhabitants who had been sent for by Clark, had been ordered to have no communication with the rest; distrust and terror overspread the town. In possession of an enemy, of whom the inhabitants entertained the most horrid apprehensions, and all intercourse either with one another or with their conquerors sternly forbidden, their anticipations might well be gloomy. In this state of things, after the removal of the troops, the people were permitted to walk about freely; when finding they were busy in conversation with one another, a few of the principal militia officers were apprehended by orders of Clark, and put in irons, without assigning any reason, or suffering any defence. This immediately produced general consternation, and the worst consequences were expected from the enemy, whom the suspicions. of the inhabitants had invested with uncommon terrors. Yet these measures were taken from no wanton cruelty, for of all men, Col. Clark possessed a mild and affectionate disposition; and he severely felt, as he owns every hardship, he believed himself compelled to

*

Father to the late Pascal Cerre, Madame Auguste Chouteau, and others in high esteem in the City of St. Louis.

inflict in the prosecution of his duty. After some time, M. Gibault, the good and patriotic Roman Catholic priest of the village, got permission with five or six other gentlemen to wait on Colonel Clark. Shocked as the citizens of Kaskaskia had been by the sudden and most unexpected capture of their town, [and it could not have been more unexpected, had their captors descended from the clouds] by an enemy such as their preju lices had painted, the deputation were evidently still more shocked, when they entered Clark's quarters at the appearance of him and his officers. Their clothes travel-soiled and torn by their voyage down the Ohio, and march over swamps and through forests; their changes of clothes left at the Falls, the appearance of this little band was frightful and savage, as Clark admits, to any eyes. How much more so to this deputation, may be easily conceived by any body acquainted with the refinement and delicacy of the ancient French. The ilustrations of this character need not be pointed out, to those acquainted with the polished circles of the French in New Orleans and St. Louis, on our own continent. It was some time after entering the room, where Clark and his officers were assembled, before they could speak; and not then, until their business was demanded; they asked with unintentional sarcasm, which was the commander? so effectually had this backwoods expedition confounded the differences of rank in appearance, never very palpable in backwoods costume.

He was pointed out; the priest then said, that the inhabitants expected to be separated, never perhaps to see each other again, and they begged through him, to be permitted to assemble in the church together. Could they have expected worse had they been captured by Algerines! Clark aware that they suspected their very religion to be obnoxious to our people, carelessly told the priest, that he had nothing to say against his church; it was a matter Americans left for every man to settle with his God; that the people might assemble at church, if they would; but at the same time, if they did, they must not venture out of town. No doubt, the caution was intended to prevent intelligence and combination abroad. Some further conversation was attempted, on the part of the Kaskaskia gentlemen, but it was repelled, by saying there was no longer leisure for further intercourse, in order to raise the alarm to its utmost height.

The whole town then assembled at the church, even the houses

were deserted by all who could leave them. Orders, were honorably given, to prevent the soldiers from entering the vacant buildings. Western soldiers have rarely been guilty of private outrages

The people remained in the church for a considerable time, after which the priest, accompanied by several gentlemen, again waited on Col. Clark, and expressed in the name of the village, "their thanks for the indulgence they had received." The deputation then begged leave by request of the inhabitants to address their conquerors, on a subject, which was dearer to them than any other; they were sensible they said, "that their present situation was the fate of war, and they could submit to the loss of their property; but they solicited that they might not be separated from their wives and children; and that some clothes and provisions might be allowed for their future support." These gentlemen assured Col. Clark that their conduct had been influenced by their commandants; whom they considered themselves bound to obey; nor were they sure that they understood the nature of the contest between Great Britain and the United States; difficult as it was in this remote region, to obtain accurate information. Indeed, many of the inhabitants had frequently expressed themselves in favor of the Americans, as much as they could. The utmost hope they indulged, was favor to their wives and children.

In this distress of the villagers, Clark who had now wound up their terrors to the desired height, resolved to try the force of the lenity, which, had all along possessed his heart. For this purpose he abruptly asked the deputation, "Do you mistake us for savages? I am almost certain you do, from your language. Do you think, that Americans intend to strip women and children, or take. the bread out of their mouths? My countrymen," said Clark, "disdain to make war upon helpless innocence; it was to prevent horrors of Indian butchery, upon our own wives and children, that we have taken up arms, and penetrated into this remote stronghold of British and Indian barbarity; and not the despicable prospect of plunder."

"Now," he continued, "the king of France has united his powerful arms with those of America, the war would not, in all probability, continue long. The inhabitants of Kaskaskia were at liberty to take which side they pleased, without the least danger to their property or families. Nor would their religion be any source of disagreement, as all religions were regarded with equal respect