Conquest of the Country Northwest of the River Ohio, 1778-1783, and Life of Gen. George Rogers Clark [1]

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CONQUEST OF THE COUNTRY

NORTHWEST OF THE RIVER OHIO 1778— 1783 AND

'

GEN.

LIFE

OF

GEORGE ROGERS CLARK

•

OVER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS

WITH NUMEROUS SKETCHES OF MEN WHO SERVED UNDER CLARK AND FULL LIST OF THOSE ALLOTTED LANDS IN CLARK'S GRANT FOR SERVICE IN THE CAMPAIGNS AGAINST THE BRITISH POSTS. SHOWING EXACT LAND ALLOTTED EACH.

BY

WILLIAM HAYDEN ENGLISH President Indiana Historical Society

Volume

1

INDIANAPOLIS, IND., AND KANSAS CITY, MO.

THE BOWEN-MERRILL COMPANY 1896.

8PRECKELS Copyright

1895

BY

WILLIAM HAYDEN ENGLISH

llbrcface ^

e)

PREFACE. In collecting

historical

matter for a history of Indiana,

which the author has been preparing material has in these

grown

volumes that the best use

years, his

to

make

of

it

has been

After consultation with discreet and

well-informed judges, in a separate

many

voluminous on the subjects embraced

so

a grave question.

now

for

it

has been determined to publish

form the matter

in relation to the con-

quest of the country northwest of the river Ohio (and this necessarily includes the

life

of

George Rogers Clark)

as

introductory volumes to the History of Indiana, the events therein relating largely to that country before tion as a territory.

Much and

it

is

made

ters,

any other disposition

of the material.

of this matter has never before

hoped

will

being perpetuated.

organiza-

This plan will probably be found more

satisfactory to the general public than

that could be

its

been published,

be found interesting, and worthy

To

that

end numerous

of

historical let-

papers, etc., are reproduced in fac-simile, or other-

wise.

(9)

PREFACE.

lO

The author, born and brought up on

the borders of Clark's

Grant, of a family which furnished Clark three officers in his

campaigns against the

and was

British,

allied to his

family in early times by marriage, naturally

felt

terest in the great historic events of Clark's life,

ticularly in those ish posts at

This

interest,

inti-

and added

of Indiana,

boundaries of the United States.

beginning

in early

assumed the form

finally

and par-

Kaskaskia and Vincennes, which were so

to the

in-

remarkable campaigns against the Brit-

mately connected with the history

an empire

an

of

never abated, but

life,

collecting

all

available

in-

formation in relation to the occurrences themselves, and the lives of the

men who

participated in them, especially

of their great leader.

The

information was sought, at

first,

without any fixed

intention of publication, but investigation satisfied the author that

no account

of the

life

of

General Clark, and of the

great events with which he was connected, had as yet been

published as

full as

the importance of the subject

demanded.

This view he found was also entertained by Judge Law,. James Parton, Senator Daniel of Virginia, and many others of superior

judgment,

who had

also investigated the

subject.

The

author, therefore, after waiting

pectation that the field

would be

many

years in ex-

fully occupied,

and

find-

ing yet a vacancy and himself in possession of a large

amount

of

unpublished material, determined upon the

publication of the present volumes under the circumstances

already stated.

PREFACE.

He

I I

make it a full and fair history, and trusts that he has brought much that was meager has earnestly endeavored to

and fragmentary

into a

more compact and

desirable form,

besides adding to the aggregate of information heretofore

published upon the subject. If

he has succeeded in doing

he desired, and will to

it

at

feel

rewarded

an advanced period

precious,

and

its

of life,

friends,

Bowman

Thanks Clark of

and

to

much labor devoted when time had become for

him

particularly

in

his

researches by

by members

of the

Clark

families.

are especially due St.

all

with gratitude, the aid and encourage-

ment generously extended and

he has accomplished

value understood and appreciated.

He remembers, numerous

this

Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson K.

Louis, the former being the son of Gov-

ernor William Clark, George Rogers Clark's youngest brother and of the celebrated Lewis and Clark expedition to the Pacific ocean, under the auspices of President Jefferson; to

Governor Clark's grandsons, William Hancock Clark

of Detroit,

and Meriwether Lewis Clark

R. C. Ballard Thruston

George Rogers Clark's

August F. Rodgers

sister

sister,

numerous descendants

of

to

a descendant

of

Frances; to Mr. and Mrs.

of California, the latter

ant of General Clark's to

of Louisville,

Kentucky;

of

being a descend-

Mrs. Lucy Croghan his

as the author.

also

eldest brother General

Jonathan Clark, who was himself a distinguished of the Revolution,

;

and whose wife was

of the

officer

same family

PREFACE.

12

Bowman family thanks are especially due to Mrs. Eleanor B. Bowman of Strasburg, Virginia, widow of Isaac S. Bowman, son of Lieutenant Isaac Bowman of Clark's Command and to Mrs. Mary D. Bowman of HarOf the

;

rodsburg, Kentucky, whose husband. Prof. John B.

man, long and honorably connected with Kentucky, spent mation

many

Bow-

the University of

years in collecting historical infor-

of his ancestors of the

Revolutionary period, but,

unfortunately, died without placing his material in form for publication.

In fact the aid and encouragement extended to the author

by representative members lies

of the

have been so cordial and useful

information and material, as to in a

Clark and

Bowman

fami-

in furnishing historical

make him feel that the work,

measure, has been prepared under their auspices.

A fair exhibit of the spirit in the case of Jefferson

manifested by

K. Clark

all will

be found

of St. Louis, the senior

representative of the Clark family,

who gave

the author

not only the use of the very large and valuable collection of family historical papers in his possession,

but gave him

also a letter of general authority to use all Clark historical

papers wherever found.

Mr. Temple Bodly

Jonathan Clark branch stricted use of his

Much

A similar letter was received from

of Louisville, a representative of the of the family,

who

also

gave unre-

very large collection of historic material.

valuable material was also furnished by Colonel

Reuben T. Durrett western history oblige proverbial.

is

of Louisville,

whose information about

unsurpassed, and

his

willingness

to

PREFACE,

The

writer

is

13

also indebted to the

Honorable Henry

S.

Edm. J. P. Schmitt, J. V. Southall, Esq., many others, who are generally mentioned in ap-

Cauthorn, Rev.

and

to

propriate connection in the

body

whether mentioned or not, he

of the

work; and

to all,

feels truly grateful,

and

tenders his profound acknowledgments.

^/U^ty^

§TRATI0N8

ILLUSTRATIONS, Vol.

I.

Page.

Westward the Course of Empire Takes

its

Way — States

FROM THE Old Northwest Territory (Frontispiece,

Created 2

A"ol. 1

Signature of the Author

13

Portrait of the Author

13

Illustrations (half

15

title)

Rogers' Coat of Arms

35

=

Fac-simile of George Rogers Clark's Letter to His Father in

1780....

The Old Clark Residence at Mulberry Hill, Ky Old Spring-house at Mulberry Hill

38 43

44

Signature of John Clark

52

Signature of Ann Clark

52

Fac-simile of letter op President Thomas Jefferson to Clark

57

Portrait of Governor Patrick Henry

73

Portrait of Governor Thomas Jefferson

88

Portrait of George Mason Portrait of George

89

Wythe

90

Signature of Thomas Jefferson

91

Fac-simile of Governor Henry's Letter of Instructions to Clark

96

Law Law

Signature of Judge John

100

Portrait of Judge John

100

Fac-simile of letter of George

Wythe, George Mason and Thomas 0"*

Jefferson to George Rogers Clark Fac-simile of Certificate of

Signature of Signature OF

Death of Joseph Bowman

Mary Bowman George Bowman

...

Signature OF JosT Hite 2

±0'.)

(17)

HI HI HI

8

.

ILLUSTRATIONS

1

Page.

Signature of Samuel Kircheval

112

Homestead of Bowman's Grandfather and Uncle George Bowman's Residence Fac-simile of Patent of King George II for Bowman Land The old Bowman Mill on this Land

114

Corn Island

116

118 121

136

in 1788

Signature OF John Montgomery

138

Signature of Elizabeth B. Ruddell

143

Signature of Isaac Ruddell

143

Signature of James Patton

146

Signature of Richard Chenowith

147

Old Fort Chenowith Clark's

148

Army Passing over the Ohio Falls

161

Capture of Rochblave, the British Commandant at Kaskaskia

174

Portrait of Simon Kenton

178

Signature of Simon Kenton

179

Portrait of Father Gibault

183

Signature of Father Dujannay

185

Signature of Father Meurin

185

Signature of Father Devernai

187

Bowman's Line of March from Kaskaskia to Cahokia Signature of Father Gibault Clark in Council with Indians

199

208

Portrait of Francis Vigo

267

Fac-simile of Note Executed by Francis Vigo

274

Departure of "The Willing" from Kaskaskia Signature and Writing of John Rogers

281

Off for Vincennes February, 1779 Father Gibault Blessing Clark's Troops Map Showing Route of Clark's Marches Map of Route Through the Over-flowed Lands Crossing the Great Waters Clark Entering the Water Big Sergeant and Drummer Boy

286

T^^R- Sackville

319

—

Old

St.

Xavier's Church

194

283

287

290 313 295

300

321

Portrait of Elihu Stout

322

Signature of Elihu Stout

322

Approach to the Fort Through Vincennes Night Attack on Fort Sackville, February

323 23, 1779

331

9

ILLUSTRATIONS.

1

Page. Fac-simile op Letter of Goyerxor Hamilton to Colonel Clark Proposing A Truce for Three Days

337

Fac-simile of Colonel Clark's Reply Fac-simile OF

338

Major Joseph Bowman's Commission

Signature of Francis Bosseron Signature of

J,

M.

P.

351

356

Legrace

357

Diagram of Ground Around Fort Sackville Diagram of Ground Around St. Xavier's Church Capture of British Boats on the Wabash Return of the Victors Sword Presented General Clark by the State of Virginia

—

376

376 359 405

's

N«X»^

c

Content6 ot Cbapters

—

CONTENTS OF CHAPTERS, Vol.

I.

CHAPTER

I.

HISTORY OF THE CONQUEST OF THE COUNTRY NORTHWEST OF THE OHIO NECESSARILY INCLUDES THE LIFE OF GENERAL GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

— Traditional onlv, back of his grandparents — Sketch of — Will of his paternal grandfather — Sketch of his father and mother — Their removal from King and Queen county to Albemarle — Homestead on the Rivanna river where George Rogers Clark was born — Remove to Caroline count}^ — Sons enter the army — George R.and Richard go West

Account of his

his ancestors

grandparents

Fac-simile of letter from the former to his father

— Parents

removed

to

Ken-

—The old homestead at Mulberry Hill, where they settled, died buried — The father's will — Fac-simile of the father's and mother's

tucky in 1784

and were

29-52

signatures

CHAPTER

H.

EARLY HOME AND BOYHOOD DAYS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

— Life-long friendship between him and Thomas Jefferson — Education of latter limited Most proficient in mathematics — Engages in practical surveying in the upper Ohio valley — His settlement and adventures there— Serves in Dunmore's war — Visits Kentucky — His experiences there — Returns to Virginia as a representative of the Kentucky people — Urges their needs upon the Governor and legislature — Secures a much-needed supply of gunpowder— Adventures conveying the powder to destination — Successful termination of his mis-

Doubtful traditions

Fac-simile of letter from Jefferson to Clark

its

sion,

and return

to

53~8o

Kentucky

(23)

—

CONTENTS OF CHAPTERS.

24

CHAPTER

III.

FROM THE DELIVERY OF THE GUNPOWDER IN KENTUCKY IN THE WINTER OF 1776-7, TO THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE ILLINOIS CAMPAIGN, JANUARY 1778. 2,

Upon

Kentucky, Colonel Clark formulates plans tor a campaign

his return to

against the British posts northwest of the their condition w^ith the

—

Is a

Ohio

— Sends

spies to ascertain

party to several adventures in Kentucky

people and placed in militarj^

command— Visits

—A

favorite

Virginia to obtain

— Lays — The governor consults his executive

approval and aid of the state for an expedition against the British posts his plans before

Governor Patrick Henry

council and Jefferson,

Wythe and Mason— Sketches

of

Wythe and Mason

— Deceptive public instructions issued to Clark — Fac-simile of the governor's private instructions — Also fac-simile of letter Order for the campaign issued

of Jefferson,

Wythe and Mason

CHAPTER

81-104

IV.

FROM THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE ILLINOIS CAMPAIGN TO THE ARRIVAL AT THE FALLS OF THE OHIO.

— Is clothed with the au— Receives £1,200, with order for ammunition and military

Colonel Clark gratified at the approval of his plans thority he wished

all

— Advances £150 to Major William Smith to recruit troops on the Hol— Only a few obtained from that source— Secures services of Captains Helm and Bowman —Their companies reach Red Stone early in February, 1778— Sketch of Captain Helm — Sketch of the Bowmans — Interference with recruiting— Secures services of Captain William Harrod — Sketch of Harrod — Colonel Clark's officers and men mainly natives of Virginia—The expedition exclusively a Virginia enterprise — Departure from Red Stone early in May with only one-third the troops expected — Events of the voyage — Successfully stores

ston

avoids surprise and interference with his plans— Stops at river

— Meditates

better locality for

it

mouth of Kentucky

— Finally decides of Ohio a — Moves forward to that place — Greatly disappointed in

establishing a post there

not being joined by the additional troops expected.,

falls

105-130

—

CONTENTS OF CHAPTERS.

CHAPTER

V.

AT THE FALLS OF THE OHIO. Colonel Clark selects Corn Island for his camping ground and depot of sup-

— Reasons for the selection — Description of the island —^Joined by Mont— Sketch of Montgomery — Dillard's company declines to serve — Some depart without leave— Probable reasons so doing— Number of Clark's force — Sketches of persons on Corn Island — A Clark's plies

gomery's company

for

left

undertaking from lack of

crisis in

men — Determines

to brave

on the expedition against the British posts

CHAPTER

it all

and depart

.„..,.„.....

at

once

131-155

VI.

FROM CORN ISLAND TO THE CAPTURE OF KASKASKIA. the departure of the expedition announced — Effect of the announce— Character of the troops — Exciting scenes of the departure — Voyage down the Ohio — Land on an island at the mouth of the Tennessee —^Joined by a party of hunters — March across the countrj' towards Kaskaskia — Unjust distrust of the new-found hunter-guide — Suffer for food — Capture Kaskaskia by surprise — Description of the place, and events connected with the capture — Rochblave, the commandant, a prisoner — Conduct of Rochblave and wife — Alleged incidents connected with taking the and Colonel Clark and Simon Kenton's connection therewith — Sketch of Kenton 157-180

Time of ment

fort,

CHAPTER Vn. FROM THE CAPTURE OF KASKASKIA TO THE

VIN-

CENNES CAMPAIGN.

— His own account of his inpatriot priest — Meets Father Gibault— Sketch of Services he rendered the Americans — Captain Joseph Bowman captures Cahokia and other villages — His account of the expedition — Description of the villages — Father Gibault sent to Vincennes in American interest— Secures allegiance of that people to American cause — Captain Helm placed in command there and Captain Williams of the military — Colonel William Linn sent with party to Corn Island — That post removed to main land

Clark's policy towards inhabitants of Kaskaskia tercourse with them

this

civil

—

CONTENTS OF CHAPTERS.

26

Captain Montgomery sent to Virginia with prisoners and dispatches tain Helm's adventures with Indians

them

— He

visits

Cahokia

—

Clark's superior

in

skill

— Cap-

managing

— Receives vague information of — His dangerous adventure at Kaskaskia — Finds great alarm there at ru-

— Sends

out spies

forward movement of enemy from Detroit Prairie du

Rocher

— Returns

to heroic remedies

to

— Sends for Bowman's companj', and resorts — News arrives of the capture of Vincennes by the British.

mored approach of

the

enemy

181-214

CHAPTER

VIII.

LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR HAMILTON'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST VINCENNES.

— Contrast — News of Clark's in-

Hamilton an instigator of Indian raids against American frontiers between Clark and Hamilton as to employing Indians vasion received at Detroit

— Campaign to regain possession determined upon — Departure of expedition — Hamilton de-

Forces to be used mainly Indians

fends character of Indians, but assails the French

— Incidents of the journej'

— Surrender to vastly superior numbers — Ludi therewith — Detachments of British and Indians

Americans taken by surprise crous incidents connected

— Hamilton praises the sobriety and good conduct of his — Little apparent reason for the claim — Drinking common at that time a period — Liquor part of army supplies — Charge that Clark was at requires inhabitants of Vincennes to take hard drinker refuted — Hamilton oath of allegiance to the British — Greatly strengthens the fort — Sends desent to other points

Indians

this

tachment to mouth of Wabash — Makes extensive plans Americans, and attack their frontiers

in the spring

drive

to

off the

— Relies upon inclemency

of season, and remoteness of American forces, and settles

down

at

Vincennes

for the winter in fancied security

215-242

CHAPTER

IX.

NEWS OF CLARK'S SUCCESS AND TAKES ACTION THEREON.

VIRGINIA HEARS THE

Commandant Rochblave

sent a prisoner to Virginia

the Illinois country joyfully received

delegates in congress soldiers

— Also

to raise five

— Virginia

— The

— News

of the capture of

governor communicates

legislature returns thanks to

for service there

to the

— And another —^John Todd ap-

passes a law organizing the county of Illinois

hundred additional soldiers

it

Clark and his

—

CONTENTS OF CHAPTERS.

2*]

pointed lieutenant-commandant and instructed by Governor duties

Clark

— Important to the

letters

from the governor

governor describing

his intention to

Henry

Colonel Clark

to

his desperate situation

as to his

— Letter from

and foreshadowing

attempt the capture of Hamilton and Vincennes

CHAPTER

243-264

X.

PREPARING FOR THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HAMILTON— THE DEPARTURE FROM KASKASKIA AND MARCH TO VINCENNES.

— Prepares to march against the British — Great assistance rendered by Francis Vigo — Sketch of Vigo — Visit to his grave — Not properly compensated bj government for his services and losses — He secures important information of the strength of the British at Vincennes — Captains Bowman's and McCarty's companies join Clark at Kaskaskia — Sketch of Captains McCartv, "Williams, Charleville moves forward by water with part of Clark's force and Rogers — The Clark marches by land — Troops blessed by Father Gibault and cheered on by French inhabitants — Details of march from Kaskaskia to Vincennes — Inci-

Difficulties of at

Colonel Clark's situation

Vincennes

latter

dents of remarkable passage

Wabash zens,

rivers

across overflowed bottoms of Big and Little

— Reaches Vincennes

and proceeds

at

at last,

is

once to attack the British

CHAPTER

well received bv French in

Fort Sackville

citi-

265-316

XI.

CAPTURE OF FORT SACKVILLE AND VINCENNES

— Attack of Fort Sackville — Sketch of the — French citizens furnish Americans much needed ammunition — Indian assistance declined by Clark — Firing on fort continued during the night— Detachment of British allowed to get in the — Some British and Indians captured on the outside — British roughly handled, and Indians killed — Hamilton's account of — Clark's demanding surrender of the — Hamilton's reply — Proposes three days' truce, which Clark declines — They meet for conference at Xavier's Church — Full details of that meeting — Some bloody incidents —They probably hasten the surrender of the — Terms of capitulation agreed upon — Fort surrendered tc the Americans — Messenger arrives from Virginia with important papers — Includ-

Sketch of Lieutenant John Bailey fort

—

St. Xavier's

Church

fort

letter

it

fort

finally

St.

fort

finally

ing commission of colonel for Lieutenant-Colonel Clark and major for Captain

Bowman — Fac-simile

of

Bowman's commission

Z^T~ZS^

——

CONTENTS OF CHAPTERS.

28

CHAPTER

XII.

IMPORTANT EVENTS ON THE WABASH, FEBRUARY,

1779.

— Capture of seven British boats, forty — Rejoicing of Ameri— can and French inhabitants on return of the successful expedition — Sketches of Francis Bosseron and M. P. Legrace — Campaign against Detroit contemplated by Clark — Postponed for a time — Releases part of his prisoners Forwards others to Virginia — Captain George's company arrives at Kaskaskia — Sketch of Captain George — Clark divides his troops between Vincennes, Kaskaskia and Cahokia — Assigns officers to their respective positions — Goes himself with thirty men to Kaskaskia — Punishes Delaware Indians — Con-

Expedition up the river from Vincennes

men, and valuable property

Importance of the event

J.

templated June expedition against Detroit abandoned from lack of

men

— Issues general order in relation to disposition of his troops — Death of Major Bowman, and matters relating to him — Colonel Vincennes

Clark returns

to

Clark returns

to the falls of the

Ohio, and makes that his headquarters, "as

the most convenient spot to have an eye over the

CHAPTER

whole"

353~37^

XIII.

KILLING OF COLONEL CLARK'S MESSENGER AND CAPTURE OF IMPORTANT PAPERS. Official report

to governor of Virginia, and other important papers sent

the messenger

party of

— Instructions

given him by Colonel Clark

Huron Indians near

produced here

Is

killed

by

by a

Ohio

— Captured

papers sup-

— Copies of part of

them there

— Copies re-

the falls of the

posed to be in Canadian archives

—

— Colonel Clark's letter to speaker Virginia house of delegates — On learning loss

Clark's report of the Vincennes campaign sent the governor

of this communication Colonel Clark forwards duplicate report to Patrick

Henry and Thomas Major Bowman cennes

to

Jefferson

—This

letter in full

— Also

captured lettef of

Governor Patrick Henry— Rejoicing over capture of Vin-

— Virginia presents Clark with an elegant sword

379-404

—

CHAPTER

I.

HISTORY OF THE CONQUEST OF THE COUNTRY NORTHWEST OF THE OHIO NECESSARILY INCLUDES THE LIFE OF GENERAL GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

— Traditional only, back of his grandparents — Sketch of — Will of his paternal grandfather— Sketch of father and mother — Their removal from King and Queen county to Albemarle — Homestead on the Rivanna river where George Rogers Clark was born — Remove to Caroline county — Sons enter the army — George R.and Richard go West Fac-simile of letter from the former to his father — Parents removed to Kentucky in 1784— The old homestead at Mulberry Hill, where they settled, died and were buried — The father's will — Fac-simile of the father's and mother's

Account of his ancestors grandparents

his

liis

signatures.

pHE

great central figure in the conquest from the

British of the country northw^est of the river

Ohio

during the Revolutionary War was General George Rogers Clark, and any

reaching event terial

is

part of his

when he

account of that important and

far-

necessarily an account of the most

ma-

full

He was

life.

but twenty-five years old

successfully laid his plans before the governor of

Virginia for the reduction of the British posts beyond the

Ohio, and what

is

known

of his ancestry

and

life

up

to that

time can soon be related.

The

history of the remote ancestry of

Clark on the father's side factory.

Back

is

meager, vague and unsatis-

of his grandfather .

George Rogers

(29)

is

only tradition; but

this

30

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK,

tradition

seems clear and positive that

who

came

first

to this country,

his paternal ancestor,

emigrated from England, and

name was John. From what part of England this John Clark came, or who were his ancestors, there is no that his

reliable information.

Tradition has

it

that he settled

James river, in Virginia, and became a planter; on the vessel coming over, or soon after his met, and wife,

fell

and

in

on the

that either arrival,

he

who became his beauty." The prev-

love with, a Scotch girl,

that she

was "a red-haired

alence of reddish hair in

There

traceable to this lady. of this emigration

the Clark family

and

probably

uncertainty as to the date

as to the history of the family for

The

some time afterwards.

is

is

men-

date has been vaguely

tioned as ''about 1620 or 1630."

known

John and Jonathan Clark, descendants of John, the emigrant, and ''the red-haired Scotch lady," were living in Drysdale parish. King and Queen count}^, It is

that

Virginia, before 1725, as this Jonathan married there in that year. rect,

sons,

it

If

the date of the emigration mentioned

would seem conclusive

and

not, as

some have supposed,

emigrant, but there is

is

generation of this to

name

were the grand-

the sons of John, the

John has been in every Clark family, and in consequence it is

trace the

of

John branch

Jonathan was also a favorite name

in

very early times.

in the early days.

But beginning now with the John and Jonathan dale,

we

pass out of the

domain

of tradition,

of

especially true of Jonathan,

who was

Drys-

and can

their history with a reasonable degree of certainty. is

cor-

no certainty that the date mentioned

correct; besides the

difficult

that these

is

trace

This

the grandfather of

1

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. George Rogers Clark. but

Less

is

known

said he died, unmarried, in

it is

ginia, in

1

75 7

of his brother

leaving his estate to his brother Jonathan's

J

who was the father last named John moved

of

As

to Caroline

same year further on,

which

George Rogers Clark.

Uncle John died there,

his

may

it

John,

CaroHne county, Vir-

son John, this

3

his uncle

county

as will

in the

be shown

be that he moved to look after the estate

had bequeathed

to

him.

As already stated, Jonathan Clark was married in King and Queen county, Virginia, in 1725. He died there in 1734, leaving a widow, four ver}^

a considerable estate.

to have

The maiden name

She was

Elizabeth Wilson.

young

of

children,

and

of his wife

was

Quaker parentage, and said

been a remote descendant

of the celebrated martyr,

John Rogers. The children were named John, Ann, Benjamin and Elizabeth, as will be seen by the following copy of their father's will,

where he

died, as

which was recorded

shown by Mr.

in the

county

Southall's statement a

few pages further on:^

Will of Jonathan Clark, the Grandfather of George Rogers Clark. In the

name

of

The

God, amen.

ninth day of April, in

the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and thirty-four, I,

Jonathan Clark,

and Queen county, being of perfect

to

mind *The

of

Drysdale parish,

ver}^ sick

and weak

mind and memory, thanks be

the mortality of

will or a

copy

is

my

also in the

Wisconsin Historical Society.

to

in

King

body, but

God, and calling

body and knowing

Draper

in

that

it is

collection of historic papers in the

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

32

appointed for

my

this

my soul to

my

and

my

and

me,

to bless

following:

It.

It.

my

It

pardon

full

give

wherewith

my

It is

my

is

into eternal

and

will

will

and plantation whereon

I

and

and Benjamin Clark,

all

hath pleased

it

desire that all

my

just

my personal that my loving

desire

live,

and benefit

that land

of the land

during her natural

my

give and bequeath unto

and

paid out of

first

now

at

manner and form

give and dispose of in

I

for all

executors, hereafter mentioned,

wife, Eliz'h Clark, shall have the use

I

I

fol-

be decently buried

to the earth to

debts and funeral charges be

It.

of all,

first

Savior, to receive

as touching such worldly estate

estate.

manner and form

in

committed and be received

body

the discretion of

God

and ordain

God, trusting that through mercy and the merits

sins in this life

bliss,

do make

to die,

to say principally,

is

of Jesus Christ,

my

once

and testament,

last will

lowing; that

men

all

life.

two sons, John Clark

whereon

I novv^ live,

to

be equally divided between them, after their mother's death, to I

give

them and

to their heirs

and bequeath unto

Clark and Benjamin Clark,

whereon

my

mother now

between them and

my

Clark and Benj. Clark, and all

that tract of land

It.

that tract or parcel of land

liveth,

to their heirs

forever.

two sons, John

aforesaid

all

give and bequeath likewise unto

ever,

and assigns

to

be equally divided

and assigns

forever.

It.

I

my aforesaid two sons, John

to their heirs

which

I

lately

and assigns

for-

took up in Gooch-

land county, on James river, to be equally divided between

them.

It.

I

give and bequeath unto

Elizabeth Clark, the one-third part of estate

and negroes.

It.

I

my all

give and bequeath

loving wife,

my all

personal

the residue

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. of

my

among my

personal estate and negroes to be divided

four children,

John Clark,

and Elizabeth Clark,

Ann

Clark, Benjamin Clark

my

two daughters may have

so that

my

twenty shillings apiece more than hereby appoint

my

33

two sons; and,

loving wife, Eliza Clark, and

my

I

do

loving

John Rogers,' executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and disannulling all former wills

friend,

by me made. In witness whereof,

day and year

seal, the

have hereunto

I

first

set

my

hand and

above written. his

Jonathan J Clark,

[l. s.]

mark

The

will

seems

to

and declared by the and testament,

said

Jonathan Clark,

in presence

Jones and Samuel of

have been ''signed, sealed, published

Bill,

to

be

his last will

of" William Bennet, Richard

who proved

King and Queen county, June

the

same

in the court

24, 1734.

In view of the general intelligence of the Clark family,

and the

fact that

lated a

handsome

made

his

mark

Jonathan Clark seems estate,

to

is

to write his

have accumu-

appear strange that he

name

to his will; but

that at the time of executing

was paralyzed, or

be unable

may

instead of writing his

the explanation probably

the will he

it

to

in

such physical condition as

name.

If

this

be so

it

is

a re-

markable coincidence that exactly the same thing happened in the case of his great-grandson,

whose

will

the time

it

was signed by

his

George Rogers Clark,

mark, he being paralyzed

was executed, and unable

to write his

at

name, on

account of which important litigation ensued, as will be fully

shown before

the conclusion of this work.

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

34

One

of the daughters of this

Jonathan Clark

said to

is

have married Torquil McLeod, probably a countryman of

Of the other daughter the author has

her grandmother.

no information.

All the children were probably born in

King and Queen county,

Lunenburg

count}^, in that state,

the seventy-fifth year of in

his age.

and twenty-nine sons.

We can

died in infancy.

two

Seven

may

not

It is

all

be shown

—two

daughters

only say here, of those

of the sons,

in

remarkable

of these children,

however,

who

sur-

William and Marston Greene,

removed west and became prominent tory, as will

and he died

He was

being the father of thirty-one children

vived, that

They finally

His wife was Elizabeth Lee.

there in 1730. settled in

Benjamin was born

Virginia.

later on.

in early

The

Indiana

his-

children, however,

have been of one mother.

probable that Benjamin Clark had two wives, and

that one

was a Miss Greene.

middle name of one of dition that she

was a

It will

his sons

be observed that the

was Greene. There

sister or relative of

is

a tra-

General Greene of

War. The two marriages would tend to number of children. Deeds show he had

the Revolutionary

explain the large a wife

named Elizabeth.

John Clark, the brother

of

Benjamin, was the oldest

of

the four children, having been born in Drysdale parish,

King and Queen county, Another account 1726.

In

of the

same

1

Virginia, October

20,

fixes the date of his birth as

749, he married his second cousin, locality,

who was

1724.

October

Ann

9,

Rogers,

then in the sixteenth year of

her age.

The Rogers

family, like the Clarks, with

whom

they

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. were already

related,

were

English stock. Giles Rogers,

of

Ann's grandfather, emigrated tershire,

England,

T,Z^

to

America from Worces-

ury, and settled in

in the early part of the seventeenth cent-

King and Queen county,

Virginia.

It is

claimed that he was of a family of high stand-

This

ing:.

arms

of the

is

Rogers family

Rogers, the son of

ters,

in

England.

this Giles,

John

Mary

married

of a distinguished Virginia

Byrd, also ily,

been the coat-of-

said to have

fam-

and they had seven sons and four daugh-

Ann,

the wife of this

John Clark, and mother

of

George

Rogers Clark, being the second daughter.

—

The other children were four daughters Lucy, Mildred, Mary and Rachel and four sons, John, George, Giles and Byrd. Lucy married Samuel Redd, Annie married John Clark, Mildred married Reuben George, Mary married

—

Larkin Johnston and Rachel married Donald Robinson.

They

all left

Virginia,

Giles died in

children.

and John removed

the border to

Albemarle county,

to southern Virginia, or across

Two

North Carolina.

of the sons,

Byrd and

George, removed to Kentucky, and George Rogers Clark

was named

after the latter.

in relation to

The

the Rogers family

information here given

was

largely derived from

Joseph Rogers Underwood, formerly United States senator

from Kentucky, and a descendant It is

band

not

of

known

exactly

how

of this

long John Clark, the hus-

Annie Rogers, continued

Queen county, but

George Rogers.

to reside in

King and

a conveyance of real estate executed in

1748 gives that county as the then residence of himself and brother

Benjamin.

In

this

deed the name

is

spelled

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

36

Shortly after that they both removed to Albe-

''Clerk."*

marle county, Virginia, which was formed from Goochland county

Some of the Rogers, and probably Clarks,

in 1744.

already resided there, and

John and Benjamin by county.

John

It is

settled

share.

It

part

the land,

of

their father,

was

willed

to

situated in that

probable they moved to Albemarle in 1749.

upon

was

the part of the land which

situated

of his nine children

upon the Rivanna

were born,

viz.:

river

fell

to his

where four

Jonathan, August

i,

1750; George Rogers, November 19, 1752; Ann, July 14,

The exact location will be more fully described later on. The author has an authentic abstract of title of this land down to its occupancy 1755, and John, September 15, 1757.

by the

father of

George Rogers Clark.

It

was kindly pre-

pared for him by S. V. Southall, Esq., a prominent attor-

ney

of Charlottesville,

Virginia.

This was certainly the

homestead where General Clark was born.f *At this period in Virginia the word "clerk" was doubtless usually given the English pronunciation of "dark." 1748, between Edwin Hickman, of Saint Ann's parAlbemarle, and Thomas Graves, of Saint George's parish, in Spottsjlvania countj', and John and Benjamin Clerk, of Drisdale parish, in King and Queen county. Recites patent of May 25, 1734, by Joseph Smith, Edwin Hickman, Thomas Graves and Jonathan Clerk, for 3277 acres in Goochland, now Albemarle, and recites the death of Joseph Smith and Jonathan Clerk then recites the will of Jonathan Clerk in favor of John and Benjamin Clerk, his sons. Then Hickman and Thomas Graves convey to John and Benjamin Clerk 809^^ acres, giving boundaries. Recorded March Court, 1748, Deed Book No. i, pages 25,

+Deed 23d December,

ish, in

;

26, 27,

Deed

13

August, 1752.

Deed of

partition

between John and Benjamin

Recites that Jonathan Clark, late of King and Queen count}', did in his lifetime, together with Joseph Smith, Edwin Hickman and Clark, of Albemarle.

Thomas Graves, take up 3,277 acres in Goochland, now Albemarle, on the Rivanna, by patent dated the 25th May, 1734. Then recites that Jonathan Clark died before the date of patent, and

left his

part of land to be equally divided between

two sons, John Clark and Benjamin Clark, as shown by County Court of King and Queen, dated the 9th of April, his

his will, recorded in

1734.

Then

recites

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. John Clark continued

to reside

when he removed

the year 1757,

on

and had secured much valuable land

John Clark

southwest corner

Mrs. Clark's father was a surve3'or,

of Caroline county.

ginia.

land until about

this

to the

37

an

also held

in that part of Vir-

interest in lands there

and

these interests probably influenced his removal.

He sold his 410 acres of land in Albemarle, where George Rogers Clark was born,

£300, as shown

for

b}^

to

Wm.

Tandy,

of that county,

the conve3^ance of himself and

Deed Book No.

Ann,

his wife,

which

There

a blank as to the residence of Clark and wife and

is

recorded in

is

as to the date of the deed, but

1768.

Deed Book

and Elizabeth, acres, to

his

it

was recorded November,

page 247, shows that Benjamin Clark wife, conveyed his half of the land, 410 14, 1762.

Both brothers prob-

ably sold about the same time, but this

At ued

may have been

the execution of the deeds.

the homestead in Caroline county the family contin-

to reside for

many

years,

and during the time

children were born, viz.: Richard, 6 July, 1760; 25 September, 1762 II

pp. 22-23.

3,

John Fry, October

some time before

5,

six other

Edmund,

Lucy, 15 September, 1765 Elizabeth, February, 1768 William, i August, 1770, and Frances, ;

;

;

20 January, 1773. Great events occurred during the period of the residence in

Caroline.

Dunmore's War, and

the great

War

of the

Revolution took place, in which several of the sons of partition by surviving patentees after Jonathan Clark's death, and conveyance unto John and Benjamin Clark to be equally divided between them of 820 acres. Then Benjamin Clark conveys in severalty to John Clark one moiety of 820 acres, giving boundaries, and John Clark conveys in severalty to Benjamin Clark the other moiety of 820 acres, giving bouniJaries. Recorded Deed Book No. I, pages 480 to 483.

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

38

John Clark and Ann Rogers tinction.

enter the

The

was one

eldest son, Jonathan,

American army, and

Edmund,

Jonathan, John,

William Clark are on the

His brothers, service.

Richard, George Rogers and

list

of persons receiving military

bounty land warrants from Virginia services," but this

war was

same

certainly in the

dis-

of the first to

at the close of the

a lieutenant-colonel, with a glorious record.

John and Edmund, were

much

participated with

for

''

revolutionary

William Clark was the cousin and not the

brother of George Rogers Clark.

The

brother William

served with distinction in subsequent wars, but was too

young

to serve in the

Revolutionary

The

War.

others

mentioned were brothers. In the meantime George Rogers Clark was

making

his

imperishable record in the far west, wresting from the British the great

country northwest of the Ohio river.

His

brother Richard and his cousin, William (son of Benja-

From

min), were with him.

came

to the family at the old

success of the son

George

time to time glad tidings

homestead

One

in the west.

of the letters

received by the father from this heroic son has the possession of the author

o

wonderful

of the

A fac-simile of

it is

come

here given,

although something out of chronological order. toric incident

mentioned

in the letter will

on when writing

of the period

be seen that the

letter

rected to the father in indicates that to have

when

was written

at

it

into

The

be noticed

occurred. Louisville

his-

later

It will

and

di-

Caroline county, Virginia, which

been

his residence in 1780.

FAC-SIMILE OF LETTER FROM GEORGE ROGERS CLARK (In

.^

Two

Pages.

TO HIS Father, Written in 1780. See Opposite Page.)

^^ ^.,^ #. j^ ---

---^

^

FAC-SIMILE OF LETTER

FROM GEORGE ROGERS CLARK

TO HIS Father, Written in 1780. (Continued from opposite page.)

J^-^c^^A-

^ ^^^^^^^^ /

t^L.^^. ^/Ac^^

1^^

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

Dear

parents turned to their

and

home was, sons, far away

as the old Virginia

43

the hearts of these in the

Ohio

valley,

at last love for the absent, joined to other consider-

ations, influenced

them,

in

October, 1784, to turn their faces

towards the wilderness of the west, accompanied by the

John had died

younger children.

in Virginia of disease

contracted in the service of his country, and Jonathan and

Edmund

joined the parents at the

falls of

the Ohio som.e

time after the conclusion of the war.

was a long and tedious journey for the old people and they did not arrive at the falls of the Ohio until March, 1785, It

having been detained by bad weather and various other vexatious but unavoidable causes.

They ville,

located at a place a few miles southeast of Louis-

then and

still

known

as ''Mulberr}^ Hill,"

they spent the few remaining years of their

and here

Here

lives.

they wqre buried, still

and here dust

the

of their bodies

mingles the

with

She

soil.

died December 24, 1798,

and he

in the

next July o The Homestead of Gen. Clark's Father At Mulberry

Here

is

Hill,

Ky.

(Still

standing).

August.

a picture from a photograph of the house

they lived and died, which sadly dilapidated

is still

condition.

It

r

where

standing (1895) but in a is

historic in other

re-

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

44 spects,

having been frequently shot into by Indians, the

showing where the

logs

Here

also

balls

were imbedded.

is

a picture of the

old spring house on

this

home-

Clark stead at

Mul-

berry Hill.

The place is now owned by a

descendant

of

General

Jonathan

Old Spking House at Mulberry Hill.

Clark, and the

standing.)

(Still

has never been out of the Clark family.

title

In reply to information asked of Mr. R. C. Ballard

Thruston, a descendant of Frances, the youngest

George Rogers Clark,

Ann

Clark,

in relation to the

sister of

graves of John and

he answered, August 26,

1894, that

''the

parents of George Rogers Clark were buried at Mulberry Hill,

and

their graves

marked by

of stone with inscriptions

send

to

sired to

the

which

will

copy

this

you unless they have been destroyed.

remove

same time

their

remains

when

to

week and It was de-

Cave Hill Cemetery,

Edmund

Clark were removed,

the graves were opened even the bones of

Clark and

at

that those of General Jonathan, General

George Rogers and Captain but

I

large rectangular slabs

his wife

had decayed and nothing was

John

left

to

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. remove, and the large stone slabs were

where

saw them when

I

"The

old cabin

I

is still

dated condition, and,

I

left

4^

overturned

photographed the cabin. standing, but in a badly dilapi-

hear,

now uninhabitable.

It

one time attacked by the Indians and the logs are

of the bullets, so, following their

one

which

of

On

the 30th of the

Tuesday

went out

I

I

secured some,

same month, he wrote

to the old

I

was

There

I

that

on

''last

Clark cabin and visited the

graveyard where John Clark and his wife,

were buried.

many

send you."

will

I

example,

at

full of

Relic hunters have cut out

bullet holes as the result.

was

found three large

Ann

Rogers,

flag stones

which

my childhood covered the remains of John his wife, Ann Rogers, and his son. Captain Edmund but, with the assistance of my brother and a farm

told in

Clark,

Clark,

hand, was not able to turn them right side up. afternoon

I

So

this

again returned, better equipped than before, and

succeeded in turning them over, but, alas! they had been

used to mark other graves than those .

.

.

I

I

was looking

for.

have not, however, given up the hunt, but

shall

who

lives

within a few days call on Mr. John Pearce,

about half a mile from the old Clark cabin, and

is

a grand-

son of General Jonathan Clark, born and reared within sight of the old cabin,

graveyard. of age

He

is

a

man

of

and probably can give

since he has devoted his

tained

and a frequent

all

life

visitor to the old

about sixty or sixty- five years

me to

the desired information,

farming and probably

re-

the old family traditions."

Early in the

summer

of 1895 the author

made

a

visit

with Mr. Thruston to the old Mulberry Hill homestead,

:

:

:

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

46

pnd found the old buildings

as represented in this chapter.

The

is

little

family graveyard

upon an elevation overlook-

ing the southeastern part of Louisville and seems to have

many

contained onl}^ a few graves, and these have been

removed

Cave

to

remains of John Clark and

Ann

of the bodies

tainty,

Rogers were not removed

where they were, but no

is

difficulty in

failed,

determining about

inscriptions or

referring to either of them,

following

We

location of the graves with cer-

to identify the

although there was no

The

The

Hill Cemetery.

with the others for the reason already stated.

however,

from

marking

stones,

were found.

the will of

John Clark, the

father of

George Rogers Clark In the

name

of

God, amen.

John Clark,

I,

of Jefferson

county, and state of Kentucky, being at present in a

and low in

my

state

of health,

but at the same time perfectly

senses, and, considering the uncertainty of

make my last following manner

think proper to

do

in the First.

as shall

I

heirs

of I

my

now

Item.

my two

I

do I

debts to be paid and satisfied

give and bequeath to all

life,

and testament, which

my

of the re-

manner

estate in the following

and assigns forever

sonal,

and

my just

will

be hereafter mentioned, and then dispose

mainder Item.

direct all

weak

son Jonathan and his

the estate, both real and per-

in his possession.

give and bequeath to

my

son William and to

grandsons, John O'Fallon and Benjamin O'Fallon,

to their heirs

and assigns

forever, to be equally divided

between them, share and share

alike, three

thousand acres

:

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. which

of land

claim under an entry on a treasury war-

I

No. 7926, made

rant,

47

in the surveyor's office of

Fayette

county, on the 29th day of March, 1783, which land hath

been surveyed and

which a patent hath issued

for

in

my

own name. Item. his heirs

to

my

son

Edmund and

and assigns forever one thousand acres

uate, lying

Miami

and bequeath

give

I

and being on the waters

river

;

which

to

of land sit-

of the east fork of the

claim under an entry on part of a

I

No. 307, made

military land warrant.

in the office of the

surveyor for the continental line on the i6th day of August, 1767

;

also

one thousand acres

an entry on part

of the aforesaid

in the office of the aforesaid

line

on the 17th day

made

in the

of land

name

of

of

which

son,

claim under

warrant No. 307, made

surveyor for the continental

These

August, 1767.

my

I

entries are

John Clark, deceased, and

my son, Jonathan Clark, the heir at law, hath relinquished in my favor his right thereto. Also three negroes, to wit Peter

(Venius child), and Scipio and

children), also the

advanced Item.

and

to I

sum

of

to

my

request.

give and bequeath to

and assigns

Lue, also one negro

(Rose's

money which my son Jonathan

him agreeable

to his heirs

Daphny

my

son George Rogers

one negro

forever,

man named

woman named Venice, with live,

pres-

ent and future increase, except Peter.

Item.

I

give and bequeath to

Gwathney, and

his heirs

both real and personal

thousand acres of land

my

and assigns

now

in his

situate, lying

ers of Poag's creek, in the

son-in-law,

Owen

forever, all the estate

possession,

also

one

and being on the wat-

county of Logan.

For which

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

48 land

I

have a deed made by

my

son Jonathan, dated the

24th day of October, 1796.

Item.

I

give and bequeath to

Croghan, and

son-in-law, William

and assigns

to his heirs

woman named

my

Christian; also

forever,

one negro

her children together with

all

her future increase, which negroes are

now

in the posses-

sion of said Croghan.

Item.

I

give and bequeath to

my

son-in-law, Richard

C. Anderson, and to his heirs and assigns forever, one

negro

woman named

Kate; also one other

named Phoebe;

also all the children of the said negroes with their future

which negroes are now

increase;

in the possession of said

Richard C. Anderson. Item.

I

my

give and bequeath to

M. Thruston, and hundred acres

to his

heirs

son-in-law, Charles

and assigns forever, four

of land, situate, lying

and being

in the

county

of Shelby,

on the waters

ment

my tract of fourteen hundred acres of land; also woman named Angella, and her two children,

of Clear creek,

it

being the

settle-

part of

one negro

together with her future increase, which said negroes are

now

in the

said

Thruston

Item. his heirs

now

I

possession of said Thruston. all

give and bequeath to

together with

My

my

all

my

still

and

my

son William, and to

forever, the tract of land

longing, to wit:

hogs;

do give unto

moneys due from him unto myself.

and assigns

live,

I

all

whereon

the appurtenances thereto be-

stock of horses, cattle, sheep

my

I

and

plantation utensils; the whole of

household and kitchen furniture; also the whole of the

debts due to

me on

bonds, notes or book account, except

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. the mone}^ due to

49

me from my son-in-law Charles M.

Thriis-

ton. I

also give unto

York,

Cupid and Harry. of

my

are deeded to

my

will that

lands in

me by my

my

son,

sums

of

my

son William the

George Rogers Clark. all

my

just debts;

money,

of

age or nearly of age,

To John

to wit:

to

O'Fallon,

Benjamin O'Fallon,

All those debts and payments are to be

son William out of the legacy which

Item.

I

and bequeath

give

It is

my two grandsons, John and Ben-

one hundred pounds, and pounds.

Tame,

Grant, which said lands

Illinois

jamin O'Fallon, when they shall be the following

my

son William shall pay

pay unto

also that he shall

also three old negroes.

also give to

I

man named

wife Rose, and their two

his

Nancy and Juba;

children,

whole

son William one negro

York and

old

also

my

to

my

O'Fallon and Benjamin O'Fallon,

to

have

made by left

him.

two grandsons, John

them and

Ben and

forever, four negroes, to wit:

I

fifty

their heirs

Priscilla, vv^ith their

present and future increase; also Esther and her future increase;

which

said negroes are to be disposed of at the dis-

my

cretion of

executors to be hereafter named, for the

John and Benjamin O'Fallon, until they age, at which time said negroes are to be

benefit of said shall

come

of

equally divided between them and delivered into their possession.

Lastly,

I

do hereby appoint

Rogers and William Clark,

my sons, Jonathan, George my sons-in-law Richard C.

Anderson, William Croghan and Charles M. Thruston,

and

my

last will

friend,

Benjamin Sebastian, executors,

and testament; and

I

to this,

my

do hereby revoke. all former

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

50

wills heretofore last will

my

made by me,

and testament.

I

declaring this only to be m}^

have signed the same and affixed

seal this 24th July, 1799.

John Clark,

[seal.]

Signed and sealed and published by the testator John Clark as and for his us,

who

last will

and testament,

in

presence of

signed our names in his presence, and in the pres-

ence of each other.

Jno. Hughs,

RoBT. K. Moore,

Marston

G. Clark.

Codicil to the Above Will.

Be

it

known

to all

men, by these

presents, that

I,

John

Clark, of Jefferson county, and state of Kentucky, have

made and

my

declared

last will

(and) testament in writing.

Bearing date the twenty-fourth day seven hundred and ninety-nine,

my

ratify

and confirm

parts,

one only excepted, which

bequeathed to

my

I,

the said

said last will is

John Clark, do

and testament

that the said negroes be

her future increase,

increase.

made

two grandsons aforesaid last

I

its

have

two grandsons, John and Benjamin

and her present and future

my

in all

that part wherein

O'Fallon, the following negroes, to wit:

which time the

one thousand

of July,

to

Now

it is

Priscilla

my

will,

use of above directed until

shall arrive to lawful age, at

mentioned negro, is

Ben,

to wit:

Esther and

be equally divided between John

and Benjamin O'Fallon, which said negro and her increase

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. from

time

this

I

them and

give to

ent and future increase, heirs forever, to be

deHvered

Benjamin O'Fallon years,

and

my

will

all

fully

my

and meaning of

with her pres-

WilHam and his possession when John and son

is

age of twenty-one

that this codicil be ad-

my last will

and testament, and

things therein mentioned and contained be faith-

and

truly performed,

respect as

my

in his

Priscilla

shall arrive to the

judged a part and parcel that

give to

I

The

their heirs forever.

Ben,

balance of said negroes, to wit:

5

if

last will

Witness

the

same were

and

as fully

and amply

fully declared

and

set

in

every

down

in

and testament.

my

hand

this

twenty-sixth day of July, one

thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine.

John Clark, (Signed

[seal.]

in the presence of us)

Sam Gw^athmey, Jno. Hughs.

''

At a

court held for Jefferson county at the court-house

in Louisville,

on the

ist

day

of October, 1799, the within

instrument in writing purporting to be the

last will

and

testament of John Clark, deceased, was produced in court

John Hughs and Robert K. annexed was also proved by John

and proved by the oaths Moore, and the

codicil

of

Hughs and Samuel Gwathmey,

subscribing witnesses, and

ordered to be recorded, and on the motion of William Clark, one of the executors therein named,

who made oath

according to law, execution of the said will was granted

him and bate."

leave given the other executors to join in the pro-

ANCESTORS OF GEORGE ROGERS

The /^ '&^X

CI.

ARK

fac-similes here given of

the signatures of

and

Ann

John Clark,

Clark, his wife, are

reproduced from official papers and are

undoubtedly genuine.

first

later.

was written

in 1774,

The

and the

latter

some

fifteen years

—

CHAPTER

II.

EARLY HOME AND BOYHOOD DAYS OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

— Life-long friendship between him and Thomas Jefferson — Education of latter limited Most proficient in mathematics — Engages in practical survejing in the upper Ohio valley — His settlement and adventures there — Serves in Dunmore's w^ar— Visits Kentucky — His experiences there — Returns to Virginia as a representative of the Kentucky people — Urges their needs upon the Governor and legislature — Secures a much-needed supply of gunpowder — Incidents while destination — Successful termination of his misconvejdng the powder to

Doubtful traditions

Fac-simile of letter from Jefferson to Clark

its

sion,

and return

Kentucky.

to

jT has been

shown

in the previous chapter that

Rogers Clark was born on

his father's

marle county, Virginia, November title

to that land

was acquired has

19,

farm

1752.

also already

George

in

Albe-

How

the

been shown.

In order to ascertain the exact locality of the homestead,

and any

traditions that

in relation to

it,

might remain

in the

neighborhood

or the Clark family, the author again had

recourse to the gentleman before mentioned, S. V. Southall,

Esq.,

who

the locality

To

lives

and

its

the inquiries

near

it,

and

is

entirely familiar with

history.

made he answered

was born about two miles

that, ^'General

Clark

east of Charlottesville, in a plain

house which stood on a knoll near to and overlooking the eastern

bank

of the

Rivanna (S3)

river.

His birth-place

is

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

54

home

about one and one-half miles north of Monticello, the

and burial place

Mr.

of

And

Jefferson.

about two

it is

and one-half miles northwest from Shadwell, where Mr. Jef-

There

was born.

ferson

no vestige

is

Near

which General Clark was born.

sume on

the farm to which

handsome brick

the house in

left of

(and

its site

pre-

I

belonged), there stands quite a

it

residence, the

home

Captain

of

McMurdo,

a retired English officer."

In another

letter,

Mr. Southall,

a few days later

''Before writing you

had some

I

said:

conversation about

little

George Rogers Clark with Dr. Wilson Cary Nicholas Randolph,

of Charlottesville,

and executor

ferson Randolph, grandson

Dr. R. told

me

house

of the

with what

I

in

son of Colonel of

Mr.

that his father pointed out to

which Clark was born.

wrote you.

I

Thomas

Jefferson.

him the

It tallies

asked Dr. R.

if

he

jointly

it

was very good from quantity

site

exactly

knew any-

thing about the social position of Clark's family.

he inferred

Jef-

He

said

of land patented

by Clark's father and a Mr. Graves, running down

to land patented

by Randolph, who was a brother-in-law

of Peter Jefferson, father of

Thomas

Jefferson,

and who

induced Peter Jefferson, in poor health, to move up from Chesterfield county, Virginia, to Albemarle, giving

two hundred and exchange

on

for a

this tract of

one

punch bowl.

of

was

his

Thomas

two hundred and

of Clark's cousins

knew

acres of

fifteen

him

patented land in Jefferson

fifteen acres.

was born

Dr. R. says

raised in this county.

Dr. R.

no traditions here about Clark and presumed none

could be found at this

late

day."

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

am

*^I

55

unable, on inquiry," adds Mr. Southall, ''to find

John Clark in this county. About three miles below the Clark place there was formerly any descendants

Rivanna

in the

of

dam

river a

called 'Jefferson's

Dam,' very

Whether

near to Shadwell, where Mr. Jefferson was born. built

by him, or

Mr. Wirt Henry,

in Patrick

Rogers Clark going speaks of his

it

do not know.

his father, Peter Jefferson, I

in a

Henry's Life, speaks

when

to Jefferson's Mill

way

not to satisfy

me

George

of

a boy, but he

of the

accuracy of

statement."

As George Rogers Clark was born removed from Albemarle county would

follow, that

if

he went

Rivanna, as a mill boy,

it

Mr. Southall thought

The

1

752,

and

his parents

to Caroline in

1757,

to "Jefferson's Mill,"

it

on the

must have been when he was not

over five years of age, and that

in

it is

this

not surprising, therefore,

improbable.

question naturally arises as to what intercourse,

if

any, existed between young Clark and Jefferson, both born

Some have spoken

same neighborhood.

in the

of

them

as

playmates in boyhood, but Jefferson was the elder by about

They may have met,

nine years.

equality of their ages, tion of

it,

especially

when

by Clark, who,

existed

well

not likely that a vivid recollec-

any, was carried into later

if

his parents

It is

it is

but, in view of the in-

as already stated,

removed

to the

either,

and

was only

five

by

another county.

to

known, however,

between them

life

that the

end

warmest friendship

of their lives,

and

it

was

probably made more intense by the recollection that they

were natives

of the

same

locality.

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

56

Seldom between men can be found more

and

delicate

touching expressions of regard than those of Jefferson in a written near the close of

letter

second Presidential

his

when he was comparatively an old man, but in the zenith of his glory, to Clark, who was then resting under term,

a cloud

—disappointed,

mind and body.

But Jefferson,

forget him, but wrote is is

in possession

and

neglected

him

in his

afflicted,

a letter, the original of

of the writer,

and a

able in flects

The

fac-simile of its

and tenderness

which which

chronological

reader will, no doubt, realize that

delicacy

its

in

high place, did not

here produced, although greatly out of

order.

both

it is

of expression,

admir-

and

re-

honor, not only upon Clark, but upon the head and

the heart of

great author.

its

The brother

referred to in the

William Clark, tion of

just

first

part of the letter

then returned from the great explora-

Lewis and Clark

the auspices of Jefferson,

to the Pacific ocean,

made under

and the ''bones" were remark-

able specimens in natural history, in which subject

known Mr. Jefferson took great interest. Not much is known of the early boyhood Rogers Clark. facilities of

best.

is

George

His father had a large family, and the

where he was

raised

He, however,

for

were then probably not a time,

opportunities as he had, and for nine

under the

of

it

obtaining a good education in the part of Car-

oline county of the

was

tuition of

improved such

months

Donald Robertson, who

utation of being a superior teacher.

It is

at least

was

had the rep-

said that

young

James Madison, afterwards President of the United States, was a pupil with Clark, under Robertson's tuition. Mad-

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. ison

and Clark were nearly

of the

same age.

59

But Clark

did not persist in his scholastic studies like Madison, and

acquired only a

ough even

in

common

English education

some branches

— not very thor-

In spelling he was

of that.

certainly deficient, or very careless, but that

been a deficiency quite

common

in

Mathematics and surveying were

to

have

pioneer period.

this

his favorite studies,

and

he became quite proficient.

in the latter

At

seems

that period there

had been no systematic government

surveys of land, as at present, consequently the running and establishing of boundaries

were

services of surveyors in great

of

much

demand.

employment congenial to Clark's

and material things rather than the and he entered upon

It

tastes, for

natural intellect which sought practical

teacher,

importance, and the

was, in

had

knowledge

of

men

rules of the school-

active duties as a practical sur-

in the field

visited the

Kanawha this

an

he had a strong

when he was quite young. George Washington, who was also a young

veyor

fact,

in

surveyor,

country in the vicinity of the mouth of the

1770, surveying and locating land.

About

time public attention was strongly turned in the direc-

tion of the

Ohio

valley,

and enterprising men began

To do

take steps to secure desirable locations. ices

came

of

surveyors were

indispensable.

so the serv-

The movement

exactly in time to suit Clark's aspirations.

vitality

and ambition, he determined

and unite

his destiny

new when he

with a

about nineteen years old

at

was

to

make

Full of

once ''to go west"

country.

He was

only

crossed the mountains

on an exploring and surveying expedition. objects

to

One

a location of land for himself.

i\

of his

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

6o This

been

first

journey was probably

in the spring of 1772, as

in 1771, or

it is

known that

may have he made an

it

extensive tour through the upper Ohio valley in 1772, return-

An

ing to his father's house again late in August.

account

journey was graphically written by one of his com-

of this

panions, seemingly the head of the party, the Reverend

David Jones, afterwards a chaplain

Wayne's War, and

lution,

condensed from

is

the

War of

War of the RevoThe

181 2.

following

his journal, as printed in Cist's Miscellany,

being, probably, the

it

in the

printed mention of Clark's

first

early history:

"1

left

Fort Pitt on Tuesday, June 9, 1772, in

company

with George Rogers Clark, a young gentleman from Vir-

who with new world.

several others inclined to

ginia, this I

labored none,

We

traveled

by water

had an opportunity

I

on the many creeks which empty

of

make

in a canoe,

making

and

as

my remarks

into the Ohio, as also the

These are omitted.

courses of the said river."

a tour in

In a few

Mingo Town, supposed to be ''where some of that nation name of plundering canoes, we

days they arrived opposite the present reside

;

Steubenville,

but as they have a

passed them quietly as possible, and were so happy as not to

be discovered by any

of

From

them.

river runs west of south for thirty miles to

''Here

I

met

my

interpreter,

this

town the

Grave creek.

who came

the

across

country from the waters of the Monongahela, and with

some Indians, with

when we came stones,

by the

were only

in

;

whom

I

conversed.

instead of feathers

river side.

From

It

my

was

in the night

bed

vv^as

Fort Pitt to

gravel

we Our

this place

one place where white people

live.

1

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. lodging was on the banks of the river, which at not to suit me, but afterwards

We

''Saturday, June 13. a creek, called

became more

it

6

seemed

first

natural.

concluded to move down to

by the Indians, Caapteenin (Captina).

This comes from the west side of the Ohio, and

Newcomerstown, which

is

Indians, about 75 E. S. E. of the

town

the chief

We

from

Delaware

of the

encamped on

is

the east side

Ohio, opposite to the mouth of Caapteenin.

This was near seventy miles below, and from Grave creek to the

Kanawha

west, but

may

the river Ohio

be said

many

very crooked, turning to

it is

to

run south-

points of the

compass. ''Tuesday, i6th.

Kanawha; fifty

it

comes from the east, and

yards wide at the mouth.

Kanawha, and

little

evening on Thursday, the i8th,

in the

and

Set out for the

is

we

arrived at the

near one hundred

We went up this stream

about ten miles, and out on every side to view the land and to obtain provisions.

and a

My

stately buffalo bull.

interpreter killed several deer,

The

land

to the land nearer to Fort Pitt.

is

It

good, but not equal not well watered

is

about the Kanawha, and consequently not the most promising for health.

Here we have pine

hills,

appear too poor to raise good wheat.

but they do not

Having

ourselves with a view of this part of the country, for

satisfied

we

set

out

Caapteenin again, and arrived safe Tuesday, June 30th.

Being rather unwell, we moved up

.

creek,

and then

Ten Mile

left

miles before

Grave

our canoes and crossed the country

creek, which empties into the

suppose, the

to

Monongahela.

way we traveled, it was between fifty and we came to the house of David Owens.

to I

sixty

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

62 '

Set out for Fort Pitt on horseback

'Tuesday, July 14.

company with Mr. Clark, Mr. Higgins and Mr. Owens, my interpreter; but as it was some time before the Indians could be at Fort Pitt, we took another tour down to Ohio in

across the waste wilderness,

about

to

fifteen

and on the Sabbath

white people,

who met

I

preached

in a cabin

near a

creek called Wheeling. '^

Monday, July

Set out for Fort

20.

We

Pitt.

had a

small path called Catfish's road which led us through the

middle of the land between Ohio and Monongahela; so that

I

had the pleasure

of seeing a large extent of

The

but very few inhabitants. greater part can be settled.

land

is

good land,

uneven, but the

Wednesday, July

2 2d,

came

to Fort Pitt, conversed with several principal Indians of

different nations.

.

.

.

Parted from

and reached home on the 20th day

The

interest that already existed

friends at

home,

in relation to the

of

my

friends here

August."

among young Clark's new country over the

mountains, was largely increased by his glowing description of

its

desirable qualities,

and some

of

them generally

returned with him.

Upon one

panied him, but only

to take a glance at the country.

soon returned home. his

occasion his father accom-

He

His son, however, spent much of

time for several years in the upper Ohio valley, chiefly

near the mouth of Fish creek, in Grave Creek township,

some twenty-five or thirty miles below Wheeling, where he

made

a location of land, and built a cabin.

It is

the celebrated Michael Cresap subsequently

owner

of this land.

said that

became

the

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. Here Clark devoted himself mainly ing, fishing,

He

cated.

to surveying, hunt-

and improving the land on which he had wrote

home

to his friends at

some money surveying; was pleased with location, and rather enjoyed his rough frontier fact,

his

land

life.

He

unconsciously preparing himself for the

trials

and hardships he was destined soon

On

campaigns. letter,

lo-

was mak-

that he

ing

was, in

63

encounter in military

to

the 9th of January,

headed ''Ohio

river.

he wrote a

1773,

Grave Creek township,"

brother Jonathan, at ''Woodstock,

Dunmore

to his

county, Vir-

ginia," in which he said:

"

embrace ye opportunity by Mr. Jarrot

I

know you

that

am

I

good

in

you

health, hoping that this will find

...

same.

in the

to let

I

am

settled

on

my land

with

great plenty of provisions, and drive on pretty well as to clearing, hoping,

by the spring,

to get a full crop.

I

know

nothing more worth acquainting you with, but that country

very

settles

per bushel, but

low

settling as

Land

good deal

me by

as ye

in

some

parts 7s. 6d.

The

people are

Sioto river, ^66 below

very considerable of cash

ye

sum

for

by surveying on

first

my

Fort

action in a wider field.

way

to

Pitt.

had an I

get a

Pray write

this river.

opportunity after the receipt of

his restless

journey further

I

place.

down

this.

affectionate brother."

did not remain in Grave Creek township

however, as

their

is

have a great plenty.

I

Nothing more but your

He

and corn

has raised almost as dear here as below.

offer of a

to

fast,

this

and adventurous In the spring of

all

the time,

demanded 1773 he made a

spirit

the river with a party of Virginians on

Kentucky.

Exactly

how

far

he went on

this

64

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

occasion

is

was back

known, but

not

and

at his location

He was

after.

was probably not

CaroHne county

at his father's in

that year,

it

in the

or less, with the

may have been

men

In Dodge's ''Red that

and

involved in them.

some

Men

of

of

of the

them

that

He was

associating, It is

in

more

possible he

himself."^

Ohio Valley,"

it

is

said

spring of 1774 an alarm spread

''in the

.

.

.

disturbances,

a party to

summer

and about

time serious troubles with the Indians began. first

he

again on the Ohio river shortly

there in the spring of 1774,

the region of the

far, as

through the border occasioned by the killing of a white

man

A

near Wheeling by a band of Cherokees.

party of

Virginia surveyors and explorers, under the lead of Captain Cresap, repaired at

Clark was one of

ers

George Rog-

once to Wheeling.

this

party."

In the latter part of July of the same year four hundred

men, under Major Angus McDonald, crossed the Ohio the

mouth

of Fish creek, near Clark's cabin,

some Indian There

is

villages

at

and destroyed

on the Muskingum.

some reason

to believe that Clark,

and William

Helm and Joseph Bowman,

afterwards

captains under Clark in the Illinois campaign,

went with

Harrod, Leonard

this expedition.

certain that

It is

1774 culminated

of

Clark was in the

to

when

among

memorable

in

unfortunate events in the spring

what

is

known

the first to join the

as

Dunmore's War,

army.

He was

battle of Point Pleasant, for he

not

happened

be with the wing, led by Dunmore, which was not en-

gaged.

It

is

not necessary here to enter into this well-

known campaign, *

See important

letter

or into the events which immediately of Clark on this subject in appendix.

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. preceded, and, no doubt, occasioned

doubt as either

to Clark's rank, but

on Dunmore's

Whatever in

his

or in

staff

is

it

such a satisfactory manner that

some

is

believed that he was

command

may have been,

rank

There

it.

65

of a

company.

he discharged the duties it

is

said he

was

offered

a permanent position in the English military service, but

he did not want

it

because the trouble between the mother

country and the colonies was then approaching a

and besides

thoughts and aspirations were

his

direction of the great west,

the best field for

him

in

all

crisis,

the

in

which he rightfully regarded

which

to

as

win success and imper-

ishable renown.

The movement towards

the west, which had been slowly

gathering strength before Dunmore's after

War, rapidly increased

it.

Many

of the

young, the enterprising, the adventurous,

as well as the unfortunate, turned their thoughts towards

and many who had been

the fair land of Kentucky,

Dunmore's army joined friends

in the

and acquaintances had already gone

ing Leonard Helm, William Harrod,

seph and John

Bowman,

no doubt, met some

creased his desire to go further, and visited the interior of

there, includ-

Isaac Hite, and others.

of these persons

what

is

Clark's

Simon Kenton, JoClark,

en route, and

have gone part of the way with them.

of

Some of

movement.

in

may

This probably, it

is

in-

certain that he

now Kentucky

in the spring

1775.

There

is

no evidence, however, that visions

military career ter written his

of his future

mind. From a letbrother Jonathan, dated " Steward's Cross-

had

as yet entered his

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

66

ing, Apl. I, 1775,"

it

appears that he went, mainly, as a

The

surveyor, and to secure desirable locations of land.

"

letter said:

found

I

take this opportunity to acquaint you that

I

my

things according to

all

arrival here.

This leaves

find ye in the

same

me

expectation on

my

hoping that

will

quite well,

state of health.

I

it

have engaged as a

deputy surveyor under Cap'n Hancock Lee, for to lay out lands on ye Kentuck, for ye Ohio company, at ye rate of

£

80 I

pr year, and ye privilege of taking what land

hope that you

patent for est

me

as soon as possible, as

importance to me.

friends

and

let

I

that

I

am

want.

to get that

be of ye great-

will

our

will write to

He

well."

''Pray get ye patent for

you possible can,

if

it

hope that you

them know

following postscript: before June,

no money nor pains

will spare

I

as delay

is

adds the

my

land

dangerous."

About this time, and for some months afterwards, his letters show that he encountered some misfortunes of a character not

was

known, which rather depressed him, but

of short duration, for

spirits, at

the

Kentucky

river,

site

had never

fifty

families

said, to live,

would be

the

and

living there

by

He thought a richer or more beautiful country been seen in America. He was sure if his

father could see

he did,

in fine

"Leestown," seventy miles up

where he intended, he

did not doubt but

Christmas.

of

by midsummer he was

it

at last,

it

and

he would come there to his

remains are

at rest in

live,

and come

"the beautiful

country," with that of his wife and most of their children, as has already

been

related.

"Hancock Lee, and

others,"

we

are told in Collins's

History of Kentucky, settled Leestown, on the east side

of

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. Kentucky

the

now

is

river,

Clark, but

if

about a mile below where Frankfort

The

situated.

probably included

'^'and others,"

did, the connection

it

67

was

likely of short

duration.

"

It

was the

first

spot," says Collins, ''settled by whites,"

(in that region) ''and as early as 1775

was a kind

of stop-

ping-place, or resting-place for the explorers and improvers

from the

or

Pitt,

Monongahela country, who came

in

down the Ohio, and up the Kentucky to look for land." As a town, however, it proved a failure, but that

canoes

Clark was there

is

shown by a

than, dated, " Lees

which he

Town

letter to his

brother Jona-

Kentucke, July 6th, 1775,"

said:

"I embrace the opportunity of Cap'n E. Taylor

you but

this

small epistle.

I

am

series of misfortunes this four

mention; but richer

hope

I

to get

and claims

good

this

may

as

any

in

months

past, too tedious to

or not, but

I

I

am

this

have I

all

ye land

My

laid out a

intend to

believe has

If

is

(here)

his claim

father talked of seeing

shall not advise

convinced that

I

I

Colonel Henderson

if

country he never will rest until he gets in engrossing

A

ye better of them yet.

be got reasonable enough, and

ye world.

land in August.

come

have had nothing but a

ye country below Kentucke.

all

should be good, land as

I

and more beautiful country than

never been seen in America.

send

to

in a flow of spirits at this time

has not been ye case long, for

it

in

him whether

to

he once sees ye it

to live.

possibly can, expecting him.

I

am

We

town seventy miles up ye Kentucke where

live,

families living in

and it

I

don't doubt but there will be

fifty

hope that you

will

by Christmas.

I

68

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

write to

me by

you

all

are,

the

first

and what news,

My

Johney see

compliments wrote

this as

as

expect you

I

to

at

vv^ill

have

Mr. and Mrs. Campbell.

fre-

Let

to himself as before."

But Clark did not make himself a

He was

me know how

This from your affectionate brother.

quent opportunities. P. S.

opportunity, letting

Harrodstown, and other

Leestown.

fixture at

stations, as well

as

Leestown, familiarizing himself with the country and people, organizing, and, for the time,

remained

until the fall of 1775,

mined

remove permanently

He

the spring.

his affairs

It is

known

on the 6th

ginia,

that place,

which he

to this beautiful country.

and

that he

know

at

Winchester, Vir-

of that date, to his brother

from

Jonathan, in

He

is

I left

as

my

determined

I

should be glad that you'd

have something particular to

I

father's last Saturday. to

go

to

know ye

truth,

which

is

All was

ye Kentuck, but hearing

some disturbances there with ye Indians, he

here to

letter

said:

of you.

well.

was

February, 1776, from a

of

come here tomorrow,

I

by which time he deter-

with a view to removing west in

"li you have ye time to spare

of

He

returned to his old home, and devoted the next winter

winding up

to

the irreg-

and meager settlements.

ular militia of the scattered

to

commanding

ye reason of

sent

me up

my being here.

have not time to write particulars, as Maj'r Helvinstone,

by

whome

P. S.

If

I

send

this, is

just going.

you can't come yourself

I

I

am

yours, etc.

should be glad that

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. you would send Jonney.

shall stay here three or four

"^

days." It

I

69

would be

interesting to learn '^the

something

partic-

ular" he desired to

know

with the unknown.

His father was deterred by '^Indian

of his brother, but

disturbances," or

some other

Kentucky country

at that time, as

it

remains

from going

cause,

to the

he did not remove there

some years afterwards.

until

In the spring of 1776 Clark returned to Kentucky, re-

sumed

his relations

He was

leader.

with the

and soon became a

settlers,

brave, energetic, bold, prepossessing in

appearance, of pleasing manners, and qualities calculated to

win upon a

in fact,

with

all

the

The

frontier people.

unorganized and chaotic condition of the country needed such a man, and the

The which

man had come.

desire to secure first

employment and productive

influenced him, soon widened into a desire to

promote the security and welfare the

creation

of

of the people,

sagacity also.

He was

gunpowder,

of

of

little

remote country and Virginia, and

now

in the

Draper

some instances

is

collection,

it is

this

quite likely his views young Clark

to his

brother

The The author is inmany favors kindly

Wisconsin Historical Society.

corrected and modernized.

debted to Mr. Thwaites, the secretary of the society, for extended.

He

scarcity.

connection between

four letters quoted in this chapter, written by

Jonathan, are

settlers

ammunition, espe-

which there was great

saw, too, that there was but

spelling in

for

developed,

quick to perceive that the

needed organization, and a supply

*The

He

a better government.

and

not only in military sagacity, but in political

speedily,

cially

land,

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

yo

enlarged in

this

direction, until he

came,

template the possibility of independent

con-

at last, to

states.

This view was probably furthered by the apparent suc-

& Company

Henderson

cess of

in

bringing the country

south of the Kentucky river into a political organization

known

This was done without the con-

as Transylvania.

sent of the state of Virginia, under the pretext that the land

had been acquired by treaty with the Cherokee Indians.

There were seeming derson

also.

was determined,

therefore, that there should be

better understanding about these complicated

matters,

and

some way or

that, in

interests of these far-off settlers

the

was

Hen-

Company and Virginia, but between North Carolina

and Virginia It

not only between the

conflicts,

mother government called to

meet

at

and unsettled

other, the facts

should be

of Virginia.

and the

made known

A council

Harrodstown, June

some

to

of citizens

6, 1776, to

con-

sider the subject.

This Harrodstown meeting was mainly the work of Clark,

and the reasons which influenced him are memoir, written that he of the it

up

in the

latter part of

commenced thinking

Kentucky country persistently.

in

When

stated in his

He

his life.

of the condition

says

and future

1775, and that he followed

he went back

to

Virginia in

1776, he was careful to ascertain public sentiment there, as to the character

and

validity of

Henderson

& Com-

pany's claim to the country south of the Kentucky river.

was good; others doubted whether or not Virginia could, with propriety, have any He wanted to know where he pretensions to the country. ^^Many," he

said, '^thought

'

'

it

1

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. and

Were

his fellow-pioneers stood.

they citizens of Vir-

ginia, entitled to the protection of the state, or

and

outside of her jurisdiction, jurisdiction of

create a

any organized

new government,

existing government,

at

and therefore

state,

free to

attach themselves to any

or

These were broad and

will?

him

superficial thinker in relation to

governmental

to

be anything but a affairs.

wisely concluded that the best plan to get at facts,

and determine the future try,

were they

for that matter outside the

far-reaching questions, showing

He

7

was

of this

new and

beautiful coun-

primary

for the people to get together, in their

and sovereign capacity, and send delegates

to the

mother

power

to act as cir-

cumstances might determine would be best.

From some

country to represent them, with

unexplained cause, not

full

now known, but probably accidental,

he did not reach the place of meeting until that

it

was

that he

held,

and the proceedings were so

Clark had intended.

recommended

Had

day

far

advanced

as

members

and John Gabriel Jones were selected

of the Virginia Legislature,

settlers

late in the

which was not exactly what

he been present he would have

that they be selected as the agents of the

with general powers, rather than as members of

the Virginia Legislature; but he cheerfully acquiesced in

what had been done, and determined to Virginia,

and do

all in his

power

to

proceed

at

once

for the interests of the

settlers.

The journey tofore, but to

this

time was not

made by

water, as here-

by land over the wilderness road, and proved

be very uncomfortable and vexatious.

tremely wet season, with

mud

It

was an ex-

or mountains most of the

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

72

Having

way, and constant danger from Indians. horses, Clark

the

of

and sore

blistered

became

his feet

until

one so

that he said, long afterwards, that he

more torment than he had ever done before or

''suffered

The

since."

walked

lost

party was disappointed in not finding any

white people at Martin's

fort,

near Cumberland Gap, as

they had expected, for the people had fled from fear of InClark's

dians.

however, were so foot-sore and

part}^,

exhausted that they remained

some time

this

at

abandoned place

They pushed on

to recuperate.

to eastern Vir-

ginia after a brief rest, onl}^ to find that the legislature,

which then met

at

Williamsburg, had adjourned, and the

members gone home,

all

which, and

of

much more,

graphically told in a diary of the period written

which he gives the

in

many

little

of the

by Clark

journey, including

incidents connected therewith of

nature which

He

details

a personal

have made interesting.

subsequent events

arrived at his father's house in Virginia on the

November, and

at

Williamsburg

is

five

first of

days thereafter, hav-

ing traveled a distance of about seven hundred miles from

Harrodstown. ditors,

He

records that he ''settled with the au-

drew the money

of the treasurer,

piece of cloth for a jacket, price

He that

He

also it

bought a

was "in the

cost

£3, and

No. 10,693, first class." drew a blank, as it probably

it

he does record that he went to church on Sunday

the 9th, which

ment.

15s, buttons, etc., 3s."

which he says

state lotter}^,

does not say whether

did, but

this

lottery ticket

£4

£726, bought a

The

volume.

is

more

to his credit than the lottery invest-

diary will be found in

full in

the appendix to

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

The

fact that the legislature

had adjourned was a

Jones went back

appointment indeed.

73

dis-

to the settlements

on the Holston, but Clark determined to persevere,

and

the governor,

if

at least confer

with

he could not with the

The governor was

legislature.

the

world renowned Patrick Henry, then

home

at his

ill

in

Hanover county.

Sick as he was, however, he was keenly allvc to cvcrythiug involving the wel-

PATRICK HENRY.

He

fare of Virginia.

an attentive hearing fairs

on the western

received Clark graciously, and gave

to his relation of the condition of affrontier.

As gunpowder seemed gave Clark a favorable state

on that

possible,

subject.

be an immediate necessity, he

to

letter to the

executive council of the

Clark repaired to them, as soon as

and urged a grant

of

five

hundred pounds

of

powder.

The members

of the

executive council doubtless fully

realized the importance of

were sincerely anxious

to

complying with the request, and do

so,

but they had the power to

do only what the law authorized, and provision for such a case.

making a state

disposition

of

If

the

their action.

money

or property of the

of the

powder

the}^ hesitated to do, unless

by agreeing if

to do, their

only

to trust to a future legislature to legalize

This

join in the risk

had made no

they violated the law by

which they were not authorized

remedy would be

it

to

Clark would

be responsible for the value

the legislature failed to legalize the trans-

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

74

action; besides they expected Clark to

transporting

This

it

at the

expense of

Kentucky.

to

may have

appeared

been only reasonable, but able.

be

to the council, at first, to it

was, in

The powder was needed and

frontier of the state,

to

defend

sacrificed valuable

and

very unreason-

to protect its

Clark had no direct personal interest solely for the public good,

fact,

have

the western

unprotected citizens.

in

He was

it.

acting

to accomplish that he

had

much

ex-

time, subjected himself to

pense, as well as great exposure and discomfort, and

all

without any pecuniary compensation whatever, as far as the author has been able to discover.

him

therefore, to require

the

powder

to

any contingency, or

in

It

was most

unjust,

be responsible for the value of for

its

transportation

by the dangerous routes by which

to the distant frontier

only the western wilderness could at that time be reached.

He the

felt

keenly the injustice of the requirement, and

same time

realized that

ment and misfortune had the sagacity fail

to fail in securing

He may

it.

to grant his request, without conditions,

mined

to decline

it

it

wrote the council. if

at

would be a great disappointhave

to see that the council could not finally

declined to receive

that

it

otherwise.

At

all

if

he firmly

events he deter-

with the conditions imposed, and so

He

did this very adroitly; pointing out

Virginia claimed the Kentucky country, then Vir-

ginia should aid in that "s, country

its

protection from the savages,

and

which was not worth defending was not

worth claiming."

He

regretted this

Kentucky pioneers by the

state,

necessity would, probably, drive

abandonment

of the

and foreshadowed

them

to

that

look in some

;

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

75

other direction for protection, which he did not doubt they

would

find.

If

they could not, in some

way

or other, get

such assistance as would protect them from the enemy, they would be annihilated or driven from the country and the older settlements

would then be the points

These and other views, his spirited

forcibly presented

and manly bearing

of exposure.

by Clark, and

in relation to the matter,

impressed the council so favorably that they finally

made

the following order:

''In Council,

Williamsburg, August

23, 1776.

''Mr. George Rogers Clark having represented to this

board the defenseless

Kentucki

state of the inhabitants of

and having requested, on

their behalf, that they should be

supplied with five hundred weight of gunpowder;

"Ordered, therefore, that the said quantity be forthwith sent

manding

to Pittsburg,

and delivered

officer at that station,

and delivered

to the said

by him

this

day "five hundred weight

be considered a small

immense importance

to the

affair,

to

the

com-

be safely kept,

George Rogers Clark, or

for the use of the said inhabitants of

At

to

gunpowder

of

his order,

Kentucki." of

gunpowder" would

but at that time

it

was

of

impoverished and helpless

pioneers in the far off wilderness, exposed, as they were, to the assaults of merciless savages.

But there was a that

it

settled

ating upon;

one

still

greater value to the grant in this,

of the questions

namely, that

it

Clark had been deliber-

recognized the Kentucky

country as a part of Virginia, and that as a part of that state.

it

was

to

be defended

Apparently Clark regarded

committal as of greater importance than the grant

this

of the

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

76

powder, great as that was

now

a matter of grave consideration even

it is

might have been the

effect

In fact

at this particular crisis.

if

as to

what

Virginia had resisted Clark's

appeal for help upon that occasion. It

might have had a serious bearing, indeed, not only

upon the

future of Virginia

and Kentucky, but

Would

of this great country as well.

of the

whole

the jurisdiction of

Virginia have been extended by Clark's prowess over the great territory northwest of the Ohio river, and

would

this

country have been included within the boundary of the

United States when the treaty Great Britain?

These,

but they are, at

least,

to the results

it

is

was made with

of peace

true, are far-fetched queries,

within the range of possibilities, as

which might have followed a

refusal of Clark's

request. It will

the

be seen by the order

powder

w^as to

of the Virginia Council, that

be delivered

at Pittsburg.

Clark ex-

pected that the people in Kentucky would provide means for

conveying

it

to the points in the interior

where

most needed, although he must have realized that be a dangerous undertaking. subject of his mission, advising force to bring the

never reached

He

wrote

them

powder home. This

its

destination,

of

to

to

which

was

would

them on

send a

letter,

it

it

the

sufficient

unfortunately, fact,

however,

Clark was not advised until a considerable time afterwards. In the interval, he was busy consulting influential people

about matters of interest to the Kentucky pioneers, and he

was present when the Virginia Legislature again met

at

and so was John Gabriel Jones,

Williamsburg

in the fall,

his colleague,

who came on from

the Holston country.

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

They were

not admitted as

way; probably,

now

shown by

the

some

it,

in

an advisory

respects, like delegates

received

by the Congress

from the

of the

United

That they were not without commanding influence

States. is

in

body, but they

of the

to close relations with

were admitted

territories are

members

77

main

the fact that they succeeded in accomplishing

object of their mission, in spite of the persistent

opposition of Colonel Henderson and Colonel Arthur Campbell,

men

both

of the great

inent

former the president

Transylvania Company, and the

member

annexed

of high standing; the

latter a

prom-

who wished the country represented. The legislation

of the legislature

to the

county he

secured over such formidable opposition was the formal recognition of the

Kentucky country, and

with the same

as a county,

its

organization

name and boundaries

it

now

has as a state.

Here was another triumph magnificent proportions had, in

fact,

been

and

and far-reaching

this

time one of

influence.

He

chiefly instrumental in laying the foun-

dations of the great

rapidly

for Clark,

commonwealth

grew and prospered

until

it

of

Kentucky, which

reached a front rank

among advanced and enlightened commonwealths. To have been instrumental in founding such a state was indeed a high honor, and to this was supplemented in after life

the winning of a vast territory for his country, out of

which has sprung grandeur.

The

and

history of these great states will last while

the country lasts,

able mention in

six other states, of like prosperity

and the name

them

all.

of

Clark deserves honor-^

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

78

Their mission successfully ended, Clark and Jones turned

and having now learned

their faces to the west,

powder was by the

still

at Pittsburg,

river route, and,

if

that the

they determined to go

possible, take

it

home

with them.

This was an exceedingly dangerous undertaking, for the country was swarming with Indians, instigated to hostility against the

who were

then being

Americans by the

British.

They, however, boldly and bravely took the chances, and selecting seven reliable

boatmen, departed by the

their perilous journey with the

They had

the

good fortune

(Maysville, Ky.)

sufficient force to carry the it

to arrive at

some-

Realizing that they had not

powder

into the interior, they

in several different places.

Collins's History of

on

Limestone creek

without molestation, although

times pursued by Indians.

carefully hid

river

powder.

It

is

said, in

Kentucky, that the exact places were

''the three islands in

what

is

now Lewis

county, near

Manchester, Ohio, and about eleven miles above Lime-

They intended to go to Harrodstown and organize

stone."

a sufficient force to return and escort tions,

but

Harrodstown, after

to the interior sta-

stopped for a time, at a cabin on Licking

all

creek, except Clark,

Soon

it

who went on

with two of the

men

to

to organize a military force.

Clark

left,

Colonel John

Todd

arrived with

a small military force, and being advised by Mr. Jones of the situation, they attempted to transport the

an escort

of only ten

powder with

men, but before reaching

it

they were

attacked and entirely routed by Indians, several taken pris-

oners and three killed,

He

among the latter John

Gabriel Jones.

had made a long and perilous journey, and discharged

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. his duties faithfully

and

when almost

threshold of his home.

at the

efficiently,

well of his covintry, and

doomed

but was

be feared

to

it is

He

in the

December

appendix

and

men going

—met on the waters (were) defeated —^John

powder

In

be

will

work, he says, under date

of this

''Ten

25, 1776:

honor

memory.

by Clark, and which

the diary of this period kept

to die

deserved

sufficient

has not been given to this faithful pioneer's

found

79

to the

Ohio

of

for

Licking creek by Indians,

of

G. Jones, William Graden

and Josiah Dixon were killed."

One

of the

prisoners

taken by the Indians was Clark's cousin, Joseph Rogers,

whose sad

fate

related in a subsequent chapter.

is

Clark w^as also followed by Indians, but fortune attended him, and he

his usual

good

managed to reach Harrodstown

in safety.

When

the

that place, a

the

news

of the defeat of

company

powder January

2,

of thirty

gratification

and and

to

relief of the

of eighteen of the thirty

expedition,

it is

to

It

1777.

and successfully conveyed

was

Todd's party reached raised

and sent

was found

in

Harrodstown,

people.

Here

men who went on

after

good order

to the great

are the

names

this perilous

be regretted that the names of

all

can not be given:

James Harrod, who was the captain of the company; Simon Kenton, Leonard Helm, Silas Harlan, Isaac Hite,

Henry Higgins, Elisha Bathey, Joseph Blackford, James Elliott, David Glenn, Jonathan Ingram, Andrew McConnell, Benjamin Linn, Francis McConnell, Samuel Moore, Nathaniel Randolph, William McConnell and Jacob Sodowsky (or Sandusky).

EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

8o

Several of these distinguished themselves under Clark in the

campaign against the

British posts northwest of the

river Ohio, the organization of

hand.

''The company marched by McClellan's

Georgetown)

to the

Lower Blue

then turned to the right a

little,

near the mouth of Cabin creek. der,

it

which was now near

was proposed

from the mouth

of

to return

Cabin creek

(now

Lick, and May's Lick;

and struck the Ohio

at or

After securing the pow-

by the war road leading to the

but by the advice of Simon Kenton, of danger, they

fort

at

Upper Blue Lick;

who

discovered signs

went down the Ohio several

miles,

and

took through the woods until they struck the buffalo road

Lower Blue

Lick, and returned to Harrodsburg over the route they had come." ^ leading from Limestone to the

*Collins's Kentucky, Vol.

2, p.

467.

CHAPTER

III.

FROM THE DELIVERY OF THE GUNPOWDER IN KENTUCKY IN THE WINTER OF 1776-7, TO THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE ILLINOIS CAMPAIGN, JANUARY 177S. 2,

Upon

his return to

Kentucky, Colonel Clark formulates plans for a campaign

against the British posts northwest of the their

condition — Is a party

Ohio

— Sends

with the people and placed in military

spies to ascertain

Kentucky

to several adventures in

command — Visits

—A

favorite

Virginia to obtain

approval and aid of the state for an expedition against the British posts

— Lays

his plans before Governor Patrick Henry— The governor consults his executive council and Jefferson, Wythe and Mason— Sketches of Wythe and Mason-

— Deceptive public instructions issued to Clark — Fac-simile of the governor's private instructions — Also fac-simile of Order for the campaign issued

letter

of Jefferson,

Wythe and Mason.

when Clark cached the interior of Kentucky he made a short stop at ''Leestown," and possibly at ^'McClelland's," as we learn from Collins's jT

is

probable that

i

History of that state that on ^'January 30, 1777, the fort at

Harrodsburg was strengthened by the

arrival of

George

Rogers Clark, Robert Patterson, the McClellands, Edward Worthington, Robert Todd, and others, and the families of several of

them, from McClelland's

which was abandoned because

(Georgetown),

of recent Indian attacks

threatened renewal of same."

on the 29th

fort

Clark says

and

in his diary that

December, 1776, "r large party of Indians attacked McClelland's fort and wounded John McClelland, 6

of

(81)

CAMPAIGN AGAINST BRITISH POSTS CONTEMPLATED.

82

Todd and Edward Worthington;

Charles White, Robert

two

the

McClelland on the 6th

month he

White died the next day, and

mortally."

first,

On

of January.

the 30th of that

enters ''moved to Harrodsburg from McClel-

land's fort."

now

Clark had

ment

for

Kentucky, and a supply

several stations. tion

secured a regularly organized govern-

Thus

far his line

He

and defense.

ammunition

of

had been one

for the

of prepara-

next turned his thoughts to an ag-

gressive warfare against the enemies of his country. realized that northwest of the

Ohio

river

He

was the open door

by which the

hostile Indians raided the white settlements,

and that these

raids

were

instigated,

under the direction of the posts

in

planned and prosecuted

officers of the British military

These were Detroit, Vincennes,

that country.

Kaskaskia, and Cahokia, standing in importance in about the order mentioned.

there

is

no reason

In his deliberations upon the subject

to believe that

he did not think of the

whole

possible ultimate acquisition of the

of that great

country as well as the present defense of the white

settle-

ments.

Like

his father

he was rather

silent

ner, but evidently a deep thinker.

and reserved

He

and earnestly upon the subject during

memoir

his stay in

He

tion "until

it

specific as to

no one

was

ripe for execution," but he

when he

During the time he was at

Kentucky knew

that

Harrodstown with

in

considered in

Kentucky

friends,

it

man-

deliberated long

tucky, but mainly kept his thoughts to himself. in his

in

Kensays,

his destina-

was not

ripe for execution.

in 1777,

who were

he was

much

next year promi-

CAMPAIGN AGAINST BRITISH POSTS CONTEMPLATED.

him

nently associated with

would be remarkable

if

83

campaign.

in the Illinois

It

he did not communicate with some

of them, to the extent, at least, of arranging to join with

him

in

some honorable

military enterprise in the future.

This would be particularly true as to Joseph

Bowman,

the cousin of his brother Jonathan's wife, and an old Virginia friend,

who became

most trusted

officer

the second in

after that

his

throughout the whole campaign, down

to the capture of Vincennes,

soon

command and

memorable

and who died

event.

in the service

Bowman was

at

Har-

rodstown that summer as shown by Clark's diary, which

company

says that ''on September ii, 1777, a

seven

men went

ing

(the

it

were

first

to

Joseph Bowman's

of thirty-

for corn, while shell-

general corn-shelling in Kentucky), they

fired on; a skirmish

ing two dead on the spot.

ensued; Indians drew Eli Gerrard

was

off,

killed

leav-

and

six

wounded." Leonard Helm, another of Clark's young Virginia acquaintances and original captains, was also there, and William Harrod, still another, making three out of the four of others

his

original

captains in the

Todd, Edward Worthington,

Illinois

Silas

campaign.

Harlan, and others

served under him as officers, were also there, and did not then definitely fix itary enterprise,

upon the

it

pretty well understood that an important

sent, to be the head,

the

command.

if

who they

''destination " of a mil-

contemplated by Clark,

likely in the future, of

Robert

was, no doubt,

movement was

which Clark was, by

and that they were

But whether arranged

to in

common

con-

have a share

in

advance or not,

—

OUT TO INVESTIGATE,

SPIES SENT

84 they were

ready when the time for action arrived, and

all

stood faithfully by

him through

the campaign.

In Clark's letter to George Mason, he says: the beginning of the

war taken pains

had since

^'I

make myself

to

ac-

quainted with the true situation of the British posts on the frontiers."

was

It

of

paramount importance

ascertain whether the capture of these posts

to his plans to

were

practicable.

Their commandants, he knew, were inciting the Indians

Kentucky

to hostility against the

tion of these posts

open a

He spies,

was

settlements.

his first object,

The

expecting

reduc-

it

might

field for other action.

says,

sent

''I

two young hunters

to those places as

with proper instructions for their conduct, to prevent

suspicion.

know my

Neither did they, or any one in Kentucky, ever design until

was

it

returned to Harrodstown with

have reasonably expected. (the British)

had but

etc., that

all

the information

in

good order, the

they might, in the case of a

that the greatest pains

I

could

found from them, that they

expectation of a

little

were kept

but that things

I

They

ripe for execution.

was taken

visit,

from

visit

us,

militia trained,

be prepared

minds

to inflame the

of

the French inhabitants against the Americans, notwith-

standing they could discover traces of affection in some of the inhabitants

gaged

in the

—

that the Indians in that quarter

war, etc."

There was nothing,

were en-

therefore,

discouraging in the report brought back from over the Ohio

by

these

young

hunters.

Under date of April 2oth, he says: ''Ben Linn and Samuel Moore sent The diary also shows that they express to the Illinois." Their names are given

in Clark's diary.

INDIANS OUTWITTED AND KILLED.

Kentucky on the

returned to

2 2d

These two scouts probably did not

of

85

June, following.

join in the regular

cam-

At

least

paign and consequently were not entitled to land.

no such names are on the Linn, a

at least,

good excuse

if

for

list

of persons allotted lands.

named Linn is the same, had remaining at home for a while after the the next

9th of July, as under that date Clark enters in his diary,

''Lieutenant Linn married

—great merriment."

Both Linn and Moore were with the company

men who, under successfully

the

command

of

of thirty

Captain James Harrod,

conveyed the gunpowder which Clark had pro-

cured in Virginia, through the wilderness, beset by Indians,

now

stands, to

of Clark's time, during his stay in

Kentucky

from the Ohio

river,

near where Maysville

Harrodstown.

The whole in 1777,

was not spent

campaign against the far that enterprise

yet clothed with

He

rection.

He was

in

planning and preparing for a

British posts the next year.

was

power

all

prospective, for he

any

to take

had plenty

of time to

Thus

was not

as

active steps in that di-

engage

in other things.

also looking after the defense of the stations in

Kentucky.

He was

a party to one affair a short time before his re-

turn to Virginia, which or September, 1777,

sow seed near the

is

worth

relating.

was

in

August

when men were preparing ground

fort at

Harrodstown

action of cattle near a part of the field

the fort,

It

and which was

full

of

to

that the strange

most distant from

high weeds, led Clark to

suspect that Indians might be concealed there, waiting for the

workmen

to get sufficiently

near to be within gun-shot.

INDIANS OUTWITTED

S6

Word was

quietly passed to the

but near the

men, slipped out ing

it

KILLED,

workmen

out of the range of a

fort,

from the weeds.

fired

AND

to

rifle

keep

at

work,

should one be

Clark then, with a small party of

of the opposite side of the fort,

and keep-

between them and where the Indians were concealed,

reached far enough into the timber and bushes not to be

made a detour and came up carefully in rear. The savages were thus taken by sur-

seen; then they

the Indians' prise

and four

them

of

killed

by James Ray, who became

—one by Clark, and another quite

prominent and lived to

The Indians who escaped Indian encampment which had

old age in that neighborhood.

were pursued

to a large

the appearance of having been used for

gun

all

now

of the

as a

by a considerable number, but they

center of depredations

had

some time

fled, leaving,

however, some 'plunder." '

The

Ray was given to him, by The rest of the property a trophy. Indians was divided by lottery among

Indian killed by

order of Clark, as

captured from the

This

Clark's party.

the substance of the affair as

is

municated by General Ray

com-

to early historians.

Clark, with characteristic modesty and brevity, merely says in his diary, under date of

wounded

near the

Indians

ten or twelve

fort

5th:

—

'^

killed

Surrounded three

and

plunder was sold for upwards of

the

others;

August

seventy pounds."

" Clark's stay

Kentucky country

in

him

to the inhabitants,

who now

further endeared

upon him

as the leader

greatest safety.

was not

1777 had

in the

likely to

They

upon

whom

still

looked

they could rely with

instinctively felt that his active spirit

remain quiet

in these

dangerous times, and,

CLARK DETERMINES TO ATTACK THE BRITISH POSTS.

when he was about

Clark says, that the

in

fall,

to leave for Virginia,

every eye seemed to be turned on him in

expectation that he was going to undertake

who thought he contemplated lutionary

Army

to the

'

This was on the

He had carefully mined

frontier.

'^I left

'promising them that

certainly return to their assistance,

mined."

and feared he

in the east,

Kentucky

with reluctance," said he,

ist of

which

I

would

October, 1777.

looked over the western

enemy's posts

I

them

had predeter-

field

that he could best serve his country

force against the

enterprise

entering service in the Revo-

of Virginia,

would never return

some

There were some, however,

would benefit them.

that

87

and deter-

by leading a

in the Illinois

and on the

The authority to do it, and the men and means necessary to make it a success, could only come from the home government of Virginia. To that he now directed

Wabash.

his attention,

energy. state,

and

with his usual caution, good judgment and

He went there, at

Williamsburg,

first,

the accounts of the

had been

to

quietly

Kentucky

still

employed himself militia,

development

fact, all

in settling

which shows that he

in military authority in the

but he was, in

the capital of the

Kentucky country,

the time feeling his

way

the

to

of his great plan of striking the British posts

northwest of the Ohio river.

Events

in the east

about

this

time proved favorable to the adoption of his plans.

The

capture of the British

army under Burgoyne had

greatly encouraged the Americans,

ing

more

as

if

and they were

feel-

they might be able to carry the war into

the enemy's country.

Clark talked confidentially upon

the subject to a few discreet friends, but

it

was about two

-

88

SEEKS AUTHORITY AND AID FROM VIRGINIA.

months

after his arrival in Virginia before

he ventured to

lay his plans before the governor of the state.

The he

eventful day

first

Henry.

December, 1777, when the great Governor Patrick

was the loth

presented the matter to

They were

of

we have

not strangers to each other, as

already seen. Henry, the grand old patriot, gave eager attention to the youthful Virginian, but the plans

now

pre-

sented were vastly greater in importance than those he had

presented the previous year in relation to giving the settlers in

Kentucky a government and the

Clark's of

it;

memoir he

"At

sa3's:

stations

first

gunpowder.

In

he seemed to be fond

but to detach a party at so great a distance, although

the service performed might be of great utility, appeared

daring and hazardous, as nothing but secrecy could give

To

success to the enterprise.

assembly, then

soon be

sitting,

lay the matter before the

would be dangerous,

known throughout first

the frontiers,

end

it

would

and probably the

by the Indians

prisoner taken

would give

as

the alarm,

which would

in the certain destruction of the

party."

But Henry's great mind, no doubt,

'

'

"eTferso"""

grasped not only the danger the

in-

vading party might be involved

in,

but the vast benefit

future of the country cessful.

He

if

the

realized that

it

it

might be

to the

campaign should prove suc-

was a matter

of the gravest

importance, and required the earnest and careful consideration of the wisest

and most

discreet

men

in the state.

CONSULTS HENRY, JEFFERSON, WYTHE AND MASON.

He

invited as his confidential counselors

89

and advisors upon

memorable occasion three men who fully came up to that requirement, namely Thomas Jefferson, George Wythe

this

and George Mason.

Seldom body

of

in the annals of military affairs has a stronger

men assembled

to consider the

campaign than was assembled on

expediency of a

this occasion.

Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, George Wythe, George

Mason and George Rogers Clark

—

men who made an

five

honorable impress upon the age in which they lived, and

who may justly be ranked if

not, indeed, of

with the

first

Their place

any time.

well to

of their time,

in history

is

well

and Henry, but

established, especially that of Jefferson

may be

men

make some mention

it

here of the high

esteem in which the others were held by Jefferson.

We

have already shown

Clark and

Of the

we now

first,

his

high regard for General

give his tribute to

he said.

''

I

Mason and Wythe.

had many occasional and

strenuous co-adjutors in debate, and one, most steadfast, able and zeaious, host.

who was

man wisdom among

This was George Mason, a

of the first order of

those

himself a

who

acted on the theater of the

Revolution, of expansive mind, pro-

found judgment, cogent

in

argument,

learned in the lore of our former constitution ,

and earnest for the republican

change on democratic principles.

\

^^

^AV

george mason.

His elocution was neither

flowing nor smooth; but his language was strong,

his

Jefferson's opinion of mason and wythe.

go

manner most

impressive, and strengthened by a dash of

when Of Mr. Wythe Mr.

biting cynicism,

said:

''I

was about

made

seasonable."^

it

Jefferson feeHngly and eloquently

became acquainted with Mr. Wythe when he

He directed my studies

thirty-five years of age.

in the law, led

my

provocation

me

into business,

most affectionate

and continued

A

friend.

until death

him,

close intimacy with

during that period of forty odd years, the most important of his

life,

ing of

enables

my own

No man

ever

me

to state

knowledge,

left

I

its

leading facts, which, be-

vouch

their truth.

behind him a character more venerated His virtue was of

than George Wythe.

the purest tint; his integrity inflexible,

and ism,

warm

his justice exact; of

and devoted

as he

was

and the natural and equal

patriot-

to liberty,

rights of

man,

he might truly be called the Cato of his countr}^, without the avarice of the

^Y

^^u

GEORGE WYTHE.

;

for

a

Temperance and

never lived.

more

regularity in

gave him general good health, and

and suavity

was

of

disinterested

to

person

his habits

his unaffected

manners endeared him

of easy elocution, his

all

Ro-

modesty

every one.

He

language chaste, methodical in

I had an opHenrj by George Mason Mr. Henry and knowing his sentiments, as well as hearing him speak in the house on different occasions. He is by far the most powerful speaker I ever heard. Every word he says not only engages, but commands the attention, and your passions are no longer your own when he addresses

*The

following was said of Patrick

:

portunity' of conversing with

them. the

first

But

his eloquence

man upon this in Rome about

is

the smallest part of his merit.

He

is

in

my opinion

continent, as well in abilities as public virtues, and had

the time of the first Punic War, when the Roman people he lived had arrived at their meridian glory, and their virtue not tarnished, Mr. Henry's (Life of talents must have put him at the head of that glorious commonwealth. Patrick Henry, Vol. i.)

Jefferson's opinion of mason and wythe. the arrangement of his matter, learned

use of

it,

and

of great urbanity in

apprehension, but with a tion,

and sound

logical in the

debate; not quick of

time profound in penetra-

little

in conclusion.

''In his philosophy he

was

firm,

nor perhaps trusting any one with left

and

91

and neither troubling his religious creed,

he

the world to the conclusion that that religion must be

good which could produce a

life

of such

''His stature was of the middle

size,

exemplary

virtue.

wxll formed and

proportioned, and the features of his face were manly,

comely, and engaging.

honor

of his

Such was George Wythe, the

own, and the model

of future times."

These distinguished gentlemen were the subject of the contemplated

and Clark records

made

into his

in his

in consultation

campaign

memoir

for several

upon

weeks,

that every inquiry

was

proposed plan of operations, and particularly

that of a retreat, in case of misfortune, across the Mississippi into the

Spanish territory.

Messrs. Jefferson,

It

might be inferred that

Wythe and Mason were

regular

mem-

bers of the council of Virginia, but they were not,^as will be

seen from the proceedings of that body of " Friday, January 2,

1778," which seems

to

have been the day the proposed

"expedition against Kaskaskia," was formally communi*Jefferson and

Mason, however, were members of the Virginia General As-

sembly, and probably

Wythe

also.

ACTION OF THE VIRGINIA COUNCIL.

92

cated by the governor to the council and approved

—the

" with

much

same

to

be

set

on

foot

''to issue his

and

as Httle delay

as

For that purpose the governor was

secrecy as possible."

warrant upon the treasurer for twelve hun-

dred pounds to Colonel George Rogers Clark,

who

is

will-

ing to undertake the service, he giving bond and security

same."

faithfully to account for the

structions is

Also approving

which the governor had already prepared.

in-

Here

the full text of this important order taken from ist Vol.

Life of Patrick Henry,

by

his

grandson, pp. 584-5:

Friday, January Present: His Excellency, John Page,

John

Blair,

Nathaniel

Harrison

2,

1778.

Dudley Digges,

and David Jameson,

Esquires.

The governor informed some conversation with

the council that he

several gentlemen

had had

who were

well

acquainted with the western frontiers of Virginia, and the situation of the post at forces,

Kaskasky held by the

where there are man}^

stores to

pieces of

a considerable amount, and

cannon and military

that he

the place was at present held by a very

which induced him

British king's

was informed

weak

garrison,

to believe that an expedition against

it

might be carried on with success, but that he wished the advice of the council on the occasion.

Whereupon

they advised His Excellency to set on foot

the expedition against

much

Kaskasky with

as

little

delay and as

secrecy as possible, and for the purpose to issue his

warrant upon the treasurer for twelve hundred pounds,

EXPEDITION AGAINST KASKASKIA AUTHORIZED. payable to Colonel George Rogers Clark, to

who

93 willing

is

undertake the service, he giving bond and security

And

fully to account for the

same.

advised the governor to

draw up proper

faith-

the council further instructions for

His Excellency having prepared the

Colonel Clark.

structions accordingly, the

in-

same were read and approved.

This action of the governor and privy council was under a law of the Virginia Legislature, passed by the General

Assembly then

in session,

authorizing ^'the governor, with

the advice of the privy council," to organize an expedition, ''to

march against and attack any

and give the necessary orders

of

our western enemies,

for the expedition."

Vol. Hening's Statutes, p. 375.)

Clark says

this

(9th

law was

passed to enable the governor to order the Illinois cam-

paign but that

when

it

passed ''but few in the house

knew

the real intent of it." It

will

be seen that the members composing the privy

council were is

to

all

gentlemen

of the highest character

be presumed they were more or

less

and

it

consulted in

determining upon the Kaskaskia campaign, and the plan of

conducting

it,

before the formal action of the 2d of Jan-

uary.

On

the

same day the order

Governor Henry issued two

of the council

was made,

sets of instructions to

Colonel

Clark; one for the public eye which was intended to divert attention from the real object,

and the other private

for his

guidance in conducting the real campaign into the enem37's

GOVERNOR henry's INSTRUCTIONS.

94

The one intended

country.

for the public eye will first

be

given: (Public)

INSTRUCTIONS TO GENERAL CLARK. Lieutenant-Colonel George Rogers Clark

You

are to proceed, without loss of time, to enlist seven

men,

companies

of

as militia,

under your orders.

officered in the usual

Kentucky, and there

you

:

shall give

to

They

manner,

to act

are to proceed to

obey such orders and directions

them, for three months

as

after their arrival at

that place; but to receive pay, etc., in case they

remain on

duty a longer time.

You the

empowered to raise these men in any county in commonwealth, and the county lieutenants respectively are

are requested to give

you

all

possible assistance in that

business.

Given under

my hand

at

Williamsburg, January P.

The Henry

original private letter of instructions of

2,

1778.

Henry. Governor

to Colonel Clark came into the possession of the

Indiana Historical Society over half a century ago, and a fac-simile

was made

of

it.

one-third in size, as follows:

It is

reproduced here, reduced

PATEICK HENRY'S LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS, In

Two

Pages, See Opposite Page.

Fac-simile, reduced in size.

^^f>^ -r***^

^0

A

.

..»