That expedition was not excelled in difficulty and suffering, or in daring courage, by the memorable march of Arnold, to Quebec, in 1775.

General Clark succeeded in retaining military possession of that extensive country till the close of the war, and by that means secured it to the United States. The fact is well known, that in arranging the articles of the treaty of peace, at Paris, the British commissioners insisted on the Ohio river, as part of the northern boundary of the United States; and that the Count de Vergennes favored that claim. It appears also from the diplomatic correspondence on that subject, that the only tenable ground, on which the American commissioners relied, to sustain their claim to the Lakes, as the boundary, was the fact, that General Clark had conquered the country, and was in the undisputed military possession of it at the time of the negotiation. That fact was affirmed and admitted, and was the chief ground on which the British commissioners reluctantly abandoned their claim.

He then halted, and with a part of his men and a flag, advanced to the fort, and demanded an immediate surrender on the penalty of receiving no quarter, in case of a refusal. The inhabitants at once submitted. The commandant of the post, in the surprise of the moment, followed the example, and surrendered the garrison prisoners of war, without firing a gun. The Colonel then proceeded to Cahokia, about thirty miles north, and with but little difficulty obtained a surrender of the fort and garrison at that place; the inhabitants of both villages being predisposed to submit, and declare allegiance to the United States.

These conquests were achieved before the arrival of the boats, and were immediately made known to Governor Hamilton, at Vincennes, by some friend of the enemy, who stated at the same time the diminutive force by which the object was accomplished. The Governor immediately projected a plan to surprise the Americans, and retake the posts. In the mean time the boats arrived with the residue of the regiment; when Clark, leaving a sufficient number of men to retain the posts he had captured, marched without loss of time to Vincennes. Having waded through mud and water for several days, he approached the low ground on the Wabash river, which was so flooded that his men were frequently up to their arm-pits in water. Yet they were not disheartened, nor did their devotion to their heroic leader in the least degree abate.

It is a fact of importance in estimating the character and claims of General Clark, on the American people, that the Legislature of Virginia did not furnish him with money or other means to accomplish the service they had appointed him to perform. They merely sent him a commission, accompanied with power to recruit men, and make contracts obligatory on the State. But the State having no credit, he was cast on his own energy, and relied on his own personal efforts to raise and equip his troops, and to feed and clothe them during the time of their service, which continued to the end of the war. The task he undertook was a herculean one. There were but very few who could have accomplished it; and nothing but the most ardent attachment to his country, could have prompted him to undertake it, and to persevere as he did.

Patriotism, and a laudable desire of military fame, were the governing influences of his mind. They led him to incur great hazards, and enabled him to accomplish much. During his campaign-and in fact from the day he began to recruit his regiment till he had taken Post Vincennes by storm, and captured the garrison with the British Governor-he had no time to reflect on consequences. His troops were subsisted on a scanty allowance, such as they were able to carry on their backs on a rapid march. But when the campaign was over, and his mind became occupied in devising means for the future subsistence of his troops, and to retain the posts he had taken, he discovered his situation to be apparently hopeless; but despair formed no part of his character-it was a feeling he had never indulged and he resolved to assume the responsibility of sustaining his regiment, and holding the posts in his possession be the consequences what they might. He held in his hands conclusive evidence that the Legislature of Virginia had authorised him to raise the regiment, and to enter into such contracts as should be necessary to carry the projected plan into operation.

On the credit of that document, he was enabled for some time to raise supplies of provision, clothing, etc. for the sustenance and comfort of his troops, for which he drew on the Commonwealth, in favor of the persons who had furnished the supplies; his drafts being accompanied with such vouchers as are usually furnished on similar occasions. To his astonishment, and the surprise of all who knew the facts, those drafts were dishonored, for such reasons as could not but wound the feelings of the gallant chief who had drawn them. But yet, even this did not shake his purpose, or induce him, for a moment, to hesitate in carrying out his determination to preserve the conquests he had made; most probably without thinking of the inestimable benefits which the nation would derive from them in the future adjustment of her northern boundary.

One might have supposed that the rude imputation conveyed in the deliberate act of dishonoring his drafts, in favor of persons who had advanced for the support of his regiment, almost every thing they were worth, would have disgusted and driven him from the service of his country; but such was not the fact. As his difficulties multiplied, his resolution gained strength, and when his credit failed, and he was cut off from every other resource, he resolved to sustain his troops, and preserve his conquests, by the strong arm of power.

After weighing the consequences both to himself and his country, he resorted to forced loans, and by that hazardous expedient, accomplished the object nearest his heart, which was the preservation of his conquests till the close of the war. But before he proceeded to that extremity, he made an appeal to the judgment and feelings of the citizens of Vincennes, and the settlements on the Mississippi, stating his determination, and the considerations which had induced him to adopt it. He took it for granted, that as they had given in their adhesion, and had declared allegiance to the United States, he had a right to expect from them the as

sistance he needed. That appeal having failed to produce the desired effect, he issued an order, as commandant of the regiment, directed to some two or three of his officers, commanding them to enter on the premises of the persons designated in the order, sequester the property there found, and remove it to the public store, for the exclusive use of the troops. They were also ordered to cause exact inventories to be made of every article so taken, with its fair value annexed, by impartial citizens of the place, certified copies of which were furnished to the owners of the goods, accompanied by the certificate of the commandant that all the property specified in the inventory, had been taken and appropriated to the sole and exclusive use of the troops under his command, and was to be paid for by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

By that expedient, and that alone, he was enabled to maintain the posts he had conquered on the Mississippi and the Wabash, till the termination of the war; by which he saved to the nation the vast territory lying between the Ohio river and the lakes.

Colonel Vigo was one of the persons who voluntarily surrendered his property for the support of the regiment, and received a draft on Virginia for the amount, which was dishonored. That noble hearted man lived many years afterwards in comparative poverty, and died almost a pauper, holding the same protested draft in his possession; on which there must have been due, at his death, at least twenty thousand dollars. Since his death the government of Virginia has acknowledged the justice of the claim, by a solemn act of the Legislature, and has furnished evidence to prove that it is one of the liabilities, assumed by the General Government, in consideration of the act of cession-but there it rests, no part of the debt having been paid.

The persons whose property was taken by force, commenced suits, and obtained judgments against the General,

in the courts of the Territory, on which portions of his property were attached and sold.

After the close of the war, the Legislature of Virginia made an appropriation of one hundred and fifty thousand acres of land, lying on the Ohio river, opposite to Louisville, for the use of the officers and soldiers of that regiment-which, at that day was of but little value, and was disposed of at nominal prices. The tract was known by the name of " Clark's Grant," and was the only remuneration received by that gallant corps, for their services and sufferings in conquering and securing the entire North-western Territory.

Thus it appears that one of the most distinguished officers of the Revolution, who had performed services of incalculable importance, was not only treated with cold neglect, but was subjected to the payment of debts and claims, incurred for the support of his troops, to a very large amount.

The cruel ingratitude to which this distinguished soldier was doomed-for which no justifiable cause can be assigned—and the comparative poverty, which made him almost a pensioner on the bounty of his relatives, was more than he could bear. It drove him to intemperance. He sought the inebriating bowl, as if it contained the water of Lethe, and could obliterate from his memory the wrongs he had endured.

When called on by the gentlemen mentioned above, who were induced to make their visit by the veneration they entertained for his military talents and services, his health was much impaired; but his majestic person, strong features, and dignified deportment, gave evidence of an intelligent, resolute mind. He had the appearance of a man born to command, and fitted by nature for his destiny. There was a gravity and solemnity in his demeanor, resembling that which so eminently distinguished "the venerated father of his country."