Clark now clearly saw that his position at Kaskaskia was a very precarious one. Cut off from all hopes of obtaining reinforcements, he must either extricate himself by a bold and sudden attack upon Hamilton at Vincennes, or wait his approach and then defend himself in the best. manner he was able. He decided upon the former. He no sooner learned from his spies that the Indian force under Hamilton had departed from Vincennes, to commence their warfare on the settlements, and that Hamilton lay at Vincennes with his regulars only, than he resolved to proceed against him at once, and capture both the commander and garrison by a coup de main.

He accordingly made immediate preparation for the expedition. On the 7th of February, he commenced his march through the wilderness with a force of one hundred and seventy-five men, having previously despatched Captain Rogers, with a company of forty-six men and two fourpounders in a boat, with orders to force their way up the Wabash, station themselves a few miles below the mouth of White River, suffer nothing to pass, and wait for further orders.

For seven days the land expedition pursued its toilsome course over the drowned lands of Illinois, exposed to every privation that could exhaust the spirits of men, when it arrived at the Little Wabash.

INTREPID PERSEVERANCE.

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But now the worst part of the expedition was still before them. At this point the forks of the stream are three miles apart, and the opposite heights of land five miles distant even in the ordinary state of the water. When the expedition arrived, the intervening valley was covered with water nearly three feet in depth.

Through this dreadful country the expedition was compelled to make its way until the 18th, when they arrived so near Vincennes that they could hear the morning and evening guns at the fort. On the evening of the same day they encamped within nine miles of the town, below the mouth of the Embarrass River. Here they were detained two days, having no means of crossing the river. On the 20th, the guard surprised a boat, in which the men and arms were transported to the opposite shore. There was still, however, an extensive sheet of water to be passed, which, on sounding, proved to be up to the arm-pits. When this discovery was made, the whole detachment began to manifest symptoms of alarm and despair, which Colonel Clark observing, took a little powder in his hand, mixed some water with it, and having blackened his face, raised an Indian whoop and marched into the water.

The effect of the example was electrical, and the men followed without a murmur. In this manner, and singing in chorus, the troops made their way through the water, almost constantly

waist deep, until they arrived within sight of the town. The immense exertion required to effect this march may not be described. When the men reached the dry land, they were so exhausted that many of them fell, leaving their bodies half immersed in the water.

Having captured a man who was discovered. shooting ducks, Clark sent by him a letter into the town, notifying the inhabitants he should take possession of the place that night.

On the evening of the 23d, the detachment set off to take possession of the town. After marching and countermarching around the elevations of the plain, and displaying several sets of colours to give the garrison as exaggerated an idea of their numbers as possible, Clark posted his men on the heights at the rear of the village and opened a spirited fire upon the fort. The men would lie within thirty yards of the fort untouched by its guns, from the awkward elevation of its platforms, while no sooner was a port-hole opened, than a dozen rifles would be directed at it, cutting down every thing in the way. The garrison became discouraged, and could not stand to their guns, and in the evening of the next day the British commandant, finding his cannon useless and apprehensive of the result of being taken at discretion, sent a flag asking a truce of three days. This was refused, and on the 24th of February, 1779, the fort was surrendered, and

THE FIRST BLOCK-HOUSE.

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On the

the garrison became prisoners of war. 25th, it was taken possession of by the Americans, the stars and stripes were hoisted, and thirteen guns fired to celebrate the victory.

CHAPTER IV.

The first block-house built at Lexington-Expedition of Colonel Bowman against Chillicothe-Bravery of Logan-Singular conduct of Bowman-The attack by Logan-Bowman orders a retreat-Harassed by the Indians-The savages repulsed by Logan and others-Land law of Kentucky-Its obnoxious features-Vexatious law-suits arising from it-Colonel Rogers attacked by the Indians on the Ohio-Dreadful slaughter of the whites-Romantic anecdote of Captain Denham and his companion-Ruddell's station attacked by Canadians and Indians under Colonel Boyd-Ruddell surrenders-Treacherous conduct of the savages-Indignation of Byrd-Martin's station captured-Byrd retreats down the Ohio--Escape of Captain Hinckston-His ingenuity in discovering the route to Lexington by night-His perilous escapes-Surrounded by Indians-Reaches Lexington in safety-Indians retreat with their booty.

LEAVING Clark in possession of Vincennes, let us now turn to Kentucky and watch the progress of events in that quarter.

The first thing for which the year 1779 was distinguished among the frontiersmen, was the building of a block-house by Robert Patterson, upon the spot where the beautiful city of Lexington now stands. This was in the early part of April.

In July of the same year, Colonel Bowman led

an expedition against the Indian town of Chillicothe, and as the attack ended disastrously, notwithstanding the bravest spirits of Kentucky marched under Bowman's orders, it may be as well to narrate the affair with some minuteness of detail.

In this expedition Colonel Logan was second in command; while Harrod, Bulger, Bedinger, and others, held subordinate stations.

The detachment consisted of one hundred and sixty men, well accustomed to Indian warfare, and, if we except Bowman, officered by the best men upon the frontier.

So secretly had the measures been taken for a surprise, that from the time they left Harrodsburg until they reached within a mile of Chillicothe, they had successfully eluded the vigilance of the enemy, whom the spies reported as utterly unconscious of their approach, and in a state of the most perfect exemption from alarm.

Putting the party in motion, Logan was ordered to take a left-hand route, and half encircle the town, while Bowman marched to the right in the same manner. When this was accomplished, and the divided parties had formed a junction in front of the town, the attack was to commence.

Logan performed his part of the service with boldness and secrecy, but after waiting for several hours for the approach of his commander, he was doomed to disappointment. Daylight appeared,