GEORGE ROGERS CLARKE,

made such a report of the western frontier to the Legislature of the state, that in the early part of '78,

village was now, for the first time, announced as the destination of the enterprise. Concealing his boats at the old fort among the cane-brakes, to prevent discovery by the savages, he now commenced his march through a low, flat, marshy meadow, intersected by innumerable streams, and, in fact, impassable to any one but a backwood's ranger. At the head of his gallant band, rifle in hand, knapsack on his shoulders, marched the intrepid Clarke; en countering every hardship, and enduring, without a murmur, every privation, like the meanest private in the regiment.

THERE have been men in the history of every the celebrated Patrick Henry, then governor, yielded nation, the lives and characters of whom are so in- to his solicitations-a regiment was voted for the timately identified with its annals, that to award defence of the West, and two or three hundred men their biographers full justice, it is indispensable to assembled without delay. The destination of this detail the events of the era in which they flourished. enterprise was preserved a profound secret. The Such a man was Washington, and such a man, as force shortly started off, and crossing the Alleghatruly, was GEORGE ROGERS CLARKE, though in a nies, to the Monongahela river, descended by water less extended sphere. The biography of Clarke to the falls of the Ohio. At this point were left and the early history of this western valley are several families of emigrants, who had availed themidentical; and should a life of this remarkable man, sclves of a safe conduct; and being landed on Corn at all wor hy of its subject, ever be given to the Island, a portion of the land was cleared and planted public-and we have reason to believe such will with corn. The names of the heads of these famishortly be the case-we shall, at the same time, re- lies, so far as we have been enabled to learn, were ceive a more complete and interesting view of the James Patton, Richard Chenoweth, John Tuel, and primitive settlement of the West, and the perils and William Faith. privations attending it, than has yet appeared. After settling these families, and being joined by These suggestions being premised, it is quite evi- a party of volunteers from Kentucky, Clarke, with dent, that, in our present notice of this distinguished four companies, under the command of Bowman, man, we lay pretensions to nothing but an imperfect Harrod, Helm, and Montgomery, on June 24th, sketch of the leading incidents of his life, and the during a total eclipse of the sun, started in boats leading features of his character, as illustrated by down the Ohio, for a French post, called Fort Masthem. We had hoped to have presented our read-sac, about sixty miles from the mouth, and about ers with a more complete narrative of Clarke, from one hundred and thirty miles from Kaskaskia. This the pen of a member of the family, than our own exceedingly limited sources of information will permit us to prepare; but, in the absence of this, we avail ourselves of those circumstances, dates and events, which, with more or less accuracy, have been detailed by antecedent writers. We may thus, in some degree, supply that signal deficiency, which the absence of this distinguished name from our sketches of early western characters, would not fail to occasion. The subject of our present narrative, was a native of Virginia, and was born in Albermarle in November, 1752. When about twenty-four years of age, he forsook his native village, and like most of the enterprising young men of the period, started off for the recent settlements of Kentucky, then a county of the parent state. At this era, Great Britain, then at war with us, held possession of that immense tract of country extending north and east of the Mississippi, from the Gulf of Mexico, to the extreme frozen regions of the Arctic circle; and, to some extent, maintained authority over it, by means of widely scattered and well-fortified military posts. To learn the location of those posts-to examine their defences as far as practicable-to render himself intimately familiar with forest-life and privation -to make himself acquainted with every subject of interest in the country-to investigate the character of its settlers, its soil, and topography, were among the objects which the young Virginian entered upon soon after his emigration to the West. His success was signal, while, at the same time, he gained the confidence and friendship of the inhabitants. Through the influence of British agents, the entire frontier was at that time a scene of Indian atrocities; and so deep was the impression which the recital made upon the mind of Clarke, that he at once devised a scheme to capture those British posts, from which the savages received their supplies of arms and ammunition, and by which they were urged on to their shocking bar- After the capture of Kaskaskia, not an individual barities. Such an enterprise was eminently calcula- was suffered to escape to convey the intelligence to ted for the bold and daring genius of the young ad- the posts higher up the Mississippi; and, the next venturer, and he engaged in it with all the fervidness day, after refreshment, a detachment mounted on of his ardent nature. He returned to Virginia, and the Indian ponies of the American Bottom, hastened

1

After a march incredibly short, all things considered, the hardy rangers arrived on the banks of the Kaskaskia, a river opposite the village, in the night, having pursued their route two days after the exhaustion of their provisions. Game, it is true, was abundant in the forests through which they passed, but the discharge of a gun, it was thought, might warn some solitary hunter, and so they preferred to endure the pangs of hunger, rather than frustrate an enterprise, in which they had already suffered so much, and in which secrecy was so essential to success. Notwithstanding all their precautions, however, it is stated that a hunter discovered the party, and apprised the inhabitants of Kaskaskia of its approach; but, that such a tale was con sidered utterly improbable, and obtained not the slightest credence. So unexpected, therefore, was the attack, that the sleeping town and garrison were captured without a blow being struck-not even a show of resistance being made. Of Clarke, in this affair, it is strikingly characteristic of his resolute and unshrinking nature, that, after he had formed his men for the assault, the only remark he made to them was 'The town is to be taken at all events;' a sentiment quite as pithy as Stark's memorable speech previous to the battle of Bennington.

on to Fort Chartres-then a most formidable fortress the feelings of the French inhabitants of the of stone-and took possession of it without resis-village relative to their subservience to British tance. The fate of Cahokia, a fortified village a few will, Clarke dispatched to it M. Gibault, the miles above, was the same; and thus the British Roman Catholic priest of Vincennes, who happened power in that section was completely humbled; and to be at Kaskaskia at the time of its capthe French villagers, swearing allegiance to our ture, and was friendly to the Americans. On his government, the fort at Kaskaskia became the head arrival he immediately gathered all of his flock quarters of Clarke. At the next session of the Vir- in their church, and, such was his influence ginia Legislature, the district became a county, and with them, that they at once took the oath of was styled Illinois. allegiance to Virginia. Upon the announcement of The brief account of the capture of Fort Chartres this surrender to Clarke, he appointed a comwe have presented, is that given by history; but mandant to the post; but, no reinforcements arthere is a tradition which we have heard from the riving from Virginia, he was unable to take poslips of the old people now residing upon the spot, session, and soon intelligence was brought him which is, perhaps, of sufficient interest to be given by Col. Vigo, that it had been garrisoned by in this connection: When the little band of Clarke Gov. Hamilton with British troops and several arrived beneath the walls of Fort Chartres, the num- hundred Indians. Col. Vigo was sent back to bers of the garrison far exceeding those of the be- Vincennes, and again returned with the intelligence, siegers, the latter, as if in despair of success, shortly that the commandant had detached his Indians to took up the line of march and disappeared behind the frontiers of Kentucky; and among other exthe distant bluffs. Days passed on; diligent exami- tensive operations, designed, in a few months, to nation of the heights was kept up with glasses from recapture the villages on the Mississippi, suspectthe walls, but no enemy returned. At length, when ing no attack himself. apprehension had begun to die away, early one This information at once determined the movemorning a troop of cavalry appeared winding over ments of Clarke. Leaving Kaskaskia on the 5th the bluffs, their arms glittering in the sunlight, and February, '79, he commenced, with one hundred and descended from view, apparently in the plain be- thirty men, partly Creoles, a march of one hundred neath. Hour after hour the march continued; troop and sixty miles, through a region almost impassable after troop, battalion upon battalion, regiment after at any season, but at the present intersected by regiment, with their various ensigns and habiliments swollen creeks and rivers without name or number of warfare, appeared in lengthened files, wound over-abounding in marshes affording no firm footing, the bluffs, and disappeared. Alarmed and astonish- and mostly covered with forests and fallen timber. ed at the countless swarms of the invaders, the gar- With their rifles on their heads and their provisions rison hastily evacuated the fortress, and for dear life on their backs-without tents or wagons-almost and liberty, soon placed the Mississippi between without food or ammunition, for sixteen days did themselves and the clouds of locusts! Hardly was they toil onward. The five days were occupied in this precipitate manœuvre well accomplished when traversing the swamps and submerged bottom of the the alarm of drum and fife was heard, and the iden- Wabash, within six miles of the Fort, sometimes tical force, which but a few days before had raised wading breast high in mud and water. The season the siege, and in despair had retreated from beneath was, of course, an unusual one; or every man would the wall, now paraded through the open sally ports, have perished. their rags and tatters fluttering by way of " "pomp On the 23d of February, the gallant corps arrived and circumstance" in the evening breeze. This at the Wabash, and high on its eastern banks, befortunate ruse de guerre had been accomplished yond the rolling flood, stood Fort Vincent, the Brithrough the favourable nature of the ground, a few tish fortress. Crossing the river in the night, Clarke extra stand of colours manufactured for the occasion, began to approach the town over the inundated botand a variety of uniforms and arms of like character. tom, and at the moment his troops were discovered After winding over the bluffs into the plain beneath, by the enemy, Clarke found himself near a small they again ascended through a defile unobserved by ancient mound, which concealed part of his force the garrison, and once more appeared in different from the foe. Under this covert he countermarched guise and order, in rear of their comrades. "Dis- his men in so skilful a manner, that the leading files, tance," too, cast doubtless not a little " enchantment" which had been seen from the town, were transferred over the "view;" and then the fear and trepidation undiscovered to the rear, and made to pass again in of the worthy garrison probably sharpened their sight of the enemy, until his whole force had seve optics to detect all the peril in store for them, and, ral times been displayed, and his little detachment perchance, somewhat more. Whether there is rea- of jaded troops assumed the appearance of an exson to consider this tradition worthy of credence or tended column greatly superior to its actual strength. not, we cannot say; but in pursuing a further inves- A man shooting ducks was here discovered, who intigation of the incidents of Clarke's life, we shall formed Clarke that no one expected his approach at find those which will abundantly demonstrate, that that season of the year. The town was now perhe was not deficient in military strategy requisite emptorily summoned to surrender, which it soon for a manœuvre of the kind. Viewing the expedi- did. That night, after the moon had set, an ention as a whole, it is not unworthy to be cherished trenchment was thrown up, in front of the Fort, n the most brilliant page of military renown.

within rifle shot, and on the morning of the 24th, a When Clarke had secured possession of his con- flag of truce was sent to Gov. Hamilton, accompanyquest, he unfolded to his men another feature in his ing the most daring message to surrender, we venexpedition westward, which was the capture of ture to affirm, under such circumstances, ever sent Vincennes, a strongly fortified post. To ascertain by besiegers. This being disregarded, the attack

commenced, and for eighteen hours the assailants | northern lakes. This was done, and Fort Jefferson poured such a shower of rifle balls into the port- was erected. By this circumstance a difficulty al holes of a strong battery, that at length its artillery most immediately arose with the Chickasaw Indians was silenced, and the Fort given up, after some upon whose territory the fort was built; but ex negotiation, upon Clarke's own terms. On the planations being made, they soon became pacified, morning of the 25th, a garrison of twice the number and subsequently assisted in driving off a band of of his own force, were surrendered prisoners of war, hostile Indians, by whom the garrison was assailed. and the victor took quiet possession of the post, The spot was afterwards restored to the Chickasaws. containing a large quantity of military stores. In the heat of the assault, a war-party of savages appeared on the prairie with two French prisoners; battle was instantly given them, and nine Indians with the prisoners were secured.

Clarke's influence with the northern Indians had now become very great. Assembling four or five thousand of them at Vincennes, he proposed to march to Detroit; but, disappointed in the strength of his force, and being unwilling to rely entirely Such was the termination of an enterprise, which, upon the savages, the design was given up.-Nor in the language of a late interesting writer,* "for were the enemy meanwhile idle. In the early part bravery, for hardships endured, for skill and con- of June, 1780, the British commander at Detroit, summate tact and pure discipline, and love of country with six hundred Canadians and Indians, suddenly on the part of his followers; for the immense bene- appeared, with two field pieces, at Ruddle's Station, fits acquired, and signal advantages obtained by it in Kentucky, and, having captured and plundered for the whole nation, was second to no enterprise that, together with Martin's Station, hastened off undertaken during the revolutionary struggle; I might towards Canada with the spoils. Clarke immeadd, second to no undertaking in ancient or modern diately collected a band of volunteers, and without warfare." It was these brilliant achievements of delay made an attack on the Shawnees of the Great this expedition which gave to Clarke the highly Miami. The Indians were put to flight-one of honourable title, by which he will go down in histo- their principal villages was consumed, and all their ry to other generations-The Hannibal of the West.' provisions destroyed, so that being forced to hunt The effect of Clarke's expedition was most ex- for a subsistence, they gave Kentucky no further tensive and powerful. It relieved the frontier from trouble that season. During the same year, Clarke Indian atrocities-it struck terror into the hearts of passed several months in Virginia, urging upon the the savages-it destroyed a matured plan to sweep government the reduction of Detroit. He at length off every vestige of American civilization in the obtained a force of two thousand men for the enterWest, and it consequentially brought about the pur- prise, which force was ordered to rendezvous in chase of Louisiana, years afterwards. It had the March of '81, at the falls of the Ohio. But difficuleffect, also, to found our own city sooner than it ties and obstacles arising, the expedition was finally would otherwise have been founded; for, by break-abandoned. Clarke was, however, raised to the ing up the powerful posts of the enemy in the vici- rank of Brigadier General. nity, it enabled the settlers who had previously been In September of the same year, a thousand mountforced for safety to inhabit and cultivate Corn Island, ed riflemen were assembled on the Ohio, and led on to remove, in the autumn of '78, to the southern by Clarke against the Indian towns on the Miami shore, and carry on their improvements in peace. and Scioto. The Indians fled-only twelve being The town rapidly increased and became the head killed or taken-five of their villages were burnedquarters of Clarke. all their provisions destroyed, and the effect was, that never afterwards did any considerable band invade Kentucky.

Immediately after the capture of Vincennes, information reaching Clarke that a convoy of goods from Detroit was descending the Wabash, he In '84, Clarke was appointed by Congress, with despatched sixty men, in boats well armed with four other gentlemen, to negotiate friendly treaties swivels, to intercept it. Forty leagues up the river with the Indians, and several were effected. Among they met the convoy, and made prize of goods and these was one made at Fort Washington in January provisions to the amount of ten thousand pounds of '76, which is thus described- The Indians came sterling, and the mail from Canada, capturing also to the treaty in the most friendly manner, except the forty prisoners, who were discharged on parole. Shawnees, the most conceited and warlike of all the Gov. Hamilton was sent to Virginia, and Clarke savage tribes; the first in battle, the last at a treaty. returned to Kaskaskia, leaving a garrison to retain Three hundred of their finest warriors, set off in Vincennes. Could he now have mustered a force their paint and feathers, filed into the councilof but three hundred men, he would have marched house. Their numbers and demeanor, so unusual at once to Detroit; but he received neither troops nor at an occasion of this sort, was altogether unexpectadvices from Virginia; and, although his men, animated by a vote of thanks from the Legislature of that state for their capture of the posts on the Mississippi, would most willingly have marched against this important fortification, prudence forbade the undertaking.

Not long after this, Clarke was directed to select a position on the Mississippi, near the southern boundary of the territory claimed by Virginia, and to commence a line of posts advancing towards the

• Judge Law.

ed and suspicious. The U. States' stockade mustered seventy men. In the centre of the hall, at a table, sat General Clarke-the indefatigable scourge of these marauders-General Butler, and Mr. Parsons. On the part of the Indians, an old council sachem and a war-chief took the lead. The latter, a tall, raw-boned fellow, with an impudent and vil lainous look, made a threatening speech, which operated effectually on the Indians, who set up a whoop at every pause. He concluded by presenting a white and black wampum, to signify their readiness for peace or war. General Clarke retained an un

BIOGRAPHY

BENJAMIN WEST.-Born 1738-Died 1820.

BENJAMIN WEST, one of the most distinguished artistis America has yet produced, was born near Springfield, Penn., Oct. 10th, 1738. His first essay in the arts was made when he was seven years old; for being left in charge of a sleeping child, he attempted to represent its features on paper, with pen and ink. His success was such as to call forth the admiration of his parents. Soon after this he procured from some Indians the red and yellow earths

altered and careless countenance throughout, and with his cane pushed the wampum off the table. Every Indian started from his seat with one of those sudden sounds which express their indignation. Gen. Clarke also arose, and casting upon the savage group a scornful glance, put his foot upon the insulted symbol, and ordered them to leave the hall. They did so, and all night they were heard debating near the fort. In the morning they came back, and sued for peace. In the same year, an army of a thousand men was led by Clarke against the Indians on the Wabash. When near Vincennes, a halt of nine days was ordered, in order that the provisions and stores might come up by the river. The boats were delayed-used by them for decorating their persons; and these the provisions were spoiled-discontent broke out among the troops-rumours unfavourable to Clarke were circulated, and, at length, when within ten days' march of the Indian town, three hundred of the men mutinied and left the camp. All attempts i at conciliation failed, and the expedition was ruined. Several years afterwards, Clarke was commissioned Major General by France, in a clandestine expedition from Kentucky, which he was to organise and conduct against the Spanish possessions on the I Mississippi; but this enterprise was abandoned General Clarke's commission recalled, and thus closed his public career.

with blue from his mother's pad of indigo, he was enabled to give the colours of the objects pictured.

The first money received by young West for his labours as an artist, was from Mr. Wayne, for drawings on poplar boards; and Dr. Morris made him a present of a "few dollars to buy paints with." His first effort at portrait-painting was at Lancaster. A gunsmith, named Henry, employed him to paint the death of Socrates, and loaned him the book to make him acquainted with the event. A workman stood as a model for one of the figures. This led to the study of the human form, and showed the youth the importance of anatomy as connected with the arts of design.

Upon the latter days of this great man it is not pleasant to dwell. There were many things to ren- In 1756, West's mother died; and in that year der him a discontented and unhappy man, and he our painter left his birthplace, and came to Philawas so in the most bitter meaning of the terms.delphia. Here he pursued his professional avoca His health too became impaired, and for some years, he was afflicted with a rheumatic affection, which, at length terminating in paralysis, deprived him of a limb, and finally in 1818 caused his death. The last years of his life were passed at a beautiful spot called Locust Grove, the residence of Dr. Croghan, a few miles east of Louisville. Here he died, and here repose his remains. Clarke was never married, but his collateral descendants are numerous and respectable. He was well known to many of our citizens, and his funeral was attended by a large assemblage, on which occasion a highly eloquent address on the character of the deceased, was pro-to the proper course to be pursued for his improvenounced by Judge Rowan.

The biography of Clarke is one of melancholy interest. In his early years, he was a bold, ambitious, enterprising man; and he served his country long and faithfully in the front rank of danger. In his age, these services were forgotten by that country, and he was left to pine away a disappointed, discontented, unhappy being, in obscurity and neglect. If, under a bitter sense of such injustice, he sought to drown his misery in the oblivious draught, it is almost to be forgiven, and to be considered rather a failing than a fault. Yet the name CLARKE will live for ages on the page of his country's chronicles; and with it will be coupled the proud distinction—THE HANNIBAL OF THE WEST.'

Louisville

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tions as a portrait-painter for some time and with marked success. After a while he visited New York, where he remained eleven months, constantly occupied ; at this time a favourable opportunity occurring to visit Europe, West embarked for Italy, being then twenty-one years of age. At that time, the sight of an American artist, and that one too a quaker, was by no means common in Italy, and West was every where received with the attention to which his talents entitled him. At Rome, he met with the distinguished artist, Mengs, who treated him with great kindness, and even advised him as

ment. "See," said he, "and examine every thing deserving of your attention here, and after making a few drawings of about half a dozen of the best statues, go to Florence, and observe what has been done for art in the collections there. Then proceed to Bologna, and study the works of the Caracci. afterward visit Parma, and examine attentively the pictures of Corregio; and then go to Venice, and view the productions of Tintoretto, Titian, and Paul Veronese. When you have made this tour, come back to Rome, and paint an historical composition to be exhibited to the Roman publick."

After a severe illness of eleven months, West proceeded on the tour recommended by Mengs, and returning to Rome, painted his pictures of Cimon and Iphigenia, and Angelica and Mcdona. These procured for him academical honours. He now deDisappointments in love, in those of deep and im-termined to visit England, and on the 20th of June, aginative feeling, are like the tornadoes that sweep 1763, we find him at London. The commencement over southern regions. The heavens may again of his career in that city, is thus stated by Mr. Lesassume their serenity, but the wide spread desolation remains; and even in after years as the traces of the whirlwind may be discovered amid the exuberant growth and profusion of flowers.

lie: "When Mr. West arrived in London, the general opinion was so unfavourable to modern art, that it was scarcely thought possible for an artist to paint an historical or fancy picture worthy to hang up be.

his command that the picture should be painted."

side the old masters. Hogarth had produced his would it not make a fine picture? It is a magnifi matchless pictures in vain. The connoisseur who cent subject,' said the painter. Then,' replied the would have ventured to place the ini:nitable scenes king, 'you shall paint it for me.' He turned with a of the "Marriage a la mode," on his walls, (I mean smile to the queen, and said, 'The archbishop made the pictures, the prints were in great request,) would one of his sons read Tacitus to Mr. West, but I will have hazarded most fearfully his reputation for read Livy to him myself-that part where he detaste. This prejudice against living genius contin- scribes the departure of Regulus.' So saying, he ued until the arrival of West, and it must have re-read the passage very gracefully, and then repeated quired some courage in a young man at that time to make his appearance in England, in the character of an historical painter. One of the first pictures, if not the very first he produced, was from the story of Pylades and Orestes, (there is an admirable copy of it in this country, painted by Mr. Sully.) This picture attracted so much attention, that Mr. West's servant was employed from morning till night in opening the door to visiters, and the man received a considerable sum of money by showing it, while the master was obliged to content himself with empty praise. All admired, but no one dared to buy it. It was curious enough, however, that the reputation of this picture raised him into high favour as a portrait-painter.

The Regulus was successful, and was followed by the "Death of Wolfe," in which he substituted the costume of the day for the classick dress. Mr. West now suggested to the king a series of pictures on the progress of revealed religion, which were ordered. He divided his subject" into four dispensations; the Antediluvian, the Patriarchal, the Mosaical, and the Prophetical. They contained in all thirty-six subjects, eighteen of which belonged to the Old Testament, the rest to the New. They were all sketched, and twenty-eight were executed, for which West received in all twenty-one thousand seven hundred and five pounds. A work so varied, so extensive, and so noble in its nature, was never before undertaken by any painter."

West's talents thus becoming known, soon made him acquainted, among others, with the archbishop Another extensive series of historical pictures paintof York, for whom he painted his Agrippina. His ed by West, was drawn from the reign of Edward III.; success in the management of this subject, procured they were-"1. Edward III. embracing the black his presentation to George III. "The king receiv-prince, after the battle of Cressy. 2. The Installaed West with easy frankness, assisted him to place tion and order of the Garter. 3. The black prince the Agrippina in a favourable light, removed the at- receiving the king of France and his son prisoners, tendants, and brought in the queen, to whom he pre- at Poictiers. 4. St. George vanquishing the Dragon. sented our quaker. He related to her majesty the 5. Queen Phillipa defeating David of Scotland, in history of the picture, and bade her notice the sim- the battle of Neville's cross. 6. Queen Phillipa plicity of the design and the beauty of the colouring. interceding with Edward for the Burgesses of There is another noble Roman subject,' observed Calais. 7. King Edward forcing the passage his majesty, 'the departure of Regulus from Rome-of the Somme. 8 King Edward crowning Sir