Vincennes Township (part 2 of 14)

From the statements already made it seems clear that the site of Vincennes had been visited by white men long before 1700, and probably as early as 1660. But these visits of civ- ilized men were made in some eases for purposes of trade and traffic with the Indians, or b}'' Jesuit missionaries for the purpose of spreading the true faith among the Indian tribes. x\nd these early visits cannot be referred to as the date of the actual founding and permanent settlement of Ymcennes. But there are other evidences more tangible and reliable thai will throw much light on the subject to which I shall now refer^ and which fixes the true date of its founding about 1700.

When tlie Indiana Territory was organized in 1800 and the capital of the Territory fixed at Vincennes, it at once became a centre of interest and attracted the cream of the energetic, aspiring and cultivated men from all the older States of the Union. Vincennes was a prominent point in the west before 1800, and many eminent men came and settled here as early as 1780. But the organization of the territory gave fresh impulse and prominence to the place and greatly accelerated its increase in population and wealth. John Law, Elihu Stout, John Ewing and Samuel Judah and other prominent citizens who came and located here between 1800 and 1820 asserted that the population of the place by 1820 was as great as it is today. But the loss of the capital and the dreadful epidemic of 1820 that visited the place that year discouraged and terrified the citizens and depopulated the place, and for years retarded its growth.

The many educated and distinguished men who came and located at A^incennes when the territory was organized, took a deep interest in everything calculated to promote and advance the prosperity of the place. In the early days of the territorial government, and before 1809, they procured the passage by the territorial legislature of many incorporations with this object in view. Among these incorporations 1 will enumerate the following three: The Vincennes Universit}', The Vincennes Librarv, and The Vincennes Historical and

Antiquarian Society. The object of the last named corporation, as its name impUes, was to investige and establish authentic evidence concerning the early history of the place. Among the many distinguished men who were members of the Vincennes Historical and Antiquarian Society I will enumerate the following: William Henry Harrison, John Gibson, Waller Taylor, Nathaniel Ewing, John Badollet, Elihu Stout, Moses Tabbs, Isaac Blackford, Thomas Randolph, John Law, John Ewing, Benjamin Parke, George Rodgers Clark Sullivan, Samuel Judah and many others equally distinguished. Nearly all of these distinguished men came here about the year 1800. They found when they came old settlers who had been connected with the place for periods ranging from twenty-five to seventy-five years before 1800. And these old people had knowledge of the place from those who had been living here before them extending back to a period prior to ITOO. Among these old people I will enumerate Francis Vigo Laurent Bazadone, Angeline Burdalow, Paul Gamelin, John Rice Jones and General W. Johnson.

One of the first subjects that occupied the attention of the Vincennes Historical and Antiquarian Society was fixing the date when Vincennes was settled by the French. Before 1820 the date of the settlement of Vincennes by the French was fixed by the Vincennes Historical and Antiquarian Society at the year 1680. Here the matter quietly rasted until the advent of Bishop Brute in 183L He found in the church library connected with St. Francis Xavier church registers and many manuscript documents which had been neglected, as no one had before him been inclined to burn the midnight oil in looking them over, page by page, the only way to obtain the valuable historic information they contained, as they were not indexed, but a confused mass. But Bishop Brute did this. He furnished the public, from time to time, through the columns of the Western San newspaper the re- suits of this investigation. He Avas a. studious, careful and tiTithful man, and made no statement unless fully sustained by authority in making it, and which can be relied on as coirect. He stated that he had found evidence in the church records here and in the records of the Mission of St. Louis of Peoria, and the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary at Kaskaskia, Illinois, and the recorder's office there, that both the town of Vincennes (not then known by that name), and the Church of St. Francis Xavier here were both in existence as early as 1708, and perhaps earlier. And in one of his last communications published in the Western Sun he says he will continue the search, and if anything additional is found indicating an earlier date he will communicate it to the public. But his investigations were unfortunately terminated by his death in June, 1839. In this connection I will remark that in 1835 Bishop Brute, to familiarize himself with the wants of his immenss diocese, embracing all of Indiana and Illinois, made a pastoral visit in person, travelling on horseback, to all the missionary stations in that vast territory and carefully examined the church records they contained. He made a detailed report of this pastoral visit through his diocese in his own happy manner to the Leopoldine Association in France in return for assistance lent him to build up his diocese, a great part of which report is inserted in Father AUerding's (now bishop of Fort Wayne, Indiana) History of the Diocese of Vincennes.

The communications of Bishop Brute on the subject of the early settlement of Vincennes published in the Western Sun revived interest in the question and the Vincennes Historical and Antiquarian Society again considered it. John Law, at the request of this society, delivered his celebrated address on February 22, 1839, when the question was under discussion by this society for the second time. Upon this reconsideration that society before 1840, settled upon 1683 as the date of the settlement of ViDcennes by the French. This decision of that society was generally accepted by the citizens of V^incennes as conclusive of the question, and it became a common saying, as I well remember, and as many old citizens of Vincennes now living also remember, that Vincennes -was settled the ymr after Philadelijliia. It is well known as a historic fact that Philadelphia was settled in 1682.

Were these men qualified and competent to examine, adjudicate and detennine this question? It is sure they were far better qualified than persons living at a distance who have written upon and expressed opinions as to the true date of the settlement of Vincennes. To illustrate this I will only refer to three members of the Vincennes Historical and Antiquarian Society, and the peculiar opportunities they possessed of examining and passing a reliable judgment upon the question. These three meml>ers are Nathaniel Ewing, John Badollet and Elihu Stout. The two first came to Vincennes almost with the advent of the territorial government in 1800. The first as receiver of public monies, and the second as the register of the United States land office in this land district. The third came a little later in the spring of 1801. They were all members of that society and took an active part in the discussion of the question. Messrs. Ewing and Badollet were the equals intellectually of any of the able men who came to Vincennes in territorial days. They all located here permanently and died and were buried here. They all possessed superior advantages for examining and determining this question above others from the very nature of their several employments. Elihu Stout ])ublished the first newspaper in the N'orthwest Territory at this place, commencing on July 1, 1801, and continuing its publication until the fall of 1815, ' and from the nature of his business came in contact with the people generally and ascertained their views upon all public questions. ^lessrs. Ewing and Badollet constituted the board of commissioners appointed by the Federal Government to examine and adjust land titles founded upon the grants of land to the early French settlers from the different commandants of the post while the country was under the jurisdiction of France, and which grants had been secured to the several grantees by treaty stipulations and acts of Congress. These commissioners held their sessions at Vincennes from 1804: to 1810, and examined and passed upon these old French land grants reaching back to the first settlement of Vincennes by the French. And as there was no record or documentary evidence of these old French grants, the commissioners were compelled to hear oral testimony to establish them. This necessarily brought them in close contact in their official capacity with the old French settlers who could give testimony concerning these French land grants extending back in many cases to the first settlement of Vincennes by the French.

These were the men who took an active part in the discussion of the question as to the date of the settlement of Vincennes by the French, and who finally fix:ed the date of settlement at 1683. Messrs Ewing and Badollet were perhaps better qualified to determine this question than any other persons from the very nature of their employment in tracing back matters to the very beginning. Is not more reliance and confidence due and should be given in determining this question to the opinions and conclusions of men who lived and died in Vincennes and were actually a part of its history than upon the mere dicta and opinions of men who never lived here, nor visited the place, or who were here only for a few days, and with these crude and imperfect impressions thus obtained in hasty visits went off and published books purporting to give facts? Count Volney, the celebrated traveller, who was here in 1796 for a few days only, states in the history of his travels that the place was settled by the French in 1735. David Thomas, who was here at a much later date, and for a (6) few days only, follows in his wake and gives the erroneous date given by Count Yolney. Monette, Flint and Scott, who have all given an opinion on the subject of the date of the settlement of Yincennes by the French were never here so far as I know, and derived their information from second-hand sources upon which they based their opinions and conclusions. John B. Dillon, who published a book purporting to be a history of Indiana, on the question of the date of the settlement of Vincennes by the French, cannot be regarded as any authority on the subject against the combined opinions of such men as I have referred to.

It is matter of sincere regret that the Vincennes Historical and Antiquarian Society was permitted to perish for want of appreciation and support. The valuable collection of important physical specimens contained in its museum, and its documents and records were suffered to be carried off and scattered, and are not now for the greater part in existence, or at least are not accessible to the public.

But there are other evidences bearing on the subject of the date of the settlement of Vincennes by the French to which I will now refer. It is recorded in the Quebec annals that Francois Morganne de Vincenne, an officer in the service of the King of France, was commissioned for the purpose and started from Detroit in the early spring of 1702 with Frencli troops to build three forts. One was to be built at the junction of the St. Mary^s and St. Joseph rivers, where they form the Maumee river, where the city of Fort Wayne now stands. The second was to be l^uilt on the Wabash river on the Weco plains, about seven miles below the site of the present city of Lafayette. The third was to be built on the "Colline gravois." on the Wabash river, the site of the present city of Vincennes. The Quebec annals also state that he came to this place on that mission and actually built a fort in the fall of 1702. He was accompanied according to the annals bv a Jesuit mission- ary, who offered up the Holy Sacrifice of the mass on the bank of the Wabash river in the open air near where the fort was to be built in the presence of the troops who came to build the fort and many Indians. If the Quebec annals are reliable and satisfactory authority then the evidence of the actual founding of Vincennes may be regarded as conclusive.

But it has been claimed by some^ on what authority I do not know, that the Quebec annals are not in all cases accurate and reliable in fixing the dates of the happening of events. This may be true in some cases, especially concerning some of the Jesuit missions in the wilderness of the West. This inaccuracy in some instances results from the fact that many of these missions were 2,500 miles distant from the place where the annals were compiled and published. This inaccuracy results also, if there is found any inaccuracy which I do not admit from the great distance of some of the missions from Quebec where they were published, the uncertain and difficult mode of communication between them and the lapse of time after the happening of the events related and their communication to the mother house of the Jesuit order and before the information was received and the record made and published. But in no instance can it be shown that the events related did not actually happen and the date assigned, if inaccurate in any case which I deny, is more apt to be too recent rather than too remote. The Quebec annals state that the French came here in 1702 and built a fort, which actually remained standing to a period within the recollection of persons living in Vincennes at the present time. If it cannot be shown that this fact recited in the Quebec annals is not correct then I hold the Quebec annals should definitely settle the question if there is any question about the matter.

The writer has not personally inspected the Quebec annals and makes the above statement of their contents on the authority of Bishop Brute, Bishop Hailandiere, Father Aller-

What are the Quebec annals? They comprise 72 volumes, printed by the Jesuit Fathers at Quebec, containing the relations and transactions of the Jesuit missionaries in the different missions of the Jesuit order in the Northwest. They commence in the year 1610 and continue to the year 1780, when the Jesuit order was suppressed. They are either in the French, Latin or Italian languages according to the nationality of the missionary who wrote them. Twenty of these volumes are now in the library connected with St. Francis Xavier Church of this city. But unfortunately they do not go back to the date of the settlement of Vincennes. These annals were not until very recently within reach of the general student. It is certain these annals contain the most reliable historic information concerning discoveries and settlements in the Xorthwest Territory. So important is the historical knowledge contained in these annals that the Historical Society of Wisconsin which has done so much to determine historic events in the west when the celebrated historian, Lyman C. Draper, was secretary of that society determined in 1894 to have the Quebec annals translated and published in the English language. This herculean task was immediately commenced by a competent force of translators and prosecuted until the work was completed, and the important historic information contained in the annals brought within reach of the general student. The writer endeavored to procure a copy of this translation covering the period of the early settlement of Vincennes, but could not procure them, as no broken volumes would be sold, but the entire set must be taken. An effort was then made to have those important volumes purchased and placed in the city library, but the effort failed and these important works were not secured for the city library, but their places have been filled with useless works of fiction of no real value. This action was akin to that want of foresight which permitted the Harrison mansion to pass into private hands instead of being purchased for a public museum and library for the use of the city, as it was from 1812 to 1832, when occupied by John Cleves Symmes Harrison, a son of General Harrison.

The work of translating and publishing in the English language has just been completed. The English edition was published by Burrows Bros., publishers of Cleveland, 0., under the title of "The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents Containing the Travels and Explorations of the Jesuit Missionaries in New France from IGIO to 1791.'^ The work is edited by Eeuben Gold Thwaites, the present secretary of the Wisconsin Historical Society. In the conclusion of the 72nd and last volume he writes as follows :

"The editors decided to go to the sources never depending on a printed version when ever the original manuscript could be obtained, thereby elminating so far as might be the changes introduced by such earlier copyists and repr inters as had taken more or less liberties with the text. Approaching the task with no conscious prejudices of race or religion, it has been the sole desire of the editor impartially to collect, preserve and annotate the great body of documents having so important a bearing upon the foundations of American history."

But there are other and abundant evidence of equal authenticity and credibility upon the subject of the settlement of Vincennes by the French to which I will now refer. There is abundant and conclusive evidence in the writings of Bishop Brute that the French built a fort and made a permanent settlement here about the beginning of the year 1700. In a

The Mission of St. Louis of Peoria referred to by the Bishop was situated on what was then called Lake Peoria, but which in fact was only an expansion of the Illinois Kiver where the city of Peoria in Illinois, is now located. This was one of the Jesuit missionary stations which Bishop Brute visited and examined its church records on his pastoral visit in 1835. This Father Mermet is no myth, but on the contrary a well-known historic character. He remained at this place as a missionary priest from the time he came in 1708 until the latter part of November, 1712, when he returned to Kaskaskai, where he remained until his death in 1728, and was buried there in the church of the Immaculate Conception. He left writings which Bishop Brute personally inspected on his visit to Kaskaskia in 1835, and which conclusively show that Father Mermet was here in 1708. Prom his writings Bishop Brute made an extract which he pnblishi'd in the Western Sun of Saturday, April 27, 1839, as follows :

"An epidemic desolated the village in 1708, and the Indians died in great numbers. The jugglers kept up their delusions. They ordered a great sacrifice of their dogs. Forty of these poor animals, innocent as they were of the cause of the epidemic, to satisfy their manitoes, were immolated and carried on poles in a solemn procession around the fori. Eealize, if you can in mind, the wretched procession on one side led on by these fanatical jugglers, and the gaze of the soldiers and their officers, of the traders and the whole population of the village at that time listening to tlie loud appeals of the Indians."

Bnt there is other and very sufficient evidence to corroborate the statement of Father Mermet. Father Gabriel Marest, missionary of the Society of Jesus, stationed at Kaskaskai, from a date as early as 1700, until long after 1725, conclusively corroborates the fact that Father Mermet was sent here as a missionary some time before 1712, but the precise date when he was sent is not given. The Mission of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin atKaskaskia, 111., was the principal mission and headquarters of the Jesuits in the Northwest Territory. From a letter written by him, dated at Kaskaskia, November 9, 1712, and addressed to Father German General of the Jesuit Order in Paris, France we quote as follows :

''The French having lately established a fort on the river -"Onabasche,'' demanded a priest or missionary, and Father J ohn Mermet was sent to them.^^

This latter is inserted in a historic work of undoubted reliability published in Paris, France, in the year 1761. It is inserted in that historic work on page 325 thereof. It will be observed that the letter does not give the precise date when the French built or established a fort on the "Ouabasche," but it must have been some years before November 9, 1712, the date of the letter, for the French inhabitants to have so increased in numbers at that early date to have merited and demanded the services of a missionary.

In the year 1837 an old oak tree standing on the west bank of the Wabash Elver in Vermillion county, Indiana, near the town of Eugene, was felled. An axe of French manufacture was found embedded in the tree. The annual growths around the axe were counted by persons skilled in matter of that kind and it was found that the annual groAvths around the axe in- dicated that it had been inserted in the tree at a period possibly as early as 1700, and certainly not later than 1705. The difficulty in fixing the exact date when the axe was inserted was in consequence of the blending of the growths around the axe where the wound was inflicted on the tree. On this account the blending and confusion of growths the exact date of its insertion could not be determined with greater precision than between the year 1700 and 1705. One hundred and twenty-seven growths were distinct, and a number immediately around the axe confused. It was stated at the time the axe was found that it had been inserted in the tree by some Jesuit missionary on his lonely journey through the wilderness. But this could not be in the nature of things as it is well known that the Jesuit missionaries among the Indians of the iSTorthAvest never carried axes or weapons of any kind. They only carried crosses on their lonely pilgrimage through the wilderness. Neither could it have been inserted by one of a small party who carried few axes, as its loss would have been noticed and the implement recovered. It was inserted by one of a large party, and its loss was not noticed on account of the large number they carried. It is reasonable to suppose tins axe was inserted in that oak tree by one of the men accompanying de Vincenne on his way down the Wabash Eiver lo this place in the fall of 1702 to build the fort here. And I claim, with reason, that this is a natural record aiding and contributing by its silent and unimpeachable testimony in fixing the date of the building of the fort here, and the actual foundmo^ of Vincennes about the vear 1700.

Chapter Xii

The inhabitants in the Xorthwest at the time of its acquisition by Great Britain in 1763, were almost, if not exclnsively, French people or the descendants of French, and were all animated by that common race prejudice that then existed and still exists between the English and French people. They were not reconciled to the change of ruler and always regretted that by the terms of the treaty of Paris this promising and rich country had been wrested from their beloved France. This race prejudice is well known to exist among all peoples of different nationalities and can never be obliterated, and is still active and potent after the lapse of centuries. As an illustration, take the Irish race, and it is well known that a bitter hatred exists between the Celt and the Anglo Saxon. Show me an Irish Catholic in any quarter of the habitable globe, whether beneath the burning rays of a tropical sun, or the frozen regions -7 of the ^orth, and I will at the same time show you a bitter , and determined foe of the British government. This hatred has been engendered by the centuries of injustice and oppression that relentless power has inflicted upon their native isle. They are ever ready to seize upon any occasion to raise their hand against the oppressor. During the Revolutionary War it filled the roster of officers and the ranks of the revolutionary soldiery with Irishmen, ilmong the forces under George Rogers Clark, that took part in the capture of Kaskaskia, there were many Irishmen, and found there in consequence of this race prejudice. Of the 150 men that are said to have composed his force when he started upon his Kaskas-

And what, was it that induced ^larquie de La Fayette Count de Grasse and Count de Eochambeau to come and take part in our revolution ? It was not for any love of liber t)^, as we understand, and use that word. The two latter were officers in the service of the King of France, long before and long afterwards. It was a desire to aid their own country. It was a military stratagem to attack the English as it were in the rear by aiding her revolted colonies, and thns effect lier dismemberment and weakening of that power. And all this was brought about b}^ race prejudice. By this, I do not wish to detract in the least, from the debt of gratitude we owe these men, and all others who rendered our country assistance in time of need. I only go beneath the outward surface of things and indicate the controlling motives that prompted their action.

The idea that originated the military movement against Kaskaskia was based upon the race prejudice, known to exist between the French and English. It was known to the authorities of Virginia that all the inhabitants of Kaskaskia were Frenchmen, either by birth or descent. It was also equally known that they all chafed under Britsh domination and would be willing at any favorable opportunity to throw it off. This knowledge justified the authorities of Virginia in making the attempt. It could not be supposed that any force Virginia could send at that time against Kaskaskia, if met with active opposition, would be crowned with success. The condition of affairs at Kaskaskia may have been obtained from some of the French officers in tlie American army. There can be no doubt in the mind of an intelligent man that the Virginia authorities obtained it from some source before they countenanced and authorized the expedition against Kaskaskia. Otherwise the project in view of the fact that the state was involved in a death struggle at home, would have been foolhardy and ridiculous. And this debt of gratitude or moral obligation which the American people were under to the ''French and Canadian inhabitants and other settlers of the Kas'kas'k.ia, 8t. Vincents and the nnghhoring villages" of the territory northwest of the Ohio Kiver for their throwing off the allegiance of Great Britain and acknowledging themselves citizens of Virginia at the bare request of Col. Clarke, without offering any resistance, was tacitly acknowledged by the

It will be remembered that the territory northwest of the Ohio River was acquired by the State of Virginia by her troops under Col. Clarke, acting under the commission of Patrick Henry, the Governor of Virginia, Kaskaskia in July, 1778, and St. Vincents in February, 1779. This was during the Eevolutionary War and before the independence of the American colonies had been acknowledged by Great Britain. The United States by their act of September 6th, 1780, recommended to the several states having claims to waste and unappropriated lands in the western country, "to make a liberal cession of such lands to the United States for the common benefit of the Union."' The State of Virginia in accordance with said recommendation of Congress, did by her act passed on the 2d day of January, 1781, agree to the recommendation of Congress sul)jeet to the following conditions, viz: 1st, that the territory so ceded should be divided into states and admitted into the Union on the same footing as the original states; 2d, that the expenses of Virginia in acquiring said territory should be paid to her l)y the United States : 3d, 'Hhat the French and Canadian inhabitants and other settlers of the Kasl'asUa, St. Vincents and neighboring villages, ivho professed themselves citizens of Virginia, should have their possessions and titles confirmed to them."

It is further known that the United States by the act of September, 1783, acceded to these conditions. It is further known that the State of Virginia subsequently by an act of her legislature in 1783, authorized her delegates in Congress to cede and transfer to tlie United States her landed possessions northwest of the Ohio River, and that by the authority of said act, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee and James Monroe, the delegates in Congress from the State

It is thus apparent by the mere recital of legislative and historical facts that the only obligation resting upon the United States in consideration of said cession, was that ^'tlie French and Canadian inliah Hants and other settlers of the Kasfcashia , St. Vincents and the neighboring villages who had professed themselves citizens of Virginia, should have their possessions and titlis confirmed to them/' There was no condition or obligation whatever that the United States should make such inhabitants any additional grants of land, but simply to confirm to them such lands and titles as they already possessed. In discharge of the obligation thus imposed upon the United States a commission was appointed by the United States to investigate and determine what lands and titles said inhabitants possessed and when ascertained by said commission which sat and held session at Vincennes from 1804 to 1810, the said lands were confirmed to them by Congress. But it is well known the United States did more than the condition and obligation imposed by the act of Virginia required to be done. By resolution of Congress, passed Aug. 29, 1788, and the act of Congress of March 3d, 1791, it was provided that 400 acres of land should be donated to every head of a family at Post Vincennes and Kaskaskia, at and prior to 1783, the date of the acquisition of the territory by the United States from Virginia. And this grant of 400 acres of land applied to every head of a family who had ever been at Post Vincennes or the Kaskaskias at any time prior to 1783, whether they remained such inhabitants or had left the territory. To provide for filling this voluntary grant, a tract of land in Knox County, Indiana, ten miles square, was surveyed and divided into 400 acre lots for this purpose. And such original tract not being sufficient to supply all such inhabitants as was subsequently ascertained, two additional do- nation tracts were surveyed and set apart for such purpose so that all of such inhabitants as aforesaid, should receive a 400 acre tract of land or their heirs or assigns. This grant of 400 acres of land was in addition to an}' obligation resting upon the United States by virtue of the cession froip. Vi^gina, and was a voluntary offering or gift to such inhabitants and was given them as a free will offering to reward them for their promptly espousing the cause of the American colonies and discarding all allegiance to Great Britain, upon the simple request of Col. Clarke, without firing a gun or showing the slightest resistance.

The town of Kaskaskia was the oldest of the settlements of the French in the northwest. It was the most populous settlement containing probably 3,500 population, was well fortified and supplied with cannon, small arms and munitions of war and defended by a strong garrison. But without exception they were all French people. Governor John Reynolds in his pioneer history of Illinois, referring to Kaskaskia at the date of Clarke's arrival there in July, 1778, sa3'S :

"Kaskaskia was to Illnois then what Paris is at this day to France. Both were in their respective days the great emporiums of fashion, gaiety and happiness. Kaskaskia was for many years the largest town west of the Allegheny mountains. It was a tolerable place before Pittsburg or Cincinnati had any existence."

But Kaskaskia since that period has gone back until it is not now a station for a postotfice. For many years afterwards Kaskaskia continued to be the most populous and important town in Illinois. It was the first capital of the territor}' and state and remained such until 1820, when it was removed to Vandalia. But it still maintained its prominence and all the printing of the state, even for years after the removal of the capital to Yandalia in 1820, was done at Kaskaskia. The first tenn of the Supreme Court of Illinois was held at Vandalia

Yet it was such a town and fortress that Col. George Eogers Clarke, with only 150 men, captured in the short space of a few hours, before Kochblave, the British commander, had risen from his bed, without firing a gun or losing a man. When Col. Clarke's force arrived before Kaskaskia they had been since leaving the falls of the Ohio, on the go for eleven days, seven of which had been spent marching through a desert country. They were without cannon, horses or any provisions, except what they carried. They were hungry and footsore. Would it not seem incredible that such a force could capture such a place as Kaskaskia is represented to have been at that time, without some cause, except brute force, operating in their favor, that made it possible. Such a cause did operate in his favor and Col. Clarke knew it would operate. He knew from two men from Kaskaslda, he met on his overland march to that place, that the race prejudice between the French and English, would operate in his favor. He knew the inhabitants of Kaskaskia were all French people and hostile to the British and ready to throw off the yoke at any favorable opportunity.

It is a well known fact from the journal of Major Bowman, an officer in Clarke's command, that the supplies and men authorized to be furnished him by Virginia, were owing to many causes and difficulties never actually furnished. On account of this failure the prospects of a successful issue of the campaign before starting from the falls of the Ohio, were anything but encouraging. It was thought for a time it would be abandoned altogether. But Gen. Clarke was a man of undoubted courage and determination and relying upon the race prejudice that was known to exist he determined to make the attempt with the small force he had gathered.

Kaskaskia on June 28th, 1778. That Kaskaskia was the objective point of his expedition is clear from the commission of Gov. Henry from which we extract as follows :

"You are to proceed with all convenient speed to raise seven companies of soldiers to consist of fifty men each, officered in the usual manner and armed most properly for the enterprise, and with this force attack the British post at Kaskaskia. It is conjectured there are many pieces of cannon and military stores in considerable amount at that place, the taking and preservation of which, would be a valuable acquisition to the state. * * * If the inhabitants at the post will give evidence of their attachment to this state, let them be treated as fellow citizens and their persons and propert}^ duly secured. Assistance and protection against all enemies, whatever shall be afforded them, and the Commonwealth of Virginia is pledged to accomplish it."

This objective point of the expedition is also manifest from the journal of Major Bowman, who does not mention or hint any other ulterior point being in contemplation. The force of Col. Clarke proceeded down the Ohio River in boats to a point a few miles below the mouth of the Tennessee River. There the boats were abandoned and a march overland to Kaskaskia was begun. The route of this march was over a desert country with no road and no convenience to cheer them on the way. They only carried muskets and such provisions as they could carry on their back. After a tedious march of seven days through this wilderness, they arrived weary and worn out before Kaskaskia, on the 3rd of July, 1778. Kaskaskia was situated on the opposite bank of the river and the journal of ^lajor Bowman says their advance was discovered from the town. Gen. Clarke crossed the river the next day, July 4th, 1778, and appeared before the fortified town of Kaskaskia.

niand. it is stated that when his small force appeared before the walls of the town of Kaskaskia, from indications observed, they feared they would meet with resistance, but a Catholic priest opened the gates of the fort and approached Gen. Clarke and had an interview with him. This priest w,^ undoubtedly Pierre Gibault, the patriot priest of the West.

It was quite natural that seeing an armed force of strangers approaching the place that the inhabitants should wish to be c.dvised of the cause and object of their coming. It is also stated that this priest and Gen. Clarke had an interview. It is fair to presume that in this interview Gen. Clarke informed this priest of their object and intentions, and that they would be protected in their persons, property and religion. This priest, if the surmise is correct, was already enlisted against the English cause, returned to the fort Lud advised the admittance of the strangers, and soon after the gates were opened and Gen. Clarke entered the fortified town and the bloodless capture of Kaskaskia was accomplished without firing a gun or loosing a man, even before the British commander wls aware of the fact.

It is fair to conclude that it all happened as stated and that the above is a true account of the case. In after yei.rs it became necessary to magnify the achievement for the purpotje of self aggTandizement and to stimulate rewards and land grants. In reading some accounts of this reniLrkable achievement, the intelligent reader is led to recall the wonderful and Don Quixotic performances of Sir John Falstaff, as related by that master and thorough probe of human nature, and especiall-y of Anglo-Saxon braggadocio, William Shakespeare.

Hon. William H. English in vol. 1 on page 171 of his work, quotes Major Bowman, an officer in Clarke's command, who was writing concerning Kaskaskia at the time of its capture by Clark, as using this strong and forcible langui^ge :

And Governor Reynolds in his history of the capture of Kaskaskia by Gen. Clarlve in 17T8, says: "Clarke had no cannon or means of assaulting the fort and therefore was compelled to use strategem."

This language by learned men concerning the capture of Kaskaskiu sounds strange in the ears of men acquainted with the facts in the case. How could Gen. Clark use strategem w^hen his own account states their advance was detected a day before the surrender. And how could a bloodless issue have been achieved against s^ich a fortified fort? There is no question but that Kaskaskia was well fortified at the time and supplied with cannon and ammunition. One blast from these heavy guns would have scattered the weak and weary forces of Gen. Clarke as autumn winds scatter faded leaves from the forest trees.

After gaining possession of Kaskaskia as above stated, Gen. Clark sent small detachments from his own small force and in succession obtained peacealjle possession of Cahokia, Prairie du Eocher and all the French villages on the Mississippi River in the same bloodless maaner. And it is reasonable to conclude, and we do conclude, that all these l)loodless triumphs were the result of some influence other than military necessity. They all fell into the hands of Gen. Clark as the ripe apple falls to the ground from the parent stem. It is fair and just we think to attribute these bloodless results to the influence of Gibault from the necessary operation of well known causes. He had been laboring at all these French settlements for more than ton years. He was unquestionably tlie ablest man in the entire northwest territory. He labored day and night, teaching the children and adults, not only on Sunday but on week days. He was so successful that in about six months after his arrival there in September, 17G8, he brought them all l)ack within the fold of the church, and almost the entire population received communion on Easter Sunday, 1769. The same thing he accomplished at Cahokia and Prairie du Eocher and all the missions on both sides of the Mississippi Eiver. He built and blessed the first chapel on the site of the present city of St. Louis, when Col. Francis Tigo resided there.

When Gen. Clark had thus obtained possession of Kaskaskia and all the French villages on the Mississippi Eiver, he had fully accomplished the objects embraced in his commission from Gov. Henry. But he was not to receive his discharge. His invaluable services and his undoubted courage, were not to be dispensed with. He was to receive a new commission, not from Gov. Henry, but in all probability from Pierre Gibault. It was then for the first time it was heard mentioned that the capture of the fort on the Wabash Eiver at this place, was to be midertaken. It was represented to Gen. Clark that the fort here was the real key to the posses- :sion of the northwest territory. That the capture of Kaskaskia was not so important, as the capture of the fort on the Wabash would be, which was in the heart of the northwest while Kaskaskia was only an outpost on the frontier and adjoining a foreign, if not a hostile state. He therefore urged upon Gen. Clark to undertake the capture of the fort on the Wabash here. He represented to him how easy it was of accomplishment and how the same conditions on the part of the inhaljitants in the post here would operate in his favor, as they had operated at Kaskaskia. He promised and agreed to furnish him additional men and means to render the expedition successful. Gen. Clark was convinced and agreed to command the expedition and thus was organized at Kaskaskia the expedition to capture the fort at Yincennes. The intelligent reader of the transaction will come to the conclusion that it .all liapj^ened as stated above.

Chapter Xiii

In 1770 there came to Vincennes as the parish priest here the Eev. Pierre Gibault. He came to the Nortliwest from Quebec, as the vicar general of the Archbishop of that place. He remained here as tlie parish priest with the exception of an interregnum in 1778, when he was expelled by Governor Hamilton, until 1789. He was without question the most learned and influential man in the Northwest at that early day. He had almost unbounded influence over the inhabitants here who were all French by birth or descent. In the winter of 1778 he received information of the pending struggle of the American colonies against Great Britain for independence. This information had been studiously concealed from the inhabitants of the Northwest by the British authorities in Canada. The struggle had been actively in progress for upwards of two years before it was known here. There were no roads or means of communication with the Atlantic from this place at that early day. All information came by way of the lake region of the north. When Rev. Pierre Gibault heard of this struggle with the natural instincts animating every cultured Frenchman he at once decided to join the rebellious colonies and cast his lot and influence in their favor. In the latter part of the winter of 1778 he announced at mass to his parishoners that he wished them to meet him at a stated time as he had important information to communicate to them. That meeting so announced was accordingly held. It has been frequently stated this meeting was held in the old church here. But it was not held there. All accounts we have of this remarkable man and his austere church dis- cipline indicate he would have considered it a desecration to hokl such a meeting in the church. Besides the church was not a suitable place for such a meeting. It was a small structure with no windows or openings except a door. It had no pews or any floor except the eath. This meeting was held in the old fort, which was large and a better place, and was then unoccupied. When the meeting so called was assembled the Eev. Father Gibault addressed them in French to this purport :

"I have received authentic and reliable information that the American colonies on the Atlantic Ocean have revolted and are now at war with England in a struggle for independence. This war has now been going on for upwards of two years with varying success. We have just received the first account of its being waged. The English authorities in Canada have studiously kept us in ignorance of the fact, fearing we would follow the example of so many of our French brethren and join the colonists and throw off our allegiance to them. This is a just struggle of the weak against the strong. It is our duty as Frenchmen and lovers of our native land to render aH the assistance we can to the struggling colonies. Everything we do in this way will in reality be done in the interest of our French brethren. Therefore I propose that we throw off all allegiance to the English nation and declare ourselves citizens of the revolted colonies. I propose that you manifest this declaration and intention by taking the oath of allegiance to the American cause, and if you are agreed I will now administer the oath of allegiance to you and will assist in hauling down the English emblem of its sovereignty over this fort."

At the conclusion of this address the entire population of the place with one accord agreed to take the oath of allegiance to the American cause and asknowledo^ed themselves citizens thereof. The oath of allegiance was thereupon administered to them hy Father Gihault, and the English flag was hauled down over the old fort on the ^^Onabasclie."

When the British authorities in Canada became aware cf these proceedings Governor Henry Hamilton was sent here to re-take possession of the old fort. He came a.nd the fort being practically unguarded, only Lieutenant Helm and one other person with him being in the fort, he had no difficulty in gaining possession of it. Father Gibault, in consequence of his connection with this affair, incurred the displeasure of the English. They could not brook the idea of letting the key to the possession of the Xorthwest pass from their grasp. Father Gibault was arrested by Gov. Hamilton and held as a prisoner for some time. Finally it was agreed by Gov. Hamilton to liberate him if he would leave the place.- Father Gil)ault agreed to this and left, and returned to Kaskaskia. This expulsion of Gibault was a year before Gen. Clark came in February, 1779, and was providential and ultimately proved a great advantage to the American cause in the Revolutionary War. It placed this able and influential man where he could assist in wresting the great Xorthwest Territory from the English. It placed him very fortunately at Kaskaskia, when Gen. Clark approached that place in July, 17 T8.

After he had fully accomplished the task outlined by the commission of Governor Henry of Virginia, and secured peaceable possession of all the French villages on the ^lississippi Pliver the project was for the first time broached to organize another expedition to capture the old fort here. This scheme was suggested, it is safe to assert, hx Pierre Gibault. No other character of whom any account has reached us, was to be found in the entire Xorthwest possessed of the necessary knowledge, influence and ability to plan and hope to successfully carry out such an expedition.

was not within the scope of Clark's original program, it is snfficient to remark it was not named in his commission from Governor Henry. It was not named by any one in his command until after the bloodless capture of Kaskaskia. And in addition it may be said that the fort here was not known to Gen. Clark or his command until after his capture of Kaskaskia. There was no road or other communications between this place and even Kentucky at that early date. If it had been within the scope of Gen. Clarke's objective point he could have reached this place by a march of only fifty miles from the Ohio Eiver, and from here he could have proceeded to Kaskaskai by a shorter, better and well known route, than the one he took from the Ohio Eiver.

But upon this point there is no room for doubt or question. The capture of the fort here was not in the original plan of Clark's campaign. It was suggested and originated at Kaskaskia by Father Gibault, the only man at the time having the ability to plan or carry out such a scheme. He represented to Gen. Clark the importance of the fort here, the general feeling of the French inhabitants, and the defenseless condition of the fort at the time. He proposed to furnish him additional troops from Kaskaskai, and means to carry it forward, and also giiides to lead the force to this place. He did all this. He furnished Gen. Clark two companies of troops, all Catholics and all members of his congregation. One of these companies under the command of ^IcKay, and the otlier under the command of Francois Charleville. These two companies from Kaskaskai came with Gen. Clark and assisted in the capture of the fort, and many permanently settled here. He enlisted Francis Vigo, a trader at an Indian village upon the site of the present city of St. Louis in the enterprise, and induced him to furnish means to carry it on. Yigo was at the time a zealous and devoted Catholic and a member of Father Gil3ault"s congregation.

"Without wishing to detract in the least from the deser^-etl honor due to the men that actively took part in the cap lure of the fort here, it is due to truth and justice to give honor to whom honor is due. There was no man in the country, except Pierre Gibault, who could accomplish the above enumerated results. Gen. Clark was an entire stranger in the country, and could not be expected to have sufficient influence over a strange people speaking a different language from his own to induce them to enlist voluntarily in a hazardous enterprise through his exertions alone. Yigo was an illiterate, but ?uccessful trader among the untutored Indians. He could not at that time write his own name, and never could do it, except mechanically as the parrot learns to say 'Tretty Poll." But all these plans, purposes and details were within the range of accomplishment of Pierre Gibault, and to him the merit of success is primarily and principally dtte.

In August, 1TT8, it was determined to send a message to Vincennes to apprise the inhabitants of the intended expedition. Father Gibault selected as this messenger his confidential and trusted friend, John Baptiste Laffont. This messenger was well known to Father Gibault and a member of his congregation. Father Gibault solemnized the marriage of his daughter Marie Laffont to Eobert McKay, one of the captains appointed to command one of the companies raised at Kaskaskia for the St. Vincent's compaign. Mr. Laffont accordingly went to Vincennes on this mission and carried ^^dth him a commission signed by Gen. Clark, dated at Kaskaskia, Augtist 15, 1778, appointing Francois Busseron captain of a company to be raised at Vincennes. This Francois Busseron was a valued friend of Father Gibault and was one of his principal advisers and associates while he was at Vincennes, from 1770 to the date of his expulsion. He was a man of great prominence and influence in the place and was appointed one of the judges of the court by John Todd when he came by authority of Virginia to organize civil government in the Territor}^ in 17? 9, and was also appointed one of the jndges of the court by Winthrop Sargeant, secretary of the Territory, when he came to organize the territory by authority of the United States in 1790. He was a distinguished pioneer citizen who had l)een previously appointed captain of a company raised when Father Gibault administered the oath of allegiance to the French inhabitants in the winter of 1778 and was the man wdio hauled down the British flag over the fort and raised in its stead the red and green serge flag. One of the streets in Yincennes is named in memory of this man. He died in 1791 and was buried in the Catholic cemetery here.

"When the force was organized at Kaskaskia to come and capture the fort here it was Pierre Gibault who insisted it should be undertaken at an inclement season of the year when the whole intervening country between Kaskaskia and Vincennes was covered with ice and water. He did this because he knew of the existing condition of the fort here. It was practically unguarded and in total want of supplies of all kinds. These were expected from Canada in the early springtime. Success, therefore, depended upon speedy action before the expected supplies arrived. These matters w^ere all within the knowledge of Pierre Gibault, who was well acquainted with the French inhabitants here, and communication between "this place and Kaskaskia was frequent. But these important facts were not known to Gen. Clark or any of the command that accompanied him from the falls of the Ohio to Kaskaskin.

And when the force was fully armed and equipped, ready co proceed to come and capture the fort here, it was Pierre Gihault who gave them cheer and encouragement. G-en. Clark in his report of this expedition, says that when the force w^as Teady to depart from Kaskaskai for the Wabash on February 5, 1779, that Father Gibault appeared before the two Illinois ^companies he had been instrumental in raising and addressed them and gave them his blessing. Gen. Clark does not give the substance of the address of Father Gibault to the two Illinois companies on that interesting and momentous occasion. We will supply this omission. The address was delivered in French, bnt we give the substance of it in English for the benefit of the reader :

"You are about to start on a glorious mission, the succe^.> of which will cover you with everlasting glory. And of the entire success of it there can be no doubt. The French peopJe residing in the village on the Wabash are animated by the same feelings and impulses as you are. I am well acquainted with them, having resided among them as their pastor from 1770 until I was driven away l3y the English in the spring of last year. These French people are no friends of the EnglisJ"*, and are ready at any favoral)le opportunity to strike them a deadly blow. They unanimously, at my request, in the wint tr of 1778, manifested this by renouncing allegiance to the English and taking an oath to support the American cause in the revolution now in progress against the English. You are now going forward to furnish them this opportunity, as you represent the same cause that is now at war with the Engliob. Go then with stout hearts and fearless souls knowing in advance that 3'our efforts will be crowned with complete success. And I specially charge that you do not forget that what you do in this glorious cause is really done in the interest of your beloved France, for which you all feel a deep and abiding affection, as it is your fatherland. And that you may be sustained and cheered on your journey during the wintry weather through snow, water and ice and various hardships and pr nations you will have to undergo, I will now give you the blessing of a poor Catholic priest for your safety and protection. I now implore our Common Father, without whose knowledge not a sparrow falls to the ground, and who feeds the you Jig ravens when they cry, that He may sustain you, preserve you and crown your mission with success in the name of the Farther, and of the Son, and the Holv Ghost. Amen.""

A representation of this imposing and dramatic scene can be seen, in W. H. English's history of the conquest of the Northwest^ Vol 1, on page 287.

The expedition started from Kaskaskia on February 5, 1779. How was it that the force made its ^Yay through the intervening overflowed and icy ground on the way to Vincennes? Gen. Clark nor any of the men who came with hnn from the falls of the Ohio Eiver to Kaskaskia had ever l)een in the country before, and knew nothing of the route to be passed over. This was known, however, to many of the men in the two French companies furnished the expedition at Kaskaskia. ]\rany of them, no doubt, had frequently passed over the route and were familiar with it. Without the aid of these men as guides the force of Gen. Clark could never have successfully threaded its way to the fort here. It is stated m the journal of ]Major Bowman that when Clark arrived at the Wabash Eiver on his way, with its banks all overflowed, he gave orders to his men to look out for boats and supplies. He was then nine miles below Yincennes at an inclement season of the year, and surrounded on all sides by a miniature sea of water. Why should such an order have been given if there had not been a pre-arrangement that boats and supplies would be furnished him? Why, under all the circumstances, should any sane man expect boats and supplies at that point? Tlie only reason that can be assigned for Clark's order is that boats and supplies had been promised him, and therefore he expected them. Who was it that had promised the boats and supplies? Who could have given such a promise with any reasonable hope of fulfilment ? It was not Gen. Clark or any of his command that he brought with him from the falls of the Ohio Eiver. They were all entire strangers in the country and wholly unkno^vn to the inhabitants of Yincennes who were expected to furnish the boats and supplies. It was unquestionaljly Father Gibault, the only man at that time pos-

After the force had secured two boats and crossed the Wabash Eiver to the "Mamelle Hill" they were nine miles from Yincennes. Between them and the town were the overflowed waters of the "Wabash Eiver in places fifteen and even twentyfive feet deep. The intervening space was filled with coulees, ravines, marshes, swamps and morasses. Xo man unacquainred with the topography of the country could have attempted to pass safely over that space. He would have been drowned in making the attempt. Yet the French inhabitants acquainted with the country could do it safely by wending their way through the waters on the ridges of high ground and reach Yincennes on their little French ponies without wetting their feet. The journal kept l)y Major Bowman says they met duck hunters who conducted them from the ^'Mamelh. HiU" to the sugar camp, and from thence to ''^Yar^io^s Island/ and theii by a detour to the south to the high grounds on which Yincennes is situated. This was a very tortuous and circuitous route to take to reach Yincennes from the ^'Mamelle Hill." But it was the only one that could be taken with any chance of reaching Yincennes. Who were the duck hunters spoken of by the writer of the journal? It is not reasonable to suppose that they were really duck hunters from Yincennes m mid-winter with the whole country covered with ice and water, when they could capture all the ducks they wanted without leaving the high grounds upon which the village was situated Xo; they were not duck hunters, but they were guides that had been provided through the influence of Father Gibault to conduct Gen. Clark and his force to the village. And when th.-?y finally reached the village half famished, as they had not taken, according to the journal of ]\Iajor Bowman, any food for three days, and were wet and tired and foot-sore, what caused the inhabitants of the villaoe to receive an armed force of strangers with kindness and hospitality and to furnislj them needed refreshments? It was nnqnestionably the infiiience of their old pastor, Pierre G-ibault.

It is well know^n that the inhabitants acquainted Gen. Clar]; with the condition of things at the fort, its want of snppliefv and munitions of war, and that these were daily expected to arrive from Canada. They urged Gen. Clark to commence operations the night of his arrival before the supplies and rj inforcements conld arrive. Three-fourths of the men whotook part in the attack on the old fort were Catholics. It is both reasonable and just to claim that all this was accomplished through the influence of Pierre Gabault. He suggested and planned the expedition, its execution in mid-wintei: before supplies and reinforcements could arrive, and thus crowned it with success.

After the oath of allegiance to the American cause had been administer e,d to the French inhabitants. Father Gibault succeeded in organizing two companies of French men, one under the command of Francois Busseron, and the other under the command of Capt. Nicholas. Capt. Helm was appointed to take possession of the old fort, which the English had named '"'Sackville/'^ Its name, when Clark captured it in February, 1779, was again changed to '"'Fort Patrick Henry.'' Captain Busseron hauled down the English flag and hoisted in ixa stead a two-colored flag made of green and red colored serge. For the expense occasioned by the flag, Capt. Busseron presented an account against Capt. Helm which was paid him, of which the following is a copy: "1778 Paid to St. Marie for 5 ells of red serge for the flag, 45c. Paid to Mr. Defonet for 3 3-4 ells of green serge for flag, 37l^c. Paid to Mrs. Godare for making the flag, 25c.'' The facts connected with the hauling down the British flag and hoisting the two-colored flagare proven by papers connected with the estate of Capt. Busseron, now in possession of Hon. Charles B. Lasselle, of Lo- LofC.

gansport, Indiana. Capt. Busseron died in 1T91, and Antoin Marachall administered on his estate. Upon his death, Hycinthe Lasselle administered on his estate and came into possession of the papers of the estate of Capt. Busseron, and upon his death Charles B. Lasselle came in possession of his father's papers and has them now. After the capture of the Fort in 1779 hy George Rogers Clark, he changed the name of the fort to Fort Patrick Henry, and many accounts and documents concerning the fort after Clark got possession are all dated at "Fort Patrick Henry.'^

For the part taken by Father Giljault in this transaction, when Hamilton afterwards came with his eighty soldiers and 400 Indian allies and retook the fort he arrested Father Glbault and held him a prisoner for some time, but finally released him on promise that he would leave the place. For th-s release Gov. Hamilton was censured by the British authorities in Canada on the ground that as Father Gibault was a British subject at the time, living in the territory of thai country, he should have been held and tried for treason.

Col. Clark, in a commission dated by him at "Fort Clark," Kaskaskia, August 15, 1778, appointed Francois Busseron captain of a militia company at Post Vincenne, which con - mission is also in possession of Hon. Charles B. Lasselle, of Logansport, Indiana.

Why was the fort actually captured by Gen. Clark on the 25th of February, 1779 ? It was not on account of the violence of the attack or any deadly effect produced by it. The hriiig on the fort began at 5 o'clock, February 21, 1779, and was kept up without intermission until 10 o'clock the next day, and not the least impression had been made on the walls of the fortress, and not a man within its protecting walls had been either killed or wounded. They might have kept up the fusilade with their flint-lock muskets until all their ammunition was exhausted with the same fruitless result. If the fort had been supplied with ammunition one bhist from one of tl^e large cannon within the fortress would have scattered the assaulting force like the early spring flowers are scattered and perish before sheets of desolating wintry storm. It cannot le denied that if Governor Hamilton had possessed ammunition he could have driven off the assailants as easy as the tempest shakes the rain drops from the bending forest. This attack on the old fort with flint-lock muskets without producing any damaging result has always reminded the intelligent reader of the silly attempt of the Chinese to scare off the allied forces under the command of Lord Elgin when they approached Pekin in 1860. They assembled innumerable hordes of Chinese armed with gongs,^ and by the noise they could make were expected to scare off the allied forces. But the allies were not frightened away. To use the language of Lord Elgin, in his report, '^1 gave the order to sack and destroy the favorite residence of the emperor, and it would then become a solemn act of retribution. The palaces were cleared of every valuable and their walls destroyed by fire and sword.''

How, then, w^as the capture of the old fort actually accomplished by Gen. Clark on February 25, 1779 ? It was the want of provisions and ammunition, and the fact that starvaticn confronted its inmates. It is well known that Gov. Hamilton tried to temporize and seek delay in the hope in the meantime his expected supplies and re-inforcements would arrive. But Gen. Clark prudently refused to give any time. Gov. Hamilton knew he could get no supplies or provisions from the French inhabitants of the village, who were all hostile to his cause. This entire want of provisions and ammunition induced him to hold the conference with Gen. Clark in the old church near the fort, Avhen he signed the following articles of capitulation, February 25, ITT 9:

And in consequence of this surrender the flag of Great Britain was lowered and possession of the fort surrendered to Virginia. In this connection the truth of history requires a fanciful incident to be spoiled which has been circulated in this place for many 5^ears. It has been said that the American flag was hoisted over the fort after the surrender. If any flag was hoisted it was the flag of Virginia, as Col. Clark was in command of Virginia troops, acting under a commission of the governor of that State. Various French women have been named as having made the Star Spangled Banner that was hoisted. But the Star Spangled Banner had no existence at that date, which was February, 1779. The Star Spangled Banner is a growth rather than a creation. The flags used during the Eevolutionary War were the various flags of the several revolted colonies before and after the Declaration of Independence. The Stars and Stripes then had no existence, and after it was adopted underwent many changes before taking the shape at present established. During the revolution each of the colonies had its own flag. That of Virginia was of silk with a heroic figure standing erect and armed, with or.e foot upon the neck of a i^rostrate form with the motto, ''Sin Semper Tyrannisf' If any flag was hoisted at the time over the old fort when it was surrendered to Col. Clark in February, 1779, it was the flag of Virginia. Xo person in Vincennes, male or female, at that early period, could have made a flag of Virginia. It is probable no flag was raised unless one that Col. Clark brought with him. But it is more reasonable to conclude no flag was raised, the victors being content to haul down the British flag, the emblem of its sovereignty. The date of surrender was before the flag raising craze had arrived. And why has not the important share borne by Father Gibanlt in this important affair been properly acknowledged and compensated? This neglect and want of recognition of valuable services rendered by the missionary fathers in the Xorthwest is in the main due to their own want of desiring any such recognition. A celebrated historian in alluding to this, says :

Eev. Pierre Gibault was one of these missionaries and acted upon the principle laid down in the parable as recorded m Luke, chapter 18, verse 14 : "I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one thai: exalteth himself shall be abased : and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.^^

He did make a modest request that a small lot in the village of Cahokia should be given him. In reference to this request. Governor St. Clair in his report, dated in 1791, to Mr. Jeffeison, secretary of state, says :

"Xo. 24 is the request of Mr. Gibault for a small lot that has long been in the occupation of the priests at Cahokia, having been assigned them by the French. It is true he w^as veiy useful to Gen. Clark upon many occasions, and has suffered very heavy losses. I believe no injury would be done to any one by his request being granted."

This French grant was within the stipulations that all the grants of the French should be respected and confirmed. But this modest and just request of Father Gibault was never granted, and the last years of this disting-uished and able man were passed in suffering and poverty. After an active iile spent by him for the benefit of his fellow men and his country he had nothing to show for it, not even a house he could call ' (8)

"Xext to Clark and Vigo, the United States are indebted to Father Gibault for the accession of the States comprised within what was the original Northwest Territory more than to any other man.*'

This address we note was delivered three years, lacking a month, after the death of Col. Vigo, and after he had made a remarkable will and in it confirmed the contract and employment of the judge to prosecute his claim for the supplies he had furnished Gen. Clark against the government, and to take his compensation for his services from the amount allowed oy Congress. Wh}-, it may be reasonably asked, did Judge Law thus prefer the sympathetic, sociable but unlettered Sardinian to the magnetic, eloquent and learned Arcadian ? Was it tht hope that it would hasten and stimulate the passage of the claim before Congress, and thus enable him to get his fee.-; that he felt called upon to magnify the services and claims of Viofo above those of Gi1)ault ?

"Truth crushed to earth shall rise again, The eternal years of God are hers; But error wounded, writhes with pain, And dies among her worshi2:)pers."

These missionary priests who labored on the missions in the Northwest were in the world but not of the world. Thc) labored not for the transitory things of earth, but for the nobler and better things pertaining to eternity. They passed quietly through the turbulent scenes of this unfriendly world and found a final resting place in unknown and unmarked graves. But in the final dav the great "I am" will call Ihem

^'Softly and noiselessly some feet tread, Lone ways on earth without leaving a mark ; They move 'mid the living, they i^ass to the dead As still as the gleam of a star thro the dark. Lonely and hiddenly in the world Tho in the world 'tis their lot to stay The tremulous wings of their hearts are furled Until they fly from the world away And find their rest On our Father's breast Where earths unknown shall be known the best, And the hidden heart shall be brightest, best."

It has been frequently said that Eepublics are ungrateful. The truth of this trite saying is forcibly illustrated by the treatment of the Federal Government towards three men, who, above all others, were the main instruments in wresting from England the territory northwest of the Eiver Ohio, and thereby paving the wa}^ for its ultimate acquisition through Virginia of that vast and fertile country out of which the live rich and populous States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin have been carved and added to the sisterhood of States. The three men alluded to are Pierre Gibault, George Eogers Clark and Francis Vigo. They all went to their grav-L;s in a very similar condition, and all present a parallel of government neglect in consideration of patriotic and valual)le services rendered the government without a counterpart in the annals of history.

Rev. Pierre Gibault was a French missionary Catholic l^riest that spent his entire life after completing his education in laboring incessantly for the good of his fellow men in the wilderness of the northwest. He was finely educated, of commanding presence, superior oratorical powers and possessed magnetic qualities. He exercised unbounded influence over the inhabitants of the entire conntry, as he had visited and ministered at all the mission stations in the counir\^ The inhabitants were almost exclusively French or of French descent, and Catholics. From 1770 to 1790 his influence over the inliabitants was unlimited. He was the ablest man in ihe country at that time. He did more to have the North wet- 1 Territory severed from England than any other man. It may be claimed with much reason that the expeditions that culminated in the conquest of the northwest was inspired by him in consequence of information furnished by him to some of the many distinguished French officers who came over and assisted the colonies in the war for independence. The Britibh authorities in Canada in an official report made in 1778, make S}5ecial reference to him as being the most learned, influential and dangerous enemy of British interests of any man that had appeared in the northwest. And all he did was done at great personal risk, as he was claimed by the English to be a British subject, and also at heavy pecuniary loss. His great servicot were often acknowledged in official reports of various kinds and never questioned. Compensations for his loss and valuable services were promised, but the promises were never f alfilled. After a life of toil and privation in the wilderness iie contracted bodily infirmities incident to his arduous labors. But he was permitted by the Government to spend the las: days of his life in sufl'ering and want without even a hou^-e he could call his own, and his remains, after death, were buried in a country grave-yard and his grave remains to this day unmarked and he sleeps his last through whose courage, indomitable will and stuljborn deter - mination to accomplish his purpose regardless of opposition or danger survived his l)rilliant achievements in the northwest thirt3-nine years. He died at Locust Grove, near Louis* ville, Kentucky, February 13, 1818. He was buried in a country grave-yard February 18, 1818. The last years of the life of this hero and patroit were also spent in penury and pain. He depended upon the charity of friends for even tb? necessaries of life. He suffered before his death a paralytic stroke, and to save his life his left leg was amputated above the knee. In this distressed and disabled physical condition he lingered many years before his death. He petitioned Con - gress for a small appropriation of money to sustain him i;a his declining years. The appropriation was never made in his lifetime, and never, so far as I know, but which if ever granted did him no benefit, and went to collateral relatives who had not come to his relief in his hour of distress. He was never married and left no issue. His remains, after his death, remained neglected for over fifty years in the country grave-yard where he was buried among many others. No mark was placed over his grave to indicate the place of iniernient. Here they remained until private persons, in 1869, determined to disinter them and give them proper sepulture, in Cave Hill cemetery, adjoining Louisville, Ky. Great diiticulty was experienced in finding his remains. Seven or eight bodies were dug up in the quest, and finally they were found and identified, by the want of his left leg, which had been amputated above the knee. And thus over fifty years after the death of this hero and patroit his remains were transferred from the lonely country grave-yard and buried on October 2'.), 1869, in Cave Hill cemetery, that beautiful city of the dead, and a suitable monument erected over his grave. T will conclude this brief review of the last davs and burial

0. my country I my country I Had I served my God with half the zeal I have served thee, he would not in mine age Have left me naked, like a shattered Bark on the stream of time.

Francis Vigo, a Sardinian by birth and a successful Indian trader, was located in 1T78 at the site on the Mississippi River Avhere the present city of St. Louis now stands. He was a zealous Catholic at the time and was a member of the congregation of .Father Gibault. He was induced by the request and influence of his pastor to furnish the necessary means to ao complish the conquest of the fort at St. Vincent, where the present city of A'incennes now stands. He survived the successful capture of the fort, for the accomplishment of which he had contributed so much, for over sixty years. The ia:t years of his life were spent in Vincennes. He died March 22, ]836, after a long and lingering illness, and for many A'aars before his death was in actual want of even the necessaries of life and was in reality a pensioner on the charity of the public. He petitioned Congress to allow him in his destitute condition the money adyanced by him to aid the expedition to capture the fort at this place. But this just claim, although its payment was made a part of the consideration to be paid by Congress for the cession ]jy Virginia to the Federal Government,, was never paid by the Government during the life of Col. Vigo. He died without issue or any known relatives by blood, and the amount allowed by the Government forty years afler his death went to relatives of his childless wife who did not come to his relief during his life and in the hour of his (iljtress. He was buried in the public cemetery of Vincennes l)y charity at public expense, so far as any expense attending his funeral was concerned. The only expense of his funeral eve: paid was twenty dollars for liis plain coffin, which was noi paid until forty years after his death. He was awarded a military funeral with the honors of war, and the evening of his funeral, which the author attended, was spent in firing cannon over his grave. But this military display did no good for tbe hero and patroit, as his spirit had taken its flight and his body had been buried to return to dust from whence it came. He was buried in the public cemeter}^, as already stated, and no mark or monument was erected over his grave to mark his last resting place for many years after his death. After the lapse of many years some unknown person caused a plain, small slab of stone to be laid on the top of his grave, but so long after his death that the date thereof had been forgottsn and an erroneous date of his death carved on the small stone lying flat on the grave. And there he yet lies in a neglected grave except when the Grand Army of the Eepublic on Memorial day scatters flowers over the graves of the heroic dead. ''Sic transit gloria mundi/'

Chaptee Xiv Fire Protectiox

For many years after Yincennes was settled there was no provision made of any kind for the extinguishment of fires. If a fire broke out in any part of the town it was left to be fought by its inmates and their neighbors, with such appliances as could be readily procured for use. This condition of affairs and want of preparation in case of emergency, continued to exist long after municipal organization had taken place in 1807. The old Borough of Yincennes took no immediate step in the direction of aiding in the extingaiishment of fires or providing any appliances for that purpose. This total neglect of fire protection on the part of the borough authorities, was in part due to the fact, that no necessity was felt, as the place had never been visited by any destructive fire. But with the increase of population this could not long continue. In 1819, the borough trustees passed an ordinance to provide six fire hooks and six ladders thirty feet long, and required every family to provide itself with two two gallon leather buckets. These buckets were to be kept by the inhabitants at their homes and brought by them to any fire that might occur. But many families failed to provide the buckets, many were lost or destroyed and many failed to bring their buckets to a fire. In case of a fire where these buckets were to be used, two lines were formed reaching to some water supply. Along one the empty buckets were passed to be filled with water and along the other the buckets when filled were passed to be used at the fire. This arrangement was very imperfect. If the fire was not near a water supply, it was practically useless. In consequence of a destructive fire which broke out in the store of George Cruikshank & Co., situated midway on the northeast side of :\Iain street between

First and Second streets, which entirely consumed all the building-s on the square except the storeroom of William Burtch on the corner of First street and the storeroom of Thomas Bishop on the corner of Second street, the borough authorities were aroused to the necessity of proyiding l)etter protection for the town. A hand fire engine was purchased from Philadelphia and a yolunteer fire company was organized to use it. A building was erected on the alley adjoining the City Hall fronting on Main street. This company existed for many years and was the only fire company organized for the extinguishment of fires. Frederick A. Eeiley was employed to take care of this engine, and keep it in order. As this company could not afford satisfactory fire protection, another hand engine was purchased, and a house erected for it about midway on the southwest side of Broadway between Third and Fourth streets, and another volunteer fire company was organized for its use. James A. Plummer was employed to take charge of this engine and keep it in order. There existed between these two yolunteer companies great rivalry as they each wished to l)e useful and to l)e the first at a fire and throw the first water on any fire. On this account many skirmishes took place ])etween the members of the two yolunteer companies as to which one should have possession of the cistern or other water supply and during the struggle between them, the burning building was entirely lost sight of. But these two volunteer fire companies, although the members used their utmost exertions to extinguish all fires that occurred, did but very little good. The members being scattered at their homes or places of business in case of a fire ^larm, took some time for a sufficient number to arrive at the engine house, locate the place of the fire and to be in sufficient force to enable them to move the engine and other apparatus to the fire. The result was that when they arrived at the fire, it had progressed so far as to be beyond relief and all the fire companie:^ could do was to endeavor to save adjoining property. And although as stated, the two fire companies used their best endeavors to extinguish a fire, it is not recorded that they ever succeeded in saving any building that took fire, but it must be said to their credit they always succeeded in saving the lot upon which the house stood.

In view of the hnperfect protection in case of fires provided by the hand engines and the volunteer fire companies, the city council on the ITth January, 1810, passed an ordinance for the employment of a paid fire department. A steam fire engine was purchased and it was thought that there was nothing in the way of fire protection that was not then provided. It was in fact claimed that 'ne plus ultra" could be devised. This steam fire engine was certainly a great advance over all previous attempts to provide means for the extinguishment of fires. But in view of the admirable system that has since been provided and now in existence, this steam engine was as much behind the times in comparison Avith the present system as the difl;erent systems that had preceded it.

In 1886 the city council authorized the construction of water works for the city. Under this ordinance a complete water supply has been obtained for the use of the citizens and of the fire department. Tbe water works plant erected has no superior in any city in the state. The water tower is over two hundred feet high and affords ample pressure to enable the fire companies to throw several streams of water at the same time over the highest buildings in the city, no matter where they may be located. And in connection with a perfect system of electric fire alarms, that has been also provided, the city is as adequately and perfectly provided with fire protection as possible. Under the present fire system three companies have been formed and houses erected for the reception of the apparatus. These houses are situated in different quarters of the city so that one company will be near the location of any fire that may take place in any part of the city. Fire

Company Xo. 1 is located in a brick building on Fourth street, midway between Main and Vigo streets^ of which company J. J. Anderson is captain. This company is also provided with a Babcock fire extinguisher and the most improved and perfect hook and ladder appliances manufactured. Company No. 2 is located in a brick building on the corner of Sixth and Harrison streets and James J. Hedclen is the captain. Company No. 3 is located in a brick building on the corner of Second street and Eailroad avenue and Henry H. Miller is captain. The chief engineer of the entire fire department of the city is George Fendrich, who has been retained in that position for many years, until he has become perfectly familiar with all the details of his position. And the fire department as now organized is ready at a moment's warning to commence operations on any fire that may break out in any quarter of the city and as often happens, the fire department will be on hand to fight the fire before the immediate neighbors are aware of its existence and in some cases before the inmates of the house know it is on fire.

It is not proliable that any fire that may occur in any part of the city will have any show or chance of success when confronted by our efficient and faithful firemen. The alarm of fire now occasions no confusion or misgiving in the minds of our citizens, and very few go to it, only asking where it is located. They all feel that the fire department will pay its respects to the destroying element and prevent any serious result.

In view of this the citizens of Vincennes now feel perfectly secure and think their residences and business houses are perfectly secure from destruction by fire so far as it is possible for human agencies to secure them. This security acts as a stiaiulant to encourage and promote the building up of the city in full confidence that what they build will sustain no loss by fire.

The first mention must be made to St. Francis Xavier church l^ecause it was first in point of time. It was founded in 1T02. It is stated in the Quebec annals that many Indian converts assisted in its erection. It was built of timbers set on end and the interstices filled with adobe. It had a dirt floor^ benches and a rude altar. It had no windows or openino^ except the door in the northwest end facing the fort. The second log church was built at the request of Father Gi])ault. In a letter to the Bishop of Que])ec, dated Ma}' 1785, he writes : "A new log church 90 l}y 42 feet has been built and the old church has ])een fitted up for my use as a pastoral residence." This second church remained standing until the present brick church was roofed over. It was then torn down about 1830. The present l)rick church was projected bv Eev. J. B. Champomier in 1825. He succeeded in raising funds for its erection and on ]\Iarch 4th. 1820, pul)lished notice in the Western Sun that the corner stone would be laid on ^larch 30. 1826. The walls of the church and the roof were completed by the time Bishop Brute came in 1831:. The church has been finished l)y different bishops, but was not fully completed until 1850. There have l^een five bishops connected with this church. Bishops Brute, Hailandiere, Bazin, St. Palais and Chatard. The four first are dead and their remains are deposited in the l)asement chapel of the cathedral. Bisliop Chatard is the present bishop. His residence and the name of the diocese has ])een changed to that of ^Tndianapolis."

Cathedral Church Methodist Church

Of the above pastors seven have reached high positions in the church. Benedict J. Flaget, Bishop of Bardstown; Anthony Blanc, Archbishop of Xew Orleans; G. J. Chabrat, Bisliop of Louisville; August Martin, Bishop of Xachitoches; Joseph Eosati, Bishop of St. Louis; Celestine Hailandiere Bishop of Vincennes.

The Methodist church was founded here April IS, 1S2S. Before that time itinerant ministers of that denomination, occasionally visited the place and held services. The first of these was Eev. Mr. Winans, who was here in 1808. The next was John M. Baker in 1810, then Thomas Stillwell in 1811, James Turner in 1812. Eichard Eichardson in 1813, Zachariah Chilton in 181L John Shrader in 1815, Thomas Davis in 1816. James McCord in 1817, Charles Slocum in 1817, John McCord in 1818. But all the above came of their own volition without the appointment of any authority of the church and made only passing visits of short duration. During the time of the visits of the al)ove ministers there was no congregation here and no church building. On April 18. 1828, steps Avere taken to form a congregation and a lot on the corner of Third and Buntin streets was purchased and a brick church erected on the lot. This church -\vas enlarged and improved from time to time and was used by the congregation until the present new stone church was read}' for use in 1900. Several years previous to this a fine lot in one of the choicest locations in the city on the corner of Fourth and Perry streets^ was purchased. Upon this lot the congregation erected a fine durable stone church which will last for centuries, and it is now used by the congregation. The corner stone of this stone church was laid by Bishop Fowler, April 17, 1899, and it was dedicated by Bishop ]\IcCabe, April 1, 1900. I give from recollection the name's of the following pastors of the church : Elijah AYhitten, Aaron Wood, John W. Jackson, William McK. Hester, W. H. Grim, Mr. Walker, Mr. Clippinger and Mr. Willis, the present incumbent.

The Presbyterian church was founded here in 1833. Before that date the Presbyterians had services at the two Indiana churches in the country about four miles east of the to\vji. In 1806 Samuel B. Eobertson of Kentucky, came here and organized the church in the country. He was succeeded by Samuel T. Scott in 180T. He was succeeded by Samuel E. Alexander, who continued to preach for many years. Before 1833 the Presbyterians of Yincennes held religious services either in private houses or the Court Hous.e and occasionally attended the upper or lower Indiana churches in the country. But on January o, 1833, which date is the real founding of the church, the following persons organized a church in town. John Bruner, Samuel Harris, Lidia Harris, Samuel Smith, James Kuykendall, Sarah Hay, Patsy Hill, Elizabeth Decker, Mrs. Shadduck, John McGifiin, Elizabeth Wyant, Minerva Roseman, Andrew Graham, Mrs. Graham, Elizabeth Graham. Jane Shuler, Mr. Driatt, Francis Bruner, Joseph Maddox, ^lary Small, Elizabeth Smith, Catharine Kuykendall, J. D. Hay, E. Dooley, Elizabeth MdCall. William E. McCall, John C. Holland, Elias Beedle, Hannah Wise, [Mrs. Lucree and Mrs.

Presbyterian Church Christian Church

XvcewaBger. A lot on ihe corner of Fifth and Busseron streets was donated Ijy ^h\ Bnmer and a l^rick church was erected on it. This church was remodelled from time to time and continued to be used by the congregation until 1862, when a division took place and a portion ceceded and built a brick church on the corner of ]\Iain and Sixth streets. This division was subsequently harmonized and the two congregations united. A fine new church was erected on the old location in 1884, but was not completed according to plans until 1898. The. church as it stands today is in appearance the finest church building in Vincennes. The pastors of the Presbyterian church have been: W. W. Martin, John McXair, Thomas Alexander, Samuel E. Alexander, John F. Smith, John W. Blythe, J. F. Jennison, Eli B. Smith, John F. Hendy, Joseph Vance, E. P. Whallen, George Knox and Dr. Hunter, the present pastor.