So soon as the news of the surrender of the Illinois' settlements reached Detroit, the governor made immediate preparations to march with a force to expel the victors. An army of six hundred, principally Indians, was soon raised, and the governor at their head set out against Clark. Proceeding by way of the Wabash, and arriving at Fort Vincent, on that stream, about the middle of December, it was deemed advisable, as the winter season had arrived, to remain here till the opening of spring, before marching against Kaskaskia. The fort, which was rather in a dilapidated condition, was repaired; and most of the Indian forces sent out on predatory excursions against the frontiers. Colonel Clark still remaining with his little army on the Mississippi, retaining possession of the towns he had captured, waited in the meanwhile with impatience for a reinforcement to be sent from the settlements which had been promised. An attempt at his expulsion was known as already projected, and it was deemed important to be prepared for the event. While thus waiting with extreme solicitude, a Spanish trader arrived from Fort Vincent, from whom he learned the weakened condition of the army there. In the midst of the enemy's country, and uncertain of succor, he felt the only probable surety was perhaps in continuing his attacks upon the enemy now in an unguarded and unprepared hour. He therefore at once resolved on a bold attempt at the reduction of Fort Vincent. A galley mounting two four-pounders and four swivels, manned by one company, was ordered round to ascend the Wabash. While Colonel Clark, taking with him as many of the troops as could be spared, proceeded by land across towards Fort Vincent. This was in the month of February, and on account of the many im SURRENDER OF FORT VINCENT. 241 pediments occasioned by inclemency of the weather, and crossing extensive swamps partially covered with ice, sixteen days had elapsed before they reached the Wabash. On their arrival, the galley was found in await for them, a short distance below the town, undiscovered by the enemy. The troops having crossed, were marched early the next morning directly into the town, which was the first notice the inhabitants had of their approach; and awed by their unexpected presence, as it were, received them with cheerfulness, affording them hospitality and even aid in the attack on the fort. The assault was immediately commenced and kept up vigorously during the whole day with but little being effected. During the night Colonel Clark threw up an entrenchment within rifle shot of the strongest battery of the fort, and in the morning poured with unerring aim such an incessant fire into the enemy's quarters, that in a few minutes a parley was called for; and a surrender followed. The governor with the whole garrison became prisoners of war, and a considerable quantity of military stores were the booty. "History," says the author of Border Warfare, “ records but few enterprises which displays as strikingly the prominent features of military greatness, and evinces so much of the genius and daring which are necessary to their successful termination as this; while the motives which led to its delineation were such as must excite universal admiration. Bold and daring, yet generous and disinterested, Colonel Clark sought not his individual advancement in the prejection or execution of this campaign. It was not to gratify the longings of ambition, or an inordinate love of fame, that prompted him to penetrate the Indian country to the Kaskaskia, nor that tempted him forth from thence, to war with the garrison of St. Vincent. He was not one of "Those worshippers of glory, Who bathe the earth in blood, And launch proud names for an after age, "The distress and sufferings of the frontier of Virginia required that a period should be speedily put to them, to preserve the country from ravage and its inhabitants from butchery. Clark had seen and participated in that distress and those sufferings, and put in requisition every faculty of his mind and all the energies of his body, to alleviate and prevent them. Providence smiled on his undertaking, and his exertions were crowned with complete success. The plan which had been concerted for the ensuing campaign against the frontier of Virginia, threatening to involve the whole country west of the Allegheny mountains in destruction and death, was thus happily frustrated; and he who had been mainly instrumental in impelling the savages to war, and in permitting if not instigating them to the commission of the most atrocious barbarities, was a prisoner in the hands of the enemy. So justly obnoxious had he rendered himself by his conduct, that a more than ordinary rigor was practised upon him; and by the orders of the governor of Virginia, the governor of Detroit was manacled with irons and confined in jail. COLONEL BRODHEAD. 243 CHAPTER XXI. Military men in the west-Colonel Brodhead-Samuel Brady-Washington's letter-Brodhead's popularity with the Indians-Indian name conferred upon him—March of Canadian forces against the settlements of Kentucky-Colonel Brodhead's march against the Munsey towns on the Allegheny-His campaign against the Ohio Indians. The present period was seemingly an era of military greatness in the western country. The daring exploits of Colonel Clark were doubtless as unprecedented by any prior to that time, as they have been since. The warmly contested battle of Point Pleasant had likewise been an exhibition of daring military spirit, which justly won for the commander a reputation, of which his talents were not unworthy. Yet, with all the commendation meted out to these valiant officers, it doubtless fell far short of what they were properly entitled to; as was the case with others about the same time. This fact seems to have been instanced in Col. Brodhead, whom we have next to mention as occupying the military field in the west; who, though being presented no very favorable opportunities for the display of his abilities as an officer, nevertheless gave ample testimony of superior skill in contending with the enemy, and for the short time he remained in command of the Western Department, very correctly merited the gratitude of his countrymen. It was while under his command that the notable Samuel Brady rose to distinction, and to him alone that the adventurous "Captain of the spies" owed the secret of his success, on account of the characteristic shrewdness of the commander in pre-judging the movements of the Indians, and despatching the formidable avenger in a direction that failed not to secure a successful issue in case of an attack. Brodhead, we are informed by a correspondent, was an officer in the British army before the Revolution, but on the occurrence of that event, warmly espoused the cause of liberty. He at first served under Washington with whom he became personally acquainted; and a warm friendship afterwards subsisted between them. In 1778 he held a Colonel's commission in the 8th Pennsylvania regiment; and in 1779, on General M'Intosh retiring from the command in the west, he received an appointment to fill his place. Washington, in a letter to him at the time, says: "Congress, by a resolve of the 20th February, granted leave to General M'Intosh to retire from the command to the westward, and directed me to appoint an officer to succeed him. From my opinion of your abilities, your former acquaintance with the back country, and the knowledge you must have acquired upon this last tour of duty, I have appointed you to the command; but if you quit the post, I apprehend there will be no officer left of sufficient weight and ability. This is an opinion which I would wish you to keep to yourself, because it might give offence to officers in all other respects worthy of the stations they fill. I must, therefore, desire you to remain at Fort Pitt, and you shall from time to time be informed of every thing necessary for your government." He was at this time and until April, at Fort M'Intosh. He must previously have acquired a reputation among |