On the Kentucky Frontier: A Story of the Fighting Pioneers of the West

by James Otis

  CHAPTER X.

  CAHOKIA.

  While we could not rightfully take much praise to ourselves for havingcaptured a post where no resistance was made, the members of MajorClarke's force, including even Paul and myself, looked with triumph uponthe exploit, bloodless though it had proven to be.

  Surely the king would not have thus lost possession of his outpost hadwe, meaning the entire company, remained at home, and, therefore, mightwe claim that the garrison was now held in the name of the province ofVirginia solely through our efforts.

  As we learned next day from those to whom Major Clarke had confided thefacts, many of Monsieur Rocheblave's papers had been destroyed by hiswife after he was made prisoner, for our people did not consider itnecessary to make a woman captive. She was allowed to retain possessionof the house until morning, and during that time burned many paperswhich should have come into our keeping.

  There was not time, however, for her to destroy all Monsieur'scorrespondence, and enough was found to prove beyond a doubt that he,acting under instructions from England, had been inciting the Indians tohostilities against such of the settlers as dared believe the rebelliouscolonists were in the right.

  I believe of a verity our men would have wreaked speedy vengeance uponthis Frenchman who had caused the death and torture of so many of ourcountrymen, but for Major Clarke's presence of mind.

  Immediately after learning that the members of the force were aware ofthe Frenchman's guilt, he detailed twenty of the most reliablemen--those whom he could trust to carry out his orders to the letter,and sent them in charge of Monsieur Rocheblave and his wife toWilliamsburg in Virginia, that the wicked man might be tried for thecrimes he had committed against defenseless women and children.

  The party set off before noon of the day following our capture of thegarrison, at a time when our people were occupied in other directions,and thus no act was committed which might have brought shame upon us,although I hold even now that it would not have been wrong had we wipedout Monsieur Rocheblave's crime with his own life, regardless of thefact that he, being a prisoner, was entitled to our protection.

  He had entertained no such notions of honor when he set the savages uponthe defenseless settlers, knowing full well how much of horriblesuffering would be caused.

  He left with a whole skin, however, as I know full well, since Paul andI aided in making ready the boat which was to carry the party to themouth of the Ohio River, from which point they would strike across thecountry to Williamsburg.

  The Frenchman's wife went with him, as a matter of course, and I havesince tried to learn what became of the scoundrel, but without success.He deserved hanging, if ever any man did, although many people claimedthat he was not really guilty, since he had but carried out the ordersgiven by his superiors.

  Had any of those who pleaded so eloquently for his release known what itwas to have a father tortured to death, as I knew, there would have beenleas said in favor of such a wretch.

  However, that has nothing to do with the story of what Paul Sampson andI did and saw while we scouted in company with Simon Kenton.

  When our people learned that Monsieur Rocheblave had been sent away witha whole skin, for, as I have said, all the preparations for hisdeparture were made with the utmost secrecy and he and his wifesmuggled on board the boat, there was something very like mutiny in thecamp, and Major Clarke had quite as big a job to quiet the men as hecould well handle; but the volunteers soon settled down quietly,promising themselves that the time would come when they might have morevoice in deciding the fate of the Frenchman.

  Having seized the outpost, it was as if Major Clarke counted onloitering in Kaskaskia without making any further effort towardcapturing the other possessions of the king's on the Mississippi River.

  During three days we remained quietly in the settlement, amusingourselves as best we might, and many of the company indulged in muchgrumbling because of the inactivity.

  We had come to open the river for our own people, they said, and it waslittle short of a crime to loiter when there were so many garrisons nearat hand which should come into our possession.

  Before the three days were passed, however, we came to understand ourcommander's purpose. He had not disturbed the French settlers whom wefound in Kaskaskia; but, on the contrary, showed his intention ofprotecting them as he would those who were bound to us by ties of blood,and the result was that the people began to realize how much had beengained by this change of governors.

  The savages were no longer welcome to hold their hideous pow-wows there,and the soldiers could not rob the settlers as had been done whenMonsieur Rocheblave was in command. In every respect the people were thegainers by our coming, and fully appreciated the fact.

  The next British outpost up the river above Kaskaskia, was Cahokia, asettlement where considerable trade was carried on, and a depository ofBritish arms for distribution among the savages.

  It had been occupied by the Caoquias, a tribe of Illinois Indians, longbefore the discovery of the Mississippi. The French settled thereshortly after La Salle descended the river, and it was said to containnot less than forty families in addition to the garrison of about sixtysoldiers.

  This was the post Major Clarke had counted on capturing when he leftCorn Island, and we soon came to know that he had not changed hisintentions, but was busily engaged perfecting his plans at the very timewhen some of us accused him of spending the days in idleness.

  Between these two outposts were three small villages which the kingclaimed as his own, and these it would be necessary to capture beforearriving at the larger settlements.

  When all his arrangements were completed, Major Clarke announced thatCaptain Joseph Bowman, the commander of one of the companies, was tolead the expedition to Cahokia, which would consist of about two hundredmen, while he, Major Clarke, with the remainder of the force, was toremain at Kaskaskia, and at the same time be prepared to keep in checksuch of the Indians nearabout as might take into their ugly heads tomake trouble for us.

  Now was seen the wisdom of the major's proceedings during such time aswe had remained in the captured garrison.

  The inhabitants of Kaskaskia had had time to realize that they were muchbetter off under the rule of the colonists than that of the king, andonce this was brought fully home to them, they became eager that theother outposts on the river should experience the same change ofgovernment.

  Therefore, instead of secretly sending scouts ahead to warn thesevillages through which we must pass, the people of the post beggedpermission to accompany the volunteers, claiming that by relating whathad occurred in their own settlement they could quickly bring the othersto terms, thereby preventing bloodshed, and doing a favor to theirneighbors at the same time they benefited themselves.

  As Simon Kenton put it: "Once they knew that the Americans were preparedto take possession of America--or such portion of it as came in theirway--the one desire was that the rule of the king might be wiped outspeedily, which was good sense, inasmuch as both parties could not holdportions of the river without coming to blows."

  If these people whose settlements we had taken without striking a blowcould have had their way, every outpost now garrisoned by men who gaveallegiance to the king would be speedily in our possession, and whilethe temper of the people was at this point, the proper time had come topush the advantage.

  When it was announced that among those who would set out under commandof Captain Bowman would be the scout Kenton and his two companions, Ihad no misgivings.

  The anguish of mind that had been mine with so little cause just beforewe surprised the Kaskaskia garrison had taught me a lesson, and, inaddition, I believed that we would continue our march in the samebloodless, triumphant fashion as it had been begun.

  And in this I was not mistaken.

  Lest I draw out this story to too great length, setting down facts whichstrangers may think are of no importance in the history of our takingpossession of the Mississippi River, I shall go str
aight ahead towardthe end without stopping here to relate what at the time seemed to us ofconsiderable importance, or to explain how Paul and I acted or feltunder certain trying and disagreeable circumstances.

  Simon Kenton was to have charge of the advance portion of the forcewhich Captain Bowman led. That is to say, if we were speaking of suchmaneuvers at this day, we should say that Simon Kenton was in command ofthe skirmishers, and, as a matter of course, Paul Sampson and I playedthe part, however poorly, of his assistants.

  We, and I am now speaking not only of us three who called ourselvesscouts, but twelve or fifteen more who were ordered to join us, set outfrom Kaskaskia on the morning of the 8th of July, about two hours inadvance of the main force, with the understanding that it was our dutyto capture such spies as might be met, or to fall back in case we wereconfronted by any considerable number of savages.

  Well, we began the sixty-mile tramp in good spirits, and when, late onthat same day we were come within hailing distance of the first smallsettlement that lay on the road, our march had been no more than apleasure excursion.

  Neither spy nor Indian had we seen, and I believe that eighteen ortwenty men could have taken possession of this village belonging to theking, by force of arms, had it been necessary, without any very serioustrouble.

  But the orders were for us to halt until the main body should come up,and this we did, whereupon those settlers from the captured postadvanced to hold a parley with the occupants of this clearing.

  It was not a lengthy conference. After those who had so latelyrecognized Monsieur Rocheblave as their governor, explained to theseother settlers the advantages to be gained, the village was ours.

  We had simply to walk in as honored guests, and the American flag washoisted in token that they no longer held themselves as subjects of theking.

  And the story of our successful advance thus far was the same as must betold from this point.

  We marched into two other villages, our allies from Kaskaskia goingahead to pave the way, and left the settlers, while we continued on upthe river, as brothers rather than enemies.

  Three villages hoisted our flag in token of their sympathy with anddesire to aid the colonists, and then we were come, at the close of thethird day, near to Cahokia, the post, as I have said, of no meanimportance, and garrisoned by sixty soldiers.

  Here at least did Paul Sampson and I believe our entrance would beopposed; but as before, Captain Bowman sent our allies ahead, and wecame into the trading village where the king had deposited largequantities of arms for barter with the Indians, having met with noopposition, and being received right generously.

  The people greeted us with huzzas when we marched into the stockade,behind our allies, and were equally as enthusiastic on being told byCaptain Bowman that they must take the oath of allegiance to the colonyof Virginia.

  The purpose for which our force had left Corn Island was accomplished inthe capture of Cahokia, for this post was really the last which MajorClarke had claimed it might be possible to reduce.

  It is true he had mentioned Vincennes in his plans to the authorities ofVirginia; but, as we understood from Simon Kenton while we laid here atCahokia, the garrison on the Wabash River was not to be attacked unlessit might be done with reasonable assurance of success.

  Now this outpost of Vincennes was one of the first settlements formed inthe valley of the Mississippi. It was occupied by the French emigrantsas early as 1735, and called post St. Vincent. In 1745, the name ofVincennes was given to it in honor of F. M. de Vincennes, a gallant andmuch respected French officer who was killed in the battle with theChickasaws in 1736.

  It was the most important post in the valley, but whether it was to beattacked, we who were at Cahokia could not even so much as guess.

  Simon Kenton believed our portion of the work would end here, arguingthat Major Clarke must leave a garrison both at Kaskaskia and Cahokia inorder to hold the stockades, and by so doing his little army would begreatly weakened; so that he could hardly hope for a victory if itchanced that we were obliged to resort to force in order to gainpossession.

  "Accordin' to my way of thinkin', lads, our work is done," the scoutsaid, late on that night after we took possession of Cahokia. "There'snaught left us to do save retrace our steps, for I should guess that youwere not minded to remain in either of these settlements as members ofthe garrison."

  "Indeed we are not," I replied promptly. "My mother awaits me at CornIsland, and unless she decides to go back to the land which my fathercleared, I must set about making a home for her."

  "I have no wish to remain," Paul added. "It may not be that my fatherneeds me; but I have a mother in Maryland, and service in a garrison isnot pleasing. If, as you believe, the work laid out for Major Clarke hasbeen accomplished, Louis Nelson and I will return with you, if it so beyou are going back."

  "Indeed I am, my boy," Simon Kenton replied with the air of one whoanticipates much pleasure in the future. "Now that there is no longer ashadow over me, I am as eager to find my father and my mother as are youlads to meet yours."

  "When shall we return?" I asked, for now that the homeward journey wasbeing considered, I, who really had no home, was eager to begin it.

  "It was understood between Major Clarke and myself that I might be atliberty to turn back whenever Captain Bowman should state he no longerrequired my services, and I reckon, lads, that the time has come. Waityou here until I learn what he has to say regardin' the matter."

  Within an hour it was decided that we three were to carry CaptainBowman's report to Major Clarke, and when I lay down to sleep that nightit was with the knowledge that at the first light of dawn we would beginthe sixty-mile journey, counting on making it within four-and-twentyhours with but little labor, since from this point we could proceed ina canoe, aided by the swiftly running current.

  We set out as had been decided upon, one of the settlers in Cahokiawillingly lending us a dugout, with the understanding that we shouldleave it at Kaskaskia to be returned whenever opportunity offered, andbefore midnight Simon Kenton was giving to Major Clarke the account ofour successes.

  We remained three days longer at this post; but all that happened whichconcerned us three may be told in few words.

  It was decided that all save those who chose to remain to man thegarrisons might return whenever it pleased them, and, knowing that fiftyor more who had left relatives on Corn Island were counting on goingback soon, we three waited for them in order that our force might be solarge as to deter the savages who were possibly lurking about the banksof the Ohio River, from making an attack.

  When three days had passed, however, we found that none of the men weredisposed to begin quite so soon what would doubtless prove an arduousundertaking, and Simon Kenton laid the matter before us by saying:

  "Lads, I am eager to get back into Fauquier County. If it so be you haveno stomach for layin' around here eatin' the bread of idleness supposewe start to-morrow mornin'? There is nothin' to keep us, and much toincline our hearts toward the journey."

  Unless I have utterly failed in making it appear here that I had a greataffection for my mother, it can readily be understood how we answeredthe scout, and without delay we set about the few necessary preparationsfor the voyage, determined to leave Kaskaskia before daylight nextmorning.

  And now at this point let me copy what I read many years later regardingVincennes:

  "The stronger and more important post of Vincennes, situate on the eastbank of the Wabash River, one hundred miles above its entrance into theOhio, was yet unsubdued, and Major Clarke felt that the object of hismission would be but half accomplished if he did not gain possession ofthat place. It was necessary to garrison Kaskaskia and Cahokia in orderto retain them, and to do this would so weaken his little army that hecould, scarcely hope for victory in an attack upon Vincennes, unless heshould be as successful in effecting a surprise as he had in capturingthe posts already in his possession. While thus perplexed and doubtingwhich course to pursue, he co
mmunicated his desires to Father Gabault, aFrench priest, who agreed to bring those inhabitants of Vincennes overwhom he had pastoral charge, to the support of the American cause. Theinfluence of the priest was successful; the inhabitants arose in thenight and cast off their allegiance to the British, expelled thegarrison from the fort, and pulled down the English standard. TheAmerican flag floated in triumph over the ramparts in the morning."

  All this was done before we three were come again to Corn Island, and Iquestion if the British king ever lost more territory at a less cost inblood, either on the part of those who made the capture or the hirelingswho should have held the garrisons, than in this expedition of MajorClarke's into the valley of Mississippi.

  I am now come to be an old man, and yet since that time have heard butlittle spoken concerning the achievements of Major Clarke and his forceof four hundred, when the most fertile portion of the Mississippi Riverwas taken from the Britishers and made a portion of the Americancolonies.

  We had done our work well, as it seemed to me then and does now,although in the telling of it there is none of that clash of arms andcheers of triumph which have accompanied far smaller achievements.

  And here would my story properly end but for the fact that we three mustmake the journey down the Mississippi to the Ohio, following the courseof this last noble river on foot, because we could not well stem thecurrent in a canoe, through a country infested by savage enemies, whowould use every effort to take our lives.