George Rogers Clark

As printed in 1881

GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

The name of this able and daring officer is so intimately connected with the name and location of this county that a sketch of his career is given as a While there are few historic names betnecessary part of the history thereof.

ter known in the annals of Western frontier life, there is yet a great deal of The following is quoted from Coilins'

obscurity to a portion of his labors. “Historical Sketches of Kentucky: "

“Gen. George Rogers Clark was born in the county of Albemarle, in the Of his early years and education, but

State of Virginia, November 19, 1752.

little is known.

How long he was thus engaged is not known.

In his youth, he engaged in the business of land surveying. He commanded a company in

Dunmore’s war, and was engaged in the only active operations of the right wing of the invading army against the Indians. At the close of the war, he was offered a commission in the English service, which, on account of the troubled aspect of affairs between England and the Colonies, he declined. In the spring of 1775, he came to Kentucky, drawn either by that love of adventure which distinguished him through life. During his visit, he was temporarily placed in command of the irregular militia of the settlements. In the following spring (1776), he again visited Kentucky, with the intention of making it his permanent home. From this time, his name is closely associated with the progress of the Western settlements in power and civilization. He had been early impressed with the importance of this frontier country to the security of the present State of Virginia, and his reflections on this subject led him to perceive the importance of a more thoroughly organized system of public defense, and a more regular plan of military operations than the slender resources of the Colonies had yet been able to offer. With the view of accomplishing this design, he waited on Gov. Patrick Henry, of Virginia, and stated the object of his journey. * * * * * * x

Passing over that series of private and solitary adventures in which he embarked after his return to Kentucky, we find him planning an expedition againstthe British posts of Kaskaskia and Vincennes, and sending spies to learn and report upon the situation.

*In December, 1/7, May. Clark submitted to the Executive of Virginia a plan for the reduction of these posts. The result was a full approbation of the scheme, and every arrangement was soon made, which resulted in the capture of the entire chains of British outposts. Vincennes was surrendered to Col. Clark on the 25th of February, 1779. The stars and stripes were hoisted, and thirteen guns fired to celebrate the victory. Soon after this, Louisville was founded, and he made it his headquarters. In 1780, he built Fort Jefferson, on the Mississippi. In June, 1780, 600 Canadians and Indians, under the British Col. Byrd, made a raid from Detroit against the settlements of Kentucky. The expedition was accompanied by two pieces of field &artillery, and, on the 22d of June, Ruddell’s Station was obliged to capitulate. Martin's Station soon shared the same fate, and the inhabitants, loaded with the spoil of their own dwellings, were driven to Canada as prisoners of war. A prompt retaliation was required, and Col. Clark, being ever ready for a row with the Indians, called on the settlers for volunteers to accompany his little regiment on an errand of punishment. The point of rendezvous was the mouth of the Licking River. Clark, with his regiment proper and some field pieces (variously stated at from one to three guns), came up the river from the falls; when all had assembled, the force was about one thousand men. The Indian town was reached before the enemy was aware of his approach. A sharp conflict ensued, in which seventeen savages were slain, and an equal number of whites. The town was burned and the crops destroyed, Clark's forces returned and were disbanded, and the Indians remained quiet for that season.*

*He was commissioned a Brigadier General in 1781. In 1782, he led another expedition, composed of mounted riflemen, against the Indian towns on the Miami and Scioto Rivers. The Indians fled before them; five of their towns were destroyed and their provisions burned. The effect of this was that no formidable party of Indians ever after invaded Kentucky. This practically closed his career as a public man.

* Gen. Clark was never married. He was long in infirm health, and severely afflicted with a rheumatic affection, which terminated in paralysis and deprived him of the use of one limb. This finally caused his death, in February, 1818. He died and was buried at Locust Grove, near Louisville." Soon after his return to Louisville, he communicated to Hon. George Mason, of Gunston Hall, Virginia, a letter, wherein he related at length the many experiences of his campaign in the Illinois country. This letter was published in 1869, and

; *This was the battle of Piqua, which see for a more detailed account; also the article, Clark-Shawnee Centennial, tor various remarks and conclusions regarding the same battle.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

COL. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK’S SKETCHES OF HIS CAMPAIGN IN THE ILLI- nois in 1778-79, with an Introduction by Hox.

As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.