granted by order and under the protection of his most Christian Majesty." To this General Gage made answer, demanding the proof of their assertions, which he descried "to be transported to the feet of His Majesty," and leaving them meanwhile in the quiet possession of their dwellings and lands.

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CHAPTER II.

CLARK'S CELEBRATED EXPEDITION.

ROM 1673 to 1778 there is but little to record in the

history of Indiana. The Western settlements were for the most part neglected by the English colonists, owing to the difficulties between them and the British Government, and the few French settlers, aside from their efforts to instigate another Indian war against the English colonies, then struggling for independence, did but little worthy of notice. In this endeavor they succeeded so far as to give the settlers on the borders of Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York considerable trouble and uneasiness. Indian depredations were common occurrences, and at intervals a merciless slaughter pervaded the frontier settlements. Dunmore's expedition did much to discourage the Indians from a continuance of these outrages, but not until the celebrated expedition of Colonel George Rogers Clark penetrated the Western country was the French and Indian power in Indiana completely broken.

It was in 1775 that Colonel Clark's attention was first directed to the French settlements in Indiana and Illinois, and in the following spring he visited them with a view to having them annexed to Virginia. In pursuance of this end he assembled the people at Harrodstown, Ky., and requested them to elect delegates, with power to treat with the Assembly of Virginia respecting the political affairs of the country. It was, at that time, the intention of Colonel Clark, if suitable conditions could be procured, to have the inhabitants of these Western settlements declare themselves citizens of that State, otherwise to establish an independent government. The meeting was held at Harrodstown on the sixth of June, 1776, and

George Rogers Clark and Gabriel Jones elected delegates to the Assembly of Virginia, with instructions to present a petition to that body, praying the Assembly to accept them as such. The papers were prepared and in a few days they set out for Williamsburg in the hope of arriving before the Assembly, then sitting, should rise. They proceeded on their journey as far as Bottetourt county and there learned that they were too late, for the Assembly had already adjourned. At this point they resolved to wait for the fall session. When it was convened Messrs. Clark and Jones presented their credentials. The Assembly resolved that the Western delegates could not take their seats as members, but that their business should be attended to. "It was late in the session," says Clark, "before we got a complete establishment of a county by the name of Kentucky." He continues: "The commandants of the different towns of the Illinois and Wabash I knew were busily engaged in exciting the Indians. Their reduction became my first object-expecting, probably, that it might open a field for further action. I sent two young hunters to those places (in the summer of 1777) as spies, with proper instructions for their conduct, to prevent suspicion. Neither did they, nor any one in Kentucky, ever know my design unti it was ripe for execution. They returned to Harrodstown with all the information I could reasonably have expected. I found from them that they had but little expectation of a visit from us, but that things were kept in good order, the militia trained, etc., that they might, in case of a visit, be prepared that the greatest pains were taken to inflame the minds of the French inhabitants against the Americans, notwithstanding they could discover traces of affection in some of the inhabitants. When I left Kentucky, October first, 1777, I plainly saw that every eye was turned toward me, as if expecting some stroke in their favor. Some doubted my return, expecting that I would join the army in Virginia. I left them with reluctance, promising them that I would certainly return to their assistance, which I had predetermined. On my arrival at Williamsburg, I remained a considerable time settling the accounts of the Kentucky militia and making

remarks of everything I saw or heard, that could lead me to the knowledge of the disposition of those in power. Burgoyne's army having been captured, and things seeming to wear a pleasing aspect, on the tenth of December I communicated my design to Governor Henry. At first he seemed to be fond of it; but to detach a party at so great a distance,

(although the service performed might be of great utility,) appeared daring and hazardous, as nothing but secrecy could give success to the enterprise. To lay the matter before the Assembly, then sitting, would be dangerous, as it would soon be known throughout the frontiers; and probably the first prisoner taken by the Indians would give the alarm, which would end in the certain destruction of the party. He had

several private councils, composed of select gentlemen. After making every inquiry into my proposed plan of operations, (and particularly that of a retreat in case of misfortune, across the Mississippi into the Spanish territory,) the expedition was resolved upon; and as an encouragement to those who would engage in said service, an instrument of writing was signed, wherein those gentlemen promised to use their influence to procure from the Assembly three hundred acres of land for each in case of success. The Governor and Council so warmly engaged in the success of this enterprise, that I had very little trouble in getting matters adjusted; and on the second day of February, 1778, received my instructions, and £1,200 for the use of the expedition, with an order on Pittsburg for boats, ammunition, etc. Finding, from the Governor's conversation in general to me, on the subject, that he did not wish an implicit attention to his instructions should prevent my executing any thing that would manifestly tend to the good of the public, on the fourth I set forward, clothed with all the authority that I wished. I advanced to Major William Smith £150 to recruit men on Holston, and to meet me in Kentucky. Captain Leonard Helm, of Fauquier, and Captain Joseph Bowman, of Frederick, were to raise each a company, and on the [first?] February arrive at Red Stone Old Fort.

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"Being now in the country where all arrangements were to be made, I appointed Captain William Harrod, and many other officers, to the recruiting service; and contracted for flour and other stores that I wanted. * * I received information from Captain Helm that several gentlemen took pains to counteract his interest in recruiting, as no such service was known of by the Assembly. Consequently he had to send to the Governor to get his conduct ratified. I found also opposition to our interest in the Pittsburg country. As the whole was divided into violent parties between the Virginians and Pennsylvanians, respecting the territory, the idea of men being raised for the State of Virginia affected the vulgar of the one party; and as my real instructions were kept concealed, and only an instrument from the Governor, written designedly for deception, was made public, wherein I