The Conquest: The True Story of Lewis and Clark

  XI

  _A PRISONER OF WAR_

  "A prisoner of war? No, indeed, he is a felon, a murderer!" exclaimedthe Virginians, as weary, wet, and hungry the late Governor of Detroitsat on his horse in the rain at the door of the governor's palace atWilliamsburg, where Jefferson now resided. The mob gathered toexecrate the "hair-buyer general" and escort him to jail.

  There were twenty-seven prisoners, altogether, brought by a band ofborderers, most of the way on foot.

  Every step of the long journey Captain John Rogers and his men hadguarded the "hair-buyer general" from the imprecations of an outragedpeople.

  It was the first news of Vincennes, as the startled cry ran,--

  "Governor Hamilton, charged with having incited Indians to scalp,torture, and burn, is at the door,--Hamilton, who gave standingrewards for scalps but none for prisoners; and Dejean, Chief Justiceof Detroit, the merciless keeper of its jails, a terror to captiveswith threats of giving them over to savages to be burnt alive;Lamothe, a captain of volunteer scalping parties; Major Hay, one ofHamilton's chief officers, and others."

  "Load them with heavy fetters and immure them in a dungeon," saidGovernor Jefferson. "Too many of our boys are rotting in Britishprison ships." This from Jefferson, so long the humane friend ofBurgoyne's surrendered troops now quartered at Charlottesville!

  The British commanders blustered and protested, but Jefferson firmlyreplied, "I avow my purpose to repay cruelty, hangings, and closeconfinement. It is my duty to treat Hamilton and his officers withseverity. Iron will be retaliated with iron, prison ships by prisonships, and like by like in general."

  Washington advised a mitigation of the extreme severity, butJefferson's course had its effect. The British were more mercifulthereafter.

  And with the coming of Hamilton came all the wonderful story of thecapture of Vincennes. And who can tell it? Who has told it? Historianshesitate. Romancers shrink from the task. Not one has surpassed GeorgeRogers Clark's own letters, which read like fragments of the gospel ofliberty.

  Before the home fire at Caroline, John Rogers told the tale. A hushfell. The mother softly wept as she thought of her scattered boys, onein the west, two with Washington tracking the snows of Valley Forge,one immured in a prison ship where patriot martyrs groaned their livesaway.

  Little William heard the tale, and his young heart swelled withemotion. John Clark listened, then spoke but one sentence.

  "If I had as many more sons I would give them all to my country."

  All the way from Kentucky Daniel Boone was sent to the Virginialegislature. He said to Jefferson: "I doubt these charges againstGovernor Hamilton. Last Spring I was captured by the Shawnees anddragged to Detroit. Governor Hamilton took pity on me and offered theIndians one hundred dollars for my release. They refused to take it.But he gave me a horse, and on that horse I eventually made myescape."

  "Did that prevent Governor Hamilton from sending an armed force ofBritish and Indians to besiege Boonsboro?" inquired Jefferson.

  Boone had to admit that it did not. But for that timely escape andwarning Boonsboro would have fallen.

  But Boone in gratitude went to the dungeon and offered whatconsolation he could to the imprisoned Governor.

  The fact is, that Daniel Boone carried ever on his breast, wrapped ina piece of buckskin, that old commission of Lord Dunmore's. It savedhim from the Indians; it won Hamilton.