XII
_TWO WARS AT ONCE_
The sunbeams glistened on the naked skin of an Indian runner, as, hairflying in the wind, from miles away he came panting to Clark atKaskaskia.
"There is to be an attack on San Loui'. Wabasha, the Sioux, andMatchekewis--"
"How do you know?"
"I hear at Michilimackinac,--Winnebagoe, Sauk, Fox, Menomonie."
Clark laughed and gave the messenger a drink of taffia. But the momentthe painted savage slid away the Colonel prepared to inform hisfriends at St. Louis.
"Pouf!" laughed the careless commandant, drinking his wine at theGovernment House. "Why need we fear? Are not our relation wit deIndian friendly? Never haf been attack on San Luis, never will be. Beseat, haf wine, tak' wine, Senor le Colonel."
"Pouf!" echoed the guests at the Governor's table. "Some trader angrybecause he lose de peltry stole in de Spanish country. It never gobeyond threat."
An attack? The very idea seemed to amuse the Governor in his cups. ButFather Gibault looked grave. "I, too, have heard such a rumour."
"It may be only a belated report of Hamilton's scheming," repliedClark. "Now he is boxed up it may blow over. But in case the Englishattempt to seize the west bank of this river I pledge you all theassistance in my power."
"T'anks, t'anks, my good friend, I'll not forget. In de middle of denight you get my summon."
But, unknown to them, that very May, Spain declared war against GreatBritain. And Great Britain coveted the Mississippi.
Madame Marie and the charming Donna had been listeners. Colonel Clarkhanded the maiden a bouquet of wild roses as he came in, but spoke nota word. All the year had she been busy, embroidering finery for "leColonel." Such trifles were too dainty for the soldier's life--but hewore them next his heart.
While the dinner party overwhelmed the victor with congratulations anddrank to his health, Clark saw only the Donna, child of the convent,an exotic, strangely out of place in this wild frontier.
"I am a soldier," he whispered, "and cannot tarry. My men are at theboats, but I shall _watch_ St. Louis."
Her eyes followed him, going away so soon, with Father Gibault and DeLeyba down to the river. As he looked back a handkerchief flutteredfrom an upper window, and he threw her a kiss.
"I am not clear but the Spaniards would suffer their settlements tofall with ours for the sake of having the opportunity of retaking themboth," muttered Clark as he crossed the river, suspicious of DeLeyba's inaction.
At Kaskaskia forty recruits under Captain Robert George had arrivedby way of New Orleans. Then Montgomery, with another forty, came downthe Ohio.
They must be fed and clothed directly. In the midst of theseperplexities appeared John Todd, the new Governor.
"Ah, my friend," Clark grasped his hand. "Now I see myself happily ridof a piece of trouble I take no delight in. I turn the civilgovernment over to you. But our greatest trouble is the lack ofmoney."
"Money? Why, here are continental bills in abundance."
"Worth two cents on the dollar. 'Dose British traders,' say thehabitants, 'dey will not take five huntert to one. Dey will havenought but skins.' This has brought our Virginia paper into disrepute.They will not even take a coin unless it is stamped with the head of aking."
"What have you done?"
"Done? Purchased supplies on my own credit. Several merchants of thiscountry have advanced considerable sums and I have given them draftson our Virginian agent in New Orleans. They come back, protested forwant of funds. Francis Vigo has already loaned me ten thousand dollarsin silver piastres."
"But Virginia will pay it,--she is bound to pay it. The service mustnot suffer." Thus reassured that his course had been right, ColonelClark continued:
"Four posts must be garrisoned to hold this country,--Kaskaskia,Cahokia, Vincennes, and the Falls of the Ohio,--not one has sufficientdefence. Colonel Montgomery's force is not half what I expected. Butif I am not deceived in the Kentuckians I shall yet be able tocomplete my designs on Detroit. I only want sufficient men to make meappear respectable in passing among the savages."
The cautious French settlers were a trial to Clark. Father Gibaulttried to persuade them, parting with his own tithes and horses to setan example to his parishioners to make equal sacrifices to theAmerican cause. Altogether, Father Gibault advanced seven thousandeight hundred livres, French money, equal to fifteen hundred and sixtydollars,--his little all.
Governor Todd said, "If the people will not spare willingly, you mustpress it."
"I cannot press it," answered Clark. "We must keep the inhabitantsattached to us by every means in our power. Rather will I sign notesright and left on my own responsibility to procure absolutenecessities to hold Illinois, trusting to Virginia to make it right."
Then after a thoughtful pause,--"I cannot think of the consequences oflosing possession of the country without resolving to risk every pointrather than suffer it."
The bad crops of 1779 and the severity of the winter of 1780 madedistress in Illinois. Nevertheless the cheerful habitants sold theirharvests to Clark and received in payment his paper on New Orleans.
"You encourage me to attempt Detroit," Clark wrote to Jefferson. "Ithas been twice in my power. When I first arrived in this country, orwhen I was at Vincennes, could I have secured my prisoners and hadonly three hundred men, I should have attempted it, and I since learnthere could have been no doubt of my success. But they are nowcompleting a new fort, too strong I fear for any force that I shallever be able to raise in this country."
Then he hurried back to Vincennes. Thirty only were there of the threehundred expected. An Indian army camped ready to march at his call.
"Never depend upon Injuns," remarked Simon Kenton, reappearing afteran absence of weeks.
"Kenton? Well, where have you been? You look battered."
"Battered I am, but better, the scars are almost gone. Captured byShawnees, made to run the gauntlet twice, then dragged to St. Dusky tobe burnt at the stake."
"How did you escape?"
"One of your Detroit Frenchmen, Pierre Drouillard, late interpreterfor your captured Hamilton, told them the officers at Detroit wantedto question me about the Big Knife. Ha! Ha! It took a long powwow andplenty of wampum, and the promise to bring me back."
"Did he intend to do it?"
"Lord, no! as soon as we were out of sight he told me, 'Never will Iabandon you to those inhuman wretches,' A trader's wife enabled me toescape from Detroit."
"Do you think I can take Detroit?"
"Take it, man? As easy as you took Vincennes. Only the day of surpriseis past. A cloud of red Injuns watch the approaches. You must havetroops."
Troops! Troops! None came. None could come. What had happened?
Taking with him one of Hamilton's light brass cannon to fortify theFalls of the Ohio, Clark discovered that at the very time of hiscapture, Hamilton had appointed a great council of Indians to meet atthe mouth of the Tennessee.
"The Cherokees have risen on the Tennessee settlements, and theregiments intended for you have turned south."
The sword and belt of Hamilton had done their work. America wasfighting two wars at once.