VII
_KASKASKIA_
Double manned, relays of rowers toiled at the oars by night and byday.
"Do you see those hunters?"
At the mouth of the Tennessee, almost as if prearranged, two white menemerged from the Illinois swamps as Clark shot by. He paused andquestioned the strangers.
"We are just from Kaskaskia. Rocheblave is alone with neither troopsnor money. The French believe you Long Knives to be the most fierce,cruel, and bloodthirsty savages that ever scalped a foe."
"All the better for our success. Now pilot us."
Governor Rocheblave, watching St. Louis and dreaming of conquest, wasto be rudely awakened. All along the Mississippi he had posted spiesand was watching the Spaniard, dreaming not of Kentucky.
Out upon the open, for miles across the treeless prairies, the hostileIndians might have seen his little handful of one hundred and eightymen, but Clark of twenty-six, like the Corsican of twenty-six, "withno provisions, no munitions, no cannon, no shoes, almost without anarmy," was about to change the face of three nations.
Twilight fell as they halted opposite Kaskaskia on the night of July4, without a grain of corn left in their wallets.
"Boys, the town must be taken to-night at all hazards."
Softly they crossed the river,--the postern gate was open.
"Brigands!" shouted Governor Rocheblave, leaping from his bed atmidnight when Kenton tapped him on the shoulder. It was useless tostruggle; he was bound and secured in the old Jesuit mansion which didduty as a fort at Kaskaskia.
"Brigands!" screamed fat Madame Rocheblave in a high falsetto,tumbling out of bed in her frilled nightcap and gown. Seizing herhusband's papers, plump down upon them she sat. "No gentleman wouldever enter a lady's bed-chamber."
"Right about, face!" laughed Kenton, marching away the Governor."Never let it be said that American soldiers bothered a lady."
In revenge Madame tore up the papers, public archives, causing muchtrouble in future years.
"Sacred name of God!" cried the French habitants, starting from theirslumbers. From their windows they saw the streets filled with mentaller than any Indians. "What do they say?"
"Keep in your houses on pain of instant death!"
"Keep close or you will be shot!"
In a moment arose a dreadful shriek of men, women, and children,--"TheLong Knives! The Long Knives!"
The gay little village became silent as death. Before daylight thehouses of Kaskaskia were disarmed. The wild Virginians whooped andyelled. The timid people quaked and shuddered.
"Grant but our lives and we will be slaves to save our families." Itwas the pleading of Father Gibault, interceding for his people. "Letus meet once more in the church for a last farewell. Let not ourfamilies be separated. Permit us to take food and clothing, the barestnecessities for present needs."
"Do you take us for savages?" inquired Clark in amaze. "Do you thinkAmericans would strip women and children and take the bread out oftheir mouths? My countrymen never make war on the innocent. It was toprotect our own wives and children that we have penetrated thiswilderness, to subdue these British posts whence the savages aresupplied with arms and ammunition to murder us. We do not war againstFrenchmen. The King of France is our ally. His ships and soldiersfight for us. Go, enjoy your religion and worship when you please.Retain your property. Dismiss alarm. We are your friends come todeliver you from the British."
The people trembled; then shouts arose, and wild weeping. The bells ofold Kaskaskia rang a joyous peal.
"Your rights shall be respected," continued Colonel Clark, "but youmust take the oath of allegiance to Congress."
From that hour Father Gibault became an American, and all his peoplefollowed.
"Let us tell the good news to Cahokia," was their next glad cry. Sixtymiles to the north lay Cahokia, opposite the old Spanish town of St.Louis. The Kaskaskians brought out their stoutest ponies, and on themClark sent off Bowman and thirty horsemen.
"The Big Knives?" Cahokia paled.
"But they come as friends," explained the Kaskaskians.
Without a gun the gates were opened, and the delighted Frenchmenjoyfully banqueted the Kentuckians.
The Indians were amazed. "The Great Chief of the Long Knives hascome," the rumour flew. For five hundred miles the chiefs came to seethe victorious Americans.
"I will not give them presents. I will not court them. Never will Iseem to fear them. Let them beg for peace." And with martial frontClark bore himself as if about to exterminate the entire Indianpopulation. The ruse was successful; the Indians flocked to theCouncil of the Great Chief as if drawn by a magnet.
Eagerly they leaned and listened.
"Men and warriors: I am a warrior, not a counsellor."
Holding up before them a green belt and another the colour of blood,"Take your choice," he cried, "Peace or War."
So careless that magnificent figure stood, so indifferent to theirchoice, that the hearts of the red men leaped in admiration.
"Peace, Peace, Peace," they cried.
From all directions the Indians flocked; Clark became apprehensive ofsuch numbers,--Chippewas, Ottawas, Pottawattamies, Sacs, Foxes,Maumees.
"The Big Knives are right," said the chiefs. "The Great King of theFrench has come to life."
Without the firing of a gun or the loss of a life, the great tacticiansubjugated red men and white. Clark had no presents to give,--he awedthe Indians. He devoted great care to the drilling of his troops, andthe nations sat by to gaze at the spectacle. The Frenchmen drilledproudly with the rest.
While Clark was holding his councils Kenton had gone to Vincennes.Three days and three nights he lay reconnoitring. He spoke with thepeople, then by special messenger sent word, "The Governor has gone toDetroit. You can take Vincennes."
Clark was ready.
"Do not move against Vincennes," pleaded Father Gibault, "I know mypeople. Let me mediate for you."
Clark accepted Gibault's offer, and the patriot priest hastened awayon a lean-backed pony to the Wabash. With his people gathered in thelittle log church he told the tale of a new dominion. There under theblack rafters, kissing the crucifix to the United States, the priestabsolved them from their oath of allegiance to the British king.
"Amen," said Gibault solemnly, "we are new men. We are Americans."
To the astonishment of the Indians the American flag flew over theramparts of Vincennes.
"What for?" they begged to know.
"Your old father, the King of France, has come to life again. He ismad at you for fighting for the English. Make peace with the LongKnives, they are friends of the Great King."
The alarmed Indians listened. Word went to all the tribes. From theWabash to the Mississippi, Clark, absolute, ruled the country, amilitary dictator.
But the terms of the three-months militia had expired.
"How many of you can stay with me?" he entreated.
One hundred re-enlisted; the rest were dispatched to the Falls of theOhio under Captain William Linn.
"Tell the people of Corn Island to remove to the mainland and erect astockade fort." Thus was the beginning of Louisville.
Captain John Montgomery and Levi Todd (the grandfather of the wife ofAbraham Lincoln) were dispatched with reports and Governor Rocheblaveas a prisoner-of-war to Virginia.
On arrival of the news the Virginia Assembly immediately created thecounty of Illinois, and Patrick Henry appointed John Todd of Kentuckyits first American Governor.