Dearborn County IN Archives History - Books .....Page 37 1915
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Book Title: History Of Dearborn County Indiana

DEARBORN   COUNTY,  INDIANA.	37

United States would guarantee the titles already issued by that state. Virginia
was also allowed a reservation, known as the Virginia Military District, which
lay between the Little Miami and Scioto rivers, the same being for distribution
among her Revolutionary veterans. There is one other fact which should be
mentioned in connection with the territory north of the Ohio in the
Revolutionary period. This was the memorable conquest of the territory by Gen.
George Rogers Clark. During the year 1778 and 1779, this redoubtable leader
captured Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Vincennes and thereby drove the English out of
the Northwest Territory. It is probable that this notable campaign secured this
territory for the Americans and that without it we would not have had it
included in our possessions in the treaty which closed the Revolutionary War.

CAPTURE OF VINCENNES.

    One of the most interesting pages of Indiana history is concerned with the
capture of Vincennes by Gen. George Rogers Clark in the spring of 1779. The
expedition of this intrepid leader with its successful results marked him as a
man of more than usual ability. Prompted by a desire to secure the territory
northwest of the Ohio river for the Americans, he sought and obtained permission
from the governor of Virginia the right to raise a body of troops for this
purpose. Early in the spring of 1778 Clark began collecting his men for the
proposed expedition. Within a short time he collected about one hundred and
fifty men at Ft. Pitt and floated down the Ohio to the falls near
Jeffersonville. He picked up a few recruits at this place and in June floated on
down the river to the mouth of the Tennessee river. His original intention was
to make a descent on Vincennes first, but, having received erroneous reports as
to the strength of the garrison located there, he decided to commence active
operations at Kaskaskia. After landing his troops near the mouth of the
Tennessee in the latter part of June, 1778, he marched them across southern
Illinois to Kaskaskia, arriving there on the evening of July 4. The inhabitants
were terror stricken at first, but upon being assured by General Clark that they
were in no danger and that all he wanted was for them to give their support to
the American cause, their fears were soon quieted. Being so far from the scene
of the war, the French along the Mississippi knew little or nothing about its
progress. One of the most important factors in establishing a friendly relation
between the Americans and the French inhabitants was the hearty willingness of
Father Gibault,


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