of about a hundred and
fifty men, one of whom was Simon Kenton. He could not get many
volunteers from Kentucky because the settlers there thought they had
all they could do to defend their own forts without going out to attack
the enemy's and only a few men could be spared. In May, 1778, this
little force started down the Ohio in flat boats, and landing just
before they reached the Mississippi, marched northward against
Kaskaskia, where the British commander of the entire district had his
headquarters. Clark knew that his force was outnumbered by the garrison
and that it would be necessary to surprise the town. After a six days'
march across country, he came to the outskirts of the village on the
evening of July 4th, and found a great dance in progress in the fort.
Waiting until the revelry was at its height, Clark advanced silently,
surprised the sentries, and surrounded the fort without causing any
alarm. Then with his men posted, Clark walked forward through the open
door, and leaning against the wall, watched the dancers, as they whirled
around by the light of the flaring torches.

Suddenly an Indian, after looking at him for a moment, raised the
war-whoop; the dancing ceased, but Clark, shouting at the top of his
voice to still the confusion, bade the dancers continue, asking them
only to remember that thereafter they were dancing under the flag of the
United States, instead of that of Great Britain. A few moments later,
the commandant was captured in his bed, and the investment was complete.
The other settlements in the neighborhood surrendered at once, so that
the Illinois country was captured without the firing of a gun.

But when the news reached the British governor, Hamilton, at Detroit, he
at once prepared to recapture the country. He had a much larger force at
his command than Clark could possibly muster, and in the fall of the
year he advanced against Vincennes at the head of over five hundred men.
The little American garrison was unable to oppose such a force and was
compelled to surrender. Instead of pushing on against Clark at
Kaskaskia, Hamilton disbanded his Indians and sent some of his troops
back to Detroit, and prepared to spend the winter at Vincennes. He
repaired the fort, strengthened the defenses, and then sat down for the
winter, confident that when spring came, he would again be master of the
whole Illinois country.

Clark, at Kaskaskia, realized that it was a question of his taking the
Br