rly part of the year.[293] Some of the more
important facts connected with this expedition, he thus announced to
the Virginia delegates in Congress:--

WILLIAMSBURG, November 14, 1778.

GENTLEMEN,--The executive power of this State having been
impressed with a strong apprehension of incursions on the
frontier settlements from the savages situated about the
Illinois, and supposing the danger would be greatly obviated
by an enterprise against the English forts and possessions
in that country, which were well known to inspire the
savages with their bloody purposes against us, sent a
detachment of militia, consisting of one hundred and seventy
or eighty men commanded by Colonel George Rogers Clark, on
that service some time last spring. By despatches which I
have just received from Colonel Clark, it appears that his
success has equalled the most sanguine expectations. He has
not only reduced Fort Chartres and its dependencies, but has
struck such a terror into the Indian tribes between that
settlement and the lakes that no less than five of them,
viz., the Puans, Sacks, Renards, Powtowantanies, and Miamis,
who had received the hatchet from the English emissaries,
have submitted to our arms all their English presents, and
bound themselves by treaties and promises to be peaceful in
the future.

The great Blackbird, the Chappowow chief, has also sent a
belt of peace to Colonel Clark, influenced, he supposes, by
the dread of Detroit's being reduced by American arms. This
latter place, according to Colonel Clark's representation,
is at present defended by so inconsiderable a garrison and
so scantily furnished with provisions, for which they must
be still more distressed by the loss of supplies from the
Illinois, that it might be reduced by any number of men
above five hundred. The governor of that place, Mr.
Hamilton, was exerting himself to engage the savages to
assist him in retaking the places that had fallen into our
hands; but the favorable impression made on the Indians in
general in that quarter, the influence of the French on
them, and the reenforcement of their militia Colonel Clark
expected, flattered him that there was little danger to be
apprehended.... If the party under Colonel Clark can
cooperate