equired, yet the known activity and
enterprise of the commanding officers, joined to their prudence and
good conduct, and the bravery and indefatigable perseverance and
hardiness of the troops, gave promise of a happy result.

The success of the expedition under Colonel Clarke,[8] fully realized
the most sanguine expectations of those, who were acquainted with the
adventurous and enterprising spirit of its commander; and was
productive of essential benefit to the state, as well as of
comparative security to the border settlements. Descending the Ohio
river, from Fort Pitt to the Falls, he there landed his troops, and
concealing his boats, marched directly towards Kaskaskias. Their
provisions, which were carried on their backs, were soon exhausted;
and for two days, the army subsisted entirely on roots. This was the
only circumstance, which occurred during their march, calculated to
damp the ardor of the troops. No band of savage warriors, had
interposed to check their progress,--no straggling Indian, had
discovered their approach. These fortunate omens inspired them with
flattering hopes; and they pushed forward, with augmented energy.
Arriving before Kaskaskias in the night, they entered it, unseen and
unheard, and took possession of the town and fort, without opposition.
Relying on the thick and wide extended forests which interposed
between them and the American settlements, the inhabitants had been
lulled to repose by fancied security, and were unconscious of danger
until it had become too late to be avoided. Not a single individual
escaped, to spread the alarm in the adjacent settlements.

But there still remained other towns, higher up the Mississippi,
which, if unconquered, would still afford shelter to the savages and
furnish them the means of annoyance and of ravage. Against these,
Colonel Clarke immediately directed [187] operations. Mounting a
detachment of men, on horses found at Kaskaskias, and sending them
forward, three other towns were reduced with equal success. The
obnoxious governor at Kaskaskias was sent directly to Virginia, with
the written instructions which he had received from Quebec, Detroit
and Michillimacinac, for exciting the Indians to war, and remunerating
them for the blood which they might shed.

Although the country within which Colonel Clarke had so successfully
carried on operations, was considered to be within the limits of
Virginia; yet as it was occupied by savages and those who