y, and to assume command of five other companies,
soon to be sent out.(19) Col. Todd was appointed county-lieutenant or
commandant. His instructions contained much wise direction. He was to take
care to cultivate and conciliate the affections of the French and Indians,
to cooeperate with Clark and give the military department all the aid
possible, to use the French against the British, if the French were
willing, but otherwise to remain on the defensive, to inculcate in the
people an appreciation of the value of liberty, to see that the
inhabitants had justice done them for any injuries from the troops. A
neglect of this last instruction, it was pointed out, might be fatal.
"Consider yourself as at the head of the civil department, and as such
having the command of the militia, who are not to be under the command of
the military, until ordered out by the civil authority and act in
conjunction with them." An express was to be sent to Virginia every three
months with a report. A letter to the Spanish commandant at Ste. Genevieve
was inclosed, and Todd was told to be very friendly to him.(20) Col.
Montgomery, then in Virginia, was ordered to recruit men to reenforce
Clark. "As soon as the state of affairs in the recruiting business will
permit, you are to go to the Illinois country & join Col. Clarke, I need
not tell you how necessary the greatest possible Dispatch is to the good
of the service in which you are engaged. Our party at Illinois may be
lost, together with the present favorable Disposition of the French and
Indians there, unless every moment is improved for their preservation, &
no future opportunity, if the present is lost, can ever be expected so
favorable to the Interest of the commonwealth." Montgomery was urged not
to be daunted by the inclement season, the great distance to Illinois, the
"want of many necessaries," or opposition from enemies.(21) Gov. Henry
deserves much credit for his prompt and aggressive action at a time when
Virginia was in the very midst of the Revolution.

Col. Clark was much pleased with the appointment of Col. Todd, both
because civil duties were irksome to the conqueror and because of his
confidence in Todd's ability.(22) Upon the arrival of the new
county-lieutenant, Clark called a meeting of the citizens of Kaskaskia to
meet the new officer and to elect judges. He introduced Col. Todd as
governor and said that he was the only person in the state whom he had
desired for the place