am inclined to believe the worst that can
be said of him. Being so far out of the road of business, I can not do the
State that justice I wish by sending down his case immediately to the
Spanish commandants on the Mississippi."(49) From January 28, 1779, to
October 18, 1780, Montgomery drew drafts upon Virginia to the amount of
thirty-nine thousand three hundred twenty dollars.(50) Winston and McCarty
accused Capt. Rogers, who succeeded Col. Montgomery in command at
Kaskaskia, of shooting down the stock of the inhabitants without warrant.
In a dignified defence, Capt. Rogers declared that he took only so much
food as was absolutely required to save his starving sick, and that Mr.
Bentley, who endeavored to secure supplies from the people, offering his
personal credit, was persistently opposed by Winston and McCarty. "I can
not conclude without informing you that 'tis my positive opinion the
people of the Illinois & Post Vincennes have been in an absolute state of
rebellion for these several months past, & ought to have no further
indulgence shown them; and such is the nature of those people, the more
they are indulged, the more turbulant they grow. I look upon it that
Winston and McCarty have been principal instruments to bring them to the
pitch they are now at."(51) Capt. Dodge, against whom complaints had
become general, and Capt. McCarty, whose quarrel has been narrated, were
ordered to appear before a court of inquiry at Fort Jefferson.(52) Clark
was very angry at Montgomery's conduct. He sent a message to New Orleans
ordering him to return for trial; he warned all persons against trusting
the offender on the credit of the State, and he requested the governor of
Virginia to arrest the fugitive if he should come to Richmond.(53) How low
public morals had sunk is shown by the fact that Montgomery had the
effrontery to return to Fort Jefferson, where he arrived on May 1, 1781,
and resumed his command. In February, 1783, he made his defense and asked
for his pay.(54) In April, 1781, Todd wrote: "I still receive complaints
from the Illinois. That Department suffers, I fear, through the avarice
and prodigality of our officers; they all vent complaints against each
other. I believe our French friends have the justest grounds of
dissatisfaction."(55)

On June 2, 1781, Capt. McCarty was killed in a fight between the Illinois
troops and some Indians on the one side and a party of Ouia Indians, who
favored the British, on the o