December, 1778. The winter being far advanced, Hamilton decided to wait till spring, at which time he would retake Kaskaskia and expel the Americans from the disputed territory. Not needing his large force longer, he disbanded all but some eighty

men.

Clark received information of Hamilton's plan, and of the scattering of his forces. He determined to forestall the British.

Gathering together one hundred and seventy men, he set out from Kaskaskia in February, 1779, for Vincennes.

That winter march is one of the most wonderful achievements of human pluck and hardihood. When they struck the "drowned lands of the Wabash," theirs was a voyage by water without boats. They waded mile after mile, day after day-the water sometimes chin-deep. To keep gun and pow der dry they had to hold their hands outstretched above their heads as they waded on. Sometimes it was almost impossible to find a spot of ground to rest for the night. The rations failed, for they could kill no game in these overflowed regions. Just before they reached Vincennes they had been two days without food. To get across the Wabash they had to make canoes. Then there was further wading through the cold water. Six miles from the town they camped for the night upon a hillock, hungry, drenched, almost frozen. Next day more

wading-miles of it-which well-nigh exhausted the courage and strength of the half-famished men. A lucky capture of an Indian canoe, in which there was a quarter of buffalo, some corn, tallow, and kettles, was made in the nick of time. Hot broth soon revived the spirits of the troop-one quarter of beef never having been made to go so far before.

When Clark led his men to the attack, the chances all seemed to be in favor of Hamilton. He was inside a strong fort, he had cannon, and there was a sufficient garrison, although his foes outnumbered him heavily. He might reasonably expect his war parties to return soon, and thus the Americans might be taken between two foes. There was no danger of famine, but his weakness lay in the faintheartedness of his own men. The American marksmen picked off the British gunners through the port-holes; the guns could not be served; and the British commander lost hope. When only six or eight of the garrison had been disabled, he gave up the contest. Clark had but one man wounded and none killed. Seventy-nine prisoners were taken, and were paroled, with the exception of Hamilton and twenty-six others, who were sent to Virginia, where Governor Jefferson put Hamilton in irons.

The vast Northwest had been thus won by a heroic band of volunteers, led by one of the most dauntless warriors that ever risked life for country. That Great Britain was foiled, that the Amer

icans took possession, and held the conquered empire under the final treaty of peace made at Paris, was due almost wholly to this one magnificent pa triot and soldier, George Rogers Clark.

Randolph, of Roanoke, with pardonable exag. geration, called the great Virginian the "Hannibal of the West."

The first fort which the Americans built and held on the Mississippi was put there by Clark at the instance of Jefferson, and was named "Fort Jefferson." 1

1 The closing years of the life of Clark are involved in gloom and contradictions. It is certain that he became intemperate in his habits, that he lost influence on the border, and that he bitterly resented the failure of Virginia to vote him some substantial reward for his services. When her messenger came to his Western home bringing the honorary sword which the Legislature of his native State had awarded him, it is said that he broke the sword in a fit of anger, exclaiming passionately against the irony of such a gift.

Clark was living in a cabin, opposite Louisville, attended by one servant, when, either in an epileptic fit or in a state of intoxication, he fell into the fire and was so badly burned that one of his legs had to be amputated.

His sister, Mrs. William Croghan (mother of the young hero of Fort Stephenson), took him to her home, near Louisville (1812), where he lived, tenderly cared for, till his death in 1818. Clark left a large landed estate, which was inherited by his nephews and nieces.