106 The Winning of the West 



Having sent the messenger in advance, he waited 

 until his men were rested and their rifles and pow- 

 der dry, and then at sundown marched straight 

 against the town. He divided his force into two 

 divisions, leading in person the first, which con- 

 sisted of two companies of Americans and of the 

 Kaskaskia Creoles; while the second, led by Bow- 

 man, contained Bowman's own company and the 

 Cahokians. His final orders to the men were to 

 march with the greatest regularity, to obey the or- 

 ders of their officers, and, above all, to keep per- 

 fect silence. 32 The rapidly gathering dusk pre- 

 vented any discovery of his real numbers. 



32 In the Haldimand MSS., Series B, Vol. 122, p. 289, there 

 is a long extract from what is called "Col. Clark's Journal." 

 This is the official report which he speaks of as being carried 

 by William Moires, his express, who was taken by the Indians 

 (see his letter to Henry of April 2gth ; there seems, by the 

 way, to be some doubt whether this letter was not written to 

 Jefferson; there is a copy in the Jefferson MSS., Series I, 

 Vol. I). This is not only the official report, but also the 

 earliest letter Clark wrote on the subject and therefore the 

 most authoritative. The paragraph relating to the final 

 march against Vincennes is as follows: 



"I order'd the march in the first division Capt. Williams, 

 Capt. Worthingtons Company & the Cascaskia Volunteers 

 in the 2d commanded by Capt. Bowman his own Company & 

 the Cohos Volunteers. At sun down I put the divisions in 

 motion to march in the greatest order & regularity & observe 

 the orders of their officers. Above all to be silent the 5 men 

 we took in the canoes were our guides. We entered the town 

 on the upper part leaving detached Lt. Bayley & 15 rifle men 

 to attack the Fort & keep up a fire to harrass them untill we 

 took possession of the town & they were to remain on that duty 

 till relieved by another party, the two divisions marched into 



