In the Current of the Revolution 107 



In sending in the messenger he had builded even 

 better than he knew; luck which had long been 

 against him now at last favored him. Hamilton's 

 runners had seen Clark's camp-fires the night be- 

 fore ; and a small scouting party of British regulars, 

 Detroit volunteers, and Indians had in consequence 

 been sent to find out what had caused them. 33 

 These men were not made of such stern stuff as 

 Clark's followers, nor had they such a commander ; 

 and after going some miles they were stopped by 

 the floods, and started to return. Before they got 

 back, Vincennes was assailed. Hamilton trusted 

 so completely to the scouting party, and to the seem- 

 ingly impassable state of the country, that his watch 

 was very lax. The Creoles in the town, when Clark's 

 proclamation was read to them, gathered eagerly 

 to discuss it; but so great was the terror of his 

 name, and so impressed and appalled were they by 

 the mysterious approach of an unknown army, and 



the town & took possession of the main street, put guards &c 

 without the least molestation." 



This effectually disposes of the account, which was ac- 

 cepted by Clark himself in his old age, that he ostentatiously 

 paraded his men and marched them to and fro with many 

 flags flying, so as to impress the British with his numbers. 

 Instead of indulging in any such childishness (which would 

 merely have warned the British, and put them on their 

 guard), he in reality made as silent an approach as possible, 

 under cover of the darkness. 



Hamilton in his narrative, speaks of the attack as being 

 made on the 22d of February, not the 23d as Clark says. 



33 Hamilton's "brief account" in the Haldimand MSS. The 

 party was led by Lt. Schieffelin of the regulars and the 

 French captains Lamothe and Maisonville. 



