ii2 The Winning of the West 



Clark determined to make a signal example of the 

 six captured Indians, both to strike terror into the 

 rest and to show them how powerless the British 

 were to protect them; so he had them led within 

 sight of the fort and there tomahawked and thrown 

 into the river. 41 The sight did not encourage the 

 garrison. The English troops remained firm and 

 eager for the fight, though they had suffered the 

 chief loss; but the Detroit volunteers showed evi- 

 dent signs of panic. 



In the afternoon Hamilton sent out another flag, 

 and he and Clark met in the old French church to 

 arrange for the capitulation. Helm, who was still 

 a prisoner on parole, and was told by Clark that he 

 was to remain such until recaptured, was present; 

 so were the British Major Hay and the American 

 Captain Bowman. There was some bickering and 

 recrimination between the leaders, Clark reproach- 

 ing Hamilton with having his hands dyed in the 

 blood of the women and children slain by his savage 

 allies; while the former answered that he was not 

 to blame for obeying the orders of his superiors, 

 and that he himself had done all he could to make 

 the savages act mercifully. It was finally agreed 



erally remained faithful to the Republic, and the Detroit 

 French to the crown. 



41 Hamilton, who bore the most vindictive hatred to Clark, 

 implies that the latter tomahawked the prisoners himself; 

 but Bowman explicitly says that it was done while Clark and 

 Hamilton were meeting at the church. Be it noticed in pass- 

 ing, that both Clark and Hamilton agree that though the 

 Vincennes people favored the Americans, only a few of them 

 took active part on Clark's side. 



