ii4 The Winning of the West 



was likewise the most important in its results, for 

 had he been defeated we would not only have lost 

 the Illinois, but in all probability Kentucky also. 



Immediately after taking th fort Clark sent 

 Helm and fifty men, in boats armed with swivels, 

 up the Wabash to intercept a party of forty French 

 volunteers from Detroit, who were bringing to Vin- 

 cennes bateaux heavily laden with goods of all 

 kinds, to the value of ten thousand pounds ster- 

 ling. 44 



In a few days Helm returned successful, and 

 the spoils, together with the goods taken at Vin- 

 cennes, were distributed among the soldiers, who 

 "got almost rich." 45 The officers kept nothing save 

 a few needed articles of clothing. The gunboat 

 Willing appeared shortly after the taking of the 

 fort, the crew bitterly disappointed that they were 

 not in time for the fighting. The long-looked-for 

 messenger from the Governor of Virginia also ar- 

 rived, bearing to the soldiers the warm thanks of 

 the Legislature of that State for their capture of 



difficulties and dangers of Colonel Clark's march from the 

 Illinois were such as required great courage to encounter and 

 great perseverance to overcome. In trusting to traitors he 

 was more fortunate than myself; whether, on the whole, he 

 was entitled to success is not for me to determine." Both 

 Clark and Hamilton give minute accounts of various inter- 

 views that took place between them; the accounts do not 

 agree, and it is needless to say that in the narration of each 

 the other appears to disadvantage, being quoted as practi- 

 cally admitting various acts of barbarity, etc. 



44 Letter to Henry. 



45 "Memoir." 



