After which he moved to live with his sister, Lucy Crogan, at Locust Grove just outside of Louisville, KY. In 1809, at the age of 57, Clark suffered a stroke and subsequently fell into a fire, resulting in the amputation of his leg. Unfortunately, it seemed he was defeated at each turn. This crippling debt forced Clark to look elsewhere to recoup his fortune. Having never been reimbursed for the money he personally spent to fund the campaigns. In the later years of Clark’s life, he was left with declining health and immense debt. Clark returned to Vincennes and established a garrison to protect this outpost before returning to Kentucky. After proceeding along the Wabash River north of Vincennes, a large portion of the men mutinied. From the beginning, however, Clark was plagued by questions of his authority and the unruly behavior of his troops. During 1786, after it became apparent that the treaties were ineffective, Clark was requested by Kentucky and Virginia authorities to lead an expedition against the tribes along the Wabash River. He also was appointed a commissioner to make treaties with tribes north of the Ohio River who were continuing their raids into Kentucky. Following the war, Clark served as chairman to the board of commissioners that allotted lands across the Ohio River from Louisville to those individuals who had taken part in his 17 campaigns. Nine months after capturing Fort Sackville, Clark wrote a Letter to his Friend George Mason chronicling his adventures against the British and the daring mid-winter march. In the years following Clark continue to the war efforts in the West, but ultimately would never surpass his accomplishments at Vincennes.ĭuring September 1783, the Revolutionary War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris and Clark returned to private life. After a brief siege, during which Clark ordered the execution of 5 Native Americans, to intimidate the British, Lt. Never-the-less, the small militia reached Vincennes on February 23. Despite unseasonably warm weather the journey was harsh, encountering snow melt, ice and rain all which led to flooding. Clark knowing that the British would make an advance toward Kaskaskia in the spring, he made the decision to complete a winter march and retake the fort.Ĭlark and his men left Kaskaskia on Februand began their march to Vincennes. Fort Sackville had already capitulated to Clark and his men in August of 1778, however, by December the British had retaken the Fort. On June 24, 1778, the time had come to move further west to thwart British in the Northwest and gain control of the frontier, namely the Mississippi River for the colonies. Using flat boats the men made their way down the Ohio River, before disembarking and marching the rest of the way to Kaskaskia on the Mississippi River, arriving in the evening on July 4, 1778, without firing a single shot. The men drilled and trained at Corn Island, near present day Louisville, KY. We have learned more about the Illinois Campaign through the journals Captain Joseph Bowman and Clark himself.Ĭlark’s initial campaign was swift, efficient and above all else successful. On May 13, 1778, having been given permission from Patrick Henry to take a small force of men to assure that the British were dispelled from the frontier, Clark and his men began their journey from Redstone, PA westward. This love for Kentucky and his fellow frontiersmen, pushed him to act when the American Revolution broke out, knowing that the frontier would be vulnerable to both attacks by the British at Fort Detroit and the Native Americans. By the age of 19 he had begun to travel into western Virginia and in 1772 he ventured into eastern Kentucky, quickly developing a love for the area. ![]() From there he spent his time exploring the outdoors and learning how to read the land. ![]() Recognizing his son’s potential as an outdoorsman, his father secured him an apprenticeship with a surveyor. Clark was not a good student preferring to spend his time outdoors exploring instead of in the classroom. ![]() Letter to Virginia Governor Patrick Henry from George Rogers ClarkGeorge Rogers Clark was born in Albemarle County, Virginia in 1752. We have this consolation that our case is just, and that our country will be grateful and not condemn our conduct, in case we fall through if so, this country as well as Kentucky, I believe, is lost. Great things have been effected by a few men well conducted.
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