With the upcoming semiquincentennial (250-year) anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the American Colonies from Imperial British rule, I decided I should start a series of geocaches highlighting well known and lesser known parts of history regarding the American War of Independence.
Battle of Vincennes
In response to American Lieutenant Colonel George Rogers Clark capturing the British outposts of Kaskaskia and Cahokia along the Mississippi River (now part of Illinois) in July of 1778, a British detachment led by British Lieutenant Governor Henry Hamilton left Fort Detroit (now Detroit, Michigan) for Fort Sackville along the Wabash River in Vincennes (now part of Indiana). These troops were to retake the outposts in the spring of 1779.
Lt. Colonel Clark learned of the extra troops in Vincennes and decided a surprise winter attack was necessary.
For most of the month of February in 1779, Clark's 170 militiamen marched and trudged through the mud and flooded rivers across modern day Illinois to reach Vincennes unnoticed by the British.
Clarke entered Vincennes on the evening of February 23. While most of Clark's men secured the village, small detachments stealthily approached the fort, took cover behind nearby fences and buildings, and opened fire.
The attack on Fort Sackville came as a surprise to Hamilton. He initially believed that the gunfire was caused by a "drunken frolic of the inhabitants," but after a sergeant was slightly wounded realized the fort was under attack and ordered his men to return fire.
About mid-morning on February 24, Clark sent a demand for unconditional surrender to Hamilton under a flag of truce. Hamilton refused to surrender. Although the British regulars supported their commander's decision, the militia who were inside the fort were unwilling to continue fighting since many of their relations were openly assisting Clark in the village.
With seven of his regulars wounded, little hope for reinforcement, and a militia who he later called "treacherous cowards," Hamilton sent out a letter offering terms; asking for a three-day truce and a meeting with Clark. Clark repeated his demand for unconditional surrender but did offer to meet Hamilton.
A compromise was reached wherein the British would "deliver themselves up Prisoners of War and March out with their Arms and Acoutriments." The following morning on February 25, Hamilton marched his men out of the fort and formally surrendered to Clark. A total of 79 men were taken prisoner. Clark ordered the American flag raised over the fort and renamed it Fort Patrick Henry.
Although debated by modern historians, it was believed this battle attributed to Britain's ceding of the territory northwest of the Ohio Country in the 1783 Treaty of Paris.
Gen. George Rogers Clark had a famous younger brother Lieutenant William Clark. Starting in 1803, who was William Clark closely associated with?
- Piankeshaw Chief Young Tobacco = N 41° 21.325′ W 88° 33.846′
- Captain Meriwether Lewis = N 41° 20.569′ W 88° 33.453′
- Sir Alexander Mackenzie = N 41° 20.829′ W 88° 33.362′