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Genet's political scheme. He stated in the letter that Michaux was a citizen of the French Republic who had been in the United States for several years and that he was "a man of science and merit, and goes to Kentucky in pursuit of objects of Natural history and botany, to augment the literary acquirements of the two republics." He also noted that "Mr. Genet the minister of France here" had expressed "His esteem for Mr. Michaux and good opinion of him, and his wish that he should be made known to you." 21 This letter, written on June 28th, did not suit Genet. He complained "that in that letter I speak of him only as a person of botanical and natural pursuits, but that he wished the Governor to view him as something more, as a French citizen possessing his confidence." 22 Thereupon Jefferson took this letter back and wrote another one. This letter has not been found; but it would seem certain that in the light of Jefferson's expressed attitude, Michaux could not have been represented as a French agent whose mission was to arouse the Kentuckians to take Louisiana from the Spaniards.

Genet also secured from John Brown letters of introduction for Michaux to George Rogers Clark and to Governor Shelby. Brown referred to him in both instances as a man of science who was going to Kentucky to carry on botanical studies.23 These letters were undoubtedly much less pleasing to Genet than to Michaux, for the latter was not by nature a political intriguer, but rather a true botanist with an insatiable thirst for more knowledge in his chosen field.24 He, however, became Genet's political agent for the West, and reached Kentucky in early September (1793). He visited Governor Shelby, Benjamin Logan, George Rogers Clark, and other leaders before the end of the month. In November he was followed to Kentucky by four other French agents, De Pauw, LaChaise, Mathurin, and Gignoux. At different times various other Frenchmen, self-appointed or otherwise, had a hand in the movement. The amount of authority or influence exercised by these agents was not great as they were continually without funds.

21 "Correspondence of Clark and Genet," 984.

22 Complete Annals of Thomas Jefferson, 130, 131; also in "Correspondence of Clark and Genet," 984, 985.

23 For copies see "Correspondence of Clark and Genet," 982, 983. Both are dated June 24, 1793.

24 The journal of Michaux during the period in which he was acting as political agent in Kentucky, gives little attention to politics, but is replete with botanical observations. These proportions were a true reflection of his interests in the two fields. See "Journal of Andre_Michaux, 1793-1796," in R. G. Thwaites, Early Western Travels, III, 27, 104. For instructions of Michaux, see "Correspondence of the French Ministers," in Annual Report of the American Historical Association, II, 1903.

CHAPTER XXIX

GEORGE ROGERS CLARK AND THE FRENCH ENTERPRISE

Although Michaux was Genet's chief political agent in the West, George Rogers Clark was in fact the life and head of the movement. Clark had not fared well at the hands of Virginia and of the Nation, as before noted. He had spent his private fortune in his conquest of the Northwest and had never been able to get a satisfactory and adequate settlement. His offer to Spain in 1788 to expatriate himself and set up a colony beyond the Mississippi, was an expression of his sense of neglect by his own country. As this venture came to nothing, in 1791 he reminded Virginia again of the fact that he had used his substance in conquering a country which was soon to be dotted with settlements and again petitioned for an adjustment of his claims. Again he was doomed. to disappointment. It was said that in one of his fits of despondency and anger, he broke to pieces the sword Virginia had voted him in 1779.2

Perhaps, no man in American history gave greater promise in his early life, of a more brilliant career. Before he was twenty-eight years old, he had won all the fame he enjoys today; and in fact had done everything that was to add to the honorable position he was to hold in American history as one of the country's most intrepid military leaders. His health had been impaired on his Northwestern expedition, and rheumatism was later brought on to add to his gloom and sense of a country's ingratitude. Disappointed in love, he never married. Restless and impatient of restraint, he turned from one scheme to another in the hope of finding relief from a situation that was almost intolerable. This man, great and admirable while his native ability and talents remained unimpaired, spent the last years of his life in pain and sorrow. In addition to his portion of the Clark grant north of the Ohio, Virginia showed her continued regard and respect for him by having made in 1812 a neatly-wrought sword with suitable devices and presented to him. She also settled on him a pension of $400 annually.3

Clark was in the midst of his troubles and disappointments when he hit upon the idea of entering a French scheme for the conquest of Louisiana. In the latter part of 1792 he had been in communication with the French authorities through Thomas Paine, regarding the acceptance of his services in such a project. Before Genet arrived in America, Clark made proposals for an expedition down the Mississippi.

In a letter of February 5, 1793, to the French minister, he gave his main reasons for seeking to join himself to the French. He declared with a strain of bitterness: "My country has proved notoriously ungrateful, for my Services, and so forgetful of those successful and almost unexampled enterprises which gave it the whole of its territory on this. side of the great mountains, as in this way in my very prime of life, to have neglected me. And yet, although I feel, I never shall resent." Turning

1 Robertson, Petitions of the Early Inhabitants of Kentucky, 172-174. 2 Butler, History of Kentucky, 537-539.

3 Butler, History of Kentucky, 537-539. For a short sketch of Clark's life, see Collins, History of Kentucky, II, 133-140. For an estimate of him see, Magazine of American History, Vol. 14. 571, 572.

4 "Correspondence of Clark and Genet," 967, 968.

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from the neglect he suffered from the government he pointed out the influence he still had among the people of the West: "Since I relinquished my command over the western country, congress had not one successful campaign in it. The Indian tribes, from New Mexico to the Alleghany mountains are my friends and could be brought to march under my bannersand why? because I was Just and dealt uprightly and manfully with them, while, by frequent defeats, I made them trouble." He now turned to the main point of his letter: "if you and the free nation you represent will but concur in the project-by sanctioning my proceedings, duly commissioning me to that end, supplying me with some small resources by Letters of credit or cash, and suffering me to raise my own men in this Country, and to appoint them such officers as, I am sure, will execute the business with promptitude, secrecy and decision. I say secrecy; for until the blow is struck, the design of the expedition, or the expedition itself ought, by no means, to transpire."

He showed a great desire to convince the French. Continuing he developed his plan and described his power in the Western country: "I can raise abundance of men in the western country-men as well American as French who have repeatedly fought, obtained Laurels, and never yet were met with a repulse under my command, men through whose courage, fidelity to their country and confidence in my arrangements, which never yet failed them of success, took the Illinois and Post St. Vincennes from the Britons, saved St. Louis and the rest of Louisiana for the Spaniards, from that nation, humbled the whole Northern and Southern tribes of Indians (those in particular who are now so hostile and triumphant) to the very dust, preserved Kentucky, Cumberland and the whole territory north west of the Ohio to the United States, and protected the western frontiers of Virginia and Pennsylvania from British and Indian depredations. These are not exaggerations. All America will concur with this my unexaggerated testimony in their favor, and these are the men, who, with me, will instantly expatriate ourselves, (as the Law direct), and are ready to become citizens of the French Republic-if my proposals shall have been approved of."

He had no doubt of the number of men he could raise and the ease with which he could subdue the immense Spanish dominions throughout all America. He further developed his plans as follows: "Out of Kentucky, Cumberland, the settlement on Holston, the Wabash and the Illinois I can (by my name alone) raise 1500 brave men, or thereaboutsand the French at St. Louis and throughout the rest of Louisiana, together with the American Spanish Subjects at the Natchez would, I am sure of it, (for they all know me), flock to my Standard. These last would amount to, at least, as many more. With the first 1500 alone I can take the whole of Louisiana for France. I would begin with St. Louis, a rich, large and populous town-and by placing only two or three frigates in the Mississippi's mouth, (to guard against Spanish succours) I would engage to subdue New Orleans, and the rest of Louisiana. If further aided, I would capture Pensacola; and if Santa Fé and the rest of New Mexico were objects-I know their strength and every avenue leading to them, for conquest. For our pay and gratifications in Land, (as we abandon our own here) we shall confide in the Justice and generosity of the great nation we shall serve, after our labours are over. To save congress a rupture with Spain, on our accounts, we must first expatriate ourselves, and become French citizens. This is our intention." 5

* * *

This bold move proposed by Clark was not known to Genet until he reached Philadelphia in May, when he found Clark's letter awaiting 5 "Correspondence of Clark and Genet," 967-971.

him. He then developed his plan for the West as has been previously described. Clark was put in charge of military affairs and given the pretentious title of "Major General in the Armies of France and Commander in Chief of the French Revolutionary Legion on the Mississippi.” His control was complete as far as French permission could go. He was responsible for the whole military organization, appointing his officers and agents. A copy of a commission he granted follows: "To Henry Lindsay; Know you that by the special confidence, reposed in your courage, ability, good conduct and fidelity, and by the power invested in me by the Minister of France, do appoint you Captain in the Second Battalion of the Second Regiment, to serve in an expedition designed against the Spaniards of Louisiana and the Floridas by order of Citizen Genet, Minister Plenipotentiary of the French Republic. All persons whom it may concern are Requested to pay due attention to you as such.

"Given under my hand at Louisville this Eleventh day of January, 1794 and in the second year of the French Republic one and indivisible."7

Michaux, who was in Kentucky during September, October, and November, (1793) worked in harmony with Clark. He sounded out numerous men and attempted to turn them toward the enterprise, when he was not too busy botanizing. In early September he visited Benjamin Logan, and learned he was not going to jump at conclusions too early. Logan declared that he would rather wait for a time to see what would be the outcome of the American negotiations with Spain on the question of the Mississippi before committing himself to the French project. But within a few months, his patience gave out and he urgently offered his aid to Clark. He declared on December 31, 1793, “I have taken my leave of appointments in this state of the United States and do presume that I am at liberty to go to any foreign country I please and intend to do so." 9 Michaux found George Nicholas in a receptive mood from the very beginning. On the 9th of November the latter proposed to Michaux that the French fleet seize the mouth of the Mississippi and declare that all Louisiana belonged to France by conquest. He would then have the French proclaim the freedom of navigation to the United States. Should the Spaniards refuse to believe what the French should proclaim and continue stopping boats on the river then the Kentuckians "would have the right to repel Constraint and force by force. Thus the Spanish Government would have no reason to complain of the United States having broken through inasmuch as the country would be reputed in the possession of the French Republic." It should be noted that Nicholas' suggestion had no direct relation to a Kentucky expedition except as one might develop to dislodge freebooting Spaniards from declared French territory. Such niceties in international relations were in keeping with the legalistic mind of Nicholas.10

Clark was always impatient at the interminable delay that seemed to him to be following his preparations. He wrote Genet in early October declaring that if he had had an earlier reply, he could have by that time "in all probability Executed my first Project that of getting compleat Possession of the Mississippi as the frends of the people boath in that Country and this was prepared and I had every information I wished for but at present the season being far advanced and I find an impossibility of keeping it a secret." Clark was here allowing his enthusiasm to lead

For a discussion as to the time Genet received the letter and as to the exact address see "Correspondence of Clark and Genet," 1099. Letter from T. M. Pickering to N. Webster, Nov. 1, 1797.

7 Ibid., 1033, 1034.

8 Journal of Michaux, 1793-1796, 39-42.

9 "Correspondence of Clark and Genet," 1026.

10 Journal of Michaux, 1793-1796, 44, 45.

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