GEORGE ROGERS CLARK

THE WAR IN THE WEST

'Lord

203

Before the revolution began, hardy settlers had crossed the Alleghanies from both Virginia and North Carolina. The Indians saw their advent with alarm, and in 1774 the settlements of Kentucky were ravaged. Governor Dunmore, of Virginia, Dunmore's marched against them and forced them to make peace war." after a sharp defeat, the Indians relinquishing their claims to Kentucky. This outbreak was known as "Lord Dunmore's War." When the colonists began to resist England, both sides sought to conciliate the savages of the West. The Indians, however, leaned toward the stronger side, and with British aid the Cherokees in 1776 began hostilities. The most exposed part of the frontier was the Watauga valley, in North Carolina. The inhabitants had warning, and retired safely into stockades. Conquered. North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia sent out bodies of militia which ravaged the Indian towns, and the Cherokees made peace. For a time the Watauga settlements had relief, but Kentucky continued to suffer from the Indians north of the Ohio.

The

Cherokees

The Wyo

ming Valley.

The British also had influence with the Iroquois, who aided Carleton in 1776 and Burgoyne in 1777. After Saratoga, the savages were not needed for large military operations on the Canadian border, but they were incited to raid the western settlements of New York and Pennsylvania. The most important action was a raid into the latter state by Colonel John Butler with a force of tories and Seneca Indians. They fought and defeated an American force near Wilkesbarre, and then devastated the Wyoming valley at leisure. Women and children were slain, and the rich valley was left desolate. In the same year, 1779, a band similarly composed inflicted ruin nearly as complete on Cherry valley, in central New York. A retaliatory expedition under General Sullivan laid waste the Seneca country and reduced the population to a crowd Valley. of starving fugitives; but their chieftain, Joseph Brant, gathered them into a fort at Niagara and continued the raids against the settlements. The employment of Indians by the British was strongly condemned by the Americans. The practice of paying them for scalps only added to the horrors of the war and did not hasten its end. Hamilton, British governor of the Northwest, who paid for many scalps, was called the "Hair Buyer."

Cherry

Clark's
Expedition.

After 1776 the Kentuckians were not left free from molestation, and this led to an act of retaliation which had a vast significance for the "Hair Buyer." The stroke was nothing less than the conquest of the Northwest, and George Rogers Clark was the author of the scheme. In January, 1778, he secured from Governor Patrick Henry, of Virginia, a commission as lieutenantcolonel with authority to raise 350 men for a secret expedition against

The" Hair
Buyer
Captured.

the British posts north of the Ohio. In May he set out from Wheeling, going down the Ohio to the falls, where Louisville was soon to be founded. After waiting here a month the expedition proceeded into what is now Illinois, directing its course to the French town of Kaskaskia. The place was taken by surprise and without resistance. The inhabitants willingly took the oath of allegiance when told that France was now an ally of the United States, and when promised religious toleration. The people of Cahokia and Vincennes also submitted on the same terms. Thus all the settlements of the Illinois country passed into the hands of Clark, who had less than 200 men. Hamilton, at Detroit, knew how weak was Clark's resources, and retook Vincennes in December. Feeling perfectly secure, he sent away all his troops but 80, and awaited the spring. He underestimated the determination of his opponent, who on February 5 set out for Vincennes with 170 men, some of them of French blood. Before him the road, 170 miles long, ran through a flat region, much of it covered by water. Around Vincennes the country was a shallow lake through which the command waded, sometimes up to the neck. To add to their sufferings, their provisions gave out, but luck sent them a deer, and three days later they captured an Indian canoe with some food in it. February 24 Clark came to Vincennes and invested the fort. Hamilton was completely surprised and next day surrendered. There was great joy in the western settlements when news came that "the Hair Buyer" was taken and sent to Virginia, where he was kept in close confinement. The western country was organized as Illinois county, Illinois Virginia. The French settlements remained under AmeriCounty. can protection until the end of the war, but Detroit continued in British hands, and from it went forth many Indian raids. Clark, now a brigadier-general, was anxious to take it, but was not given the requisite means.

Small
Cruisers and
Privateers.

THE NAVY IN THE REVOLUTION

England's naval superiority gave the United States little opportunity for achievements at sea; but small cruisers well commanded might inflict severe loss on British merchantmen, and privateers might operate successfully. In December, 1775, congress ordered thirteen small men-of-war, and before the end of the conflict forty-three others had been placed on the ocean. Their average number of guns was twenty. Many of these ships were captured before they did serious damage to the enemy. Besides the continental ships, war vessels were owned by all the states except New Jersey and Delaware, but most of the state navies were for harbor defense. The ill disguised friendship of France early enabled us to use her harbors for the sale of prizes,

JOHN PAUL JONES

205

and several cruisers as well as many privateers operated from that safe base. Fitted out and furnished with a mongrel crew, such a ship would intercept British vessels off the French coast, or in the channel, or range along the British shore itself. Great Britain protested vigorously to France against the abuse of neutrality. Sometimes her complaints were heard and the American ships were warned to leave; but the Americans invariably came back, and others followed their example. When the war had gone on a year London merchants estimated their actual losses at £1,800,000, besides having to meet a great enhancement of freights and insurance. After the French alliance was made the profits from seizing British ships must be shared with Frenchmen. New England sent out most of the privateers, and her citizens reaped vast profits from the business.

John Paul

Of all our naval achievements during the revolution the most notable are associated with the name of John Paul Jones. Scotch by birth and christened John Paul, he made several voyages to Virginia, where his brother was settled. In 1773 this Jones. brother died, and John Paul inherited his property. About this time he changed his name, taking that of his friend Willie Jones of Halifax, who was probably that Willie Jones of Halifax, North Carolina, who led the radical element in that colony in the days of revolution. In December, 1775, he was appointed a lieutenant in the infant navy and hoisted the first flag on a regularly commissioned American war vessel. A year later he was a captain, and in one ship after another displayed great activity and took many prizes. In one of them, the Ranger, in 1778 he cruised in the Irish Sea, entered by night the harbor of Whitehaven, and captured a sloop-of-war of twenty guns. This showed him what could be done by a daring man with a small squadron. By much entreaty he at last got from the French king four ships, which, added to one of his own, Squadron. made a squadron to be reckoned with. The largest, the Bon Homme Richard, a converted Indiaman, carried 44 guns. Another, the Pallas carried 30, and the rest carried 36, 18, and 12 respectively. The crew was largely European, but all the ships flew the American flag.

His

the Serapis.

August 14, 1779, the squadron began its memorable voyage. Passing along the west coast of Ireland and Scotland, destroying many prizes, it came off the east coast of Scotland, where a storm frustrated Jones's plan to destroy the shipping in Leith harbor. September 23, near Hull, he sighted forty merchantmen convoyed by the Serapis, mounting 50 guns, and the Countess of Scarborough, Defeat of 28 guns. Jones gave chase and selected the Serapis as his antagonist. He ordered his other ships to do the same, but only the Pallas obeyed, her captain giving his attention to the Scarborough. The engagement resolved itself into a conflict between the Serapis and the Bon Homme Richard. At the first fire two of the American guns burst, and Jones, realizing his inferiority in that line determined