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George Rogers Clark GPO 1982-361-813/122 Repr.nt 1980 ADMINISTRATION George The George Rogers Clark Memorial, on the site THE MEMORIAL George Rogers Clark National Historical Park is of old Fort Sack ville in Vincennes, Ind., commemo­ Architects for the Clark Memorial were Hirons administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Rogers rates the George Rogers Clark expedition of 1778- & Mellor of New York; the grounds were land­ Department of the Interior. A park manager, 79 and its decisive consequences on the winning scaped by Bennet, Parsons & Frost of Chicago. whose address is Vincennes, IN 47591, is in im­ Clark of the Old Northwest. Near the memorial the white- The murals inside the memorial were painted by Ezra Winter, and Hermon A. MacNeil sculptured mediate charge. NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK • INDIANA spired St. Francis Xavier Church is a prominent reminder of French Catholic religious roots that the bronze statue of Clark. The memorial was As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the were as important to the beginnings of the Ameri­ dedicated by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt Department of the Interior has basic responsibili­ can Nation as the Protestant energies behind in 1936 and became a unit of the Indiana Depart­ ties to protect and conserve our land and water, English expansion across the Appalachians. At ment of Conservation four years later. In 1966 energy and minerals, fish and wildlife, park and the other end of town, the Territorial Capitol and Congress made the memorial a part of the Na­ recreation areas, and for the wise use of all those Governor's House, and the Printing Office, where tional Park System. resources. The Department also has a major newspapers were printed as early as 1804, sym­ ABOUT YOUR VISIT responsibility for American Indian reservation bolize the political and cultural forces which wove The entrance to the park is on Second Street, communities and for people who live in Island together the English and French colonial strands south of U.S. 50. The park preserves the site of Territories under U.S. administration. of the Old Northwest into a new American demo­ cratic fabric. Fort Sackville, the approaches to the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge, and the Buffalo Trace National Park Service crossing of the Wabash River into Illinois. Other U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR sites in the Vincennes area also illustrate the un­ folding of the Old Northwest story. In summer, a "Trailblazer" train operated by Vincennes Uni­ versity, tours the sites shown on the map. FOR YOUR SAFETY Please do not walk on the seawall and do not run on the steps in front of the memorial. During the opening years of the American Revolu­ down the Ohio River to Corn Island, opposite tary contingent to retake it. Reinforced by hun­ Wet, cold, and hungry, Clark and his men arrived Only four known portraits of George tion, the British dominated the Old Northwest present-day Louisville. On the island he drilled his dreds of Indians along the way, he took Fort Rogers Clark exist. This drawing at their destination on February 23. Taking up was made from the portrait that (present-day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and volunteer Indian fighters in the basics of military Sackville from Capt. Leonard Helm's four-man gar­ strategic positions around Fort Sackville. the hangs in the Governor's Mansion in Wisconsin) from their military post at Detroit. Al­ Richmond Clark came from a distin discipline and organization. rison as a matter of course on December 17,1 778. Americans began firing on the surprised British. guished family in Albemarle County, Va , ready angered at the white man's intrusion into Unable to man their artillery because of Clark's also home to Thomas Jefferson Learning that Colonel Hamilton had released most Clark's younger brother, William, their lands, the Indians allied themselves with the Late in June the small army again cast off. Hiding sharpshooters, the British raised a flag of truce of his Indian allies until spring, Clark prepared a accompanied Meriwether Lewis, redcoats and devastated frontier settlements. their boats near Fort Massac, Clark and his column over the fort on February 24. Their offer of condi­ on the famous 1804-6 expedition to mid-winter surprise. Francis Vigo (whose statue survey the Louisiana Territory marched overland across southwestern Illinois tional surrender was refused, and fighting con­ is on the banks of the Wabash) gave large sums of In 1777, the Americans found a man who would to avoid discovery along the easier river route. tinued. Clark's threat to storm the fort finally end Britain's dominance of the region. George Their final approach to Kaskaskia was made at money for food and ammunition to be used by brought about a parley between the two com­ Rogers Clark, a fiery young Virginian, decided that dusk on July 4. Dividing his 170 men into two Clark's forces. With 127 Virginians and about 50 manders. Formal surrender came on February Indian attacks could best be ended by striking groups, Clark led one and quickly overpowered French militia, Clark started out from Kaskaskia on 25, 1779. against the British posts north of the Ohio. During the completely surprised British commander. At February 5, 1779, in an incredible march across the winter of 1777-78, Clark persuaded Gov. the same time the other group of Kentuckians 180 miles of "drowned country." Reinforcements were already on the way by the Patrick Henry and the Virginia legislature to au­ frightened all resistance out of the villagers. Kas­ time the British learned of the loss. Clark inter­ thorize an expedition against the villages of Kas- kaskia was taken without a single shot fired. cepted them, capturing about $50,000 worth of kaskia. Cahokia. and Vincennes. He believed that British supplies. The victory at Fort Sackville the French inhabitants of those villages would aid The next day Clark won over the French-speaking foiled British attempts to keep Americans out of his cause; the Virginia authorities expected that Kaskaskians by telling them of the alliance France the region north of the Ohio and west of the the expedition would bolster their State's claim had recently made with the United States and by Appalachians. The Old Northwest would hence­ to the Northwest. promising them religious freedom. Father Pierre forth be American. Gibault, whose parish extended from the Missis­ Clark received a commission as a lieutenant sippi to the Wabash, helped Clark in his conquest After the Treaty of Paris, 1783, the territory em­ colonel in the Virginia militia, an authorization to of the Illinois Country immeasurably. Gibault went bracing the "Ohio country" was brought under raise 350 men, and permission to spend about first to Cahokia, and then to Vincennes. persuad­ American governmental control by the prece­ $6,000 for supplies and ammunition. He also re­ ing the inhabitants to renounce their loyalty to dent-setting Northwest Ordinance of 1787. The ceived two sets of orders. The public directions the British crown and to swear a new allegiance seat of the temporary territorial government was ordered him to defend Kentucky; the secret in­ to the American cause. established at Marietta, Ohio, in the same year. structions ordered him to attack Kaskaskia and In 1800 Indiana Territory was formed when Con­ Vincennes. But Clark would still have to fight for Vincennes. gress divided the Northwest Territory, and Vin­ Hearing that the lightly held post there had fallen cennes was designated the capital. William Henry In the spring of 1778, Clark gathered his men and to the Americans, the British lieutenant-governor Harrison, later to be ninth President of the United supplies in western Pennsylvania, and boated at Detroit. Col. Henry Hamilton, led a small mili- States, became the first governor. .
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