War of 1812 in Peoria-- Part 5: Building Fort Clark

With over 1,000 men to assist, the construction of the new fort at what is today  Peoria was completed quickly by September 23, 1813.  A brass six-pound cannon was mounted in the fort and fired in celebration of the accomplishment.  The fort was named Fort Clark in honor of  General George Rogers Clark, the celebrated hero of the American Revolution who had victories against the British at  Vincennes and Kaskaskia.

General Howard sent a force in two boats under Major William Christy to pursue the Indians on the upper Illinois River.  Another force under  Major Nathan Boone (was this Garner's unit?), followed the course of the Spoon River for fifty miles.  

Upon their return to Fort Clark, both officers reported that their troops had been unable to overtake the fleeing Indians.  The rangers were relieved of their duty at Fort Clark in mid-October, and returned to their   home stations, leaving the regular U.S. troops to garrison the post.

--Brock-Perry

Some More on Patrick Gass-- Part 5: High Tributes to Gass' Work With the Expedition

Then, it was out to the Pacific Ocean and back for Patrick Gass and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  Here is what Captain Lewis wrote about Gass, dated St. Louis,  October 10, 1806, attesting to his high character and good conduct:

"As a tribute justly due  to the merits of said Patrick Gass, I with cheerfulness declare, that with ample support, which he gave me, under  every difficulty; the manly firmness, which he evinced  on every  necessary occasion; and the fortitude with which he  bore the fatigues and  painful sufferings incident to that long voyage, entitles  him to my highest confidence and sincere thanks, while it eminently recommends him to the  consideration and respect  of his fellow citizens."

Remaining but a short time in St. Louis,  Gass then went to Vincennes, Indiana,  and later to Louisville, Kentucky, where, with a couple of his comrades, rejoined Lewis and Clark.    They had with them a delegation of Indians, headed by Chief Big White, whom the were taking to Washington.  

They paid their respected to President Jefferson, made their report to the proper officials, delivered their specimens and curiosities, and were discharged.

--Brock-Perry

James Miller-- Part 2: The Hero of Lundy's Lane"

James Miller joined the 4th U.S. Infantry in 1808.  In 1811, he fought the Indians at Vincennes, Indiana where he was promoted to colonel.

In May 1812, he was posted to Detroit and commanded the American forces at the Battle of Maguaga.  He was taken prisoner at the surrender of Detroit and later exchanged.

In 1814, he was the commander of the 21st I.S. Infantry and led his men in the capture of British artillery at the Battle of Lundy's Lane where his "I will try sir" comment became famous.  He came away from the battle with the name "Hero of Lundy's Lane."  For his service there, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and brevetted to brigadier-general.

--Brock-Perry

Battle of Wildcat Creek (Spur's Defeat)-- Part 3: To Tippecanoe Again

Samuel Hopkins withdrew to Vincennes in Indiana Territory where he angrily discharged his Kentucky militia and raised a new army, consisting of three regiments of Kentucky infantry and one company of the 7th United States Infantry under Major Zachary Taylor and several other groups.

He left Vincennes on November 11, 1812, in search of Indians.  Reaching the site of the Tippecanoe battlefield, he burned an Indian village and a Winnebago village was found at the nearby Wildcat Creek and Hopkins decided to attack it.


--Brock-Perry

Battle of Wildcat Creek (Spur's Defeat)-- Part 2: A Two-Pronged Attack

Two forces of American troops set out to attack the Indians.  One was led by Major General Samuel Hopkins and the other by Colonel William Russell.

Col. Russel was at the Siege of Fort Harrison and left there with Illinois militia and Indiana Rangers and destroyed hostile Kickapoo villages at Peoria Lake in Illinois.  He withdrew to Cahokia when he couldn't hook up forces with General Hopkins.

In the meantime, Samuel Hopkins had returned to Vincennes, Indiana, when he couldn't get his Kentucky militia to engage the Indians.

--Brock-Perry

A Frontier in Flames, War On the U.S.-Canadian Border-- Part 6: Tensions Between Indians and Whites

Tecumseh protested that the tribes had no authority to sell the land, which was commonly held.  In August 1810, he and a band of several hundred warriors met with William Henry Harrison at the governor's home. Grouseland, in Vincennes, Indiana Territory.

Tecumseh demanded that Harrison rescind the Treaty of Fort Wayne, which the governor refused to do.  The discussion grew more and more heated.  At the end, Tecumseh warned Harrison that if the treaty stood, they would ally with the British.

Attacks on American settlers began to increase in what was known as Tecumseh's War.  Harrison asked for federal troops to help restore order.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Knox I and II At Vincennes, Indiana-- Part 3

In 1813, it was determined that Fort Knox II was too far from Vincennes to be of defense, so the fort was disassembled and floated down the Wabash River and rebuilt a few yards from where Fort Knox I had been.  So, technically, this would be Fort Knox III, I guess.

After the warm, friction again became an issue between the garrison and townspeople.  Native Americans had moved to the north, so the garrison was moved to Fort Harrison in Terre Haute, Indiana,  in 1816.

Within weeks, Vincennes residents had stripped the fort of anything useful and it ceased to exist.

The Story of a Bunch of Forts.  --Brock-Perry

Fort Knox I and II At Vincennes, Indiana-- Part 2

FORT KNOX I

A new fort was built a few blocks north of St. Patrick and named after the U.S. Secretary of War William Knox, at the intersection of present-day First and Buntin streets.  From 1787 to 1803, it was the western-most military post of the country.  However, the garrison and townspeople did not get along.

Territory Governor William Henry Harrison petition Secretary of War Henry Dearborn to build a new fort and in 1803, the federal government authorized $200 to build a new fort three miles north of town at Petit Rocher.

FORT KNOX II

It too was named Fort Knox, but generally referred to as Fort Knox II.  The fort had no better luck than the original and became known for duels and desertions.  In 1811, Captain Zachary Taylor (later president) was put in charge with Indian problems rising.

The fort was used as a muster point for the US Army and militia during the Indian Wars and War of 1812.

Today, it is a state historic site and the outlines of the fort have been marked with short posts.

Back to I.  --Brock-Perry

Fort Knox I and II at Vincennes, Indiana-- Part 1

I had also never heard of a Fort Knox at Vincennes, Indiana.  I thought they might be referring to Fort Knox in Kentucky where the gold is stores, but thought that might be far for the survivors of the Attack at the Narrows to go.

I was already familiar with the George Rogers Clark Memorial at the site of Fort Sackville in Vincinnes, but not Fort Knox.

From Wikipedia.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the French, British and United States built several forts at Vincennes overlooking the Wabash River.

TRADING POST, 1702, France

FORT VINCENNES,  1731, France

FORT SACKVILLE, Replaced Fort Vincennes in 1761 and named after Lord George Sackville, the site was at the intersection of First and Main streets.  It fell into disrepair after the French and Indian War.

U.S. forces seized it in 1778, but the British retook it.  U.S. Lt. Col. George Rogers Clark captured it in February 1779 and renamed it Fort Patrick Henry.  It was abandoned in 1787.

Fort Knox Up next.  --Brock-Perry