Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Captain Chrystie was a perfect military man. He was valiant without pride; victorious without cruelty; indefatigable without avarice; a soldier without vice; and a christian without bigotry. He was modest and unassuming, yet firm as the brazen wall.

Lieutenant colonel James Crystie, of the 15th regiment, United States infantry, and one of the brave men who earned a name at the battle of Queenston, in the late war with Great Britain, was a son of captain Chrystie. He is also deceased.

CLARKE, GEORGE, ROGERS, colonel in the service of Virginia, against the Indians in the revolutionary war, was among the best soldiers, and better acquainted with the Indian warfare than any officer in the army. While his countrymen on the sea-board were contending with the British regulars, he was the efficient protector of the people of the frontiers of Virginia and Pennsylvania from the inroads of the savages. The history of his exploits would fill a volume; and for hairbreadth escapes and hardy enterprize, would hardly have a parallel. We are only enabled to give an extract:

"The legislature of Virginia claiming the country conquered by colonel Clark, comprehended it within the new country, which they erected by the name of Illinois. A regiment of infantry, and one troop of cavalry, were voted for its protection; the command of which was given to colonel Clarke; whose former regiment was dissolved, by the expiration of its term of service; and who well merited this new expression of public confidence, by the entire success of his late enterprises; by his known courage; by his uncommon hardihood; by his military talents; and by his singular capacity for Indian warfare.

"The families who came to the Falls of Ohio with colonel Clarke, in 1778, were the first settlers at that place. Considering their exposed situation on the extremity of Kentucky, detached seventy miles from the other settlements, and in the vicinity of several hostile tribes of Indians, and British posts, it was deemed expedient to erect their first cabins on the principal island in the falls, and there they made corn in that year.

"Greatly were these adventurers interested in the success of colonel Clarke's expedition. Nor was it long before they heard of the fall of Kaskaskias. Pleasing as was this intelligence, it did not afford to them the wanted security.

"There was yet post St. Vincents, more immediately in their neighborhood, and replenished with Indians. The capture of this place was to them the mandate of liberation from their insular situation, and an invitation to remove to the Kentucky shore. Hence the origin of the settlement at the site of Louisville.

"A stand being once made at the Falls, and the garrison freed from the contracted and inconvenient limits of the island, soon accumulated strength from accession of numbers, and importance from its becoming the residence of colonel Clarke, with his regiment.

"The year 1779 early felt in various ways, the effect of colonel Clarke's expedition and success; a general confidence prevailed in the country, which extended itself abroad; and while it brought more emigrants into Kentucky, it encouraged an extension of the settlements. About the first of April, a block-house was built where Lexington now stands, and a new settlement began there under the auspices of Robert Patterson, who may be considered an early and meritorious adventurer, much engaged in the defence of the country; and who was afterwards promoted to the rank of colonel. Several persons raised corn at the place that year, and in the autumn, John Morrison, afterwards a major, removed his family from Harrodsburg, and Mrs. Morrison was the first white woman at Lexington; so named to commemorate the battle at Lexington, the first which took place in the war of the revolution.

"In this year, colonel Clarke descended the Ohio, with a part of his regiment, and after entering the Mississippi, at the first high land on the castern bank, landed the troops, and built Fort Jefferson.

"In a military view, this position was well chosen; and had it been well fortified, and furnished with cannon, would have commanded the river. Without a doubt, at some future day, it will be a place of great importance in the western country. It is within the limits of Kentucky, and never should be alienated. A suitable garrison at that place, should it ever be necessary, would hold in check both the upper and lower Mississippi.

"In 1781, colonel Clark received a general's commission, and had the chief command in Kentucky. A row galley was constructed under his direction, which was to ply up and down the Ohio, as a moving battery for the north-western frontier, and which is supposed to have had a very good effect in frightening the Indians, for none dared to attack it; nor were they so free as theretofore in crossing the river: indeed, there is a tradition, that its passage up the Ohio, once as far as the mouth of Licking, had the effect to stop an expedition, which a formidable party of Indians had commenced against Kentucky."

The character of this veteran is well developed in the following extract, recently published, from the "Notes of an old officer:"

"The Indians came into the treaty at fort Washington in

the most friendly manner; except the Shawahanees; the most conceited and most warlike of the aborigines; the first in at a battle; the last at a treaty. Three hundred of their finest warriors, set off in all their paint and feathers, filed into the council house. Their number and demeanor, so unusual at an occasion of this sort, was altogether unexpected and suspicious. The United States' stockade mustered seventy men. "In the centre of the hall, at a little table, sat the Commissary General Clarke, the indefatigable scourge of these very marauders; General Richard Butler, and Mr. Parsons; there were present also, a Captain Denny, who, I believe, is still alive, and can attest this story. On the part of the Indians an old council sachem and a war chief took the lead the latter, a tall raw-boned fellow, with an impudent and villanous look made a boisterous and threatening speech, which operated effectually on the passions of the Indians, who set up a prodigious whoop at every pause. He concluded by presenting a black and white wampum; to signify they were prepared for either event, peace or war. Clarke

exhibited the same unaltered and careless countenance he had shown during the whole scene, his head leaning on his left hand, and his elbow resting on the table: he raised his little cane and pushed the sacred wampum off the table with very little ceremony, every Indian at the same moment started from his seat with one of those sudden, simultaneous, and peculiary savage sounds, which startle and disconcert the stoutest heart, and can neither be described nor forgotten.

"Parsons, more civil than military in his habits, was poorly fitted for an emergency that probably embarrassed even the hero of Saratoga; the brother and father of soldiers. this juncture Clarke rose, the scrutinizing eye cowered at his glance; he stamped his foot on the prostrate and insulted symbol, and ordered them to leave the hall. They did so, apparently involuntarily.

They were heard all that night debating in the bushes near the fort. The raw-boned chief was for war, the old sachem for peace: the latter prevailed; and the next morning they came back and sued for peace."

General Clarke died at his seat, at Locust Grove, near Louisville, Kentucky, on the 18th of February, 1817, in the sixtysixth year of his age. He had justly acquired the appellation of the father of the western country. A newspaper in his immediate neighborhood, thus feelingly noticed his death:

"Could our feeble talents enable us to delineate the distinguished acts of patriotism, of valour, and philantrophy, that characterised the existence of this illustrious chief, what a spectacle would we present to the admiring world! While

basking in the sunshine of wealth and political glory, can we be unmindful that these are the proud trophies bequeathed us by the toils and valor of this illustrious man? Early in life he embarked in the cause of his country. This western country was the great theatre of his actions. Bold and enterprising, he was not to be dismayed by the dangers and difficulties that threatened him, by a force in number far his superior, and removed to a region never before trodden by a civilized American. He estimated the value of its favorable result; he relied on his skill and courage; he knew the fidelity of his little band of associates, and, for him, it was enough. With this little band of Spartans he is seen piercing the gloom of the sequestered forests, illuminating them in quick succession with the splendour of his victories, and early inviting his countrymen to a residence his courage and skill had purchased for them."

CLINTON, JAMES, was the fourth son of colonel Charles Clinton, and was born on Thursday, the 9th of August, 1736, at the house of his father, in Ulster county, in the colony of New York. In common with his brothers, he was favoured with an excellent education. The study of the exact sciences was his favourite pursuit; but the predominant inclination of his mind was to a military life.

In the critical and eventful affairs of nations, when their rights and their interests are invaded, and when the most daring attempts are made to reduce them to domestic tyranny or foreign subjugation, Providence, in the plenitude of its beneficence, has generally provided men qualified to lead the van of successful resistance, and has infused a redeeming spirit into the community, which enabled it to rise superior to the calamities that menaced its liberty and prosperity. The characters designed for these important ends, are statesmen and soldiers. The first devise plans in the cabinet, and the second execute them in the field. At the commencement of the American revolution, and during its progress to a glorious consummation, constellations of illustrious men appeared in the councils and the armies of the nation, illuminating by their wisdom, and upholding by their energy drawing forth the resources, and vindicating the rights of America. In defiance of the most appalling considerations, liberty or death was inscribed on the heart of every patriot; and, drawing the sword, he consecrated it to the cause of heaven and his country, and determined to die or to conquer.

Amidst the gallant soldiers, whose services were demanded by the emergencies of the American revolution, James Clinton, the subject of this memoir, was always conspicuous. To an iron constitution and invincible courage, he added the military experience which he acquired in the war of 1756, where

he established his character as an intrepid and skilful officer; and the military knowledge which he obtained after the peace of 1763, by a close attention to the studies connected with his favourite profession.

On the 51st of January, 1756, he was appointed by governor sir Charles Hardy, an ensign in the second regiment of militia, for the county of Ulster; on the 25th March, 1758, by lieutenant governor Delancey, a lieutenant of a company in the pay of the province of New York; on the 7th March, 1759, by the same lieutenant governor, a captain of a company of provincial troops; and in the three following years he was successively re-appointed to the same station. On the 15th November, 1763, he was appointed by lieutenant governor Colden, captain commandant of the four companies in the pay of the province of New York, raised for the defence of the western frontiers of the counties of Ulster, and Orange, and captain of one of the said companies; and on the 18th March, 1774, lieutenant colonel of the second regiment of militia, in Ulster county. This detail is entered into not from a spirit of ostentation, but to show that he rose gradually, and from step to step in his profession; not by intrigue, for he had none; nor by the influence of his family, for they were generally in opposition to the administration; but by the force of merit, developing itself in the progress of time, and by the entire confidence justly reposed in his integrity, courage, and skill.

In the war of 1756, commonly denominated the French war, he encountered, with cheerfulness, the fatigues and dangers of a military life. He was a captain under colonel Bradstreet, at the capture of fort Frontenac, and he rendered essential service in that expedition in many respects, and particularly by the capture of a sloop of war on lake Ontario, which impeded the progress of the army. His company was placed in row-gallies, and, favored by a calm, compelled the French vessel to strike after an obstinate resistance. His designation as captain commandant of the four companies, raised for the protection of the western frontiers of the counties of Orange and Ulster, was a post of great responsibility and hazard, and demonstrated the confidence of the government. The safety of a line of settlements, extending at least fifty miles, was intrusted to his vigilance and intrepidity. The ascendency of the French, over the ruthless savages, was always predominant, and the inhabitant of the frontiers was compelled to hold the plough with one hand. for his sustenance, and to grasp his gun with the other for his defence; and he was constantly in danger of being awakened, in the hour of darkness, by the war-whoop of the savages, to witness the conflagration of his dwelling and the murdor of his family.

« AnteriorContinuar »