History of Springfield, Illinois, its attractions as a home and advantages for business, manufacturing, etc. Pub. under the auspices of the Springfield board of trade, by J. C. Power.

6 SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, AND
occupied by M. St. Ange de Belle Rive, sponded to from TMaine to Georgia. The
as Commandant and Governor of the Illi- first Congress met at Philadelphia, Sept.
nois country. He continued in possession 5, 1774, and continued its'meetings by
of the fort until 1765. Inthat year Cap- successive adjournments, until July 4,
tain Stirling, of the Royal Highlanders, 1776, when the American colonies were
was sent out and took possession of the declared to be free and independent
fort and country, in the name of the Bri- States. The familiar events of the war
tish government. This continued to be for independence, followed each other in
the headquarters of the British until quick succession, until all parties were
1772, when part of the fort was destroyed engaged in the conflict, along the Atlanby a great rise of water in the Mississip- tic coast; but there were British outpi river. The English garrison was then posts in the west which had, until 1778,
removed to Kaskaskia. remained undisturbed. It was known
In 1763, the population of what is now that these posts were depots for supplythe State of Illinois, did not exceed three ing the Indians with arms anrd ammunithousand. About one-third left the coun- tion, that they might practice deeds of
try upon its change of masters; so that cruelty and murder against the frontier
when the English took possession, the settlers. The general government had
entire population, including French, Eng- not power to command, without consent
lish and negroes, was about two thousand, of the States, even the limited resources
Rev. John M. Peck says: "In olden of the country; but what there was,
time, Kaskaskia was to Illinois what seemed imperatively demanded on the
Paris is at this day to France. Both seaboard. Under these circumstances,
were, at their respective days, the great Colonel George Rogers Clarke, of Viremporiums of fashion, gayety, and I must ginia, volunteered to lead an expedition
say, happiness also. In the year 1721 the against the British garrisons west of the
Jesuits erected a monastery and college Aileghanies; and the Governor and Counin Kaskaskia, and a few years afterwards cil of Virginia took the responsibility of
it was chartered by the French govern- sending him out. Two sets of instrucment. Kaskaskia for many years was tions were given him. One which was
the largest town west of the Alleghaney public, was for Col. Clarke to raise seven
mountains. It was a tolerable place be- companies for the protection of Kentucky,
fore the existence of Pittsburgh, Cincin- and proceed west. The secret and real
nati or New Orleans." instructions were for him to raise seven
companies, of fifty men each, and proceed
EOUTIOto Kaskaskia, and take or destroy the
The English government became fairly garrison of Fort Gates at that place; and
settled in their occupation of the country that the object of the expedition must be
wrested from France, and then cormn- kept a profound secret. The instrucmenced that series of Parliamentary tions were given by the Governor at
enactments, for the taxation of the Ame- Williamsburgh, then the Capital of Virrican Colonies, without allowing them ginia, Jan. 2, 1788. Feb. 4th Col. Clarke
to be represented in her national coun- left Virginia, for Pittsburgh. He took
cils, which led to the revolutionary strug- with him twelve hundred pounds in degle. Open hostilities commenced at Lex- preciated currency to defray the expense
ington, Massachusetts, April 19, 1775. of the expedition, and raised three comCouriers were despatched, on the most panies in Pittsburgh. He procured boats,
fleet-footed horses, and in a very few and with his supplies, arms and ammudays the infant colonies were ablaze with nition, descended the Ohio river to " Corn
excitement, and the call to arms was re- Island," opposite the present city of