When they crossed a small branch of the Wabash it was a waste of icy waters five miles wide and three feet deep. Before long the party was compelled to leave behind the cannon intended for the siege. They crossed the Wabash to the Vincennes side, the weak being carried in canoes; the strong wading in icy water to the chin. Between the starving band and the town lay the Horseshoe Plains, which had

become a shallow lake. Nevertheless, they broke the ice at its edges and plunged in. The few strong men waded, while the feeble were saved from drowning by the active canoemen. When about to sink from fatigue, they found themselves in the shelter of a wood, where they dried their dripping garments in the sunshine. There also they made broth from the quarter of a buffalo which they had taken from a party of squaws.

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Capture of Vincennes. - Dividing his heroic band, seventy Americans and sixty Frenchmen, Clark besieged the fort. It was not till Virginian backwoodsmen appeared before him that General Hamilton knew of their arrival. Ammunition was freely furnished by the French residents of the town. The energetic siege of a night and a day forced the British commander, February 25, 1779, to surrender. Under an escort conducted by Daniel Boone, Hamilton and twentynine of his men were sent as prisoners of war to Virginia.1 A party on the way from Detroit was surprised by one of Clark's companies and relieved of Indian goods and supplies to the value of $50,000, which the American commander divided among his followers.

Importance of Clark's Campaign. — If he had been supported by the government of Virginia or by the government of the United States, Colonel Clark would certainly have captured Detroit. As it was, he saved Kentucky from invasion and protected the region to the southward. In the end his conquest won for his country all the territory between the Ohio and the Great Lakes.

QUESTIONS AND REFERENCES

Review Questions. When did France acknowledge American independence and form an alliance with the United States? What other nations were friendly? What was the attitude of Canada? What was the feeling of the French in Illinois?

Relate the story of Clark's capture of Kaskaskia. Who was Father Gibault? State the service of Vigo. Describe Clark's march to Vincennes and its capture. What was the importance of his campaign?

References. - Fiske, The American Revolution; Roosevelt, The Winning of the West; English, Life of George Rogers Clark; also works mentioned in preceding chapters.

1 Hamilton, who was an officer of undoubted ability, is often referred to as the hair-buyer General because of the belief that he generously rewarded those Indians who returned with the scalps of frontier settlers.

CHAPTER XVI

THE WAR ON THE SEA

The Men of Machias. Early in June, 1775, there arrived at Machi'as, in eastern Maine, the Unity and the Polly, two vessels guarded by the Margaretta, a British armed sloop. It was rumored that they came to get lumber needed in building barracks for the royal troops in Boston. Captain Moore, of the Margaretta, was offended by the sight of a liberty pole and threatened that if it were not taken down, he would fire on the place. The people of Machias, however, knew their rights and were prepared to defend them. Their leaders were the six O'Brien brothers and Captain Benjamin Foster. A town meeting resolved that the liberty pole stand and that no timber for the British army should be taken to Boston. Accordingly messengers were sent to other settlements urging the presence in Machias of those willing to join in a dangerous undertaking.

The First Sea Fight. Early on June 12, 1775, it was decided by the patriots to capture the Unity and with her pursue and take the Margaretta. Captain Moore warned the patriots to keep off or he would fire. This advice they disregarded. At the first shot one American was killed and another wounded. This was answered by a volley of musketry. Thus began the first naval engagement of the Revolutionary War.

When the vessels came together, the Unity was lashed to the Margaretta, whose captain continued to throw hand grenades into the midst of the Americans. Led by Captain Jeremiah O'Brien, twenty picked men boarded the sloop, on whose deck a desperate hand-to-hand fight took place.

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After an hour the Margaretta surrendered to the American captain, who with his own hand hauled down the British ensign. In the War for Independence that was the first British naval flag taken by an American.

This was the first American challenge to the mighty naval power of Great Britain. Though popularly un

known, O'Brien, the Irish Yankee, has a high place on the roll of American naval heroes. That this was no mere village incident is shown by the next step of the victorious commander.

Further Exploits of the O'Briens. Under O'Brien's direction the Unity was refitted and in part equipped with the armament of the Margaretta. Her name was changed to

Machias Liberty, and under instructions of a committee of safety, Captain O'Brien sailed in search of two armed British vessels. With the assistance of Captain Foster both were taken. The officers with their prisoners were then sent to Cambridge and they reported to General Washington the importance of the captures they had made. The two captains as well as their brave followers had been thanked by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, while tidings of the brave deed done in Machias Bay aroused unbounded enthusiasm throughout the colonies.

In command of the Machias Liberty and another vessel, Captain Jeremiah O'Brien sailed up and down the coast, taking many prizes; but later he was captured by a British fleet. Captain John O'Brien and others then built at Newburyport for the privateer service a vessel named the Hibernia. With her he captured the General Pattison, which was taking to England a number of British officers. In connection with another American ship the Hibernia afterward took a fleet of about sixteen sail, bringing them all safely to port.

Congress Acts. The brilliant achievements of the Machias men were not made by authority of the government of the United States, but under the approval of a committee of safety and of the government of Massachusetts. In October, 1775, Congress resolved to fit out two armed cruisers. John Barry, a rich Philadelphia shipowner, offered to Congress his vessel and his services. His offer was accepted. Of two vessels afterward provided by Congress, the Lexington (fourteen guns) was placed under the command of Barry, and the Reprisal under Captain Wickes.1

1 Captain Barry's deeds are described in the following pages. Captain Lambert Wickes, in the Reprisal, sailed twice around Ireland, and took, in company with two other ships, fifteen prizes. But he was lost, with his cruiser, in 1777.