HISTORY

OF

CLARK'S

CONQUEST,

ETC.

3 35

c hief whose Indian name was Dunqua, but who was k nown to the English as the H a l f K i n g . C aptain C hesne, the interpreter, who, ever since his arrival w ith H amilton had lived in the village so as a lways to be near the Indians, not being able after Lieutenant B ailey had reached the fort and opened fire, to get i n side of it, fled also with the before mentioned savages. N one of the inhabitants of Vincennes left u ntil the next day, and then so far as is known, but two families. A s m ight be supposed, ammunition was, at this j uncture, scarce w ith the Americans, as most of the stores were o n board the Willing. F ortunately, however, w hen Hamilton undertook to have a ll the powder a nd ball in the town brought into the fort for the k ing's use (giving the owners bills for the same), L e gras, B osseron and others buried most of theirs, which they now produced, and the Colonel found himself w ell s upplied.* I t was soon discovered by Clark that about one h undred K ickapoos and Piankeshaws had not fled the t own     t hat, in reality, they were f riends. They i m mediately armed themselves and offered their services i n a ssailing the fort. The Colonel requested them to r emain quiet u ntil m orning, when he would gladly accept them as his allies. "I thanked the chief for his i ntended service," says C l a r k ; "told him the i l l consequence of our people being mingled in the dark; and that they might' lay in their quarters u ntil d aylight. H e a pproved of it, and sent off his troops, and appeared to be much elevated himself, staying with me and giving me all the information he could."f
* Appendix, Note X C V I I I . t C l a r k t o M a s o n     Clark's p . 6 9. Campaign in the Illinois,