IHB: March to Vincennes - February 22 1779

From Clark's Memoir:

". . . the nearest land to us was a small league called the sugar camp . . . . A canoe was sent off and returned without finding that we could pass. I went in her myself and sounded the water; found it deep as to my neck.

". . . I returned but slowly to the troops, giving myself time to think. On our arrival all ran to hear what was the report. Every eye was fixed on me. I unfortunately spoke in a serious manner to one of the officers. The whole were alarmed without knowing what I said. . . . I viewed their confusion for about one minute . . . immediately put some water in my hand, poured on powder, blackened my face, gave the warwhoop and marched into the water . . . . The party gazed and fell in, one after another, without saying a word."

Clark's Men Find Respite at the Sugar Camp

A Commemorative History of the George Rogers Clark Bicentennial Exhibit (Indianapolis: Indiana State Museum Society, 1976), p. 45.

From Clark's Memoir:

[On February 22 Clark led his men into the high water.]

". . . when about waist deep one of the men informed me that he thought he felt a path - a path is very easily discovered under water by the feet. We examined and found it so, and concluded that it kept to the highest ground, which it did, and, by taking pains to follow it, we got to the sugar camp . . . where there was about half an acre of dry ground, at least not under water, where we took up our lodging."

Clark Leads His Men into the Cold Water

March to Vincennes - February 22 1779

225th Anniversary Exhibit