Clark knew that his force was outnumbered by the garrison
and that it would be necessary to surprise the town. After a six days'
march across country, he came to the outskirts of the village on the
evening of July 4th, and found a great dance in progress in the fort.
Waiting until the revelry was at its height, Clark advanced silently,
surprised the sentries, and surrounded the fort without causing any
alarm. Then with his men posted, Clark walked forward through the open
door, and leaning against the wall, watched the dancers, as they whirled
around by the light of the flaring torches.
Suddenly an Indian, after looking at him for a moment, raised the
war-whoop; the dancing ceased, but Clark, shouting at the top of his
voice to still the confusion, bade the dancers continue, asking them
only to remember that thereafter they were dancing under the flag of the
United States, instead of that of Great Britain. A few moments later,
the commandant was captured in his bed, and the investment was complete.
The other settlements in the neighborhood surrendered at once, so that
the Illinois country was captured without the firing of a gun.
But when the news reached the British governor, Hamilton, at Detroit, he
at once prepared to recapture the country. He had a much larger force at
his command than Clark could possibly muster, and in the fall of the
year he advanced against Vincennes at the head of over five hundred men.
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