155 Clarks ’s Western Campaign ,1778-79

155.Clarks ’s Western Campaign ,1778-79

 The Virginians had long taken great interest in the western country . Their hardy pioneers had crossed the mountains and begun the settlement of Kentucky . The Virginians now deter - mined to conquer the British posts in the country northwest of the Ohio . The com - mand was given to George Rogers Clark . Gathering a strong band of hardy fron - tiersmen he set out on his dangerous ex - pedition . He seized the posts in Ilinois , and Vincennes surrendered to him . Then the British governor of the Northwest came from Detroit with a large force and recaptured Vincennes . Clark set out from Ilinois to surprise the British . It was the middle of the winter . In some places the snow lay deep on the ground . Then came the early floods . For days the Americans marched in water up to their waists . At night they sought some little hil where they could sleep on dry ground . Then on again through the flood . They surprised the British garrison at Vincennes and forced it to surrender . That was the end of the contest for the Northwest .