IHB: The British Retake Fort Sackville

On August 6, 1778, Hamilton heard about the fall of Kaskaskia. He left Detroit October 7 to regain control of the area. On October 14, he found about about the taking of Fort Sackville by the Americans.

From Hamilton's Journal:

"[November] 29th. . . . Major Hay . . . [brought] proceedings of the rebels . . . .

"An officer of the name of Helm commands at St. Vincennes [Fort Sackville]--;Colonel George Rogers Clarke at the Ilinois . . . ."

"[December] 17th. . . . The American flag . . . displayed on the Fort . . . I proceeded to the fort with the detachment of the King's regiment . . .

"Not a single shot was fired in the course of the day . . .

". . . I allowed him [Helm] liberty on giving his parole, and assurance that he would not . . . give any intelligence to the Americans."

Helm Writes to Clark as the British Approach

Hamilton Leaves Detriot for Vincennes
Hamilton Leaves Detroit for Vincennes

A Commemorative History of the George Rogers Clark Bicentennial Exhibit
(Indianapolis: Indiana State Museum Society, 1976), p. 38.

From Hamilton's Journal:

"[October 7] Embarked at 1/4 past two p.m. . . . The disposition of the boats which had orders to keep as close as possible to that one which carried a distinguishing flag, was as follows-- The Indians with their Officers and interpreters were divided and formed the front and rear divisions in their canoes-- next to them followed the subdivisions of La Mothe's company, one commanded by their captain, in the rear of the 1st division of the Indians, the other by his Lieutt. preceded the rear division of the Indians-- The Militia in two divisions were next to them on each flank-- a Plattoon of the Regulars of the Kings Regiment next to them one on each flank-- The Gun Boat[E] with the Artillery men in the Center--

a b c d E d c b a

aa Indians bb Volunteers cc Militia dd Regulars E Gunboat"

Hamilton Strengthens Fortification at Ft. Sackville

A Commemorative History of the George Rogers Clark Bicentennial Exhibit
(Indianapolis: Indiana State Museum Society, 1976), p. 38.

From Hamilton's Journal:

"In this miserable picketted work called a fort, was found scarce anything for defense, the want of a well was sufficient to evince its being untenable-- two Iron three pounders mounted on truck carriages and two Swivels not mounted constituted its whole defence, for there were not even platforms for small arms, nor men to use them."

The British Retake Fort Sackville

225th Anniversary Exhibit