George Clark

Ancestor Number

A022304 »

Date of Birth

November 19, 1752

Place of Birth

Virginia

Date of Death

February 13, 1818

Place of Death

Locust Grove, Louisville, Indiana

Spouse(s)

None

Children

None

Service during theAmerican Revolution

Lieutenant Colonel; Kentucky Militia; Captured Fort Sackville from the British

State of Service

Virginia

Donor

Indiana Daughters of the American Revolution

On February 25, 1779, American Colonel George Rogers Clark, at 26-years-old, led an American army to capture Fort Sackville from the British on the banks of the Wabash River, in what would become Vincennes, Indiana. Col. Clark led his men on a 19-day journey through flooded, icy waters and his efforts secured a tract of land that would nearly double the size of the existing 13 colonies. This secured the western front for the American Colonists and is considered to be his greatest military achievement.

His efforts began while holding command of the Kentucky Militia. During the winter of 1777–1778, Col. Clark traveled east to ask Virginia Governor Patrick Henry for permission to recruit volunteers to strike at the British who instigated American Indian attacks. After being granted permission, Col. Clark recruited and trained his volunteers, and began his work to wrestle for control in the region from under British rule. His goal was to seize British outposts in Illinois country and along the Ohio River.

Site of Clark’s Grave in Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky

Inside of the rotunda memorial of the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, located in Vincennes, Indiana.

US Postage Stamp, 1929 issue designed by F.C. Yohn

❮ ❯

Great things have been effected by a few men well conducted.

- George Rogers Clark

Col. Clark knew his 170 men could not overpower the fort in spring when British Lieutenant Governor Henry Hamilton’s American Indian allies returned to Vincennes from their winter homes.

With the planned mid-winter attack, the men arrived on February 23 and were welcomed by the locals. In July 1778, approximately 180 citizens of Vincennes had already signed an Oath of Allegiance to the state of Virginia.

Using military tactics to intimidate Hamilton into believing he was facing a much larger force, a two-day battle resulted in no immediate losses on either side, ending with Hamilton’s surrender.

The battle would go on to be Clark’s greatest military achievement, commemorated by a National Park Service Roman-style memorial in Vincennes near the original site of the fort, built in the 1930s. He was never fully compensated by the government for his efforts and service, and he spent his final years with this sister Lucy in Locust Grove, Kentucky.