Retaliating Against Hamilton’s Indian Allies

While Clark was meeting with Hamilton concerning the Terms of Surrender, some of Clarks’ troops evidently captured and killed some American Indians whom Hamilton had sent down to Louisville to collect scalps of American settlers. Both Clark and Bowman recount the event in different ways. Clark writes that these returning Indian warriors mistook Captain John Williams’ soldiers for the British and “supposed it a party of their friends coming to welcome them, gave the scalp and war-whoop and came on with all the parade of successful warriors. Williams did the same, approaching each nearer.” In this way, Williams surprised them and captured them. Bowman’s account presents himself and his men in positive light “Our men having got news of it, pursued them..” So instead of happening upon these warriors, Bowman indicated that they actively pursued them. Bownman also notes that they “killed two on the spot, wounded three, took six prisoners-brought them into town. Two of them proving to be white men that they took prisoners, we released them, and brought the Indians to the main street before the fort gate, there tomahawked them and threw them into the river, during which time Colonel Clark and Governor Hamilton met at the church.” This surely inspired fear in the British soldiers and any American Indian allies that were still at the Fort.