Aiding Clark’s Siege

After their 18-day strenuous march thorough flooded rivers and plains, Americans were low on supplies when arriving at Vincennes. Most importantly, they had almost run out of dry gunpowder. The Vincennes militia, led by Mayor Bosseron, again proved heroic and quickly endeavored to help.

In December of the previous year when Hamilton had captured Fort Sackville from Captain Helm, Hamilton had demanded that all the French inhabitants of Vincennes bring all of their weapons and military supplies for “safe keeping” inside the Fort. But evidently, not everyone had compiled with Hamilton’s orders. Clark writes that “Major Bosseron and others had buried the greatest part of their powder and ball. [To hide it from the British.] This was immediately produced, and we found ourselves well supplied by those gentlemen.”

After that, Clark began an overnight siege on the Fort. Hamilton tried to respond by using the artillery stationed at the two corners of the Fort, but as soon as British troops stepped up to the guns, Clark’s men picked them off, rendering the cannons inoperable.