Arrival at Fort Sackville
After helping Clark take both Kaskaskia and Cahokia, Helm was given command of a section of troops and journeyed to Fort Sackville in mid August, as Clark believed it “would be highly necessary to have an American officer at that post." Upon arrival at the Fort, Helm was welcomed by the French Inhabitants who had already been encouraged by Father Gibault to support the Americans.
A later journal entry by British Lt. Governor Henry Hamilton give a rare glimpse into Helm’s first moments at the British built Fort Sackville (which they renamed Fort Patrick Henry after Virginia’s governor). Hamilton notes on October 14th, that he had received intelligence that Helm and Americans, upon arriving at Sackville “pulled down the English Flag left there by Governor Abbott, wrapp'd a stone in it, and threw it into the Ouabache.”
Were Captain Helm’s actions upon arrival at Fort Sackville justified? Was he getting revenge or just celebrating a victory?