George Rogers Clark

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George Rogers Clark's men left Corn Island at the Falls of the Ohio on June 24, 1778, rowed down the Ohio to the old French Fort Massac, marched about 120 miles overland to take Kaskaskia on the night of July 4, and sent Bowman to take Cahokia, while Father Gibault and Leonard Helm won over Vincennes. In February 1779 Clark marched about 180 miles from Kaskaskia through flooded country to retake Vincennes, where Hamilton surrendered Fort Sackville on February 25.

About 300 miles by river to Fort Massac, about 90 miles in a straight-ish line overland (Clark's figure is about 120 miles), and about 145 straight-line miles for the winter march (usually given as about 180 miles walked), measured on the map line.

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Approximate stops, in order of travel

1. Louisville waterfront, Jefferson County, Kentucky (Corn Island camp)
2. Fort Massac State Park, Metropolis, Massac County, Illinois (Fort Massac)
3. Johnson, Williamson, Jackson, and Randolph counties, Illinois (overland march)
4. old Kaskaskia and Fort Kaskaskia near Ellis Grove, Randolph County, Illinois (Kaskaskia)
5. Cahokia Heights, St. Clair County, Illinois (Cahokia)
6. Vincennes, Knox County, Indiana (Vincennes)
7. Kaskaskia, Randolph County, Illinois (winter march leaves Kaskaskia)
8. near Clay City / Flora, Clay County, Illinois (Little Wabash crossings)
9. near Lawrenceville / St. Francisville, Lawrence County, Illinois (Embarras River)
10. George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, Vincennes, Knox County, Indiana (Fort Sackville)

Sources: Clark's memoir and Bowman's journal (James 1912); NPS.

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