He was the spiritual leader of the to the aid of Clark and his men. community and wished to remain so. initiative in what he believed was to the best interests of the country. After assuring himself and his flock that their religious freedom would not be impaired he went on to assist Clark as further recounted by Reverend Scheper: General Clark did not rest content with his first success. While Captain Bowman set out to take Cahokia, Clark sent for the various Indian delegations with whom he sought to make treaties of peace. When Father Gibault learned that the youthful leader also intended to take Vincennes, he volunteered to go there so as to pave the way, for he well knew how apathetic the French were to English rule. Besides, Gibault knew of the treaty between France and the Americans whereby France had agreed to help us with ammunition and men. No doubt, this last consideration especially helped him to get the Vincennes inhabitants to declare for Clark. As he did not wish to act other than in in a spiritual capacity, he asked that Dr. LaFont accompany him, to act as the political agent for General Clark. Here are Clark's own words regarding the part that Father Gibault played, "I had reason to suspect from some things I had learned that Mr. Gibault, the priest, had been inclined to the American interests previous to our arrival in this country. I had no doubt of his fidelity to us. He (Gibault) was certain that his appearance there (at Vincennes) would have great weight even among the savages. If it were agreeable to me, he would take this matter upon himself, and he had no doubt of being able to bring the place over to the American interests without my being put to the trouble of marching troops against it." So the little party set out from Kaskaskia on July 14, 1778. Upon reaching Vincennes, Father Gibault summoned the faithful into the little log church. After informing them of the stirring events that had lately transpired at Kaskaskia, and assuring them that the Americans would respect their religion, he administered the oath of allegiance to his flock. After that the new flag was hoisted over the fort which had been but poorly garrisoned ever since the last British officer, Captain Abbott, had left for Detroit several months before. Clark was overjoyed when he heard the good news from his friend, Pierre Gibault. He now ordered Captain Helm to go to Vincennes and take charge of the fort. This officer changed the name of the fort from Fort Sackville to that of Fort Patrick Henry. And now General Clark met with the first reverse in his clever campaign, for, in December of this same year, General Hamilton suddenly swooped down from Detroit and captured the fort at Vincennes, taking Captain Helm prisoner. The new year of 1779 therefore was ushered in amid gloom as Clark's position was dangerous. He could obtain no money from Virginia with which to pay his men, no reinforcements came to his aid, and Hamilton, who had a considerable force at his command might suddenly overwhelm him. In this dilemma, Father Gibault again nobly came to the rescue of the young Virginian. By selling his possessions, Pierre Gibault was enabled to turn some fifteen hundred dollars over to his friend counting only on the hope that the new Government would repay him at the close of the campaign. Also, Colonel Vigo, a wealthy trader who advanced a sun of $10,000 to help the cause. Besides, the pastor of Kaskaskia advised his parishioners to aid the Americans with supplies of all kinds, and even encouraged them to enlist under Clark's banner. Encouraged by the great loyalty of his new friends, Clark decided to try a master stroke; it meant undying fame if he succeeded, and death if he failed. The story of the hardships of Clark's men and their final victory at Vincennes has been told. It was not possible without the help of Father Pierre Gibault, whose personal history is concluded in the further quotation from the Reverend Mr. Scheper: Father Gibault remained in Vincennes until in October 1789, waiting in vain for some recognition of his great work. He had hoped, too, that Bishop Briand would recall him, but in this he was also doomed to disappointment. Finally he directed a petition to Governor Saint Clair, dated, Cahokia, 1790, asking that the Government might allot him 5 acres of ground in Cahokia as a little recompense for the sacrifice he had made, and where he hoped to end his days. In this pathetic letter he states that he sold all his property in exchange for American paper money, and that since the war the paper had depreciated to such an extent that he had lost some $1,500. Although he had helped to gain an empire, yet an ungrateful republic did not see fit to give this good man 5 acres of ground. Disappointed, broken in health, and unwilling to serve under Bishop Carrol, Father Gibault retired to New Madrid, Mo., then under Spanish rule. Here the good priest died in the year 1804. General Clark died impoverished in 1818. The third man of the remarkable trio of patriots, Colonel Vigo, lived until 1836, hoping against hope that eventually he would receive the money due him. He also died in poverty, but finally, in 1875, his heirs received the money he had lent with interest. The Illinois Historical Collections, volume V, Kaskaskia Records, 1778-90, the letters of the good priest written during the course of his kindnesses and aids to Gen. George Rogers Clark are printed and translated. The fact that General Clark's financial situation was always difficult is shown by his biographies. "Clark received assistance from Father Gibault and from some of the Cahoiod merchants, notably Charles Gratiot and Francois Vigo. His promissory notes were later dishonored by the State of Virginia, resulting in severe loss to his supporters," relates Josephine Boylan, A. B., LL. B., in her work A Brief History of Cahokia. Paule M. Angle, secretary of the Illinois State Historical Society has written as follows: I venture to express to you my appreciation of your part in this proposed legislation and hope that the resolution (H. J. Res. 219) will be passed by Congress and approved by the President. By aiding George Rogers Clark effectively, Pierre Gibault played a notable part in our history and his career deserves to be remembered by the people of Illinois and neighboring States. The project is endorsed by the Cahokia Historical Society of St. Clair County; the Cahokia Mound Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution at East St. Louis, Ill.; the Ladies' Auxiliary, Ancient Order of Hibernians in America, East St. Louis; the Thursday Literary Club, East St. Louis; Althoff Circle No. 271, Daughters of Isabella of East St. Louis; the East St. Louis Altrusa Club; East St. Louis Chamber of Commerce; the East St. Louis Branch of the American Association of University Women; the Business and Professional Women's Club of East St. Louis, Ill.; the St. Clair County Medical Association; the East St. Louis Board of the Young Women's Christian Association, and others. Mr. Paul S. Abt, president of the Southern Illinois National Bank of East St. Louis, writes: Now that the State is reconstructing the Cahokia Court and there is some activity in giving recognition to this historic area, I believe a monument at the site would be proper. I doubt very much whether the general public, even in this particular vicinity, realizes that the "American Bottoms" are a historic spot, occupied by the Indians for many hundreds of years, and the scene of important activity during the Revolution. Cahokia is the second settlement by white men in the Mississippi Valley, the first being Kaskaskia, of which, of course, no remnant remains owing to the Mississippi changing its course. So it is appropriate that we should properly mark this spot. * * * In the light of the invaluable aid given to Gen. George Rogers Clark, most especially since so many memorials to Clark are being erected, the committee feel that it is fitting and proper to erect this monument upon the site of the work of Father Pierre Gibault. They report the resolution favorably and urge that it do pass. ESTABLISHING THE BENJAMIN HARRISON COMMISSION JULY 5, 1939.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. KELLER, from the Committee on the Library, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 4872] The Committee on the Library, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 4872) to establish the Benjamin Harrison Commission to formulate plans for the construction of a permanent memorial to the memory of Benjamin Harrison, twenty-third President of the United States, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. The provisions of this bill, when enacted into law, would establish a Commission empowered by the Federal Government to do the very best planning for the ultimate completion of a national park and permanent memorial, including his restored home, to the twentythird President of the United States. In the presentation of this matter to the committee, it was evident that a great deal has been done, under the Works Progress Administration, the Jordan Foundation, and the authority of the State of Indiana, but that no assurance of a unified effort looking toward correlation and organization of effort is possible without some central authority. The establishment of the Benjamin Harrison Memorial Commission, which shall be empowered to consider and formulate plans for the establishment of a permanent memorial on this site, to accept money and property, and which is required to report to the Congress before any action is taken, will give such authority. This will assure proper unity in the development of such a memorial and give it the dignity of Federal participation, as befits a memorial to one of our Presidents. The disbursement of a maximum of $2,500 for the operation of such Commission seems a reasonable sum, and the use of vouchers for this purpose is in accordance with governmental fiscal practice. The preservation of the homes of public men as memorials to them has been looked upon with favor by the National Park Service in other instances. This gives assurance that a good example of the architecture of the time and region will be preserved. The development of a national park adds to the recreational advantages of the citizens of the area. The flood-control feature of this project, as already undertaken by the Works Progress Administration, is not to be overlooked in its importance. That all of this effort, already expended, shall not be correlated to complete such a memorial was thought to be exceedingly stupid by the committee, which reports the bill favorably and urges that it do pass. O GROWERS FERTILIZER CO. JULY 5, 1939.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and ordered to be printed Mr. COFFEE of Washington, from the Committee on Claims, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 5151] The Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5151) for the relief of the Growers Fertilizer Co., a Florida corporation, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. The amendment is as follows: Page 2, line 1, beginning with the word "Provided" strike out the remaining language of the bill and insert in lieu thereof the following: Provided, That no part of the amount appropriated in this Act in excess of 10 per centum there of shall be paid or delivered to or received by any agent or attorney on account of services rendered in connection with this claim, and the same shall be unlawful, any contract to the contrary notwithstanding. Any person violating the provisions of this Act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not exceeding $1,000. The purpose of the proposed legislation is to pay the sum of $2,017.84 to the Growers Fertilizer Co., a Florida corporation, in full settlement of all claims against the United States for goods furnished to the clients of the Farm Security Administration of the Department of Agriculture upon the order and authority of an agent of said Farm Security Administration, during the period from April 15, 1937, to March 22, 1938. STATEMENT OF FACTS The Growers Fertilizer Co. had its principal place of business at Fort Pierce, Fla., and the claim involved is for reimbursement for fertilizer furnished certain farmers in the counties of Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Indian River, State of Florida, by orders of Mr. Charles W. Arrants, supervisor of the Farm Security Administration in these counties. |