After a week’s rest he went back to the capital, laid his plans before Patrick Henry, and urged their adoption with fiery enthusiasm. [Footnote:  Clark has left a full Ms. memoir of the events of 1777, 1778, and 1779.  It was used extensively by Mann Butler, the first historian who gave the campaign its proper prominence, and is printed almost complete by Dillon, on pp. 115-167 of his “Indiana.”  It was written at the desire of Presidents Jefferson and Madison; and therefore some thirty or forty years after the events of which it speaks.  Valuable though it is, as the narrative of the chief actor, it would be still more valuable had it been written earlier; it undoubtedly contains some rather serious errors.] Henry’s ardent soul quickly caught flame; but the peril of sending an expedition to such a wild and distant country was so great, and Virginia’s resources were so exhausted, that he could do little beyond lending Clark the weight of his name and influence.  The matter could not be laid before the Assembly, nor made public in any way; for the hazard would be increased tenfold if the strictest secrecy were not preserved.  Finally Henry authorized Clark to raise seven companies, each of fifty men, who were to act as militia and to be paid as such. [Footnote:  Henry’s private letter of instructions, January 2, 1778.] He also advanced him the sum of twelve hundred pounds (presumably in depreciated paper), and gave him an order on the authorities at Pittsburg for boats, supplies, and ammunition; while three of the most prominent Virginia gentlemen [Footnote:  Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, and George Wythe.] agreed in writing to do their best to induce the Virginia Legislature to grant to each of the adventurers three hundred acres of the conquered land, if they were successful.  He was likewise given the commission of colonel, with instructions to raise his men solely from the frontier counties west of the Blue Ridge, [Footnote:  3 Butler, p. 48; but Henry’s public instructions authorized Clark to raise his men in any county.] so as not to weaken the people of the seacoast region in their struggle against the British.

    Clark alone Organizes the Expedition.

Thus the whole burden of making ready the expedition was laid on Clark’s shoulders.  The hampered Virginian authorities were able to give him little beyond their good-will.  He is rightfully entitled to the whole glory; the plan and the execution were both his.  It was an individual rather than a state or national enterprise.

Governor Henry’s open letter of instructions merely ordered Clark to go to the relief of Kentucky.  He carried with him also the secret letter which bade him attack the Illinois regions; for he had decided to assail this first, because, if defeated, he would then be able to take refuge in the Spanish dominions beyond the Mississippi.  He met with the utmost difficulty in raising men.  Some were to be sent to him from the Holston overland, to meet him in Kentucky;