Meantime certain citizens, who had been in close relations with
Governor Abbott during his stay, quietly slipped out of town,
manned a batteau and went up the river, probably to Ouiatenon
first and then to Detroit. Doubtless they suspected that things
might soon grow too warm for their comfort.
It was thus that Vincennes and Fort Sackville first acknowledged
the American Government and hoisted the flag which, as long as it
floated over the blockhouse, was lightly and lovingly called by
everyone la banniere d'Alice Roussillon.
Father Gibault returned to Fort Kaskaskia and a little later
Captain Leonard Helm, a jovial man, but past the prime of life,
arrived at Vincennes with a commission from Col. Clark authorizing
him to supersede M. Roussillon as commander, and to act as Indian
agent for the American Government in the Department of the Wabash.
He was welcomed by the villagers, and at once made himself very
pleasing to them by adapting himself to their ways and entering
heartily into their social activities.
M. Roussillon was absent when Captain Helm and his party came.
Rene de Ronville, nominally in command of the fort, but actually
enjoying some excellent grouse shooting with a bell-mouthed old
fowling piece on a distant prairie, could not be present to
deliver up the post; and as there was no garrison just then
visible, Helm took possession, without any formalities.
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