At sun down I put the divisions in motion to march in the greatest order & regularity & observe the orders of their officers.

Above all to be silent--the 5 men we took in the canoes were our guides.

We entered the town on the upper part leaving detached Lt.

Bayley & 15 rifle men to attack the Fort & keep up a fire to harrass them untill we took possession of the town & they were to remain on that duty till relieved by another party, the two divisions marched into the town & took possession of the main street, put guards &c without the least molestation." This effectually disposes of the account, which was accepted by Clark himself in his old age, that he ostentatiously paraded his men and marched them to and fro with many flags flying, so as to impress the British with his numbers.

Instead of indulging in any such childishness (which would merely have warned the British, and put them on their guard), he in reality made as silent an approach as possible, under cover of the darkness.
Hamilton, in his narrative, speaks of the attack as being made on the 22d of February, not the 23d as Clark says.] The rapidly gathering dusk prevented any discovery of his real numbers.
In sending in the messenger he had builded even better than he knew; luck which had long been against him now at last favored him.