122, p.337.Account brought to the people of Detroit of the loss of Vincennes, by a Captain Chene, who was then living in the village.

As the Virginians entered it he fled to the woods with some Huron and Ottawa warriors; next day he was joined by some French families and some Miamis and Pottawatomies.] Hamilton, attracted by the commotion, sent down his soldiers to find out what had occurred; but before they succeeded, the Americans were upon them.
About seven o'clock [Footnote: Clark's letter to Henry.] Clark entered the town, and at once pushed his men on to attack the fort.

Had he charged he could probably have taken it at once; for so unprepared were the garrison that the first rifle shots were deemed by them to come from drunken Indians.

But of course he had not counted on such a state of things.

He had so few men that he dared not run the risk of suffering a heavy loss.