Captain Charleville sat forward in his chair. “Colonel Clark, there aren’t many of your Virginia volunteers here now, but I’m sure I can raise a company among the villagers.”
Colonel Clark nodded. “We’ll have to have volunteers, Charleville. I don’t have more than eighty men, including the men under Captain McCarty at Cahokia. I’ve sent for him to return with them. We can’t do anything more until morning, gentlemen. Thank you for responding so quickly.”
“I’ll have a full company raised before sunset tomorrow, sir,” Captain Charleville promised.
Chapter IX
THROUGH THE DROWNED LANDS
The next morning Father Gibault rang the church bell, signaling all people to assemble at the church. Immediately the villagers came streaming out of their houses or stores. Colonel Clark and Jim waited outside for them to appear. Jim had brought his drum, and played it loudly to attract their attention.
Willie Watson came running to the church; when he saw Jim, he pushed through the crowd to him.
“What’s all the excitement, Jim? What’s happened?” Willie asked breathlessly.
Jim didn’t lose a drumbeat as he replied, “Wait and find out, Willie. Colonel Clark is going to talk to the people.”
As soon as everyone was quiet, Father Gibault told them that Colonel Clark had an important message for them. Then Colonel Clark told them that even now Hamilton was in command of Vincennes and was planning to attack Kaskaskia as soon as the weather permitted.