Conquest of the country northwest of the river Ohio, 1778-1783 : and, life of Gen George Rogers Clark . We weremuch disappointed in Virginia generally, on the day of thegreat eclipse, which proved to be cloudy. In Williams-burg, where it was total, I understood only the beginningwas to be seen. At this place, which in lat. , andlongitude west from Williamsburg, about , as is con-jectured, II digits only were supposed to be covered. Itwas not seen at all until the moon had advanced nearlvone-third over the suns disc. Afterwards it was seen atintervals through the whole. The egress parti
Conquest of the country northwest of the river Ohio, 1778-1783 : and, life of Gen George Rogers Clark . We weremuch disappointed in Virginia generally, on the day of thegreat eclipse, which proved to be cloudy. In Williams-burg, where it was total, I understood only the beginningwas to be seen. At this place, which in lat. , andlongitude west from Williamsburg, about , as is con-jectured, II digits only were supposed to be covered. Itwas not seen at all until the moon had advanced nearlvone-third over the suns disc. Afterwards it was seen atintervals through the whole. The egress particularly wasvisible. * If Clarks departure at the very time of the occurrenceof this eclipse was accidental the coincidence is very singu-lar, and it may be that he had some information of its ex-pected occurrence, and took advantage of it. At all eventsthe departure was attended with surroundings but seldom,if ever, equaled in awe-inspiring effect. It was a fittingintroduction of an event humble in itself, but truly greatand far-reaching in its ultimate results. * Jeffersons Works, Vol. i, p. PASSAGE OVER THE OHIO FALLS. 163 THE VOYAGE DOWN THE RIVER. It will probably be better to give the passage over thefalls and voyage down the river in Clarks own words. Inhis memoir, he says, that on the (24th) of June, 1778,we left our little island and run about a mile up the riverin order to gain the main channel; and shot the falls at thevery moment of the sun being in a great eclipse, whichcaused various conjectures among the superstitious. As Iknew that spies were kept on the river, below the town ofthe Illinois, I had resolved to march part of the way byland; and of course left the whole of our baggage, exceptas much as would equip us in the Indian mode. Thewhole of our force, after leaving such as was judged notcompetent to the expected fatigue, consisted only of fourcompanies, commanded by Captains John Montgomery,Joseph Bowman, Leonard Helm and William force being
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