[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 499 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 499

                     Honoring George Rogers Clark.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 3, 2002

Mr. Hostettler submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
                     Honoring George Rogers Clark.

Whereas George Rogers Clark was a colonial frontiersman who succeeded in 
        protecting western colonists through diplomacy and advocacy with the 
        colonial government of Virginia;
Whereas George Rogers Clark doubled the size of colonial America through western 
        exploration and by founding towns in Kentucky;
Whereas George Rogers Clark was an expert negotiator with American Indian 
        tribes, securing trade and security for western colonists;
Whereas George Rogers Clark ensured American control of the Northwest Territory 
        by leading a small band of soldiers during the Revolutionary War and 
        successfully capturing British outposts along the Mississippi and Wabash 
        Rivers;
Whereas George Rogers Clark boldly and courageously led fewer than 200 soldiers 
        to recapture the British Fort Sackville at Vincennes, Indiana, in the 
        winter of 1778-1779;
Whereas the soldiers marched across Illinois through flooded and frozen 
        territory and reached Vincennes on the evening of February 23, 1779;
Whereas upon surrounding Fort Sackville, George Rogers Clark was able to give 
        the impression of having a much larger army convincing the British that 
        they were no match for Clark's forces;
Whereas on the morning of February 25, 1779, the British Lieutenant Governor 
        Henry Hamilton surrendered Fort Sackville to George Rogers Clark and his 
        soldiers;
Whereas this victory foiled British attempts to drive the Americans out of the 
        region west of the Appalachians and pulled vital resources from the 
        eastern theater during the American Revolution;
Whereas George Rogers Clark showed great leadership by commanding an expedition 
        northward in 1782 to control unrest caused by British forces in the 
        region;
Whereas George Rogers Clark continued to offer leadership after the 
        Revolutionary War by serving as an advisor to his community; and
Whereas the 250th anniversary of George Rogers Clark's birth is November 19, 
        2002: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress honors George Rogers Clark, whose patriotism and bravery 
helped to secure American independence and liberty.
                                 <all>