KASKASKIA WILL BRING HISTORY BACK TO LIFE; ENCAMPMENT SET FOR MARCH 20, 21

KASKASKIA, Ill. -- Hundreds of visitors will flock into Kaskaskia the weekend of March 20 and 21.

Most will visit Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site in the small Southern Illinois village that overlooks the Mississippi River. They will be here for the Revolutionary War and French Colonial Encampment, a new event that will be free.

"A similar event used to be held here during the fall," said Roger Wicklein, manager of the historic site. "This is the first time it has been scheduled in the spring."

The fall event was halted a couple of years ago because of bad weather.

"We're looking forward to this year's event," said Wicklein. "Re-enactors will portray the time period of the Revolutionary War in Illinois country -- roughly 1770 to 1781."

Fifty to 75 groups will be on hand to answer questions concerning the 1770s.

Captain Bowman's Company of the Virginia-Illinois Regiment -- as formed by George Rogers Clark in 1778 -- is one of a number of re-enactment groups that will be on hand. The encampment will feature military camps, military drills and tomahawk-throwing demonstrations.

The historic site is between Ellis Grove and Chester on Highway 3.

Missourians who go may cross the Mississippi River bridge at Chester, turn north on Highway 3 for about six miles, turn west on Fort Kaskaskia Road and follow the signs.

Participants will wear authentic clothing and carry appropriate weapons, tools and other equipment of the time period.

The encampment is sponsored by the George Rogers Clark Illinois Regiment and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, which administers the Fort Kaskaskia site.

The area was the scene of some important Revolutionary War activities. The old Northwest Territory, originally settled by French Canadians, was turned over to the British via terms of the 1763 Treaty of Paris, which ended the French-Indian War.

At that time, Cahokia and Kaskaskia were small but important outposts of French-speaking civilization in a vast wilderness. The territory became the westernmost battleground of the Revolutionary War when Clark formed an army of 175 Virginians and Kentuckians with the intention of wresting control of the area back from the British.

Clark's campaign of 1778 resulted in the allegiance of Kaskaskia and Cahokia to the fledgling American cause. Clark's summer-long council at Cahokia with Native American tribes from the Midwest brought about lasting neutrality treaties.

Later, Clark captured Vincennes in present-day Indiana and British commander Henry Hamilton, the famous "Fair Buyer," who was said to have purchased scalps of American patriot settlers.

Clark's campaign eliminated the British threat from the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys and brought the area's inhabitants into the newly-formed United States.

Kaskaskia is also host to a traditional-music festival each fall that attracts hundreds of people.

Fort Kaskaskia is not to be confused with Kaskaskia Island, the only part of the state that lies west of the Mississippi River. It can be reached only from a bridge from St. Marys, Mo.