The final task of making their way thorough the submerged lands of the Wabash, the cumulative effect of the hardships made worse by famine, was almost too much for even these men of iron, but no leader of a well-conditioned, overpowering army toward his certain prey could have been more cavalier than Clark was toward the fortified enemy that, for aught he knew, outnumbered him three to one. He did not even have the support of the boat with its forty-six men, and the little armament of artillery that had been sent around by river for the boat had failed to make connection. And now, with his less than two hundred, tired, half starved riflemen, he boldly invested the post, and by prisoner sent a missive to the French residents bidding them choose sides, those who sided with the King of England being further ordered to repair at once to the fort and join the "hair-buyer general" (This name was applied to Hamilton because of the charge and belief that he offered rewards to the Indians for the scalps of Americans), while those friendly to the American cause were requested to keep out of the streets. Subsequently when the chief of the adjacent Piankeshaw village, Tobacco's Son, offered the assistance of himself and a hundred warriors, it was declined. Yet this was in the face of what Clark himself called a "truly critical situation, with no possibility of retreating in case of defeat."

In a word, it was a magnificent example of what, in modern parlance, is called "bluff," the aim being to create an exaggerated idea of his force. To strengthen this, as he approached the town he took advantage of the topography of the country, revealing glimpses of his men at certain points and marching and counter-marching in such a manner as to create the illusion of a good-sized army. This was purposely consumed this way until dark, when the tactics were changed, a circuit made, and the town directly approached from another side.