Nor was this feeling confined to the Creoles of Vincennes; it had spread to most of the points where trading posts existed.

Hamilton found this out too late to mend some of his mistakes; but he set himself on the alert and organized scouting bodies of Indians under white officers to keep him informed as to the American movements in Kentucky and along the Ohio.

One of these bands brought in as captive Colonel Francis Vigo, of St.Louis, a Spaniard by birth, an American by adoption, a patriot to the core, who had large influence over both Indians and Creoles in the Illinois country.
Colonel Vigo was not long held a prisoner.

Hamilton dared not exasperate the Creoles beyond their endurance, for he knew that the savages would closely sympathize with their friends of long standing, and this might lead to revolt and coalition against him,--a very dangerous possibility.

Indeed, at least one of the great Indian chieftains had already frankly informed him that he and his tribe were loyal to the Americans.