44 ISTAREATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 



We had a glimpse of the town and fort of Maiden, or Amlierst- 

 burg, and of Boisblanc, and Gross Isle, which were the last objects 

 distinctly seen in our ascent. The boat pushed on her way, 

 under the guidance of good pilots, although the night was dark, 

 and we reached our destination, and came to, at the city of Detroit, 

 at twelve o'clock P. M., thus completing the passage in sixty-two 

 hours. 



The next morning, an of&cial from the Executive of the Michi- 

 gan Territory came on board with inquiries respecting Captain 

 Douglass and myself, and we soon found ourselves ip a circle 

 where we were received with marked respect and attention. It 

 was pleasing to behold that this respect arose, in a great degree, 

 from the high interest which was manifested, in all classes, for 

 the objects of the expedition, and the influence which its explora- 

 tory labors were expected to have on the development of the 

 resources and prosperity of the country at large. 



General Cass, who was to lead the expedition, received us cor- 

 dially, and let us know that we were in season, as some days would 

 still elapse before the preparations could be completed, and that 

 the canoes in which we were to travel had not yet reached Detroit. 

 We were also cordially welcomed by General Macomb, com- 

 manding the military district. Major John Biddle, commanding 

 officer of the fort, and by the citizens generally, I was now, by 

 the computations, about seven hundred and fifty miles from my 

 starting-point at New York. We took up our lodgings at the 

 old stone house occupied by Major Whipple, which, from its 

 prominent position on the banks of the river, had sustained a 

 random cannonade during the late war. We were here introduced 

 to Dr. Alexander Wolcot, who filled the post of physician to the 

 expedition, and to Lieutenant Eneas Mackey, United §tates artil- 

 lery, commanding the escort. Major Eobert A. Forsyth, private 

 secretary of the Executive, and commissary of the expedition, and 

 superintendent of embarkation; and to James D. Doty and Charles 

 C. Trowbridge, Esqs., who occupied, respectively, the situations 

 of official secretary and assistant topographer. 



Detroit, the point to which I have now been conducted, is 

 eligibly situated on the south bank of the straits of the same 

 name, and enjoys the advantage of a regular plan and spacious 

 streets, which have been introduced since the burning of the old 



