58 XAREATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION, 



Nothing can present a more refreshing and inspiring landscape. 

 From that moment the voyafjeiifs appeared to disregard the wind. 

 Striking into the water with bolder paddles, and opening one of 

 their animating boat-songs, all thought of past toils was forgot- 

 ten, and, urged forward with a new impetus, we entered the hand- 

 some little crescent-shaped harbor at four o'clock. The expedition 

 w^as received with a salute from the fort, in command of Capt. B. K. 

 Pierce, U. S. A.,- in compliment to the Governor of the Territory, 

 and we lauded amid the congratulations of the citizens, w^ho 

 pressed forward to welcome us. 



Thus terminated the first part of our journey, after a tedious 

 voyage of fourteen days, in which we had encountered a series 

 of almost continued head-winds and foul weather. The distance by 

 ship is usually estimated at three hundred miles ; by following the 

 indentations of the coast, and entering Saganaw Bay, we found it 

 three hundred and sixty.f AVe found the Huron coast, to the 

 line of which our observations were limited, bearing, in its vege- 

 tation, indubitable marks of its exposure to the northern wunds. 

 As a section of the lake geology, it is simple and instructive, ex- 

 hibiting strata of sandstone and non-crystalline and fossiliferous 

 limestone in horizontal positions, without the slightest disturb- 

 ance in their dip or inclinations. Its mineralogy is scanty, being 

 nearly confined, so far as observed, to some common silicious 

 minerals, and traces of argillaceous and magnetic oxides of iron. 

 The erratic block-stratum or drift, is remarkable, and prepares 

 the mind for the still heavier accumulations of this kind which 

 are perceived to be spread over the northern latitudes.:}: 



* Of this officer, who was a brother of Franklin Piei-ce, President of the United 

 States, Gardner's Army Dictionary gives the following notice : Benjamin K. Pierce 

 (N. H.), First Lieutenant Third Artillery, March, 1812; Adjutant, 1813; Captain, 

 October, 1813 ; retained May 15, in artillery ; in Fourth Artillery, May 21 ; Majorten 

 years fa. service, Oct. 1, 1823; Major First Artillery, June 11, 1836 (Lieutenant- 

 Colonel Eighth Infantry, July 7, 1838, declined) ; Brevet Lieutenaut-Colonel "for dis- 

 tinguished service in affair at Fort Drane," Aug. 21, 1836 (Oct. 1836), in which he 

 commanded : Colonel Regular Creek Mounted Volunteers, in Florida War, Oct. 1836 ; 

 Lieutenant-Colonel First Artillery, jNIarch 19, 1842. Died April 1, 1850, at New York. 



-}- Among the erratic block or drift stratum, I observed on the south Huron coast 

 singularly striking, round fragments of white quartz, imbedding red fragments of 

 coarse jasper ; a rock, which I afterwards found in places on the south end of Sugar 

 Island, in St. Mary's Straits, which lies directly north of the general position, and 

 may serve as a proof of the course of the drift. 



% Vide Geo. Report, Appendix. 



