NARRATIVE Or THE EXPEDITION, 65 



It happened that the British authorities on the island of St. 

 Joseph, got intelligence of the declaration of war, in 1812, 

 through Canada, before the American commander at Mack- 

 inac heard of it. Mustering their forces with such volunteers, 

 militia, and Indians as could be hastily got together, they pro- 

 ceeded in boats to the back of the island, where they secretly 

 landed at night with some artillery, and by daylight the next 

 morning got the latter in place on the summit of Fort Holmes, 

 which completely commanded the lower fort, when they sent a 

 summons of surrender, wdiich Captain Hanks, the American com- 

 manding officer, had no option but to obey. 



Colonel Croghan, the hero of Sandusky, attempted to regain 

 possession of it, in 1814, wdth a competent force, and after several 

 demonstrations of his fleet about the island, by which time was 

 lost and panic in the enemy allayed, he landed on the northern 

 part of it, which is depressed, and his army marched through, 

 thick woods, most favorable for the operations of the Indians, to 

 the open grounds of Dousman's Farm, where the army was met 

 by Coloiiel McDouall, who was eligibly posted on an eminence 

 with but few regular troops, but a heavy force of Indian auxili- 

 aries and the village militia. Major Holmes, Avho gallantly led 

 the attack, swinging his sword, w^as killed at a critical moment, 

 and the troops retreated before Colonel Croghan could reach the 

 field with a reinforcement. Thus ended this affair. 



My attention was directed to the plaster stated to exist on the St. 

 Martin Islands. These islands compose a small group lying about 

 nine or ten miles north-northeast of Michilimackiuac. Captain 

 Knapp, of the revenue service, had been requested to take me to 

 the spot with the revenue cutter under his command. I was 

 accompanied by Captain Douglass, of the expedition, and bv 

 Lieutenant John Pierce, U. S. A., stationed at the fort. 



The gypsum exists in a moist soil, not greatly elevated, during 

 certain winds above the lake. Pits had been dug by persons visiting 

 the locality for commercial purposes. It occurs in granular lumps 

 of a gray color, as also in foliated and fibrous masses, white, gray, 

 chestnut color, or sometimes red. No difficulty w^as encountered 

 in procuring as many specimens as were required. This group 

 of islands is noticeable, also, for the large boulder masses of horn- 

 blende and granite rock, which are found imbedded in, or lying 

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