200 NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



South and Eastern borders of Lake Michigan — Their Flora and Fauna — Incidents 

 of the journey — Topography — Geology, Botany, and Mineralogy — Indian Tribes 

 — Burial-place of Marquette — Ruins of the post of old Mackinac — Reach Michi- 

 limackinac after a canoe journey north of four hundred miles. 



It was now tlie last day of August, Having partaken of the 

 hospitalities of Mr. Kinzie, and of Captains Bradley and Green, of 

 Fort Dearborn, during our stay at Chicago, and completed the 

 reorganization of our parties, we separated on the last day of the 

 mouth, at two o'clock P. M.; Gov. Cass and his party, on horse- 

 back, taking the old Indian trail to Detroit, and Capt. Douglass 

 and myself being left, with two canoes, to complete the circum- 

 navigation of the lakes. We did not delay our departure over 

 thirty minutes, but bidding adieu to Dr. Wolcott, whose manners, 

 judgment, and intelligence had commanded our respect during 

 the journey, embarked with two canoes ; our steersmen imme- 

 diately hoisted their square sails, and, favored by a good breeze, 

 we proceeded twenty miles along the southern curve, at the head 

 of Lake Michigan, and encamped. 



Within two miles of Chicago, we passed, on the open shores 

 of the lake, the scene of the massacre of Chicago, of the 15th of 

 August, 1812, being the day after the surrender of Detroit by 

 Gen. Hull. Gloom hung, at that eventful period, over every 

 part of our western borders. Michilimackinac had already been 

 carried by surprise ; and the ill-advised order to evacuate Chi- 

 cago, was deemed by the Indians an admission that the Americans 

 were to be driven from the country. The Pottawattomies deter- 

 mined to show the power of their hostility on this occasion. 

 Capt. Ileald, the commanding officer, having received Gen. Hull's 

 order to abandon the post, and having an escort of thirty friendly 

 Miamis, from Fort Wayne, under Captain Wells, had quitted the 



