218 NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 



"We understand tliat tlie objects of the expedition have been 

 successfully accomplished. The party has traversed 4,000 miles 

 of this frontier since the last of May. Their route was from this 

 place to Michilimackinac, and to the Sault of St. Mary's, where a 

 treaty was concluded with the Chippewas for the cession of a 

 tract of land, with a view to the establishment of a military post. 

 They thence coasted the southern shore of Lake Superior to the 

 Fond du Lac; ascended the St. Louis River to one of its sources, 

 and descended a small tributary stream of Sandy Lake to the 

 Mississippi. They then ascended this latter river to the Upper 

 Eed Cedar Lake, which may be considered as the principal source 

 of the Mississippi, and which is the reservoir where the small 

 streams forming that river unite. From this lake they descended 

 between thirteen and fourteen hundred miles to Prairie du Chieti, 

 passing by the post of St. Peters on the route. They then navi- 

 gated the Ouisconsin to the portage, entered the Fox River, and 

 descended it to Green Bay. Then the party separated, in order 

 to obtain a topographical sketch of Lake Michigan. Some of 

 them coasted the northern shore to Michilimackinac, and the 

 others took the route by Chicago. From this point they will tra- 

 verse the eastern shore of tlie lake to Michilimackinac, and may 

 be expected here in the course of a week. Governor Cass re- 

 turned from Chicago by land. A correct topographical delinea- 

 tion of this extensive frontier may now be expected from the 

 accurate observations of Captain Douglass, who is fully competent 

 to perform the task. We have heretofore remained in ignorance 

 upon tliis subject, and very little has been added to the stock of 

 geographical knowledge since the French possessed the country. 

 We understand that all the existing maps are found to be very 



prompt and almost desperate courage, drove off the British party. Forsyth dis- 

 tinguished himself in the contest, in which the British leader of the party was killed. 

 Soon after the war, he was appointed Private Secretary to Governor Cass, and con- 

 tinued in that capacity for fifteen years, till the latter was transferred to the War 

 Department. He accompanied the General in all his expeditions into the Indian 

 country, and rendered himself invariably useful, having a peculiar talent to control 

 the rough men who took part in these dangerous excursions. He was ultimately 

 appointed a paymaster in the army, in which capacity he served in Mexico, where 

 he acquired the seeds of the disorder which proved fatal to him in 1840. He will 

 be long recollected and regretted by those who knew him, for the shining qualities 

 of head and heart which endeared him to all his acquaintances. 



