Historic Diaries: James Doty, 1820
May 27, 1820: At the Mouth of the St. Clair
Editor's Note:
Fort Gratiot was at the north end of the St. Clair River, at the entrance into Lake Huron. It was garrisoned with 60 soldiers. The commanding officer ordered them to salute Doty's arriving party because it carried the governor of Michigan Territory, and was therefore worthy of ceremonial courtesy.
Two of the original 10 soldiers who had set out from Detroit had become sick and were replaced here with five from Fort Gratiot. Schoolcraft reported that this brought the total number of people in the three large canoes to 40.
Location: Fort Gratiot, Mich.
View Doty's handwritten manuscript of this page
View page in the 1895 printed edition
Rose at 4, breakfasted and at half p. 6 embarked. In a short time came into the Ship channel. Harsons Island lies opposite to our encampment. Passed several houses. The land appears fertile and the farms comfortable. The river is beautiful. The banks descend gently to the waters edge, covered with fine thrifty timber… River about 1000 yards wide — banks from 3 to 15 ft… The timber is generally from a short distance below the Town of St. Clair to Gratiot, oak, hickory, birch, beech, maple, whitewood and pine.
We arrived at Gratiot at 6 P. M. It is situated on a Bay, the water of which is a strong rapid. It is with great difficulty that any craft passes the point 1 1/2 miles below the fort, the current passing around it with great velocity… On our arrival a salute was fired from the Fort. Took tea with Maj. Cummings and his Lady. He appears to be an excellent and vigilant officer. There are no buildings except those belonging to the military. We were kindly rec'd by the officers generally. From the situation of this Post, I should think government must be ill advised to abandon it. Our encampment was in a field above the Fort. The land on both sides of the river appears rich and fertile. The military cultivate about 40 acres. We dischd [2] of our Soldiers & rec'd 5 from Maj. Cummings.'
|
