Historic Diaries: James Doty, 1820
May 28, 1820: Into Lake Huron
Editor's Note:
Doty and his companions would spend much of the summer riding waves in fragile birch-bark canoes far offshore in lakes Huron and Superior. At the time, few Americans could swim well enough to save themselves and drowning was an ever-present risk. Although they encountered no difficulties on this day, high winds, thunderstorms, strong currents, and rocky bottoms would threaten their safety often in the weeks to come.
Location: near modern Port Sanilac, Mich.
View Doty's handwritten manuscript of this page
View page in the 1895 printed edition
Rose at 1/2 past 5. Wind fair but weather damp — rain expected. At 1/2 past 8 we embarked, wind ahead. After passing a rapid of near 1/2 mile, entered lake Huron. Passed Green point. Deer point, and 4 o'clock Point O'Sable, 30 m. from Gratiot. About 6 m. beyond this point we encamped before sunset. The whole of the country from Gratiot appears to be poor land. The timber is pine, oak, hickory, beech, maple, poplar, hemlock, cedar and spruce and cherry intermixed. From Deer point to this the banks are high, composed of clay & sand.
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