Lewis Cass expedition facts for kids

The Lewis Cass expedition was an important journey in 1820. It explored the western parts of what was then called Michigan Territory. Lewis Cass, who was the governor of the territory, led this trip.

In early 1820, the United States Secretary of War, John C. Calhoun, gave Governor Cass permission to lead a group into the wild lands. This group included scientists, soldiers, Canadian voyageurs (skilled canoe travelers), and Native Americans.

The main goals of this big adventure were to:

• Map the land and understand its shape.
• Study the plants and animals living there.
• Learn about the Native American tribes, their customs, and if they were friendly with the United States or Great Britain.
• Find good spots for new forts, especially at Sault Ste. Marie.
• Look for valuable minerals in the ground.
• Search for where the mighty Mississippi River begins.

Who Went on the Expedition?

The expedition had 42 people. Each person had an important job.

Key Leaders and Experts

• Lewis Cass: He was the Governor of Michigan Territory and the leader of the whole expedition.
• Captain David Bates Douglass: From the United States Army Corps of Engineers, he was a math professor. He made maps and studied plants and animals.
• Henry Schoolcraft: He was an expert in minerals and rocks (a mineralogist and geologist).
• Dr. Alexander Wolcott Jr.: He was the group's doctor and also worked with Native American tribes.
• James Duane Doty: He was the secretary for the expedition, keeping all the records.
• Lieutenant Aeneus Mackay: He was in charge of the artillery (cannons).
• Robert A. Forsyth: He was Governor Cass's personal secretary.
• Charles C. Trowbridge and Alexander R. Chase: They helped Captain Douglass with his mapping and studies.
• James Riley: He was an interpreter, helping people communicate.
• Roy: A French pilot who guided them on Lake Superior.
• Baptiste: A soldier who worked as the cook.

Support Teams

• 10 Canadian voyageurs: These skilled travelers managed the canoes.
• 10 United States soldiers: They provided protection for the group.
• 10 Native Americans: They helped as hunters and guides. Their names and tribes were:
  • Joseph Parks: A Shawnee who worked as an interpreter.
  • Kewaychoskum: An Ottawa chief.
  • Manitouwaba (meaning "the devil's view"): An Ottawa.
  • Haepsanze: An Ottawa.
  • Wyangding (meaning "source of the winds"): An Ojibwa.
  • Oshashebaquato (meaning "many openings in the clouds"): An Ojibwa.
  • Wyamgboyeausha (meaning "scattered by the wind"): An Ojibwa.
  • Waubonequet (meaning "pale cloud"): An Ojibwa.
  • Omezekekezchie (meaning "the rays of light striking the earth"): An Ojibwa.
  • Macatawasim (meaning "black dog"): A Potawatomi who left the group early.

The Journey Begins: From Detroit to the Mississippi

The expedition started its long journey from Detroit on May 24, 1820. They used four large canoes.

Traveling to Sault Ste. Marie

It took three days to reach Fort Gratiot, which was near the entrance to Lake Huron. At the fort, some sick members of the expedition were replaced with fresh soldiers.

On June 6, the group arrived at Michilimackinac. Here, they waited for more supplies to arrive. On June 13, they left Michilimackinac for Sault Ste. Marie. A large barge with soldiers went with them to show strength to the Native Americans.

A Bold Move at Sault Ste. Marie

At Sault Ste. Marie, Governor Cass met with the Ojibwa people. He wanted their permission to set up an American Indian agency there. Many Ojibwa were still loyal to the British. They were not happy about the American plan.

One Ojibwa chief, known as "the count," wore a British officer's uniform. He even put up a British flag near the expedition's camp. Governor Cass bravely tore down the flag and stepped on it. This strong action showed the Ojibwa that the Americans were serious. After this, the Native Americans agreed to give up 16 square miles (41 km²) of land along the St. Mary's River. Two years later, Fort Brady was built on this land.

Exploring Lake Superior and Beyond

The expedition continued west along the southern shore of Lake Superior. They had to carry their canoes and gear across the Keweenaw Peninsula. Governor Cass, Schoolcraft, and Doty took a side trip. They traveled 30 miles (48 km) up the Ontonagon River to see a huge piece of copper known as the copper rock.

At the western end of Lake Superior, the group went up the Saint Louis River. They reached the American Fur Company's trading post at Fond du Lac.

Searching for the Mississippi's Source

Six miles further up the river, Cass divided his group. Schoolcraft, Doty, and 14 others went across the land. They were heading for another American Fur Company post at Sandy Lake, near the Mississippi River. Cass and the rest of the group continued up the Saint Louis River to the same place.

The overland group got lost and struggled through swamps and deep mud. But they still arrived at Sandy Lake two days before Cass's group. Cass and the scientists then went up the Mississippi River. They were looking for where it started. They went as far as the lake that is now named after Cass. Then they returned to the Sandy Lake post.

The Return Journey to Detroit

The expedition took 16 Ojibwa people with them as they traveled down the Mississippi River. They stopped to hunt buffalo along the riverbanks.

Meetings and Peace Ceremonies

Near the Falls of Saint Anthony, they met soldiers from the Fifth Infantry. The local Indian agent, Major Lawrence Taliaferro, brought together the local Sioux people. They held a peace ceremony with the Ojibwa who were with the Cass expedition.

The expedition continued down the Mississippi. They stopped at Sioux villages to smoke the pipe of peace, a sign of friendship. On August 5, the group reached Fort Crawford at Prairie du Chien. This was the westernmost fort in Michigan Territory at the time.

Journey Through Wisconsin and Michigan

Schoolcraft took a short side trip to the lead mines near Dubuque. After that, the whole expedition went up the Wisconsin River. They carried their canoes across land to the Fox-Wisconsin portage. Then they went down the Fox River to Green Bay. They were greeted with a salute from the guns of Fort Howard.

At Green Bay, Cass sent the soldiers home. He also shipped the plants and animals collected by the scientists back to Detroit. He led most of the remaining men down the western shore of Lake Michigan to Chicago.

Dr. Wolcott and a few others stayed at the Indian agency in Chicago. Governor Cass rode a horse back to Detroit, following an old Native American trail. Schoolcraft and Captain Douglass traveled up the eastern shore of Lake Michigan to Michilimackinac. There, they met Doty and a few other expedition members who had traveled directly from Green Bay. This group then went back down Lake Huron to Detroit. They arrived on September 24, 1820, after 124 days of travel.

What Did the Expedition Achieve?

The Lewis Cass expedition cost about $6,300. It led to many important results.

After the trip, a series of articles were published in the Detroit Gazette newspaper. Henry Schoolcraft also wrote a 419-page book about the journey. It was called Narrative Journal of Travels...from Detroit...to the Sources of the Mississippi River. This book sold 1,200 copies very quickly after it was published in 1821. The expedition also led to at least 15 scientific papers.