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Cass' Expedition

Governor Cass in 1819, one year after this country was annexed to the territory under his authority proposed to the Secretary at War, (John G. Calhoun) that an expedition be fitted out to explore it, which was accomplished the following year. The party consisted of Lewis Cass Governor of Michigan Territory; Dr. Alexander Wolfeott, Physician; Capt. D.B. Douglass, Civil and Military Engineer; Lieut A'neas Mackay, Commanding the soldiers; James D. Doty Esq. Secretary to the Expedition; Robert A Forsyth; Charles G. Trowbridge; Alexander R. Ghare; and Henry R. Schoolcraft, Mineralogist whose "narrative journal" published in 1821 is replete with valuable information relative to this country. From this work we learn that Wisconsin was even then but little more than the abode of a few Indian traders scattered here and there throughout the Territory, as at LaPointe, Fond-du-Lac- on the Bois Brule, The St. Croix-, Sandy Lake,- Leech Lake Milwaukee, and many other points. These ports were usually protected by a stockade enclosing perhaps

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