Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1813-01-08
H SEAT OF A

u JUdfers, formed by the Lakes, and
their respective communications. The
first great lake TO the west, is lake So.
perior, which is, according TO French
charts, about 1900 miles 10 circumfer-
ence but as this great body of water is
not likely to enter into the seat of the
Var, a more particular description is
unnecessary. The Superior discharges
its waters from the Sc. corner, through
the straits of St. Marie, (about 40 miles
long) into lake Huron.
Lake Huron dips to the south. and Is
connected at its N. w. side with lake
Michigan, By the straits of Michiili-
mackinack.
The Michigan is embosomed wholly
within the u. S. and is, therefore, the
only one of those great waters which
does o touch Canada. 1t hangs into
Ithe u. S. by the north west OF Huron,
Hike a pendulous birds nest by the branch
Lpf a tree. It runs N. and 5 IT'S COM
Eputed length being ESQ miles, and its
breadth from 60 to 20 /; its circnmfer-
nearly 600 miles. The strait OF
EMichillimackinack is about six miles
and the for, of the came name,
which was lately taken by the allies, IL
SITUATED on an island at the mouth oil the
strait. The fort Joseph, from which
|the attack was made, is at the mouth OF
the strait St. Marie.
The Huron is somewhat of . triangu-
lar shape, computed at upwards OF one
Thousand miles 10 circumference. AT It's
most sou,heruly angle, it sends off the
small river Huron, which connects It
with the small lake St. Clair, about halt
the distance between lakes Huron and
Erie.
I The lake St. Clair, Of course, re-
all the waters Of the three great
Makes, Superior, Michigan and Huron,
hichi it discharges, through a strait or
river called Detroit Che Fsench for
strait into lake Erie. We now ap-
proach the scene of the late military ope-
r~ations.
On the west bank of Detroit river
stands Fort Detroit, the capital OF the
Michigan territory, and the fatal scene
Of Hull's inglorious surrender. II is
about 18 miles north Of the west end of
lake Erie, and9 miles below St. Clair
The river Detroit is, at its connection
with St. Clair, more than a mile in
width, from thence it shrinks, until op.
posite the fort, it is not more than half
a mile wide-from thence il extends
until, on its entrance into lake Erie, it
is more than three miles wide. Sand
wich is nearly opposite to fort Detroit /;
and about 18 miles below on the same
side with Sandwich, is. fort Maiden,
which was built by the British after the
evacuation of Detroit in 1894.
The whole circuit of the communities.
ton between lakes Huron and Erie, is
completely navigable, except during the
i%nclemency of the winter there being
no falls or rapids I interrupt it. The
territory of Michigan, of which gen.
Hull was the governor, is the peninsula
which lies between lakes Michigan and
Huron, and the aforesaid water commu-
nications between Huron and Erie. Its
southern line stretches from the west
end of lake Erie, until it strikes the
south of Michigan. this territory is
mostly engrossed by the aborigines of
the soil, the various tribes of Indians (;
the principal part of the American po.
pulation being at or around the town OF
Detroit, and the whole number OF souls
being by the last census (of 1elO} not
more than 400.
Lake Erie stretches 10 the n. <. from
the w. angle at which it communicates
with the river Detroit. Ii is OF an clip,
teal form, in length about 225 miles and
its medium breadth about 40. The
depth of the water is not more than 20
fathoms, and in calm weather vessels
may ride with safety in any part OF IL;
but in a storm the anchorage in an open
part of the lake is insecure, the sands
at the bottom not being very firm, and