Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 1.djvu/242



through Hamilton, Wright, Hancock, Cerro Gordo, Worth and other counties of northern Iowa. They had seen few Indians until the 30th of June. When in camp near the headwaters of the east fork of the Des Moines, they were suddenly attacked by a large party of Sioux warriors. Being in the heart of the Sioux country, that fierce tribe determined to resist a march through their possessions. Captain Boone made a successful defense until darkness put an end to the battle. Knowing that his little company was far beyond the reach of reënforcements, he ordered a retreat and, during the night, placed many miles between his command and the enemy.

By the 8th of August the expedition had returned to the Raccoon fork of the Des Moines River, where Colonel Kearny had established a camp and spent some time exploring the country north and west. They visited a portion of the Raccoon Valley, followed down the Des Moines to a village of Sac and Fox Indians, under the chief, Appanoose, located where Ottumwa now stands. Here they found a population of about three hundred and fifty Indians, with fine cornfields under cultivation.

One of the officers of the command was Lieutenant Albert M. Lea, who was a civil engineer and an accomplished draughtsman. He made a map of the region explored and to that added such information as he could collect from other sources. He prepared and had published a map of the “Iowa District.” To accompany this map he published a little book with the following title:

“ The Iowa District, or . By Lieut. Albert M. Lea, With Accurate Map of the District. Philadelphia, 1836.”