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THE RED MEN OF IOWA.
organization, the company at Sioux City was designated by the more appropriate name of "Frontier Guards."
The northwestern counties being the most sparsely settled, and being also nearer the haunts, of the hostile Sioux, were the most exposed to danger, and as a consequence, greater vigilance and more active operations were required there than elsewhere upon the border. For this reason, after a time, Colonel Baldwin was succeeded by Hon. A.W. Hubbard, of Sioux City, with headquarters at that place.
Of the Frontier Guards organized at Sioux City, the following officers were commissioned: William Tripp, captain; William R. Smith, first lieutenant, and A. J. Millard, second lieutenant. At Melbourne, Plymouth county, there was a company of mounted rangers under command of Captain J. P. Morton. During 1861 and 1862, these two companies did considerable active scout service, and although they encountered no actual engagements with the foe, yet by their vigilance and readiness, no doubt they were instrumental in keeping the insolent savages at bay.
In the early part of July, 1861, when exaggerated reports of savage atrocities in Woodbury county reached Colonel Baldwin, at Council Bluffs, he immediately dispatched to the scene of the supposed emergency a company from Mills county, known as the "Mounted Minutemen." They were under the command of Captain L. W. Tubbs, with Isaac Baldwin as First lieutenant, and E. C. Bosbyshell as second lieutenant. Finding, upon their arrival at Sioux City, that the reports of Indian barbarities in that vicinity had been greatly exaggerated, after receiving a fine collation at the hands of the grateful and generous people of Sioux City, they took their departure for
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LAST INDIAN TROUBLES IN IOWA.
home. The reason for sending a force to the relief of the people on the upper border, was the fact that during the latter part of June, prowling bands of Indians had raided the country bordering on the Floyd and Little Sioux rivers, in Woodbury and Monona counties, stealing and killing stock, and otherwise conducting themselves in a menacing manner toward the settlers. The Frontier Guards had made two or three detours in pursuit of the Indians, but the latter had managed to keep out of range of the guns of their pursuers. One of the expeditions of the Frontier Guards was to the Little Sioux River, where it had been reported immediate relief was needed. The march was made with all possible speed, and on the first night after leaving home the company encamped on the banks of the Little Sioux, but saw no signs of the presence of the enemy. The second night they rendezvoused at Correctionville. During this night the pickets detected the stealthy approach of several Indians, whose purpose doubtless was to possess themselves of some of the horses belonging to the guards. One or two shots were fired by the Indians, resulting in the wounding of two of the men, though not seriously. A charge was then made upon the Indians, but they made a hasty and inglorious flight, getting out of the range of the fire of the soldiers. After some three or four day's service, and no further encounter with the enemy, the guards returned to headquarters at Sioux City. It was along the Little Sioux, in the vicinity of Correctionville, and below, that the Indians had hitherto made their most threatening demonstrations, but after this they avoided that part of the country.
It was not many days after the affair just related, and
