Lake, Estherville, Ocheyedan, Peterson, Cherokee, Ida, Sac City, Correctionville, Little Sioux and Melbourne, while Captain Millard’s Company was at Spirit Lake, thus forming a line of communication from Chain Lake to Sioux City. This prompt action of the authorities effectually protected the settlements of northwestern Iowa from attacks by the Sioux warriors, who were desolating western Minnesota.
All preparations for a draft were made by the State authorities, as few were sanguine in the belief that 20,000 more volunteers could be furnished by Iowa in time to avert it. But the liberal provisions made by the Legislature to authorize the counties by taxation to provide for the support of the families of persons in the military service, and also to pay liberal bounties for enlistments, enabled the State to furnish its quota under the calls recently made without resort to a draft.
