The Third Seminole War (1855-1858) captured the attention of map makers as well as the Army, particularly the mid and lower peninsula area where conflicts were scattered. Many forts are shown as well as the routes between them. Also routes across the Everglades and Big Cypress Swamp by various army officers are shown. In the “Note” part of the map he gives ample credit to the sources of information that he used and the people responsible for it. The map was published by the War Department and Bureau of Topographical Engineers and was printed by the U.S. Geological Survey. It was engraved on stone by Konrad Huber.
Lieutenant Ives was a military cartographer and topographical engineer. He was born in New York, went to college at Yale then went to West Point. After his service in Florida he was sent to the west to work on a railroad route along the 35 degree latitude. He did extensive exploration there and led a group to determine the navigability of the Colorado River and eventually went over land. His party was one of the first of white men to reach the floor of Grand Canyon. Later he served in the Confederate Army during the Civil Was as Chief Aid to Jefferson Davis.