Carson - Unknown Soldier Civil War Monument GPS Coordinates: 41.239900 by -95.404900

This 4 foot monument was erected by the WRC May 30, 1904. There is an unusual wooden flagpole behind the monument. The Carson Cemetery is just east of town. The monument is the first stone to the right after entering the cemetery from the Carson Avenue entrance - not the Highway 59 entrance. Thanks to Mike Carr for information about this monument and other monuments in this region. The first photo was taken 9/1/08 - the second one 5/10/18.

Council Bluffs - Bayliss Park Monuments GPS Coordinates: 41.259766 by -95.851700

Bayliss Park is a beautiful spot in downtown Council Bluffs with a number of veterans memorials. Shown is the front and back of the "Defenders of our Flag" monument erected by the WRC in 1926. On the east side of the square is the Veterans Plaza with a wall of those that lost their lives in wars including the Civil War. The final photo is a Spanish-American War Monument. The outstanding Union Pacific Railroad Museum is across the street on the south side of the park. Bayliss Park is at 1st Avenue and S. 6th Street. Photos were taken 5/10/18 - the Spanish-American photo was taken 9/1/08.

Council Bluffs - General Grenville M. Dodge Memorial Bridge GPS Coordinates: 41.259650 by -95.921750

Highway 6 runs coast-to-coast and is named the Grand Army of the Republic Highway. The SUVCW in Iowa has named 11 bridges on the Highway after Iowa CW Generals. There are also 29 highway markers across the state - an example is listed under Oakland in Pottawattamie County. This bridge is named after General Grenville M. Dodge, whose home was in Council Bluffs. He organized and was the Colonel of the 4th Iowa Infantry Regiment. He received promotions and became a noted Major General at the division level. He is best known as the Chief Engineer of the Union Pacific responsible for building the eastern half of the Transcontinental Railroad. Also see the Dodge Mausoleum and Dodge Home under Pottawattamie County on this web site. This memorial bridge is in the west-bound lane on Highway 6/I-480 over the Missouri River between Council Bluffs and Omaha. Thank you to Charlene Gaard for the photo - it was taken 5/12/12.

Council Bluffs - General Grenville M. Dodge House GPS Coordinates: 41.255153 by -95.848000

General Dodge, in addition to being a noted Civil War general, is best known as the builder of the Union Pacific Railroad. His home, built in 1869, is beautifully restored and open for tours. There are a few Civil War artifacts including a portrait and two swords – one of which is a presentation sword. In the basement are many photos of his funeral in 1916 and a few from the War. The home is located on Story and Third Streets and is just east of the business district. Photos taken 11/30/07.

Council Bluffs - General Grenville M. Dodge Mausoleum GPS Coordinates: 41.272833 by -95.824233

General Dodge is well known as a Civil War general and the engineer who built the Union Pacific Railroad. He lived in Council Bluffs and is buried with his wife Ruth Anne at Walnut Hill Cemetery. He died January 3, 1916, at the age of 84. His funeral was attended by many dignitaries. The cemetery is on the east side of the city - take Highway 6 to North Avenue then turn south one block to E. Pierce Street and follow it to Walnut Hill. The large mausoleum is in the center of the cemetery at the top of the hill. A number of family members are buried nearby. The first two photos were taken 9/1/08. The third photo was taken 4/1/11 with members of SUVCW Grenville M. Dodge Camp #75. National SUVCW Commander Brad Schall is wearing the yellow cap.

Council Bluffs - The Black Angel - Ruth Anne Dodge Memorial GPS Coordinates: 41.267750 by -95.848400

Ruth Anne Dodge, wife of General Grenville Dodge, had a dream or vision shortly before she died in 1916. This vision had an angel at the prow of a boat carrying a small bowl and extending her other arm toward Mrs. Dodge. The daughters of the Dodges commissioned a sulptor, Daniel Chester French, to design a monument based on this vision. French is best known as the designer of the seated Lincoln in the Memorial in Washington D. C. The bronze statue is known as the Black Angel. It is adjacent to Fairview Cemetery on Lafayette Avenue. From Highway 6/Kanesville take Oakland to Lafayette - turn right to the monument. The first two photos were taken 9/1/08. The final photo is a copy of an old undated postcard provided by Danny Krock.

Council Bluffs - Colonel William Kinsman Monument and Cannons GPS Coordinates: 41.272300 by -95.850316

This is a stunning memorial to Col. William Kinsman. Col. Kinsman led the 23rd Iowa Regiment in a charge at Big Black River, Mississippi on May 17, 1863. He was wounded severely and died the next day. The monument includes a bronze plaque with a likeness of Col. Kinsman. His remains were returned to Council Bluffs and the monument was dedicated May 17, 1902. It is surrounded by 4 huge cannons. These are identical 32 pounder seacoast guns, M1829, cast at West Point Foundry in 1829. The markings on the muzzle face show the initials of the inspector and the foundry registration number. It also has a circular "scare" - the result of a metallurgy test performed on the cannon. The monument is located in the northern section of historic Fairview Cemetery. Take Oakland Avenue north off Kanesville Blvd/Highway 6. Photos were taken 9/1/08 - the cannon photo was taken 5/10/18.

A Remembrance Ceremony in honor of Col. Kinsman was held on June 20, 2009, and attended by relatives of Col. Kinsman. Shown in the photo below are Mr. and Mrs. Paul Kinsman and son Benjamin from Vancouver, BC along with members from the SUVCW Kirkwood Camp #4 and Kinsman Camp #23. The final image is a copy of an old undated postcard furnished by Danny Krock - note that there is a ball at the top of the monument that is missing today.

Council Bluffs - Union Veterans Legion Monument GPS Coordinates: 41.272767 by -95.825750

This monument is in the Walnut Hill Cemetery in Council Bluffs. It was erected May 30, 1904. Membership in the Union Veterans Legion required volunteering prior to July 1, 1863 for a term of 3 years and being honorably discharged. Service had to be at least 2 years if the discharge was due to battlefield wounds. Membership in the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), where any veteran was eligible, was much more common. There is little record of the Legion in Iowa and this is its only known monument. The cemetery is on the east side of the city - take Highway 6 to North Avenue then turn south one block to E. Pierce Street and follow it to Walnut Hill. The monument is on the road to the left or west side of the cemetery. Thank you to Richard Hickman for notification of this unusual monument and the excellent photos. The photos were taken 8/27/12.

Oakland - Civil War Soldier at Cemetery GPS Coordinates: 41.326250 by -95.382433

This is an impressive monument at Oaklawn Cemetery. It is granite with what appears to be a soldier of marble. It is about 30 feet tall. It was dedicated in 1902. There is also a monument honoring fallen soldiers from all wars – including William Layton, Company B, 4th Iowa Infantry Regiment from the Civil War. A non-Civil War cannon is located in front of the soldier. It is a 3.2 inch US M1897 field gun - thank you to Tom Batha for information about this cannon. The cemetery is north of town on Highway 59. Photos taken 9/1/08, 2/8/09, and 9/1/12. Thank you to Richard Hickman for the most recent photo of the soldier monument.

Oakland - General James A. Williamson Memorial Bridge GPS Coordinates: 41.288889 by -95.412560

Highway 6 runs coast-to-coast and is named the Grand Army of the Republic Highway. The Iowa SUVCW has named 11 bridges on the Highway after Iowa CW Generals. There are also 29 GAR Highway markers across the state - an example is also listed under Oakland. This bridge is named after James A. Williamson. He succeeded Grenville Dodge as Colonel of the 4th Iowa Infantry Regiment. He was seriously wounded leading his regiment at Chickasaw Bluffs on December 29, 1862. He later became a Brigade commander and saw action at Lookout Mountain, the Atlanta Campaign and the March to the Sea. This bridge crosses the West Nishnabotna River on Highway 6 southwest of Oakland. Photo taken 5/12/12.