To mark the end of the Civil War sesquicentennial this year, the uniformed auxiliary, Company B, 10th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Sons Veteran Reserve, is carrying out five re-dedication ceremonies of Civil War monuments in western Iowa.
A re-dedication ceremony will be held at the Jefferson Municipal Cemetery Saturday, Oct. 3, at 10 am. The public is cordially invited. The ceremony being used is the original Grand Army of the Republic ceremony used when the monuments were dedicated. The monument in Jefferson was dedicated Nov. 4, 1902.
According to Michael Carr, Captain of Co. B, 10th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, S.V.R., Iowa sent more troops to the Union Army per capita (76,534) than any other state. Iowa suffered more casualties than any other state, with 12,001 dying of wounds or disease and another 12,000-plus permanently disabled by wounds or disease. More Medals of Honor went to Iowans (33) than to soldiers from any other state.
Troops from Iowa played significant roles at the battles of Fort Donnelson, Pea Ridge, Shiloh, Vicksburg, the Atlanta campaign, and Sherman’s March to the Sea, Carr said.
