Bloomfield in Davis County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Confederate Invasion of Iowa Monument
The Confederate Invasion of Iowa
12th Day of October 1864.
This monument marks the northern most point of incursion into Iowa by Confederate Forces. On October 12, 1864, Lieutenant James “Bill” Jackson led twelve heavily armed Missouri Partisan Rangers dressed in Union uniforms in a raid through Davis County, Iowa, resulting in the murder of three local citizens. • This Plaque Dedicated in 2005 • Davis County Civil War Guerrilla Raid Society.
In Honor Of Those Citizens of Davis County Who Sacrificed And Served to Preserve The Union. • Donated in 2005 by Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
Confederate Partisan Rangers Came From Missouri To This Point, The Furthest North Of Any Confederate Incursion During the Civil War. • Donated in 2005 by the Sons of Confederate Veterans of the Civil War.
Erected 2005 by Davis County Civil War Guerrilla Raid Society.
Topics and series. This monument and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Sons of Confederate Veterans/United Confederate Veterans series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1864.
Location. 40° 44.5′ N, 92° 25.133′ W. Marker is in Bloomfield, Iowa, in Davis County. Memorial is on South West Street, 0.3 miles south of Karr Avenue, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 903 South West Street, Bloomfield IA 52537, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 16 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Davis County Courthouse (approx. 0.7 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away); J P Strother (approx. 15.9 miles away); Gerald W. Fackler (approx. 15.9 miles away); Doodlebug (approx. 15.9 miles away); Charles M. Martin (approx. 15.9 miles away); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (approx. 15.9 miles away); McHaffey Opera House (approx. 16 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bloomfield.
Regarding The Confederate Invasion of Iowa Monument. This monument marks the farthest north that any Confederate soldiers reached during the Civil War, at 40 degrees, 44˝ minutes north latitude. General Morgan’s raid ended two miles west of West Point, Ohio, at 40 degrees, 41˝ minutes north latitude (about five miles short of what Jackson reached), and claims to be the northernmost incursion of any officially organized Confederate body.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. What Was the Northern most "Battle" of the Civil War?
Additional commentary.
1. "Northernmost Engagement"
The "secret" to this marker is reading the fine print. Is this is the "northernmost" battle? Well perhaps and perhaps not. A marker for "Morgan's Raid" in Ohio also claims that distinction (see related markers).
And we also have the question of St. Albans in Vermont. Well again, many contend the raiders there were not true "Confederate soldiers" but rather partisans (or other unsavory words).
Truth be known, NONE of these locations are properly the northernmost battle. That distinction goes to an action fought on June 27, 1865 off the coast of St. Lawrence Island, in the Bering Sea, now part of Alaska. Yes, well after the surrender of troops on land, a Confederate privateer named the CSS Shenandoah captured and burned Union whalers. Thus in addition to being the northernmost and westernmost, the action was among the last battle of the Civil War. (And the CSS Shenandoah also fought the easternmost and likely the southernmost actions of the war during her voyage.)
— Submitted March 15, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.