East Galena Township in Jo Daviess County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Napoleon

Photographed by Connor Olson, February 21, 2026

1. The Napoleon Marker

Inscription. Known technically as a 12-Pounder Field Gun, Model 1857, this bronze, smoothbore cannon was cast in 1862 at Miles Greenwood's "Eagle Foundry" in Cincinnati, Ohio. Such fieldpieces were the workhorses of the Civil War, comprising nearly 40 percent of the Union and Confederate artillery armament.

Of special note is the "profound impression" on the gun's breech—an indentation apparently caused by the direct hit of a solid projectile.

This cannon was presented City of Galena by the U.S. War Department, arriving in April of 1865. The following month it was fired by local citizens in celebration of the capture of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

It was displayed at the Galena Fairgrounds until 1882 when it was moved to "the soldier's monument lot" on the west side of the river. In 1891, with the creation of Grant Park, both the soldier's monument and the cannon were transferred to this site.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.

Location. 42° 24.834′ N, 90° 25.568′ W. Marker is in Galena, Illinois, in Jo Daviess County. It

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is in East Galena Township. It can be reached from Park Avenue east of Johnson Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 625 Park Avenue, Galena IL 61036, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

in the Driftless Area — Bluff Country,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: 1913 Krupp Howitzer (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The De Soto House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ulysses S. Grant Home (approx. 0.2 miles away); Galena, Illinois (approx. ¼ mile away); Galena Public Library (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Point Of Beginning (approx. 6½ miles away in Wisconsin); St. Augustine Church (approx. 9½ miles away in Wisconsin); George Wallace Jones (approx.

Photographed by Connor Olson, February 21, 2026

2. The Napoleon Marker

9.6 miles away in Wisconsin). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Galena.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 5, 2026, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 54 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 5, 2026, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.