Friday, March 2, 2018

Dr. Lyftogt Took Us on a Civil War Journey


The residents of Cedar Falls are not cognizant of the rich Civil War history we have here and the important role Iowa's citizens played in the Union’s victory.

Former UNI History Professor and local author, Ken Lyftogt, presented his love of local lore of the 2 extremely active Federal Military Regiments of B Company 31st Iowa and K Company 3rd Iowa. Throughout all of the major Civil War battle campaigns, Iowa soldiers took an active combat role and were instrumental in defeating the enemy. The war’s bloodstained battlefields are peppered with headstones from the fallen Iowan hero soldiers who gave their last full devotion. They came from Cedar Falls and surrounding communities. One-fourth of the Union casualties at the Shiloh Battlefield were Iowans. 

Dr. Lyftogt even gave a lively discourse on a little-known fact about a battle that took place on Iowa soil.  In this Keokuk battle, ill-prepared raw Union recruits used their zeal of patriotism to defeat the enemy and deny them a foothold in the Upper Mississippi Valley. 

Kiwanis always has great and informed speakers and Ken was a shining star and was given high accolades!

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