Iisalmi, Vanhan hautausmaan sankarihaudat

Period: 1948
Category: War cemetery
Location accuracy: Precise location

A war cemetery where those who fell in the wars are buried. 238 graves. Memorial designed by Toteuttajana Kaatuneitten muistotoimikunta, jota johti vt. kirkkoherra Eero Niininen. Unveiled 1948.

Muistomerkin teksti: ”Kiviristi”

Access and getting there

Osoite: Kirkkotie 10, 74120 Iisalmi. Muistopaikka. Käyttäydy kunnioittavasti ja noudata alueen omia ohjeita.

What happened here

Battles, troop movements and military operations recorded near this site.

27 October 1808
Battle of Koljonvirta
Battle · Suomen sota · 1,1 km
The Battle of Koljonvirta (Finnish: Koljonvirran taistelu, Swedish: Slaget vid Virta bro) i.e. the Battle of the Virta Bridge, also known as the battle of Idensalmi (Russian: Иденсальмское сражение), was fought between Swedish and Russian troops on October 27, 1808, in the course of Finnish War, with the Swedes prevailed in the engagement despite Russian numerical advantage. The Swedish force consisted of troops from Savolax and Östergötland. After the main Swedish army had been defeated at the Battle of Oravais the army under Johan August Sandels in Savonia had to retreat in order not to be outflanked by the Russians. Sandels found a good defensive position north of Idensalmi (now Iisalmi) and decided to resist the Russian advance there. The Russians were led by Lieutenant General Nikolay Alexeyevich Tuchkov, who was bringing his troops to the Idensalmi strait,—towards Sandels' position locations.
== The battle == Between September 29 and October 27 a cease-fire was in effect. Sandels was heavily outnumbered but had a good defensive position between two lakes connected by the Koljonvirta river and he had prepared his position well during the cease-fire. On October 27 the cease-fire was to end at 1 PM, but Russians started their attack a little earlier, perhaps because of the time difference between Sweden and Russia. Firstly, only the vanguard of Adjutant General Prince M. P. Dolgorukov pressed the Swedes. Sandels pulled back the forces on the south side of the river and the Russians attacked over the partially demolished bridge, exposing themselves to musket- and grapeshot fire. By the time the Russians managed to cross the bridge with Navaginsky and Tenginsky regiments, Navaginsky jaegers moved forward and the Tenginsky moved to the left, not allowing the Swedes to cut the Russians off the bridge. Major Obernibesov and Captain Rushnov were the first to break into Swedish trenches, but that was the end of Russian success. The Swedes counter-attacked in columns, using bayonets, and literally pushed the Russian troops into the river.—Both the Tenginsky and the Navaginsky retreated to the bridge, got mixed up and crossed over to their own side in great disorder. The Swedes stopped. The Russians pulled up fresh troops in the form of Reval and Azov regiments (with batteries) on the south side of the river, but N. Tuchkov did not dare to attack again, limited to an artillery exchange of fire. The battle was the last Swedish victory on Finnish soil.
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Recorded casualties in the area

Iisalmi: 14

The recorded place of death is usually a parish or village rather than an exact point, so the figure describes the area around the site. Names of the fallen are not shown.

Sotasampo · Kansallisarkisto, menehtyneet 1939–1945