The Battle of Wilson's Creek

Paper Summary:

This paper describes the battle of Wilson's Creek, which is often overlooked when recounting Civil War skirmishes. The writer includes a complete order of the battle and identifies several notables in this battle, among others - Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon and Colonel Franz Sigel.

From the Paper:

"On the edge of the meadow was a low rail fence; the Rebels rallied under the shelter of it, and, as if by some inspiration or immediate change of orders, they broke it down in places and started for our artillery. As they got nearer to us, their own artillery ceased firing, because it endangered them. When they got close the firing began on both sides. How long it lasted I do not know; it was probably 20 minutes. Every man was shooting as fast, on our side, as he could load, and yelling as loud as his breath would permit. Most were on the ground, some on one knee. The foe stopped advancing."(Bearss, 109) That's the way it was on August 10, 1861, as seen through the eyes of a soldier from Kansas in Union service. The field of battle is silent now, broken only by the occasional tourist, school group, historian, or Civil War reenactment group camped on the site. Now administered by the National Park Service, the area known as Wilson's Creek National Battlefield was the site of some of the most savage fighting on American soil up to that time. The carnage of Shiloh, Antietam, Gettysburg, and Cold Harbor were still far in the future."

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