Wilson's Creek

A BGES Great Authors, Great Books Program: Wilson’s Creek: Second Battle of the Civil War and the Men who Fought It

Missouri was a people divided. They had witnessed the bloodshed of Bleeding Kansas and now found themselves at the start of hostilities in a very untenable position. Although held in the Union by a pro Union legislature that rejected secession, the Governor of Missouri. Claiborne Jackson wanted Missouri out of the Union and to counter Federal presence in and around St. Louis authorized the recruitment and training of a State Militia under the command of former governor, Sterling Price. The force of over 10,000 represented a significant threat to the Union rule in the state and in the summer of 1861, Union forces under the command of brash young Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon moved towards Springfield which they occupied throughout the summer of 1861.

Missouri forces under Price had been pushed into the southwest corner of Missouri where the Confederate government authorized Confederate forces under former Texas Ranger, Ben McCullough to cooperate in a move to expel Lyon from Springfield. What followed was a decided Confederate victory that proved to be inconsequential. The battle for Missouri would be fought another time in Arkansas.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

7 PM: Meet at the headquarters hotel, pick up registration and reading books. Rick and Bill will then talk about writing the book and what they have learned and experienced since becoming the nationally recognized experts on the battle. A short introductory set of remarks will prepare the group for the tour on Friday.

Friday, March 28, 2014

8 AM: We will start the program by taking a trip over to Carthage, about an hour west, to examine that July 5 battle. Outnumbered nearly 4 to 1, US Colonel Franz Sigel attacked Missouri State Guard forces under command of Gov. Jackson and were pushed back through town. Sigel withdrew and joined Lyon at Springfield while Confederate troops fell back into Arkansas. Price took command of the MSG training camp. And prepared the green troops for what was to follow. We will return to downtown Springfield where we will discuss the Federal presence in the town under General Lyon. He had been present in an advanced and exposed position far from his supports.

Just a week before, Lyon had determined to drive the Missouri Guard out of Missouri and had run into state troops at our next stop on the Wire Road. The meeting engagement at Dug Springs set Lyon back on his haunches. Facing resistance that close to Springfield, he returned to his camp in Springfield and asked for reinforcements.

New theater commander, John C. Fremont denied his request and ordered him to return to Rolla or St. Louis. With his forces dissolving in a heap of expiring enlistments, Lyon decided to attack the Confederates and MSG in camp at Wilson Creek. Lyon accepted Sigel’s proposal to divide his forces and attack the enemy in camp from opposite sides simultaneously. We will follow Lyon’s route to the battlefield. Upon arrival we will stop in the Visitors Center and watch the film prior to going to the Confederate campsites. We will finish the day following Sigel to his attack position. Lunch is included.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

8 AM: Depart the hotel en route to the battlefield. The focus of the morning is Sigel’s assault and his movement over Wilson Creek until he overextends himself and is forced back without supporting Major Samuel Sturgis who has taken over command when Lyon is killed on Bloody Hill. We will then commence the advance of Lyon and his defense against aggressive Confederate assaults. We will move to various view sheds and walk the grounds of the attacks over Bloody Hill. After multiple attacks and no indication or communication with Sigel, Sturgis orders a retreat. We will follow the Federals off the field and then visit the NPS’ complete and stunning Trans-Mississippi Museum. Collected over a lifetime by BGES member and friend Thomas Sweeney, the NPS acquired the collection a number of years ago and it is simply the finest collection of that theater’s artifacts anywhere. Lunch is included and then we will return to the hotel for a symposium with our authors on the importance of the war in the west. What did Wilson’s Creek mean and could the South have done better with Missouri in its column? You can catch flights after 7 PM.

About the Faculty:

BGES has coveted opportunities to present programs with the people who literally wrote a great book about the subject. Our Great Authors, Great Books series has never disappointed and finally after some coxing we have managed to bring back together for the first time since completing their book Wilson’s Creek: The Second Battle of the Civil War and the Men Who Fought It, Richard (Rick) Hatcher and William (Bill) G. Piston. Published 18 years ago, Wilson’s Creek has lived up to its reputation as a “Tour de Force.” Nothing else published on it comes close. Bill Piston has been in Springfield for a number of years and is a professor at Southwest Missouri State University. Well known for his work with General James Longstreet, Piston is a highly respected and articulate historian whose presence is felt on this battlefield. Rick Hatcher was a National Park Historian at Wilson Creek when he wrote the book; however, he subsequently moved on to become the historian at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historic sites in Charleston, SC. He begs amnesia for Wilson Creek; however, we think it will come back to him and you folks will be in for a very special treat.

Hotel Information:

This program will be headquartered in Springfield, Missouri. The hotel will be announced by December 23rd on this site. Registrants must make their own reservations.

Transportation:

The servicing airport is Springfield (SGF) although Branson (BKG) may be a lower cost alternative. The ride from Branson to Springfield is an hour. We expect the hotel we select in Springfield will have a shuttle to and from the airport.