Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

The Battle of Wilson's Creek, fought on August 10, 1861, was a confederate victory and the first major Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River. From the Ray House, you could have watched the battle unfold. Union strategy was to divide their already outnumbered forces into two groups and attack from two directions. But there was no coordination and the strategy backfired. Sharp cornfield, where Confederate forces were camped.
The stream Union forces under Colonel Franz Sigel had to cross in order to launch a surprise attack. The field where Confederate forces were camped until Sigel's attack drove them back. But when Sigel's brigade mistook the 3rd Louisiana Infantry for Union troops, they let the enemy get too close and were eventually routed. Sigel's men weren't a factor in the battle after that. Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon was the first Union general to be killed in the Civil War. He was killed four hours into the battle on Bloody Hill while leading the 2nd Kansas Infantry in a countercharge.
Looking down Bloody Hill from Union positions. Union forces took Bloody Hill during the first stage of the battle. Union artillery would have been pointed down Bloody Hill. Another view of the terrain soldiers were charging and countercharging across. Finaly tally was 1,317 Union casualties (258 killed) and 1,232 Confederate casualties (277 killed). After Sigel's force was routed and General Lyon was killed, Union forces retreated around 11 am, so it is recorded as a Confederate victory.

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