Battle of Wilson’s Creek near Springfield, Missouri by Kurz and Allison 1893
The Battle of Wilson’s Creek, Missouri, also known as the Battle of Oak Hills and Battle of Springfield, was the first major battle of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the Civil War. It was fought on August 10, 1861, in the officially neutral state of Missouri; however, its pro-South governor, Claiborne Fox Jackson, secretly collaborated with Confederate troops.
On August 9, 1861, Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon’s Union Troops were camped at Springfield, Missouri. Under the command of Brigadier General Ben McCulloch, a large Confederate force was quickly approaching, making camp at Wilson’s Creek about 12 miles southwest of Springfield. Both sides spent the evening formulating plans to attack the other the following day.
Wilson’s Creek Battlefield in John Ray Cornfield
The Battle of Wilson’s Creek, fought on August 10, 1861, was a bitter struggle for control of Missouri in the Civil War’s first year. It was the first major battle in the West and the second major battle of the Civil War.
At about 5:00 am on the 10th, Lyon, in two columns commanded by himself and Colonel Franz Sigel, attacked the Confederates on Wilson’s Creek, and the Rebel cavalry fell back from what would become known as Bloody Hill. However, the Confederate forces soon rushed up and stabilized their positions, attacking the Union forces three times but failing to break through the Union line.
Lyon became the first Union General killed in combat during the battle, and Major Samuel D. Sturgis replaced him.
Following the third Confederate attack, which ended at about 11:00 am, the Confederates withdrew. However, Sturgis realized that his men were exhausted and his ammunition was low, so he ordered a retreat to Springfield. The Confederates were too disorganized and ill-equipped to pursue. This Confederate victory buoyed Southern sympathizers in Missouri and served as a springboard for a bold thrust north that carried the Missouri State Guard as far as Lexington. Wilson’s Creek, the most significant 1861 battle in Missouri, gave the Confederates control of southwestern Missouri. However, the loss was substantial, with 1,317 Union and 1,222 Confederate casualties (killed, wounded, or captured).
Cannon at Wilson’s Creek Missouri National Battlefield by Kathy Alexander.
The Battle of Wilson’s Creek marked the beginning of the Civil War in Missouri. For the next three and a half years, the state was the scene of savage and fierce fighting, mostly guerrilla warfare, with small bands of mounted raiders destroying anything military or civilian that could aid the enemy. By the time the conflict ended in the spring of 1865, Missouri had witnessed so many battles and skirmishes that it ranks as the third most fought-over state in the Nation.
Today, the restless spirits of war-torn Missouri still haunt Bloody Hill. While visiting the site of this old battleground, many have reported seeing the ghostly apparitions of these long-ago soldiers, hearing noises that can only be described as guns and cannons, cold spots bearing no earthly explanation, and, at night, the sounds of soldiers walking and talking in the nearby woods. Interestingly, more Confederate Soldiers are reported as being seen at this site than their opponent Union troops.
Nathaniel Lyon would become a Brigadier General for the Union Army and die at the Battle of Wilson Creek in 1861.
Recognized and maintained by the National Park Service as a National Battlefield, today, the nearly pristine landscape allows visitors to experience one of the Nation’s best-preserved battlefields. Wilson’s Creek is a must-stop for history buffs, complete with a visitor center and museum, a research library, living history programs, a self-guided auto tour, and interpretive hiking trails.
More information:
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
6424 W. Farm Road 182
Republic, MO 65738
417-732-2662 x227
© Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated March 2024.
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