The Battle of Wilson’s Creek

Preliminary Events     

The events that led to the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, often referred to as the Bull Run of the West, began unfolding in 1820, with the Missouri Compromise. Up to that point, there were twenty-two states in the Union, eleven free states and eleven slave states. In 1818, Missouri had requested admission to the Union as a slave state. To keep the balance equal, Maine was admitted as a free state in March of 1820 and Missouri was admitted the following year as a slave state. The Missouri Compromise also stipulated that slavery would not be allowed north of 36^o30” latitude (Missouri’s southern border). With Missouri’s admission, southern farmers flocked to the state in massive numbers. Most of these migrating farmers settled in an area northwest of St. Louis which became known as Little Dixie. The primary cash crop for these farmers was hemp. Hemp production and cultivation required heavy labor. Thus, the farmers brought with them their slave dependent economy. Also settling in and around St. Louis were many German American immigrants who were viewed with suspicion, not to mention great prejudice.     At the outset of the 1850’s the Nebraska Territory was laying the groundwork for admission to the Union. To appease southerners, Senator Stephen A. Douglas proposed admitting Kansas as a slave state. Now, northerners were outraged. Kansas was north of Missouri’s southern border. In 1854 Douglas was determined to pass the Kansas Nebraska act. This act allowed the territories to decide for themselves through popular sovereignty. Pro-slavery settlers began pouring into Kansas in order to see the territory enter the Union as a slave state. At the same time, anti-slavery settlers, flocked to Kansas as well, determined to make the territory a free state. The events in Kansas led to chaos and guerrilla warfare. Civil War was near.     As war approached, and states seceded, Missouri was the key to the west, due to its rivers and vast railroad network. Its largest city was St. Louis with a population of almost 200,000. Approximately one third of the population was German American. Known as “Dutchmen”, these German Americans were strongly against slavery. In the 1860 election, practically all of Abraham Lincoln’s support in Missouri came from St. Louis.     Missouri opposed secession by more than 70,000 votes. However, most people in the state wanted to remain neutral. On April 15, 1861, three days after Fort Sumter was fired upon by Confederate forces, Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to put down the rebellion, with each state having a quota to fill. Missouri governor Claiborne Fox Jackson adamantly refused. Being an outspoken secessionist, he was determined to see Missouri side with the Confederacy. Jackson ordered state militia to begin preparations to seize the United States arsenal in St. Louis.

Lyon, Blair, and Sigel     

Captain Nathaniel Lyon had been transferred to St. Louis in 1861. Connecticut born and West Point educated, Lyon had a fiery temper. He had also developed an intense and unabashed hatred for slavery and slave owners. He got wind of the plan to seize the arsenal, so he had the arms secreted across the river to Illinois.  St. Louis congressman Francis P. Blair came from one of the most influential families in the country. Above all others, he was the strongest supporter in the state of keeping the Missouri in the Union. Franz Sigel having commanded troops in the German Revolution, immigrated to the United States. He settled in St. Louis and was appointed superintendent of schools. He became a trusted advisor to Lyons and helped to raise volunteers for Lyon’s “army”. The German Americans of St. Louis had an almost blind loyalty to Sigel. Anxious to prove loyalty to their new country, many of these men enlisted, saying to others “I goes to fight mit Sigel.”

The Camp Jackson Affair

     The Federal commander in St. Louis at the time was William S. Harney. On May 10, 1861, with Harney away from St. Louis, Lyon and Sigel marched with an army of almost 7,000 to disband the 700 member Missouri State Militia which was encamped at Camp Jackson, a short distance away. The militia surrendered without a shot being fired. The captured militia was paraded through the streets of St. Louis. Crowds gathered along the route directing vulgar language at the Union soldiers. As the crowds grew, they began to throw rocks. Someone, so emboldened by the lack of response from the soldiers, fired a pistol. Troops returned fire. The aftermath saw seventy-five wounded and twenty-five dead. This encounter came to be known as the Camp Jackson Affair or Camp Jackson Massacre. Federals now began to lose public support in Missouri.

     Meanwhile, the state legislature was in session at Jefferson City. Learning of events in St. Louis, legislators gave Governor Jackson unprecedented military powers. Jackson mobilized the state militia, now called the State Guard, and appointed Mexican War veteran Sterling Price as its commander. On May 21, 1861, Price met with Harney, now back in St. Louis. The two came to an agreement that Federal troops would not interfere in Missouri’s affairs if state government kept order. With the influence of Blair, this decision cost Harney his command of Union forces in the state. Shortly thereafter, Lyon was promoted to Brigadier General and was appointed interim commander of all Federal forces in Missouri.     To iron out their differences, Lyon and Blair met with Price, Jackson, and a number of aides at the Planters House Hotel in St. Louis on June 11, 1861.  Things did not go well. Negotiations quickly fell apart. Finally, Lyon stood and angrily said:

“Rather than concede to the state of Missouri, the right to dictate to my government on any matter however unimportant,” now standing and pointing at each man present, he continued, “I would see you, and you, and you, and you, and every man, woman and child in the state dead and buried! This means war!”

Lyon Launches His Campaign

     Lyon, with two thousand men, immediately moved on the state capital, traveling by steamboat. Encountering no resistance, he occupied Jefferson City on June 15. After installing a pro-Union government, he marched on Boonville. At the same time Lyon moved on Springfield, Thomas Sweeney and two thousand men were ordered to move on Rolla to secure the rail and telegraph lines. Due to supply problems, however, only Sigel and one thousand men left as scheduled. Sweeny waited in St. Louis one more week.     Meanwhile, Jackson and Price had learned of Lyon’s expedition against the state capital. Jackson ordered the state stores and powder moved to Boonville, and Price ordered State Guard Units and newly arriving recruits to assemble to Boonville as well. All eyes were on Boonville. Price’s troops were raw and untrained, and he had no artillery. Lyon’s troops included three companies of U.S. Regulars and an artillery battery. At this point, suffering from a severe case of diarrhea, Price left Jackson in charge and returned to his home nearly sixty miles away. Lyon moved quickly. The Battle of Boonville (more a skirmish than a battle) was over in twenty minutes. Federal casualties included five killed and seven wounded. Three Missouri State Guard troops were killed and nine were wounded. In the East, First Bull run was still a month away.     Jackson retreated with the State Guard. As he moved south, in heavy rains, his column grew to over six thousand men. Lyon, however, remained in Boonville for two weeks. When Lyon finally moved, he was confronted by swollen rivers, making pursuit difficult. Sigel, having taken Rolla, moved west. He met Jackson’s force at Carthage. Outnumbered by more than six to one, Sigel’s force made a respectable fight before withdrawing to Springfield. He would merge with Lyon the following week. Price moved south to Cowskin Prairie. Jackson decided to leave, feeling he could better serve in a diplomatic manner.     If the campaign ended here it would have been considered a great success. Lyon wanted more. He wanted to punish the secessionists. He was now on a crusade. However, he had been replaced as Union Commander of all Missouri forces by the politically connected John C. Freemont. Blair relinquished has brigade command and returned to his congressional seat in Washington.

The Battle     

As the long, hot days of summer dragged on, Lyon occupied Springfield with 5,400 men. He requested reinforcements from Fremont on a regular basis. Although he had fifty thousand troops at hand, Fremont would send none. Believing Lyon had enough men to repel an attack, Fremont instructed Lyon to withdraw to Rolla if he felt otherwise. If Lyon decided to fight, he alone would bear the responsibility.     On July 29, 1861, at Cassville, Price’s force combined with a Confederate force commanded by former Texas Ranger Benjamin McCullough and a brigade of Arkansans commanded by General N.B. Pearce. This new Western Army, now numbering just under 13,000 men moved toward Springfield. Lacking a supply train, this army lived off the land. Hungry and tired, the army arrived in a lush valley ten miles from Springfield. Food was plentiful, and more importantly Wilson Creek provided a water source.     Lyon was now faced with a dilemma. He knew the combined force was coming, he knew he was greatly outnumbered, and he knew that he would not get any reinforcements. If he did not fall back to Rolla, he risked his whole army. However, he did not want to abandon the area’s pro-Union population. In addition, leaving without a fight did not suit his character. Sigel then came to him with an audacious plan of going on the offensive and launching a surprise attack from opposite directions. If the plan succeeded it would be brilliant. If it failed, disaster would ensue. The attack was planned for August 10. McCullough had also planned an attack for August 10. However, since his men lacked proper cartridge boxes to keep their powder dry, McCullough opted to postpone the attack.Lyon went against conventional wisdom and divided his outnumbered force. He would attack from the north with 4,300 men while Sigel attacked from the south with 1,100 men. Lyon’s column arrived at its designated post just after midnight. As his men rested, he confided to his Chief of Staff, Major John Schofield:

“I am a believer in presentments, and I have a feeling that I can’t get rid of that I shall not survive this battle. I will gladly give my life for a victory.”     

While Lyon rested, Sigel’s force arrived at its predetermined spot. Sigel placed his artillery on a rise overlooking the Confederates camped in farmer Joseph Sharp’s farm below. Sigel was to wait for the sound of Lyon’s guns to commence his attack.

     Lyon brushed aside Confederate pickets, as fighting erupted at 5:00 AM. Meanwhile, Price and McCullough were having breakfast at Price’s headquarters located at the Edwards cabin. The cabin was in an acoustic shadow, an area where sound is scattered. Thus, Price and McCullough did not hear the guns. When a messenger arrived with news that Lyon was there, McCullough, deeming the messenger unreliable, ignored the warning. When a second messenger arrived with the same message, McCullough and Price went to investigate.     Lyon again divided his force, sending Captain Joseph Plummer with a battalion of U.S. Regulars and Missouri Home Guards (unionists) to cross the creek and protect his left flank. Lyon proceeded to a rise, known as Oak Hill, thereafter, to be known as Bloody Hill. As fighting intensified, Totten’s Union Battery was wreaking havoc on the Confederates from its position on Bloody Hill. Captain William Woodruff, commanding the Pulaski Battery saw Totten’s Battery completely exposed. Acting without orders Woodruff’s Battery opens fire, buying the southerners time organize as McCullough and Price arrive on the field. Plummer, seeing the Pulaski Battery moves into Ray’s Cornfield to knock it out.

     McCullough saw Plummer’s men moving through farmer Ray’s cornfield and sent a force of Louisianans and Arkansans to meet them. Plummer, outnumbered three to one, was forced to retreat across the creek and back to Bloody Hill. Plummer was wounded in the retreat. After two hours, casualties mounted as Lyon’s attack lost momentum.     Sigel, after initial success on his end, had halted at the Sharp farm after taking prisoners. A lull had occurred in the fighting. Having no direct communication with Lyon, Sigel waited. At that stage of the Civil War, neither side had adopted standard uniform colors. The First Iowa Infantry, known as the Greyhounds and part of Lyon’s column, was clad in grey. When the Third Louisiana charged Sigel’s column, Sigel thought they were Lyon’s Greyhounds and ordered his men to hold their fire. Realizing, too late the enemy was upon them, Sigel’s column was routed. The men not captured, led by Sigel, retreated to Springfield. McCullough and Price could now throw their combined force against Lyon on Bloody Hill.

     Up to that point in the battle, Lyon’s horse had been killed and Lyon had been wounded twice. He feared the day was lost. Seeing Lyon discouraged, Major Schofield encouraged him to try one more time. Borrowing a horse, Lyon led the Second Kansas forward. Encouraging his men, Lyon said “Come on my brave boys, I will lead you forward.” Upon speaking these words, Lyon was shot through the chest and fell from his horse. The Union had lost its first General in the Civil War.At 10:30 the southerners attacked again. Northern artillery was devastatingly accurate. A lull occurred and 11:00 AM. With ammunition low, canteens empty, and every regimental commander wounded, Major Samuel Sturgis, now in command, ordered a retreat to Springfield. The southerners attacked again, only to find the Northerners had gone. After six hours, the battle was over.

The Aftermath

In the Ray cornfield, on the Sharp farm, and on Bloody Hill, over five hundred lay dead along with over eighteen hundred wounded. Federal casualties amounted to 24% of all forces engaged, while southern casualties were 12% of all forces engaged.

The Ray Family: John and Roxanna Ray farmed over four hundred acres in the area surrounding Wilson’s Creek. John Ray, a unionist, was the local U.S. Postmaster, since his farm was located on the Wire Road, the major highway in southwestern Missouri. The Rays emerged from their home to find their property had become a massive hospital. Mother and daughters give aid and comfort to soldiers from both sides. John and Roxanna Rays remained at Wilson’s Creek until their deaths in the mid-1870’s.

The Sharp Family:  Joseph Sharp lived a short distance down the road from the Rays. One of the wealthiest farmers in the area, Sharp owned one thousand acres and three slaves. After the battle, Sharp and his wife found their crops destroyed. Artillery had damaged much of their property. They were still burying the fallen weeks later.
The Short Family:  The Shorts suffered the most. Dead Union soldiers, as well as horses were strewn about their farm. Dead bodies contaminated the water. This gave rise to a typhoid epidemic. As a result, Sharp’s two daughters died within a year. Suspected of being disloyal, Joseph Sharp was briefly imprisoned in 1863. They moved away shortly after his release. The house was destroyed by fire later in the war.
General Lyon:  During the Union retreat, Lyon’s remains had been left behind by accident. When discovered, they were taken to the Ray house. The Rays wrapped the body in a counterpane and placed it in the family bed. The body was taken to Rolla. From there it travelled by rail to Lyon’s home state of Connecticut. Lincoln announced a National Day of Prayer in his honor. The first Union general killed in the Civil War; Lyon was seen as a martyr for the Union.

Price and McCullough:  Price and McCullough could not agree on their next step. They did not pursue the northerners and thus lost their advantage. McCullough returned to his base in Arkansas. Price led the Missouri State Guard to Lexington, taking the city that September. The death of Lyon coupled with the twin defeats at Wilson’s Creek and Lexington spurred Lincoln to increased Federal presence in Missouri. In March of 1862, a Union Army led by General Samuel Curtis moved against the forces of Price and McCullough in the Battle of Pea Ridge in northwest Arkansas. The Confederates were routed. From that point, and despite continued guerilla activity, Missouri remained in firm Union control for the rest of the war.