In early August, 1861 the Missouri State Guard under the command of Major General Sterling Price was camped along Wilson's Creek preparing to march into Springfield, Missouri ten miles northeast of their encampment. Shortly after 5:00 A.M. they . . . — — Map (db m35141) HM
The mill and house of John Gibson once stood in the valley in front of you along Wilson Creek. On August 9, 1861, the day before the battle the Gibson family and their neighbors found themselves surrounded by more than 12,000 Confederate soldiers . . . — — Map (db m35142) HM
Many before you... have traveled the path to the mill. Although our reasons have changed, the way to the mill has always been popular. In the days before supermarkets and, pre-packaged "ready-made" foods, families depended on small mills such as . . . — — Map (db m35143) HM
The surrounding young forest can tell us much. Agriculture has long dominated the landscape. Nearby, John Gibson's horsedrawn plow broke ground for an oat field. Later, tractors would shape and alter the countryside. In the course of this evolution . . . — — Map (db m35144) HM
In the summer of 1861, the small mill of John Gibson stood here. Although Confederate soldiers camped nearby and Union soldiers forded the stream here, the mill escaped the heavy fighting that raged just downstream. In 1966 archeologists discovered . . . — — Map (db m35147) HM
An archaeological study is a lot like a detective story. In 1966 an archeological investigation uncovered many bits of evidence from the area in front of you - the remnants of John and Martha Gibson's home. Bone handled dinner service, pewter . . . — — Map (db m35146) HM
In the valley just below is a stone springhouse, part of the historic property of John Ray, whose house stands on the hill above you. The springhouse provided water, and also a cool place to store milk, eggs, butter, vegetables, and other . . . — — Map (db m35182) HM
The Ray House is the only park structure on its original site that dates back to the Battle of Wilson's Creek. Postmaster and farmer John Ray built it in the 1850s. For ten years it served as the Wilson's Creek Post Office, a stopping place on the . . . — — Map (db m35198) HM
John Ray watched the first stage of the Union defeat from the porch behind you. At 6:30 in the morning, August 10, 1861, soldiers appeared in his cornfield. The cornfield is the fenced high ground in front of you, just beyond Ray's springhouse. . . . — — Map (db m35199) HM
Since August 6, 1861, thousands of Confederates had been camping in this area surrounding Major General Sterling Price's headquarters, waiting to attack the Union Army in Springfield. On the night of August 9, the long-awaited orders were issued. . . . — — Map (db m35213) HM
In the opening moments of the battle, Union infantry swept back Southern cavalry, over-running two camps and topping the crest of Bloody Hill. Nothing stood in the Federals' way. At the bottom of Bloody Hill lay the main Southern camp, virtually . . . — — Map (db m35210) HM
(Left Side): A Union Plan From this spot on August 10, 1861 the complicated fury of the battle of Wilson's Creek would have unfolded before your eyes. The large field in front of you is the south slope of Bloody Hill. Union troops . . . — — Map (db m35215) HM
From this position the four cannon of the Pulaski Arkansas Battery supported Confederate infantry during the Battle of Wilson's Creek. Two artillerists were killed by opposing cannon shot here, and one was wounded by a minie ball. Despite the . . . — — Map (db m35204) HM
On August 6, 1861, the Southern army entered this valley from your left on the Wire Road, the restored historic road in front of you. The soldiers camped on both sides of the creek for a mile or more upstream and downstream from this point. Here, . . . — — Map (db m35207) HM
Here on the southern end of the battlefield, Union soldiers commanded by Col. Franz Sigel mounted a surprise attack on the Confederate camps. The battle plan called for Sigel to attack from the south, while General Lyon attacked from the north. On . . . — — Map (db m35223) HM
The Union strategy at Wilson's Creek called for a two-pronged surprise attack. General Lyon's main column with about 4,000 men would strike the Confederate camps from the north, while Col. Franz Sigel's brigade of about 1,200 men would attack from . . . — — Map (db m35229) HM
From this spot one can imagine the challenge which faced the Confederate army. Further up the hill in front of you, over 4,000 Union soldiers and 10 pieces of artillery were positioned to repulse any Southern effort to regain the high ground. On a . . . — — Map (db m35233) HM
Fierce changes and countercharges led to heavy casualties on Bloody Hill. Considering the numbers of troops engaged, it was one of the bloodiest fights in the war. Union artillery batteries on this hill dueled with opposing batteries in the valley . . . — — Map (db m35240) HM
At or near this spot fell
Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon
Born Ashford, Conn. 1818
Graduated U.S Military
Academy, 1841. Commander
of the Federal forces
In The Battle of Wilson Creek
August 10, 1861
This marker is erected by
The . . . — — Map (db m8113) HM
This Northern spur of Bloody Hill saw the beginning and end of the battle. In the days proceeding the fight, the field before you was the camp of the 1,200 cavalrymen of Colonel James Cawthorne's Missouri State Guard Brigade. At dawn on August . . . — — Map (db m35241) HM
