"The Battle for Missouri during the Civil... " a Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Travel Page by mrclay2000

Assuming "Wilson's Creek" isn't some other out of the way spit-in-the-road in Missouri, I'm building my battlefield page here (also assuming that this designation is a throwback to the old VT when national park units were not listed exactly in their titles).

Wilson's Creek represents an early conflict in the Civil War where federal forces lately leaving St Louis (after secreting their armaments into pro-Union Illinois) were suddenly assaulted by an overwhelming force of Confederates in southwest Missouri. Situated on the Mississippi River and thus a key region strategically, the Union felt it essential to keep the Rebels out of Missouri. The engagement essentially accomplished its object, but at the loss of the Union general Nathaniel Lyons.