A Critical Moment in the Battle of Wilson's Creek
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Click HERE to see a large image of the entire print (101 K) |
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| The Battle of Wilson's Creek centered on a
horrific struggle on Oak Hill . . . now known as Bloody Hill. Three times
on the morning of the battle the Pro-Southern forces attempted to repulse
Union forces in desperate uphill charges. Imagine standing behind the
Southern line as they prepare for their third and final assault. This is
what is shown in this painting ... as true to the actual battle as
possible. BEFORE THIS MOMENT Union forces under the command of Nathaniel Lyon attacked the Pro-Southern Army camp's northern edge early in the morning of Aug. 10, 1861. A flanking attack, to the south, led by Col. Franz Sigel struck at the same time. The Confederates were caught unprepared but quickly recovered to confront the Union (Army). Sigel was turned back while the struggle for Bloody Hill continued. The daring, brash Lyon was killed in the battle and command fell to Major Samuel Sturgis |
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WHAT YOU SEE The foreground shows the left flank of the Southern line at the bottom of Bloody Hill. The troops marching up in column of fours on the right are the 3rd Arkansas State Infantry commanded by Col. John Gratiot. They are about to break into line of battle formation to extend the left flank. The line of men you see across the middle are part of Col. Edmond T. Wingo's Infantry Regiment of the Missouri State Guard led by General Sterling "Pap" Price. The men you see conferring on horseback are Pap Price (on the grey horse), Col. Thomas L. Snead, Col. Gratiot and Brig. Gen. N. B. Pearce, Gratiot's superior, of the pro-Southern Army. Beyond the tree, on the right, are cannons of Guibor's Battery about to leave the field, their ammunition spent. In the background, at the top of Bloody Hill are the Union forces. |
STERLING PRICE Price was a beloved leader to his men, a former governor of Missouri but a man of the people. One observer said he "looked like a farmer" on his old grey horse. Even today it's near blasphemy to speak ill of Pap Price to many in Southwest Missouri. Price is credited with rallying the Missouri State Guard after the Union's early morning attack. From Andy Thomas, the Artist's Perspective Carthage, Missouri As Price led the regiment up the southeastern slope of "Bloody Hill", he announced to the soldiers, "You will soon be in a pretty hot place . . . hut I will be near you, and I will take care of you; keep as cool as the inside of a cucumber and give them thunder." Turning to Gratiot, who had served under him in the Mexican War, Price remarked, "That's your position Colonel; take it and hold it whatever you do. I will see that you are not too hard pressed. Don't yield an inch." |
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| MISSOURI STATE GUARD These pro-Confederate Missourians were anything but a dashing army, but they fought like one on this day. They generally wore civilian clothes and carried their own shot guns and hunting rifles. 3RD ARKANSAS STATE INFANTRY The 3rd Arkansas was part of the Army of Arkansas, sent to help hold Missouri for the South. In a rare photograph of the 3rd Arkansas in the General Sweeny Museum collection was a cache of information on the men, their character and their uniforms. AFTER THIS MOMENT The imminent attack shown here was bloody and well fought, but unsuccessful. After the death of Lyon on Bloody Hill, Major Sturgis withdrew his Federal forces following his attack, his troops nearly out of ammunition. They retreated to Springfield and the Confederate forces did not pursue. |
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AUTHENTICITY . . . AND THANKS In re-creating a scene such as this, it is easy to record definite details such as troop positions and uniforms. More difficult is the flavor of the battle, the atmosphere, the body language and hundreds of other elements that need the interpretation of serious historians. Therefore I need to thank Robert Neumann, Kip Lindberg, Jeff Patrick, William Piston, Ph.D., and Rick Hatcher for their help. Particularly, I wish to thank Tom and Karen Sweeney for putting this project together. Because of them I had the opportunity to paint an authentic record of the Battle of Wilson's Creek. |
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Tom Sweeny, or, call or write General Sweeny's Museum,
5228 South State
Highway ZZ, Republic, MO 65738. Telephone and fax # 417-732-1224.
