Rich and I headed West on Highway 44 recently for a one day trip. Since I sell real estate, it is not always easy for me to find time to take a one day trip, but this day was manageable and Rich, who has a more traditional job situation, was off that day.
It was a sunny and beautiful day with the trees turning since it is fall here in the foothills of the Ozarks in October. We headed out and ate breakfast at the Crackerbarrel in Sullivan, one of our favorite eateries when we travel.
Our first stop was at Dickerson’s Park Zoo in Springfield. There was a gentleman whose name escapes me at the moment who was a Falconer. I had never heard of that term before, but as he explained, a Falconer is one who loves birds and is interested in their conservation and that there are laws and much time invested to be a Falconer, with different levels of expertise. That is a very simplified explanation I am sure. He was working with a Peregrine Falcon and had her on a lead (not the proper term) while he allowed her to fly in the building. We really enjoyed our conversation with this gentleman and decided not to stay to see the zoo and save it for another trip as our real destination was Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield in Battlefield, MO which is just outside Springfield on W Farm Road 182 off Highways 360 and 60.
The park rangers at the Visitor Center were very nice and helpful. Did I mention that Wilson Creek National Battlefield is part of the National Park system? That means you can purchase a pass so you can enter all of the national parks at as special price.
Missouri ranks third in the number of civil war battles fought. The battle fought at Wilson’s Creek was the second major battle of the civil war. General Lyon was the first union General and first General killed in the civil war.
Interesting places to visit at the Battlefield are:
Gibson’s Mill, where Missouri State guard General James Rains headquartered his 2500 man division and where General Nathaniel Lyon’s dawn attack drove Rain’s division south down the creek.
Ray House and Cornfield, the Ray House was a Confederate field hospital for the battle. There is a small stone springhouse which was their only source of water.
Pulaski Arkansas Battery and Price’s Headquarters, where cannon opened fire on Bloody Hill. Major General Sterling Price set up headquarters in the William Edwards home.
Sigel’s Second Position, where Colonel Franz Sigel’s Union artillery heard Lyon’s attack and they opened fire on the 1800 Southern calvary camped in the field.
Sigel’s Final Position, where Sigel halted his advance on this hillside, forming a line of battle across the Wire Road. Here, Confederate troops that he mistook for a Federal regiment attacked and defeated him. This costly error turned the battle’s tide in favor of the Confederates.
Guibor’s Battery, where Captain Henry Guibor positioned his battery with the Confederate line of battle and dueled with Union artillery on the crest of Bloody Hill.
Bloody Hill, where over 1700 Union and Confederate soldiers were killed or wounded.
Historic Overlook, where the battle’s first shots were fired around 5 am.
The Park closed at 5 and we left as they closed without visiting the Museum which we will visit on another trip. We drove back to the St Louis area, getting home around 9 pm. It was a great day and a great outing.
