In early 1861, most Missourians hoped they could remain neutral 
in the upcoming conflict between North and South. In fact, a 
popularly elected state convention voted in March of that year that 
"no adequate cause" existed to compel Missouri to leave the 
Union. Instead, Missourians saw themselves as ideologically 
centered between the radical notions of abolition and secession.

    By that summer, however, the situation had deteriorated 
dramatically. Due to the actions of politicians and soldiers such as 
Missouri Gov. Claiborne Jackson and Union Gen. Nathaniel Lyon, 
Missourians found themselves forced to take sides.
 
    Campaign for Wilson's Creek is a fascinating story of high-
stakes military gambles, aggressive leadership and lost 
opportunities. It is also a tale of unique military units, untried but 
determined commanders, colorful volunteers and professional 
soldiers. The first major campaign of the Civil War west of the 
Mississippi River guaranteed that Missourians would be engaged 
in a long, cruel civil war within the larger, national struggle.

_________________________________________________________

JEFFREY L. PATRICK is the National Park Service librarian at 
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. He is the author of numerous 
articles on various aspects of American military history, and is the 
editor/coeditor of two Civil War diaries. He lives in Republic, Missouri.


Number Twenty-eight: Civil War Campaigns and Commanders Series


What people are saying about this book

"an excellent series [that] should be in every Texas school!"—Empire 
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