Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
The battle fought here on August 10, 1861, was the first major Civil War engagement west of the Mississippi River, involving about 5,000 Union troops and 10,000 Confederates. It was a Confederate victory, though not a decisive one; as participants, both Union and Confederate, would meet again in a few months. It was also here where the first Union general, Nathaniel Lyon, met his death. With the exception of the vegetation, the 1,750 acre battlefield has changed little from its historic setting, enabling the visitor to experience the battlefield in near pristine condition.