Wilson's Creek National Battlefield 2016

Images taken at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield near Springfield, MO. We attended on Saturday June 11, 2016 when the park was presenting demonstrations of cannon fire and had presentations on German-American troops and their role in the Union army. Each time I visit I learn something and gain a better understanding of the battle. This is listed as the second major battle of the Civil War and took place in August 1861. Something I learned yesterday was that early in the war not all Union troops were provided with the standard issue blue uniform, especially those that were comprised of immigrant troops. One regiment that was significant at Wilson's Creek was a German-American troop that was wearing the gray clothing that was typical of their heritage. When they saw Confederate troops approaching them also wearing gray they believed they were friendlies and did not fire on them until it was too late. So, as you look at these images and see the men in gray keep in mind that these were actually Union troops.