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Posted on the Christian County Headliner
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February 14, 2018
Recently a piece of historic land was added to the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield through the efforts of the Civil War Trust and Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation. The CW Trust is a national organization with the mission of preserving historic Civil War and Revolutionary War battlefields. Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield’s Boundary Expansion document, dated June 2003, states that additional land may be purchased from willing sellers. The 60-acre parcel was purchased and subsequently transferred to the National Park Service.
The significance of this property, located on the southeast boundary of the battlefield, is that it was the first position of Col. Franz Sigel’s troops during the Battle of Wilson’s Creek. The Union forces divided their troops as they left Springfield around 6 p.m. on Aug. 9. The plan was to take 1,200 men under Sigel and swing wide to the south, flanking the Confederates on the right as Gen. Lyon’s force struck from the north.
The 60 acres, acquired on Jan. 22, allows the park to interpret a very significant segment of the battle under the command of Sigel. This property was conveyed to the U.S. Department of the Interior and will be managed by Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield.
“In donating this property to the National Park Service, we continue to preserve a piece of our history for generations to come,” said Jim Lighthouse, president of the Civil War Trust.
“Part of the mission of the Foundation is to preserve land directly related to the battle. We are very proud to assist in this land preservation donation,” Wilson’s Creek NB Foundation President Mike Ussery said.
Administered by the National Park Service, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield preserves the site of the first major battle of the Civil War in the West, site where the first Union general was killed in the Civil War and evokes the rural character experienced by the combatants. Wilson’s Creek is located in western Christian County at the intersection of Highway ZZ and Farm Road 182; to receive more information call (417) 732-2662.
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