Introduction
Researching this book has been a labor of love for the last 5 years. I was inspired to write it when I picked up Daniel R Logsdon's three part "Eyewitness At the Battle Of..." series on the battles of Shiloh, Franklin, and Stone's River. Reading the words of those that participated in the battle, carried so much more meaning and feeling than books I had read by historians, that I felt the Wilson's Creek battle deserved the same. Not that there aren't some great books out about this battle already. Edwin Bearss, Holcombe and Adams, and most recently, Richard Hatcher and William Piston have written some excellent and moving works on this battle.
Originally, it was my intent to donate this book to the Wilson's Creek Foundation, as a fund raiser for their efforts in preserving the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. But, being a rookie writer, I broke many of the rules of proper authorship. Not keeping tract of my sources properly, and worst of all, according to a printer, everything is in capital letters. This makes it more difficult for the reader. To have re-edited the entire book would have taken energy I didn't have left. Since no money is being made off the book, I didn't have to worry about being sued as much for not giving proper credit. So, instead of trashing the project, I decided to put it on the net for all to read, free of charge.
A note - I am making every attempt to document my sources, and to give proper credit to pictures and information. If I am using something that you have the rights too, and I am not giving you credit, nor will you grant permission for me to use it on this site if I give you proper credit...please advise me and it will be withdrawn immediately.
Personal Credits
This project would not have been possible without the assistance of some super individuals. Park Ranger Jeff Patrick has encouraged, and pushed me in times I may have otherwise given up. He gave me complete access to the Wilson's Creek library, and assisted me in locating and researching individual works. Kip Lindberg, who now works at the Mine Creek Battlefield State Historic Site in Pleasonton, Kansas, was also a personal motivator and was especially helpful in my research. These two men share a passion for the battlefield and the men that fought there, that was contagious and was reflected in their daily work. I have never met two people that were more qualified to be battlefield historians. Ranger John Sutton, supervisor of one of the National Park Service's highest rated living historian programs, was not only supportive, but tolerant. I was honored to be Rookie Volunteer of the Year in this program in 1995, and Volunteer of the Year in 1996....honors that mean more to me today than any others I have gained in life. My fellow volunteers, fellow SCV camp #632 members, fellow SUV camp #66 members, and fellow Civil War Roundtable members, way too many to name, also inspired me with their assistance and dedication to the preservation to Civil War history. Living in Florida now, I miss them all terribly.