Wilson's Creek: The Second Battle of the Civil War and the Men Who Fought It - Paperback

by William Garrett Piston (Author), Richard W. III Hatcher (Author)

In the summer of 1861, Americans were preoccupied by the question of which states would join the secession movement and which would remain loyal to the Union. This question was most fractious in the border states of Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri. In Missouri, it was largely settled at Wilson's Creek on August 10, 1861, in a contest that is rightly considered the second major battle of the Civil War.

In providing the first in-depth narrative and analysis of this important but largely overlooked battle, William Piston and Richard Hatcher combine a traditional military study of the fighting at Wilson's Creek with an innovative social analysis of the soldiers who participated and the communities that supported them. In particular, they highlight the importance of the soldiers' sense of corporate honor -- the desire to uphold the reputation of their hometowns -- as a powerful motivator for enlistment, a source of sustenance during the campaign, and a lens through which soldiers evaluated their performance in battle.

Front Jacket

The only full treatment of Wilson's Creek (8/10/1861), the second major battle of the Civil War and a determining factor in Missouri's decision to remain in the Union. This book combines a detailed military study with a close look at the men who fought there, exploring their ideals and fears and their determination to uphold, at all costs, the honor of their home commuinities in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Texas, and Iowa.

Author Biography

William Garrett Piston, professor of history at Southwest Missouri State University, is author of Lee's Tarnished Lieutenant: James Longstreet and His Place in Southern History. Richard W. Hatcher III is historian at Fort Sumter National Monument.