The auto tour of the Wilson's Creek battlefield is a 4.9-mile, one-way loop road that takes you to all the major historical points on the battlefield. Each stop has wayside exhibits with maps, artwork, and historical information concerning the battle. There are also walking trails at Gibson's Mill, the Ray House, Pulaski Arkansas Battery and Price's Headquarters, Bloody Hill, and the East Overlook. Exhibits are provided at specific locations on the trails.

To view the park map, click here. Please note this file is approximately 64KB in size. You may choose to print out the Tour Stops, then click to the map for reference.

The Tour Stops

1. Gibson's Mill: This area marks the northern end of the Confederate camps, with Missouri State Guard General James S. Rains establishing the headquarters of his 2,500-man division near the mill. General Nathaniel Lyon's dawn attack quickly drove Rains' division down Wilson's Creek to the south. United States troops under Captain Joseph Plummer forded the creek near the mill to advance through Ray's cornfield. A trail leads to the Gibson house and mill sites.
2. Ray House and Cornfield: The Ray house was used as a Confederate field hospital during and after the battle. Confederate Colonel Richard Weightman died in the front room and the body of Union General Nathaniel Lyon was brought here at the end of the fighting. The small stone building at the foot of the hill is the Ray springhouse, the family's source of water and the only other surviving wartime structure in the park. The only major fighting to take place on this side of Wilsons Creek occurred in the Ray cornfield, from which Union forces were driven back across the stream. The wooded eminence on the western horizon beyond Wilson's Creek is Bloody Hill, where the most intense and savage fighting took place.
3. Pulaski Arkansas Battery and Price's Headquarters: From the wooded ridge to the northwest, the cannon of the Pulaski Arkansas Battery opened fire on Bloody Hill, halting the Union advance and giving Confederate infantry time to form into line of battle and attack Lyon's forces. This battery from Little Rock, Arkansas fired on Lyon's forces on Bloody Hill throughout the battle. Near here to the west, Major General Sterling Price, commander of the Missouri State Guard, established his headquarters in the yard of William Edwards' home in the middle of the 12,000-man camp of the Southern army. It was here that Price and General Benjamin McCulloch first learned of the Union attack.
4. Sigel's Second Position: On the ridge across Wilson's Creek to your left, Colonel Franz Sigel's Union artillery heard Lyon's attack to the north and opened fire on the 2,300 Southern cavalry encamped in this field. The Confederates were routed and fled into the woods to the north and west. Crossing to this side of the creek, Sigel halted about a quarter mile in front of you and formed his 1,200-man force into a line of battle to oppose a Confederate cavalry regiment positioned in the north end of this field. After a twenty-minute artillery bombardment, the Southerners withdrew and Sigel continued his advance.
5. Sigel's Final Position: Sigel halted his advance on this hillside and formed his men into line of battle across the Wire Road. Here he was attacked and defeated by Confederate troops, whom he mistook for a Federal regiment. This critical error proved very costly, as it turned the tide of the battle in favor of the Confederates.
6. Guibor's Battery: Not far from here Captain Henry Guibor placed his battery in position with the Confederate line of battle. From its position, the battery dueled with Union artillery on the crest of Bloody Hill. On three separate occasions Confederate infantry mounted attacks through these fields and woods, but the Union line held and each attack was defeated. When the Southerners made their fourth assault up this hill, they found the Federals had abandoned the crest and were retreating.
7. Bloody Hill: Throughout the battle General Lyon's 4,200-man command held this high ground against repeated attacks. At the peak of the fighting, the entire south slope of the hill was covered with battle smoke. When the fighting ended, more than 1,700 Union and Confederate soldiers had been killed or wounded here. Among the fatalities was General Lyon himself. There is a trail to the Lyon Marker from this stop.
8. Historic Overlook: The Union army passed through this field both upon their advance to and retreat from Bloody Hill. To guard against a Confederate attack, the 2nd Missouri Infantry Regiment and DuBois' artillery battery were formed in line of battle in this area. The John Ray house is clearly visible to the southeast.

Return to Wilson's Creek Home Page, read about the battle, or check out our Visitor Center.

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