Wilson's Creek Confederate order of battle facts for kids

The Battle of Wilson's Creek was an important early battle in the American Civil War. It happened on August 10, 1861, near Springfield, Missouri. This battle involved soldiers from different groups who were fighting for the Southern side. Even though they fought together, not all of them were officially part of the Confederate Army yet.

For example, the Missouri State Guard was an independent army. Missouri had not officially left the United States to join the Confederacy at this time. These Missouri soldiers didn't become part of the main Confederate Army until much later, in March 1862.

Also, the Arkansas State Troops were not officially Confederate soldiers either. Arkansas had joined the Confederacy in May 1861, but these specific troops, led by Brigadier General Nicholas Pearce, had not yet been transferred to the Confederate government or sworn into its service. After the battle, many of Pearce's troops even decided to go home instead of joining the Confederate Army.

The list below shows the different groups and their leaders who fought on the Southern side at Wilson's Creek. The Union forces (the Northern side) are listed separately.

Understanding Military Ranks

When you see these abbreviations, they stand for military ranks:

• BG = Brigadier General (a high-ranking officer)
• Col = Colonel (leads a regiment)
• Ltc = Lieutenant Colonel (second-in-command of a regiment)
• Maj = Major (an officer ranking above captain)
• Cpt = Captain (leads a company of soldiers)

The Southern Armies at Wilson's Creek

The main commander for the Southern forces was Brigadier General Benjamin McCulloch. He led a mix of Confederate soldiers and state troops.

McCulloch's Western Army

This part of the army was led by Brigadier General Benjamin McCulloch. It included soldiers from Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas.

Arkansas State Troops

These were soldiers from Arkansas who had not yet officially joined the Confederate Army. They were led by Brigadier General Nicholas Bartlett Pearce.

Missouri State Guard

The Missouri State Guard was a separate army from Missouri, led by Major General Sterling Price. They were fighting alongside the Confederates but were not officially part of their army yet.