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August 10, 2011

On this date 150 years ago, General Nathaniel Lyon was killed at Wilson's Creek, Missouri, where he had led 5200 men to meet rebel troops under the command of General Benjamin McCulloch. The Confederates were joined in this encounter by pro-Southern Missouri militia under the command of Sterling Price. While Union troops were defeated at Wilson's Creek, they put up a valiant fight, pushing back two rebel charges on Bloody Ridge, the spot where Lyon fell. After his death, the Federals pulled back and marched to Rolla, Missouri, to the southwest of St. Louis. The Confederate force of 15,000 was depleted by 421 fatalities and 1300 wounded as compared to Federal losses of 263 dead and 721 wounded. The Battle of Wilson's Creek was the second important clash between the two enemies and gave the South another significant victory over the North following that of Bull Run (Manassas) in Virginia.

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August 10, 2011
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