Battles and Higher Learning

Wednesday June 1, 2011

We took off in the Rubble-mobile in the direction of Wilson’s Creek near Springfield, Mo.   We had to make a stop at Sonic in Cabool, M0.  It seems they had an excess of Supersonic Burritos and we were able to ease their problem by having one apiece.   We eased through the construction at the intersection of route 60 and 65.  

The Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield is a few miles southwest of Springfield, near Republic MO.   We stopped first at the museum and walked through the exhibits of Civil War memorabilia.

Many of the items on exhibit were donated by families of Civil War Veterans.   The museum has the largest number of fire arms, both pistols and black powder rifles any of us have seen in one place. 

On to the VC we watched a 30 minute video that included contributions from Ken Burns. It was a very interesting video.   We also learned that Missouri had the third largest number of Civil War battles of any state.   The battlefield is located on the ”Wire Road” which connected Rolla, MO and Fort Smith, AR with a telegraph line running along the side of it.   The VC also had a topographical display which traced the action of the Battle of Oak Hill, or “Bloody Ridge” by narration and through the use of LEDs on the topo-display.   General Sterling Price was one of the Confederate generals leading the battle.   General Nathaniel Lyon died from injuries and a fatal shot.  He was the first Union general to die in combat during the Civil War.

The battle occurred during the month of August.   It is hard to imagine marching through the ticks, fleas, chiggers and poison ivy in August, let alone carrying a 15 to 25 pound musket and everything you need to sleep in and personal hygiene items.  

From Wilson’s Creek we journeyed to Hollister to see our grand-daughter, Porthos at the College of the Ozarks near Branson, MO.

Barney and grand daughter Porthos

After a quick tour of several highlights of the campus we headed back toward Springfield. We did make a quick stop at the Steak and Shake in Branson for a quick bite before returning to the rock pile in Tyrone.

That is all of the hammer and stone-pad work for now.

Later.