Bloody Hill: The Civil War Battle of Wilson's Creek [Illustrated] [Paperback]

William Riley Brooksher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 18, 2000

Now in paperback, the story of the battle that started the Civil War in the West of the Mississippi.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Bloody Hill is a terrific read for anyone interested in our past. It covers the gamut from political issues of the time to military strategies and anecdotal descriptions of daily life during the period." -- Ft. Riley (Kansas) Post

"This is a well-researched and engagingly written account of a much overlooked campaign, with important lessons about the inherent dangers of divided command in the conduct of combined operations." -- Naval History

About the Author

William R. Brooksher is author of War Along the Bayous: The 1864 Red River Campaign in Louisiana, co-author of Glory at Gallop: Tales of the Confederate Cavalry, and a frequent contributor to Civil War Times Illustrated, Military History, and Military Review.

Product Details

• Paperback: 282 pages
• Publisher: Brassey's Inc; Reprint edition (February 18, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574882058
• ISBN-13: 978-1574882056
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,048,973 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Affordable but..., April 8, 2001

By 

Jeffrey Hayes (Annapolis MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bloody Hill: The Civil War Battle of Wilson's Creek (Paperback)

Commendably, Mr. Brooksher has added another volume to the limited literature devoted to the American Civil War in the West. The author concentrates the majority of the text to setting the stage, discussing events leading up to and following the outbreak of the war; but then does a credible job narrating the battle itself. His prose does tend to be a little "purple," from time to time ("angel of death," "happy camper," and "spit-warm ditch water") but it is a fascinating tale, replete with colorful characters. Decent maps and well done orders of battle compliment the text. His bibliography seems a bit padded to me with Ken Burns and American Heritage thrown in with the more often seen "Jennison's Jayhawkers," Castel's "Sterling Price," and Tunnard's "3d Louisiana." A few too many secondary sources to suit me, personally. Nonetheless, good intro volume before purchasing Piston's or Bearss' volumes. I would also recommend following this work with "PEA RIDGE," by Shea and Hess.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Serviceable depiction of this early battle, November 6, 2009

By 

Steven A. Peterson (Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL)) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bloody Hill: The Civil War Battle of Wilson's Creek (Paperback)

Wilson's Creek was one of the major battles fought west of the Mississippi (along with Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, etc.).

The book begins much earlier than the Civil War, discussing events in Missouri, starting with the Louisiana Purchase. The book notes that (Page 2): "The road that ended in the Battle of Wilson's Creek was a long one--thoroughly enmeshed in the history of the continent and the pressures that accompanied the development of a new nation." Of more immediate relevance, the tension in Missouri before the outbreak of the Civil War is described.

As war broke out, those tensions increased. A central figure was the Union Brigadier General, Nathaniel Lyon. He worked to keep Missouri from falling into Confederate hands.

The battle at Wilson's Creek featured some intriguing figures. Fellow general Sterling Price (Old Pap) was also involved. Heading the Confederate forces was the colorful general, Ben McCullough. One of Lyon's lieutenants was Franz Sigel, who underperformed in many battles (including this one).

Lyon's troops were outnumbered. Despite that, he tried a tricky envelopment maneuver. Not surprisingly, it failed, leading in the end to the defeat of the Union troops. Sigel's colorful escape is nicely described. The book concludes by looking at the implications of the battle. An appendix with the order of battle for the two armies is provided, too.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed this book, November 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Bloody Hill: The Civil War Battle of Wilson's Creek (Paperback)

This is a narrative of Kansas settlement troubles which culminated at Wilson's Creek. Detailed coverage of the missed opportunity by Gov. Jackson to secure the St. Louis Armory. It even mentions Belle Starr nursing the fighting men down at Carthage. Complete works cited list and end notes. Brooksher tells this true story in a way that I really enjoyed. A treat to read and I will read his other works.