McCulloch's Headquarters
Tour Stop
Location: Starting from the parking area for WCNB Tour Stop 3 [ Waypoint = N37 06.048 W93 24.279 ], you must walk to the site of McCulloch's Headquarters [ Waypoint = N37 06.216 W93 24.346 ]. It was located on the Winn Farm along the eastern side of Wilson's Creek at the site the National Park Service has placed the historical marker for the Pulaski Arkansas Battery. From the parking area at tour stop 3, follow the walking trail leading off to the west towards Wilson's Creek. When you reach the Wire Road, you will see a sign for Pulaski Battery pointing to the right. Take this trail up the hill to the historical marker. From this vantage point you can see Bloody Hill if you look off to the west and north. Remember that there were a lot fewer trees in 1861 and so the visibility would have been a lot better.
Description: Early on the morning of August 10, 1861, Confederate Brigadier General Ben McCulloch received word of the Union attack from Missouri State Guard Brigadier General Rains. Remembering the events of August 2nd when Rains had panicked at Dug Springs, McCulloch was inclined to discount the importance of the message from Rains. McCulloch had called up two cavalry companies to go forward and investigate the situation. About this time a messenger from Major General Price had arrived to consult with McCulloch. Around 5:00 A.M., McCulloch decided to go down and confer with Price in person. He took his trusted lieutenant, Colonel James McIntosh with him to Price's Headquarters.
 |
Look to the west and north from this point. Remember that there were a lot fewer trees in 1861 and so the visibility would have been a lot better. Had McCulloch stayed at his headquarters for a few more minutes, he would have been able to personally see the fighting that had started to occur near Shorts Farm on the northern spur of Bloody Hill. Then McCulloch would have been able to react more quickly to Lyon's attack.