<P> In early August 1861 , Confederates under the command of Brig. Gen. Benjamin McCulloch and Missouri State Guard troops under the command of Maj. Gen. Sterling Price approached Union Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon 's Army of the West , which was camped at Springfield . On August 9 , both sides formulated plans to attack the other . At about 5 : 00 a.m. on August 10 , Lyon , in two columns commanded by himself and Col. Franz Sigel , attacked the Confederates on Wilson 's Creek about 12 miles ( 19 km ) southwest of Springfield . Confederate cavalry received the first blow and retreated from the high ground , later referred to as `` Bloody Hill , '' and infantry soon rushed up to stabilize their positions . The Confederates attacked the Union forces three times during the day , but failed to break through . When Lyon was killed during the battle and General Thomas William Sweeny wounded , Major Samuel D. Sturgis assumed command of the Union forces . Meanwhile , the Confederates routed Sigel 's column south of Skegg 's Branch . Following the third Confederate attack , which ended at 11 : 00 a.m. , the Union withdrew . When Sturgis realized that his men were exhausted and lacking ammunition , he ordered a retreat to Springfield . The Confederates were too disorganized and ill - equipped to pursue the retreating Federal forces . </P>
<P> In early August 1861 , Confederates under the command of Brig. Gen. Benjamin McCulloch and Missouri State Guard troops under the command of Maj. Gen. Sterling Price approached Union Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon 's Army of the West , which was camped at Springfield . On August 9 , both sides formulated plans to attack the other . At about 5 : 00 a.m. on August 10 , Lyon , in two columns commanded by himself and Col. Franz Sigel , attacked the Confederates on Wilson 's Creek about 12 miles ( 19 km ) southwest of Springfield . Confederate cavalry received the first blow and retreated from the high ground , later referred to as `` Bloody Hill , '' and infantry soon rushed up to stabilize their positions . The Confederates attacked the Union forces three times during the day , but failed to break through . When Lyon was killed during the battle and General Thomas William Sweeny wounded , Major Samuel D. Sturgis assumed command of the Union forces . Meanwhile , the Confederates routed Sigel 's column south of Skegg 's Branch . Following the third Confederate attack , which ended at 11 : 00 a.m. , the Union withdrew . When Sturgis realized that his men were exhausted and lacking ammunition , he ordered a retreat to Springfield . The Confederates were too disorganized and ill - equipped to pursue the retreating Federal forces . </P>
when did the battle of wilson 's creek start
when did the battle of wilson 's creek start
At about 5 : 00 a.m. on August 10
At about 5 : 00 a.m. on August 10