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Rapid Response Fund
 

Rapid Response Fund

by April McDonoughon December 5, 2025 in Foundation tagged , ,

As President of the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation, I am grateful for donors who believe in our mission to protect the hallowed ground of Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. Donor support preserves history, strengthens education, and ensures that sacrifices made here are never forgotten.

Thanks to donors, the Foundation continues to acquire and safeguard rare artifacts that deepen public understanding of the Civil War.

This year, donor generosity allowed us to acquire and donate a rare carte-de-visite of Brigadier General Friedrich (Frederick) Salomon to the Battlefield Museum collection. His remarkable story, from his service at Wilson’s Creek to leading troops across the Trans-Mississippi Theater, will help visitors better understand the people and events that shaped our nation.

When you support the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation, you ensure that these stories, and the lessons they hold, are not lost.

This year marks the Foundation’s 75th anniversary, making us one of the oldest and most steadfast National Park Service partners in the country. It is a milestone made possible only through donor generosity.

Recent accomplishments donor support made possible include:

• Hosting an immersive summer camp for rising fifth graders
• Acquiring a rare historic photograph for the Museum collection
• Providing crucial funding for popular programs like Junior Ranger Day and Bark in the Park

We are grateful that the government shutdown ended, and the park has reopened, but the future remains uncertain for the National Park Service. Earlier spending restrictions created challenges for Wilson’s Creek, and the Foundation stepped in to cover program supplies and library materials. We stand ready to respond again, but we cannot do it without donor support.

To ensure programs and visitor services continue without interruption, we have established the Rapid Response Fund — a dedicated resource to address critical needs identified by the park superintendent. This fund allows the Foundation to act quickly to maintain an excellent visitor experience and support essential operations.

If you have already given this year, thank you. If you can make an additional tax-deductible gift before our anniversary year ends, your support will strengthen the battlefield’s resilience.

Together, we will inspire future generations by preserving the legacy of Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield and supporting the park’s continued growth.

Warm regards,

Gary Bishop
President, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation

 

1860 Henry Rifle

by mwhisleron June 21, 2020 in Battlefield, Foundation tagged , , , , , ,

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield will take possession of an important Civil War artifact thanks to efforts of the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation and its supporters. The Foundation was presented with the opportunity to purchase a very rare .44 caliber Model 1860 Henry rifle recently sold at auction and purchased by the Foundation to be added to the park’s permanent collection. The Foundation will present the rifle to Wilson’s Creek Acting Superintendent Russ Runge at 1 PM on Tuesday, June 23, at Stop 5 on the battlefield’s tour road, overlooking the open fields of Colonel Franz Sigel’s position the morning of the battle, August 10, 1861.

Foundation friends and supporters will be on hand to view the presentation and see the beautifully embellished weapon for themselves. The public is also invited to attend.

While this Henry rifle was not used at the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, the weapon does have a Missouri connection. The rifle was owned by Major George W. Fulton of the 21 st Missouri Infantry, a Union regiment that saw extensive service during the war and participated in the battles of Shiloh, Tupelo and other actions. Fulton, a resident of Edina (Knox County), Missouri, served with the regiment from July 1861 until his resignation in December 1864. He died in Edwards County, Kansas, in 1890.

The Henry, which was first produced in 1860, was the most technologically advanced small arm of the Civil War period. A lever-action repeating rifle, the Henry utilized a 15-round magazine containing self-contained metallic cartridges, allowing a soldier to fire anywhere from 15-30 shots per minute at a time when a soldier carrying a single-shot muzzle-loading rifle-musket could fire only 2-3 shots per minute.

This artifact will be displayed in the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield’s newly-renovated Visitor Center set to open in October 2020. The planned exhibit will highlight the history of Civil War weapons technology. Displaying a Henry will allow visitors to gain a greater appreciation of the rapid advance in arms technology that took place during this period, drawing a clear distinction between the single-shot weapon of the pre-war era and the repeating rifle that was destined to spell the end of muzzle-loading weapons and dominate the arms market for decades after the war.

The Wilson’s Creek NB Foundation also recently contributed an additional $40,000 to the visitor center renovation project to provide content for electronic displays highlighting several aspects of the Battle of Wilson’s Creek and the Civil War.

Wilson’s Creek Foundation is the support and fund-raising partner for Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, with the mission of encouraging awareness, appreciation, educational utilization, and development of the park, as well as raising funds for various projects not covered by the National Park Service.

rifle-photo

 

Battlefield Land Expansion

by mwhisleron February 15, 2018 in Battlefield, Foundation tagged , , , , ,

Recently a piece of historic land was added to the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield through the efforts of the Civil War Trust and Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation. The CW Trust is a national organization with the mission of preserving historic Civil War and Revolutionary War battlefields. Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield’s Boundary Expansion document, dated June 2003, states that additional land may be purchased from willing sellers. The 60-acre parcel was purchased and subsequently transferred to the National Park Service.

The significance of this property, located on the southeast boundary of the battlefield, is that it was the first position of Colonel Franz Sigel’s troops during the Battle of Wilson’s Creek. The Union forces divided their troops as they left Springfield around 6:00 pm on August 9th. The plan was to take 1,200 men under Col. Sigel and swing wide to the south, flanking the Confederates on the right as General Lyon’s force struck from the north.
The sixty acres acquired on January 22, 2018, allows the park to interpret a very significant segment of the battle under the command of Col. Sigel. This property was conveyed to the U.S. Department of the Interior and will be managed by Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield.

“In donating this property to the National Park Service, we continue to preserve a piece of our history for generations to come,” stated Jim Lighthizer, President of the Civil War Trust. Furthermore, Wilson’s Creek NB Foundation President Mike Ussery stated that, “Part of the mission of the Foundation is to preserve land directly related to the battle. We are very proud to assist in this land preservation donation.”

 

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Anniversary Program

by mwhisleron July 25, 2014 in Battlefield tagged , , , , ,

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield will observe the 153rd Anniversary of the Battle of Wilson’s Creek over the weekend of August 9 and 10, 2014, with a variety of programs and activities.

On Sunday, August 10, at 2:00 p.m., at the Visitor Center, the anniversary program will start with a presentation of colors, recognition of guests, and a special presentation by the battlefield’s Foundation. “The main speaker,” according to Superintendent Hillmer, “will be author James W. Erwin.  He will talk about his books and the importance of preserving these special places and educating the next generation about their important history.”

“Come and enjoy this special presentation by a Missouri author,” says Superintendent Hillmer.  Refreshments will be served and entrance fees for August 9 &10 will be waived.

Artillery and infantry small arms firing demonstrations are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 9, at tour road stop 5.  Volunteers will be depicting the Missouri State Guard, pro-Southern state militia that fought at Wilson’s Creek.  “The purpose of these programs is to relate to visitors the soldier’s combat experience during the battle,” remarked Chief Park Ranger John Sutton.  A special sunset artillery salute will take place at 8:15 p.m. at tour road stop 5 to honor the soldiers who were killed during the battle of Wilson’s Creek.

Guided tours of Bloody Hill will be offered at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.  Visitors should meet at the Bloody Hill parking area for the tour, which should last about an hour.  An exhibit on Civil War prisoners and full scale prints of the new exhibits will be available for viewing at the visitor’s center.

Battle of Springfield
 

150th Anniversary of the Battle of Springfield

by mwhisleron January 4, 2013 in Battle of Springfield, Foundation, Sesquicentennial tagged , , , , ,

At noon on January 8 the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Springfield with a ceremony at Park Central Square in Springfield. The event will include speakers, living historians in period clothing, Civil War-era music, an authentic cannon, and the unveiling of newly redesigned markers for the Battle of Springfield tour. Following the noon program, a reception will be hosted by the History Museum for Springfield – Greene County, in its temporary location at 155 Park Central Square. In case of inclement weather, the noon event will also be held in the History Museum.

The 12 Battle of Springfield markers, located throughout downtown Springfield, highlight key locations and details of the battle. Although the new markers have not yet been installed, a replica of Marker 1 will be in place on the square, and all of the markers will be on display in the History Museum. The original markers were funded with the support of local donors and designed by the Wilson’s Creek NB Foundation. They were installed by the City of Springfield and dedicated on May 19, 2001.

The 1863 Battle of Springfield took place in what is now downtown Springfield. One hundred fifty years ago, Federal troops and Missouri Militia led by Brig. General Egbert Brown successfully defended the city and the Union supply depot located here against an attack by Confederate cavalry under the command of Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke. The battle lasted from dawn to dusk, ending when the last Confederate assault was repelled and Marmaduke’s forces withdrew to the Phelps Farm (present day Phelps Grove Park). Of the 4,000 Federal and Confederate troops present, more than 400 were killed or wounded.