Civil War Battle Anniversaries

Today and tomorrow mark the anniversaries of two significant battles that transpired during the War Between the States. On this date in 1862, the Battle of Cedar Mountain took place, and August 10 marks the 149th anniversary of the Battle of Wilson's Creek.

The Battle of Cedar Mountain took place in Culpeper County, Virginia. Culpeper changed hands between Union and Confederate forces 78 times over the course of the war. Also known as Cedar Run and Slaughter's Mountain, the battle was the first combat to take place in the Northern Virginia campaign, resulting in a Confederate victory led by General Stonewall Jackson. Union casualties were 2,353: Confederate casualties totaled 1,338.

At the Battle of Wilson's Creek, also known as the Battle of Oak Hills, the Missouri State Guard took on attacking Union forces near Springfield. Referred to as "Bull Run of the West," this battle is considered to be the first major conflict west of the Mississippi River, resulting in a Confederate victory. Casualties were nearly equal on both sides: 1,317 Union and 1,230 Confederate. The battlefield is in nearly pristine condition today, hardly changed from how it appeared in 1861, unlike many tainted battlefields in the east.