A Monstrous Fuss: The Battle of Wilson's Creek, August 10, 1861

“Great stir in camp this evening. General Lyon has issued an order that this night shall decide the fate of Southern Missouri…We are going to march on them tonight.” --August 9th, 1861 Diary entry by William Branson, Iowan of the Muscatine Volunteer Infantry.

“I will gladly give up my life for victory.” --General Nathaniel Lyon, around 1:00 AM, August 10th, 1861.

A Monstrous Fuss is a simulation of the battle fought on August 10th, 1861 at Wilson’s Creek between the Union Army under General Nathaniel Lyon and the Confederate forces led by Generals Benjamin Mcculloch and Sterling Price. The Union force, badly outnumbered, launched a bold attack that caught the Rebels still encamped. Both sides armies’ were made up of militia and volunteers who were in combat for the first time. The intensity and casualties sustained in this day’s battle surprised many of the officers and further reinforced that this Civil War would not be settled quickly or cheaply. Can you do better?

Terrain scale is about 250 yards per hex, while the infantry and cavalry units are mostly regiments, artillery units are batteries of 4-6 guns. Each turn is about 30 minutes. Each strength point represents 250 men.