Ep. 2. 32. The Battle of Wilson's Creek Opens

This episode continues the Civil War narrative through the contrasting lives of Franz Sigel and Father John Bannon. Monsignor and Teresa recount Bannon’s dramatic decision to leave his parish and join the Confederate cause as chaplain, despite warnings that he was sacrificing a promising ecclesiastical career. They explore his motivations—rooted in cultural identity, anti-Catholic hostility from German radicals, and fears of federal overreach—while contrasting them with Sigel’s rise as a Union officer and political activist. The episode sets the stage for the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, detailing troop movements, strategic miscalculations, and the looming clash that will bring both men back to the same battlefield under opposing flags.