About Me
MidWest Performance Riders formed in 2006 by a group of experienced riders both young and old. Our experience ranges from Civil War re-enacting, Old West gunfighters, mounted action shooting, working on film projects, to riding in parades. Two main reasons MidWest Performance Riders was formed was to educate and entertain. We loved the idea of using the talents of our horses and riders to educate the public about things like History, Horses, Gun Safety and at the same time be able to entertain children and adults. Be it, in front of a live audience or in front of a camera on a film project, we enjoy our work. MidWest Performance Riders has been fortunate to be able to work with production companies such as Wide Awake Films, K.C.P.T., The History Channel, National Geographic, and Kurtis Productions. Titles to our credit are Bad Blood; The Border War That Triggered The Civil War, Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, The Battle of Wilson's Creek, and the Liberty Bank Robbery in 2007 video for The James Farm Museum. MidWest Performance Riders base of operation is out of Big River Ranch in Historic Lexington, Missouri. A 1000 acre Trail Riding, Camping and Western Events Center now open to the public. For information about MidWest Performance Riders or Big River Ranch contact this Myspace site. If you would like to have a group of riders, that take pride in being Historically accurate and extreamely professional at your next event or on the set of your next film project, you need to call MidWest Performance Riders. We eagerly await the call to PERFORM Robbing the Liberty Bank THE MARRIAGE OF GENERAL JOE SHELBY BAD BLOOD.. WITH WIDE AWAKE FILMS, Our friends from KCPT Kansas City Public Television recently let us know the good news that "Bad Blood: The Border War that Triggered the Civil War" has been nominated for two regional Emmys. KCPT and Wide Awake Films were co-producers of this film about the Missouri-Kansas border wars of the 1850s. Oak Grove Rodeo LEXINGTON, MISSOURI PARADE Shane and Rob setting up cameras The Battle of Wilson's Creek occurred August 10, 1861 along Wilson's Creek, about ten miles southwest of Springfield. This six hour battle is considered to be the second major battle of the Civil War and the first major battle west of the Mississippi River. The Union forces, numbering about 5,400 men, were commanded by Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon. They consisted of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and U.S. Regular soldiers. On the Confederate side there were about 10,000 men, commanded by Brigadier General Ben McCulloch. They consisted of men from Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. The Missouri contingent was the Missouri State Guard (MSG) under the command of Major General Sterling Price. The battle was waged over who would control the state of Missouri, the U. S. government or the state of Missouri. The battle lasted from dawn until noon with the Confederates as the victors. It was at this battle that Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general to be killed in the Civil War, met his death. The victory was not a decisive one because the Confederate forces did not pursue the retreating Union army and thus they lived to fight again seven months later in Arkansas at the Battle of Pea Ridge, which was a victory for the Union. The plan to save Missouri from herself and for the Union is prearranged by Nathanial Lyon. Franz Sigel will work to make Lyon's scheme become reality. As the curtain goes up on the prelude to Wilson's Creek, we see Gen. Lyon in southwestern Missouri, at Springfield, with about five thousand men, most of whom are soon to return to their homes, the term of enlistment being nearly expired. They are, many of them, without shoes; their uniforms are in tatters, according to one contemporary war correspondent. Lyon has won the Battle of Boonville, Missouri on June 17th and advanced to Springfield. Col. Franz Sigel has lost the Battle of Carthage on July 5th, and retreated to Springfield. As soon as Lyon reached the city, he began writing and sending representatives to St. Louis and Washington, demanding reinforcements. But his demands received little if any attention. Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont, commanding in St. Louis, did not seem disposed to help him. When assured that Lyon must and would fight at Springfield, he simply replied: "If he does, he will do it on his own responsibility." Lyon chafed at Washington: "If it is the intention to give up the West, let it be so. Scott (Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott) will cripple us if he can." Fremont’s indifference prodded Lyon with such sharp torment that he would often flare into temper at the mere mention of his name. Once, during a conference, he banged the table with his sword hilt, and shouted, "God damn Fremont.†He is a worse enemy to me, and the cause of the Union than Price and McCulloch and the whole damn tribe of rebels in this part of the state.†Finally two regiments--one in Boonville and the other in Leavenworth (Kansas) --- were ordered to report to him but---they never reached there. Appointed Colonel of the 3rd Missouri Volunteer Regiment, Sigel was present at the Camp Jackson affair in May, 1861, and then lead a column to southwest Missouri as part of the pincer movement designed to trap State Guard troops retreating from central Missouri. He commanded the union troops on July 5, 1861, in the first major land battle of the Civil War, at Carthage, Missouri. At Wilson’s Creek, August, 1861, his command performed poorly, contibuting to the union defeat. Price was by all right and justice in supreme command of all the Confederate forces in Missouri. And he said, "I am not fighting for distinction, but for the liberation of my country, and I am willing to surrender not only my command but my life, if necessary, as a sacrifice to the cause." "We have an average of only twenty-five rounds of ammunition to the man," McCulloch reported, "and no more to be had short of Fort Smith and Baton Rouge." He did not have a high opinion of Price's Missourians, noting that they were undisciplined, commanded mostly by incompetent and inexperienced politicians, and possessed only a poor mix of weapons and equipment. For some 5,000 of them, their enlistment time was up and they were anxious to go home. Cooperation between the Arkansas and Missouri contingents was feeble, with "little cordiality of feeling between the two armies." His lack of confidence in the Missourians led McCulloch to hesitate when a bold attack might well have destroyed Lyon's smaller force and given Missouri to the Confederacy. When the two generals were officially joined in working together, they had trouble agreeing on battle strategies and techniques, and could not collaborate. However, Price’s pride did not interfere with the military necessity. Price said, “Now sir, I have commanded in more battles than you ever saw, Gen. McCulloch. I have three times as many troops as you. I have higher rank than you are, and I am twenty years your senior in age. I waive all these things, Gen. McCulloch, and if you will march into Missouri I will obey your orders, and give you the whole command and all the glory to be won there.†So about midnight the Southerners broke camp and began their march on the Fayetteville road toward Springfield August 4. This understanding between the two men helped them in winning the Battle of Wilson’s Creek. The Federals had not only lost heavily in the battle, but were badly demoralized, and had a long and difficult road to travel before they could reach a point where they could hope for assistance. That point was Rolla, and the road ran through a rugged, broken country, with many streams to ford or ferry, and was already crowded with hundreds of Union refugees who were fleeing in mortal terror from Ben McCulloch.....Robbie McCulloch's men were running in every direction LOUISIANA!!!! YOU MUST STAND AND FIGHT FOR YOUR FLAG! Turning to a Louisiana officer, McCulloch ordered, "Captain, take your company up and give them hell." With a shout McCulloch's men charged uphill toward Sigel's soft center. The sudden attack paralyzed and terrified many of the green Germans, who thought their own men were firing on them. Southern cannons from heights to the east and from now-quiet Bloody Hill dropped iron into their midst. When scores of Missouri and Arkansas troops crashed into Sigel's distracted left flank, the rout was on. Forgetting their devotion to their leader, the panicked Germans ignored Sigel's curses and ran for their lives. Within minutes Sigel's entire force was out of the battle, racing for any roads that led back to Springfield. The beleaguered general -- hiding his uniform with a blanket and yellow hat -- escaped capture only after Rebel horsemen chased him for six miles.img src="http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r31/ilovepaintedhors es/August2007451.jpg" / General checks position McCulloch had to encourage his men, for some, this was their first battle Dannon & Toby, Kevin & Black, in the background Robbie & King and Adam & Smoke waiting for action! Federal sharpshooter hit his target... Smoke from the firing of cannon and rifles Use the smoke as a cover In the heat of battle. When the Battle of Wilson's Creek took place it was a hot day in Missouri! Men on horses can see Federals hiding in the bush McCulloch returns to Texas....Victorious McCulloch commanded the Confederate right wing at the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern and on 7 March 1862, after much maneuvering, he overran a key Union artillery battery. Union resistance stiffened late in the morning, however, and as McCulloch rode forward to scout out enemy positions, he was shot out of the saddle and died instantly. McCulloch always disliked army uniforms and was wearing a black velvet civilian suit and Wellington boots at the time of his death.Riding on to the James Farm...Frank leads the way.. Cole hears laughter Fletch is not smiling.. Dave keeps watch.... MIDWEST PERFORMANCE RIDERS AT, INVITATION ONLY, VIEWING OF THE FILM FOR THE JAMES FARM
