5/1/18 On the move. Entered the great State of Missouri.

Along the way we detoured to visit Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, the site of the third largest battle of the entire Civil War. Who Knew? Although the Confederates won the 1864 battle, subsequent battles were taken by the Union Army in the region setting the stage for the ultimate defeat of the Confederates.

Only standing structure on the property at the time of the battle. The home of John Ray was used as a hospital for the Union soldiers so it wasn't burned.

We also stopped at the monument for George Washington Carver who was born into slavery Pre-Civil War. He and his mother were abducted by the KKK and just George was able to be rescued. George went on to become this first black student at the Tuskegee University, graduated and also earned his Masters in Ag. Science. He presented to the US Sub-Committee on Ag to promote the value of the peanut to improve crop yield through soil improvement by rotating crops. Pretty amazing man. 

Although we made it to Missouri we spent the night in Illinois just across the Mississippi River from St Louis in a Casino RV Park of all places. Very Very noisy as it turns out with a railroad pretty close. A couple of times it sounded like the train was coming through the camper. Needless to say not a great night's sleep.