For nearly a week surrounding the 146th anniversary of the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, the cast and crew—and a multitude of invaluable volunteers—withstood a scorching heat index that reached as high as 112 degrees while filming The Battle of Wilson’s Creek: The War Arrives in the West. All the while, nearly everyone on the set pondered the sobering thought that in August 1861, soldiers on both sides of the conflict endured a much more grueling plight over the course of many more days, months, or even years.

In the attempt to honor the courage and sacrifice of the soldiers, and to articulate the historical significance of the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, Wide Awake Films has again drawn from its experience and passion for the Civil War to produce this important story of America’s 19th-century political upheaval and cultural transformation.

Side by side with the company’s unsurpassed network of reenactors, actors, preservationists, and historical consultants, Wide Awake is taking The Battle of Wilson’s Creek to the next level of documentary film-making. Footage was shot using the ultra-high tech Viper camera system, ensuring pure high-definition video imagery with a clarity and color range that can exceed that of 35mm movie-quality film.

With the desire to preserve our nation’s history, to protect our endangered historic sites, and to spark the interest and imagination of our next generation of historians and filmmakers, The Battle of Wilson’s Creek: The War Arrives in the West will serve as an important film for posterity—and preservation.