The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-02-01
THE FREMONT BODY GUARD.
ZagOnyi's Charge.

On the prairie, at the edge OF the WOOD
land in which he knew his willy foe lay hid
den. Zsgonyi, halted his command. He
spurred along the line. With eager
glance h, scaued each horse and rider. To
his officers he gave the simple order, "Fol
low me! do az [ do!'' and then, drawing up
in front of his men, with a voice tremuious
and shrill with emotion, he spoke =
"Felow. soldiers. comrades. brothers.
This is your first battle. For our three hun
dred. the enemy are two thousand. If any
of YOU are sick. or tired by the long march
or Il any think the number is too great. now
is the time to turn back" He paused; no
one was sick or tired. 1--WE must not re-
treat. Our honor, the honor Of the General
and our country. tell US to 60 on. | will
lead you.e We have bsen called holiday
soldiers for the pavements OF st. Louis; to.
day we will show that we are soldiers for
the battle. Your watchword shall be. The
Union and fremont Draw sabres BY
the right fank.--qnick trot.--march +!
Bri1ht swords flashed in the sunshine,
. passionate shout burst from every hP. and
wis6 one accord, the trot passing into q gal
lop. The compact column swept on to It's
A61Salv purpose. Most Of them were boys.
~ ~eeks before they bad left their
~ 6as " 49, aho we're cool enough 70
and tisTy eyi9sw spady cheeks grew p@le'
Who shall lsl what thoug hts.--what Wis
ions OF peaceful cottages nestling among the
groves Of Kentucky or shining upon the
banks oi the Ohio and the Iilinois,--what
sad recoll ections of fearful fare wells, Of teu-
der loving faces. filled their minds during
those fearful moments Of suspense? No
v ord was spoken. With lips compressed,
firmly clenchiux their sword hilts. with
quick tramp Of hoofs and clang Of steel, hon
o. leading and glory awaiting them. the
Young soldiers flew forward, each brave rid
er and each straining steed members of one
huge creature, enormous, terrible, irresisti-
bic. aF -
".rwas worth years Of pcsesiu iife
One glance at their array"
They passed the fair ground. They are
at the corner Of the lane where the wood be-
gins. I. runs close to the fence on their lett
Tor a hundred yards. and beyond it they
see white tents cleaning. They are halt
way past the forest. when, sharp and loud,
a volley Of musketry bhrsts supoa. ASe head
Of the column; horses stagger. riders reel
and fall, but the troop presses forward un-
dismayed. The farther corner Of the wood
is reached. and Zagonyi beholds the terrible
array. Amazed. he involuntsrily checks
his horse. The Rebels are not surprised
There to his left they stand crowning the
height. foot and horse ready to ingulf him.
il he shall be rash enough to go on. The
road he is following declines rapidly. There
is but one thing TO do,-run the gautlet,
gain the cover OF the hill. and charge up the
steep. These Thoughts pass quicker than
they can be told. He waves his sabre over
his head ard shouting "Forward l. follow
me! quick trot! gallopv' he dashes head
long down the stony road. The first com
pany .nd most OF the second follow. From
the LETT thousand mpIzles befch forth a
hissiux flood of bullets; the poor fellows
clutch wildly a. the air and fall from their
saddles, aud maddeued horses throw them.
selves against the fences. Their speed is
w. tor an instant checked; farther down
NOV I'LL they fy. Ike wssps driven by the [
when storm. Saarp volleys pour out of
ne undebrush at the lett, clearing wide I
gaps through their, racks. They leap the !
brook. take down the fence, aud draw up
under the shelter OF the hill. Zagonyi looks |
around him. aud to his horror sees that only !
a fourth of his men are with him. He cries. |
.They do not conceive are lost!' and
franticslly waves his sabre.
He has not yet long to wait. The delay
Of the rest of the Guard was not from hesi-
ta&lOu. w ncn SApiAfu Eoiol AeASAeA ~tic
lower corner of tho wood and saw the enc
my's line. he thought . flank attack might
. advantaysoasly made. He ordered some
Of his men to dismount and take down the
fence. This was done unler . severe FIRE.
Several men fell. and he found the wood SO
dense that il could not be penetrated -.
Looking down the hill. he saw the aasl. Of
Zagcnyfs sabre. and q 2pcs gave the or
~4TYT4 &Jvvse fStFf1f ;n,,y
suass kcnn~dy. . s,alwart Kentuckian.
.abun.ei. ..Come on boysl remember old
R.Mucky y and the third company of the
omri, freaou every side Of them.--from
behind trees, from under the fences, with
th.pde ring strides aud loud cheers. poured
dova the slope and rushed to the side OF
z .gonyi. They have lost seventy dead and
vou~aed men. and the cHcasses OF horses
arc strewna along the isne. Kennedy is
~ouuled in the arm and lies upon the
.tones. his faithful charger standing motion
Iessa Be side him Lieat. l0oH received a
wound 10 the thigh. he kept his seat. and