Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-04-07

Mathenyi, with a force of about thirty
men, was ordered to attack a body
Of confederate cavalry of four hun
dred, which he did, completely rout-
ing them and driving them out of
existence; at least they disappeared
SO completely that they could not be
found M
After the complete disappearance
,of the rebel forces Major Zagonyi
gathered such of his own men as he
could find and marched into the pub
lie square of the town, taking pos
session Of the place and liberat.ng
about seventy union prisoners con
fined in the court house. After gath
ering up of all his men he could
find, Major Zagonyi could count only
seventy of his one hundred and sixty
who went into the fight. Not all o.
these were thout evidence of hav-
ing been in sharp fight, for many
were suffering more or less from.
wounds. The major seemed to bear
a charmed life, for he was always
in the thickest of the fight and ha
a personal combat with a rebel uf-
ficer, whom he killed with, h sabre
! vel remember when this 'figh-
occurred, what thrill it sent al
through the country when the press
sCh n,,h1
and if has always been my ideal of
heroism when thinking of the record
they made. 1t was my good fortune
to go over the ground last fall, where
this fight occurred, and | was in
tensely interested in my visit there
IT is certain that when you have
read of an interesting event, and cali
afterwards go to the place, it be-
comes yet more interesting. On the
occasion Of my visit to Springfield,
last fall. i met many Grand Army
men, also some Of our one tine err.
emies. I must say that, from the
reception given me by both federals
and confederates, both are cordial in
the extreme.
Among the many Grand Army men
whom it was my privilege to meet
in that city was one Major Wake
field, who was a citizen of Spring
field before the war and has been
ever since, so is thoroughly posted in
oil hn fc Of in,
these years. One day he drove up
to where / was staying and invited
me to take a ride with him. very
gladly accepted his invitation. and
after we had started he asked il
there was any particular place l
wished to see. | replied that | should
be interested anywhere we night go.
but that l had strong desire q
view the ground where Major Ia
gonyi made that famous charge.
Turning to the north down one of
the prime pal streets of the city, we
went to where it crossed small
stream and there was some vacant
ground on each side of the street.
There it was where they buried Ia
sonyi's dead soldiers, to the number
of twenty-seven,-all that could be
found at that time. These bodies
have long since been removed to the
National Cemetery, situate about four
miles south of the city. Crossing
this little stream, we turned west
ward, and, going few blocks, we
were on the ground where the main
are now occupied by the Frisco
railroad tracks and switches, and
near where Major Zagonyi first met
the rebels there now stands the
Frisco" passenger depot This lit
tie valley running east and west, and
which is now the fright of way for
the "Frisco" and Missouri Pacific
railways, practically divides the city
of Springfield into two parts, the
north and south sides. the south be-
ing the older part. On the west of
the city is small stream of water
running in southerly direction,
which is a branch of the famous Wit
sons Creek. About twelve miles from
the city is the place where the bat
tie of Wilson's Creek occurred. did
rot visit this battle field, as I was
informed that there was nothing
there to indicate where the battle
was fought. and it would not be in
teresting. There is move being
made to have the national govern
ment make a national park of this
battle ground, but nothing has yet
been done.
The national government has con
structed a broad boulevard from the
city of Springfield to the. national
cemetery, four miles south the city,
and have men constantly employed
in taking care of it. In few years
this will be a grand drive, for All
the road is nearly level. Trees are
set out on both sides of the road,
and in few years they viii be large
enough to give a grand effect to the
scenery along the drive. I visited
! this national cemetery 1t is beau
tiful spot and is splendidly kept. a
fitting tribute of our national govern.
ment to its soldier dead. This CEN
etery is in two parts. both enclosed
with a stone wall. and a stone wall
divides the two parts. The norsh
| half of the plot contains the bodies
i oe +b fa5oro1 s,1.5s,,,r a., = al, y,