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

"SS' T" soouti, OCloper 70, 1901.
Comrade J. c. McFarlin was IN
Missouri few months ago. After
hearing him tell about the Gagonyi's
charge at Springfield in the first year
of the war. asked him to write the
story for this Corner, which he has
kindly done.
His Story.
Missouri was one of the border
slave states that did not pass the
ordinance OF secession This was not
for want of disloyal sentiment in the
state, but because of the intense 10y.
atty OF some of the prominent citi-
zens of the state
st. Louis was hotbed of seces-
sion before the outbreak of the re-
bellion, and was held to loyalty only
by the most strenuous efforts of such
men as Frank Blair and others like
him
When the outbreak of the war oc-
CURED, and the national government
established the military division OF
tiers, General John C, Fremont was
put in command. Fremont at that
time was probably the most pop-
ular man n the United States, and
his appointment TO the command of
the post at ST. Louis was hailed with
great delight. Fremont, on assuming
command, proceeded to organize al
army and put it on a war footing,
and suct was his popularity that In
a short time he had an army well
equipped With the best of accoutre
ments of those days. Men fiocked to
ms standard from everywhere, ap-
parently, and among those who Of
Tered their services was a Hungarian
refugee, who had been a resident of
this country for number of years.
Having beeu a soldier in his native
land. at tine age of fifteen years he
was In great cavalry charge against
The Austr.ans with whom his native
country was then at war The Hum
garians were defeated, and the how
was taken prisoner and later. ban
ished from the country. when he
came to the United States to make
1t his home. This man. Zagonyi bv
name, was an intimate friend of FIRE.
mont and when Fremont was given
command of the army at ST. Louis,
Hagonyi rendered his services, which
were gladly accepted. Whether sug-
gested by General Fremont or bv "a
gonyi will probably never be known.
but Iagonyi was authorized to organ
iZe a troop of cavalry to be known
as Fremont's bodyguard, and such
was the enthusiasm of the movement
that in five days Zagonyi had full
troop organized and proceeded Il,
equip them. which was done in q
Few days, and with the best equip
ments and horses that could be p1u,
cured. Such was the popularity of
TINS movement that it did not stop
with one company. but four fun com
panles were organized and put into
a battalion, with Zagonyi in COM
mand.
General Fremont, getting his army
tuily organized and equipped. COM
menced operations to drive ont On
The state the rebel forces that were
distributed throughout Missouri. and
creating great disturbance wherever
tney went. The rebel generals
Price and Van Dorm were reported
to nave large force in the sourn.
western part of the state. and
Fremont proposed to move his forces
IN that direction and drive them out.
The exact location of the rebels was
not known to General Fremont. and
Major Zagonyi was ordered to take
force of his men and try to locate
them. Zagonyi selected 100 of his
men and started out on 4 reconnoi-
sance In the direction of Springfield.
Reaching "a point about two miles
from that city, he met an old farmer
who told him that there was a rebel
force of two thousand men in Spr,ng-
field. The farmer advised very
strongly that they turn back, as the
rebels were much too strong for the
majors force to attack. A council
OF war was held, and the situation
was 1uiiy discussed, and it was the
unanimous decision to go ahead. 1t
was found necessary for the major
TO make detour of some twelve
miles N order to reach the rebel
forces as they were located. The
confederates We're encamped lust west
of the town, and, in order to reach
them the major was forced to charge
down through narrow lane between
two high, strong rail fences. The
Confederates were in a strong nos,
ton, well protected by heavy timber
and other Instructions. Nothing
daunted Major Zagonyi pushed for
ward and first met the enemy's p.cket
Of four men, who fred a vollev intr
his ranks Killing four men and ther
running back to the main body. fins
spreading the alarm and giving tbe
rebels time to prepare for hot re
ception of the federal forces. Zagon
ya's men did not halt, but, putin.
their horses into gallop and witt
revolvers and sabres drawn. the,
charged full tilt into the enemy ant
the fight was on,-and such a ffghf
NO quarter was given nor was an,
asked. 1t was fight. and fight to TIL,
nnlsh; and finished it was in a shor
tlme by the complete rout of the ret
els They scattered in every direS
tion and We're soon lost to the al
lacking forces. The real brunt D
the fight was borne by Major Zagor
VI with a force of about one hun
dred and thirt.-