The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-11-07
Where Inpetuosity Won.

To get at the enemy it was neces
sary to traverse narrow lane, where
the Federals were subjected to a muir,
derous fire. At the end Of this lane
was a stout rail fence that had to be
thrown down Notwithstanding these
obstacles the guard swept through
with a shout like thunder. Beyond
the lane the Union commander sent
detachment of thirty men against the
center of the Confederate cavalry, and
with such impetuosity was the charge
made that the opposing line was
broken Zagonyi then ordered his
whole line to charge in open order.
and they struck the foe with whirl-
wind velocity. sending the southern
infantry scampering to cover in
nearby wood and driving the cavalry
pellmell into the town, fighting them
through the streets and finally captur-
ing or dispensing them ALL
When the carnage was at its height
in the streets of Springfield the Union
women faced the danger and came out
of their houses to wave handkercblefs
and cheer the victorS on. The slaugh-
ter was fearful. More than half OF
Zagonyi's force was killed. wounded
or missing Several of the men had
two or three horses shot under them,
but captured Confederate horses and
went on The charge started at about
4 o'clock in the afternoon, and it was
dark when the fighting ceased. There
were nearly twenty charges through
the streets. When it was all over Ia
gonyi released the Union prisoners that
he found in the town and raised the
stars and stripes over the courthouse.
Then reassembling the home guard
and leaving about twenty additional
men to look after the dead and wound
ed he gathered together the seventy of
! his men left and returned to Fremont's
ing. Major Zagonyi reported that he
had captured twenty-seven prisoners.
/ sixty stands of arms and $1,000 in gold.
i Later statements made the Union kill
/ ed in the action twenty-five and that
Of the Confederates sixty Fremont
pronounced it really a BalakIava
i charge" and "a noble example to the
army"
Battle of Fredericktown.
This was not the only gallant ac-
ton of the week in Missouri. Four
days earlier was fought a small but
brilliant battle at Fredericktown.
~, lot Hhnrpon.
son temporarily out of business. The
| action really occurred on the last day
of the previous week, the 21st, but the
pursuit started on the 22d and lasted
till the oath. General Grant was at
this time in command at Cape Girar-
deau and one of the tasks assigned
him by Fremont was to look after
General Thompson, known as the
Swamp Fox This was before
Grant was known to the country at
large. yet in the campaign against
Thompson he exhibited some of the
characteristics that afterward made
him famous. He did not participate
in the affair personally, but sent Colo
mel j. B. Plummer. Of the Eleventh
Missouri. telling him where to find
Thompson if he found that elusive
individual at all. directing Plummel
to communicate with the Union force
at Pilot Knob, and trusting details te
his own Judgment as the man on the
ground This was characteristic OIL
Grant. He always left his interiors
free in the matter of details. while
holding them strictly accountable fol
results.
Colonel Plummer started aftel
Thompson on the 18th and reached
Fredericktown at noon of the 21st
There he found Colonel w. P. CarliI
with about 1000 men. who had ad
vanced from Pilot Knob. Genera
Thompson had left Fredericktown tn,
night before. taking the Greenvill'
road Colonel Carlin turned over t
Plummer parts Of three regiments o
infantry. troop of cavalry and
battery. but not without dispute a
to seniority in command Plumme
previously had LOO troops and tn
accessions raised his force to abov
O.UUO. ne IcijOEtcu ludt LIE OOulcU
crates had in the neighborhood of 400
but this was denied by Thompson.
e Wiping Out JEFF Thompson.
At / O'Clock Plummer was in motto
: and had not proceeded more than hal
!, mile along the Greenville road whe
, his advance guard encountered th
: enemy. Deploying one regiment to th
: left in cornfeld, Colonel Plumme
: brought up battery and opened fiji
. on the enemy until he compelled r
Spouse. The other forces were the
:. brought up and deployed to right an
left, when the battle opened all alon
! the line. lasting two hours and a half
. One Of the hottest actions of the da
I occurred On the Union right. opposi1
which General Thompson himself Wi
In command Here Confederate ca
non had been stationed In the roa'
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