Charles Zagonyi Károly Zágonyi , ( Szatmar , Hungary , 1826 – ? ) known in the U . S as Charles Zagonyi , was a former Hungarian military officer who served in the American Civil War as an aide to John C . Frémont and commander of his bodyguard at the rank of major , effective September 19 , 1861 . Hungarian Revolution . Charles Zagonyi served originally as a first lieutenant in the Hungarian Revolutionary Army during the 1848 - 1849 revolt . General Josef Bem assigned him to lead a picked company of cavalry . In such capacity he saved Bem ' s life , was captured , and imprisoned for two years by the Austrians . American Civil War . On July 2 , 1851 Zagonyi arrived in the United States . He worked in New York and Philadelphia as a house painter . He served as a riding master in a Boston school operated by a fellow Hungarian emigre . Here he met and married a German - American lady by the name of Amanda Schweiger . At the outbreak of the Civil War , Zagonyi offered his services to New York , but was rejected . He was invited to Missouri by Alexander Asboth where he was introduced to General John C . Fremont . Fremont assigned him to create and command his personal bodyguard . Zagonyi ' s force was modeled on the well disciplined Polish Hussars . Zagonyi " personally selected the matched bay mounts " and designed the dark blue uniforms and hats of Hussar style . The men carried themselves proudly . They were equipped with German cavalry sabers and revolvers . On October 25 , 1861 , during the First Battle of Springfield , Zagonyi with 300 mounted men rashly charged into Springfield , Missouri , routing the Confederates . The charges proved costly in terms of casualties and the major lacked the forces to hold the city of the Union after dark . He withdrew , abandoning the city and his wounded to the secessionist forces . Zagonyi ' s charge would become famous , but his refusal to give credit to other attached forces alienated many fellow officers . Fremont ' s army would regain control of the town on October 27 , and it would remain under Union control for the rest of the war . Zagonyi was sidelined after Fremont was removed from command . Fremont ' s Bodyguard was mustered out of service in November 1861 despite being three year volunteers . Fremont was restored to command in the Shenandoah Valley as commander of the Mountain District encompassing West Virginia , eastern Kentucky , and East Tennessee . Fremont again utilized Zagonyi as his cavalry commander , promoting him to colonel . Stonewall Jackson and his Confederates outmaneuvered and outfought Fremont ' s much larger force during the Valley Campaign . Following this final Fremont debacle , General John Pope was assigned to command all of the U . S . troops in northern Virginia . Fremont resigned rather than serve under Pope , and Zagonyi withdrew from service . Postwar . Zagonyi returned to New York after the war and served as temporary president of the Hungarian Society there . In 1867 he attempted to return to Hungary , but lacked the money for the trip . A disputed 1871 article indicates he was the owner of a tobacco shop in Pesth , Hungary . Another says he was never heard from again after 1867 . Zagonyi Park in Springfield , Missouri is named for Zagonyi and his famous charge there . There is a marker in the park that describes the charge .