The Eighth Tribe, 1978 (5. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1978-08-01 / 8. szám
Page 4 THE EIGHTH TRIBE August, 1978 LÁSZLÓ L. ESZENYI: The “AMERICAN BALAKLAVA” The initial course of events of the Civil War was not a source of joy for the North. The bloody but sobering defeat at Bull Run seemed to prove the alleged military superiority of the South. The people of the North were left longing for a victory. Such was the melancholy mood of those last dreary days of October 1861, when, from western military fields, came press reports of a daring and dazzling northern victory. A victory which, with one clean sweep, dissipated the will-o-the-wisp of southern invincibility ... and reinvested the North with faith in its own military men. Charles Zagonyi, heading his cavalry company, brilliantly crushed his fifteen-fold stronger adversary and caused his commander General Fremont, to enthusiastically proclaim the victorious charge as “The American Balaklava.” Charles Zagonyi, proud son of an humble Hungarian Reformed Church pastor, first saw action under the liberty-seeking banner of the Hungarian National Guard, serving as a Hussar officer under “Old Man” Bern in Transylvania. Even in those days his selfless and fearless bravery was apparent. In two known instances he saved General Bern from Cossack butchery; the second time suffering serious wounds and capture. Gaining freedom at the conclusion of the Hungarian War for Freedom, Zagonyi followed Lajos Kossuth to Turkey and then to England. Zagonyi finally landed in the United States where for a while he lived the colorful and helter-skelter life of an immigrant. Upon learning about the happenings at Fort Sumter, he immediately volunteered for service, but it was not until some time later that General Fremont commissioned him a Major and entrusted to him the training of his Guards. This cavalry group, known as the “Guards” was first organized by Zagonyi into two companies and later re-organized as four companies. The primary duty of the Guards was to defend the Commander’s headquarters. Zagonyi, however, envisioned a far greater future for the Guards. He looked upon his training duties as a basic school for developing future cavalry officers. He devotedly endeavored to explain his dreams and desires to Fremont, without avail, for Fremont had political aspirations and looked to quick victories and thus not inclined to promote Zagonyi’s prolonged program of officer training. Within a very few weks Zagonyi proved that his green recruits understood his exemplary military leadership. Col. Charles Zágonyi’s Portrait by Victor de Jeney Fremont marched southward with five divisions to stop the advance of the southern forces. Nearing Humansville on October 24, he received the report that the town of Springfield, Mo., 80 miles away was held by 3-400 southern sympathizers who had imprisoned leaders defending the Union. At the base camp Zagonyi immediately suggested action but at first Fremont did not want to hear of it because of the great distance involved. But the adamant Zagonyi even went so far as to threaten independent action before Fremont acquiesced. Zagonyi alerted his own and Major White’s company and within one hour left the camp around 9:00 p.m. White was chosen because he was cut from the same devil-may-care cloth as was Zagonyi. Only a few weeks before, White had gained fame at Lexington against numerically superior southern forces. With a forced night ride allowing only a halfhour rest they were within 13 miles of Springfield by 11:30 the following morning. It was here that he received the first report of his scouts telling him that the city was reinforced the day before with 1500 soldiers bringing the total occupation forces to almost 1900. Zagonyi relayed this report back to Fre
