First Battle of Springfield

Part of the American Civil War

Date	October 25, 1861 (1861-10-25)
Location	Springfield, Missouri
Result	Union victory

Belligerents

United States (Union)

Missouri State Guard

Commanders and leaders

Major Charles Zagonyi

Colonel Julian Frazier

Units involved

Frémont’s Body Guard
Prairie Scouts

Missouri State Guard

Strength

326

1,000-1,500

Casualties and losses

133

The First Battle of Springfield or Zagonyi's Charge was a battle of the American Civil War that occurred on October 25, 1861, in Greene County, Missouri. It was the only Union victory in southwestern Missouri in 1861.

Having accomplished little since taking command of the Western Department with headquarters in St. Louis, Maj. Gen. John C. Frémont formulated a plan to clear Maj. Gen. Sterling Price's Confederates from the state and then, if possible, carry the war into Arkansas and Louisiana. Leaving St. Louis on October 7, 1861, Frémont's combined force eventually numbered more than 20,000. His accompanying cavalry force, numbering 5,000 men and other mounted troops, included Maj. Frank J. White's Prairie Scouts and Frémont's Body Guards under Maj. Charles Zagonyi. Maj. White became ill and turned his command over to Zagonyi. These two units operated in front of Frémont’s army to gather intelligence.

Facing Fremont's large advancing Union army, Missouri State Guard Major General Sterling Price ordered a withdrawal from Springfield, Missouri. Other MSG forces organizing nearby attempted to link up with the Price's army at Springfield, only to find the place had already been abandoned.

As Frémont neared Springfield, the local state guard commander, Colonel Julian Frazier, sent out requests to nearby localities for additional troops. Frémont camped on the Pomme de Terre River, about 50 miles from Springfield. Zagonyi's scouting column, though, continued on to Springfield, and Frazier's mixed force of 1,000 to 1,500 infantry and cavalry prepared to meet it.

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