Whether you have been a lifelong Westside resident or a newcomer, you probably have heard of the Civil War battle of Wilson’s Creek west of Springfield. But, did you know there was a Civil War battle within our WNBA neighborhood?
Where did this battle take place? Chances are you drive by the battle site every day. If your daily commute takes you to the Mt. Vernon Street and Park Avenue area, then you have passed it. Zagonyi’s Charge, as the battle is known, took place in the area starting at Park Avenue continuing east to Jordan Creek, which is right before Kansas Expressway.
On Oct. 25, 1861, Major Charles Zagonyi, along with 300 men, led one of the “most daring and brilliant Union cavalry charges of the Civil War.” The Confederate troops consisted of around 1,000 men. Many of these “men” were young boys in their teens who were soldiers in training. They were armed with old farm shotguns and muzzle-loading rifles. Zagonyi and his 300 men were armed with “a brace of revolvers and a new Colt six-shooter with a range of up to a mile.” In addition, Zagonyi’s men rode “the finest bay horses they could steal from Kentucky.” Needless to say, Zagonyi’s troops won the battle.
This battle was well publicized in eastern newspapers and became quite well known. Due to the losses the Union had previously experienced, the fact that 300 Union soldiers overcame 1,000 Confederate soldiers helped to raise sagging Union confidence in the Civil War.
Today, Zagony’s Charge is remembered with a park bearing Zagonyi’s name on Mt. Vernon Street and Park Avenue. At Zagonyi Park, you will find, by the pavilion, an informational marker giving details of the battle and reference points of both troops’ locations. In addition, at 1724 W. Mt. Vernon, a monument detailing the charge was erected on May 6, 1931 by the University Club. As a side note, with the cleanup of the burned factory at this location, you may have noticed there is a little-known walking trail there along Jordan Creek.
In 1973, the Springfield-Greene County Park Board acquired Zagonyi Park. It is a 10-acre neighborhood park with a small pavilion, a well-used basketball court, a tennis court, several picnic tables, two sets of swings, a set of monkey bars and a multipurpose play structure. Basically, it is a typical park with the exception of water fountains.
Zagonyi Park is a diamond in the rough. It has so much potential and it needs a little polishing to become a jewel in our neighborhood. Westside Neighborhood Betterment Association (WNBA) is ready to start the ball rolling in regards to the polishing. The WNBA is submitting an application for the Neighborhood Project Initiative sponsored by the City’s Public Works department. WNBA wants to see Zagonyi Park upgraded.
This is where we need you, our neighbors, to let us know what you want to see added or upgraded at the park. Some examples of possible upgrades are: walking trail/track, working water fountains, restrooms, shade shelters over the picnic tables, flower beds, more playground equipment and more informational markers featuring Zagonyi’s Charge. Also, there are two ideas concerning the monument marker at 1724 W. Mt. Vernon. The first is to create a small park area where the marker is currently standing. If that is not possible, we’d like to move the marker to Zagonyi Park.
The WNBA looks forward to hearing your wonderful ideas Together, we can create and do many things to better our neighborhood. Please send your ideas via email to joe65806@yahoo.com; hustonsandi@sbcglobal.net or bsmith9722@sbcglobal.net.