Late at night, Oct. 24, 1861, Maj. Charles Zagonyi, commander of Fremont's body guard, left Fremont's camp near Bolivar with 300 men, including 130 of Maj. White's Prairie Scouts, to attack a Confederate force at Springfield. On the 25th, they detoured about a mile west of the present Frisco Station to make a surprise attack from the west. The Confederates, probably 1500, were encamped on the hill and in this valley and had been warned and were ready, but Zagonyi divided his forces and repeatedly charged until the enemy retreated to the east and south. He then reorganized the remnant of his force on the public square, provided care for the wounded, and left to rejoin Fremont's command. On this stream, 12 miles southwest, the battle of Wilson Creek was fought, where Gen. Lyon was killed.
