Amerikai Magyar Hírlap, 2017 (29. évfolyam, 1-50. szám)
2017-12-15 / 49. szám
' ------ 'TMl MICHAEL KOVATS DE FABRICZY THE FOUNDING FATHER OF THE U.S. CAVALRY Michael Kovats de Fabriczy, the Hungarian nobleman and cavalry officer who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and well-known as the “Founding Father of the US Cavalry.” Michael Kovats de Fabricy (Fabrici Kováts Mihály), was born in 1724 on the ground of - the Nagykunság in the little town of Karcag, Hungary. Although, he was born in a noble family and studied at the Reformed School of Karcag but in this 16th year he joined to the Hávor Hussar Regiment. With this point his Hussar-career began. As a young man Kováts became an officer in Maria Theresa’s Hungarian cavalry. In the next years he became the leader of cavalry regiments all over Europe such as the “Kováts’es Corps” the “green-panters” or the Szekler-regiment. The great Hungarian hussar leader heard about the American War of Independence and left Hungary to join this nice purpose. Upon learning of revolution in America, Kováts was called to the cause of freedom and the independence effort. Incredibly a letter penned by Kováts and directed to Benjamin Franklin, then American envoy in France, survived and clearly explains Kováts’ motivation: Most Illustrious Sir: Golden freedom cannot be purchased with yellow gold. I, who have the honor to present this letter to your Excellency, am also following the call of the Fathers of the Land, as the pioneers of freedom always did. I am a free man and a Hungarian. As to my military status I was trained in the Royal Prussian Army and raised from the lowest rank to the dignity of a Captain of the Hussars, not so much by luck and the mercy of chance than by most diligent self discipline and the virtue of my arms. The dangers and the bloodshed of a great many campaigns taught me how to mold a soldier, and, when made, how to arm him and let him defend the dearest of the lands with his best ability under any conditions and developments of the war. I now am here of my own free will, having taken all the horrible hardships and bothers of this journey, and l am willing to sacrifice myself wholly and faithfully as it is expected of an honest soldier facing the hazards and great dangers of the war, to the detriment of Joseph and as well for the freedom of your great Congress. Through the cooperation and loyal assistance of Mr. Faedevill, a merchant of this city and a kind sympathizer of the Colonies and their just cause, I have obtained passage on a ship called “Catharina Froam Darmouth whose master is a Captain Whippy. I beg your Excellency, to grant me a passport and a letter of recommendation to the most benevolent Congress. I am expecting companions who have not yet reached here. Your Excellency would be promoting the common cause by giving Mr. Faedevill authorization to expedite their passage to the Colonies once they have arrived here. At last, awaiting your gracious answer, I have no wish greater than to leave forthwith, to be where I am needed most, to serve and die in everlasting obedience to Your Excellency and the Congress. Most faithful unto death, Bordeaux, January 13th, 1777. Michael Kováts de Fabricy P.S: As yet I am unable to write, fluently in French or English and had only the choice of writing either in German or Latin; for this I apologize to your Excellency. In the United States he met with Casimir Pulaski (Kazimierz Pulaski), a Polish military commander and American Revolutionary War hero and the two Eastern-European soldier started a friendship. Later, they founded together the Cavalry of the United States by the Hussar-training methods of Michael Kovats. Michael Kováts was named colonel commandant and given the task of organizing and training hussar regiments for the American army. Kováts trained these men in the tradition of Hungarian hussars. By October 1778 the legion comprised 330 soldiers. In February of the following year the legion marched to South Carolina to join the forces of General Benjamin Lincoln where the Siege of Charleston was underway. The situation was critical, the population urged for surrender. Pulaski’s legion arrived on May 8, 1779 and unsuccessfully attacked the English troops led by General Prevost. Colonel Commandant Kovats, with a number of the Legion’s cavalry, found his death in the clash with the British on May 11, 1779, right there, in the defense of Charleston. Mortally wounded by a rifle shot, he fell from his horse, and was buried in the battlefield, never to be found any more. Colonel Kováts gave his life in the American War for Independence while leading the Continental Army cavalry he had trained in Hungarian hussar tactics against a British siege of Charleston. The British remarked that Kováts’ forces were “the best cavalry the rebels ever had!” His good friend and superior officer, Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, was fatally wounded later, during the ill-advised attack on Savannah, and died of his wounds on October 9, of the same year. At the same time, the famous Legion was reduced to a meaningless, small group of veterans, and never revived as a unit of the American army. The great success of the Pulaski Legion by saving Charleston and the American South for Washington, and the Congress was, initially, hailed by the American Commander-in-Chief as the greatest glory which ever befell American arms. But the formal, official recognition of the immortal heroes, Pulaski and Kovats, and their comrades-in-arms could never be issued by the highest authorities Colonel Kováts is immortalized at the Citidel Military Academy in South Carolina. To this day, cadets at the Citadel Military Academy in Charleston celebrate Michael de Kováts. Kováts Field on the Citadel campus is named in his honor. A phrase from his letter to Franklin, “Most Faithful unto Death” (Fidelissimus ad Mortem) has since been taken as the motto of the American Hungarian Federation. The American Hungarian Federation (AHF) established the Colonel Commandant Michael Kovats Medal of Freedom to honor outstanding individuals and recognize their life’s achievements, dedication to freedom and democracy, promotion of transatlantic relations, and meritorious contribution to society. The award, AHF’s highest honor, is open to Hungarians and non-Hungarians alike. americanhungarianfederation.org medium.com wikipedia.org December 15,2017 y
