Calvin Synod Herald, 1976 (76. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1976-05-01 / 5-6. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 5 Hungarian Hussars in Fairfield County By Magdalene Havadtoy There was great excitement in the air on June 30, 1781, as the townspeople of New Stratford, Connecticut, prepared for the coming of Armand de Gontaut, the Duc de Lauzun and his Foreign Legion, a part of the French army under the command of the Comte Jean Baptiste de Rochambeau, which had been sent by France to aid the Americans in their fight for independence. The Duc de Lauzun’s Legion was composed mostly of foreign recruits, among them a large contingent of Hungarian Hussars (huszárs) or light cavalrymen. The unsuccessful uprising in 1711, led by Prince Francis Rákóczi II, forced many Hussars to flee for their lives and quite a number settled in France. Later, these exiled immigrants organized Hungarian Hussar regiments for service in the French army. One of Rakoczi’s lieutenants, Bercsényi, became Commander of the Guard of Louis XIV. Bercsényi organized Louis XIV’s famous Hungarian Hussars and was given the highest military honor - that of Maréchal de France. In the eighteenth century, Hungarian Hussar regiments, serving in the French armed forces, were the Baron Ratzky (Rátkay) Regiment, the remainders of which were incorporated into the Bercheny (Count Bercsényi) Regiment organized in 1720, the Count Ladislaus Esterházy Regiment organized in 1735, the name of which was later changed to “Chamborant,” the Andrew Polereczky Regiment organized in 1743, and the Count Valentine Esterházy Regiment organized in 1764. The commands of these regiments were eventually given to native Frenchmen, but the men of the regiment were exclusively of Hungarian background. In addition many Hussars joined the French army because of ill-treatment at home by the Imperial army under the command of the Hapsburg king. They were poorly paid, if at all, with little or no chance for advancement. Therefore, they deserted in great numbers and offered their services to foreign legions such as Bavaria, Prussia and France, making the name of the Hussars known all over Europe. Later, they appeared on the American Revolutionary scene in the Duc de Lauzun’s Foreign Legion, a part of the French army commanded by the Comte de Rochambeau. Lauzun’s Foreign Legion left Brest, France on the ship “Provence” and arrived in Newport, Rhode Island on July 13, 1780. It consisted of six hundred men which included a squadron of Lancers and one hundred and forty Hussars, composed mostly of Hungarians. Their commanding officers were Major John Polereczky and Lieutenant Francis Benyowsky. The Legion was ordered to Lebanon, Connecticut, where it was stationed during the winter months. To the local inhabitants in Lebanon, the Hussars were quite a colorful unit of horsemen in their blue, yellow and scarlet uniforms, wearing high leather boots and fur hats called Shakos (csákó). They also wore elaborately braided capes, which were often slung over the left shoulder and served in battle to protect the left arm which controlled the horse. The Hussars were a welcome sight on the otherwise drab New England landscape and the Yankee maidens in Lebanon were dazzled by their appearance. On March 5, 1781, General George Washington rode to Lebanon, where he personally inspected the Foreign Legion. He was very impressed with the well disciplined cavalry unit. The following summer the Duc de Lauzen and the Comte de Rochambeau received orders to join Washington and his troops on the Hudson. Lauzun was about to meet with Rochambeau, when it was decided that his Foreign Legion should follow a more southerly course across Connecticut to New York, but parallel to Rochambeau and his army. Lauzun was to take the route closer to the Sound, so that in the event of an attack by the British coming ashore from the Connecticut coast, his Hussars with their fast horses would be a front line of defense. During the war the Hussars, when not fighting, were always watching over the safety of the French army, either by clearing the roads or protecting the right and left sides of the infantry or guarding the rear. According to instructions, Lauzun and his troops were to reach their destination within seven days. This meant that they would make six stops on their route through Connecticut, where the men would rest and camp overnight. The Foreign Legion started out along the route mapped out for them to travel. The going was rough for the roads in Connecticut were quite bad. However, the hospitality and goodwill of the people toward the Foreign Legion made up for the poor road conditions. In every town that the troops marched through, the inhabitants opened their storehouses and provided food for the soldiers, horses and animals; and lodging in private homes for the officers. When the Foreign Legion crossed the Housatonic River, on June 30, 1781, they made a stop and camped overnight in New Stratford (Monroe today) which was in Fairfield County. The journey had been long and the New England summer heat hard on the men. They arrived tired and thirsty, but the Foreign troops were forbidden to drink the local water until it was diluted with rum. This was a precautionary measure taken to prevent illness from dysentery or typhoid fever, which was so prevalent in the American army. In the evening, after resting and eating a good hearty meal prepared by the townspeople of New Stratford, the soldiers were ready to take part in the festivities arranged for them on the Town Green. The Foreign military band provided the music and, when the dancing began, the Hussars in their colorful uniforms captivated the hearts of the ladies. (Continued, on Page 4)
