Hungarian Heritage Review, 1990 (19. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1990-01-01 / 1. szám
FROM NEWPORT TO YORKTOWN On July 19-20, 1780, the citizens of Newport, Rhode Island were dazzled by an unprecedented display. French troops under the Marquis de Rochambeau were pouring ashore in accordance with France’s recently concluded alliance with revolutionary America. The Rhode Islanders were awed by the various uniforms. But it was the hussars of the Duc de Lauzun’s Volunteer Legion who impressed them most. The headgear consisted of black shakos which were white-plumbed and gold laced; their jackets were light blue and trimmed with yellow; their breeches were yellow and piked with white. Over their jackets were blue-pelisses edged with black fur. The officers frequently substituted cherry-colored breeches for the troopers’ yellow, and their shakos were made of marten fur instead of felt. Many also possessed crimson baldrics and tiger trimmings in their saddlecloths; the tiger trim was a souvenir of a recent victorious campaign against the British in Africa. HUNGARIAN HUSSARS IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION- by -Dr. R. Vladimir Baumgarten AN “INTERNATIONAL” LEGION The overwhelming majority of these hussars were Hungarian, specifically recruited by the Duc de Lauzun. But in his Volunteer Legion were freedom fighters exiled from their native countries. They included Polish lancers and the usual Irish dragoons to be found fighting in any army that fought the British. Lauzun’s right hand man was Janos László Poloreczky, scion of a noble Hungarian family that had emigrated to France following the end of Rakoczi’s revolt in 1711. Janos Laszlo’s father, András, had risen to the rank of brigadier-general in the French cavalry, had acquired a French title of nobility, and had been appointed military governor of Molsheim, in Alsace- Lorraine. Janos László had been enrolled in the Turpin regiment with the rank of captain in his infancy. His reversion to his- continued next page 20 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW JANUARY 1990
