Hungarian Heritage Review, 1990 (19. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1990-01-01 / 1. szám
family’s traditional Lutheran faith barred him from advancement in the army of the Catholic Bourbons. Although Janos reentered the Catholic Church, his father was exasperated with him, obviously preferring his older son, Ference András. The Revolution in America offered Janos a chance to prove that he was not a “born loser.” BENYOVSKY: PROMISING RECRUIT The Hussars gained an especially promising recruit shortly after they had disembarked - Ferenc Benyovsky, younger brother of Moritz Benyovsky, an internationally known adventurer. The Benyovskys originated in Thurocz County (today Turiec in Slovakia) and had family ties with Poland. Moritz, participating in Poland’s struggle against dismemberment by Russian, Prussia and Sustria, was captured and sent to Siberia. He escaped from there and went to Japan. He then entered the service of France and served in an expedition to Madagascar. Here his rapport with the natives at first pleased the French. They found that the natives wanted to make Benyovsky king, however, so they sent him away from the island. Benyovsky next procured a letter of recommendation from Benjamin Franklin and set out for America. He met his younger brother Ferenc in Santo Domingo. The two brothers, from there, found their way to America where Ferenc became the right hand man of Major Poloreczky. Moritz, proceeding to the Carolinas, joined the cavalry of Polish freedom fighter, Kazmiersz Pulaski. AT HOME ABROAD The foreign volunteers were made welcome by their Rhode Island hosts. In addition, they found much about the locale that impressed them. A German infantry volunteer wrote: “The soil is very good, rich without being too heavy. Rye and several grains grow marvelously well; but they are particularly inclined towards the cultivation of Turkish wheat, called maize, which is excellent for feeding animals, especially horses.” Such conditions implied a bountiful supply of feed for the cavalry, but, as winter approached, the natives began storing grain, and were only willing to sell their wares for high prices. In order to avoid potential trouble, the cavalry was order to winter quarters in Lebanon, Connecticut. This was not to the liking of the well-travelled hussars. SIBERIA IN CONNECTICUT Of Lebanon, Connecticut, Lauzun wrote: “Siberia alone can be compared to Lebanon. It is composed of a few cottages scattered in the midst of a vast forest.” But adjustments were made, and the Hussars, whose mustaches made them a curiosity for the clean-shaved New Englanders, soon became popular. Lauzun took up squirrel hunting for the winter. Connecticut Governor, Jonathan Trumbull, was a hospital host and he reassured the- continued next page JANUARY 1990 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW 21
