Hungarian Heritage Review, 1991 (20. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
1991-01-01 / 1. szám
Hungarian-Americana The Hungarian Hero of the American Civil War who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor twenty-nine years after he earned it: MAJOR GENERAL JULIUS H. STAHEL-SZAMVALD (1825—1912) He was among the very few high-ranking officers of the Union Army during the American Civil War in whom President Abraham Lincoln had confidence. When the Confederate Army of General Robert E. Lee threatened Washington in March of 1863, it was he President Lincoln selected to defend the nation's capital city. And, when President Lincoln went to Pennsylvania on November 19, 1863, to dedicate the field where the decisive Battle of Gettysburg was fought as ä National Cemetry and delivered a two-minute address that was destined to become immortal in the annals of American history, it was he the president appointed to serve as the Commanding Officer of the Guard of Honor. He was the Hungarian hero of the American Civil War, Major General Julius H. Stahel-Szamvald, who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery beyond the call of duty in the crucial Battle of Piedmont (Virginia) on June 5, 1864, but did not receive it until 29 years later in 1893! That he was one of President Lincoln's favorite generals, is a matter of historical record! Major General Julius H. Stahel-Szamvald was born in Szeged on November 5,1825. After attending schools in his hometown and in Budapest, he enlisted as a Private in the Austrial army. But, after attaining the rank of Lieutenant, he resigned and then joined a firm of booksellers. When the Hungarian War of Independence (1848-1849), broke out, however, he immediately enlisted in the Hungarian army and served with great distinction under the commands of General Görgey and General Guyon. After the Hungarian bid for freedom from Austrian rule was defeated (1849), he managed to escape from Hungary and, until 1859 when he emigrated to the United States, he worked as a teacher and journalist in Berline and London. Upon his arrival in the United States, Stahel-szamvald worked for the publisher of a German-language weekly newspaper in New York. Then, when the War Between the States broke out, he enlisted in the Union Army. After helping General Blenker to organize the 8th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, he was appointed its Lieutenant Colonel. He and his regiment fought in the earlier battles of the Civil War and, in the bloody first Battle of Bull Run, he briliantly protected the retreat of the Union Army. Having also distinguished himself in the Battle of Cross Keys (Virginia), he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in 1861 and, in 1863, to the rank of Major General. It was in the Battle of Piedmont (June 5, 1864), however, that Major Julius H. Stahel- Szamvald fought with such outstanding bravery that he was earmarked to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. It was in this battle also that he received the severe wounds which put him out of action. Then, after recuperating from them, he was reassigned as President of the Military Court sitting in Baltimore, Maryland. Upon the completion of his assignment as President of the Military Court and still suffering from his war wounds, he asked for and received an honorable discharge from active duty. But not long afterwards, he was appointed to the Foreign Service of the United States and served for years as the U.S. Consul General in Japan and China! Resigning from the American diplomatic service in 1885, he became associated with the Bureau of Mines (1869-1877) and, in 1887, served a stint again with the diplomatic service. Afterwards, he became associated with the Equitable Insurance Company of New York until his death on December 4,1912, at the age of 87. Buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetry, his funeral was attended by President Woodrow Wilson, many high-ranking officers of the U.S. Army, senators,congressmen, officials from the U.S. Department of State, and diplomats. Today, a granite obelisk marks the site of his grave. Now, two Hungarian-born, Major Generals who served in the American Civil War rest in eternal peace in Arlington National Cemetry: Major General Julius H. Stahel- Szamvald and Major General Alexander Asboth! 18 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW JANUARY 1991
