Fraternity-Testvériség, 2000 (78. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2000-04-01 / 2. szám
Page 6 TESTVÉRISÉG He was an officer of great merit,” the physician added, “a Hungarian by birth.. The Pulaski Legion was the “best cavalry the rebels ever had,” wrote Major F. Skelly, brigade major of the English forces at Charleston. The commander of the Legion, Count Pulaski, met his death at the siege of Savannah, on October 9 of the same year. These losses so weakened the Legion that it was disbanded. Its colors were preserved in the Maryland Historical Society at Baltimore. Kováts’ features are not recorded on any original drawing, nor on a painting. His colorful and adventurous life hit the fancy of numerous artists, but the paintings, statues and plaquettes are nothing but the tokens of the makers’ imagination. On the 200th Anniversary of his death the United States raised a memorial which is now housed in the museum in Charleston. Sándor Finta, the American Hungarian sculptor has been most associated with the figure of Kováts. (The above material was compiled by Dr. Julianna Puskas, historian.) Sources: Vasvári Gyűjtemény (Vasvári Collection) Kováts Mihály Bl/a:9 B6:79 C Cs2/b:61 H5/a:7 KÉZ2:36 KOV I-X. N2/b:75 Rl/c:20 Feldolgozások KOV V: 1-77 KOV VII: 1-44 Somogyi Könyvtár Szeged. A detailed account of his life and heroic death are found in László Eszenyi’s book: Híven mindhalálig (Faithful until death), published by the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, Washington, D.C. 1973. From handwritten notes: General Kováts contacted Casimir Pulaski, a Polish Count, who was assigned to organize the cavalry. Although there was much public pressure not to engage foreigners as high-ranking officers, Washington nevertheless appointed Kováts colonel. 1 1 Casimir Pulaski was a very wealthy Polish Count, who, at the young age of twenty-three, had already served as the military commandant of Polish migrant forces organized by his father for the Confederation of Bor. This is the first of a series of four Portraits on Distinguished Hungarians in the United States. We hope our readers will enjoy these articles, which will be published in the upcoming issues of the Fraternity. A Historical Commemorative Tour of the 1000th Year Foundation of the Hungarian State A 15-Day All Inclusive Escorted Tour on Malév Hungarian Airlines Departing from New York September 4, 2000 Returning from Budapest September 18, 2000 Sponsored by: The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America “Haza hiv a haza” Itinerary Prepared by: TRAVEL GUIDE 1085 Raritan Road, Clark, NJ 07066 For Information and Reservations call: Travel Guide: 732-381-0260/1-800-936-8687 or The HRFA: 202-328-2630/1-888-567-7884
