The Eighth Tribe, 1976 (3. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1976-04-01 / 4. szám
Page 8 THE EIGHTH TRIBE April, 1976 OUR HERITAGE IN AMERICA Column editor: Joseph Széplaki We will reprint here articles, essays and poems as they appeared in the early American press regarding our heritage in America. We also welcome articles reflecting the history and accomplishments of Hungarians on the American continent. HUNGARIANS IN AMERICA Reprinted from: The Hungarians In America 1583-1974; by Joseph Széplaki. The book can be ordered from: Oceana Publications, Inc., Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. 10522. $6.00. 1856 Ignace Hainer, a Hungarian refugee and settler at New Buda in Iowa, became a professor of modern languages at the University of Columbia, Missouri. He held that position for four years, when he was dismissed together with other professors for his antislavery stand. The Hungarian scientist and explorer John Xantus, as a member of the United States Survey Expedition commissioned to explore Kansas Territory, led his team of twenty-nine men into Southern Kansas and reached the source of the Arkansas River. They returned with a large collection of natural science materials which were given to the Smithsonian Instition. Xantus was made a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences, the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, and the Atheneum in Boston. 1857 The United States Department of Interior appointed John Xantus leader of the United States Coast Survey. He established his headquarters in Southern California, and took his team into the Mojave Desert, the San Bernardino Valley, and Sierra Nevada Country. 1858 Michael Heilprin, a former writer in Hungary and an active member in the New York Hungarian society, began his work for Appleton’s New American Encyclopedia, editing and writing a large number of articles. THE CIVIL WAR 1860 Julian Kune, a naturalized Hungarian immigrant, attended, as an alternate delegate, the Republican Convention that nominated Lincoln as candidate for president. After the convention, Kune campaigned for Lincoln in Indiana, delivering speeches in both English and German. He had meetings with Lincoln on different occasions. Kune served in the Civil War as major in the 24th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment and later wrote an autobiography. 1861 Joseph Czapkay came to America via Turkey. He had been a barber in Hungary but presented himself as a doctor and became quite wealthy in California. He was named United States ambassador to Bucharest, Rumania, in about 1861. Not many Hungarian immigrants settled in the Confederate States, with the exception of Missouri, because they detested slavery. That might explain why only one Hungarian is known to have held a commission in the Confederate Army. He was B. Estván, a cavalry colonel. Even he left the service after a short period of time. Since many of the immigrants had fought for the liberation of the Hungarian serfs, and were ex-revoluiionarics, about 800 (20 percent) of the 4000 Hungarians living in America joined the Union forces. (This degree of participation exceeds that of any other ethnic group in America.) Among the 800 Hungarians serving under the Union flag, there were 2 major generals, 5 brigadier generals, 15 colonels, 2 lieutenants colonels, 14 majors, 15 captains, and a number of subalterns and surgeons. The personality of Gen. John C. Fremont attracted Hungarians. There were about two dozen Hungarian officers in Fremont’s Western army. They played a prominent role in the Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, and Kentucky campaigns. At the age of seventeen, Nicholas Fejérváry, Jr., the only son of Nicholas Fejérváry, the Hungarian immigrant and benefactor of the city of Davenport, Iowa, enlisted under the Union flag and was killed in one of the early battles. He was the first recorded second-generation Hungarian-American to give his life for the United States. The following Union soldiers were all first-generation Hungarian immigrants, most of whom had fought in the Hungarian War of Independence. John T. A. Fiala, the distinguished topographical engineer and compiler of the first large scale map of Missouri, served as lieutenant colonel of the St. Louis National Guard. Later he was on the staff of Gen. John C. Fremont as colonel. Fiala designed and supervised the fortification of St. Louis.
