The Eighth Tribe, 1979 (6. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1979-04-01 / 4. szám
April, 1979 THE EIGHTH TRIBE Page 9 The statue of Kováts by Alexander Finta in the Anderson House of the Society of Cincinnati. markably handsome, black-haired officer in parade uniform with a big moustache. The American artist George Gray depicted on a large canvas the moment when the Mother Superior of the “Single Sisters”, a Protestant deaconess order in Bethlehem, Pa., presents the flag of the Legion to Pulaski. The officer in the group around Pulaski, who has to be our hero for other reasons also, shows remarkable similarity with the features and uniform of Raskó’s Kováts portrait. In Hungary, General Tivadar Galanthay-Glock, historical painter and professor of the Ludovica Military Academy in Budapest, painted the Hussar attack at Charleston, but we do not know the present whereabout of the painting. Our renowned contemporary, Mr. Zoltán Bényey, has prepared a largescale composition on the canvas about the death ride of Kováts for the American Bicentennial year. The young and conceited Michael Kováts, who leaves the bleak life of the Hungarian Plains at an age of twenty searching for military glory, seeks only a more adventurous life and the battle for its own sake. His years spent in the Prussian Army will have to train this talented and spectacularly brave young man to become one of the best trained Hussar officers of all of Europe. Yet the innumerable orders and appreciation letters from the two absolutistic rulers fail to satisfy him. At the sunset of his life he finds finally the idea in the service for which, after offering his sword, he will sacrifice his life. In this sense, the Hungarian hussar officer falling at Charleston, S.C. has become not only a hero of the American Revolution, but of human rights in general. Translation of Kováts’ letter addressed to Franklin. MOST ILLUSTRIOUS SIR: “GOLDEN FREEDOM CANNOT BE PURCHASED WITH YELLOW GOLD” I, who have the honor to present this letter to your Excellency, am also following the call of the Fathers of the Land, as the pioneers of Freedom always did. I am a free man and a Hungarian. As to my military status I was trained in the Royal Prussian Army and raised from the lowest rank to the dignity of a Captain of the Hussars, not so much by luck and the mercy of chance than by most diligent selfdiscipline and the virtue of my arms. The dangers and the bloodshed of a great many campaigns taught me how to mould a soldier and, when made, how to arm him and let him defend the dearest of the lands with his best ability under any conditions and developments of the war. I now am here of my own free will, having taken all the horrible hardships and bothers of this journey, and I am willing to sacrifice myself wholly and most faithfully as it is expected of an honest soldier facing the hazards and great dangers of the war, to the detriment of Joseph as well for the freedom of your great congress. Through the cooperation and loyal assistance of Mr. Faedevill, a merchant of this city and a kind sympathizer of the Colonies and their just cause, I have obtained passage on a ship called, “Catharina Froam Darmouth”, whose master is a Captain Whippy. I beg your Excellency to grant me a passport and a letter of recommendation to the most benevolent Congress. I am expecting companions who have not yet reached here. Your Excellency would be promoting the common cause by giving Mr. Faedevill authorization to expedite their passage to the Colonies once they have arrived here. At last, awaiting your gracious answer, I have no wish greater than to leave forthwith, to be where I am needed most, to serve and die in everlasting obedience to Your Excellency, and the Congress. FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH MICHAEL KOVÁTS DE FABRICY Bordeaux, January 13th, 1777 P.S. As yet I am unable to write fluently in French or English and had only the choice of writing either in German or Latin; for this I apologize to your Excellency.
