Kemény János: Baja mezőváros szerepe az 1848–1849. évi szabadságharcban 2. - Forrásközlemények 11. (Kecskemét, 2008)
Summary
The governmental granary in Szentjános quater was very important in the whole Bács-Bodrog county's life. It was responsible for supplying not only the town and its surrounding but also the National Guard and the regular army with corn and flower. In 1849 there was an event when the capital's necessity of corn and forage was ensured from Baja, what is more, the town took part in supplying South part of Tolna county, too. Certainly, we cannot forget about the importance of Duna. Baja had a landing place of steamers which was a great help in transport during the war of independence. Moreover, it could ensure the connection between Baja and South-Transdanubia and between the capital and Pétervárad fortress. In 1848 the landing place was one of the basis of Mészáros military steamer and in 1849 its military importance grew more because Dráva-mouth could have been checked from here where the steamers had been shipping on the river. The other offices which got a great importance were the post offices. They were responsible for delivering reports and letters from the management of the town to National Defence Committee. It became more important in January, 1849 when the government replaced its residence seat into Debrecen and on 5 th July, 1849 into Szeged, therefore, it was the most reliable connection between the counties (Tolna, Baranya, Somogy, Zala, Vas), the National Defence Committee and the government. The function of post offices became especially important before taking possession of Zombor by the Serbians 11. 02. 1849. because in those times up-to-date news could be delivered between Baja and Zombor or between Baja and Zenta by post offices about the moving of the enemies. In Baja there was a manorial and a county prison. At the end of September 1848 the border guards who were caught at Oroszló and also the prisoners who were caught in the South were delivered there. The only health institute of Baja was the hospital named after Remete Szent Pál which was free for the national guard and the regular soldiers, as well. In July 1849 a military hospital was established in Baja. Baja performed its military duty by establishing the National Guard in March 1848 of which number had reached 1100 people by the end of July. Its responsibility involved internal and external duties to ensure the silence, everything to be in order, it had guarded the gates of the town, the public safety, the Salt House, the corn warehouse and the landing place of steamers. They also protected Bács-Bodrog county. They had once active and other times passive role in South fights. For instance, it is proved that they took part in the fights at Szenttamási, Torzsa, Zombor and Kaponya. Besides, their governmental salary (money and bread) from July 1848 they got 40 pengo daily allowance from General Assembly of the town. National guards' daily allowance was reduced to 35 pengo due to proportional taxation introduced by the town from August. A member of the National Guard's duty lasted a month and after August 1848 it lasted 10 weeks.
