Fáklyaláng, 1965. október (6. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
1965-10-23 / 10. szám
FÁKLYALÁNG 7 THE (’Ü\TKIIIITIII\ OF MAGYARS TO AMERICA It is generally conceded, that all the racial groups which came to America contributed to the character, culture and material advancement of this country. We are content that the Magyars have given more than their share. This is not a zealous exaggeration, but a statement supported by irrefutable facts. We are proud in the knowledge, that we gave, we gave to America of which we too are forever an integral and inseparable part! The name of Colonel Michael de Kováts is written indelibly in the annals of the American Revolutionary W ar. Colonel-Commandant Michael Kováts de Fabricy, was born in Hungary, 1 7 2 4 ; voluntered his service through Benjamin Franklin, then American Envoy to France. After two years of intensive campaigning under General George Washington, he fell mortally wounded May 11, 1779 in the battle of Charleston, S. C. His motto “Faithful Unto Death,” determines our primary aim toward these United States. In I860 there were only about 4000 Magyars living in the United States, when President Lincoln sent out his call for men to join the Northern Army; more than 800 Magyars volunteered. This means that practically every able-bodied Magyar lined up with the Union Army. As far as proportionate population is concerned, no other racial group can match this record! Unquestionably, one of the most daring and amazing feats in the whole Civil War was the death-defying charge lead by the Magyar Hussar-major Zágonyi, at Springfield, Mo., on October 25, 1861. An everlasting tribute is paid to this great Magyar soldier by a painting which vividly depicts his suicidal attack. This painting decorates the White House in Washington, D. C. Major Zágonyi is the first among immigrants from Hungary to be merited a prominent memorial at the National Park in St. Louis; a full-size portrait of him can be seen at the Wilson Creek Battlefield, near Springfield, Missouri. Leading American newspapers devoted front-page headlines to some outstanding exploits at the time and even today, over 100 years later, accounts such as the following appear in the metropolitan press: “One of the most celebrated events of the entire Civil War, Major Charles Zágonyi s capture of Springfield took place on the seventh anniversary of the famous ‘Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava.’ Mounted on bloodied bays, clad in blue uniforms and wearing kid gloves, everyone of Zágonyi’s men was armed with two revelvers, a rifle and a saber. This crack cavalry became a legend of bravery throughout the United States. When only 165 of his men remained to attack a force 15 times greater, the undaunted Major Zágonyi, a veteran of the Hungarian uprising of 1848, led the troops, shouting ‘Charge men, charge!”’ ( Quoted from the Civil War Scrapbook published serially in 1,400,000 copies of the Chicago Sunday Tribune Magazine.) A. B. D. HUNGARIAN HEROES OF TWO GREAT AMERICAN WARS REVOLUTIONARY Colonel-Commandant of the Pulaski Legion MICHAEL DE KOVATS Exercise Master of Washington’s Cavalry. Died at the Defense of Charlestown, South Carolina. May 11th, 1789 COUNT FRANCIS BENYOVSZKY Lieutenant of Hussars in Lausun’s Legion COUNT JOHN POLERECZKY Major in Lausun’s Legion CIVIL WAR Major-General JULIUS STAHEL Commanded an Army-Corps and was decorated with the Congressional Medal of Honor Ma j or-General ALEXANDER ASBOTH One of the designer’s of the Central Park in New York Commanded a Division and after the war was sent as U. S. Ambassador to Argentine Brigadier-General ALBIN SCHOEPF Commanded a Division and a Fort Brigadier Generals Knopfler, Frederic Kozlay, Eugen Mandy, Charles Pomutz, George Colonels Adler, M. Albert, Anselm Dobozy, P. Peter Fiala, T. John Figyelmesy, Philip Korponay, Gabriel Kozlay, Aloysius Mihaloczy, Geysa Muzsik, Joseph Nemeth, Joseph Perczel, Maurice Rombauer, R Julius Szabad, Emerich Vándor, Joseph Wagner, Gustav Zsulavsky, Ladislaus Lieutenant Colonels Barothy, Zoltán Pokorny, Anthony Szendy, Stephen Majors Csermely, J. Detshy (Decsi), E. Dr. Fekete, Alexander Fornet, C. Gallfy, Andrew Haskell, L. Hillebrandt, Hugo Kovács, St. Kune, J. Lulley, Mano Mészáros, Emerich Petri, Charles Romhauer, G. R. Ruttkay, Albert Vekey, Anthony Zagony, Charles The Hero of Springfield Captains Chandory, Victor Gaal, Alexander Gerster, O. Grehenek, G. Grossinger, G. Haraszthy, Geysa Hauser, P. Hochleitner, Ch. Jekellfalussy, A. Kemenfy, J. Komper, P. Kováts, G. Menyhárt, J. G. Radnics, E. Radnics, Stephen Rombauer, R. I. Rombauer, T. Roland Rozsafy, M. Schwartz, Ch. Speietics, F. Takacs, F. Tenner, L. Toplanyi, A. Vertessy, J. Lieutenants Bauman, N. Cormany, I. George, N. Debrecenyi, I. Lecsy, L. M. Dolezich, Ch. Esti, Wm. Farkas, S. Kelemen, A. Kapus, W. Langenfeld, F. Majthenyi, T. Moliter, A. Zsulavszky, E. Second Lieutenants Bauer, F. Lang, H. Szerenyi, P. Szerdahelyi, Ch. Zimandy, A. P. Zsulavszky, S. Field Surgeons Dr. Bettelheim, B. Dr. Langer, I. Dr. Semig, G. Dr. Tausky, R.
