Fáklyaláng, 1971. január-október (12. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
1971-10-23 / 10. szám
10 FÁKLYALÁNG The Contribution of Magyars to America On this 15th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution and Freedom Fight we feel obliged to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives or who fought for the freedom of mankind. We fervently believe that the time will come when their sacrifices will be rememebered as great contributions to the cause of freedom all over the world. 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 irreputable 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 Kovát s 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; volunteered his service through Benjamin Franklin, then American Envoy to France. After two years of intensive campaigning under General George Washington, he fell mortally wounded on May 11, 1779 in the battle of Charleston, S. C. His motto “Faithful Unto Death,” determines our primary aim toward these United States. In 1860 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 ethnic 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 revolvers, 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, 1779 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 Major-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: Frederic Knopfler, Eugen Kozlay, Charles Mandy, George Pomutz. Colonels: M. Adler, Anselm Albert, P. Peter Dobozy, T. John Fiala, Philip Figyelmesy, Gabriel Korponay, Aloysius Kozlay, Geysa Mihaloczy, Joseph Muzsik, Joseph Nemeth, Maurice Perczel, R. Julius Rombauer, Emerich Szabad, Joseph Vándor, Gustav Wagner, Ladislaus Zsulavsky. Lieutenant Colonels: Zoltán Barothy, Anthony Pokorny, Stephen Szendy. Majors: J. Csermely, E. Detshy (Decsi), Dr. Alexander Fekete, C. Fornet, Andrew Gallfy, L. Haskell, Hugo Hillebrandt, St. Kovács, J. Kune, Mano Lulley, Emerich Mészáros, Charles Petri, G.R. Rombauer, Albert Ruttkay, Anthony Vekey; Charles Zagonyi, The Hero of Springfield. Captains: Victor Chandory, Alexander Gaal, 0. Gerster, G. Grehenek, G. Grossinger, Geysa Haraszthy, P. Hauser, Ch. Hochleitner, A. Jekelfalussy, J. Kemenfy, P. Komper, G. Kovats, J.G. Menyhárt, E. Radnics, Stephen Radnics, R.I. Rombauer, T. Roland Rombauer, M. Rozsafy, Ch. Schwartz, F. Speietics, F. Takacs, L. Tenner, A. Toplanyi, J. Vertessy. Lieutenants: N. Bauman, I. Cormany, N. George, I. Debrecenyi, L.M. Lecsy, Ch. Dolezich, Wm. Esti, S. Farkas, A. Kelemen, W. Kapus, F. Langenfeld, T. Majthenyi, A. Moliter, E. Zsulavszky. Second Lieutenants: F. Bauer, H. Lang, P. Szerenyi, Ch. Szerdahelyi, A.P. Zimandy, S. Zsulavszky. Field Surgeons: Dr. B. Bettelheim, Dr. I. Langer, Dr. G. Semig, Dr. R. Tausky. And so on . . .
