Scenes of the civil war in Hungary, in 1848 and 1849 : with the personal adventures of an Austrian officer in the army of the Ban of Croatia

Preface

BY THE TRANSLATOR.

The late Civil War in Hungary will assuredly form a prominent subject in the history of the world for the last two years.

Whether it originated in a spark communicated by the revolutionary explosion in France; whether it arose from discontent excited by ambitious demagogues in the inflammable minds of a portion of the population of Hungary ; or whether the inhabitants of that country had any real grievances, any oppressive acts of their government, to complain of, appears to me to be a question which yet remains to be

VI PREFACE.

solved. So much, however, is certain, that this insurrection furnishes additional evidence, if any were needed, of the invariably sanguinary spirit of mob-rule, as manifested in the great prototype of succeeding revolutions— the first French Kevolution ; in the rising of the Spaniards against a foreign usurper: and in recent events at Frankfurt and Vienna.

The people of Hungary are composed of descendants from a greater number of races than any other nation of Europe, and each of these races keeps itself remarkably distinct. Of these, the descendants of the Magyar and of the Slavonian, or Slowack, races are by far the most numerous. The latter occupy almost exclusively the mountainous tracts; the former the extensive plains, which are more favourable to their peculiar pursuits — agriculture and the breeding of cattle, particularly of horses.

According to the earliest accounts, the

PREFACE. Vll

Magyars were settled, for several centuries after the Christian era, in the countries to the northward of the Caspian Sea. Some authors derive their origin from the Partisans ; but, according to Fessler, the historian of Hungary, they belong to the great Turkish clan.

About the end of the seventh century, they removed into Europe, and took possession of the countries between the Dnieper and the Don, where they remained for two hundred years ; till, thrust out by the migration of another Asiatic horde, they pushed on into Dacia and Pannonia ; and there founded, in the latter half of the ninth century, a kingdom since called Hungary. To this tribe the late outbreak — let us call it at once by its proper name, rebellion — seems to have been exclusively confined.

Of the general character and sentiments of the Magyars, the Letters contained in the following sheets present abundant illus-

Vlll PREFACE.

trations; and the enthusiastic patriotism of them all, from the highest to the lowest, would be entitled to warm admiration, had it been exerted in a better cause. This feeling, indeed, had the effect of thinning considerably the ranks of the Austrian army, and of proportionably strengthening those of the insurgent force with its best troops.

It would appear that the insurgents themselves knew not for what object they were hazarding their lives, and making large sacrifices of property in voluntary contributions. We find in these Letters that, on one occasion, when the Writer reproached some of the soldiers who had formerly been under his command with having deserted their sovereign, they replied that they still acknowledged the Emperor Ferdinand to be their King, and had no desire to change him ; but that they could not tamely suffer the Austrian Generals to come into Hun-

PREFACE. IX

gary, and to divide the land among whomsoever they pleased. Kossuth, they argued, said that this was the case ; and whatever Kossuth said was true.

If it was upon representations so utterly groundless that a large portion of the Hungarian population could be induced to rise in arms against the legitimate government, it must be admitted that much sympathy has been thrown away in this country upon an unworthy cause.

There is, however, in Hungary an object that prefers irresistible claims to the interposition of the British Government and of this generous nation — I allude to the state of our unfortunate fellow-Protestants in that kingdom. The doctrines of the Eeformation, promulgated by the disciples of Huss, who was burned as a heretic by the decree of the Popish council of Constance, in 1415, found such extensive acceptance in Hungary, that, on the foundation of the Pro-

a 5

X PREFACE.

testant Church there, in 1525, it comprehended almost all the magnates and two-thirds of the population.

Deprived successively of their equal political and civil rights, robbed of their churches, and subjected to a series of most oppressive regulations — not for rebellion, not even for imputed discontent — but by means of concessions to the Romish clergy, wrung from the weak consciences of successive priest-ridden sovereigns, by confessors and Jesuits, animated by the spirit of persecution inherent in Popery to labour with zeal for the extermination of heresy — the members of the Protestant Church have by such means been greatly reduced in number and prosperity.

The English reader will scarcely believe that, even now, in the middle of this nineteenth century, the institution of Bible Societies is forbidden; that the Bible in the Hungarian language is liable to confisca-

PREFACE. XI

tion ; and that literary intercourse in general with foreign countries is clogged with all sorts of prohibitory obstructions. Here, then, I repeat it, is a subject which claims, with irresistible force, the warmest sympathies of this Protestant nation, and the most energetic interposition of the British government.

If this volume is rendered highly interesting by the political and military views which it opens, I must confess that I consider it still more valuable for the light which it throws on the manners, customs, and way of thinking of the people of Hungary, with which the Writer of these Letters had the best opportunities to make himself acquainted. I am greatly mistaken, however, if readers in general will not regard the claims of the work on these accounts as far surpassed by the intense interest attached to the narrative of the Writer's Personal Adventures, which fully verifies the

Xll PREFACE.

remark that truth is often more romantic than fiction.

For my own part, I cannot help thinking that it possesses a still superior merit, which ought to make it a manual for all, but for the young in particular, whose pursuits expose them to hardships, perils, and rapid changes of fortune ; inasmuch as it teaches by example, especially to the Soldier and the Sailor, under all the circumstances of their frequently chequered lives, that emphatic precept, which well deserves to be adopted for their motto,

nil desperandum!

These Letters have been published in Germany, without date, and without the name of the Writer, who is everywhere represented in them as a German Officer in the service of the Emperor of Austria, in the army of the Ban of Croatia, and called in one place Baron W.

Ban, or Banus, a title derived from the

PREFACE. Xlll

Slavonian word Ban — Lord — is a high official dignitary, possessing powers nearly similar to those that appertain to our Lord- Lieutenant — the military and civil government of his Province, called Banat. Before the conquest of a great part of Hungary by the Ottomans in the sixteenth century, there were several Banats along the Turkish frontier. The only one now existing is that of Croatia, Slavonia, and Dalmatia ; the Ban of which is Baron Jellachich, whose eminent services largely contributed to the quelling of the late insurrection.

The German Editor, it will be seen, apologizes for having frequently omitted or given only the initials of the names of persons and places; because these, owing to the Letters being written in pencil, could not be deciphered with any certainty. This deficiency, of course, it has not been in my power to supply. All,

XIV PREFACE.

therefore, that could be done was to render the Translation in every respect conformable to the Original.

F. Shoberl. x

Brompton, December 15, 1849.

Letter I

A glance at the character of the Italians — Siege of Peschiera — March through Italy, and behaviour of the Italians — The Writer joins the Army of Baron Jellachich, Ban of Croatia — His person, character, anecdotes . . .1

Letter II

Military Frontier of Hungary ; its extent and Situation — Frontier troops —The Seressans ; their personal appearance, costume — Dress of the other Border Troops ; their character ; military spirit of their Women ; their personal beauty; their costume — Villages of the Borderers — Family Houses — Patriarchal manners — Service required of the Border- Soldier — Guard-posts . . . .1*2

Letter III

Agram, the capital of Croatia, and residence of the Ban; preparations there for the campaign in Hungary, — The Writer appointed to command the advanced guard of Jellachich's army — Nature and vicissitudes of that duty — The

XVI CONTENTS.

Magyar Population almost exclusively confined to the great plains, and the Slavonian race to the mountains of Hungary — Military character of the Magyars — Composition of the Insurgent force — Unexpected meeting — Mansion of Count

St Cavalry action with the Pesth National Guard

— Bivouac scenes . . . . . .27

LETTEK IV.

March to Vienna — Sentiments of the Peasantry in Lower Austria — Diversity of feelings awakened by the sight of the Capital — Encampment at Modling — Visit to Count Auersperg's camp — Efforts of the Insurgents to seduce the Soldiers — Visits of Vienna citizens and coxcombs to Jellachich's Army — External appearance of the Writer and his men — Unskilful defence of Vienna by the Insurgents — Singular interview with an Insurgent leader — Aspect of the Imperial camp — Bohemian cuirassiers ; Nassau infantry ; the Kress regiment of chevaux-legers; artillery; Border soldiers ; cadets, &c. — Storming of the city — Dexterity displayed in the attack by the Border soldiers — Conduct of the Insurgents— The capitulation violated by them — Action with the Hungarians near Schwechat — Description of a Scene in that action ....... 46

LETTEK V.

March from Vienna to Pesth — Presburg and Raab abandoned to the Imperial Army — Devastations and cruelties of the Insurgents — Intense cold and night march — A battle scene — Remarkable incident during the pursuit of the enemy — Tragic scene enacted by the Magyars on New Year's

CONTENTS. XV11

Day, 1849 — General character and cruelty of the Honvöd troops — Despotic conduct of Kossuth and his retinue — Character of his officers ..... 72

LETTER VI.

Capture of a Convoy by the Writer's party — Merrymaking in Bivouac — Scene described — Kossuth, after constructing extensive works near Buda, retreats precipitately without resistance — Entry of the Imperial army into Pesth — Wretched roads in Hungary in spring . . 92

LETTER VII.

Hardships of advanced post service — The Writer's picture of himself — Frequent actions with the Magyars — Sharp combat at Gyöngiös — Excellence of the Hungarian cavalry — Quality of the Austrian army — Cruel necessity of having to fight against former friends and comrades exemplified — Remarkable meeting of the Writer with hussars of his old regiment — Brief occasional suspension of hostilities between the advanced posts of the two armies — Extreme animosity of both parties in fight — Diminished importance of cavalry in war ........ 101

LETTER VIII.

Action with a Honvöd corps — A military field hospital — Painful meeting of the Writer with an old friend —

Affecting death-scene of St Serious affair with

a body of the enemy's infantry — Singular fate of the

Countess Helene, sister of Count St A halt, and

military workshop . . . . . .119

XV111 CONTENTS.

LETTER IX.

Action with the Magyars — The Writer, having received two wounds, is left for dead on the field — Survey of the field of battle on recovering his senses — Examination of his wounds — Awful situation in the night — Found by a patrole of his hussars, and conveyed to the watch-fire of the cavalry — Bivouacking on the field of the battle in the morning — Orders to fall back, and painful night-journey — Insensibility— Another hospital scene — Extracting of the ball — Another awful night-journey with wounded men — Halt at a solitary Pusta . . . . . .138

LETTER X.

Quarters of the invalid at the Pusta — The landlady, a genuine Magyar, and her family — Their reserve — Extraordinary discovery of the portrait of an hussar painted long ago by the Writer — Favourable influence of that portrait on the family of the inn — Orders arrive to fall back by forced marches — The Writer prevails on the landlady to keep him at her house — Mutual promise of secrecy — Preparations for his assuming a new character — Circumstances of the family at the inn — Armed troops of horse-herds — Visit of some of their number to the Writer — Their persons, dress, and accoutrements — Extraordinary whips — Wilma, the landlady's eldest daughter — Uncle Imne — Gradual convalescence — Peste Hirlap (Pesth newspaper), formerly edited by Kossuth— Stock of cattle belonging to the family — Mode of forwarding Insurgents' despatches — Provisions sent from the Pusta to the army of the Magyars — With the recovery

CONTENTS. XIX

of strength, the Writer resolves to leave the Pusta — He buys of the landlady a light cart and a pair of horses — Magyar patriotism . . . . . .162

LETTER XI.

The Writer travels disguised as an Hungarian peasant — Meets with a body of Insurgents — Is forced to accompany a detachment of the Polish Legion, as carrier — Escapes from it — Directs his course for Styria — Reaches Lake Platten — State of his wounds — He falls in with Insurgents, by whom he is again detained — Appointed superintendent of the cart-drivers — Incidents while acting in this capacity — Passage through Pesth, where he sees the Countess St Action with the Russians — Despondence of the Writer — Another encounter with Russian troops — Precipitate retreat of the Magyars — The Writer, purposely upsetting his cart, contrives to be left behind, and surrenders to the Russians— Their kind reception of him — He joins a convoy, and travels to Moravia, to await there his complete recovery . . . . . .188

SCENES

OF THE

CIVIL WAR IN HUNGARY.

LETTEE I.

A glance at the Character of the Italians — Siege of Peschiera — March through Italy, and behaviour of the Italians — The Writer joins the Army of Baron Jellachich, Ban of Croatia — His person, character, anecdotes.

When I took leave of you last autumn, in the splendid Hotel de l'Europe at Hamburg, to return to my regiment, little did I anticipate the changeful fortunes that I was so soon to experience. Let me tell you some other time of the scandalous treachery of the Milanese ; and also of the perilous retreat, in a dark night, amidst the insurgent country-people, who fired at us incessantly from safe ambuscades. I have not my diary at hand just now.

B

Never while I live shall I forget that Milannight; but signally have our brave fellows revenged this retreat ; and they are again stationed as conquerors in a city, which fondly feasted itself with the vain notion that never would its walls again encompass an Austrian soldier. Indeed, the Italians must learn to fight in a different fashion, if they expect to cope with our squadrons and battalions: that is not to be accomplished by all their swaggering phrases and furious execrations, or by the thousand times repeated Morte ai Tedeschi! (Death to the Germans !) with which they loaded us on every occasion.

The brave and well disciplined Sardinian army alone gave a sanguinary colouring to this Italian campaign; while the Crociati, and all the other volunteer corps, by whatever names they call themselves, were, for the most part, a downright cowardly rabble. About the time passed in Peschiera, whither an untoward accident carried me, and where I was afterwards detained while my comrades were ranging over the open country, I shall write to you hereafter more circumstantially.

Those were trying, very trying days, which we were doomed to spend in that old den of stone. At last, our provisions were entirely consumed : we were then obliged to fall foul of dogs, cats, rats, mice, frogs — in short, everything that was eatable. The table d'hote at Hamburg was rather better. For table-music we had the whizzing, the dashing, and the bursting of bombs, which often produced no slight disturbance. It was nevertheless a fine sight when the huge bombs, like fiery meteors, came flying towards us amid the darkness of night. But for the confounded bursting, which cost us many a brave fellow, we should have enjoyed the beautiful fireworks, to which we were not rarely treated. Our soldiers behaved admirably. It was gratifying to observe their calm courage, and the fortitude with which they endured dangers, as well as hunger and the most harassing service, without a murmur, or even a complaint.

While the House of Austria has such soldiers, it cannot be ruined, let its foes come from what quarter they will.

Not till we had fired our last cartridge, and

b 2 the Piedmontese were unable to reply — which we had hitherto done with all our energy — did we surrender the shattered fortress upon the most honourable terms. We were not to fight against Italy in this campaign ; and were shipped at Ancona for Trieste. Well; the Emperor had still plenty of soldiers to send against the Italians, and we were quite as serviceable to him in another quarter. But grief and rage filled our hearts, when we saw our colours hauled down, and those of Piedmont hoisted in their stead ; and, thousands of times as we had cursed Peschiera, still we were deeply grieved to be now obliged to leave it as the vanquished party.

The Piedmontese — I must say it to their credit — behaved on this occasion with decorum and dignity ; and among their officers I made acquaintance with several highly-accomplished and agreeable men, with whom — notwithstanding the peculiar nature of our respective positions — I passed some very pleasant hours. Under no circumstances whatever would we have given up the fortress to any but regular troops : before we would have opened the gates to free corps, we would have blown the place into the air with the last remnant of our powder.

With what appetite we once more sat down to our usual food and to the wine-cup, you may easily conceive. The spectacle, however, that we presented at our departure was anything but imposing ; and a parade at Milan before Radetzky exhibited a very different sight. A pair of whole trousers were a rarity ; and instead of shoes many had sandals made out of their useless knapsacks, fastened to the feet with thongs. All looked pale, famished, had long beards and hair, and many were bandaged ; for none of the wounded that could possibly stir would stay behind. But, in spite of all their wants, our men maintained a bold bearing, and looked their enemies in the face daringly and defyingly. Had we, indeed, had a fresh supply of provisions and sufficient ammunition, we should not have cared much to be shut up again in Peschiera, and to undergo another siege.

As for myself, I had still "a brilliant, nearly new uniform, as I had scarcely ever worn it during the siege; but my horse had long since gone the way of all flesh — that is to say, into our stomachs. I was, therefore, a dismounted horseman.

Of our march through Italy, I have nothing further to say. That the populace, but among whom were many well-dressed men and women, insulted us in every possible way, even pelted us with mud, you, who know something of the Italians, can readily conceive. When did an Italian ever treat a foreigner, from whom he had nothing to fear, but by whom he hoped to make a gain, otherwise than with insult! — The base wretches !

One day, however,! could not forbear laughing at a scene of this kind. We were passing through a small Roman town, when an elegantly-dressed young man had the impudence to spit in the face of a corporal of the Ottochans, who was marching upon the wing, and still carried his right arm in a sling. Firmly griping the offender with his left hand, he hurled him into the ranks ; where the soldiers made a regular ball of him, kicking and cuffing him from one to another, and finally flinging him upon the first dunghill they came to. The populace showed a disposition to make a disturbance ; but we assumed so serious an attitude, and our border-men cut such hideous faces, and began to screw on their bayonets, that the Sardinian officers who accompanied us themselves reprimanded the rabble; who thereupon ran away.

As my regiment was stationed in Italy, and, of course, I durst not rejoin it, I solicited and received permission to serve on the frontiers under Jellachich. Accordingly, after recruiting myself at Trieste, I travelled by way of Fiume to the military frontier of Croatia; where in a village I saw for the first time Jellachich engaged in inspecting troops. I presented myself to him, and was most kindly received.

The impression which this distinguished officer made upon me at the very first moment was most prepossessing ; and it has since become stronger and stronger, the more I have had occasion to observe him in all the situations of life — in battle, and in cheerful society. He is an extraordinary man ; and Austria may deem herself fortunate in possessing him and Radetzky precisely at the same moment.

Jellachich is of the middling height and size. His bearing is upright and truly military ; his gait quick, as indeed are all his motions. His face, of a somewhat brownish tinge, has in it something free, winning, and yet determined, The high forehead, under the smooth black hair, is very striking. The eyes are large, hazel, and full of expression. In general, there is something extremely calm and gentle in their glance; but, when the Ban is excited, they flash, and have so stern — nay, so wild — a look as to curb even the most daring fellows. At the same time he is the mildest and kindest of officers. When but Captain, he had almost entirely abolished blows in his company ; and, while commanding the second Banat regiment as Colonel, there were not so many punishments in it in a year as there were formerly in a month.

Here is just one instance of the care which the Ban takes of his men. Last winter, when he was still Colonel, Lieutenant Field-marshal D , who commanded on the frontier, fixed a certain hour for inspecting the regiment. There was a piercing frost, and the soldiers shook with cold ; but the Lieutenant Field-marshal sat enjoying himself over his bottle at the tavern, leaving the regiment exposed to the cutting wind on the parade, to be frozen or petrified, for what he cared.

Jellachich waited nearly an hour beyond the appointed time ; and the General not yet making his appearance, he ordered the regiment to disperse quietly. No sooner had it obeyed, than the General appeared upon the ground ; but it was then too late, and the inspection could not take place.

This affair is said to have produced a great sensation, and, when reported to Vienna, to have been entered in the black book. But March has expunged this, like many other matters ; and the Ban was in a few weeks promoted from Colonel to Lieutenant Field-marshal. The whole army, some antiquated nobs perhaps excepted, rejoiced at it. But this was nothing to the rejoicing with which, on the appointment of Jellachich to the office of Ban, he was received in Croatia and Sla-

b5 vonia, and which is said to have defied description.

Never was General more beloved by his troops. Wherever he shows himself in a military village, all — old and young, little boys and aged men, ay, and pretty girls, too — all rush out to see him, to shake hands with him, and to greet him with one Zivio! after another. In battle, after the most fatiguing march ; in bivouac, exposed to pouring rain ; wherever and whenever the border -soldier espies his Ban, he joyously shouts his Zivio! and for the moment, bullets, hunger, weariness, and bad weather, are nothing at all to him.

The scene that I witnessed when the Ottochans, who had been with me in Peschiera, and who arrived a few days after me in Croatia, were reviewed by the Ban, I shall never forget. Old border-soldiers — who had often braved death, and not flinched when the bombs at Peschiera fell in their ranks — wept for joy, when Jellachich praised them for their good behaviour. And yet he told them at once that the repose at their own homes which they had so richly earned and hoped to enjoy could not yet be granted to them ; that, after a few days' rest, they must start for Hungary, to engage in fresh conflicts.

The language usually spoken by Jellachich is German ; but he also understands Italian, French, Croatian, and has some knowledge of the Hungarian. His voice is soft and pleasing, but perfectly distinct when giving the word of command. He is unmarried; has not much property ; lives simply and frugally, applying almost all that he can spare to the support of his soldiers.

I had now an opportunity to make myself intimately acquainted with the Slavonian and Croatian military frontier, and to acquire from personal observation an accurate notion of all the peculiarities of that frontier.

I shall transcribe for you a few particulars from my diaries.

LETTER II.

Military Frontier of Hungary ; its Extent and Situation — Frontier troops — The Seressans ; their personal appearance, costume — Dress of the other Border Troops; their character; military spirit of their Women; their personal beauty ; their costume — Villages of the Borderers — Family Houses — Patriarchal manners — Service required of the Border- Soldier — Guard-posts.

The military frontier, which, as you know, furnishes eighteen regiments of infantry, and one of hussars, the well-known Szekler reeiment, is composed of men belonging to several tribes, differing considerably in language, manners, and bodily conformation. The three Szekler regiments in Transylvania are of Magyar origin, and are now for the most part ranged on the side of the Hungarians. Other regiments — the Wallacho- Illy rian, for instance — comprehend a great number of Wallachians. In the Banat regiments, the Slavonian and Croatian, the Slavonian tribe predominates;

and about two-thirds of all the border-soldiers speak Slavonian, though, it is true, in widely differing dialects. But in this tract, upwards of 1000 (English) miles in length, from 20 to 60 broad, and extending from the Bocca di Cattaoo to the Moldau, there are many more discrepancies.

In the East is situated the lofty mountain range of Transylvania, the abode of the Szeklers ; then the low marshy grounds of the Danube and the Saave ; and, lastly, towards the West, the wild and lofty mountains of Ogulin stretch away to the Adriatic Sea. Here dwell the most uncouth, but the bravest, the hardiest, and at the same time well disciplined soldiers of the Liccan, Ottochan, and Ogulin border-regiments, all of whom, or at least as many as could possibly be spared, are now in Italy — tall, bony figures, with meagre faces, sharp features, the upper lip covered with a long moustache, not closely twisted up to a point, like that of the Magyars, but hanging loosely down.

The frame of such a borderer seems to be nothing but sinew and muscle ; and with ease

— nay, without appearing to be at all affected by them — he endures hardships and fatigues to which we, seasoned soldiers, are scarcely equal. A piece of oaten bread, a dram of sklikowitz, (plum-brandy) suffice him, on an emergency, for a whole day ; and the Ottochan, Ogulin, and Liccan soldier, as well as the men of the regiments of Kreutz and St. George, will march on untired alike in the most scorching heat and the most furious snow-storm, and desires no other couch than what the bare ground, no other roof than what the sky, afford him.

He possesses the shrewdness to avail himself of every petty advantage that offers, whether in reconnoitring an enemy's position, or in a hand to hand fight, and is a master in the use of arms. I have myself seen a Seressan, with his stanitza — (a long Turkish gun) for a wager, shoot the bowl off a short pipe, which a comrade, at the distance of eighty paces, had to hold up in one hand above his head. Any Seressan would wager ten to one that he hits a swallow as it flies, at thirty to forty paces ; and, when one of them misses, he becomes a laughing-stock to his comrades.

These Seressans are wild fellows, of singular aspect, such as is not to be found elsewhere in Europe. A high cap, of brown or black felt or fur, covers their long shaggy hair. The bearded face is lean, with sharp features, and darkly tanned. The spare, sinewy body is clad in a short brown jacket, with a halfstanding collar, bordered with red braiding, and wide, dirty white linen trousers, tied at the ankle. The foot-clothing consists in wide blue and white stockings, drawn up to the thigh, and sandal-shoes fastened with thongs. Round the waist they wear a wide red or yellow sash, in which are stuck the broad Turkish handjar, usually in a red, richly ornamented sheath, and a long pistol, the but of which is often richly inlaid. A small cartouchpouch hangs from a black bandelier, adorned with numerous yellow nail-heads, over the shoulder ; on the other, the long Turkish gun, which has a very narrow barrel. These guns are frequently of very beautiful workmanship, enriched with ornaments of gold and silver, and often of considerable value. In general they are booty taken in some Turkish war or other, and transmitted, as dearly prized heirlooms, from father to son, and hence almost all of them have very ancient locks.