Hungary. 25 February 1849

Hungary.
No. 231, 25 February 1849
Neue Rheinische Zeitung.
* The Allgemeine Oder-Zeitung reports, among other things, the following from the communications of a Hungarian who left Pesth on the 17th:
When the Magyar army withdrew from Pesth behind the Theiss, the consternation of the inhabitants of both towns was extraordinary, especially on the part of the Magyars, who saw their last hope of freedom perishing and lamented that the army, by giving up the capital, covered itself with shame before all Europe. Nevertheless, the policy of the Hungarian government was well calculated, for it knew very well that the inhabitants of both towns, in their eagerness to save their landed property, would have lent a helping hand to the enemy. Later, of course, when it turned out that the Austrian government spared no party, these people too realised that they had to deal with an irreconcilable enemy. The infamies which the Austrian troops committed in the environs of Buda-Pesth exceeded all measure. The Croats distinguished themselves above all others. What they could not enjoy, they destroyed. Two days after the retreat of the Hungarians across the Theiss, an army corps of 20,000 men under Ottinger established itself at Szolnok, with the rearguard at Abony. In this position the Austrians were attacked by a Hungarian corps, about 12,000 strong, under Perczel, and would have been completely annihilated had not a Hungarian division under Brigadier Kasinsky been delayed in its approach. However, the Austrians found themselves compelled to flee, for which they took advantage of the night, and could only rally at Czegled. It was remarkable to see the terror that seized them, particularly the cavalry and the officers – and how they kept shouting: “Forward! Forward! The butcher dogs (as they call the Hungarian hussars) are at our heels!”
On the 21st the Hungarians came to Abony, this time 22,000 strong. General Dembinski was present, without however at that time already taking over the command. On the morning after the battle of Szolnok, an Austrian cuirassier division advanced as far as St. Marton, where the Hungarian outposts were stationed, and here the unbelievable happened: they were attacked by six Hungarian hussars, who killed about twenty of their men and took some prisoners.
On the 23rd, at daybreak, the Hungarians arrived before Cegled, where the Austrians had taken up a very advantageous position. The Hungarians attacked, beat the Austrians and pursued them through the town into the vineyards of Alberty. There they learned that a considerable Austrian army corps was marching via Erlau on Debreczin, and this news forced them to give up the pursuit; however, General Dembinski expressed his dissatisfaction with the whole execution of this attack, which, according to his assertion, must have led to the complete annihilation of the Austrian corps.
The news of the defeat of Ottinger’s corps was incidentally known in Pesth immediately, and the inhabitants brought out their red feathers again, but their hopes were deceived. The Hungarians crossed the Theiss and burned the bridge at Szolnok. From this the Austrians take occasion to boast of victories, and the fear of their brutality prevented contradiction. Sad was the fate of the inhabitants of the villages who had already hoped to see themselves freed from the Austrian yoke. The Austrians came in greater numbers and with even harsher demands than before. There were houses which had to quarter 30 to 40 soldiers, and the officers were cruel enough to chase even old people out of their beds and lie down in them, saying: you Hungarians can sleep on the ground. That’s good enough for you dogs.
These reports will be continued.
The Schlesische Zeitung, a reactionary paper, as much as the Breslauer Zeitung, for its part gives the following account of the state of things in Hungary:
Pesth, 12 February. The war is dragging on more than had been believed, which stems mainly from the fact that the Magyars have gained a powerful ally in the mild winter. The overflowing of the rivers and the almost completely impassable roads present the Austrian army with obstacles that are barely surmountable. The Theiss is now the line of separation between the hostile armies. From Tokaj to Szegedin, over a length of more than forty miles, fighting takes place now at one point, now at another. The centre of this line is Szolnok. Heavy fighting has already taken place at this point, but the Magyars are still masters of it. It is of importance because it lies in the middle of the struggle.
On the upper Theiss, that is in the region of Tokaj, the Magyars are rising en masse because the population is driven to desperation by the horrors of the war. The population is stirred up to the highest degree in and around Miskolz, as well as in the whole Bresod county. The advantages which the Austrians gain here are always immediately wrested from them again. From Szolnok downwards, and also for a long stretch upwards, the land on both sides of the Theiss is now so flooded that in many places it is a mile wide under water on both sides, which normally lasts into April. On this terrain only the natives know their way. If a foreign corps of troops comes there, it can easily be dispersed by them into the swamps and floods.
Further down at Csongrad and Szentes, at present the roads are absolutely impassable for an army corps, for the artillery would sink in the swampy roads. This is the road to Szegedin and Arad. The Austrian army, particularly the Croatian, attempted to advance here, but convinced itself of the impossibility. There is a rumour that Prince Windischgrätz has fallen out with Jellachich because of this. The latter advanced as far as the steppes at Keczkemet, but was driven back again. In this region live the Kumanians and Tazcyers, an extremely sturdy race of men, where every man is a nobleman and who recognise only the Palatine of the realm as their lord lieutenant. They are exalted Magyars.
Between the Theiss and the border of Transylvania, the villages lie far apart, it is true, but they are exceedingly populous. For example, the market town Csaba counts 24,000 and Gyula nearly 18,000 inhabitants. All are enthusiastic Magyars.
Further down in the Banat the Serbs are indeed advancing, but the Hungarians nevertheless still hold much terrain.
If General Bem succeeds in the plan he now seems to have, of coming from Hermannstadt (in Transylvania) via Szaszvaros and Deva through the mountain passes into Hungary and uniting with the Magyars here, then their cause will take a favourable turn. And the obstacles in his way are not all that great. For Transylvania is as good as overwhelmed, and the Wallachians were already defeated when Bem turned against the Saxons. Many of these are said to have joined him in the region of Kronstadt, no doubt only because no other escape was left to them. The only fortress, Karlsburg (between Klausenburg and Mühlenbach), might have been able to offer some resistance, but it is said to be already in the hands of the Hungarians.
On the right bank of the Danube, as well as in the Carpathians, the fighting is confined mostly to skirmishing. Throughout the whole stretch of land from the borders of Styria to the Danube, flying corps have formed, which keep the Austrian army under General Nugent on the alert. At the head of several of these are prominent Hungarians. The sorties occasionally made from Komorn serve to protect these guerrillas. This virgin fortress would also have fallen if the winter had lasted another month, because then one could have approached it on the frozen rivers. On one side the Danube flows in two arms; the same is done on the other side by the Waag and the Neutra. The fortress itself rises barely 50 feet above the plains, but it cannot be approached from them anywhere. The missiles barely reach across, whereas the besieged can do great damage to the besiegers. When Napoléon, in the war with Austria, not long before the Peace of Pressburg, sent Marshal Duroc to reconnoitre Komorn, he came back with the laconic message: “Sire! imprenable.”
In the Carpathians the Magyars also still have supporters, and there too there is no lack of flying corps, especially in the counties of Trentschin, Hont, and Abaujwar. From all this it is evident that the war is still far from its end and that Austria will still have to summon great forces before it overcomes the enemy, whose courage is now rising from day to day, and who is now partly led better than at the beginning, by French and Polish officers.
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