Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-08-27
CAREER OF AN ADvENrURER IN THE
q. s. ARMY.
D,UTAssY, THE soI-DIsPANT HUNGA-
RIAN,
fFrom the N. Y. Tribune, june 12l

70 fFrom the N. Y. Tribune, June 12.l
On monday Of this week. Col. Fred
erick George D'Utsssy. Of the Carl
baldi Guard, late Colonel commanding
a brigade near Washington, passed
through New York en- route for the
State Prison at Sing Sing. He was
in charge Of two United States officers,
and his hands we're manacled to prevent
bis escape.
Two yesrs sso. os.tbe s7thof May.
this man left the city Of New York at
the head OF IS 6ne regiment as has
been sent to the gar. In bis behalf the
sympathies Of the people bad been en-.
listed to such an extent that the Union
Defence Committee disbursed $50, 900
upon bis own requisition in equipping
his men, and private contributions were
collected BY gentlemen Of the highest
social position. to be expended in ar
ticIes necessary for their comfort. He
himself had the countenance and friend
" assistance Of some Of the first fami-
lies in the city, and was the recipient
of numerous costly gifts as tokens Of
good will from those whose good will
was worth having. Those who saw
the regiment marching our streets will
recall how this soi-distant Hungarian
uobleman was gorgeously bedecked,
and with what an air Of supreme self
satisfaction he headed the Imposing pro-
cesssion. II may well be matter of
wonder how man who, upon fair
trial by his peers, has been convicted
as ferger and pejurer, and the per-
petrator of other base crimes, could
have imposed himself upon men Of
such discrimination. business tact and
social standing as those who, in 1861,
thronged to do him honor. But it is
all Of piece with personal career.
which, for romantic incident and sue
cessful knavery. has few parallels.
We have been at the trouble OF col
lec,inp, from the published accounts Of
the D'Utassy Court Martial, and among
his personal acquaintances in the city,
the materials for a personal sketch.
which, although necessarily meager,
will be found not uninteresting even to
the general reader. 1t seems that in
I848, when the Hungarian Revolution
broke out, the officers of the Hussar
regiments, on arriving at the city Of
Pesth. found in the Jews quarters a
man of the nams Of Strasser, whp kept
a second band clothing store. and who
seemed to be in confidential relations
with the horsekeepers IN the Hungarian
plains which surround that city. and
with whom he had an extensive bust
hess connection. Strasser, upon being
applied to, furnished number OF hor-
ses, obtained from his friends, TO the
tfoopersof the patriot army, and ulti-
mately formed a connection with the
quartermaster's department in the ca
pacity OF a clerk. The person who
gives us this Information was in one OF
The regiments, and was personally ac-
uuainted with Strasser at that time
He lost sight OF him for some years, but
finally, in the spring Of 1861. when the
Garibaldi Guard was being formed in
New York, recognized in the elegant
and influential Col D'Utassy, Strasser,
the Jewish elothes-dealer OF Pesth.
From another person we learn that
Strasser. alias D'Utassy. followed his
Occupation as a horse trader for many
years. travelling between Pesth. Vienna
and other cities. till finally he came to
this continent and commenced opera
tions in another sph4e of life. His
first field was in Canada, where he
seems to have ingratiated himself in the
favor of many Of the highest officials
and many of the private families. He
is said at one time to have been Private
Secretary to the Governor OF Nova Sco-
tia, and at another Professor of Mod
ern languages in Dalhousie College.
He came to this city some three or
four years ago. bringing with him
strong letters Of recommendation from
influential people 10 Canada, which,
with bis pleasing personal address and
perfect self control, enabled him to gain
the confidence Of our best citizens
He entered himself as student in the
Office Of DR.. Watts, and for time at
tended medical lectures at the Universi.
ty. ostensibly with the object Of pur'
suing medicine as profession. AL
this while ne was going under the as
sumed name of D'Utassy, and living
in part BY teaching modern language,
and in part by bis wits. At one time
be would call himself DR.. D'Utassy a
another Chevalier D'Utassy, and at an
other Count. Under the latter pseu
donyn be is said to have paid his ad
dresses to a young lady Of most re
spectacle American family, at the sam
time that, under one Of the others, b
seduced German lady Of fine educa
tion and previously irreproachable char
acter. Among his associates Of foreig
birth his pretensions to noble rank wer
the subject Of Jest. aud. in various sa
looms aud concert-halls. persons VIII
bad known him as the horse.trade
and clothes dealer Of '48, under th
name. Of S6ssser, openly denounce
him as an imposter. But. as too ol
ten. happens, The truth did not come
the ears Of the worthy parties upo
whom be was playing the part Of "Jel
emy Diddler" on grand scale. and b
was thus enabled to practice bis d.
ception till the outbreak Of the preser
war. This was too tempting an oppol
funitv for the exercise NJ he ,ecuiis