Litchfield enquirer., 1873-05-22

| eighty men had been put hors de can,5at, loss which filled my troops with oreai exasperation. The suddenness of the at tack-fQr fhe stEliin" of the Hungarians had first announced their approach-was inexp1icable. None of the pickets posted l in the forest had given the least alarm. How was this to be explained unless treachery had been at work The req. sons forthe silence of the two men sta tloned nearest to the river was explained when We reached tLeir post. Both men had been killed, probably by peasants who had crept upon them through the un- dergrowth and cut them down before aware of their enemies approach. But where was the third, whose post had been ! within gunshot of the town? His horse was found tied to tree, his pistols yet loaded In the holsters, but the man was nowhere to be seen. Only one conclusion could be drawn from these circumstances that he had deserted, and that his treachery We had to thank for the sudden attack which had so nearly proved sue cessful M
 Further inquiries revealed the suspic- lous circumstances that the missing pick ct had been one of those very men upon whom had ordered especial watch to be kept. This was a Hungarian named Michael Szelady, a brave soldier, and, apart from his nationality, man to whom no exception. could be talked. He had served three years in the regiment, and had never given occasion for the sus- plelon that he entertained any bias toward the political efforts of his countrymen. And yet his desertinn could only be ascribed to this cause. Time, however, permitted no further inquiries, for hardly had ascertained these facts before we had left the shelter of the woods and saw the town hnt short distance before us.
 Half of ourstroups were ordered to pro ceed immediately to the attack, while the other half passed around the town in or der to effect an entrance on the opposite side. The loss which the insurgents had suffered on the banks of the Theiss had been so considerable that they could now offer but feeble resistance. Aweak bar lcade of carts and wagons had been thrown up ln the principal street. but this was easily carried by our men, who chamber ed over 1t like cats and cut down its de- lenders. The few who opposed us fought bravely, but their number was too small and when the rest of our party began to attack them in the rear, they gave way entirely and took to flight. The dragoons were so exasperated by the attack upon their camp that they now showed no mer- cy, and only with difficulty could re- strain them from applying the torch to the houses, which not even the most strin- gent orders could preserve from plumber.
 After short time given to pursuit, I caused the recall to be sounded at the market place. The men came struggling in, many of them bringing with them prisoners, who gave me to understand that they could make important disclos- ures. While the muster-roll was being called, lights were set i'll the windows of the houses surrounding the market, and lanterns hung on high poles, in order that we might be secure from another sur prise. While these precautions were be- ing taken, my attention was called to a house which presented an entirely differ ent appearance from that of the others aboutit. Although large, high, and mass lively built, the doors were ail closed, and the windows dark, so that at first l sup posed it to be deserted. As no answer was made to our repeated knockings at the door, the attempt was made to break it in. It's stolidity, however, defied our exertions, and was upon the point of calling off my men in order to waste no more time on what might prove an object of no importance, when a subaltern came up and informed me that the house be- longed to man named Szelady, who was now, according to his informant, lying upon his death-bed AS the name SZe- lady was also that of the absconded pick ct, I caused the prisoner who had give Il this information to be brought before me, and ascertained from him that the owner of this house had son in the Austrian army,-in what regiment hs could not say,-which naturally led me to suppose that the deserter had taken refuge with his family.
 By the aid of a can of gun powder, the door was quickly burst open, and a strong detachment under command of an officer was sent into the house, to make thorough search: They had not long to seek. In a rear appartment on the loweg story was collected the whole family. Upon q bed lay the deceased Szelady, who, as it ap- peared, had just died, and around his corpse stood several females. overwhelem- ed with grief, together with the deserter Michael The entrance of the troopers awakened them from their stupefaction. The women threw themselves in front of the deserter, and cried to him to fly. Michael ran to the window, threw it open and sprang out, before our men could disengage themselves from the women. He was, however, quickly pursued, cap tured, and brought back into the room.
 ::sLead him out to the majorr' ordered the officer. "His business will soon he settled. Ten paces and six bullets for the deserter p
 go, have mercy upon my unhappy son, kind sir, cried an aged woman, who cast herself with clasped hands at the officers feet. Spare my unhappy son He meant not to desert, but came at our en- treaty to receive the last blessing of dy- ing father. O, spare him, for Heavens sake, spare him P
 The two other women, two handsome black-eyed maidens, of whom one was Michael's sister, the other his cousin and afianced, followed the example of his mother, and united their entreaties. Mi chael, however, uttered not a word.
 'A likely story, indeed r retorted the officer. "But no natter Even were il true, it would not lie in my power to save the man. He has deserted, that is clear Out of the way! Forward-march ? Il
 With these words the officer thrust aside Michael's betrothed who stood next to him, and with such violence that she fell, | and struck her face so as to lntilct 8 1 wound. The blood trickled down hel countenance, and stained her white dress This sight transported herlover with rage. Ringing aside his guards with an oath, he sprang upon the officer, wrenched from him his sabre, and cut him down before the others could prevent. He was. how. ever quickly disarmed, bound, and drag ged from the house, just as l. in conse quence of the tumult and women's screams, was upon the point of sending in more dragons.
 When Szelady was brought out followed | by the wounded officer, who was carried by two of his men, I could hardly prevent the men from throwing themselves upor their former comrade and killing him up
 on the spot Under the circumstances should have been justified in ordering him to be shot without further ceremony
 but preferred to hearwhat he had to urge | lae