Litchfield enquirer., 1873-05-22
From Ev~ Saturday. THE DESERTER.
AN EPIsoDE OF THE HUNGARIAN REvoLU.
 TION.

AN EP1soDE OF THE HUNGARIAN REvoLU- TON.
 In the year 1849 I was major in the reg iment of dragoons of which l am at pres ent colonel. In consequence, however, of our severe loss in officers during the first months of the Hungarian campaign, l had even then already received the com mand of the regiment. Our opponents. the insurgents, knew our weak side. They were aware that the Austrian army could be recruited at any moment with common soldiers, but that the surest means to crip- pie us was to deprive us of officers. This policy therefore they pursued to tine ut most of their ability, and so it came to pass that, though then still young man, was the oldest officer in my regiment, which was regarded as one of the bravest Tn the whole army. It had suffered se- verely even thus early in the war, so that its original number was much reduced 1: but all the men were true as steel, and eager to avenge the death of their con- rades. The time of which am about to speak was the end of the month of March, and immediately after sharp engage ment on the right bank of the Theiss, in which We had suffered decided defeat. Prince Windischgratz, the Austrian gen. eral m command, retreated with as much haste as was possible to the river, while the Hungarlans under Gorgey pursued us with equal celerity and vigor. Although much weakened, our troops had not lost courage, and the retreat was conducted in tolerably good order.
 My regiment had the advance and es- C0rfah a a$ with the wagons which bore the pontoons by means of which we were to cross the river. Behind us We could hear the thup- der of cannon, & sign of the stout resist ance with which our comrades opposed the Hungarian pursuit. We had already reached the bank of the stream and were making the necessary preparations to throw a bridge to the opposite shore, when an ordinance officer, with dispatch es from the Prince, came up at full gallop, and asked for me, He brought orders for the cavalry to pass the stream at once as the General had received information that in an ajaeent village, by the name of S--, and which was separated from the left bank of the Theiss only by a small piece of woods, was stationed strong corps of the enemy, which would be able on the following day to harrass very considerably the crossing of the army, and perhaps even delay it until Gorgey came up, in which case we would find ourselves between two fires, and might be entirely annihilated. If we could suc- ceed, on the other hand, in putting the river between us and our pursuers, we would be safe, as the latter did not have the means of crossing such rapid stream. My task was therefore to reconnoitre the village of S., and in any event to take possession of it before the arrival of the Prince.
 In accordance with these instructions, left the pioneers behind to continue the construction of the bridge, collected my men, and made them swim the river, as We had no time to seek ford. In doing this some men were lost, being carried away by the strength of the torrent, but the remainder reached in safety the father shore. In the mean while night had fal- len. sent several scouts ia order to re- connoiter the town without any delay, stationed outposts in the wood, and made all my preparations tq begin the attack just as soon as according to the report of our scouts it should be advisable.
 Although could rely implicitly upon the majority of my men, there were still among them some Hungarians upon whose fidelity could not so absolutely depend I had indeed no especial ground for doubt. for they had all behaved most bravely in the recent action, and had giv- en no signs of disaffection. Still, l thought best to be on my guard, and therefore several days before give or ders that none of those whom I mistrust- ed should go on picket duty. This order hitherto had been strictly followed; I had therefore every reason to suppose that the pickets posted in the woods between us and S. were trusty men:
 Toward nine o'clock the scouts sent ont returned, bringing with them some peas ants upon whom they had come while en- gagged in collecting wood. Two daring Bohemians, who were familiar with the language of the country, had changed clothes with their prisoners, and made their way thus disguised into the town. they brought news that the town was held by perhaps thousand peasants, armed with scythes and fails, and that, although they aad no suspicion of our proximity, still an attack on our part was not advis- able at this moment, as too many of the inhabitants and of the garrison were wan dering about in the environs of the vil- lage. l called my officers together and held council of war, in which it was de termined to assault at midnight. In the meantime the troops were to have two hours for rest and refreshment. The fires were soon going, and the camp ket- men busying themselves with the cooking piled them with fodder.
 It might perhaps have been half past eleven o'clock, and deep silence reigned in our camp. Their supper ended, most of the men were sleeping about the fires, for the poor fellows had made a forced march of some eight or ten miles, besides the crossing of the river. I had lighted my pipe, and thrown myself wrap ped in my cloak before one of the fires, but the pipe had fallen from my lips and I had gradually fallen asleep, when suddenly loud yells from the woods, the we'll known s'Eljin" of the Hungarians awoke us all, and brought us in a moment to our feet. Every one made rush for his horse, but before even part of the men had gained the saddle, the enemy were upon us. From three different parts of the forest visible by the faint light of the expirinS
 
 furious yell and shouts upon the nearest trooopers, and the work of death began. Although surprised by an entirely unex- pected attack, the behavior of our men was admirable Those who did not suc- ceeded in gaining their saddles formed themselves into squares, and presented a
 bold front to their assailants, while the officers collected together the mounted dragons, charged with them upon the 1 foe, and soon broke through and scattered their irregular ranks. The daring and
 fury of the badly armed peasants could not stand against the well-disiplined and
 better-appointed dragons. They were obliged to fall back in confusion into the woods, leaving more than half their num- Der dead or wounded upon the field of 1 conflict.
 As it would have been imprudent to press the pursuit further without any ac- curate knowledge of the force with which
 we had to contend, ordered the recall 1 A. L s-f r.. 1al