CHAPTER XVI.
_I JOIN THE STAFF._
The fortress of Buda fell on the twenty-second of May. It was now thefifth of June, and the twin cities, though sorely scarred by theterrible bombardments, had dressed themselves in gala costume.
All the troops--the 9th Honveds amongst them--stationed in the two townswere assembled under arms; and the men of the artillery on both sides ofthe Danube stood to their guns.
A glance at the streets, however, showed that the citizens did notanticipate any fighting.
The scene was a most animated one, and under happier circumstances Ishould doubtless have enjoyed the brilliant spectacle. Hundreds of gayflags--the red, white, and green stripes predominant--fluttered from thecupolas of the buildings; arches of garlands stretched across thestreets; the people, dressed in their best finery, and many of themcarrying splendid bouquets, promenaded to and fro, or occupied goodpositions from which to view the coming pageant.
All along the route from the railway station the windows were crowded byrichly-dressed ladies and children, craning their necks to catch thefirst sight of the hero.
As our regiment marched to take its place, I could not help thinking ofthe many ruined families and the hundreds of wounded soldiers to whomthis pageant must seem little more than a hollow mockery.
"I don't think this triumphal entry shows good taste on his part," Iremarked to Dobozy, after we had halted.
"Suit him capitally!" declared he. "It's just like a stage-play. Didyou hear how he is coming from Szolnok?"
"By rail, I suppose."
"Yes, and in the emperor's private carriage. Anything's good enough fora thorough-paced republican."
"I suppose his wife accompanies him?"
Dobozy laughed and said we should see.
Suddenly the guns roared out their brazen welcome; the people, wavingtheir flags, cheered loudly; the bands played Rakotzy's patriotic march,and a company of guards issued from the station. Then the cheeringbecame louder and wilder, and shouts of "Elijen Kossuth!" rose as CountKaroly's handsome chariot, drawn by four magnificent Hungarian horses,made its appearance. In it, his head crowned with laurel, sat theobserved of all beholders, Louis Kossuth, Dictator of Hungary, and onhis right a tall, haughty-looking woman with black hair and eyes,pointed nose, long chin, and regular mouth.
This was the dictator's wife, Madame Theresa Kossuth, and I thought,though perhaps wrongly, that the light in her eyes was one of satisfiedpride.
Behind the chariot rode a long line of Magyar nobles, making a brilliantshow in their national costume, though, for the country's sake, I wouldrather have seen them at the front in simple uniform.
As Dobozy truly remarked, patriotism required very little sacrifice ifit was satisfied by riding about the streets of the capital in galaattire.
However, the procession passed, the hero was withdrawn from sight, andwe were at liberty to return to barracks.
The festivities continued all day, and in the evening the city wasilluminated in honour of the dictator.
"Foolish people!" said the colonel sadly, as we strolled along theriver-bank that night. "One would think, to see their transports, thatthe war is over, while it is really only beginning."
"I can't understand why the general doesn't make a forward move, anddrive the enemy out of Presburg."
"Because he's waiting for ammunition and men," put in Dobozy, who waswalking with us. "I saw Juranics yesterday--just come from the front,wounded in some outpost affair, I believe. He says only half therecruits have been sent on, and they don't even know their drill.Besides, they haven't any weapons, if they knew how to use them. Livelysort of army, eh? Juranics said plainly he believed Kossuth's party wasjealous of Goergei's success."
"They're afraid he'll topple their brand-new republic over," said thecolonel; "which is just what he would do if the Austrians were clearedout. However, it's too late now. While we've been wasting our time,the enemy has been getting ready."
"They say we shall have 160,000 Russians, besides the Austrians, totackle."
"That's so," replied the colonel cheerfully; "while we are split up intotwo factions, each fighting for a different object."
Matters were, indeed, in a more desperate state than we thought. TheAustrians, thoroughly frightened for the safety of the empire, hadbegged the assistance of Russia.
They had already twice changed their chief, and were now led by BaronHaynau, an officer who had won distinction in several campaigns, butwhose name was hereafter to be linked with acts of savage crueltyagainst which all Europe cried out in horror. He was now at Presburgwith 60,000 men, waiting for the arrival of a veteran Russian division,which had been dispatched to his assistance.
The principal Russian army, 76,000 strong, and led by the famousfield-marshal, Paskewitch, was in Galicia, ready to descend on CentralHungary by way of the Carpathians. A third Russian army was to invadeTransylvania, while Jellachich covered Croatia.
However, there were gay doings in Pesth for one day at least, and whenwe turned in at night the city was still _en fete_.
I think it was the third evening after Kossuth's triumphal receptionwhen the colonel sent word that he wished to see me. Being off duty, Ireturned with the messenger, little dreaming how great a change in myprospects the next half-hour would produce.
"Come in," cried Rakoczy pleasantly, as I knocked at the door.
He was standing by the window overlooking the barrack-yard with anotherman, whom I immediately recognized as Goergei.
"All well?" cried the general genially, stretching out his hand."That's right. Bit tedious hanging about Pesth, eh?"
"I think we should all be glad of a change, general."
"You'll all get one soon, when the white-coats drive you out, and eventhen you'll grumble--eh, colonel?" and he gave Rakoczy a playful dig inthe ribs.
"We'd much rather help you get inside Vienna," replied the colonel.
The general's smile vanished.
"Too late!" he said shortly. "That should have been done a month ago.Take my word for it, old comrade, the game is lost; but we'll play itright out all the same, and only give in when we must.--Botskay, can youride?"
"Fairly well," I answered, not wishing to boast.
"Would you like to come with me?"
"The general means on his staff," explained Rakoczy, smiling.
Now, I should have liked this very much indeed, but for leaving Rakoczy,and this made me hesitate.
The colonel, seeing my difficulty, laughed, and said,--
"I'll answer for him, general. The berth will suit him capitally. Thecampaign has made him pretty hardy, and he'll soon learn to do withoutsleep."
"Well," said the general kindly, laying his hand on my shoulder, "Ishall be glad to have you. I was very fond of your brother, and misshim more than you would think. So just pack up anything you may want.I'm leaving by the steamer in an hour."
I hurried to my room and called for Mecsey, who received the order topack without betraying the least surprise. He would have taken it quiteas a matter of course had I been appointed commander-in-chief.
Then I went to say farewell to the officers of my regiment, had a lastchat with Dobozy, who was sorry to lose me, and finally returned to thecolonel's room.
"Good-bye, George," exclaimed my old friend warmly. "Sorry we'reparting, but it will be better for you. Besides, we shall often see eachother, and the war can't last long. From what the general tells me, wehaven't the slightest chance. His army's in a wretched state, and theother leaders are all pulling different ways. However, we must keep ourheads up and do the best we can; but don't take too many risks, my boy.Goergei will keep you well occupied, and there's no sense in knockingyour head against a stone wall just for the fun of the thing."
"Not a bit!" cried the general, coming in at the moment, "even if youhave a wooden one. Well, good-bye, old fellow. We shall soon begin tomove now, one way or the ot
her. Get the regiment into trim as soon asyou can; every man will be wanted.--Ready, Botskay? Come on then."
Rakoczy pressed my hand, and accompanied us to the gates, where Sandorwas already in waiting.
With another warm hand-shake we left the colonel, and walked sharply tothe embankment.
Goergei had thrown an ample grey mantle over his sombre uniform, and hadpulled his hat over his brow as if not particularly wishing to berecognized.
He did not speak till we reached the landing-place, where a boat laywith steam up, ready to cast off at a moment's notice.
"Jump aboard," he exclaimed sharply. Then, to a sailor, "Help this manwith the baggage. Are you right?--Go ahead, captain."
The ropes were cast off, as I could tell by the movements of thesteamer, but it was now too dark to see much.
Goergei disappeared, while I, going to the bow of the boat, gazed aheadinto the gloom.
Here and there a light shining from the river's bank roused my interestfor the moment; but taking it altogether, it was dreary work, and Ithought regretfully of the snug barracks.
Presently, however, Goergei joined me, and in his company I lost allsense of weariness and discomfort.
Though burdened by such a load of care, and ready at any moment toassume the sternness of the chief, he laughed and joked with me as if wewere equals, his cheerful gaiety making the time pass quite pleasantly.
Indeed the general was a splendid companion, but he had two foibles--hethought sleep was a mistake, and eating a luxury one should try to dowithout.
With these opinions I did not altogether hold, so I inwardly blessed thecaptain of the boat when he suggested we should go below and have asnack of supper.
Having made a good meal, I wrapped myself up warmly and lay down,leaving Goergei poring over some maps and making calculations.
I cannot say what occurred during the night, but when I awoke nextmorning the general was still intent on his work and looking fresh asever.
About mid-day the steamer slowed down; a boat was lowered, into whichSandor put my baggage; then Goergei got in, and we followed.
We were not near any town, but the general had evidently made hisarrangements, for as the sailors pulled us ashore, a body ofsoldiers--some on foot, others on horseback--came down to the water'sedge.
Goergei sprang out briskly, and held a hurried conversation with theleader of the party. Then he directed a soldier to give me his horse,mounted his own--a beautiful grey--and we all set off for headquarters.
The appearance of the army confirmed my feeling of despondency. The menwho had served throughout the campaign were in good trim, but thosenewly drafted to make up for our previous losses looked anything butsoldiers.
I discovered, too, that the officers were secretly uneasy, and theiranxiety increased when, a few days after my arrival, Goergei's scoutsbrought word that a Russian division had joined Haynau at Presburg.
This was on the fourteenth of June, and two days later witnessed thebeginning of what may be called the second campaign.
Our engineers had built several bridges over the river Waag, and on thefifteenth of June the army crossed to the farther side.
"Ah!" exclaimed one of my new comrades regretfully, "if we could havedone this a month ago!"
"We should be in Vienna now," said another gaily; "but we aren't, andit's no use grumbling. Here comes Bethlen. Klapka has sent him with animportant message, to judge by the state of his horse's flanks."
The rider approached at a gallop, pulled his horse up sharply, andhaving saluted, handed a note to Goergei.
The general, glancing at the contents, put the crumpled paper into hispocket.
"Tell General Klapka I'm much obliged, but I don't think anythingserious will happen to-morrow."
Bethlen saluted again, nodded to several of his acquaintances, and rodeaway at a quieter pace.
Goergei had made his calculations accurately, and although severaldesperate outpost affairs occurred, it was not until the morning of theseventeenth that the two armies really joined battle.
On the very same date, although we did not know it then, Field-MarshalPaskewitch emerged from the Carpathians on his march into CentralHungary.
The battle began with a terrible artillery fire, which was directedagainst our centre; and Goergei himself, followed by the staff, gallopeddown to encourage the sorely-tried soldiers.
At the same time he sent me to the colonel of a hussar regiment with anorder to break up a mass of infantry, which was preparing to hurl itselfon our weakened centre.
"Directly it's done, ride back as hard as you can," he said, and Idashed off.
The colonel listened to the order, well pleased.
"Tell the general we will do it," he said with quiet confidence.
"He wishes me to stay and take back your report," I answered, and thecolonel kindly agreed that I should ride with him.
The regiment was composed of seasoned warriors, who hailed the sound ofthe trumpet with delight.
With swords bared, we started at a trot, increasing the pace as weapproached the enemy.
The ground for the most part was flat, but there were several sandhillsor banks, and from one of these a storm of shot ploughed into us as werode by.
The fire was so severe and unexpected that a regiment of young soldierswould have been thrown into confusion; but these veterans only shooktheir fists, vowing to capture the battery on their return.
Our horses had got into their stride now, and we were fairly racing overthe level ground.
It was the first time I had taken part in a cavalry charge, and theblood ran hot in my veins.
The colonel rode upright as a dart and stiff as a poker, but I, moreaccustomed to a horse's back on the broad plains than in a militaryriding-school, rode in a much easier though less dignified position.
That men and horses were thoroughly well drilled one glance would haveshown. In spite of the artillery fire and the speed at which we rode,there were no gaps. The horses raced neck by neck, with equal strides,and the whole regiment went forward like a piece of machinery.
The Austrian battalions stood quite firm to receive us, and as we gotnearer I doubted very much if we could break through that solid mass.
But Goergei had not sent us to do the work alone. On our left, fartherdown the field, several squadrons, springing up unexpectedly, wereriding straight at the battalions, and we, seeing this, cheeredexcitedly.
"Forward!" shouted the colonel, rising in his stirrups, "and keeptogether!"
Whatever was going on elsewhere, the Austrians before us stood like astone wall till we were well within range. Then came a blinding flash, aloud report, a greyish cloud of smoke, and, from behind me, fierceshouts and cries of pain.
But above all rang out the stirring "Forward!" of the colonel, andalmost at the same instant we were amongst the bayonets.
Crash! we went, driving into the very centre of the mass, splitting itup into groups, pushing it this way and that, till a ringing cheerannounced that the enemy were in full flight.
The hussars, flushed and excited, would have gone pell-mell in pursuit,but fortunately the leader had his men well in hand, and made themre-form their ranks.
Our comrades farther along the field, carried away by excitement, dashedafter the runaways, and were soon widely scattered.
Then, through a gap in the sandhills beyond, there suddenly issued aclose, compact body of cavalry, which charged down upon us like anavalanche.
Our horses were already blown; we ourselves were spent by the fiercefight; our losses had been severe, and many of the men still in theranks were wounded; yet the colonel did not hesitate.
Flight would result in our being cut to pieces; to stand still wouldgive the enemy a tremendous advantage; there was nothing for it but tocharge afresh.
The colonel, waving his sword, sprang to the front; the bugles rang out;the men, cheering loudly, dug their spurs into their horses' flanks.Once more the regiment was in motion.
The distance to be covered was short, but enough to get our animals wellinto their stride before the crash came.
Fast as we rode, the Austrians rode still faster; and, but for thesuperior strength of the Hungarian horses, we should simply have beenswept away by the furious shock.
As it was, we charged them gallantly, and soon steel met steel as swordscrossed or rang on the polished breast-plates.
Our colonel--evidently a magnificent swordsman, and mounted on apowerful animal--drove his way through the serried ranks; but my passagewas barred by the Austrian leader, who seemed to have singled me outspecially.
I wondered at this for a moment; then in a flash remembered who thishandsome, blue-eyed fellow was.
"Von Theyer!" rose to my lips as, sitting his horse with a naturalgracefulness, the former rebel rode straight at me.
From that moment I lost sight of the general conflict.
Round us rose the cries and groans of wounded men, the cheers andcounter-cheers of the combatants, the sound of clashing swords; but toall I gave but a passing thought.
This Von Theyer, who by some means--probably reckless bravery--hadalready risen high in the Austrian service, meant to kill me.
His deadly purpose shone in his eyes, and it was obvious he expected tohave an easy task.
However, though he was by far the better master of the sword, I knew themore of horsemanship, and by swerving aside at the proper moment, causedhis stroke to fail.
Before he recovered I had pricked him in the arm. It was a slightwound, but it drew blood and made him angry.
This was all in my favour, as he lost his caution, and, throwing awaythe advantage of his superior skill, attacked furiously.
Again and again I avoided his weapon almost by a miracle; but at last Imade a fierce cut which he failed to parry, and my sword slashed himright across the face.
He threw up his hands with a cry of pain, falling in a heap on hishorse's back.
At the same instant a shout of alarm was raised; the hussars in advance,wheeling about, came dashing back, separating me from Von Theyer.
Since I had left Goergei the aspect of the battle had entirely changed.
While we had broken the Austrian battalions, our centre, fearfullyweakened by a heavy cannonade from twenty-four guns, and furiouslyassailed by two brigades on its right flank, had given way.
Worse still, the Russian general, seeing that the tide was turning, senta splendid body of cuirassiers and two field-batteries to change theretreat into rout.
It was the rapid approach of these famous horsemen that made us turnback.
The colonel was angry, but he could not hope to pit his broken regimentsuccessfully against the cuirassiers, while a prompt retreat mightenable him to cover the flight of the infantry.
So he gave the word, and we retired in good order, but at a gallop.
Meanwhile the Austrian gunners received their allies with a roar ofwelcome, and the cuirassiers in glittering helmets and breastplatesswept proudly on.
With a message from the colonel, I made the best of my way to the chief,who as usual was in the thick of the fight, risking his life as freelyas the humblest soldier.
But the day was lost. We were outnumbered both in men and guns, and theRussian division had converted a possible victory into a disastrousdefeat.
For a time we made a desperate attempt to hold the village of Pered, butit was simply throwing men's lives away to no purpose; and at length thegeneral, who, however much he objected to be beaten, did not believe inknocking his head against the wall, issued orders for a retreat.
"Find General Klapka," said he to me, "and tell him to withdraw his menacross the Waag; but he must do his best to hold the bridges. If hedoesn't, the enemy will chase us back to Pesth without a stop."
I turned my horse's head, and dashed off along the line of fire; buttime being precious, I could not afford to go a long way round.