Honoring a Hero of the American Revolution – On Two Continents!

In a letter that has since become famous, he wrote in Latin (excerpted here) :

“Most Illustrious Sir:

            Golden freedom cannot be purchased with yellow gold.

            I, who have the honor to present this letter to your Excellency, am also following the call of the Fathers of the Land, as the pioneers of freedom always did. I am a free man and a Hungarian. As to my military status I was trained in the Royal Prussian Army and raised from the lowest rank to the dignity of a Captain of the Hussars, not so much by luck and the mercy of chance than by most diligent self-discipline and the virtue of my arms. The dangers and the bloodshed of a great many campaigns taught me how to mold a soldier, and, when made, how to arm him and let him defend the dearest of the lands with his best ability under any conditions and developments of the war.

            I now am here of my own free will, having taken all the horrible hardships and bothers of this journey, and I am willing to sacrifice myself wholly and faithfully as it is expected of an honest soldier facing the hazards and great dangers of the war, to the detriment of Joseph (note: i.e. Maria Theresa’s son) and as well for the freedom of your great Congress. … I beg your Excellency, to grant me a passport and a letter of recommendation to the most benevolent Congress. I am expecting companions who have not yet reached here. Your Excellency would be promoting the common cause by giving … authorization to expedite their passage to the Colonies once they have arrived here.

            At last, awaiting your gracious answer, I have no wish greater than to leave forthwith, to be where I am needed most, to serve and die in everlasting obedience to Your Excellency and the Congress.

            Most faithful unto death,

                                    Bordeaux, January 13th, 1777. Michael Kovats de Fabricy

P.S.: As yet I am unable to write fluently in French or English and had only the choice of writing either in German or Latin; for this I apologize to your Excellency.”

The situation was critical. Pulaski's legion arrived in early May, and unsuccessfully attacked the British troops on May 11. Colonel Kováts lost his life in combat and was buried where he fell. His British opponent in the battle, Brigade Major Skelly, paid Pulaski’s Legion the highest of compliments during the requiem, describing it as, "the best cavalry the rebels ever had."

Our National Society has been given approval to place a permanent marker in Kovats’ hometown in Hungary on February 22; a small delegation led by National Chair of DAR Tour and Travel Virginia Lingelbach will participate in formal ceremonies to dedicate the bronze memorial. Then on May 10, an identical companion plaque will be dedicated at the Old Exchange in Charleston to memorialize Kovats’ line-of-duty death. Finally, we will participate with the Hungarian Ambassador to the United States Szabolcs Takács in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Hungarian Embassy in Washington, D.C. at the equestrian statue of Michael Kovats on May 11, the anniversary of this Hungarian Patriot’s death.

Due to travel demands, I will not be blogging during this trip. However, it is my intention to post photographs at least once per day. Please follow my DAR President General Facebook page to join me on this journey to honor a Hungarian nobleman who was “most faithful until death” in support of our nation’s independence. Thank you for the privilege of serving as your President General and enabling me to complete important work such as this to honor the men and women who achieved American independence!