other Zsulavszkys, probably his brothers, served in the same regiment as lieutenants: Emil A. and Sigismund Z. The latter died of disease during the war. Joseph Csermelyi, a former honvéd lieutenant, was major of the same regiment, while A. P. Zimándy served as lieutenant in the 4th U. S. Colored Cavalry.

In the 1st Florida Cavalry there appear to have been four Hungarian officers: Major Albert Ruttkay, probably one of Kossuth's American nephews, and Captains Alexander Gaál, Emeric Mészáros and Roland T. Rombauer.

Captain Alexander Gaál belonged to the de Gyula branch of the Gaáls, which is famous in Hungarian history for the many great soldiers it has given the country. One of the family, Peter Gaál de Gyula, raised a regiment of Hungarian and Croatian carbineers for Wallenstein, which had an important part in the battle of Dessau [1626]. Another, Nicholas, was a general in the Honvéd Army in 1849, and was sentenced to twenty years in an Austrian dungeon, where he lost his eyesight and died in 1854. Alexander Gaál himself was a lieutenant in the Honvéd Army, and was severely wounded in one of the engagements. After the catastrophe he fled to Turkey, but was induced by a promise of immunity to return to Hungary. He was seized, however, and pressed into the Austrian Army as a private. In 1863 he joined the Polish revolutionists, but fell into the hands of the Russians who turned him over to Austria. At that time Austria was endeavoring to reconcile Hungary; so they let him go free on the condition that he leave the country. He then came to the United States, enlisted in the Federal army, and, after the war, made his home in Louisiana,

VII

In the eastern campaigns-in fact, in the whole Union Army-no native of Hungary achieved more than Julius H. Stahel, who, in less than two years, rose from lieut.-colonel to major-general and from the command of a regiment to that of an army corps, and received from Congress the medal of honor.

Не

He was born in Szeged, in the heart of the Hungarian Lowland, on November 5, 1825. In America he was often believed to have been a Count Sebastiani, and McClellan thought his name had been Count Serbiani. How this legend originated is unknown, as his Hungarian name had been Számvald. As quite a young man he kept a bookshop in Pest, and it was he to whom Petőfi wrote his poem, Egy Könyvárus Emlékkönyvébe [For the Souvenir-Book of a Bookseller]. He naturally espoused the patriotic cause, joined the Honvéd Army, served under Gen. Guyon as lieutenant, and was wounded at the battle of Branyiszkó. He was also awarded the Cross of Brav ery by the Hungarian Government. After the revolution, he found refuge first in England, then in the United States, where he arrived in 1856 and engaged in journalism, working on the staffs of Lexo's Belletristische Zeitung and the New York Illustrated News.

In response to Lincoln's first call for volunteers, he, with Louis Blenker, at once began to organize the 8th New York Infantry, of which he was elected lieut.-colonel. His American baptism of fire he received in the first battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, where his regiment was part of the reserve at Centreville.

At first the Union forces

had the best of it, but in the afternoon a reverse set in, which ended in their utter rout. Stahel was commanded to cover the retreat, and formed his regiment in line of battle on both sides of the road. In this position he was twice attack

er

ed by the enemy's cavalry, which he repulsed each time, and held his position until the following morning, when he received orders to fall back on Washington. He reached the Potomac in the evening, bringing with him all the field pieces the flying troops had left on the road, also two stands of Union colors.

It is evident that but for the firm stand and resistance of Stahel's command the enemy could

have followed up the retreating Union Army to Washington, for the official report of the Confederate commander, Gen. Johnston, says: "The apparent firmness of the United States troops at Centreville checked our pursuit"22. When the report of the conduct of Stahel's regiment reached headquarters, both President Lincoln and Lieut.-General Scott sent for Blenker and Stahel, and expressed their appreciation and gratitude for the protection of the rear of the army at a time when all apprehended a furious assault from a pursuing enemy.

In recognition, Stahel was commissioned colonel and was entrusted with the organization of a regiment of heavy artillery. He was appointed brigadier-general in November, 1861, and was placed in command of a brigade in the Army of the Potomac under Gen. McClellan. Next April his brigade was transferred to the Army of West Virginia to the command of Gen. Rosecrans, and in May to that of Gen. Frémont at Petersburg, a change which both he and Gen. McClellan sincerely regretted. On June 1 Stahel's advance came upon Gen. Jackson's rear guard near Strassburg, where he engaged the enemy, driving and following him up, until ordered by Frémont to halt. A week later the battle of Cross Keys was fought with great obstinacy and violence until dusk, when both armies rested on their arms, Stahel's command having borne the brunt of the fight.

In the second battle of Bull Run, August 29 and 30, 1862, in which he commanded Schenck's division, it fell to his lot again to cover the retreat of the Union Army. Towards the end of November he encountered the enemy at Ashley Gap and at Snickers Gap, and after a sharp fight drove him across the Shenandoah River, pursuing him so rapidly that he surprised a cavalry regiment in

22 Rebellion Record. Series I, II, 478.

camp and captured many prisoners, horses and the regimental colors.

In January, 1863, he was given the command of the 11th Army Corps, but soon yielded it to Carl Schurz. In March he was promoted to majorgeneral and, by the express wish of the President, was assigned to the command of a cavalry division in front of Washington. Toward the end of the year he was transferred to the Department of the Susquehanna, where, for the protection of Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, he concentrated and organized the cavalry, which was distributed all over the state.

The following spring he was again transferred to the Department of West Virginia in command of the 1st Cavalry Division, and led the advance column down the Shenandoah Valley. He drove the enemy across the river near Mount Jackson, and took part in the battle of New Market. On June 5, near Staunton, he was ordered by Gen. Hunter to charge the Confederate cavalry and check its advance. On the first charge Gen. Stahel broke the enemy and pursued him as far as Piedmont, where he found the main force of the Confederates in a strong entrenched position, and held them there until the arrival of Gen. Hunter with his army. Hunter soon commenced the attack, and ordered Stahel, whose troops were somewhat exhausted, to form the reserve. The battle raged furiously for some time, when Stahel received orders to dismount three of his cavalry regiments and send them to the support of the infantry. He lead this dismounted force himself into action, was badly wounded, and taken to the rear to have his wound dressed. While he was in the surgeons' hands, Gen. Hunter expressed great regret and disappointment, for he wanted Stahel to charge the enemy's flank, while he would attack the front in full force. Gen. Stahel, seeing the need of a quick, concerted and strong action, told Hunter