Above Komárom, the largest fortress in the county, alone the Hungarian
colors were still floating. General Klapka, its commandant, bravely
defended it, and continued to hold it for six weeks after the sad
catastrophe of Világos. The brave defenders, seeing at last that
further resistance served no purpose, as the Hungarian army had
ceased to exist, and the whole country had passed into the hands
of the Austrians, capitulated upon most honorable terms. This was
the concluding act of the heroic struggle of the Hungarian people,
the brave attitude of the garrison and their commander adding
another bright page to the already honorable record of the military
achievements of 1848 and 1849.
As soon as the imperialists had obtained possession of Komárom, their
commander-in-chief, Baron Haynau, began to persecute the patriots,
and to commit the most cruel atrocities against them. Those who had
taken part in the national war were brought before a court-martial and
summarily executed. The bloody work of the executioner commenced on the
6th of October. Count Louis Batthyányi was shot at Pesth, and thirteen
gallant generals, belonging to Görgei’s army, met their deaths at Arád.
Wholesale massacres were committed throughout the country, until at
last the conscience of Europe rose up against these cruel butcheries,
and the court itself removed the sanguinary baron from the scene of his
inhuman exploits. The best men in the country were thrown into prison,
and thousands of families had to mourn for dear ones who had fallen
victims to the implacable vindictiveness of the Austrian government.
Once more the gloom of oppression settled upon the unhappy country.
[Illustration: HUNGARIAN LADY.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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