Hungarian Online Resources

est. 1993 by UMCP Hungarian American Student Association

April 1849

April 1849: battles in central Hungary

Preparations for the Spring offensive. Col. Sándor Gáspár’s 7th corps routs Gen. Schlick’s units at
Hatvan (about 50 KM ENE of Buda-Pest)(April 1)
Perczel occupies Szenttamás.

†
Battle at Tápióbicske
†
Battle for the Tápió bridge.

Gen. Klapka, aided by Damjanich’s units, bests Jellacic’s army at Tápióbicske, (about 50 km ESE of Buda-Pest) however, revealing
the Hungarian plan to surround the Austrian main forces. Nevertheless, the Honvéd Army, on
April 6, achieve a significant victory over Windischgraetz main forces near Isaszeg (about 40 km ESE of Buda-Pest )

Kossuth establishes his post at Gödöllõ (25 km NE of Buda-Pest), while, on April 10, by-passing Buda-Pest, Vác is retaken
by Damjanich and Klapka, defeating Austrian Gen. Christian Goetz. Hungarian forces move up
the Danube to take Komárom.

Windischgraetz dismissed by Franz Joseph, appointing General Baron Ludwig von Weiden
supreme Austrian field commander. (April 12)
Kossuth proposes dethroning the Habsburgs, but runs into opposition by the Defense Council. He
presented a four-point plan:
Hungary to:

  • be independent and sovereign : the Habsburgs to have no power, in fact, excluded from the
    country.
  • .have good neighborly relations with other Habsburg-ruled nations.
  • .to seek alliances with the Italian provinces and those of the Ottoman empire.
  • Hungary’s future form of government to be determined by the National Assembly; until that
    time, the country to be led by a “governing president”.

    • Hotly debated, a special session was instituted meeting in the main Reformed Church building in
    Debrecen. It approved the motion and selected Kossuth “governing president”.
    Defense minister Mészáros tenders his resignation.

    Austrian Gen. Welden orders evacuation of Pest. (April 20) The city, preparing to welcome
    Kossuth, is celebrating the Austrians’ departure. It had to wait, however, and is taken four days
    later by Gen. Lajos Aulich and the 2nd honvéd corps.

    †
    Before Komárom’s siege

    Austrians retreat towards Komárom, but six days later defeated at Komárom-Szõny and forced to
    move towards Pozsony. Due to lack of equipment, however, the pursuing units could not cross
    the Danube. Welden evacuates Buda and moves West toward Komárom, but leaving a
    four-battalion defending force on Buda’s Castle Hill under General-major Heinrich Hentzi.

    Parliament regulates Kossuth’s powers: new orders can only be
    issued by ministerial approval. A popular uprising led by Gáspár Noszlopy routs the Austrian
    garrison at Kaposvár, (170 km SW of Buda-Pest; April 30) with his Somogy county volunteers (Hung. “népfelkelõk”).
    Hungary is almost completely liberated, but both army and leadership show exhaustion. Lack of
    supplies causes a halt in further operations, giving Austrians breathing room. Rumors of Austrian
    Victories in Italy and of possible Russian intervention create considerable unease. While Buda’s
    Castle Hill still in Austrian hands, the bulk of Honvéd forces looking for redeployment and resupply.

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