Hungary invaded

Kossuth had been unhappy with Görgey’s strategy of withdrawals and prevailed on his rival, General Perczel, to make a stand. He did, and was badly mauled at Mór, between Komárom (still in Hungarian hands) and Buda-Pest.

Kossuth decided on a two-prong strategy: to move the government from Buda-Pest and to negotiate. The peace delegation was headed by Batthyány and Ferenc Deák, who met Windischgraetz at his headquarters near Buda-Pest. They asked for recognition of the 1848 laws in return for a cease-fire. Windischgraetz refused, demanding unconditional surrender.

Upon receiving news of the failure, preparations were made to move the government from Buda-Pest to Debrecen. The move started on New Year’s Eve and was a difficult one. The new rail line to Szolnok functioned haltingly, and the rest of the trip to Debrecen was made in carts. Not only people but many documents, printing presses, etc. had to be moved. Not all the deputies or staffs transferred: discouraged by the Austrian advance, some, especially members of the Upper House, returned to their homes, mostly country estates. The cabinet, too, thinned out — Batthyány, for one, having been taken prisoner by Windischgraetz.

Source: Andrew Vadász’s Kossuth & 1848-49 Collection.