"The Olga Hussars. " Topic

"The Hungarian campaign opened in fact on 20 January (1 February) 1849, when two small columns—those of Major General Engelhardt (3 battalions, 2 sotnias, and 8 guns) and Colonel Skaryatin (4 battalions, 5 sotnias, and 8 guns)—crossed the Transylvanian border on Lüders' orders (he had previously received Nicholas I's approval). Here General Józef Bem's Hungarian army was successfully pushing the forces of Feldmarschalleutnant Puchner toward Hermannstadt. At the request of the Austrians, Russian columns entered Transylvania and on 23 January occupied the cities of Kronstadt and Hermannstadt. The appearance of Skaryatin's force compelled Bem to cease his pursuit of the Austrians and retreat to the Mures River. Puchner gained heart and crossed over to the offensive, but was decisively defeated in battle at Piski on 28 January. He was saved from complete destruction only by the incursion into Transylvania of another Austrian force under Colonel Urban. Bem was obliged to move to meet this new enemy and by 11 February had pushed Urban back into the Bukovina. After this the Hungarians concentrated at Medias. Meanwhile Puchner gathered his troops, crossed to the offensive on 17 February, beat the rebels after all, and occupied Medias on the 20th. Bem retreated and took up a strong position at Segesvar. Cheered by his rare success, Puchner decided to not take risks and went around the Hungarians by further marches. But upon approaching Segesvar on 27 February, he was quite amazed at not encountering the enemy. The field marshal did not even want to believe this until he received intelligence from Skaryatin. Bem had guessed the Austrian maneuver and undertaken a daring course of action. While the calculating Puchner was going around his left flank, Bem lunged forward to the road just abandoned by the enemy and moved along it straight into the enemy's rear toward Hermannstadt. After realizing his false step, Puchner took off in pursuit but was too late. On 27 February the Hungarians fell upon the Russian column with all their strength. After a stubbornly fought battle Skaryatin was forced to retreat to the Walachian border. Only on 1 March was Puchner able to establish communications with the Russians and agree to attack Hermannstadt with their help. But here he fell ill and quit his army. General Caliani who replaced him lost the initiative once and for all and withdrew the Austrian force to Kronstadt to unite with Engelhardt's column. Bem followed the Austrians and on 8 March approached the city. Caliani would not accept battle and he retreated further to Walachia, drawing Engelhardt behind him. Bem then turned again on Skaryatin, who had ensconced himself in the Rottenturm Pass. On 16-17 March the Russians beat off all Hungarian attacks. But Skaryatin saw no use in continuing the defense, and withdrew his troops into Walachia. Thus ended the first battles, which clearly showed that in a struggle with a strong and daring enemy, the Russian army could only count on itself.

Meanwhile the state of the Austrian army, demoralized by varied failures, became critical. The Vienna cabinet lost hope of being able to quell the revolt with its own resources, and in March 1849 officially turned to Russia for help. Emperor Nicholas I agreed under the condition that Russian forces operate independently and separately from the Austrians. For the Hungarian campaign an army of four corps was mobilized, deployed on the western border: Lieutenant General P.Ya. Kupriyanov's 2nd Corps (4th, 5th, and 6th Infantry Divisions, 2nd Light Cavalry Division, and 2nd Artillery Division – 48,987 men); General-Adjutant Graf F.V. Rüdiger's 3rd Corps (7th, 8th, and 9th Infantry Divisions, 3rd Light Cavalry Division, and 3rd Artillery Division – 44.928 men); Lieutenant General M.I. Cheodaev's 4th Infantry Corps (10th, 11th, and 12th Infantry Divisions, 4th Light Cavalry Division, and 4th Artillery Division – 52,274 men); General-Adjutant A.N. Lüders' 5th Corps (14th and 15th Infantry Divisions, 5th Light Cavalry Division, 5th Artillery Division, and 3rd Don Cossack Regiment – 28,676 men). On 18(30) April 1849 the commander of all Russian forces, General-Field Marshal the Prince of Warsaw, Graf I.F. Paskevich, issued the order to cross the border. On 28 April a Highest Manifesto was proclaimed in which it was said, "Having been called to aid the Just cause of the All-Highest Leader in battle and the Lord of victories, We have directed Our several armies to move to extinguish revolt and destroy the audacious evil-minded persons who are trying to disturb the tranquility of Our realm as well."…"
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