About the middle of June, 1849, Captain Mayne Reid, in company with the
revolutionary leader Hecker, and others bent upon the same errand,
sailed in the Cunard steamship "Caledonia" for Liverpool, to aid the
revolutionary movements then disturbing Europe.
The men composing the legion raised in New York, were to follow in
another steamer.
On arrival at Liverpool, Captain Reid and Hecker received the
intelligence, which had just arrived, that the Bavarian revolution was
at an end. They were therefore to proceed direct for Hungary, so soon
as their men should arrive. Their plans had been to make for Baden
first, and then on to Hungary.
Taking leave of his friend Hecker, Captain Mayne Reid appointed to join
him in London in about a week or ten days. Mayne Reid then took the
first boat leaving for Warren Point, to visit his native home before
embarking on his perilous expedition. He landed in Ireland on the
morning of July 12th, and at once took a car to Rathfriland, some twenty
miles distant, reaching it about mid-day. Here he dispatched a
messenger to Ballyroney to break the news of his return to his family,
who were in ignorance of his having left America, fearing the shock that
his sudden appearance might have upon his mother, for _la joie fait
peur_.
The Captain quickly followed on the heels of his messenger. We leave
the reader to imagine this reunion after so long an absence. He had
left home a mere youth. He returned a man who had passed through many
fires, and bore their scars upon him.
There was a glad welcome for him in his native place, but the rejoicings
were saddened with the reflection that he must so soon depart on the
errand of war. All the neighbours vied each with the others in doing
honour to the hero.
Captain Reid, amongst his luggage, had brought over from America a
quantity of Colt's revolvers; the sight of these weapons caused no
little consternation at Ballyroney.
The time agreed upon with Hecker expired, and Mayne Reid bade adieu to
his home, and arrived in London at the beginning of August. He at once
threw all his energies into the Hungarian cause.
Shortly after his arrival in London a public meeting was held at the
Hanover Square Rooms to advocate the recognition of Hungary as a nation.
Mayne Reid was present, and the following is a report of his part in
the proceedings:
"Colonel Reid, United States, moved the next resolution, and announced
himself to be at the head of a band of bold Americans, who had arrived
in this metropolis on their way to Hungary, to place their swords and
lives at the disposal of her people. The resolution he moved was as
follows: `That the immediate recognition of the government _de facto_ of
the kingdom of Hungary by this country is no less demanded by
considerations of justice and policy and the commercial interests of the
two States, than with a view to putting a stop to the effusion of human
blood, and of terminating the prospect of the fearful and bloody
sepulchre of a soldier.' `Gentlemen,' he said, `let us hope that this
result may never be--let us pray that it may never be; and before I
resume my seat I will offer a prayer to the God of Omnipotence, couched
in a paraphrase upon the language of the eloquent Curran: May the
Austrian and the Russian sink together in the dust; may the brave Magyar
walk abroad in his own majesty; may his body swell beyond the measure of
his chains, now bursting from around him; and may he stand redeemed,
regenerated, and disenthralled by the irresistible genius of universal
emancipation.'"
But Captain Mayne Reid was not destined to fight in the cause of
Hungary, any more than in the Baden insurrection. Fate held different
purposes for him to fulfil.
Before the expedition had started came the news of the defeat at
Temsevar, on August 9th, 1849. Kossuth had been compelled to abandon
his position and flee into Turkey, and the subjugation of Hungary was
soon after completed.
There was now no use for the legion, and Captain Reid helped them in
returning to America.
To raise sufficient funds for this purpose he sold most of the Colt's
revolvers he had brought over.
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Captain Mayne Reid now finally sheathed his sword, once more took up the
pen, and began those marvellous tales of adventure which have made his
name famous.