Frederick George D'Utassy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frederick George D'Utassy
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Col. Frederick George D'Utassy
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| Born | November 26, 1827 Zala Nagy Kalirsa, Hungary |
| Died | May 5, 1892 (aged 64) Wilmington, Delaware |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1863 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Commands held | 39th New York Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Other work | Soldier (Austrian Army) Instructor Professor of Foreign Languages Businessman |
Frederick George D'Utassy (November 26, 1827 – May 5, 1892) was an important officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He led a famous group of soldiers known as the Garibaldi Guard, which was the 39th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, from 1861 to 1863. Colonel D'Utassy was from Hungary and was known for his strong personality.
Early Life and Adventures
Frederick George D'Utassy was born in Zala Nagy Kalirsa, Hungary, on November 26, 1827. Not much is officially known about his early life; most of what we know comes from his own stories. He said he served as a Lieutenant in the Austrian Army. However, he later joined the Hungarian revolutionaries during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. He claimed to have become a Major and was even sentenced to death, but he managed to escape to the Ottoman Empire.
After leaving Hungary, D'Utassy traveled to Greece and Italy. In 1855, he moved to England and then to Nova Scotia in Canada. He worked in different jobs, including as a cavalry instructor, a secretary, and even a dancing teacher. He was very good with languages and could speak English, Hungarian, German, Spanish, French, and Italian. Because of his language skills, he became a professor of foreign languages at Dalhousie College in Halifax in 1855.
In October 1860, D'Utassy moved to New York City. He was married to Bertha, and they had a son named Leo L. D'Utassy, who was born in 1854. His mother, sister, and two brothers, Anton and Carl, also came with them to New York. In the city, D'Utassy started to meet important people and become part of the city's higher society.
Leading the Garibaldi Guard
When the American Civil War began, D'Utassy played a key role in forming the 39th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. This unit was also known as the Garibaldi Guard. It was officially formed in New York City on May 22, 1861, and its soldiers agreed to serve for three years. The regiment was very diverse, with soldiers from many different countries, including Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal. In total, it included people from 11 different nations. D'Utassy's brothers, Carl and Anton, also joined the regiment as Lieutenants. Anton later became a Captain.
On May 27, 1861, the regiment moved to Washington, D.C. In July, the 39th New York took part in the army's movement towards Manassas. They were part of the 1st Brigade and were only slightly involved in the First Battle of Bull Run.
While stationed in Alexandria, the regiment faced some challenges because of its many different nationalities. Sometimes, disagreements led to small rebellions, but D'Utassy was always able to calm them down. In August, D'Utassy temporarily took command of the brigade. He wanted his regiment to be more "American" and even refused to accept orders written in German. He tried to make English the only language used in the regiment and asked his officers to pass language tests.
D'Utassy was a very strict leader and believed strongly in discipline. He would give out serious punishments for things like drunkenness or bad behavior. Because of his strictness, many officers in the regiment disliked him and even resigned. There were also rumors that D'Utassy had made up parts of his military past. He also had strong feelings against Germans, which upset both his German commanders and about half of his regiment, as many soldiers were German.
In November, D'Utassy returned to commanding just his regiment. He was also accused of taking too many food supplies, but he proved he was right, and the charge was dropped. Later, in April, D'Utassy was arrested because of a disagreement with his commander, General Blenker. D'Utassy asked for a military trial, but it was not granted at that time.
The 39th New York later joined General John C. Frémont's forces and took part in a battle near Strasburg. In the Battle of Cross Keys, D'Utassy's regiment fought bravely but was pushed back, suffering many losses. This battle was a defeat for the Union Army that day.
After this, the 39th New York was assigned to protect Washington, D.C. D'Utassy started to earn the respect of his American officers. His brigade took part in the retreat to Harper's Ferry in September 1862. D'Utassy was involved in the surrender of Harper's Ferry on September 15, though he reportedly disagreed with the decision to surrender.
After being released, D'Utassy and his brigade went to Camp Douglas in Chicago. He, along with other commanders, had to testify at a military court about what happened at Harper's Ferry. D'Utassy was found innocent of any wrongdoing and even received praise for his actions. In November, he returned to Washington and was given command of a brigade at Union Mills, Maryland. His brigade included the 39th New York and other regiments. In December, he and his brigade helped to stop a Confederate raid but did not directly fight. In January 1863, another general took command of the brigade, and D'Utassy returned to leading the 39th New York, though he often served as the general's assistant.
Challenges and Later Life
In March 1863, Colonel D'Utassy was arrested again. A military court began on April 2 to look into his actions. He was accused of several things, including not following army rules and mismanaging army supplies. The court-martial was part of a bigger effort to stop corruption in the army.
The trial lasted almost two months, and many people testified. Generals Fremont, White, and Hays, along with other officers and soldiers, spoke positively about D'Utassy's leadership and effectiveness. However, other witnesses, including his own Lieutenant Colonel, testified against him, supporting the accusations.
On May 27, the court made its decision, which was approved by President Abraham Lincoln. D'Utassy was found innocent of trying to persuade a soldier to desert. However, he was found guilty of some charges related to not following proper procedures with army horses and for actions that were considered harmful to military discipline. These actions included not following rules about mail, making improper deals for officer positions, and not handling army records and money correctly.
Because of this, D'Utassy was removed from the army on May 29, 1863. He was also sentenced to be held for one year. He was sent to Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, New York. There's a story that when he arrived, he told a guard, "I speak twelve languages!" and the guard replied, "Here in Sing-Sing we only speak one and we want very little of that."
After his release from prison, Frederick D'Utassy became a successful businessman. He owned a portrait studio and later worked as an insurance agent and importer. He was also a high-ranking member of the Freemasons. He lived in New York City for many years before moving to Baltimore, Maryland.
On May 5, 1892, D'Utassy was found unconscious in his hotel room in Wilmington, Delaware. He was taken to a hospital but passed away later that day. He was buried at Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore. His wife and son survived him. His brother Anton named his own son, George D'Utassy, after him.
