The Battle of Hetény-Kurtakeszi-Izsa, fought on 10 September 1849 between a Hungarian troop from the Fortress of Komárom and a Russian detachment of Cossacks, was one of the last battles of the Hungarian War of Independence. The battle followed the Surrender at Világos by General Artúr Görgei, leader of the Hungarian army, on 13 August 1849. After this surrender, one of the last strongholds of Hungarian independence was the fortress of Komárom, which was then surrounded by Austrian and Russian troops. During September 1849, a number of smaller battles and skirmishes were fought between the Hungarian defenders and the Russian-Austrian besieging troops. The Russians and Austrians sought to tighten the blockade around the Hungarian fortress, in order to seize it by direct assault as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the Hungarians attempted to gain intelligence regarding the strength of the besieging troops. On 10 September, General György Klapka, the commander of the fortress, learned that the Russians had smaller units stationed northeast of Komárom. General Klapka sent a detachment to gather information, but unbeknownst to the Hungarians, the Russians had twice superior forces, which compelled the Hungarians to retreat. The Russian forces tried to cut the Hungarian retreat, but the Hungarians managed to repel them. As a result of this encounter, Klapka learned that the enemy forces surrounding Komárom were indeed vastly superior to his own forces. After a two-week armistice, various battles and skirmishes continued between the Hungarian troops and the Russian-Austrian besieging units.
Background
In the final days of the Hungarian War of Independence of 1848-1849, after the Surrender at Világos on 13 August 1849 of the last operational army of the Hungarians led by General Artúr Görgei, and the political leader of the Hungarian Revolution, Lajos Kossuth left the country on 17 August, there were still many smaller and bigger troops and fortresses which continued to resist. But in the next two weeks, these troops surrendered one after another. At the start of September, only two strongholds remained in Hungarian hands. The fortresses of Pétervárad and Komárom. But on 7 September 1849, General Pál Kiss surrendered the fortress of Pétervárad to the Austrians. So the only fortress which continued to put up resistance was Komárom.
The military council convened by Klapka on 1 September put up a list of terms of capitulation, which were as follows.
‘’Military Council of Komárom Castle. 1. General amnesty for the whole nation. 2. General pardon without distinction of nationality for the whole Hungarian army which has already laid down its arms or will lay down its arms in the future; and the immediate release of all Hungarian soldiers who have been taken prisoners of war. 3. The exchange of paper money issued by the Hungarian Treasury to the money of the empire. 4. Freedom for everybody to remain in the country or emigrate; the provision of the necessary passports for those going abroad. 5. The free departure of the defenders of Komárom, with a military parade. 6. A monthly fee for officers, and 10 days' pay for the commoners, in full value both for those who remain in the country and for those who emigrate. 7. Retention of private property by all. 8. Exchange of approved copies of these terms of surrender within 8 days, i.e. by 8 September 1849. [?] 9. Complete pardoning and no political persecution for the city of Komárom and its inhabitants, and exchange of all paper money issued by the governorate of the fortress during the siege. 10. Compensation of all those who have signed a contract with the commandment of the Komárom castle. Komárom, 1 September 1849. Klapka, Hungarian General.’’
On 2 September 1849, the two-week armistice concluded between the Austrian troops and the defenders of Komárom, expired, and a few days later the Habsburg Imperial-Royal (K.u.K.) and Russian troops drew a tight siege ring around the walls of the fortress.
Starting with 1 September the command of the besieging army was taken over by Field Marshal Laval Nugent von Westmeath.
The besieging troops were:
II Corps under Baron Lieutenant General Anton Csorich.
Colloredo division
- Pott and Liebler brigades: 13 battalions, 4 companies of cavalry and 28 guns; Nobili division; Nobili division - Teuchert and Lederer Brigades: 10 1/3 battalions, 3 cavalry companies and 18 guns. Division total: 23 1/3 battalions, 7 cavalry companies and 46 guns.
II Reserve Corps under Field Marshal Count Laval Nugent.