Gen. Schlik

With Kossuth's appeal falling on deaf ears, Windischgraetz moved militarily.He crossed the Hungarian border with 52,000 trained regulars and 210 artillery pieces. His opposite was Arthur Görgey who was outnumbered in manpower and especially in firepower. While this was Windischgraetz's most overt move, in fact he used other resources as well. This included General Puchner in Transylvania, Simunich in Galicia (now partly Poland, mainly Ukraine) who used his army corps and General Schlik to occupy Kassa (now Kosice, Slovakia), thus threatening the Northern Hungarian flank. Görgey decided on a strategic withdrawal down the Danube valley, relying on fortifications (e.g. Komárom) to slow Windischgraetz.

On the diplomatic front, Kossuth and the diet had tried to obtain recognition internationally. The government of Piedmont appoints Alessandro Monti ambassador to Hungary, however the British foreign minister (T.H.J. Palmerston) considers his Viennese chargè d'affairs the sole representative to the Empire.

General Perczel

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.

Ferenc Deak

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 Years' eve and was a difficult one. The new rail line to Szolnok functioned haltingly and the rest of the trip to Debrecen 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.

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