The "imperials" moving into Pest

Start of Buda-Pest evacuation. The Defense Committee(Honvédelmi Bizottmány) and parliament moving to Debrecen. The honvédcouncil decides Buda-Pest's surrender; the "imperials" move into Buda, then Pest. Gen. Perczel to provide for defense of the Tisza line with the 4th army corps, while Görgey to move his 9th corps through Vác and Nyitra to relieve Lipótvár under siege by Gen. Simunich and to diminish the Windischgraetz threat.

The government move from Buda-Pest to Debrecen (via Szolnok) was a comprehensive one,including moving armament and munitions manufacturing equipment,the treasury, banknote and minting apparatus.

The offensive against Hungary however was not limited to Windischgraetz's main force. " Feldmarschalleutnant Baron Balthasar Simunich" had moved with a small force into Hungary from Moravia. He was to link up and reinforce Schlick, who had occupied Kassa. While Kossuth ordered Görgey to engage in adecisive battle West of Buda, the general refused and moved North instead.

Gen. György Klapka

This was in line with a recommendation by Gen. György Klapka tothe Defense Council : abandon Buda-Pest, strengthen the North and defend the Tisza line. Görgey's units had been weakened through desertions and needed strong, decisive moves to keep from disintegrating. Kossuth orders documents, crucial industry tools to be movedEast. In fact the government had a split personality, with Batthyány and the "peace party" desperately seeking compromise with the 'imperials", while Kossuth put his weight behind military defense and preparations to make a stand in the Eastern parts of the country.

Batthyány and a small delegation met Windischgraetz at his headquarters at Bicske (West of Buda-Pest) on Jan 3, seeking to negotiate on the basis of the April laws. Windischgraetz was only interested in unconditional surrender. After the meeting he had Batthyány arrested. He let the others go, but forbade them from returning into Hungarian government territory.

General Bem bests Karl Urban's border guards at Tihuca,Transylvania.
Windischgraetz occupies Buda-Pest, while Görgey at Vác proclaims to his "Royal Army of the Upper Danube" :disassociation from the Defense Council, accepting orders only from Defense Minister Lázár Mészáros and commits to continuing battle to defend the April laws.
Dénes Pázmány Jr. resigns his post as chairman of Parliament.Windischgraetz appoints Count Móric Almássy as Treasury Director, reporting to the Austrian finance minister.

Reformed College

An understrength diet meets in Debrecen (Jan 8), using the Reformed College as its venue. The presidents of both houses joined the "imperials" and the Jan. 9 opening of parliament found only 145 of the total of 415 deputies. The number grew however with time
Kossuth had a problem reconciling Görgey's behavior with his own appointment and trust in the general. At the same time he movedto bridge the gap with Görgey, whom Kossuth thought getting ready to surrender. In fact Görgey had turned back an overture from Windischgraetz.

Görgey redirects his thrusts towards the mining centers of the North, moving from Vác on Jan. 10
János Hám, archbishop of Esztergom, calls on clergy to support the imperial troops and orders the reading of the imperial communications from the pulpit.
Kossuth orders the machinery of the Pest armament works to be taken to Nagyvárad. Diet debates report of mission to Windischgraetz and summarily rejects Austrian demands. Baron Franz Ottinger's imperial forces take Szolnok. (Jan 13) General Bem occupies Marosvásárhely. Patriarch Rajaçiç's message to Franz Joseph : awaits promised Serbian "nationaladministration". János Hám, archbishop of Esztergom callson his parish priests to support the "imperials".

Battle of Szolnok

General Mór Perczel defeats General Ottinger's army and retakes Szolnok.(Jan 22) He begins thrust towards Buda-Pest, while Klapka suffers defeat from Colonel Schlick's troops at Tarcal. Kossuth expresses disappointment in Görgey's apparent independence and lack of communications.

Defense ministry instructs Perczel to retreat East of the Tisza. He resigns in protest.
Windischgraetz again calls on Görgey to surrender. Request refused. Defense committee appoints Polish general count Henryk Dembinski supreme honvéd commander.(January 29)

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