HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LATE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 AND THE 
 
 EVENTS OF THE CAMPAIGN. 
 
 BY JOSEPH HORDYNSKI, 
 
 UOR OF THE LATE, 10th REGIMENT OF LITHUANIAN LANCSRS. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY CARTER AND HENDEE. 
 
 1832. 
 

 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1832, 
 
 BT CARTER AND HENDEE, 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District of Massachusetts 
 
 J. E. HINCEL .r*T ".V * <J oXj y ** I> f a 8 , 
 NO. 14 WATER STREET. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 IT is due to the author of this work, to say something of the manner in which it has 
 been prepared for the press. It was written in 'Polish, and dictated to the translator, 
 in French, from the Polish manuscript. The fact that the only medium of com- 
 munication between the author and the translator was a language foreign to them both, 
 will dispose the reader to regard the faults in the style of the work with indulgence. The 
 sentiments of the author, and even his modes of expression, have been strictly followed, 
 as much so as the intervention of two languages would admit ; and the work must be con- 
 sidered as essentially his own. The publication has been delayed beyond the expectation 
 of those engaged in it, from various causes, of which it will perhaps be sufficient to state 
 one, namely, that the work has been extended to twice the size originally designed, and 
 announced in the prospectus. In order to avoid the delay of a second draught, the sheets 
 have been sent to the press nearly in the state in which they were first rapidly written, 
 the revision having been confined to corrections necessary to perspicuity alone. 
 
 G. H. S. 
 
 NOTE. For the first fifty-seven pages, a translation, through the German, by a gentle- 
 man who also contributed the etching of the plans, was adopted. 
 
 252606 
 
 4* 
 
TO THE 
 
 GREAT AND FREE NATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
 
 LIBERATED from prison and from the prospect of a more 
 gloomy future, by some of your fellow-citizens, I have been so 
 fortunate as to reach these happy shores. Providence has grant- 
 ed me to behold that fair country, and that nation, which every 
 lover of freedom desires to see with his own eyes, and every 
 freeman of Poland is wont to think of with love and esteem. 
 Your land, long since the asylum of the persecuted, has welcomed 
 me with hearty benevolence. From the first moment of my ar- 
 rival to the present time, I have received daily proofs of your 
 sympathy. Full of gratitude, and in the hope of doing you an 
 acceptable service, 1 cannot better employ the moments allowed 
 me during my stay among you, than by giving you a faithful ac- 
 count of our revolution, and of its true causes and motives, as 
 well as of the events of war by which it was followed. By a 
 brief statement of the circumstances which brought about 'that 
 revolution, I wish to inform you of the injustice and outrages, 
 which my nation was compelled to endure, during fourteen 
 years, in which both its natural rights, and the constitution sol- 
 emnly guaranteed to it, were trampled under foot. By a true 
 account of the events of the ensuing war, you will be enabled to 
 convince yourselves of the means by which small forces be- 
 came victorious over a colossal power ; as well as of the causes 
 of the final catastrophe to which Poland has been doomed. 
 
 1 am convinced that in many respects my narrative will be 
 entirely opposed to the representations given in public papers ; 
 for our land, like most countries struggling for liberty, was sur- 
 
Vi DEDICATION. 
 
 rounded by enemies rather than friends. The sources from 
 which these accounts have been drawn, are, first, my own recol- 
 lections of events of which I was an eye-witness ; secondly, the 
 reports of my friends and comrades who were present ; and last- 
 ly, (particularly as to the operations of the detached corps) the 
 official reports of the army, which have not yet escaped my mem- 
 ory. The same course I have followed in the design of the 
 plans, which have been traced partly from my own recollections 
 of positions and scenes at which I was present, partly from the 
 accurate reports of friends, and partly from public reports, as- 
 sisted by my personal knowledge of localities. 
 
 Americans, I am neither an author nor a scholar by profes- 
 sion, but a simple republican and soldier. In such an one you 
 will forgive faults in the form and style of writing. Do not then 
 judge me as a writer, but see in me an unhappy Pole, who pre- 
 sents to your sympathies the picture of the fatal disasters of his 
 unfortunate country, and of the manner in which it strove to re- 
 gain its liberty, that first and greatest of national blessings. In 
 this hope of your indulgence, I beg you to accept this work 
 as a token of my gratitude and as a memorial of my short stay 
 among you, as well as an expression of the great esteem, with 
 which I shall always remain, 
 
 Americans, your devoted servant, 
 
 JOSEPH HORDYNSKI. 
 
 To the gentlemen who have aided me in the preparation of 
 this work for the press, I offer the only recompense which they 
 will permit me to make my heartfelt thanks ; and I assure them 
 that in the feelings which prompt this acknowledgement, all my 
 comrades will participate. J. H. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Geographical extent, population, and political importance of Poland, as an- 
 ciently constituted. Conduct of Napoleon in 1812. Congress of Vi- 
 enna. Grand-duchy of Warsaw erected into a kingdom.- Dispositions 
 of Alexander. Zajaczek appointed Viceroy, and Constantine com- 
 mander of the army. Constantine encroaches upon the civil adminis- 
 tration. Acts of tyranny. Meeting of the Diet. Public debates sup- 
 pressed. The Polish conspiracy of 1821. The Russian conspiracy of 
 1824. Union of the Patriotic Associations. Death of Alexander. 
 The revolt of St. Petersburgh. Punishment of the patriots. Corona- 
 tion of Nicholas. Constantine appointed viceroy of Poland. Oppress- 
 ions of the Government. Patriotic club. Influence of the French 
 and Belgic revolutions. The quartering-tax. Excitement in Warsaw. 
 Arrest of the students at Praga. Day of the revolution fixed 
 upon. - -_- - - ... page 1 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Principles of the Revolution. THE FIRST NIGHT. Attack on the Bar- 
 racks of the Russian cavalry. Their dispersion. Attempt to secure 
 the person of the Grand Duke. Capture of Russian general officers 
 and spies. Actions with detached borders of Russian cavalry. Two 
 companies of Polish light-infantry join the patriots Death of Potocki 
 andTrembicki. The Russian infantry attacked and dispersed. Arma- 
 ment and assembling of the people. Detachments sent to Praga. 19 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE FIRST DAY. Expulsion of the Russians from Warsaw. Choice of 
 Chlopicki as Commander in Chief. Provisional Government, under 
 the Presidency of Prince Adam Czartoriski. Deputation sent to the 
 Grand Duke. Propositions and answer. Abolition of the Bureau of 
 Police. Establishment of the National Guard. Proclamations ad- 
 dressed to the inhabitants of the provinces and the distant troops. 
 Provision for the Russian prisoners. The Academical Legions formed. 
 Arrival of detachments from the provinces. The Grand Duke con- 
 sents to leave the kingdom, and addresses a proclamation to the 
 Poles. - -~ 35 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Patriotic Club commences its sessions. Character of that association. 
 The Grand Duke departs for the frontier. Particulars of his march 
 The Polish regiments which had remained with him return to Mos- 
 cow. Their reception. Krazynski and Koxnatowski. Deputation to 
 St. Petersburgh. Demands to be laid before the Emperor. Sierawski 
 made Governor of Warsaw, and Wasowiez chief of the staff. Order re- 
 specting the army. Arrival of volunteers from the interior. Opening 
 of the theatre. Religious solemnities at Praga. Chlopicki nominated 
 and proclaimed Dictator. ..... 47 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The Dictator enters upon his duties. Plans for the enrolment of new forces. 
 System of officering them. Want of energy in the execution of his 
 plans. Fortifications neglected. The people supply the deficiences 
 of the administration. Discovery of the correspondence between the 
 ministers Grabowski and Lubecki. The march of the army delayed. 
 Answer of the Emperor Nicholas to the deputies. His proclama- 
 tion. Its effect on the nation. The Diet demand of the Dictator an 
 account of his trust. The result of their investigations. Chlopicki 
 deprived of the dictatorial power. The civil administration entrusted to 
 Prince Adam Czartoryski, and the command of the army to Prince 
 Michael Radzivil, each subordinate to the Diet. 58 
 
CONTENTS. IX 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Remarks on the policy of the late Dictator. System of operations adopted. 
 The army leaves Warsaw. Statement of the existing forces. Of the 
 forces proposed to be raised. Unfortunate consequences of the delay 
 in the preparation of the forces. Statement of the force with which 
 the war was actually commenced. 73 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Entrance of the Russian forces into the Kingdom. Proclamations of Mar- 
 shal Diebitsch. Their effect. Disposition of the Russian and Polish 
 forces. Plan of operations of the Poles. 83 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The opening fire. Affairs of the 10th and llth February. Combat of 
 Stoczek. Disposition in consequence of that battle. Battle of Boimie. 
 Retrograde movement to Dobre. Combat of Makowiec. Passage of 
 the Orsyca. Combat of Dobre. Attack on the right wing at Minsk. 94 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Retrograde movement of the 18th of February. Details of this move- 
 ment, and of the actions which took place. The army reaches the 
 field of Praga. Its reception at Warsaw. Position of the army. 
 Battle of Wavre and Bialolenka. Operations of General Dwernicki 
 against the corps of Prince Wirtemberg. Defeat of that corps by Gen- 
 eral Dwernicki at Swierza. Renewal of the enemy's attack on the 
 main army on the 20th. Its successful resistance. - - 110 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Renewal of the enemy's attack on the 20th Its result. Review of the 
 events of the preceding day. The enemy's loss. Examination of the 
 plan of operations of the Polish army. Neglect of fortification. Want 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 of concert in the different operations. Advantageous offensive op- 
 erations neglected. Acts of the National Government. Provision in 
 lands for the soldiers. Abolition of the Corvee, &c. Marshal Diebitsch 
 remains in a state of inactivity. Negotiations are opened by him. 
 His propositions are declined. Position of the 24th, and battle of Bia- 
 lolenka. I 25 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Position of the armies on the 25th. Great battle of Grokow. Details. 
 State of the Russian army after its defeat. Examination of the plan of 
 the battle of Grokow. Remarks upon the course adopted by Prince 
 Radzivil after that victory. The Polish army crosses the Vistula to 
 Warsaw. Its reception by the national government and the citizens. 
 Resignation of Prince Radzivil. 137 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Passage of the Vistula to Warsaw. Disposition of the Polish forces on its left 
 bank. Appointment of General John Skrzynecki to the chief command. 
 Proclamation. Prompt attention given to the reorganization of the ar- 
 my, the arsenals and manufactories of arms, the fortifications, &c. De- 
 portment of the commander in chief towards the army. General en- 
 thusiasm of the nation. The patriotic offers of the Polish women. 
 New regulations established for conferring orders of merit. Disorderly 
 state of the Russian army. Attempt of Diebitsch to bribe the Polish 
 soldiery. General view of the encouraging circumstances of this epoch. 
 The insurrection in Russia under Yermolow. View of the state of 
 the Polish forces when General Skrzynecki took the chief command. 
 He presses the organization of the new forces. Their distribution and 
 that of the general forces. Positions of the Polish army and the de- 
 tached corps. Russian position. 158 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Operations of the corps of General 1 Dwernicki against the Russian corps 
 under the Prince of Wirtemberg, in the Palatinate of Lublin. Battle 
 of Pulawa, and defeat of Wirtemberg. Atrocities of that prince at 
 Pulawa. Pursuit of the enemy. Battle of Kurow, and annihilation of 
 Wirtemberg's corps. Operations of Colonel Valentin, between Modlin 
 
CONTENTS. XI 
 
 and Pultusk. A detachment of the enemy is surprised at Nasielsk. 
 Transports of provisions for the enemy from Prussia taken. Successful 
 skirmishes. Marshal Diebitsch demands the capitulation of the fortress 
 of Moulin. Reply of Colonel Leduchowski. A detachment from the 
 garrison of Mbdlin attacks and defeats a Russian force at Serock. Gen- 
 eral Skrzynecki makes an offer of pacification on the basis of the con- 
 cessions originally demanded by the Poles. This proposition is re- 
 jected and hostilities are recommenced. Reconnoissance upon the right 
 bank of the Vistula under Jankowski and Gielgud. A Russian corps un- 
 der General Witt is sent against Dwernicki. General Uminski is sent 
 against the Russian guard. First encounter. The Russian guard is 
 compelled to leave their position for Ostrolenka. The Guard evacuates 
 Ostrolenka to join the Grand army. - - 177 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Plan of General Skrzynecki to act upon the isolated corps of Rosen and 
 Giesmar. Battle of Wawr. Various detachments of the enemy are 
 taken after that battle, and a great number of prisoners. Battle of 
 Dembe-Wielke. Destructive pursuit of the enemy by our cavalry. 
 View of the Russian losses in the preceding days. Marshal Diebitsch 
 abandons his plan of crossing the Vistula, and marches to the rescue of 
 the remains of the corps of Rosen and Giesmar, and the Imperial Guard. 
 View of the position of the two armies, after the second repulse of 
 the enemy from before Warsaw. Operations of General Dwernicki. 
 Successes of a reconnoissance under Colonel Russyian at Usciulog. 
 Effect of Dwernicki's victories on the inhabitants of the provinces. 
 Acknowledgment of General Dwernicki's services by the National 
 Government. The instructions for his future operations. - 194 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 The insurrection in Lithuania. Dispositions of the Lithuanians at the 
 breaking out of our revolution. Their offers of co-operation were re- 
 jected by the Dictator. View of the condition of Lithuania under the 
 Russian sway. Scheme of the Russian government to destroy all 
 Polish national feeling in that province. The insurrection is brought 
 about by the massacre of the patriots at Osmiany. Capture of numer- 
 ous towns by the insurgents, and dispersion, of their garrisons. Storm 
 of Wilna, and delivery of prisoners. Several partizan corps are form- 
 ed. Their destination and successes. . . . 209 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Plan of operation against the two corps of Rosen and Kreutz. Battle of 
 
 Igani. Reflections on the state of the Polish cause after the victory 
 
 oflgani. Review of the course of the campaign. Condition of the 
 Russian army. Discontents in Russia. Representations of the Se- 
 nate at St. Petersburgh to the Emperor. Comparative view of the 
 forces of the two armies at the present stage of the conflict. 218 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Position of the two armies after the battle of Igani. Plan of a simultane- 
 ous attack upon the Russian forces upon opposite sides. Instructions 
 to the different corps. Operations on the enemy's front. Unfortunate 
 operations of General Sierawski, and the first defeat. Details of those 
 operations. Operations of General Dwernicki. He defeats Rudiger ; 
 but by a false operation exposes himself to be attacked disadvantage- 
 ously by two Russian corps. In the course of the action the Austrian 
 frontier is passed by the combatants. An Austrian force interposes, 
 and General Dwernicki consents to go into camp. His arms and pri- 
 soners are taken from him, while the enemy is permitted to leave the 
 territory freely. Reflections on the conduct of Austria. Consequences 
 of the loss of Dwernicki's corps. The cholera makes its appearance in 
 the two armies. - - - - - - 234 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 The Russian commander resumes offensive operations. Object of the 
 attack of the 25th of April. Combat of Kuflew. General Dembin- 
 ski evacuates the position of Kuflew, and awaits the enemy at Bady. 
 Battle of Minsk. The enemy suddenly evacuates his position. Re- 
 flections on this stage of the conflict. Positions of the two armies. 251 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 General Skrzynecki resumes the offensive. He decides to adopt an en- 
 larged plan of operations, and to make the revolutionized provinces 
 
CONTENTS. Xlll 
 
 wupply the place of a corps d'armee. The corps of Chrzanowski is sent 
 to occupy the Russian corps of Witt and Kreutz. Admirable execution 
 of this enterprise. Attack on Kock. Attack of Rudiger's camp. 
 Plan of operations by the main army against the Russian Guard. Forc- 
 ed march from Kaluszyn by Praga to Serock. Advanced post of the 
 Guard attacked and defeated. The corps of Saken is cut off. The 2d 
 division under Gielgud sent into Lithuania. The Imperial Guard 
 are driven with great loss beyond the frontier. Retrograde move- 
 ment. .--._-_. 263 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 The Lithuanians compel two Russian corps to evacuate Samogitia. Op- 
 erations of General Chlapowski in the department of Bialostok. Cap- 
 ture of Bielsk. Defeat of a Russian force at Narewka and expulsion of 
 the enemy from the department. Recapitulation of the forces which had 
 been sent into Lithuania. Operations of the main army. Attempt of 
 Marshal Diebitsch to intercept Skrzynecki on his retrograde march, by 
 a diversion to Ostrolenka. General Lubinski surprises the Russian ad- 
 vanced guard at Czeyzew. Marshal Diebitsch attacks the Polish rear- 
 guard at Kleczkowo. The rear-guard quits its position at night, and 
 joins the main army at Ostrolenka. Battle of Ostrolenka. - 277 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Operations of the Lithuanian corps. Battle of Raygrod and defeat of the 
 Russian corps of Saken. Importance of this first success in Lithua- 
 nia. General Gielgud neglects to follow up his advantages. ---He loses 
 time by passing the Niemen at Gielgudiski, and enables the enemy to 
 concentrate his forces in Wilna. Entrance into Lithuania and recep- 
 tion by the inhabitants. Position of the two main armies. ---The Rus- 
 sian forces remain inactive and receive supplies from Prussia. Death 
 of Marshal Diebitsch. ..... 291 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 -General Gielgud advances into Lithuania. Allows a Russian corps to 
 pass within a league of him unperceived. Operations on Wilna 
 Enumeration of our present force. Plan of a simultaneous attack upon 
 
XJV CONTENTS. 
 
 Wilna on opposite sides by the corps in two divisions. General Dem- 
 binski engages the enemy with the smaller part of the corps. Being 
 unsupported by Gielgud, is forced to retreat. General Gielgud attacks 
 Wilna. Battle of Wilna. A retreat is commenced. Prodigious 
 efforts of the Polish cavalry in protecting this retreat. Consequen- 
 ces of the repulse from Wilna. The removal of General Gielgud 
 is called for. General Chlapovvski consents to take the virtual com- 
 mand of the corps, in the post of chef d'etat major. Consideration 
 on the state of things consequent to the battle of Wilna. Details of the 
 admirable plan of operations proposed by Colonel Valentin. 305 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Operations of the main army. Expedition under Jankowski. General 
 Chrzanowski having driven Rudiger from his position, crosses the Vis- 
 tula, but returns to act in concert with General Jankowski against the 
 enemy near Kock. Details of General Jankowski's movement. He 
 remains inactive within sight of the fire of the corps with which he 
 was to co-operate. ---Other evidences of treason. -Generals Jankowski 
 and Bukowski are arrested and ordered for trial. View of the advanta- 
 ges that were sacrificed by this misconduct. Discovery of a plot to lib- 
 erate and arm the Russian prisoners at Warsaw, and to deliver 
 the city to the enemy. State of the public mind induced by these 
 events. --.-... 319 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 General Chlapowski arrives at Keydany, having ordered General Dem- 
 binski to withdraw to Willcomierz.-The position of the two forces 
 and their line of operations. -Examination of these arrangements.- 
 Neglect of the important position of Kowno. General Chlapowski, at 
 Keydany, proposes to form a provisional government, and obtain a levy 
 of troops. Dispositions of the Lithuanians, as effected by the mis- 
 management of our leaders. Advantages offered to the enemy by 
 the delay at Keydany. Brave defence of Kowno, by the small force 
 leftthere.-Skirinish at Willcomierz. The opportunity of concentrating 
 all the forces at Keydany, and repassing the Niernen, is neglected. 
 The enemy presses his pursuit. Battle of Rosseyny. Attack on 
 Schawla.---Loss of the ammunition and baggage of the corps. The 
 corps retreats in order to Kurzany, protected by a rear guard of cav- 
 
CONTENTS. XV 
 
 airy and light artillery. ---At Kurzany the corps is subdivided into 
 three parts. Destination and strength of each. Examination of this 
 plan. - - ' 327 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 The three subdivisions of the corps take their respective destinations. 
 Details of the operations of that of General Rohland. He meets alone 
 the attack of the whole Russian force. Battle of Powenduny and Wor- 
 na. General Rohland, on his way to Polonga learns that General Chla- 
 powski had marched towards the Prussian frontier. He presses his 
 march to overtake and form a junction with him. The greater part 
 of the corps of Gielgud and Chlapowski were found to have passed the 
 frontier, when that of Rohland came in sight. Indignation of the 
 soldiery. Death of General Gielgud. General Rohland, joined by a 
 portion of the corps of Gielgud which had not yet passed the frontier, 
 continues his march to Nowe-Miasto. He declines a proposition from 
 General Kreutz, to surrender. Successful skirmish with the enemy's 
 cavalry. General Rohland takes a position at Nowe-Miasto, and awaits 
 the enemy. The Russian forces, however, do not continue their pur- 
 suit, but go into camp. Propositions to pass the frontier, are sent to 
 General Rohland by the Prussian authorities. They are submitted to 
 the corps, and accepted. - 344 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Effect of the news of the Lithuanian disasters on the minds of the peo- 
 ple. Distrust of the National Government. The Russian army re- 
 sumes the offensive under General Paskewicz. He decides to pass 
 the Vistula. Examination of the merits of this plan. Plan of Gen- 
 eral Skrzynecki to act on the different detached corps of the ene- 
 my. Advantages of General Chrzanowski over the corps of Rudi- 
 ger. The Russian forces execute the passage of the Vistula. -Gen- 
 eral Skrzynecki crosses the Vistula at Warsaw to operate against the 
 enemy on the left bank. An inquiry into the conduct of General Skrzy- 
 necki, and the appointment of a Council of War is demanded by the 
 nation. Arrival of the corps of General Dembinski at Warsaw. 360 
 
XVI CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 Operations of General Dembinski's corps. He traverses the country be- 
 tween Schavla and the Niemen without being observed by the enemy. 
 Attacks and disperses a brigade of Russian infantry. Passes the 
 Niemen and throws himself into the forest of Bialostok. After leaving 
 that forest, is joined by the corps of General Rozycbi. Reaches War- 
 saw. His reception at Warsaw. View of the exposed situation of 
 Paskewicz after his passage of the Vistula. Examination of the plan 
 of operation's of the Polish commander. Morbid state of the public 
 mind at Warsaw. Skrzynecki and Czartoriski deprived of their trust. 
 Capture of the city. Documents showing the influence exercised 
 by the cabinets in discouraging active operations. Conclusion. 369 
 
 APPENDIX, - - - - - - - 38S 
 
 ERRATUM. 
 
 On page I,. fir the 6th and 7th lines from the bottom, the words eastward" and " west- 
 ward" are transposed. 
 
 

 INTRODUCTION 
 
 Geographical extent, population, and political importance of Poland, as ancient- 
 ly constituted. Conduct of Napoleon in 1812. Congress of Vienna. 
 Grand-duchy of Warsaw erected into a Kingdom. Dispositions of 
 Alexander. Zajaczek appointed Viceroy, and Constantine Commander of 
 the Army. Constantine encroaches upon the civil administration. Acts 
 of tyranny. Meeting of the Diet Public debates suppressed. The Polish 
 Conspiracy of 1821. The Russian Conspiracy of 1824. Union of the 
 Patriotic Associations. Death of Alexander. The Revolt at St. Peters- 
 burgh. Punishment of the Patriots. Coronation of Nicholas. Constan- 
 tine appointed Viceroy of Poland. Oppressions of the Government- 
 Patriotic Club. Influence of the French and Belgic Revolutions. The 
 Uuartering-tax. Excitement in Warsaw. Arrest, of the Students at Pra- 
 ga. Day of the Revolution fixed upon. 
 
 IN the early part of July, 1812, when the victorious armies 
 of Napoleon had occupied Wilna, and threatened to annihilate 
 the throne of the Czars, the Polish nation cherished the hope of 
 recovering their former grandeur. The destiny of Poland was 
 then in the hands of Napoleon, and it may be said with truth 
 that on the destiny of Poland depended also the security and 
 peace of Europe. 
 
 Poland, as is well known to the reader, with regard to its 
 geographical situation and extent, as formerly constituted, 
 forms a strong outwork against the Russian Colossus. Its 
 territories extend to the westward as far as the Dnieper, and 
 eastward as far as the Oder. In the north they reach the 
 Baltic and the government of Skoff, and its southern frontiers 
 are the Carpathian Mountains and the Black Sea. This vast 
 region, composed of the present kingdom of Poland, the grand- 
 duchy of Posen, of Samogitia, Lithuania, Livonia, White 
 Russia and Black Russia, Volhynia, Podolia, Ukraine and 
 
 - 
 

 A INTRODUCTION. ^ 
 
 Gallicia, is inhabited by twenty-two millions of Poles of the 
 same descent, the same manners and customs, and the same 
 language and religion. According to its ancient limits, the 
 kingdom of Poland is among the first in Europe with re- 
 gard to population and geographical extent. 
 
 The deputies, who, at the period above named, were sent 
 from Warsaw to the Emperor Napoleon, laid before him the 
 most earnest solicitations for the restoration of this state, and 
 endeavoured to direct his views to the future, in order to con- 
 vince him of its necessity. They concluded with the follow- 
 ing words ; " Dites, Sire, que le royaume de Pologne existe, 
 et ce decret sera pour le monde 1'equivalent de la realite." 
 Upon this he answered ; " Dans ma situation, j'ai beaucoup 
 d'interets a concilier, beaucoup de devoirs a remplir. Si j'avais 
 regne pendant le premier, le second, ou le troisieme partage 
 de la Pologne, j'aurais arme mes peuples pour la defendre. 
 J'aime votre nation, j'autorise les efforts que vous voulez faire. 
 C'est entierement dans 1'unanimite de sa population, que vous 
 pourez trouver 1'espoir de succes. Je dois ajouter que j'ai guar- 
 anti a 1'empereur d'Autriche 1'integrite de ses domaines." * 
 
 Such a reply from Napoleon, the Poles could never have 
 expected. For, who accompanied him so faithfully in all his 
 expeditions as the sons of Poland ? Thousands of Poles lie 
 buried in Italy, Egypt, St. Domingo, Spain and Russia, who 
 had fought for the integrity of the French Republic and for 
 the aggrandizement of Napoleon. His cold reception of the 
 deputies of Poland filled all patriots with sadness. They 
 were now convinced, that the good wishes of Napoleon for Po- 
 
 * " Say, Sire, that the kingdom of Poland exists, and that declaration will 
 be, in the eyes of the world, the equivalent of the reality." To this he answer- 
 ed ; " In the situation in which I am placed, I have many interests to concili- 
 ate, many duties to fulfil. If I had reigned during the first, the second, or the 
 third partition of Poland, I would have armed my people to defend her. I love 
 your nation, and I approve the efforts which you wish to make. It is alone in 
 the unanimity of your population that you can find the hope of success. I 
 ought to add that I have guaranteed to the Emperor of Austria the integrity of 
 his dominions." 
 
 
INTRODUCTION. 3 
 
 land were not sincere, and that, through his marriage with 
 Maria Louisa, he had become dependent on Austria. Thus 
 the hope of territorial enlargement and national existence van- 
 ished away, and Napoleon, by his indifference to the interests 
 of Poland, accelerated his own fall. The burning of Moscow, 
 which was a chance that did not enter into his calculations, be- 
 came the turning point of his fate. The Poles, who had contrib- 
 uted to his greatness, did not desert him in his distress : they 
 were his companions to the very last. Half a squadron of them 
 followed him to Elba, at his own request. The disasters of 
 France decided the fate of Poland. By the Congress of Vi- 
 enna, the grand-duchy of Warsaw: was made a kingdom, and 
 subjected to the iron sceptre of Russia. 
 
 In the first moments after entering upon the government of 
 the kingdom, the Emperor Alexander seemed disposed to load 
 Poland with benefits. On his return from Paris he was re- 
 ceived by the inhabitants of Warsaw with the most unfeigned 
 good will, and his stay in that city was distinguished by acts 
 of beneficence. The words with which he then addressed the 
 representatives of the nation, are still in the memory of every 
 Pole. " Gentlemen, I respect and love your nation. To these 
 feelings of mine, in which all Europe partakes, you are enti- 
 tled by your continual and disinterested sacrifices for the pros- 
 perity of other nations. I swear to maintain your constitution 
 with alt the privileges derived from it ; and this same constitu- 
 tion I promise to grant to your brethren in the provinces, which 
 are to be united with you in one kingdom." The nation be- 
 lieved in these promises the more readily as the affectionate 
 conduct of the monarch seemed to confirm them. During his 
 stay in Warsaw, the sovereign paid visits to several of the most 
 popular and patriotic families and individuals, and every where 
 expressed himself in terms of the highest esteem for the Po- 
 lish nation. 
 
 This show of benevolence and the dreams of happiness 
 which it produced among the people, were not, however, of 
 long duration. Before his departure from Warsaw, the Em- 
 
4 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 peror named for viceroy of Poland the old general Zajaczek,* 
 raising him to the dignity of a prince ; and he nominated his 
 own brother, the Grand Duke Constantine, as commander in 
 chief of the Polish army. The appointment of these persons 
 to the supreme power was already in direct opposition to all the 
 promises he had made. For Zajaczek, through the infirmities 
 of his advanced age, was unfit for the post of viceroy, and 
 could be but as an instrument in the hands of Russia. The 
 Poles received, on the other hand, in Constantine, the com- 
 mander in chief of their army, a tyrant. 
 
 Not long after the departure of Alexander, the encroachments 
 of the Russian cabinet began to be felt. Changes of officers 
 took place in all the branches of government, in particular in re- 
 gard to men known as patriots, who were supplanted by min- 
 ions of Russia, men full of ambition and intrigue. In the 
 first year of the Russian government, the bureau of Police was 
 enlarged, and filled with persons whom the nation despised. 
 The Polish army, which had gathered laurels in so many 
 countries, and on three continents, which was in such high 
 estimation with the first monarch and general in Europe, was 
 exposed, on the very first days of the new government, to 
 the insults of Constantine. There was not an officer, but 
 was grossly offended by the Grand Duke, and more than all, 
 such as wore military decorations for their merits. No past 
 services were valued ; they only exposed those who were dis- 
 tinguished by them to greater persecution. In the first six 
 months, many officers, among whom was the renowned gene- 
 ral Sokolnicki, committed suicide ; and almost half the officers 
 and generals asked their dismission, among whom was gene- 
 ral, the late dictator, Chlopicki, who preferred poverty and want 
 to such an ignominious service. The Polish army, those sol- 
 diers animated with feelings of honor and the love of fame, 
 
 * Zajaczek commenced his military career in the times of Kosciusko, continu- 
 ed it among the Polish legions, and accompanied Napoleon to Egypt, where 
 he served with distinction. He was present in all the later campaigns of Na- 
 poleon, till 1809, when he returned, on account of his advanced age and the 
 loss of one of his legs. Under the Russian government he was made viceroy. 
 
INTRODUCTION. - , 
 
 were to be transformed into machines of despotism. They who 
 had faced death in so many battles, were covered with wounds, 
 and had been called " brethren " by the greatest monarch of his 
 age, were now to be beaten with the Russian knout. In the first 
 year, few days passed, in which some of the soldiers did 
 not commit suicide. 
 
 This prince, who appeared not to find victims enough for his 
 cruelty in the army, began to meddle with all the branches of 
 administration, and to overrule them. Soon the liberty of the 
 press was prohibited, freemasonry was interdicted, and in its 
 stead a bureau of spies was established. The chiefs of this 
 bureau of spies were Rozniecki, the vice-president of the city of 
 Warsaw, Lubowidzki, a man of the name of Macrot, and 
 Schlee. From the documents found with Schlee and Macrot, it 
 was found that there were in Warsaw alone 900 spies. In the 
 provinces their number amounted to 2000. The expenses 
 and salaries of these spies, according to accounts found among 
 their papers, drew from the public treasury $1,000,000, or 
 6,000,000 Polish gilders. Thus, our poor country, instead of 
 employing her resources for the happiness of her inhabitants, 
 was forced to pay the mercenaries employed to distress them. 
 Soon Warsaw and the whole kingdom was made one vast 
 prison. These spies endeavoured to steal into every company, 
 and were present in all public places. They tried to catch every 
 conversation, and distorted every word spoken, with ever so 
 innocent an intention, in regard to the policy and adminis- 
 tration of the country. In order to extort money, they accused 
 the most respected and honest people, who were thrown into pri- 
 son, and many of whom disappeared forever from their families, 
 from the midst of which they had been dragged in the night- 
 time, in order to conceal the crime from the eyes of the world. 
 Persons who did not take off their hats in the streets before the 
 Grand Duke, were compelled to carry barrows of mud upon the 
 public places. There passed hardly a month in which some 
 students were not arrested, and, without any trial, at the mere 
 denunciation of a hireling spy, thrown into prison, where 
 they lingered for years. Thus faded away in dungeons many 
 
O INTRODUCTION. 
 
 a fair and hopeful youth, the flower of our nation. In War- 
 saw, besides the public gaols, there were, beneath almost all 
 the barracks, prisons where their victims of tyranny were tor- 
 tured. But what surpasses all the rest, the very orangery of 
 the Grand Duke was transformed into a prison, from which 
 some persons were rescued during the revolution, who had been 
 confined there for years. It was in this prison that Lukasinski 
 had been kept for a longtime, though subsequently bound to a 
 cannon arid carried into Russia. In the gaols below the bar- 
 racks of the artillery many corpses were found. 
 
 At the first meeting of the Diet, when the Grand Duke 
 Constantine was among the deputies of the city of Praga, 
 and the debates commenced on different subjects concerning 
 the welfare of the country, for instance, the liberty of the 
 press, the abolition of the central police and the spies, as well 
 as the deposition of several of the higher officers, for which 
 petitions had been made to the monarch, a decision was pro- 
 mulgated that the Diet must submit in all things to the will 
 of the Grand Duke ; and, in order to give the more force to this 
 intimation, the palace and its galleries were surrounded and 
 filled by guards. All public debates during the session were 
 prohibited, and a ticket from the police was required for ad- 
 mission. These tickets were distributed among Russian gen- 
 erals, officers of government and their families, and among 
 other creatures of the court. Before such an auditory, discus- 
 sions of the most sacred interest to the nation were to take 
 place. No patriot could behold, without tears, the senators 
 and fathers of the nations, descendants of Tarnowski, Zamois- 
 ki, Chodkiewicz and Kosciuszko, sitting with sad and drooping 
 countenances, exposed to the scoffing and laughter of those 
 rninions of the court. The sacred halls were transformed into 
 a theatre for Russian spectators. 
 
 In all the different bureaus spies held important offices, 
 and thus those bureaus became scenes of the most detestable 
 intrigues. Law and right was trampled under foot, and 
 the constitution itself was derided. They used to express 
 themselves in the following and similar terms ; " What is the 
 
INTRODUCTION. -7 
 
 constitution ? It is an impediment to the administration, and to 
 the course of justice. The Grand Duke is the best constitution ." 
 
 A few years passed away in this distressed state of the na- 
 tion, when, towards 1821, our noble patriots, Krzyzanowski, 
 Jablonowski, Plichta, Debek, and Soltyk, conceived the idea 
 of emancipating their country by a revolution. Whilst occu- 
 pied with their noble scheme, they were most agreeably sur- 
 prised by receiving information, in 1824, of a similar patriotic 
 union in Russia for throwing off the yoke of despotism. Their 
 joy was increased when they received a summons from this 
 patriotic union in Russia, at the head of which were Pestel, 
 Releiew,Bestuzew,Kichelbeker, Murawiew, and Kachowski,to 
 join hands with them. This junction was effected in Kiow, on 
 the day of the great fair, when prince Jablonowski became ac- 
 quainted with some of their members, and was initiated into 
 their plans. The invitation was received by the Poles with 
 delight. Accustomed to combat for liberty, they offered with 
 their whole hearts their aid in the redemption of the Sarmatic 
 nation, from the chains by which they had been so long 
 bound down. 
 
 Soon after this, it was agreed to meet in the town of Orla, 
 in the province of Little Russia, where solemn oaths were 
 sworn to sacrifice life and property in the cause. Resolutions 
 were taken, and the means of their execution were devised. 
 The Russians promised to the Poles, in the case of success, the 
 surrender of all the provinces as far as the frontiers which 
 Boleslaw-Chrobry had established. This promise, as well as 
 that of eternal friendship between the two brother-nations, was 
 sanctioned by the solemnity of oaths. The day fixed upon for 
 the breaking out of the revolution, was I he 25th anniversary of 
 the accession of Alexander, in the month of May, 1826 ; and 
 Biala-Cerkiew in Volhynia was the place selected for the first 
 blow. The reason for choosing this place, was, that the whole 
 imperial family and the greater part of the army were to 
 assemble there, on the great plain of the Dnieper, to celebrate 
 the anniversary of the coronation. This occasion was to be 
 
8 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 improved, to gain over all the well-disposed generals, and at 
 the same time to secure the imperial family. In the meeting 
 at Orla, it was required of the Poles, that, at the mo- 
 ment of the breaking out of the revolution, they shouki 
 take the life of the Grand Duke Constantine. To this propo- 
 sition, however, Prince Jablonowski answered in these well 
 known words : " Russians, brother Sarmatians, you have sum- 
 moned us to co-operate in the holy work of breaking the bonds 
 of slavery under which our Sarmatic nation has so long pined. 
 We come to you with sincere hearts, willing to sacrifice our for- 
 tunes and lives. Rely, my dear friends, on this our pro- 
 mise. The many struggles in which we have already fought 
 for the sake of liberty, may warrant our assertions. Brethren, 
 you demand of us to murder the Grand Duke. This we can 
 never do. The Poles have never stained their hands with 
 the blood of their princes. We promise you to secure his 
 person in the moment of the revolution, and, as he belongs 
 to you, we shall deliver him into your hands." 
 
 The patriotic associations on both sides endeavoured to in- 
 crease their party, by the initiation of many brave men in the 
 army and in civil life. In Lithuania, the respectable president 
 of the nobles, Downarowicz, and the noble Rukiewicz of the 
 Lithuanian corps, with many other officers, were admitted 
 into the conspiracy, and among others Jgelstrom, Wigielin, 
 Hoffman, and Wielkaniec. All the means and plans for 
 the approaching revolution were arranged with the utmost 
 circumspection, and every circumstance seemed to promise suc- 
 cess, when the sudden death of the Emperor Alexander, at 
 Taganrog, in the early part of December, 1825, darkened 
 these bright hopes. 
 
 The news of his death stunned, at first, the patriotic club 
 in Petersburgh. Nevertheless, they resolved to act. They 
 hoped to profit, by the troubles between Constantine and Nich- 
 olas, about the succession. On the 18th of December of the 
 same year, the signal for revolt was given in Petersburgh. 
 Some regiments of the guard were en the side of the patriots, 
 
INTRODUCTION. 9 
 
 and with them assembled great numbers of the people 
 ready to fight for liberty. Yet all this was done without 
 sufficient energy, and without good leaders. 
 
 It was unfortunate, that at the time, Colonel Pestel, ac- 
 knowledged by all to be a man of great talents and energy, 
 happened to be absent in Moscow. The people assembled in 
 their holy cause, but, being without leaders, began to fall into 
 disorder, and a few discharges of cannon were sufficient to 
 disperse them. As the Grand Duke Constantine, on account 
 of his marriage with a noble Polish lady, Grudzinska, in 
 1823, was obliged to renounce the throne of Russia, the im- 
 perial power was, by a written document, given to the Grand 
 Duke Nicholas, as the eldest in succession after him. 
 
 Some days after the proclamation of Nicholas, all the prisons 
 of the realm were prepared to receive their victims. Pe- 
 tersburgh, Moscow, Wilna, Kiow, Bialystok, and Warsaw, 
 were appointed for the places of trial. Over the whole of Po- 
 land and Russia the sword of cruel revenge was suspend- 
 ed. In Petersburgh, the martyrs of liberty, Pestel, Muraview, 
 Releiew, Bestuzew, Kachowski, were hung on the gallows, 
 and more than two hundred persons of the noblest families 
 were sent to Siberia. In Wilna, Kiow, and Moscow, an im- 
 mense number were thrown into prison, or transported to 
 Siberia. In Bialystok the Russian general, Wiliaminow, was 
 appointed an inquisitor. This infamous character treated the 
 wretched prisoners with the utmost cruelty. Rukiewicz,* 
 Jgelstrom and Wigelin, were exiled to Siberia for life. 
 
 * This nobleman (Rukiewicz) had two beautiful sisters, Cornelia and There- 
 sa, whose heroic behavior deserves to be recorded. He was secretary of the 
 Patriotic Club in Lithuania, and kept the records and papers of the society in 
 the village where he lived, near Bialystok ; and in order to do this business 
 without disturbance, he had prepared a little summer-house in the garden near 
 his mansion. He happened to be from home when arrested, and immediately 
 after his arrest, the police sent a Russian officer with gens d'armes to his 
 pillage, in order to take possession of his papers. His sisters, who were igno- 
 rant of the event, were quietly at home when they beheld the officer with 
 
 2 
 
10 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 In Warsaw, the Grand Duke himself undertook the busi- 
 
 $ 
 
 ness of establishing an inquisition over ihe unhappy prisoners/ 
 This court was composed of persons in the Russian interest, 
 a circumstance, the melancholy consequences of which soon 
 became manifest. Senator Soltyk, an old man seventy years 
 of age, was flogged with the knout. Krzyzanowski, unable 
 to endure the tortures inflicted upon him, committed suicide. 
 General Procurator Wyezechowski, that unworthy son of his 
 country, sentenced all who were condemned to death, to be 
 hung on a gallows, and their bodies to be exposed upon the 
 wheel. This horrid sentence, however, was, notwithstanding 
 all the Grand Duke's influence, mitigated by the supreme 
 court of the senate, which still contained many worthy men 
 under the presidency of the venerable woyewode, Bilinski. 
 The infamous Wyezechowski was unable to oppose this vir- 
 tuous old man, whose powerful eloquence was a mirror of his 
 noble heart. President Bilinski, fearless of the threats of the 
 
 his suite riding into the court-yard, A presaging fear of the truth seized them, 
 but gave place immediately to an heroic resolution. The younger remained in 
 the room in order to receive and detain these agents of tyranny, whilst the elder, 
 Cornelia, carried in haste some combustibles to the summer-house, which was 
 soon OH fire, and more than two hundred persons, whose names were con* 
 tained in the register, were thus saved by the presence of mind of the heroic lady. 
 She returned to the parlour with the noblest and most delighted mien, and, 
 on the officer's inquiring as to the cause of .the fire, she answered with a smile, 
 "Gentlemen, I only wanted to save you the trouble of some further brutalities. 
 I have burnt the papers and documents of my brother. You may be sure not 
 to find anything left ; and now I am your prisoner. Drag me along with you, 
 to increase the number of your victims." Both the ladies were carried to prison, 
 and treated in the most unworthy manner during three years. When these 
 noble sisters were dismissed from prison, they found themselves bereft of every 
 consolation. They had ,no parents left. Their only brother, who had been 
 both parent and brother to them, was now lost. They could not endure the 
 thought of leaving him to pine away so far from them in chains, and they re- 
 solved to partake and thus to relieve his sufferings. Regardless of the remon- 
 strances of their friends, they left everything, and, travelling in the humblest 
 manner, mostly on foot or upon the wagons of the peasantry, they un- 
 dertook the journey to Siberia. It is not known whether Providencegrante<i 
 them to reach their beloved brother or not. 
 
INTRODUCTION. . 11 
 
 Russians, whose briberies he was accustomed to treat with 
 disdain, guided by the articles of the criminal code, altered the 
 sentence of death to a few years imprisonment. This mitiga- 
 tion of the sentence was signed by all the senators, with 
 one exception.* 
 
 After Nicholas had ascended the throne over steps of 
 blood, he was crowned, in 1826, Emperor of Russia. Two 
 years after this, in 1828, he was again crowned in Warsaw 
 as King of Poland. This monarch at first intended not to go 
 through with the ceremony of the coronation in Warsaw, in 
 order to avoid the oath of. the constitution. Yet, from fear 
 of revolutionary scenes, he suffered himself to be persuaded 
 to go through the ceremony, and took the oath, like his pre- 
 decessor and brother, Alexander, to maintain the constitution 
 and the privileges guaranteed by it. 
 
 Poland may have suffered under Alexander ; yet he loved 
 the nation as a friend, which every one of my countrymen 
 will allow. When he was mistaken in his measures, the 
 reason was, that, surrounded by bad men and enemies of 
 our nation, he was prevented from knowing the truth. He was 
 himself too much engrossed in pleasures, to visit the hut of 
 the poor in order to obtain information of his condition. Po- 
 land forgave him all his faults, in the grateful recollection that 
 he had restored, her to a separate existence, and respected the 
 constitution. Far different in our eyes appeared the present 
 emperor, Nicholas. Partaking of the errors of his predeces- 
 
 * To this court, which was called the Supreme Court of the Diet, and which 
 was established in order to try these prisoners of state, was appointed gen- 
 eral Count Vincent! Krasinski, a man of great merit, a brave soldier as well as 
 a good citizen, and on this account very much beloved by the nation. The sol- 
 diers, indeed, regarded him as a father. Yet this man could so far forget him- 
 self as to take, up the bloody pen to sign the death of his fellow citizens the' 
 only one of his nation. It is with painful feelings that I name him in this nar- 
 rative as an enemy of his country, after having been faithful to it for fifty years, 
 and after having made for it the greatest sacrifices. Vincenti Krasinski, whom 
 his country has erased, as a lost son, from the register of her children, is a strong 
 example of the great power of Russian seduction. 
 
12 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 sor, he exhibited none of his virtues. Alexander, with a benig- 
 nant countenance, permitted every one freely to approach him, 
 and his features were never distorted by passion. Nicholas, 
 on the contrary, seemed to terrify every one with his very look. 
 His lowering and overbearing eye was the true mirror of Asi- 
 atic despotism. Every movement was a command ; and his 
 imperious air was in .true harmony with the ruling passion 
 of his mind. Such a sovereign, acting through the instrumen- 
 tality of a brother like himself, the Grand Duke Constantino, 
 must needs bring distress upon our country. Whole volumes 
 might be filled with the relation of the atrocities of this gov- 
 ernment. The daily increasing host of spies in its employ, 
 among whom even females were found, regarded nothing as 
 sacred, and mocked at the most holy institutions. They lav- 
 ished away millions of the public funds. Everything was per- 
 mitted to them. In short, the intention of this government 
 seemed to be to plunge our country into the deepest distress, in 
 order to force us to the abandonment of every national feeling, 
 and to make us slaves of the Russians. Yet in this hope 
 they were deceived. The more the nation was oppressed,* 
 
 * As already remarked, it would be impossible to describe the various kinds 
 of cruelty exercised by the Russian government. Yet, in order to make the 
 reader acquainted with some of them, I shall here adduce a few facts. In our 
 country, the distilling and brewing of spirituous liquors, and the planting of to- 
 bacco as well as the sale of these articles, was a privilege of the landed propri- 
 etors. Warsaw, as the capital and the most populous city, was the best market 
 for these productions, and all the noblemen endeavored to bring their produce 
 to Warsaw for sale. In this manner they supplied themselves with money and 
 enhanced the value of their grain, while their liquors, as well as tobacco, could 
 be sold at very low prices, to the pecuniary benefit of all the laboring classes and 
 the soldiery. These advantages, however, soon became an object of attention to 
 the government agents. One of their number, the Jew Nowachowiez, who, 
 by the greatest impositions, had acquired an immense fortune, devised a plan 
 for monopolizing the production and sale of every kind of liquor and of tobacco. 
 He obtained the exclusive right of selling them, and all the noblemen were for- 
 bidden to dispose of these articles without his permission, for which a duty was 
 to be paid. For this monopoly he paid to the government 2,000,000 of Polish 
 gilders ($333,333*) for which he more than doubly indemnified himself by the 
 
INTRODUCTION. 13 
 
 the more its energy of character was steeled*, and the more 
 the love of country developed itself. 
 
 Two worthy sons of Poland, Wysocki and Schlegel, mourn- 
 ing over the martyrdom of Krzyzanowoski, Soltyk, Dembek 
 
 enormous taxes levied upon the consumers of these articles. This innovation, 
 so oppressive to the poorer classes, and invented merely to enrich this Jew and 
 his partners, irritated all the land proprietors, and still more the laboring classes, 
 who were suffering by it. For two years in succession petitions were made for 
 the reformation of these abuses, but the government only insisted tipon the pro- 
 hibition with the greater severity. Nowachowiez, indeed, employed a guard, 
 who wore uniforms. All the environs of Warsaw were filled with these guards, 
 and the greatest excesses were committed by them: A poor day-laborer, after 
 having purchased at some distance from the city, spme brandy and tobacco, car- 
 ried these articles at evening to Warsaw. On his way he was stopped by these 
 men. They took all from him, and demanded a heavier fine than the articles 
 were worth. As the poor man was unable to pay the fine, they abused him, 
 and were about to carry him to prison. He succeeded, however, in making his 
 escape, and, as it was in the vicinity of the residence of a nobleman by the name 
 of Biernacki, he sought shelter on his estate. The guards in pursuit entered 
 the mansion of this nobleman. Biernacki heard the tumult of the guard seizing 
 and roughly handling the poor man, and, ascertaining the cause of the disturb- 
 ance, he censured them for their inhumanity about such a trifle. In order, 
 however, to save the man from further insults, he retained him, with the inten- 
 tion of sending him the next day with a note to Nowachowiez for his exculpa- 
 tion. The very moment that Biernacki was occupied in writing the letter, an 
 officer of the gens d'armes, with four privates, stepped in. Biernacki inquired the 
 cause of this visit, and was told in answer, that he was arrested for having protec- 
 ted a defrauder. Thus, surrounded by four soldiers, this man was publicly car- 
 ried through Warsaw to the prison of the Carmelites. Not satisfied with this, 
 Nowachowiez succeeded in obtaining from the Grand Duke, who hated Bier- 
 nacki as a patriotic Pole, a squadron of Russian Hulars, consisting of 200 horse, 
 to quarter for a whole week on his estate, in execution, as it is termed. The 
 Russian soldiers took possession of all the buildings on the estate. In the apart- 
 ments which they used for barracks, they broke all the furniture, lustres, pianos, 
 &c. and carried in their straw for sleeping. In the courtyard they made a fire, 
 for which they used the pieces of furniture for fuel. They took the wheat 
 from the barns to feed their horses, and butchered the cattle. In short, 
 the most, shameful depredations and excesses were committed by officers 
 and soldiers, regardless of the situation of the lady of this nobleman, who 
 was confined in childbed, and who from terror miscarried and for a whole year was 
 in danger for her life from the consequences. This barbarous order of the 
 Grand Duke ruined the fortune of this unhappy man, and the amount of pro- 
 perty destroyed may be estimated at least at from 70,000 to 80,000 gilders. 
 
14 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 and Plichta, and meditating on the distresses of their country, 
 resolved to attempt its deliverance. By these two young 
 champions of Poland, the first idea of the revolution was 
 conceived. They communicated their hopes to several other 
 
 Biernacki was imprisoned for a whole year, after which he was dismissed to 
 weep over the sufferings of his wife, and his ruined fortune. The poor offend- 
 er was punished with 800 blows of the knout, of which he died in a few days. 
 The second story perhaps surpasses the former in cruelty, and would suit the 
 ^times of Nero. General Rozniecki, and the vice president of the city of Warsaw, 
 Lubowiecki, had their agents, who travelled through the country in order to su- 
 perintend the services of the secret police. Among them was a Jew, named Birn- 
 baum, whose crimes surpass conception. He travelled through the whole country, 
 and every where found pretexts for accusations against the noblemen, who had to 
 pay him fines to secure themselves from prison. He took up vast sums, that were 
 never accounted for to his superiors. They were divided with Rozniecki, Lubo- 
 wiecki, Macrot and Sehlee, with some Russian generals, and the servants of the 
 Grand Duke, Kochanowski and Trizc, all of whom, like this Jew, made immense 
 fortunes, some of them to the amount of hundreds of thousands. When, in 
 order to encourage the manufactures of the country, the importation of all 
 broadcloths, cotton and linen goods were forbidden, Birnbaum, in secret under- 
 standing with his superiors, found out the way of drawing to himself the great- 
 est advantages from this decree. He persuaded two other Jews, by the prom- 
 ise of a part of the gain, and of his protection, to smuggle these articles and 
 to sell them among the gentry of the country. A place on the frontiers was 
 selected for a depot of these contraband wares, which the country noblemen 
 purchased in ignorance of their unlawful importation, and induced by their low 
 prices. On a sudden, Birnbaum visited these districts, examined the ware- 
 houses of the noblemen, found the contraband goods, and forced them to the al- 
 ternative of either paying him a large sum of money or going to prison. Many, 
 for the sake of peace, paid the fines imposed, others, who refused, were im- 
 prisoned. By such means, this Jew, as was found afterwards by the records 
 and documents of the police, brought to prison more than a hundred persons, 
 who were treated in the most barbarous manner. They had no food given 
 them but herrings without water, and many of these unfortunate persons died 
 in consequence. At last Birnbaum fell out with his accomplices, on occasion 
 of the division of profits. He had them, likewise, thrown into prison to perish 
 there. Their families, however, accused him at their Kahal,* or Council of the 
 Jews, and by means of money contrived to have him arrested. He was poi- 
 soned in his prison, as many persons of consequence were found to be im- 
 plicated in his impositions. 
 
 * Kahal is a Jewish court of administration, composed of the elders, who are responsible 
 to the government for their nation, and are of great authority. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 15 
 
 patriots, and thus was formed the Patriotic Club. This associ- 
 ation, nourishing in their secret breasts the holy spark of liber- 
 ty, increased it soon to a flaming light, by which the whole na- 
 tion was led to honor and glory. These heroic men fearlessly 
 persevered in their endeavours, during five years, exposed to 
 the greatest dangers and amidst thousands of spies. Witnesses 
 of the continually aggravated oppression of their country, they 
 were more and more animated to risk every thing for their holy 
 object. 
 
 While this tyrannical government was exulting in the suc- 
 cess of its measures, and the honor and morals of our coun- 
 try were fast declining, the revolution of France occurred, and 
 it instantly roused every mind to a comparison of our state 
 with that of the French, who had thrown off the yoke of 
 a Machiavelian dynasty. The three days of July were days 
 of joy, not only to every brave son .of France, but also to 
 every patriotic heart in Poland. How much were they en- 
 raptured, who hitherto in secret had been labouring for the 
 redemption of their country ! The happy result of those glo- 
 rious days was a peal of terror to the Grand Duke Con- 
 stantine, and for the whole swarm of agents in his tyranni- 
 cal sway. It gave them a presage of their approaching pun- 
 ishment. Yet, instead of adopting milder measures, and en- 
 deavouring to propitiate the nation, their cruelties went on as 
 before. The government had, indeed, advanced too far in 
 its barbarous system to draw back. The activity of the 
 spies was redoubled. From the first reception of the news of 
 the French revolution, there did not pass a day on which some 
 persons were not imprisoned, in Warsaw or the provinces. On 
 the night of the 7th of September, forty students were seized 
 in their beds and carried to prison. 
 
 Again, the new revolutionary eruption of Belgium cheered 
 and encouraged the heart of every patriotic Pole. The hour for 
 throwing off the yoke of tyranny was fast approaching. The 
 leaders of the revolution succeeded in communicating their 
 sentiments to continually increasing numbers. Many officers 
 
IP v> 
 
 16 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of the 4th regiment of the line and of the sappers were initiat- 
 ed. Yet at this very time, when the revolution was every 
 moment expected to break out, the Russian despot, in concert 
 with Prussia and Austria, commenced his preparations for a 
 war against France and Belgium. The Polish army was des- 
 tined to serve as the vanguard of this expedition, and Modlin 
 and Warsaw were stored with large quantities of arms and 
 ammunition from Russia. All the regiments were completed, 
 and the order for marching was momentarily expected. 
 
 These circumstances attracted the notice of our patriots, and 
 they decided to accelerate the revolution, in order to anticipate 
 the march of the army. The eruption was hastened by the fol- 
 lowing event. The citizens of Warsaw were obliged to furnish 
 quarters for the officers of the army. To lighten this burden, 
 and to avoid various inconveniences, as well as to accommo- 
 date the officers, upon an understanding with the inhabitants, 
 it was determined, that instead of furnishing quarters, a quar- 
 tering tax should be paid. It was intended in this regulation to 
 proportion the tax to the size of the houses, and consequently 
 to the profit which the proprietors would derive from letting 
 them. The tax would in this way be equalized, because, 
 wherever levied, it would be attended by a proportionate com- 
 pensation ; and it was satisfactory to the inhabitants. This 
 regulation, however, was executed in an entirely differ- 
 ent manner. In many cases the heavier taxes were paid 
 by the poorer inhabitants, and indeed they sometimes had to 
 provide quarters in addition to the payment of the tax. All 
 the persons employed by the police as spies, and who had by 
 vile means acquired immense fortunes and kept the finest 
 houses in Warsaw, were exempt both from the tax and the 
 providing of quarters. The money collected for the tax was 
 purloined by the commissioners for quartering, who thus 
 amassed millions of gilders. One man of the name of Czar- 
 necki, a commissioner of the quartering bureau, in a short time 
 made by these means two millions of gilders ; and this robber 
 
INTRODUCTION. 17 
 
 of the poor carried his luxury so far as to make use of bathing 
 tubs lined with silver. 
 
 A short time before the revolution, the gross impositions of 
 this commission were discovered. The inhabitants of Warsaw 
 began to murmur against it, and addressed the government for 
 the removal of the persons employed, and the substitution of 
 others in their places, who should be deserving of the confi- 
 dence of the citizens. Among others, the deposition of the pre- 
 sident of the city, Woyda, was demanded ; and when the gov- 
 ernment refused to comply with the request, he was publicly 
 insulted and flogged in the streets. The discontent of the 
 citizens, in -particular of the poorer classes, continued to increase, 
 and of this discontent the patriots made use in endeavoring to 
 propagate their views of the necessity of a revolution. Public 
 opinion was from day to day expressed more boldly. Papers 
 were pasted up in the streets, with inscriptions such as these : 
 " The dwelling of the Grand Duke will be let from next new 
 year's day." " Away with the t}^rants ! Away with the barba- 
 rians to Asia ! " A great concourse of citizens assembled one 
 evening before the city hall, and demanded the punishment of 
 the quartering commissioner, Czarnecki, who, from fear, com- 
 mitted suicide. 
 
 The holy moment was now fast approaching, and Warsaw 
 was in anxious expectation. Fear and terror were painted in 
 the faces, of the spies, while, on the other hand, all true patri- 
 ots were in raptures of joy, and waited impatiently for the 
 moment to strike the blow. For several nights the whole 
 garrison of the city had been under arms, by the orders of 
 the Grand Duke, who, tortured by the consciousness of so 
 many crimes, had no rest, and surrounded himself with large 
 bodies of guards. A hundred gens d'armes were on horse- 
 back for many nights, constantly bringing in their victims. 
 Strong patrols of Russian soldiers traversed the streets. All 
 was in vain. His mercenaries could not protect the tyrant. 
 3 
 
18 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The word was given, the oath was sworn, to fight for our 
 sacred rights and the freedom of our country. 
 
 An event which served to irritate all minds, and hasten 
 the revolution, was the arrest and imprisonment of eighty 
 students. These brave young men were assembled in a pri- 
 vate house, in order to pray to God in secret for the souls of 
 their murdered ancestors, on the anniversary of the storming 
 of Praga, by the bloody Suwarrovv, in 1796, when none were 
 spared, and Praga swam with blood, and was strewed with 
 the corpses of 30,000 inhabitants. Neither old men, women, 
 children, nor pregnant mothers, were spared by the barbarous 
 Russian soldiers. In memory of this event, the patriots had 
 every year met for secret prayer, since public devotions on the 
 occasion had been forbidden by the Grand Duke. The above- 
 mentioned students, with some priests, were in the act of wor- 
 ship, praying to the Almighty, and honoring the memory of 
 their forefathers, when the doors were broken open with great 
 violence, and a number of gens d'armes, under their captain, 
 Jurgaszko. with a company of Russian soldiers behind them, 
 entered the apartment. Our brave youths continued their 
 prayers upon their knees about the altar, and in that position 
 suffered themselves to be bound, and dragged away to prison. 
 But this was the last act of cruelty the Russian government 
 was permitted to perpetrate, for it exhausted the patience of 
 the nation. The measure was full, and the hour of retribu- 
 tion was at hand. The news of this outrage was spread 
 through Warsaw with the quickness of lightning, and it 
 thrilled every heart. This was the occasion for fixing upon 
 the 29th of November, as the day for commencing the revolu- 
 tion, when the 4th Polish regiment, many of the officers of 
 which were among the initiated, were to mount guard m 
 Warsaw. 
 

 THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Principles of the Revolution. THE FIRST NIGHT. Attack on the Bar- 
 racks of the Russian Cavalry. Their dispersion. Attempt to secure 
 the person of the Grand Duke. Capture of Russian general officers 
 and spies. Actions with detached borders of Russian cavalry. Two 
 companies of Polish light-infantry join the patriots. -D-eath of Potocki 
 and Trembicki. The Russian infantry attacked and dispersed. Ar- 
 mament and assembling of the people. Detachments sent to Praga. 
 
 IT is undeniable that the history of our nation 
 abounds in heroic acts and glorious passages. Need 
 we instance the times of Boleslaw, Casimir, Jagellon, 
 Augustus of Warna, and Sobieski ; or the deeds of 
 our renowned generals Czarnecki, Chodkiewicz, 
 Tarnowski, Sapieha, Kosciuszko, and Poniatowski ? 
 Yet, in our whole history, nothing transcends this last 
 revolution ; and indeed few more important events 
 have ever occurred. Its plan was based on the 
 purest motives, and this constitutes its peculiar 
 character. Those true sons of Poland, Wysocki and 
 Schlegel, had no other design than to regenerate 
 public morals and the national character, which had 
 already begun to deteriorate under Russian influence : 
 though, perhaps, there may have mingled with these 
 another feeling that of vengeance for the ignominy 
 
20 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 to which we were subjected. These feelings were 
 shared by the whole nation certainly a rare instance 
 in history. Inspired by the example of the brave, 
 even the wavering joined in upholding the good cause 
 to support which the sword was drawn. It was this 
 unanimity which emboldened us, small as our num- 
 bers were, to meet that colossal power dreaded by 
 all Europe. We were not animated to this unequal 
 struggle by any vain desire of conquest, but by a re- 
 solution to shake off a yoke so disgraceful, and by 
 the wish to preserve our civilization, arid to extend 
 it even to Russia. In drawing the sword, every 
 Pole had in view not only the freedom of his own 
 country, but that of his Sarmatian brethren also. 
 The Poles believed that Russia still remembered 
 those martyrs of liberty, Pestel, Bestuzew, Mora- 
 wiew, Kachowski, and Releiew, who suffered an ig- 
 nominious death, and more than five hundred others 
 who were sent in chains to Siberia. We believed 
 they would bear in mind, that, in 1824, they them- 
 selves summoned us to fight, side by side, with them 
 against despotism. Their words were still in our 
 memory " Poles, help us in our holy cause ! Unite 
 your hearts with ours ! Are we not brethren ? " Un- 
 worthy nation soothed by the momentary blandish- 
 ments of the autocrat, who scattered his decorations 
 with a lavish hand, they forgot their own past suf- 
 ferings and the future that awaits them. They suf- 
 fered themselves to be led against those who were 
 in arms for the liberty of both nations. At the very 
 time when the funeral rites of those who had died 
 in battle, Russians as well as Poles, were being per- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 21 
 
 formed in Warsaw and all the provinces, they burned 
 our villages, murdered our fathers and brothers. 
 Russians ! you have covered yourselves with eternal 
 shame, in the eyes of the whole world. Even the na- 
 tions you consider your friends and allies contemn you. 
 
 THE FIRST NIGHT. 
 
 The patriots assembled early in the morning of the 
 29th of November, to renew their oaths and ask the 
 blessing of the Almighty on their great undertaking. 
 The moment approached. Seven in the evening was 
 the hour appointed for the commencement of the rev- 
 olution. The signal agreed upon was, that a wooden 
 house should be set on fire in Szulec street, near the 
 Vistula. The patriots were scattered over the city, 
 ready to stir up the people on the appearance of the 
 signal. Most of them were young men and students. 
 Some hundred and twenty students, who were to 
 make the beginning, were assembled in the southern 
 part of Warsaw. All was ready. At the stroke of 
 seven, as soon as the flame of the house was seen 
 reflected on the sky, many brave students, and some 
 officers, rode through the streets of that part of the 
 city called The Old Town, shouting " Poles ! breth- 
 ren ! the hour of vengeance has struck. The time to 
 revenge the tortures and cruelties of fifteen years is 
 come ! Down with the tyrants ! To arms, breth- 
 ren ; to arms ! Our country forever ! " 
 
 The excitement spread through this part of the city 
 with incredible rapidity. The citizens flocked to- 
 gether from all quarters, shouting " Down with the 
 
22 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 tyrants ! Poland forever ! " At the same time, a 
 hundred and twenty students left their barrack 
 (which is called the Hotel of the Cadets, and is sit- 
 uated in the royal gardens of Lazienki) under their 
 gallant leaders, Wysocki and Schlegel, and marched 
 to the quarters of the Russian cavalry, cuirassiers, 
 hulans and hussars. It was resolved to take imme- 
 diate possession of all the chief gates. The issu- 
 ing out of the Russian troops was thereby rendered 
 very difficult and bloody, as the barracks w r ere sur- 
 rounded by a wide and deep moat, over which there 
 were few bridges. On their arrival, the cadets 
 found the soldiers in the utmost confusion. Some 
 were saddling their horses, some were leading them 
 out, and others were occupied in securing the maga- 
 zines, &c. In short, panic and disorder pervaded offi- 
 cers and men ; each sought his own safety only. 
 Our young heroes took advantage of this confusion, 
 and after firing a few rounds, rushed with the hurrah 
 through the doors. This charge sufficed : a hundred 
 and twenty of these young Poles, after having killed 
 forty or fifty men with ball and bayonet, dispersed 
 some eighteen hundred Russian cavalry. Cuirassiers, 
 hulans and hussars mingled together, joined in the 
 cry of terror, and began to seek concealment in gar- 
 rets, stables, cellars, &c. A great number were 
 drowned in attempting to cross the canal in order to 
 escape into the adjoining gardens. As the barracks 
 were closely connected with wooden buildings filled 
 with hay, straw and other combustible articles, not 
 a man would have escaped had they been fired. The 
 young Poles refrained from this, in mercy. The Rus- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 23 
 
 sians might all have been made prisoners ; for so great 
 was their panic that they were not ashamed to beg 
 for quarter on their knees. But these advantages 
 were, for the time, neglected. The cadets abandoned 
 the attack, and hastened into the city, where their 
 presence was more necessary. 
 
 While their comrades were attacking the barracks, 
 some ten or twelve students traversed the gardens 
 towards the palace of the Grand Duke (called the 
 Belvidere) in order to secure his person.* Some of 
 them guarded the passages oh the side of the gardens, 
 while others penetrated to the tyrant's apartment. 
 But he had escaped through a secret door. 
 
 On the failure of the party of cadets sent to secure 
 the person of the Grand Duke, they left his apartments 
 without in the least disturbing the repose of his lady. 
 As they reached the foot of the stairs they met Lu- 
 bowicki, the vice-president of the city, coming to the 
 Grand Duke for instructions. As soon as he saw them, 
 he began to cry for aid, but the next moment fell on 
 
 * The enemies of our country have endeavored to persuade the world 
 that this party was sent to take the Grand Duke's life. It is an infa- 
 mous calumny. The order to seize the Grand Duke was given with 
 the noblest intention ; to secure him from the dangers attendant on a 
 revolution, and to prevent further bloodshed by his captivity. The 
 Poles magnanimously intended to requite his long continued cruelty 
 with the kindest treatment. He would have been placed in safety, and 
 supplied with all the comforts of life in the palace of Bruhl, which was 
 expressly named for the place of his abode. The persons sent to seize 
 him were selected for their habitual moderation and self-restraint. 
 By his flight, Constantine accused himself. The just man fears no- 
 thing ; the guilty conscience anticipates danger. The Grand Duke in- 
 jured himself and our cause by his flight. His melancholy end is well 
 known. 
 
24 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 his knees and begged for his life. They took him 
 with them, intending to extract from him all the infor- 
 mation he was able to give. In the court-yard they 
 met the Russian general, Gendre,* aid-de-camp of 
 the Grand Duke, with some ten or twelve armed men. 
 They resolutely attacked him. Gendre fell under 
 their bayonets, and his followers fled. Th^, party 
 meeting with no further obstacles, returned to their 
 friends, whom they found at the bridge of Sobieski. 
 The company of cadets, after having finished their 
 attack upon the barracks of the Russian cavalry, 
 marched along the high road which traverses the 
 Park, over the bridge of Sobieski, towards the main 
 avenue between the terraces of the hospital Ujas- 
 dow on one side, and those of the Botanical Garden 
 on the other. After having arrived at this bridge 
 they heard the noise of horses in front, as of cavalry 
 advancing. They were indeed a company of Rus- 
 sian cuirassiers, who were on guard in this part of 
 the park, and who were now hastening to save the 
 barracks. Immediately a plan was formed to receive 
 
 * Gendre was one of the Russian generals, who, as well as his wife, 
 were among the chief spies. He was dismissed hy the deceased em- 
 peror, Alexander, on account of impositions and even accusations of 
 theft, nor was he allowed to show himself in Petersburgh during the 
 life-time of Alexander. He arrived, in 1829, in Warsaw, when it was 
 the pleasure of Constantino to associate and surround himself with the 
 outcasts of society ; and he made him his master of horse, and then gen- 
 eral and aid-de-camp. The swindling of this general and his wife in 
 Warsaw surpassed all imagination. They cheated and robbed the no- 
 blemen, the merchants, the Jews, and their own master, the Grand 
 Duke. According to the accounts found during the revolution, their 
 debts, in gaming and otherwise, amounted to more than a million of 
 Polish gilders. 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 25 
 
 them. The cadets, forming in 'a line, concealed 
 themselves in the Park near the street. The cui- 
 rasseurs came up ; they were permitted to advance, 
 and were then received with a brisk fire. The heavy 
 cavalry, who could not turn in this narrow road, suf- 
 fered severely. Sixty bodies were found on the spot. 
 The rest fled in the greatest disorder. From this 
 bridge, that handful of brave young men passed the 
 street of Wieyska, and, after arriving at the barracks 
 of Radziwil, they met a squadron of Russian hus- 
 sars returning from a patrol. At the same time they 
 heard the Russian calvary in pursuit, who had gained 
 time to mount at their barracks. This was a critical 
 moment, but it was met with resolution. One half 
 threw themselves into the ditch in order to receive the 
 hussars ; and the others formed a platoon, and with 
 hurrahs and the shout of " Poland forever !" discharg- 
 ed their pieces and attacked the cuirasseurs in their 
 rear, at the point of the bayonet. The Russians 
 were thrown into disorder, and fled with the greatest 
 precipitation, leaving many dead behind them. 
 
 The cadets, not having lost a single man in all 
 these skirmishes, arrived at the part of the city called 
 the Nowy-Swiat, (or the New World,) and the 
 Trzy Zlote Krzyze, (the Three Golden Crosses). 
 Here they found two companies of Polish light infan- 
 try, and with them the two Polish generals, Stanislaus 
 Potocki and Trembicld, who were giving com- 
 mands for restoring order by force, and for arresting 
 the assembled inhabitants. The company of cadets 
 arrived, and hailed the light infantry with the follow- 
 
 v 
 

 26 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 ing words; "Brothers! Are you here to shed the 
 blood of your brethren ? Have you forgotten the Rus- 
 sian tyranny ? Corne to our embrace, and hand to hand 
 let us attack the tyrants. Poland forever ! " This 
 address was enough. They disobeyed the commands 
 of their unworthy generals, and joined the cadets 
 and the populace. When the two generals had the 
 madness to reproach the soldiers, some of the cadets 
 went to them and told them in a few words the state 
 of affairs, and on their knees and with tears intreated 
 them not to forsake the cause of their country. To 
 Stanislaus Potocki the command of the army, was 
 offered. At the same time they were both warned 
 of the fatal consequences of their refusal. It was of 
 no avail. These infatuated men could not see the 
 justice of the cause, and began to insult the students. 
 Upon this the cadets left them, and they fell victims 
 to the indignation of the populace.* In this place 
 some gens d'armes, who undertook to disperse the 
 citizens, were killed. After the union with the two 
 companies of light infantry, it was decided they should 
 
 * Every Pole lamented the melancholy fate of Stanislaus Potocki. 
 He was one of the most honest of men, and beloved by the army and the 
 whole nation. He always kept aloof from all familiar intercourse with 
 the Russians, and his house was a true Polish dwelling. He had 
 always scorned all Russian protection; and, to every patriot, the 
 end of this man, who had become gray in the service of his 
 country, is a sad recollection. Yet every one must confess his death 
 was just, and cannot be a reproach to his countrymen, since he listened 
 neither to the advice nor the intreaties of his brethren, and thus publicly 
 avowed his adherence to the cause of despotism. As to General Trem- 
 bizki, he had always been a creature of the Russians, and a proud and 
 mischievous man. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 27 
 
 both march into the street of Szulec, on the left bank 
 of the Vistula, endeavour there to assemble the citi- 
 zens, and establish a degree of order, and after 
 that to take possession of the bridge, for the purpose 
 of maintaining the necessary communications between 
 Praga and Warsaw during the night, and to defend 
 it to the last against any attack of the enemy. 
 
 The cadets marched directly into the city through 
 the Nowy-Swiat, singing patriotic songs and shouting 
 " Poland forever ! " Every where the citizens answer- 
 ed their shouts with the greatest enthusiasm, and join- 
 ed the ranks of those brave youths. Both old and 
 young men, and even women, left their dwellings in or- 
 der to increase the numbers of the liberators of their 
 country. In their passage through that street this 
 company made prisoners of many Russian generals, 
 officers, &c. who were on their flight. After ad- 
 vancing as far as the palace of the Vice-roy they met 
 the Polish general Hauke, and Colonel Mieciszewski. 
 These worthless men, accompanied by some gens 
 d'armes, were on their way to the Grand Duke in the 
 Belvidere. Some cadets stepped in their way, and 
 exhorted them to dismount and surrender themselves. 
 Instead of answering, General Hauke drew a pistol 
 and wounded one of them, which act cost him and his 
 companion their lives.* 
 
 In the same manner General Siemiontkowski, with 
 
 * The early part of the career of General Hauke was not without merit, 
 but it was tarnished by his later conduct. He was born in Germany, 
 and came to Poland, under the reign of Stanislaus, as a poor mechanic. 
 After leaving his trade he was enrolled in the army, and advanced rap' 
 
28 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 some gens d'armes and soldiers, endeavoured to dis- 
 perse and arrest the citizens assembled in the Sax- 
 on-platz. He likewise was a Russian instrument, 
 and was hated by the nation. 
 
 Whilst this company of cadets was engaged in the 
 south part of the city, the 4th regiment, a battalion of 
 which had mounted guard, were in activity in another 
 quarter. This regiment, as soon as the signals were 
 given, revolted. The battalion on guard beat the 
 alarm drum at every guard-house, and the two other 
 battalions formed for the attack of the Russian infant- 
 ry in their barracks called the barracks of Sapieha. 
 The shouts of the soldiers and citizens advancing to 
 the attack mingled with the noise of the drums on 
 every side. A great number of Russian general offi- 
 cers and spies were taken in their flight, in the street 
 of the Little Theatre, and the street of Napoleon; 
 many of whom trembled and begged for life on their 
 knees. 
 
 As soon as the numbers assembled would admit of 
 it, divisions were detached to liberate the prisoners, 
 especially those in the Franciscan and Carmelite 
 
 idly in the revolutionary war under Kosciuszko, in which he distinguish- 
 ed himself by military skill. In the wars under Napoleon he defended 
 the fortress of Zamosc with great valor. But, from the beginning of 
 the Russian sway and the arrival of the Grand Duke at Warsaw, this 
 man became one of his chief minions, and by fawning and. intrigue 
 obtained the post of Minister of War. In the same year he was raised 
 to the nobility, and was made count, senator, and wayewode. In the 
 whole history of Poland the rapidity of this advancement is unexampled. 
 Hauke received these dignities as a reward for his oppression of his 
 inferiors, and for acts of injustice of every kind. As for Mieciszewski,. 
 he had always been a villain. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 29 
 
 prisons. These prisons, always guarded by Russian 
 troops, were stormed. The Russian soldiers w r ere 
 driven in, and a massacre commenced in the cor- 
 ridors, where a great number of them fell by the bay- 
 onet, as well as many police officers and turnkeys. 
 The doors were broken down and an indescribable 
 scene took place, when the victims, already sen- 
 tenced, perhaps, to death, or reserved for tortures, 
 were set at liberty. With tears in their eyes, they fell 
 into the arms of their deliverers. Here, a father found 
 a son there, a son discovered a father. Many of the 
 emaciated captives could only creep to meet the em- 
 braces of their brethren. But what was most shock- 
 ing, was the appearance of four ladies who had been 
 incarcerated for having resisted the brutal advances of 
 certain Russian generals. They were reduced to 
 mere skeletons. There was not one of the spectators 
 who did not shudder and weep at the sight, and swear 
 to avenge them. A hundred and seventy students, 
 and from forty to fifty older persons, Polish soldiers 
 and citizens, all innocent victims of the system of 
 espionage, were rescued from these two prisons. 
 
 The above-mentioned battalions of the 4th and 
 the battalion of sappers marched to attack the Rus- 
 sian infantry in the barracks of Alexander and Stan- 
 islaus. On their arrival there, they found some com- 
 panies under arms, and summoned them to surrender. 
 Instead of complying, they began to fire, and our sol- 
 diers fell instantly upon them, with the "hurrah." 
 They were dispersed in a moment, and many officers 
 and soldiers were made prisoners. So panic struck 
 
. 
 30 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 were many of the officers of the Russian guard that 
 they did not hesitate to creep head foremost into the 
 cellars, whence they were dragged out by the legs. 
 The Russians fled from the barracks and the city in 
 the utmost disorder, and took refuge beyond the 
 Powonzki barrier. 
 
 After all these successes, the northern, eastern 
 and western parts of the city were occupied, at about 
 noon, by divisions of patriot soldiers and citizens. 
 
 A small part of the south side of the city only was 
 now in possession of the enemy's cavalry, who had 
 at last left their barracks. A few houses opposite 
 the Lottery Buildings were set on fire, as a signal for 
 assembling. Strong patrols were sent to the western 
 part of the city, and by them all the public treasures 
 and the bank were secured. One of these parties, 
 composed of sappers, met the Russian colonel, 
 Sass,* in his flight. As he did not stop at their chal- 
 lenge, he was shot. 
 
 When the city had been, nearly freed of the Rus- 
 
 * This bad man was one of the principal instruments of our oppres- 
 sors. He was one of the chiefs of the spies, and his particular busi- 
 ness was to observe all foreigners coming to Warsaw. He invited them 
 to his house to ascertain their characters, and was assisted at his soirees 
 in his base designs, by the female spies. Under the show of the utmost 
 cordiality, by presents, and by means of love affairs, he was wont to 
 endeavor to draw them to the Russian interest, in order to use them 
 as spies in their own countries. He often succeeded, and several for- 
 eigners might be named, who came to Warsaw on the most innocent 
 business or to gratify their curiosity, but who, after having frequented 
 the parties of Sass, and handled Russian gold, returned to their own 
 country to betray it. Such are the means by whiph Russia steals 
 deeper and deeper into the heart of Europe. 
 
. 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 31 
 
 sians, great multitudes hastened to the arsenal for 
 arms and ammunition. Here they found the Polish 
 general Blummer, who was rash enough to resist. 
 He ordered his soldiers to fire on the people, but 
 they refused to obey, and joined their brethren. This 
 general was slain ; a just punishment for his murder- 
 ous intentions. All the apartments were imme- 
 diately opened, and more than 80,000 muskets, pis- 
 tols, sabres, and carbines were obtained. They were 
 distributed with admirable good order. 
 
 The people, being now armed, were arrayed in 
 divisions, under different commanders, and sent to va- 
 rious parts of the city. Parties were appointed to 
 patrol the streets and arrest all spies * and Russian 
 
 * The chief of spies, General Rozniecki, escaped. He was one of 
 the most vicious characters imaginable : his crimes surpass expression. 
 He was the oldest general in the Polish army, in which he had served 
 forty years. He entered the service under king Stanislaus. Under Na- 
 poleon he commanded a brigade, and subsequently a division of cav- 
 alry. Of his character, while in the service of Napoleon; not much is 
 known. Under the government of Russia, this man, already sixty years 
 old, degraded himself irredeemably by becoming one of the most atro- 
 cious and detestable tools of tyranny. A volume might be filled with 
 the history of his intrigues, swindlings, and other crimes. As chief of 
 the secret police, he had under him many agents whom he sent through- 
 out the land to extort money for him on unjust pretences. Wo to the 
 unhappy man who refused compliance with any of his demands ! He was 
 sure to find his fate in a prison. In the army, those who bribed him 
 were promoted. Rozniecki was the intimate friend of the Grand Duke. 
 The following anecdote may serve to give the reader some idea of his 
 -consummate art in fraud. 
 
 It was a part of Rozniecki's business to pay the spies, and they re- 
 ceived their salaries at his house. He divided the delators into several 
 classes, and rewarded them according to the quickness and importance 
 of their information. By his arrangement of this business he cheated 
 
32 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 officers who might attempt to fly. They arrested 
 upwards of three hundred. One of these patrols 
 went to the office of the secretary of spies, Macrot, 
 to seize his person and papers. This man had hid 
 himself in the cellar, with some of his satellites, and 
 fired upon the patrol. The consequence was that 
 Macrot and his people were massacred. 
 
 Toward two in the morning, the quiet of the city 
 was restored. Most of the patriots assembled in the 
 Ulicii Dluga, (or Long Street) to consult on the mea- 
 sures to be adopted on the following day, and the 
 manner in which the nation should be addressed by 
 the patriotic party. They called to memory the 
 cruelties of the Russian government, and urged the 
 necessity of a revolution to prevent the decay of all 
 moral and national feeling. They implored the peo- 
 ple to aid in this holy cause, yet at the same time 
 
 the very spies ! In the room where he received their denunciations he 
 had a chest of draws placed, behind which a clerk was concealed. This 
 clerk wrote down their reports as he heard them, taking care to date 
 them somewhat earlier. When the spy had ended his story and applied 
 for his reward, Rozniecki would declare that he recollected having 
 heard the whole affair the day before. He would then leave the room 
 and return with the forged fefcord. Thus .would he defraud the spy of 
 his shameful earnings. Accounts of immense sums received by him were 
 found in his house during the revolution. He was more than once ac- 
 cused of murder by poison, and other enormous crimes, but the pro- 
 ceedings against .him were suppressed. On the first evening of the 
 revolution this man happened to be in an assembly of spies in the City 
 Hall. He was there to give his instructions. On hearing the tumult, 
 his conscience smote him, and he stole away without saying a word. 
 Finding a coach at hand, 'he offered the coachman money to permit him 
 to drive himself w-hither he pleased. He made his escape in the coach- 
 man's cloak. His effigy was exhibited on the gallows seven days, 
 decorated with a dozen Rus*sian orders. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 33 
 
 besought them never to violate the dictates of hu- 
 
 o 
 
 inanity. "Dear brethren," they said, " let no one 
 have a right to accuse us of cruelty. May the sanc- 
 tity of our cause never be polluted by -barbarous pas- 
 sions. Having a single end in view, national free- 
 dom, and justice, may we prove lions in battle, mild 
 and indulgent to defenceless foes and repentant apos- 
 tates. Brethren, let unity, love and friendship be 
 ours ! Let us forget private rancor and selfish in- 
 tere t! Children of one mother, our dear Poland 
 let us save her from ruin! " 
 
 These addresses were received by the people with 
 the most fervent enthusiasm, and with cries of "Po- 
 land forever!" They swore to fight for her while a 
 drop flowed in their hearts, and never to forsake the 
 field of valor or the path of virtue. The assembled 
 multitude then knelt down before the Almighty, to 
 thank him for a deliverance accomplished withsolittle 
 bloodshed, and to implore a continuation of his mer- 
 cies. It was a scene which no description can equal. 
 In the depth of the night the immense crowds of peo- 
 ple kneeling, their figures illuminated by the glare of 
 the fires lighted in the streets, praying to God their 
 deliverer, presented a sight to have touched even 
 tyrants, could they have witnessed it. 
 
 When prayers were over, plans were adopted for 
 the defence of the city. Some of the barriers were 
 barricaded, and fortified with cannon. Officers were 
 sent to Praga with detachments to reinforce the gar- 
 rison at the bridge. Wagons were also sent to 
 Praga for ammunition. 
 5 
 
I 
 
 34 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 As the detachments approached the bridge, they 
 perceived that their way was obstructed by a body 
 of Russian cavalry. This cavalry were not aware of 
 the presence of the two companies of light infantry 
 who had been sent thither by the patriots. As the cav- 
 alry advanced upon the bridge the light infantry gave 
 them a volley and charged. At the same time the 
 detachments fell on from the Border Street, and com- 
 pelled them to retire with severe loss. Some com- 
 panies, formed by the populace, had al eady taken 
 possession of Praga, and all was quiet. Many wag- 
 on loads of cartridges, and bales and barrels of powder 
 were taken from the magazine to Warsaw before 
 morning. 
 
 These are the details of the first night of our rev- 
 olution. The order which prevailed in all these tu- 
 mults and during the fight was truly admirable. 
 The foreigners then in Warsaw declared that they 
 could riot enough praise the behavior of the troops 
 and populace in the very height of a revolution. The 
 utmost forbearance was evinced toward persons and 
 property. No individual was slain or abused with- 
 out provocation, nor was any house or store entered 
 without the consent of the owner. From the open 
 windows of many houses even ladies witnessed our 
 deeds, and waved their handkerchiefs, without fear 
 of danger or insult. They were quiet and delighted 
 spectators of the crowds, who, after expelling the 
 Russians, moved through the streets in perfect or- 
 der, and with songs of joy. These were moments 
 in which the heart of every good patriot rejoiced, 
 and traitors alone hid their heads. 
 
*. 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 35 
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 THE FIRST DAY. Expulsion of the Russians from Warsaw. Choice of 
 Chlopicki as Commander in Chief. Provisional Government, under 
 the Presidency of Prince Adam Czartoriski. Deputation sent to the 
 Grand Duke. Propositions and answer. Abolition of the Bureau of 
 Police. Establishment of the National Guard. Proclamations ad- 
 dressed to the inhabitants of the provinces and the distant troops. 
 Provision for the Russian prisoners. The Academical Legions formed. 
 
 , Arrival of detachments from the provinces. The Grand Duke con- 
 sents to leave the kingdom, and addresses a proclamation to the Poles. 
 
 THE FIRST DAY of freedom, after so many years of 
 oppression, was hailed with shouts of " Our Coun- 
 try ! Poland forever ! " At about six in the morning 
 the drums beat for the assembly of the troops in all 
 the parts of the city in our possession. Crowds 
 flocked from all sides to the public places. It was 
 a scene never equalled. The whole people assem- 
 bled, without distinction of rank, age or sex. Old 
 men, who were past the use of swords, brandished 
 their sticks and crutches, and recalled the times of 
 Kosciuszko. Clergymen, civil officers, foreigners, 
 Jews, even women and children armed with pistols, 
 mingled in the ranks. 
 
 The multitude, thus assembled, marched to the 
 northern and southern parts of the city, to drive the 
 Russians out. The fourth regiment and a body of 
 the inhabitants marched into the northern quarter 
 of Warsaw, to attack two regiments of infantry who 
 occupied the Champ de Mars and the whole district 
 thence to the barrier of Powazko. This division 
 
 I 
 
36. THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 had with them two small pieces of cannon. As soon 
 as they reached the point of attack they fired a few 
 rounds, raised the " hurrah," and threw themselves 
 upon the Russians, who made no resistance, but fled 
 in disorder beyond the barrier above mentioned, 
 where the pursuit ceased. 
 
 In the mean while, the battalion of sappers had 
 marched through the suburb of Cracow and the street 
 of Wirzbwa to the southern part of the city. They 
 met the enemy's cavalry, at the Place of Saxony, a 
 short distance from the Church of the Cross. The 
 Russians discharged their carbines, and a brisk fire 
 was kept up until cries were heard on all sides, not 
 to fire, but to attack them with the bayonet. They 
 gave way before the charge, and fled in the greatest 
 confusion, as the infantry had done before them. 
 They were pursued beyond the barriers of Mokotow. 
 The whole city was cleared of the Russians before 
 nine o'clock. The walls opposite the Russian troops 
 were manned by soldiers and armed citizens. 
 
 While this expulsion was being effected, some of 
 the patriots were employed in the city in choosing 
 a military chief. They agreed to offer the command 
 to Chlopicki.* 
 
 * General Chlopicki, a man of rare merit, begun his career in the 
 struggle for liberty under Kosciuszko. In 1807, he was colonel com- 
 mandant of the first regiment of the legion of the Vistula, under Na- 
 poleon. He had the command of a brigade, and afterwards of a divis- 
 ion, of the same legion in Spain. This general distinguished himself 
 at the storming of Sarragossa, where the Poles performed prodigies 
 of valor, as well as at the battle of Saginta. Under the Russian gov- 
 ernment of Constantino, Chlopicki left the army, not being able to en- 
 dure his commander's brutal deportment The Grand Duke censured 
 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 37 
 
 Towards eleven, General Chlopicki was led by the 
 people, with acclamations, to the hotel of the Minis- 
 ter of Finance, where many senators and other per- 
 sons were assembled to take measures respecting 
 a provisional government, the security of public or- 
 der, &c. Chlopicki was received with acclamations 
 by the chiefs of the nation ; and after all had declared 
 their consent, he was proclaimed Commander in 
 Chief. He was addressed on this occasion by Pro- 
 fessor Lelewell, one of the patriots ; who, after draw- 
 ing the picture of our past sufferings, and comparing 
 it with our hopes of the future, concluded with the 
 following words, addressed directly to Chlopicki. 
 " Brother take the sword of your ancestors and pre- 
 decessors Czarnecki, Dombrowski and Kosciuszko. 
 Guide the nation that has placed its trust in you, in 
 the way of honor. Save this unhappy country." 
 This ceremony concluded, Chlopicki was shown to 
 the assembled people from the balcony. They re- 
 ceived him with shouts of " Our country and our lib- 
 erator Chlopicki forever ! "' Many cried, " Chlopicki, 
 rely on us, and lead us to Lithuania ! " The general 
 thanked them for their confidence in him, promised 
 never to a-buse it, and swore that he would defend the 
 liberty of Poland to the last moment. 
 
 the general on parade, in an unbecoming manner, saying that his di- 
 vision was not in order. Chlopicki replied, " I did not gain my rank 
 on the parade ground, nor did I receive my decorations there." He ask- 
 ed his discharge the next day. In later times the emperor Alexander 
 and the Grand Duke himself endeavored to induce him to return to the 
 service, but Chlopicki never consented. He preferred a retired life to 
 the splendor of Russian slavery. This gained him the esteem of the 
 whole nation. 
 
38 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 The patriots now proceeded to choose members of the 
 provisional government. Prince Adam Czartoriski,* 
 
 * Prince Adam Czartoriski was born on the 14th of June, 1770. He 
 is the oldest son of Prince Casimir Czartoriski, Palatine of Russia, and 
 Princess Elizabeth Fleming, daughter of Count George Fleming, first 
 treasurer of Lithuania and Palatine of Pomerania. The Czartoriski fam- 
 ily are descended from the Gedamines, who reigned over Lithuania in 
 the thirteenth century, a descendant of whom, Jagelon, reigned long and 
 gloriously in Poland. At the last partition of Poland, Adam Czarto- 
 riski and his brother Constantino were sent to St. Petersburg as hos- 
 tages. While residing in the Russian capital, Prince Adam was on 
 terms of friendly intimacy with the Grand Duke Alexander. This 
 friendship influenced, perhaps, his political career. He was sent as 
 an ambassador to the court of Sardinia, and when Alexander ascended 
 the throne, he was recalled, and entrusted with the portfolio of foreign 
 affairs. He declined this charge for a long time, and at last accepted 
 it at the earnest entreaty of Alexander, on condition that he should be 
 allowed to retire as soon as the discharge of his official duties should 
 militate against the interests of his country. At the same time, he was 
 appointed Curator of the university of Wilna, and yet another impor- 
 tant duty devolved on him, which was the establishment of schools in 
 all the Russian provinces of Poland. Though the Russians cannot see 
 a Pole in so honorable a station without jealousy, the conduct of Prince 
 Adam was so noble as to win the hearts of all. He did not surround 
 himself with parasites ; his course was plain and upright, and he scorn- 
 ed the idea of receiving rewards from government. He would not 
 even accept a salary. 
 
 In 1808, Czartoriski resigned his ministerial office, but retained his 
 place over the university, hoping to do more good in it. He increased 
 the number of elementary schools and those of all classes Qf instruction, 
 He reformed the antiquated institutions of the university, and gave the 
 whole course of instruction a more simple and convenient form, which 
 was also better adapted to the wants of the middle classes of the people. 
 By these means he hoped to develope and elevate the national char- 
 acter, in these classes. 
 
 The events of 1812 showed but too plainly that the misfortunes which 
 then befel France was owing to the same cause to which the previous 
 distress of Russia was attributable ; viz. the non-existence of Poland. 
 If Poland had remained independent in her original extent, the two 
 gigantic powers could not have come in contact, and the equilibrium 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 39 
 
 Radzivil,* Niemcewicz, and Lelewell were elected, 
 and one of the old ministers, Lubecki, was retained 
 
 of Europe, now entirely lost, would have been preserved. It was, then, 
 a true and necessary policy to bring forward the question of the inde- 
 pendence of Poland again. This was the object Prince Adam Czarto- 
 riski kept in view during the war between France and Russia, and it 
 was in the hope of effecting it that he accompanied Alexander to Paris 
 in 1814. He was not anxious without reason. The Emperor Alex- 
 ander satisfied him, in part, and proposed to the Congress of Vienna 
 to erect the grand duchy of Poland into a kingdom. This kingdom 
 received a constituti n and several other national institutions. An 
 entire freedom of trade with the remaining Polish provinces under 
 Russia, Austria, and Prussia, was assured to it. All these promises 
 were published and confirmed by Alexander at Warsaw in 1816. Yet, 
 in the very act of confirmation, several privileges which the Emperor 
 had promised to Czartoriski were retracted ; and this was owing to the 
 influence of the other powers, and the principles o the Holy .Alliance. 
 Russian policy made these restrictions more and more sensibly felt, and 
 unfortunate Poland beheld, one after another, the institutions so solemn- 
 ly guaranteed to her, vanishing away. 
 
 Indignant at these breaches of promise on the part of Russia, Prince 
 Czartoriski resigned the Curatorship of the university of Wilna, in 
 1824, in which he had been the means of effecting much good, par- 
 ticularly in the cause of patriotism and liberty; and in order to free 
 himself from all connexion with the intriguing cabinet of Russia, he 
 went, with his whole family, on a journey to foreign countries. 
 
 This prince was proprietor of the beautiful town of Pulawa, which 
 Nature and Art have united to make one of the finest in Europe. The 
 reader will, perhaps, be pleased with a short description of this place, 
 which no traveller in the north of Europe will fail to visit. The little 
 town of Pulawa is situated about eighteen leagues south of Warsaw, 
 
 * Prince Michael Radzivil was born in Lithuania, on his family estate 
 called Nieswiez. He is nephew of Prince Anthony Radzivil, govern- 
 or-general of the grand duchy of Posen, and brother-in-law of the king 
 of Prussia. This prince was commander of a brigade in the time of 
 Napoleon, and distinguished himself at the siege of Dantzic. He re- 
 tired from service under the Russian government, and lived privately 
 in Warsaw. He was a man of quiet character, and a sincere patriot, 
 but not of eminent military talents. 
 
40 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 to assist them. This arrangement was made public 
 about noon, in order to tranquillize the people. 
 The first step taken by the new government was 
 
 on the main road to Lernberg in Gallicia, on the right bank of the Vis- 
 tula. The windings of this noble stream are so happily turned as to 
 present a prospect of both its sides, till it reaches the horizon. The 
 breadth of the river near this town is nearly three English miles. Its 
 shores are broken into little hills covered with wood, in the intervals 
 of which fine villages meet the eye, and in the distance are seen the 
 picturesque ruins of Casimir. The town of Pulawa itself is situated 
 on the declivity of a high bank, which declines toward the river in the 
 form of an amphitheatre. The whole is a garden laid out in the purest 
 taste, which terminates, toward the river, in extensive meadows, plant- 
 ed with groves of oaks and poplars, and enlivened by herds of Tyrolese 
 cattle, cottages, shepherds' cabins, &c., in various st\ les of building. 
 This garden surrounds Pulawa, and is itself surrounded by great parks, 
 which extend several leagues beyond it in evyer direction. These 
 are intersected by beautiful avenues of linden trees. Among the ma- 
 ny works in marble, statues, obelisks, &c. the temple of Sibylla, with 
 its magnificent statue of alabaster, is distinguished, as is also the statue 
 of a nymph in one of the grottos, a master-piece of sculpture. The 
 palace, consisting of a main building with two wings, is a noble piece 
 of architecture. Its apartments are rich and splondid. Prince Czarto- 
 riski has the largest library in Poland, and the greatest private library 
 in Europe, which is open to the public. 
 
 Czartoriski happened to be in Pulawa when the revolution broke out. 
 Summoned to the helm of state by the nation, he hastened to devote 
 his exertions to his country. Laudable as his previous career had 
 been, it was excelled by his conduct during the struggle, in which he 
 represented the beau ideal of virtue and patriotism. Through all the 
 stormy changes of popular opinion he continued firm and unwavering, 
 having but one view, one aim, the good of his country. He carried to 
 the chief magistrate's seat the same calmness, the same mildness which 
 had characterized his private life. He was never actuated by passion. 
 He considered all Poles as brethren. Though in the sixtieth year of 
 his age, he did not shrink from the fatigues of war, but constantly ac- 
 companied Skrzynecki, to whom he was much attached, in his marches, 
 and was at his side in many battles. His whole character was essen- 
 tially noble. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 41 
 
 to send deputies to the Grand Duke. They were 
 instructed to demand whether he meant to depart 
 peaceably, or to attack the city. Among the depu- 
 ties were Lubecki and Lelewell. They found the 
 Grand Duke encamped, with his army, in the fields 
 of Mokotow. 
 
 The deputies represented to Constantine the con- 
 sequences that would result from an attack on the 
 city, as well in regard to himself as to the nation. 
 They informed him that the army had already joined 
 the people, and proposed to him that he should de- 
 part unmolested, on a prescribed route. They prom- 
 ised that he should find every possible accommoda- 
 tion provided on that route, for himself and his 
 troops. The Grand Duke demanded some time for 
 reflection, and finally gave the deputies the following 
 answer in writing, 
 
 ART. I. The Grand Duke declares that it was 
 never his intention to attack Warsaw. In case he 
 should find himself under the necessity of so doing, 
 he will give the authorities notice of his intention 
 forty-eight hours before the attack. 
 
 ART. II. The Grand Duke will entreat the Em- 
 peror to grant an amnesty for the past. 
 
 ART. III. The Grand Duke declares that he has 
 sent no orders to the Russian forces in Lithuania to 
 pass the frontier of the kingdom . 
 
 ART. IV. Prisoners will be exchanged. 
 
 The deputies returned to Warsaw with this an- 
 swer, at three o'clock. It was immediately published, 
 but did not satisfy the people. They demanded to 
 6 " 
 
42 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 know the day and hour of the Grand Duke's de- 
 parture. If he should refuse to obey, they declared 
 that they would attack him. It was finally conclu- 
 ded to allow him two days for his necessary arrange- 
 ments, and then to send a second deputation to in- 
 sist on his instant departure.* 
 
 The provisional government immediately set about 
 restoring order to every department of the adminis- 
 tration. The Bureau of Police was abolished, and a 
 council of citizens was substituted in its place, under 
 the direction of the aged and worthy Wengrzecki. 
 This man had been president of Warsaw in the times 
 of the grand duchy. He was compelled to leave this 
 
 * The Grand Duke's army at Mokatow consisted of the following 
 regiments. 
 
 Infantry. Cavalry. Artillery. 
 
 1. Infantry grenadiers, two battalions 
 
 2. Light Infantry 
 
 3. Battalion for instruction 
 
 4. Cuirasseurs of Podolia 4 squadrons 
 
 5. Hulan, Cesarowicz 4 " 
 
 6. Hussars of Grodno 4 " 
 
 7. Battery of Horse Artillery 
 
 8. Battery of Foot Artillery 
 
 Total, 
 
 Of Polish soldiers, he had six companies of grenadiers of the foot 
 guard, and one regiment of chasseurs of the guard. These regiments, 
 however, returned to Warsaw and joined the nation on the second of 
 December. The true cause of the Grand Duke's demand for time 
 was, that he hoped to exert a secret influence on those of the Polish 
 troops who had not yet joined the people. This fact was confirmed 
 by two captured spies, one of whom he had despatched to the light- 
 horse in Lowicz, and the other to the division of hussars of Siedlec, 
 The letters they carried to the commanders of these forces urged them, 
 with promises of great rewards, to join the Grand Duke. 
 
 2000 
 
 
 
 2000 
 
 
 
 1000 
 
 
 
 
 800 
 
 
 
 800 
 
 
 
 800 
 
 
 
 
 12 pieces. 
 
 
 
 12 " 
 
 5000 
 
 2400 
 
 24 
 

 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 office, by certain persecutions, which he brought up- 
 on himself by not being sufficiently in the spirit of 
 the Russian government. At the same time the na- 
 tional guard was established, and placed under the 
 command of Count Lubinski. The guard began 
 their service on the very same day. They mounted 
 guard at the bank and the public treasury, and their 
 patrols maintained order in all parts of the city. 
 Their duties were performed with the utmost punctu- 
 ality. All the shops were opened, and the city wore 
 as peaceful an aspect as if there had been no army 
 before it. 
 
 At the same time the provisional government sent 
 proclamations into all the provinces, to inform the 
 nation of these events. They began with the fol- 
 lowing beautifully figurative expression : " Poles ! 
 The eagle of Poland has broken his chains, and will 
 soon have burst through the canopy of clouds into 
 those purer regions in which nothing shall shut from 
 him the light of the sun." The military government 
 issued proclamations to the troops at all the distant 
 stations, ordering them to repair forthwith to War- 
 saw. The divisions of chasseurs received orders in 
 case of an attack from the Grand Duke, to fall on 
 his rear, and cut off his retreat. The city itself was 
 put in a better state of defence ; the barriers were 
 fortified, and guarded by strong detachments ; all was 
 prepared for an attack. The government made pro- 
 per provision for the care of the Russian prisoners* 
 of whatever rank, as well as of the ladies of the Rus- 
 sian civil and military officers who had left Warsaw. 
 
44 THE POLISH REVOLUTION, 
 
 The royal palace was assigned for the residence of 
 the officers and ladies ; the privates were lodged in 
 barracks. At a later period they were permitted to 
 go about the streets and earn money by their labor, 
 in addition to their usual allowance. The Russians 
 were so touched by this generous treatment, that 
 they swore, with tears, never to forget it. 
 
 These details of the first day of our revolution, 
 for the correctness of which I pledge myself, may 
 serve to answer the accusations of some journalists, 
 who have stated that the commencement of the na- 
 tional struggle was marked with the greatest atroci- 
 ties, and that more than forty field officers, many 
 subalterns, and large parties of privates were butcher- 
 ed for declining to engage in the cause. These and 
 all such impeachments of the Polish nation are un- 
 just and false. As has been said before, the foreign- 
 ers in Warsaw could not sufficiently praise the ad- 
 mirable order with which our first movements were 
 conducted. Our enemies accuse the people of hav- 
 ing robbed the public treasuries. I affirm that not 
 a gilder was lost neither public nor private property 
 was pillaged. 
 
 As the enemy was still encamped before the city 
 on the first and second of December, and had as yet 
 given no decisive answer respecting the time of his 
 departure, the people, as well as the army, were still 
 under arms and upon the walls. At this time the 
 twelve companies of students, called the Academical 
 Legions, were organized. It was a heart-stirring 
 sight to see these noble youths assembled in arms to 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 45 
 
 defend their country. Many of them had just been 
 rescued from prison, and could not walk without dif- 
 ficulty. This did not damp their ardor ; the hope 
 of figfiting successfully for the liberty of Poland re- 
 newed their strength. The Academical Legions re- 
 quested to be sent to the posts nighest the enemy. 
 These two days passed in entire quietness. 
 
 In the afternoon of the second of December, Gen- 
 eral Schenbek arrived from Plock with the first regi- 
 ment of chasseurs. At the same time came Colonel 
 Sierawski from Serock, with his regiment. Both 
 were received with great enthusiasm. New detach- 
 ments from the provinces marched into Warsaw ev- 
 ery day. A truly affecting sight it was to see more 
 than a thousand peasants, and about fifty peasant girls 
 from the country about Warsaw, marching into the 
 city with clubs, scythes, and weapons of every de-' 
 scription. They were escorted by the shouting popu- 
 lace to the Bank, and there welcomed by the national 
 government. At the request of the people, another 
 deputation was this day sent to the Grand Duke, to 
 urge his departure, and to inform him that an attack 
 would be the necessary consequence of his refusal. 
 The Grand Duke saw the necessity of compliance, 
 and* decided to commence his march on the following 
 day, by the prescribed route of Pulawa. He issued 
 a proclamation to the Polish nation, wherein he 
 promised never to fight against those, " whom," to 
 use his own expression, u he had always loved." 
 He adduced his marriage with a young Polish lady 
 as a proof of his affection for the nation. At the 
 
46 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 same time he promised to entreat the emperor to 
 grant an amnesty, and to take, in general, the mildest 
 measures. He begged the Poles to deal gently 
 with the Russian prisoners, their families, the ladies, 
 and in short with all Russian subjects remaining in 
 Warsaw.* 
 
 * These proclamations, which were immediately published in the 
 Warsaw papers, contain clear proof that the Grand Duke had no in- 
 juries on the part of the Polish nation to complain of, and that he felt, 
 himself, that the Poles were constrained to revolt. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 47 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Patriotic Club commences its sessions. Character of that association, 
 The Grand Duke departs for the frontier. Particulars of his march. 
 The Polish regiments which had remained with him return to Mos- 
 cow- Their reception. Krazynski and Kornatowski. Deputation to 
 St. Petersburg!!. Demands to be laid before the Emperor. Sierawski 
 made Governor of Warsaw, and Wasowiez chief of the staff. Order re- 
 specting the army. Arrival of volunteers from the interior. Opening 
 of the theatre. Religious solemnities at Praga. Chlopicki nominated 
 and proclaimed Dictator. 
 
 ON the third of December the Patriotic Club be- 
 gan its session, under the guidance of very worthy 
 persons. The object of this society was, to watch 
 over all the departments of the administration, to see 
 that the measures adopted were congenial with the 
 wishes of the people, and in the spirit of the revolu- 
 tion ; and to promote fraternity and union throughout 
 the nation. They desired to repress all manifesta- 
 tions of selfishness or ambition, to discover and 
 bring before the people the persons best qualified for 
 public offices, and, in short, to promote the best in- 
 terests of the nation with unwearied zeal. If this 
 club was, at times, led by the fervor of patriotic feel- 
 ing to adopt measures considered rigorous by many, 
 their acts were never inconsistent with the love of 
 country, or their own views of the national honor. 
 At this time, a committee was also appointed for the 
 trial of the spies. 
 
 On the morning of the third of December, the 
 Grand Duke commenced his march towards Pula- 
 
 
48 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 *aJ' 
 
 wa, according to agreement,* and the Polish reg- 
 iments which had remained with Constantine up to 
 
 * The details of the Grand Duke's march may not be uninteresting 
 to the reader, and at the same time they will serve to refute the false 
 report that he was pursued by the Poles. 
 
 Early in the morning of the third of December, the Grand Duke left 
 his camp at Mokotow, and marched on the route of Kosienice and Pu- 
 lawa. Agents had been sent in advance in this direction, to procure 
 for him every convenience, which he found uniformly prepared. In 
 a village between Koseinice and Graniza, where he halted with his 
 troops, he met Intendant General Wolicki, who was on his way from 
 Lublin to Warsaw. Wolicki waited on the Grand Duke, in the hope 
 that he might render him some service. Constantine had quartered 
 himself in the house of the curate of the village, and received the In- 
 tendant General in the parlor, where the Grand Duchess Lowicz 
 was present. Wolicki requested his orders with regard to the accom- 
 modation of the troops. Constantine coldly thanked him, and imme- 
 diately began to complain of the Poles ; in which he was joined by his 
 lady. He reproached the nation with the benefits he had conferred 
 on them, and seizing Wolicki violently by the hand, added, " And for 
 all this they wanted to assassinate me !" When Wolicki, in the most 
 delicate manner, represented that his residence had been entered with 
 the best intentions toward his person, the Grand Duke, with yet great- 
 er exasperation and fury, exclaimed, " They have chased me out of the 
 country but I shall soon return." In his rage he again seized Wo- 
 licki's hand, saying, " You shall stay with me, as a hostage for my gen- 
 erals retained in Warsaw." Notwithstanding the expostulations of 
 Wolicki, he was arrested and detained. He however was not long a 
 prisoner, for he soon found means to regain his liberty. The Grand 
 Duke passed that night at the village of Graniza, some of the inhabit- 
 ants of which Wolicki knew. He found opportunity to speak with 
 one of them in the night, told him what had befallen, and desired him 
 to raise a false alarm, as if the Poles were at hand. It was done. The 
 citizens began to shout in the streets, and Wolicki, profiting by the 
 fright and disorder of the Russians, escaped. 
 
 He arrived at Warsaw on the following day, and related his adven- 
 ture, which was published as an illustration of the Grand Duke's per- 
 fidy and inconsistency. This conduct, together with his threats, would 
 have justified the Poles in pursuing and taking him with his whole 
 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 49 
 
 this time, now returned to Warsaw. When the citi- 
 zens were notified of the return of these troops, all 
 
 army prisoners. But the nation generously suffered this opportunity 
 for revenge to pass by, and adhered to the promise of a free passage. 
 
 On his arrival in Pulawa, Constantine was received by the princess 
 Czartoriski in the most friendly manner, as he also was in Lubartow 
 by the Princess Lubomirska. In the latter place General Roszniecki, 
 who accompanied the Grand Duke, demanded an apartment in a pavil- 
 ion adjoining the palace, which was designed for the suite of Constan- 
 tine. The princess answered, in the presence of the Grand Duke, 
 " There is no room for traitors to their country in my house." 
 
 On the way to Lenczna, the Russian army met a division of Polish 
 lancers, marching to Siedlec. They halted in order to go through the 
 ceremony of saluting. The Grand Dake, with his suite, approached 
 them with an air of perfect friendship, shook hands with several, and 
 endeavored to persuade them to return with him. " Hulans," said he, 
 " do not forget your duty to your monarch, but set your comrades a 
 good example." He then offered them money and other rewards. In- 
 dignant at his proposals, the hulans replied, " Prince, we thank you 
 for the money and promises you offer us, but there is no command 
 more sacred in our eyes than the call of our country ; no greater re- 
 ward than the privilege of righting in her cauSe ! " With this, they 
 wheeled, and continued their march past the Russian troops, singing 
 patriotic songs. 
 
 The Grand Duke passed the frontier with his forces on the thirteenth 
 of December, and crossing the Wadowa, entered Volhynia, an ancient 
 Polish province, now incorporated with Russia. 
 
 I cannot forbear to record the noble conduct of Colonel Turno, a 
 Pole, and aid- de-camp to the Grand Duke. This officer had been four- 
 teen years with Constantine, and was one of the few honest men in 
 his suite. His long endurance of his chief's follies and rudeness could 
 have had no other motive than the hope of doing good to others, and 
 preventing mischief. Constantine loved him, valued him highly, and 
 was firmly convinced that Turno would remain with him. What was 
 his surprise, when, at the frontier, Turno rode up to take his leave ! 
 At first, he was unable to answer. After some time he said, with an 
 expression of heart-felt grief, "Turno, and will you leave me you, 
 upon whom I. had placed my greatest hopes whom I loved so much 
 who have been with me so long?" Turno answered, with dignity, 
 "Your Highness may be assured that I am sorry to part with you. I have 
 7 
 
50 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 hastened to the barrier of Mokotow, to see those who 
 had joined the cause of their country so late. The peo- 
 ple were indignant at first, and considered these sol- 
 diers unworthy of the name of countrymen ; but their 
 misapprehensions were soon explained away. These 
 troops were rather unfortunate than guilty. They had 
 been misled by their generals, Krasynski and Korna- 
 towski. As to General Zimyrski, who commanded the 
 grenadiers, he was entirely blameless. He had intend- 
 ed to join the patriots at first, but was detained as a 
 prisoner by the Russians. The other two generals 
 persuaded their men that the revolutionary move- 
 ments were only disturbances of the mob, excited 
 by the students, and would quickly come to an end. 
 They ought not, they told them, to forsake their 
 legitimate government and the Grand Duke. . It was 
 impossible afterwards for these regiments to learn 
 the truth, as they were closely surrounded by the 
 
 certainly always been your friend, and I am so still. I should never 
 leave you in another cause no, not in the greatest distress: on the 
 contrary I should be happy to share every misfortune with you. But, 
 your Highness, other circumstances and duties call me now the high- 
 est and weightiest duty the duty a man owes to his country. Your 
 Highness, I have done s all that honor and duty commanded as your aid- 
 de-camp I ha've accompanied you to the frontier, that I might be your 
 guide as long as you should remain on Polish ground, and preserve 
 you from every possible danger. JVow you need me no longer. You 
 are in your own country, and my duty as your aid-de-camp being at 
 an end, it is rrow my sacred duty as a Pole to return at the summons 
 of my country." 
 
 The Grand Duke marched with his corps toward Bialystok, where 
 he remained till the beginning of the campaign. In the war, he was 
 not ashamed to accept the command of a corps of the . army, and to 
 fight against those who had treated him so generously, his promises to 
 he contrary notwithstanding. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 51 
 
 L, .JL^*- 
 
 Russians, and cut off from all communication with 
 others. 
 
 Early on the third of December, when the Grand 
 Duke had resolved to depart, he visited these troops 
 in person, and declared before them that he left 
 Warsaw only to avoid useless bloodshed, and that 
 order would soon be restored. He requested them 
 to go with him, as they were regiments of guards, in 
 whom the emperor had peculiar confidence. " Sol- 
 diers," he said, "will you go with us; or stay and 
 unite with those who have proved faithless to their 
 sovereign?" With one voice the whole corps ex- 
 claimed, " We will remain we will join our breth- 
 ren and fight for the liberty of our country. We are 
 sorry that we could not do so from the beginning, 
 but we were deceived." 
 
 The people who had assembled to gaze at these 
 unfortunate men, with unfavorable and unjust feel- 
 ings toward them, were disarmed of their resentment 
 at the very sight of them, and rushed into their em- 
 braces. They were surrounded by the multitude, 
 and taken, with joyful acclamations to the Place of 
 the Bank. But though the people forgave the sol- 
 diers, their indignation remained unabated against 
 their generals, and the greatest efforts of the leading 
 patriots were required to save Krasynski and Korna- 
 towski from their rage. It was dreadful to behold 
 these generals riding with downcast looks, not daring 
 to look on those whom they had intended to betray. 
 Death would certainly have been preferable to thus 
 meeting the curses of a justly incensed people. Mo- 
 thers held up their children, and, pointing at the two 
 

 52 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 generals, exclaimed, " See the traitors ! " Arriving at 
 the Bank, the people demanded that Krasynski and 
 Kornatowski should give their reasons for having 
 acted as they had done ; and as the wretched men 
 could say nothing in their own defence, a general 
 cry arose of " Death to the traitors ! " Nothing but the 
 love of the people for Chlopicki and Schembeck, who 
 interceded, could have hindered them from carrying 
 their wishes into immediate execution. Several ex- 
 cited individuals made their way toward the culprits 
 with pistols in their hands, and, after aiming at them, 
 fired their weapons into the air, crying, " You are un- 
 worthy of a shot from a Polish hand. Live to be ev- 
 erlastingly tortured by your consciences ! " The un- 
 fortunate men entreated that they might be permitted 
 to serve in the ranks, as privates. They were imme- 
 diately deprived of their commissions, and from that 
 time they lived in quiet and retirement during the war. 
 History will show how they will behave in future.* 
 The people were this day informed that Prince 
 Adam Czartoriski had been nominated president of 
 the national government ; that the eighteenth of De- 
 cember was appointed for the opening of the Diet ; 
 that till that day the rights of the Emperor Nicholas 
 would be acknowledged ; and that Lubecki, Osvow- 
 ski, and Jezierski would be sent to St. Petersburg, 
 as a deputation, to inform the emperor of all that had 
 
 * These Polish regiments and generals are, doubtless, the same who 
 were reported by the Berlin State Gazette to have been butchered. So 
 far from that, the nation received them kindly, and forgave them. Prus- 
 sians ! you know little of the Poles, or of their feelings. The time 
 may come when we shall know one another better, 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 53 
 
 happened. They were also to lay before him the fol- 
 lowing demands : 
 
 1st. That all Russian troops should be withdrawn 
 from the kingdom forever, that a perpetual conflict 
 between the two nations might be avoided. 
 
 2d. That the privileges of the constitution should 
 be again confirmed, in their fullest extent* 
 
 3d. That all the ancient Polish provinces incor- 
 porated with Russia should partake in the privileges 
 of the constitution, as Alexander had promised. 
 
 The deputies were also instructed to entreat the 
 emperor to come to Warsaw and open the Diet, in 
 order to satisfy himself respecting the actual state 
 of affairs. 
 
 The deputies left Warsaw that very evening. 
 
 The commander in chief appointed General Sie- 
 rawski governor of the city of Warsaw, and Colonel 
 Count Wonsowicz chief of the staff. These officers 
 were both beloved by the people, and proved them- 
 selves able and zealous defenders of their country 
 through the whole campaign. The commander in 
 chief also published an order, that the army should 
 consist of 200,000 men. Each waywodeship (prin- 
 cipality), was to furnish 9,000 infantry and 11,000 
 horse. There are eight waywodeships in Poland. 
 The army already existing, the volunteer forces, and 
 the regiments raised and equipped by some of the 
 noblemen, were not reckoned in this estimate, nor 
 did it include the volunteers which were to be ex- 
 pected from the Polish provinces under other foreign 
 governments. 
 
:*.-. 
 
 54 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 The fourth, fifth and sixth of December were re- 
 markable days in the history of our revolution. Sol- 
 diers and peasants flocked in from all sides from 
 all quarters of the country. In a short time, more 
 than five thousand peasants, armed with scythes, axes, 
 and other weapons, were counted. Among them 
 were more than two hundred peasant girls, with 
 sickles. These were days of real joy, when all uni- 
 ted in the defence of Poland, without distinction of 
 rank, age, or even sex when rich and poor, nobles 
 and peasants met, as friends escaped from common 
 sufferings, and embraced. Tables were spread with 
 refreshments for those who arrived, in the streets. 
 The fourth was also remarkable for the opening of 
 the theatre.* Religious solemnities took place in 
 
 * This was the first time the theatre was opened during the revolu- 
 tion. A patriotic piece was performed, viz. " The Krakovians and 
 Gura-lians," (The Krakowiacy i Gorale), or " the Union of the Two 
 Tribes." This play had been prohibited before. As early as six, P. 
 M. the theatre was crowded. No distinction was observed in regard 
 to places. Before the play began, one of the patriots addressed the 
 audience with a speech, in which he called to memory all the outrages 
 by which the revolution had been rendered necessary, and informed 
 them what measures the National Assembly had taken to insure the 
 success of the good cause. "Poles! Brethren!" he said, "we have 
 sent deputies to the Emperor, to represent our sufferings for fifteen 
 years our oppressions which drew neither attention nor relief from 
 Russia, while our rights were trampled upon, and our innocent breth- 
 ren tortured. Perhaps the Emperor, surrounded by bad men, has been 
 kept in ignorance of our wrongs, and will be astonished to hear of all 
 this injustice from the mouths of our deputies. Perhaps he will take 
 measures to redress all these villanies without delay. If the grace 
 of God has granted him to reign over Poland, he may follow the 
 steps of our good Kings of old ; of whom no one ever tarnished 
 the throne with tyranny. As for us, brethren, let us forget past 
 dissensions, and unitedly and patiently strive with one accord 
 for the redemption of our country." After this speech, which was 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 55 
 
 Praga on the fifth, and on the sixth a Dictator was 
 nominated.* 
 
 joyfully received, the orchestra played Kosciuszko's inarch, which 
 had not been heard for fifteen years. At first, the music was drowned 
 in the shouts of the audience " Hail, our country our father Kosci- 
 uszko ! France, and Lafayette the friend of Kosciuszko, forever !" Af- 
 ter this, the Marseilles hymn was played, and then the Mazur of Dom- 
 browski. The play was full of patriotic songs, and the audience joined 
 their voices to those of the actors. But when, at the end of the play, 
 three standards, with the armorial bearings of the ancient provinces 
 of Poland, were brought in, and were folded into one in the embraces 
 of the actors who represented the three chief tribes, the exultation sur- 
 passed all bounds. One of the favorite actors addressed the spectators 
 in these words " The monster tyranny,- terrified by the sudden light 
 of liberty, which he could not endure, has left the den from which he 
 has hitherto spread death and affright. Oh that, scared by this light, 
 he may be driven farther and farther, nor be suffered to rest on any 
 of the fields of Poland. May he retire to the dark, icy regions of the 
 north, whence he came, and God grant that he may never return to us." 
 
 After this, those of the patriots who had been most actively distin- 
 guished on the first night of the revolution and after, and those who 
 had suffered in dungeons for their love of country, were presented to 
 the assemblage. They were received with infinite joy, and carried 
 about on the shoulders of the people with shouts. Many ladies were 
 then brought forward, who had followed the patriots in arms on the 
 first night, or had sacrificed their wealth on the altar of patriotism. 
 At first sight, these beautiful and noble beings might have been taken 
 for angels sent down for the redemption of unhappy Poland. 
 
 These scenes surpass description they can only be felt by hearts 
 truly free. These were moments to reconcile the whole nation. Per- 
 sons who had shunned each other for years, each fearing a spy in the 
 other, explained themselves and embraced. These scenes will live eter- 
 nally in the memory of every Pole. Beholding his countrymen thus, in 
 an extasy of joy, there was no one who did not weep no one who did 
 not feel ready to die on the morrow, having seen his fellows thus hap- 
 py. The prisoner condemned to death, when unexpectedly rescued, 
 and permitted to breathe the free air, laughs, weeps, endeavors to ex- 
 press his gratitude, and cannot. Such was the feeling of Poland in 
 these blessed moments. 
 
 * On Sunday, the fifth of December, prayers were offered up in all 
 the churches of Warsaw by the people from the provinces as well as the 
 
56 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 , on the sixth of December, the national gov- 
 ernment notified Chlopicki of his nomination as gen- 
 
 inhabitants. The blessing of the Most High was implored on our 
 arms. Of all the religious solemnities, those of Praga were the most 
 edifying and affecting. A mass was said in the open air, at an altar 
 erected on the spot where the victims of Suwarrow had been buried. 
 This altar was surrounded by more than 50,000 men, who sent up one 
 voice to God. The twelve academical legions formed the innermost 
 circle, among whom those who had been imprisoned for assisting on a 
 similar occasion were conspicuous. In the intervals of divine service, 
 and after its termination, several speeches were delivered, one of which 
 was by one of the liberated prisoners. Recalling the cruelties perpe- 
 trated by Suarrow, as well as those which we had lately suffered, he 
 observed, " Brethren, we were lately forbidden nay, it was accounted 
 a crime, to pray for our unfortunate murdered ancestors. To-day, un- 
 der this free vault of heaven, on the grave of our fathers, on the soil 
 moistened with their sacred blood, which cries to us for retribution, in 
 the presence of their spirits hovering over us, we swear never to lay 
 down our arms till we shall have avenged, or fallen like them." The 
 assembled multitude then sung a patriotic hymn. 
 
 The sixth of December was remarkable for the nomination of 
 Chlopicki to the dictatorship ; that is, the union of the supreme civil 
 and military powers in his person. The authority of the provisional 
 government was thus at an end ; everything was referred to the Dicta- 
 tor. In the afternoon, more than 100,000 persons assembled in the 
 Champ de Mars and the space around it. The greater part of the 
 army, too, were present. Chlopicki came with the senators, and was 
 received by those who had entrusted him with their defence with shouts 
 of joy. His aspect was, indeed, venerable. His silver head, grown 
 white in the service of Poland, bespoke the confidence of all. 
 
 The people were informed by one of the senators that all the powers 
 of government had been delegated to Chlopicki, in order that opera- 
 tions might be conducted with greater energy and despatch ; yet with 
 this restriction that his authority should cease on the eighteenth of 
 December. This, it will be remembered, was the day fixed for the 
 opening of the diet, to which body all further dispositions were referred. 
 The proclamation made, Chlopicki himself addressed the people thus: 
 " Poles ! brethren ! The circumstances in which our country is placed 
 demand strict unity of purpose, and therefore I have thought it best 
 to accept the supreme power. But this is only for a time. I shall re- 
 sign it on the meeting of the diet. Rely on my experience, which 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 57 
 
 eralissimo, he replied, that they had no power to place 
 him in that station ; that in such critical times the 
 civil and military power ought to be vested in one 
 person, and that he felt himself entitled, by his long 
 services, to nominate himself Dictator. His powers, 
 he said, he would lay down on the assemblage of 
 the Diet. In the afternoon of the next day he was 
 proclaimed Dictator in the Champ de Mars, amidst 
 the acclamations of an immense multitude. After 
 this, he took a public oath to act in accordance with 
 the spirit of the people, and to defend the rights and 
 privileges of Poland. 
 
 is the fruit of long service, and on my age, which has taught me the 
 knowledge of mankind. Be assured that no selfish feeling his im- 
 pelled me to this step, and that I have consented to take it only to pro- 
 mote the welfare of Poland. The truth of this I call God to witness. 
 May he assist me to make my promises good. Hail to our dear 
 country ! " The last sentence was clamorously echoed by the people, 
 with the addition of, " and its brave defender Chlopicki ! " Many in the 
 assembly exclaimed, "Lead us to Lithuania, Chlopicki!" 
 
 8 
 
 

 58 THE POLISH REVOLUTION, 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The Dictator enters upon his duties. Plans for the enrollment of newforces 
 System of officering them. Want of energy in the execution of his 
 plans. Fortifications neglected. The people supply the deficiencies 
 of the administration. Discovery of the correspondence between the 
 ministers Grabowski and Lubecki. The march of the army delayed. 
 Answer of the Emperor Nicholas to the deputies. His proclama- 
 tion. Its effect on the nation. The Diet demand of the Dictator an 
 account of his trust. The result of their investigations. Chlopicki 
 depri ved of the Dictational power. The civil administration entrusted to 
 Prince Adam Czartoryski, and the command of the Army to Prince 
 Michael Radziwil, each subordinate to the Diet. 
 
 ON the seventh of December, the new Dictator 
 took possession of the residence which had been pre- 
 pared for him. A guard of honor was assigned him, 
 consisting of a company of the Academical Legion. 
 The twelve companies of which this legion was com- 
 posed mounted guard in succession. 
 
 The nation had conceived the highest hopes of 
 Chlopicki; they expected, above all, the most ener- 
 getic measures in regard to the armament and organ- 
 ization of the forces. These hopes were not fulfilled. 
 At the very commencement of his administration, it 
 began to be seen that this man, either from his ad- 
 vanced age or the original inadequacy of his talents 
 to the demands of such a situation, would fail to satis- 
 fy the wants of the nation. Indeed, the union of so 
 many different duties in the hands of one individual 
 demanded abilities of no ordinary strength and com- 
 pass. As might have been expected, the evident in- 
 capacity of Chlopicki early became the occasion 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 59 
 
 of dissension in the patriotic association already re- 
 ferred to, accusations being preferred, as a matter 
 of course, against those who had been active in pro- 
 curing his investment with such high powers. 
 The succeeding events will enable the reader to de- 
 cide for himself on the justice of such accusations. 
 
 On assuming his post, the Dictator issued the fol- 
 lowing orders concerning the enrollment of the new 
 forces, and other objects of military administration. 
 He estimated the army already in existence at 
 25,000 men, and sixty-two pieces of cannon. This 
 army was constituted as follows : The infantry was 
 composed of nine regiments, of two battalions each, 
 and a battalion of sappers, making a total of 19,000 
 men. The cavalry was also composed of nine regi- 
 ments, each regiment consisting of four squadrons, 
 7,200 men in all. The artillery was divided into 
 nine battalions, of eight pieces each, in all seventy- 
 two pieces, exclusive of the artillery in the fortresses 
 of Modlin and Zamosc. 
 
 This force the Dictator proposed to augment in 
 the following manner : Each existing regiment was 
 to receive a third battalion ; and he intended to form 
 fifteen new regiments, of three battalions each. 
 This would have increased the total of infantry to 
 54,000 men, without taking into the account the 
 National Guard of Warsaw and the other cities, 
 amounting to 10,000 men. The cavalry was to be 
 augmented by 8,000, making a total of 15,200. To 
 the artillery were to be added twenty-four pieces of 
 cannon, making a total of ninety-six pieces. 
 
60 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 In his estimate the Dictator did not include the 
 aid that might be calculated upon from the provinces 
 of Prussian, Austrian, and Russian Poland, the volun- 
 teers of every kind, and the regiments raised and 
 equipped by the large landed proprietors. 
 
 For each of the eight palatinates into which the 
 kingdom was divided an officer was appointed, whose 
 duty it was to superintend the organization of the 
 military forces, of which from seven to eight thousand 
 infantry, and one thousand cavalry, were to be fur- 
 nished by each palatinate. These officers were sub- 
 ordinate to two others, who had the supervision of 
 four palatinates each, and bore the title of Regimen- 
 tarz. These last had the power of appointing all 
 the officers of the new forces.* 
 
 * A very important circumstance, which either escaped the notice 
 of the Dictator, or was wilfully neglected by him, regarded the noim> 
 nation and rank of officers, As the army was to be considerably aug^ 
 mented, a proportionably greater number of officers was requisite. 
 All arrangements upon this subject were confided to the Regimen- 
 tarz, with whom the important power of making these appointments 
 was entirely left. This, course spon led to trouble. The Regimen- 
 tarz, not haying the power to transfer the older officers of the existing 
 army, excepting in cases where the offer was made by those officers, 
 were compelled to appoint new officers to newly formed regiments. 
 These newly levied soldiers were thus placed under officers who were 
 but learners themselves. The evil effects of this injudicious system 
 were indeed sensibly felt in the first actions of the campaign. Besides 
 the evil here alluded to, a degree of jealousy between the old and new 
 officers resulted from the operation of these arrangements. It was 
 natural for those who were old in service to see with dissatisfaction re- 
 cently commissioned officers placed above them. Instead, then, of 
 studying to preserve the utmost harmony between those who were go- 
 ing forth together to shed their blood in the cause of their common 
 country, that course was in fact taken, which if it had been designed 
 to disturb this harmony, would have been deemed the most efficacious. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 61 
 
 The augmentation of the army was to have been 
 completed by the twentieth of January, 1831. But 
 all these arrangements were made on paper only 
 the government did not press their execution. In 
 fact, such a degree of negligence existed, that in some , 
 
 places where the people assembled to be enrolled, 
 they found no officers to receive them, and, after 
 waiting some time, they returned to their homes. It 
 was, in truth, only by the energy of the nation, which 
 supplied the deficiencies of the administration, that 
 our forces were ever in any degree augmented. The 
 volunteer force w r as in an especial manner liberally 
 furnished by the people. A similar state of things 
 existed with regard to the fortifications ; and here 
 
 Arrangements for officering the army might have been made in such 
 a manner as the following, to the satisfaction of all parties. After di- 
 viding the officers into three classes, the first, consisting of those actual- 
 ly in service, the second of those who had been in service, but had 
 given up their commissions and were in retirement, and the third, of 
 the newly commissioned officers ; a military commission might "have 
 been formed, who should have before them lists of officers showing 
 their periods of service. This commission could have designated the 
 rank of each upon an examination of these lists, placing the retired offi- 
 cers in the grades in which they stood at the time of their retirement. 
 The new regiments should have been officered from the two first class- 
 es, advancement being made in the grade of each officer. The third 
 class, or the new officers, should have been appointed to the vacancies 
 ,thus left in the old regiments. Besides the justice which such an ar- 
 rangement would have done to the officers of older standing, it would 
 have had this good effect : the experienced officers would have been 
 more widely distributed through the army, and the new regiments 
 would have advanced more rapidly in organization and discipline. 
 General Skrzynecki clearly saw the defects of the actual arrangement 
 but once made, it was difficult' to reform it. He took, however, every 
 opportunity that offered, to transfer the older officers to advanced grades 
 in the new regiments. 
 
62 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 again the energy of the people atoned for the negli- 
 gence of the administration. This was especially the 
 case at Warsaw and Praga, where all the citizens la- 
 bored on the works of defence, without distinction of 
 
 age or sex. 
 
 The construction of barricades in the different 
 streets of Warsaw, and of mines in several parts of 
 the city, was commenced by the citizens. The Dic- 
 tator, however, instead of occupying his attention 
 with these warlike preparations, devoted it to diplo- 
 matic negotiations, and despatched emissaries to the 
 neighboring courts, charged with propositions made 
 without the knowledge or the wish of the nation, and 
 even, in some cases, incompatible with its honor, and 
 inconsistent with the design of the revolution. All 
 the measures, indeed, of the Dictator, however well 
 intended they might have been, indicated much weak- 
 ness and indecision. 
 
 Such was the state of affairs when an event oc- 
 curred that seemed to augur well for our affairs. 
 This was the discovery of the correspondence be- 
 tween the ministers Grabowski and Lubecki, the for- 
 mer being Secretary of State for Poland and a mem- 
 ber of the cabinet at St. Petersburgh, the latter Min- 
 ister of Finance of Warsaw. This correspondence af- 
 forded the clearest evidence that Russia had intended 
 to declare war against France, and that she was pre- 
 pared to commence that war in December following.* 
 
 * Letter to Prince Lubecki, Minister of Finance at Warsaw, dated St. 
 Pettrsburgh, the 18th of August, 1 830. " My Prince, His Majesty the 
 Emperor and King directs me to inform you that, the Polish troops be- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 63 
 
 These letters were sent to Paris in the early part 
 of December, by an express, and should have con- 
 vinced the French government of the hostile inten- 
 
 ing now in marching condition, you are requested to provide the ne- 
 cessary funds, without delay, upon which the public treasury may count 
 as occasion may require, to support the expenses of the movement of 
 the army, and of the approaching campaign." 
 
 (Signed) " TURKUL, Secretary of State." 
 
 In an answer to this letter, dated the third of September, Prince 
 Lubecki renders an account of the means at his command. " Poland," 
 he says, " has 8,000,000 gilders in its treasury, and 1,000,000 in the 
 bank of Berlin. She is then ready to undertake the necessary pre- 
 parations." 
 
 Extract of a letter addressed to Prince Lubecki by Count Grabowski, 
 Secretary of State for Poland, at St. Petersburgh. " The official cor- 
 respondence which, by the order of his Majesty, I have the honor to 
 communicate to you, my Prince, and which directs the placing of the Po- 
 lish army on the war establishment, was, undoubtedly, even more un- 
 welcome to you than to myself. I suffer, truly, in seeing the progress 
 of our financial arrangements thus arrested. Our treasury would have 
 been in the most perfect condition, but for the expenses of this war, 
 which will absolutely exhaust its coffers ; for on this occasion our geo- 
 graphical position places us in the front line." 
 
 " Dated St. Petersburg, 15th October, 1830. (Signed) 
 
 "GRABOWSKI." 
 
 FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME. Dated October 18th, 1830. 
 " Having been this day informed by his excellency, the aid-de-camp 
 of his Majesty, Czerniszew, that orders have been given to his royal 
 highness the Caesarowicz, to place on the war establishment all the 
 troops under his command, without excepting those of the Polish king- 
 dom, and that these orders are to be carried into effect by the 22d of 
 December, I have the honor, my Prince, to communicate this informa- 
 tion to you, by his Majesty's order, so that the necessary funds may be 
 furnished without delay to the Minister of War. And I further re- 
 quest you, my Prince, by the order of his Majesty, to have the goodness 
 to assign to his imperial highness the Ccesarowicz all the funds for 
 which he may have occasion in the execution of his orders. 
 
 (Signed) "GRABOWSKI," 
 
64 . THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 tions of Russia. They should have satisfied France 
 that our revolution, and the war that was to follow, 
 were a part of the great struggle in which her own 
 existence was concerned. 
 
 The existing army was, through the activity of 
 the general officers, brought into such a state, by the 
 middle of December, that it could then have taken the 
 field against the enemy. The soldiers were eager for 
 the struggle, but the delay of their march gave color to 
 the supposition that an answer from the Emperor 
 was waited for. It was even rumored that the Em- 
 peror was coming to Warsaw in person. All this 
 
 FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME. Dated 20th November, 1830. 
 " The return of Marshal Diebitsch will determine what measures it 
 will be necessary to take. He has received orders to pass through 
 Warsaw, on his return from Berlin, with the view to consult with the 
 Grand Duke Constantine, in an especial manner upon subjects connect- 
 ed with the movement and subsistence of the army. The Emperor 
 wishes that you would see the Marshal, as soon as possible after his 
 arrival in Warsaw, in order to consult with him on all these subjects ; 
 and he authorizes you to execute all tlie arrangements which may be 
 determined upon by Marshal Diebitsch and the Grand Duke, without 
 waiting for further orders from his Majesty. You will conform strictly 
 to the wishes of his imperial Highness. His Majesty, in conclusion, 
 orders me to invite you to repair. to St. Petersburgh as soon as the army 
 shall have commenced its movement and the war shall have been de- 
 clared, so that you may receive in person the orders of his Majesty. 
 We are now in the month of November, the distances are great ; our 
 armies cannot be ready before the spring ; and events follow each oth- 
 er so rapidly that God only knows what may happen before that time. 
 The rapidity of their succession has made it impossible to receive in- 
 telligence of .events in season to influence their course. It is this 
 which has caused the unfortunate state of affairs in regard to Belgium. 
 And here, again, is opened a train of events, in reference to which it is 
 useless to act, for the next courier may bring us intelligence of an en- 
 tirely new state of things." 
 
m 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 65 
 
 tended to damp the excitement of the moment. 
 What, then, was the astonishment of the nation, 
 when it was found that the monarch, far from ad- 
 mitting the severity of the oppression under which 
 we had suffered for fifteen years, far from giving a 
 paternal audience to the deputies which the nation had 
 sent to him, and w r ho, in its name, had presented the 
 most moderate demands, (limited, in fact, to the rati- 
 fication and observance of the constitution granted to 
 us, and the union of the Polish provinces under one 
 government, as had been promised by Alexander,) 
 far from consenting to repair to Warsaw, as the depu- 
 ties had entreated him to do, as a father among his 
 children, to hear their complaints and satisfy himself as 
 to their justice, far from all this, in a word, dis- 
 carding all paternal feelings, he applied the term "in- 
 famous " to the sacred effort we had been forced to 
 make by the oppression under which we had so long 
 suffered.* 
 
 * The proclamations of the Emperor on the 17th and 24th of De- 
 cember were in effect the same. There was a perfect correspondence 
 between them in severity of language and spirit. We will give the 
 last. 
 
 " By the grace of God, we, Nicholas the First, Emperor and Auto- 
 crat of all the Russias, make known to all our faithful subjects that an 
 infamous treason has convulsed the kingdom of Poland, which is united 
 to Russia. Evil-minded men, who had not been disarmed of their bad 
 passions by the beneficence of the immortal emperor Alexander, the 
 generous restorer of their country, under the protection of the laws he 
 had given them, have secretly concerted plots for the subversion of the 
 established order of things, and began to execute their projects on the 
 29th of November last, by rebellion, effusion of blood, and attempts 
 against the life of our well beloved brother the Csesarowicz Grand 
 Duke Constantine Paulowicz. Profiting by the obscurity of the night. 
 
 9 
 
66 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 The Russian generals Benkendorf and Diebitsch, in 
 a conversation of which our revolution was the sub- 
 
 a furious populace, excited by these men, precipitated themselves up- 
 on the palace of the Csesarowicz ; while, spreading throughout the city 
 of Warsaw the false report that the Russian troops were massacreing 
 the peaceable inhabitants, they collected the people about them and 
 filled the city with all the horrors of anarchy. The Csesarowicz, with 
 the Russians who were about his person, and the Polish troops who 
 remained faithful to their duty, determined to take a position in the 
 vicinity of Warsaw, and not to act with hostility, in order that, avoiding 
 all occasion of shedding blood, they might prove in the clearest man- 
 ner the falsehood of the report which had been circulated, and give the 
 authorities of the city time and means of bringing back to their duty, 
 in concert with the well-intentioned citizens, those who had been mis- 
 led; and to restrain the discontented. This h6pe was not fulfilled. 
 The council of the city were unable to re-establish order. Incessantly 
 menaced by rebels, who had formed some illegal union among them- 
 selves, and had gained an influence in the council by separating from it 
 some members named by us, and filling their places with others named by 
 the chiefs of the conspirators, there was no course left to it but to beseech 
 the Csssarowicz to send back the Polish troops who had left Warsaw 
 with him, to protect the public and private property from new pillage. 
 Soon after this council was entirely dissolved, and all its powers were 
 united in the hand of one general. In the interval, the news of the re- 
 volt was spread through all the provinces of Poland. 'Everywhere the 
 same means were employed. Imposture, menaces, falsehood were 
 used to inveigle the pacific inhabitants into the power of the rebels, 
 In this unfortunate and serious state of things, the Csesarowicz con- 
 sidered it indispensable to yield to the request of the government 
 He permitted the small body of Polish troops which remained faithful 
 to him to return to Warsaw, in order to insure as far as possible the se- 
 curity of persons and property. He himself quitted the kingdom with 
 the Russian troops, and entered on the 13th of December the town of 
 Wlodawa, in the government of Volhynia. 
 
 " Thus was executed a crime which had been resolved upon, probably, 
 for a long time before. After so many misfortunes, and when at last 
 in the enjoyment of peace and prosperity under the protection of our 
 power; the people of the kingdom of Poland have plunged themselves 
 again into the abyss of revolt and misery, and multitudes of credulous 
 men, though already trembling in fear of the chastisement which awaits 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 67 
 
 Ject, and which took place in an interview with Colonel 
 Wielezynski who was one of the deputies sent to 
 
 them, dare to think, for a moment, of victory ; and propose to us the 
 condition of being 1 placed on an equality with ourselves ! Russians, 
 you know that we reject them with indignation ! Your hearts burn 
 with zeal for the throne. Already you appreciate the sentiments we 
 feel. At the first intelligence of the treason, your response was a new 
 oath of unshaken fidelity, and at this moment we see but one move- 
 ment in the whole extent of our vast empire. But one sentiment ani- 
 mates all hearts; the desire to spare nothing, to sacrifice all, even life 
 itself, for the honor of the Emperor and the integrity of the empire. 
 We witness with deep emotion the strong manifestation of the love of 
 the people for ourselves and for their country. We might, indeed, an- 
 swer you with tranquillity, that new sacrifices and new efforts will not 
 be necessary. God, the protector of right, is with us, and all-powerful 
 Russia will be able, with a decisive blow, to bring to order those who 
 have dared to disturb her tranquillity. Our faithful troops, who have 
 so recently distinguished themselves by new victories, are already 
 concentrating upon the western frontier of the empire. We are in 
 readiness to punish the perjured ; but we wish to distinguish the inno- 
 cent from the guilty, and to pardon the weak, who, from inconsiderateness 
 or fear, have followed the current. All the subjects of our kingdom 
 of Poland, all the inhabitants of Warsaw, have not taken part in the 
 conspiracy and its melancholy consequences. Many have proved, by 
 a glorious death, that they knew their duty. Others, as we learn by 
 the report of the Grand Duke, have been forced, with tears of despair, 
 to return to the places occupied by the rebels. These last, together 
 with the misguided, compose, no doubt, a great part of the army and 
 of the inhabitants of the kingdom of Poland. We have addressed our- 
 selves to them by a proclamation on the 17th of this month, in which, 
 manifesting our just indignation against the perjured men who have com- 
 menced this rebellion, we gave orders to put an end to all illegal arma- 
 ments, and to restore everything to its former footing. They have yet 
 time, then, to repair the fault of their compatriots, and to save the Po- 
 lish kingdom from the pernicious consequences of a blind criminality. 
 In pointing out the only means of safety, we make known this mani- 
 festation of our benevolence toward our faithful subjects. They will see 
 in it our wish to protect the inviolability of the throne and of the coun- 
 try, as well as the firm resolution to spare misguided and penitent men. 
 Russians! the example of your Emperor will guide you, the example 
 
s 
 
 68 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 the emperor, spoke of a general war as impending af- 
 ter Poland should be crushed.* Colonel Wielezynski 
 returned from St. Petersburgh in the latter part of 
 December, bringing with him the proclamation which 
 has already been given to the reader, and which, hav- 
 ing been published, was received by the people with 
 the utmost indignation. It was an insult to the hon- 
 or and character of the nation, which, therefore, de- 
 manded vengeance. The day of the promulgation 
 
 of justice without vengeance, of perseverance in the combat for the 
 honor and prosperity of the empire, without hatred of adversaries, of 
 love and regard for the subjects of our kingdom of Poland who have 
 remained faithful to the oath they have made to us, and of an earnest 
 desire for reconciliation with all those who shall return to their duty. 
 You will fulfil our hopes, as you have hitherto done. Remain in peace 
 and quietness ; full of confidence in God, the constant benefactor of 
 Russia, and in a.monarch who appreciates the magnitude and the sa- 
 credness of his duties, and who knows how to keep inviolable the dig- 
 nity of his empire, and the honor of the Russian people. 
 
 " Given at St. Petersburgh the twenty-fourth of the month of Decem- 
 ber, 1830. (Signed) NICHOLAS." 
 
 * The following is part of a conversation, in presence of the Emperor, 
 between Generals Field Marshal Diebitsch and Benkendorf, and Col- 
 onel Wielezynski, (one of the deputies sent by the Polish Dictator,) at 
 the close of a short interview, which took place at a council on the 
 affairs of state to which those generals had been called by the Emperor. 
 
 " Well, gentlemen of Poland," said marshal Diebitsch, " your revolu- 
 tion has not even the merit of being well timed. You have risen at 
 the moment when the whole force of the empire was on the march to- 
 ward your frontiers, to bring the revolutionary spirits of France and 
 Belgium to order." 
 
 When the Colonel observed that Poland thought herself capable of ar- 
 resting the torrent long enough to give Europe the alarm, and to pre- 
 pare her for the struggle, Marshal Diebitsch answered, 
 
 " Well, what will you gain by the result ? We had calculated to 
 make our Campaign on the Rhine ; we shall now make it on the Elbe 
 or the Oder, having crushed you first. Consider this well." 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 69 
 
 of this document was a day of terrible agitation. 
 The cry of " To battle ! To battle ! " was heard in ev- 
 ery quarter. The nation demanded to be led against 
 the enemy at once. The word had gone forth " there 
 is no hope of peace."* It was with difficulty that 
 the people could be restrained from rushing at once 
 to the field and be persuaded to wait for a convocation 
 of the diet fixed on the 17th of January. This delay 
 was another error, for the time which intervened was 
 uselessly employed. This diet in the opinion of the 
 nation could decide upon nothing short of war. 
 Upon a just interpretation of -the spirit of the Empe-^ 
 ror's proclamation, no other course could be taken con- 
 sistently with the national honor. It was in conse- 
 quence of this proclamation, of so criminatory, so 
 unjust, so insulting a character, that Nicholas Ro- 
 manoff and his successors were declared to have for- 
 feited all claims to the throne of Poland, and that 
 that throne was declared vacant. The Poles could 
 no longer submit to a King, who, far from being willing 
 to hear their complaints, far from guaranteeing the 
 
 * According to the testimony of Colonel Wielezynski, the procla- . 
 mation of the Emperor was in entire contradiction to the sentiments he 
 expressed in the conversation above mentioned. The tone of that 
 conversation was anything but severe. He even conceded that the 
 Poles had just reason to be discontented, and admitted many of the 
 barbarities of his brother, the Grand Duke Constantine. He promised 
 Colonel Wielezynski that he would act with the strictest justice, and 
 would consider it a duty to inquire scrupulously into, and carefully dis- 
 tinguish all the circumstances of the case, in regard to which a mani- 
 festo should shortly be published. As he took leave of the Colonel, 
 in presence of Diebitsch and Benkendorf, he declared that he loved and 
 esteemed the Poles, and that these his feelings should be the basis of 
 his course with regard to them. How inconsistent such language with 
 that of the proclamation ! 
 
70 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 rights secured by the constitution, went the length 
 of insulting that national honor to which all history 
 has borne testimony. 
 
 To what a future must Poland, under such a King, 
 have looked forward. Better were it to risk the blood- 
 iest conflict, nay, to be buried under the ruins of our 
 country, than to remain the vile slaves of a man, 
 who, relying on the force which he could control, 
 was willing to take advantage of his strength to be 
 unjust. 
 
 The diet demanded of General Chlopicki an 
 account of his trust, in regard to the military and 
 civil administration generally, and in a particular 
 manner in regard to the preparation of the forces. 
 The result of this inquiry was to satisfy them that 
 there had been a general negligence of his duties, 
 especially in regard to the increase and organization 
 of the army. On examining the military reports, 
 it was found that only the fifth part of the amount 
 of force ordered to be levied, was as yet enrolled. 
 Two months had been wasted. The Dictator, as 
 has been already stated, occupied himself principally 
 with diplomatic affairs, and seemed to forget that 
 the country was to be defended. The diet saw 
 that General Chlopicki was hoping to finish the war 
 by conferences, and that his eagerness for peace was 
 betraying him into a forgetfulness of what was due 
 to the national honor. In fine, a correspondence 
 with the Emperor Nicholas was found to have been 
 carried on by him.* 
 
 * Some letters of the Emperor Nicholas were found among the pa- 
 pers of Chlopicki, in which the Emperor expressed his thanks to him 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 71 
 
 The Dictator, it was seen, had given no attention 
 to the different fortifications : except at the principal 
 points, Praga, Zamosc, and Modlin, no works of de- 
 fence had been constructed. The important places 
 of Serock, and Zegrz, the former on the Narew, and 
 the latter below the confluence of the Narew and the 
 Bug, were forgotten, as were all the positions on 
 the great road which leads from Warsaw to Brzese, 
 
 for having taken the dictatorship, and for the service which he had done 
 to him, by the preservation of public tranquillity. The Emperor exhort- 
 ed him to follow " the conditions which had been prescribed to him." 
 The conditions here referred to could not be found. 
 
 The reader will permit me to dwell, for a moment, upon the mode of 
 conduct, on the part of the Emperor Nicholas, which is here indicated. 
 
 What conditions could Nicholas propose to the Dictator, which the 
 nation should not know of? If those conditions were compatible with 
 justice and with the honor of the nation, why was all this secrecy ne- 
 cessary? If they were incompatible with justice and our honor, the 
 Dictator certainly could not have it in his power to make the nation 
 accept of them. On the contrary, the nation who had given him its 
 confidence, the moment that it should have been convinced that the 
 Dictator had intended to compromise its honor, would have despised 
 him as a traitor, and he would have fallen a sacrifice to its indignation. 
 To wish to induce him, on his own responsibility, to commit acts con- 
 trary to the honor of the nation, is to be willing, for selfish ends, to in- 
 duce him to do that which would render him infamous in history. 
 
 Is this a course becoming a King ? A conduct so insincere, Machia- 
 velian, and even malignant, is based on the system of intrigue, and is in 
 correspondence with the accustomed policy of the Russian cabinet, 
 a policy which has always brought divisions and misery upon the na- 
 tions who have been under her power. This system, however, is by no 
 means ultimately favorable to the interests of Russia herself, for it never 
 leads to a sure result. Sooner or later duplicity will be discovered, 
 and the more a nation has been deceived, the deeper will be its deter- 
 mination of vengeance. 
 
 The letters referred to, which, I believe, are now in the hands of 
 some of our countrymen, will be, in the eyes of the world, a new justi- 
 fication of our revolution. 
 
72 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 upon which, or in its vicinity, our principal opera- 
 tions were executed. No point on the frontier was 
 strengthened. The country was left entirely open. 
 The diet, considering all these circumstances, resolved 
 to send a deputation to the Dictator, to demand of 
 him, for the last time, what his intentions were, and 
 to require of him to take the field forthwith. As the 
 Dictator would not submit himself to this expression of 
 the will of the diet, and even opened to prince Adam 
 Czartoriski, who w r as one of that deputation, propo- 
 sitions inconsistent. with the national honor, the diet 
 deprived him of his trust. 
 
 The affairs of the civil administration were con- 
 fided, as before the dictatorship, to the senate, under 
 the presidency of prince Czartoriski, and the com- 
 mand in chief of the army was given to the Prince 
 Michael Radzivil. All these powers were subordi- 
 nate to the diet. In this manner ended the dicta- 
 torship of Chlopicki, wno afterwards took a place 
 in the suite of prince Radzivil, and was admitted 
 into the counsels for the administration of military 
 affairs. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 73 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Remarks on the policy of the late Dictator. System of operations adopted. 
 The army leaves Warsaw. Statement of the existing forces. Of the 
 forces proposed to be raised. Unfortunate consequences of the delay 
 in the preparation of the forces. Statement of the force with which 
 the war was actually commenced. 
 
 THE dictatorship had exercised a most unpropitious 
 influence upon our affairs.* Every movement had 
 
 * The dictatorship may be said to have been the first of our mis- 
 fortunes. The Dictator acting in contradiction to the spirit of the rev- 
 olution, did not take advantage of that enthusiasm with which the rev- 
 olution commenced and by which prodigies might have been achieved. 
 But not only did he neglect to make use of that enthusiasm, or to foster 
 it, he even took measures which had the tendency to repress it. The 
 ' first fault with which he was reproached by the Patriotic Club, was 
 his having given permission to the Grand Duke to leave the kingdom 
 with his corps, taking with them their arms and accoutrements, which 
 indeed were really Polish property. The retaining of the Grand Duke 
 would have been of the greatest importance to us. No historian could 
 have blamed such an act ; for if the justice of our revolution be once 
 acknowledged, every energetic and decisive act which would favor its 
 happy result must also be justified in the view of history. The Russians 
 indeed have regarded our conduct on this point as an indication of 
 weakness and timidity rather than as an act of delicacy and magnanim- 
 ity, in which light Chlopicki intended that it should be considered. 
 That same corps, attached to the Grand Duke, consisting, as we have 
 said, of 7,000 men and 24 cannon, with the Grand Duke himself, did 
 not regard it in this light, for they fought against us in the very first 
 battle. Another fault of General Chlopicki was, not to have taken im- 
 mediately the offensive, passed the Bug, and entered the brother pro- 
 vinces which had been incorporated with Russia. The Russian troops, 
 especially those in Lithuania, were not in a state to resist the first im- 
 petuosity of our national forces. The Russian soldiers, as the reader 
 probably knows, are not, except in the large cities, concentrated in bar- 
 
 10 
 
74 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 been retarded, and the most invaluable time was 
 lost. Instead of the offensive, the defensive was 
 
 racks, as in other states of Europe, but are dispersed in quarters through- 
 out the country, in small bodies ; so that sometimes a single regiment 
 may be spread to a circumference which may embrace eighty to a hun- 
 dred villages, with perhaps from ten to thirty soldiers only, in each. 
 In fact, the soldiers .of a company may have often from six to twelve 
 miles march to reach the quarters of their captain. All this made the 
 concentration of these forces an affair of time and difficulty ; and one 
 regiment after another could have been /alien upon, and their whole 
 forces annihilated in detail, and that without much effusion of blood. 
 Besides this, the Russian corps of Lithuania was composed, in part, of 
 our brethren enrolled in that province, and even commanded, in part, 
 by officers natives of that province. They would of course have united 
 themselves with us, and the revolution would have spread, with the 
 rapidity of lightning, to the very borders of the Dwina and the Dnieper ; 
 and after this, not four millions alone, but sixteen millions of Poles, 
 would have been united in one cause. At a later period, all this was 
 no longer possible. Russia began to become alive to the danger of the 
 occurrence of such a state of things, and all the regiments with Polish 
 soldiers in their ranks were withdrawn into the interior, and three hun- 
 dred Polish officers in the Russian service were sent to take commands 
 in regiments posted in the regions about the' Caucasus, in Asia. 
 
 The Dictator, who gave as a reason for not having taken the above 
 course, that the neighboring cabinets would have taken umbrage at 
 it as a violation of a foreign territory, can with difficulty be conceiv- 
 ed to have really felt that this would have been the case. Even if such 
 apprehensions were well founded, are these diplomatic formalities to be 
 regarded, on an occasion like this ? Should we, in such a cause, forbear, 
 from apprehensions of this kind, to press on to the delivery of our breth- > 
 rcn from the despotism under which they were suffering ? But, in fact, 
 the true interests of those cabinets were to be found in, what every saga- 
 cious observer of European history has pointed out as the great safe- 
 guard of Europe, the establishment of the Polish kingdom as a barrier 
 against, the threatening preponderance of our barbarous enemy. It was 
 indeed ridiculous to require of the Poles that they should regard, as 
 their only limits, the little kingdom into which the violence and fraud 
 of the combined sovereigns had contracted them. The Poles, in en- 
 tering those provinces, would have been still on the soil of their an- 
 cient country ; and, in fact, the revolution was equally justifiable at Wil- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 75 
 
 necessarily taken. We awaited the enemy in our 
 native soil, and exposed that soil to his insults and 
 outrages. Even, however, at this point, the patriots 
 called on the government to take the offensive, but 
 it was too late. An immense Russian army was con- 
 centrated upon our frontiers, and was ready to pass 
 them. Our forces were not strong enough to defend 
 every point against the enemy's entrance. It was 
 decided to keep our troops concentrated, and present- 
 ing to him always a narrow and recurvated front, 
 to lead the enemy to the environs of Warsaw, and 
 to give him a decisive battle there. On about the 
 20th of January, the prince Radzivil renewed the 
 orders for the most rapid organization of all the dif- 
 ferent corps, and directed those corps which were 
 already organized to hold themselves in readiness 
 for marching. A division of lancers which was in 
 the environs of Siedlce, augmented by some regi- 
 ments of newly raised light cavalry, occupied, as a 
 
 na, Kiow, and Smolensk, as at Warsaw. The patriots, indeed, who be- 
 gan the latter, did not think of their own Bufferings alone, they bore in 
 mind also the even greater sufferings of their brethren who were more 
 absolutely in the power of despotism. It was indeed the great end of 
 the patriots and of the nation, the union of all the provinces of ancient 
 Poland, which was abandoned by the Dictator. Nothing else, in fact, 
 but the forcing of the frontiers, would have subdued the arrogance of 
 the Emperor, and forced him to listen to our claims. The unanimous 
 voice of sixteen millions of Poles could not have safely been despised. 
 This compulsory amelioration of our condition would have also spared 
 Nicholas the remorse with which he must reflect on the sacrifice of 
 nearly 200,000 lives, and the death or suffering to which he has con- 
 demned, and is still condemning, the best spirits of Poland, 
 
16 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 corps of observation, all the country between Wloda- 
 wa and Ciechanowiec, and were ordered to watch 
 every movement of the enemy in that region. On 
 about the 25th of January, the troops began to leave 
 Warsaw and the other towns of the department, and 
 to concentrate themselves upon a line embracing the 
 towns of Siedlce, Ostrolenka and Lukow.* 
 
 * I cannot forbear to dwell for a moment upon the occasion of the 
 departure of our troops from Warsaw and the other towns. It was one 
 of the fine and touching moments of our revolution. Every friend of 
 liberty would have desired to have brought together all the autocrats of 
 the world to witness the animation with which our national troops went 
 forth to engage in the combat for liberty. Perhaps they would have 
 "been involuntarily struck with the reflection that liberty must be a 
 blessing when men will sacrifice themselves so cheerfully to achieve it. 
 When the march was commenced, all the inhabitants of the neighbor- 
 ing country left their homes to witness the departure, and all the plains 
 about Warsaw and the road sides between Warsaw and Siedlce v/ere 
 covered with people. The soldiers, in marching through the streets 
 of the city, passed between lines of people composed of senators, offi- 
 cers of the government, the clergy, children from the schools, the mem- 
 bers of the national guard, and in short an immense assembly of loth 
 sexes, reaching even to two miles beyond Praga. All the regiments 
 passed in review before the general in chief, and each regiment took 
 the oath to defend their country to the last drop of their blood. Exclama- 
 tions such as these were constancy uttered : "Dear General, if you 
 see us turn from before the enemy, point the artillery against us, and 
 annihilate our ranks." The fourth regiment, the bravest of the brave, 
 knowing that our magazines were ill provided with powder, refused 
 at first to receive any cartridges ; but on the remonstrance of the chief, 
 they agreed to take thirty each man, (the half of the complement for 
 one battle,) saying that they would furnish themselves afterwards 
 from the Russians. They then entreated the commander in chief 
 never to send them against a smaller body of the enemy than a divis- 
 ion, and to use them wherever a decisive blow was required. "For- 
 get, dear General," said they, "that we have no powder ; but trust to 
 our bayonets ! " This account of the devoted conduct of the fourth regi- 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 77 
 
 STATEMENT OF THE EXISTING ARMY, AND OF THE NEW FORCES PRO- 
 POSED TO BK LEVIED. 
 
 The whole Polish force under the Russian gov- 
 ernment, consisted of Infantry, nine regiments of two 
 battalions each, 19,000 men, and a battalion of 
 sappers of 1,000 men, in all, 20,000; Cavalry, nine 
 regiments of four squadrons each ; in all, 7,200 ; Ar- 
 tillery, six batteries of eight pieces each, and two bat- 
 teries of light artillery, also, of eight pieces each ; in 
 all, sixty-four pieces. According to the plans of the 
 Dictator, the infantry was to be augmented in the 
 following manner. To each of the existing regiments 
 was to be added a battalion of 1,000, making a total 
 of 9,000 men. He then proposed to form fifteen 
 new regiments, thus increasing the number of legi- 
 ments of infantry to twenty-four. Each one of the 
 new regiments wasto be formed of three battalions of 
 1 ,000 men each. The total of these new regiments 
 would then have been 45,000 men, and the grand 
 total of the new levy would be 54,000 men. This 
 body of recruits was to be made up from those of the 
 
 ment, the reader will observe, varies in some points from those which 
 have frequently appeared in the journals. 
 
 It was truly affecting to witness the parting of the soldiers from their 
 friends and relatives, fathers taking leave of children, children of fa- 
 thers, husbands of wives, and to hear the cries of sorrow mingled 
 with animating shouts and patriotic hymns. These are moments 
 of which I am unequal to the description; but which every freeman 
 will form a conception of, moments of the struggle between domestic 
 happiness and public duty ; moments which show that the love of coun- 
 ry is the most powerful of all sentiments, and that men will sacrifice 
 everything under its impulses. 
 

 78 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 exempts (their term of service* having expired) who 
 were yet under the age of forty, and from all others 
 under that age, and above that of sixteen. 
 
 Of this force, six thousand men was to be furnish- 
 ed by Warsaw, and an equal number by each of the 
 eight palatinates. Besides this force, the enrollment 
 of a national guard at Warsaw of 10,000 men was 
 ordered ; and in forming this body, no exemption was 
 admitted except from age or bodily infirmity. Each 
 of the eight palatinates were also to enroll a national 
 guard of a thousand men. Thus the whole national 
 guard was to consist of 18,000 men. 
 
 The cavalry was to be augmented as follows. 
 From the whole gend'armerie, it was proposed to 
 form a regiment of carabiniers, consisting of two 
 squadrons of two hundred men each. To the nine 
 existing regiments of cavalry it was proposed to add, 
 as a reserve, four squadrons of two hundred each, 
 making, in all, eight hundred. Ten new regiments 
 were to be formed, of four squadrons each ; so that the 
 whole number of old and new cavalry would be twenty 
 regiments. The whole augmentation of this army 
 would amount to 9,200. The raising of this force, 
 as in the case of the infantry, was to be equally di- 
 vided between Warsaw and each of the eight pa- 
 latinates. 
 
 The artillery was to be augmented by four batte- 
 ries, of eight pieces each, making a total of thirty-two 
 pieces. 
 
 * A service of ten years in the army, in person, or by substitute, 
 was required by law of every citizen. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 79 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 Infantry. Cavalry. .Artillery. 
 
 New forces, .... 54,000 9,200 32 pieces. 
 
 Existing forces, . . . 19,000 7,200 64 
 
 Total, 73,000 16,400 . 96 
 
 If we should add to this number 
 the regiments formed by the land 
 proprietors at their own expense, 
 detachments of volunteers, foreign- 
 ers, and detachments of partizans, 
 amounting perhaps to . . 6,000 2,000 
 
 The total might be increased to 79,000 18,400 96 
 
 . 
 
 This force, although it would seem to be dispro- 
 portionate to the resources of the kingdom, it was 
 certainly possible to have raised ; for the energy and 
 the spirit of the people was at the highest point, and 
 every one felt the importance of improving the favor- 
 able moment, which the general state of Europe, and 
 the weakness of Russia, presented. If the reader 
 will anticipate the' course of events, and remember 
 what a struggle against the Russian force of more 
 than 200,000 men was sustained by the 40,000 only 
 which we actually brought into the field, he may 
 conjecture what advantages might have been expect-v 
 ed from twice that number, which we should have 
 brought to the field, had the energy of the govern- 
 ment followed out its plans. But from the incapacity 
 of the Dictator for the energetic execution of his trust, 
 these forces were never raised, and it was soon seen 
 that Chlopicki, by assuming a duty to which he was 
 unequal, gave the first blow to the rising fortunes of 
 
 
 
80 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 his country. The Dictator, as we have seen, had not 
 even taken a step towards the organization of these 
 forces, and one would have thought that he had thrown 
 out these plans merely to blind the eyes of the nation, 
 without having entertained the thought of taking the 
 field. Two months passed away, the inevitable mo- 
 ment of the conflict arrived, and the nation was obliged 
 to march to the fight with half the force which, under 
 an energetic administration, it would have wielded. 
 If we add to this unfortunate state of things, that, 
 besides the threatening forces of our gigantic enemy, 
 Prussia and Austria, at this late moment, and espe- 
 cially the former, had began to take an attitude of 
 hostility towards us, and thus all hope of sympathy 
 from her neighbours was lost to Poland ; the perilous 
 nature of this crisis at which the delay of the dicta- 
 torial government had brought us, thus unprepared, 
 may be imagined.* But Poland did not suffer her- 
 self to be discouraged by all these unpropitious cir- 
 cumstances. Trusting to the righteousness of her 
 cause, she went forth to the contest, determined to 
 fall or to be free. 
 
 ^STATEMENT OF THE FORCES WITH WHICH THE WAR WAS ACTUALLY 
 COMMENCED. 
 
 A great exactitude in the computation of these 
 forces would be obviously impracticable, as the pre- 
 
 * We cannot forbear to remark here upon the general impolicy of 
 making responsible trusts a reward for personal merits and services, 
 when there is no particular adaptation of the talents and experience 
 of the individual, whose merits it is proposed to honor, to the duties of 
 the trust with which he is to be invested. 
 

 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 81 
 
 cise number of the detachments of volunteers, occa- 
 sionally joining the army, serving in a particular lo- 
 cality only, and often perhaps for a limited period, 
 cannot be ascertained ; but it will not be difficult to 
 make a pretty near approximation to the truth. 
 
 At the beginning of the campaign, the forces were 
 divided into four divisions of infantry, four of cavalry, 
 and twelve batteries of artillery, of eight pieces each. 
 
 The whole infantry consisted of: 
 The nine existing regiments, enlarged by one 
 
 battalion to each regiment, making in all 27,000 
 One battalion of sappers, v . . . 1,000 
 A tenth regiment, of two battalions, called 
 
 " The Children of Warsaw," . . 2,000 
 A battalion of volunteers, added to the 4th 
 
 regiment, ...... 1,000 
 
 Different detachments of volunteers, as the 
 
 detachments of Michel Kuszel, and the 
 
 Kurpie or Foresters, &c. . / . . 1,600 
 
 Total of infantry, . . 32,600 
 The four divisions of infantry were nearly equal, 
 consisting of from 7 to 8,000 men each. To each 
 of these divisions a corps of 250 sappers was attach- 
 ed. The divisions were commanded as follows ; 1st 
 division by General Krukowiecki ; 2d division, Gen- 
 eral Zymirski ; 3d division, General Skrzynecki ; 
 4th division, General Szembek. 
 The cavalry consisted of the nine existing 
 
 regiments, . . . . : 7,200 
 
 Four squadrons, added to these as a reserve, 800 
 11 
 
82 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 Two squadrons of carabiniers, . . 400 
 Two regiments of krakus or light cavalry, of 
 
 Podlasia and Lublin, . . . 1,600 
 
 Two regiments of Mazurs, . . . 1,600 
 
 Six squadrons of Kaliszian cavalry, . 1,200 
 
 Two squadrons of lancers of Zamoyski, . 400 
 
 Total of cavalry . . 13,200 
 
 This cavalry, which was composed of 66 squadrons, 
 was divided into four nearly equal bodies. They were 
 commanded as follows. 1st division, by General 
 Uminski, consisting of 15 squadrons; 2d division, 
 General Stryiriski, 15 squadrons ; 3d division, General 
 Lubinski, 15 squadrons; 4th division, making the 
 reserve, under General Pac, 17 squadrons. Besides 
 those divisions, four squadrons were designated for 
 the corps of General Dwernicki. 
 
 The artillery was divided into 12 batteries of eight 
 pieces each, making in all 96 pieces. 
 
 The general statement of the forces with which the 
 campaign was commenced is then as follows : 
 
 Infantry, 32,600. Cavalry, 13,200. Artillery, 
 96 pieces. 
 
 This incredibly small number marched to the com- 
 bat against a Russian force of at least 200,000 men 
 and 300 cannon. In fact, by the reports of Field 
 Marshal Diebitsch, found after his retreat, and the de- 
 tailed statements confidently made in the Berlin 
 Gazette, the Russian forces amounted to 300,000; 
 but we reject one third on the supposition that the regi- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 83 
 
 merits had not been entirely completed. If the very 
 thought of commencing a war with such disproportion- 
 ate means, against so overwhelming a force, should 
 seem to the reader to be little better than madness, he 
 will appreciate the energy and courage with which it 
 was supported, when he learns that in twenty days, 
 from the 10th of February to the 2d of March, thirteen 
 sanguinary battles were fought with the enemy, be- 
 sides twice that number of small skirmishes, in which, 
 as we shall see, that enemy was uniformly defeat- 
 ed, and a full third part of his forces annihilated. 
 
 
 
I 
 
 84 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Entrance of the Russian forces into the Kingdom. Proclamations of Mar- 
 shal Diebitsch. Their effect. Disposition of the Russian and Polish 
 forces. Plan of operations of the Poles. 
 
 THE Russian forces, simultaneously with the Polish, 
 began to concentrate themselves on the frontiers of 
 the kingdom, (See Plan, No. \) particularly atBia- 
 lystok(ll) and Grodno (10). Four general points 
 were designated for the entrance of this enormous 
 force, viz. Zlotoria (12), Ciechanowiec (9), Brzesc 
 (8), and Wlodawa (7). 
 
 Marshal Diebitsch, on entering the kingdom, pub- 
 lished a proclamation to the Poles, a copy of which 
 is given in the note.* 
 
 * Proclamation of the Field Marshal Count Diebitsch Zabalkansky, to 
 
 the Poles. 
 
 POLES ! His Majesty the Emperor and King, our august sovereign, 
 has confided to me the command of the troops destined to put an end 
 to the deplorable disorders which afflict the kingdom of Poland. The 
 proclamation of his majesty the Emperor and King has already ap- 
 prised you that the Emperor has wished, in his generosity, to distinguish 
 his faithful subjects who have respected their oaths, from the guilty in- 
 stigators of disorder who have sacrificed to their odious ambition the 
 interests of a happy and peaceful community. Nay, more, he wishes 
 to extend his benevolence and his clemency to the unfortunate persons 
 who through weakness or fear have lent themselves as the accomplices 
 of a deplorable enterprize. Poles ! Hear the voice of your sovereign 
 and your father, the successor of the august restorer of your country, 
 who like him has always desired your happiness. Even the guilty will 
 experience the effects of his magnanimity, if they will trust to it with 
 confidence. Those only who have dipped their hands in blood, and 
 those who still more guilty perhaps, have excited others to do this, will 
 meet the just punishment to which the law condemns them. 
 
 At the moment of entering with the troops which I command into the 
 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION 85 
 
 / 
 
 Those proclamations were published in the latter 
 part of January. The people were disgusted with 
 
 kingdom of Poland, I wish to convince you of the principles which will 
 guide all my steps. A faithful soldier, and a conscientious executor of 
 the orders of my sovereign, I will never depart from them. The peace- 
 ful inhabitants who shall receive us as friends and brothers, will find 
 their friendly dispositions reciprocated by the troops placed under my or- 
 ders. The soldiers will pay a fair price for everything wHfch shall be 
 furnished to them, and if circumstances require that the troops shall be 
 provisioned by the inhabitants, or if we shall be forced to make requisi- 
 tions (which we shall endeavor to avoid as far as possible), in such 
 cases the inhabitants will receive payment in printed certificates, which 
 will be taken as money at the offices, for the payments of imposts. 
 Prices will be established for the provisions furnished according to the 
 current value of the articles in the different districts. 
 
 2. On the approach of the Russian troops, the inhabitants of the 
 towns and villages, who have taken arms in obedience to the orders of 
 the government which has been illegally instituted, will be required to 
 surrender their arms to the local authorities, if those latter shall have 
 returned to their duties. In other cases, they will be required to give 
 up their arms upon the entrance of the troops of his majesty the Em- 
 peror and King. 
 
 3. Every inhabitant, who, forgetting the duties which he owes to his 
 sovereign, shall persevere in the revolt, and shall be taken with arms in 
 his hands, will have to meet the utmost rigour of the law. Those who 
 shall attempt to defend themselves against the troops, shall be deliver- 
 ed over to a council of war. The towns and villages who shall dare to 
 resist his majesty the Emperor and King, will be punished according 
 to the degree their resistance shall have been carried, by an extraor- 
 dinary contribution, more or less heavy. This contribution will be 
 principally levied upon those who shall have taken part in a criminal de- 
 fence, either by carrying arms themselves, or by exciting others to that 
 crime. In case of relapse from a return to duty, and of rebellion in 
 the rear of the Russian army, the insurgent places shall be treated with 
 the utmost military rigor. The principal instigators shall be punished 
 with death, and the others exiled ; but the greatest care will be taken 
 to distinguish and protect those who shall have had no part in the crime. 
 
 4. To prevent such evils, I invite all the authorities, civil as well as 
 military, who may be in the towns and cities, to send deputies to the 
 commanders of the Russian forces, when these forces shall arrive. 
 
 
1 * 
 
 86 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 their promises and their menaces, and rejecting all 
 idea of reconciliation on such terms as these procla- 
 
 Such deputations will bring with them as a sign of submission to their 
 legitimate sovereign, a white flag. They will be expected to an- 
 nounce that the inhabitants submit themselves to the benevolence of 
 his majesty the Emperor and King, and that their arms have been de- 
 posited in some place which shall be designated. The Russian com- 
 manders -Jill then take the necessary measures of security. They will 
 maintain the civil authorities, which existed before the revolt, as well 
 as those which shall have been instituted afterwards, if they have taken 
 no active part in the rebellion. The sedentary guard of veterans will 
 be continued, if they have not engaged in the resistance, or given mani- 
 fest proofs of treason towards their legitimate sovereign. All those 
 authorities, civil as well as military, will be required to renew their oaths 
 of fidelity. Conformably to the orders of his majesty the Emperor and 
 King, an amnesty and pardon for the past will be given to all of those 
 who shall submit without delay, and shall comply with the conditions 
 which have been above mentioned. 
 
 5. The Russian commanders shall organize, as circumstances may re- 
 quire, in the places where no Russian garrisons may remain, a civil and 
 municipal guard, who shall be chosen from among the most faithful of 
 the veterans, and the inhabitants shall be entrusted with the interior 
 police, as far as may be necessary to secure order and tranquillity. 
 
 6. The organization of the administration of the Palatinates, arron- 
 dissements, and communes will remain upon the footing on which it 
 was before the insurrection. It will be the same with all the direct and 
 indirect taxes. The authorities will remain in their places after they 
 shall have complied with the above conditions. In other cases, new 
 authorities will be established by the choice of the commanders of the 
 Russian forces. That choice will fall principally upon the individuals 
 who may unite, with the necessary capacity, an established moral char- 
 acter, and who shall have given proofs of their fidelity to their legiti- 
 mate sovereign. All those will be excluded who shall have taken any 
 part whatever in the rebellion, as well as those who after the entrance 
 of the Russian troops into the kingdom shall persist in an organized op- 
 position against legal order. The proprietors of land and houses who 
 may remain tranquil in their habitations, and shall submit to the condi- 
 tions above announced, will be protected in all their rights, as well by 
 the local authorities as by the Russian troops. In other cases, the 
 property of all those who shall remain in the revolutionary ranks will be 
 
, ' 
 * 
 
 > 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 87 
 
 n 
 
 mations set forth, they entreated to be led to the 
 struggle in which they had once decided to engage, 
 
 sequestered, as well as that of those who shall have continued to ex- 
 ercise the functions entrusted to them by the illegal government, or 
 in some who shall have openly taken part in the revolt. Such are, 
 Poles, the principles which will direct the army which his Majesty has 
 deigned to confide to my command. You have to choose between the 
 benefits which an unqualified submission to the will of our magnani- 
 mous sovereign assures to you, and the evils which will be brought up- 
 on you by a state of things without object as well as without hope. I 
 hold it an honor to have been called upon to make known to you these 
 resolutions, emanating from the generous intentions of the Emperor 
 and King. I shall execute them scrupulously, but I shall not fail to 
 punish criminal obstinacy with inflexible severity. 
 
 (Signed,) THE MARSHAL COUNT DIEBITSCH ZABALKANSKY. 
 
 Proclamation of the Count Diebitsch Zabalkansky to the Polish troops. 
 GENEROUS POLES ! Twenty-five years since, your country was im- 
 plicated in the wars which the gigantic plans of a celebrated conqueror 
 had kindled. The hope, often awakened, and always disappointed, of an 
 illusory regeneration, had connected you with his fortunes. Faithful, 
 although unfortunate, you answered those deceptive promises by the 
 sacrifice of your blood. There is scarce a country, however distant 
 it may have been, that has not been wet with that blood which you 
 have prodigally shed for interests altogether foreign to the destiny of 
 your country. Great events brought at last, at a- remarkable epoch, an 
 end to your misfortunes. After a contest, forever memorable, in which 
 Russia saw you among the number of her enemies, the Emperor Alex- 
 ander, of immortal memory, obeying only the impulse of his magnani- 
 mous heart, wished to add to all his other titles to glory, that of being 
 the restorer of your country. Poland recovered her name, and the Po- 
 lish army a new life. All the elements of national welfare, of tranquil- 
 lity, and of prosperity were miraculously united, and fifteen years of 
 uninterrupted progress prove, to this day, the greatness of the benefits 
 for which your country is indebted to the paternal solicitude of the 
 sovereign who was its restorer, and to the no less earnest concern of 
 him who has so nobly continued the work of his predecessor. 
 
 Polish Warriors ! His Majesty the Emperor and King has trusted 
 to your gratitude and your fidelity. A short time since he gladly did 
 justice to your devotedness and your good will. The exemplary con- 
 
88 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 r 
 
 preferring every sacrifice to so degrading a submis- 
 sion. They also demanded that answer should be 
 
 duct of all the Polish officers, without exception, who partook with our 
 armies the fatigues and the glory of the Turkish war, had given a high 
 satisfaction to his Majesty. We accepted with pleasure this fraternity 
 of arms which became a new bond between the Russian and Polish 
 troops. The best hope of reciprocal advantages should connect with 
 that union, which was founded upon all that is sacred in military honor. 
 Those hopes have been cruelly deceived. A handful of young* men 
 who have never known the dangers of battle, of young officers who 
 had never passed through a campaign or even a march, have shaken 
 the fidelity of the brave. The latter have seen committed in their 
 ranks the greatest of crimes, the murder of their commanders ; they 
 have not arrested the revolt against their legitimate sovereign. What 
 unhappy blindness, what criminal condescension has been able to induce 
 these veterans to permit the consummation of the greatest of offences, 
 and to join themselves with those whose hands were stained with blood ! 
 Can it be possible that the design of rendering a service to their coun- 
 try has been made fora moment a pretext for such conduct? That 
 country can answer that for a long period she had never enjoyed so 
 much happiness. She had attained much, and she could still hope 
 much from her fidelity, and the support of public order. She exposes 
 herself to the loss of all these advantages by engaging in an unequal 
 struggle, in revolting against a sovereign whose firm and energetic 
 character is well known, and in braving a power which has never been 
 defied with impunity.* 
 
 Polish Warriors ! Rebellion would stamp upon your front the stain 
 of dishonor. Put away from you such an ignominy. History will one day 
 relate, that, in the hope of serving your country, you have been faithful 
 and devoted to the man who promised you everything, and kept his 
 promise in nothing. Shall it also say that, paying with ingratitude and 
 perjury, the sovereign who has generously granted you everything 
 which you had any right to hope for, you have drawn down upon your 
 country new misfortunes, and upon yourselves an indelible disgrace? 
 If some grievances existed, you should have had confidence enough in 
 the character of our august sovereign to have laid before him your 
 complaints, in a legal manner, and with that frankness which charac- 
 terizes the true soldier. And I too, Poles, I speak the sincere language 
 of a soldier ; I have never known any other. Obedient to the orders 
 of my sovereign, I reiterate, by his wishes, all the propositions which, 
 

 ** 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 89 
 
 sent to Diebitsch, informing him that they were 
 ready to meet him, and required of the government 
 
 in his clemency, he has already made to you by his proclamation of 
 the 17th of December. Our august sovereign has witnessed with 
 marked satisfaction the fidelity of the brave light-cavalry of the 
 guard, of the greater part of the grenadiers of the guard, and of the 
 sub-officers of the cavalry. He does not doubt that the greater part 
 of the troops cherished the desire to remain faithful to their oaths, and 
 that many others were hurried away only by the impulse of the mo- 
 ment. Let each one hasten to execute the orders which are contained 
 in the proclamation of his majesty. But if unforeseen circumstances 
 do not permit you to follow the course which has been pointed out to 
 you ; at least, on the approach of the faithful armies of our common 
 sovereign, remember your duties and your oaths. It is not as enemies 
 that the troops placed under my command enter the kingdom of Po- 
 land. It is on the contrary with the noble object of re-establishing 
 public order and the laws. They will receive as brothers all persons, 
 either in civil or military life, who shall return to their duties; but they 
 will know how to subdue, with the constancy and courage which they 
 have even manifested, the resistance which evil-minded men may at- 
 tempt to oppose to them, men who, trampling under foot the sacredness 
 of their oaths and the laws of honor, sacrifice to their ambitious and 
 even criminal projects the dearest interests of their country. It is to 
 you especially, generals and colonels of the Polish army, that I address 
 myself with confidence ; to you, whom I have been accustomed to regard 
 as my worthy brothers in arms. Return from the momentary error to 
 which you have been capable of surrendering yourselves, that you may, 
 in joining the rebellious, bring them back to their duties, and serve your 
 country without violating your oaths. Experience will have disabused 
 you of your error: return to the path of fidelity, and you will by that 
 restore the happiness of your country. You know the clemency of our 
 august sovereign : return to him. Weigh well the immense responsi- 
 bility which you will take upon your heads by a criminal obstinacy. 
 Join yourselves to your brothers in arms. Show that you are still wor- 
 thy to be the commanders of the troops which your sovereign has en- 
 trusted to you. You will be received as brothers. An amnesty of the 
 past is assured to you. The troops which I command will fulfil with 
 loyalty the intentions of our sovereign, and the gratitude of your coun- 
 try, restored to tranquillity, will be a delightful reward for your return 
 to your duty. But if there are found among you men hardened in crime, 
 
 12 
 
90 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 that hostilities should be commenced without a mo- 
 ment's delay.* 
 
 who cannot be persuaded to trust in magnanimity, because they know 
 not the elevated sentiments in which it has its origin, let all the bonds 
 of military fr ternity between you and them be broken ; the all-power- 
 ful hand of God, the protector of the good cause, will bring down upon 
 their heads the punishment due to their crimes. 
 
 (Signed) THE MARSHAL DIEBITSCH ZABALKANSKY. 
 
 * To the proclamations of General Diebitsch, one of our countrymen 
 made a reply, in the form of a letter, which was published in the ga- 
 zettes, and which, as fur as my memory serves me, was in nearly the fol- 
 lowing terms : " General, your proclamations, which breathe the spirit of 
 injustice, arrogance, and cruelty the menacing tone of which is back- 
 ed by the colossal force you have led to the invasion of our territory, 
 and which you are to wield as an instrument for establishing a new 
 tyranny and inflicting new sufferings upon a country of freemen, 
 these proclamations, General, prove that the favorable opinion which 
 Europe entertained of you was ill-grounded, and that you too, like the 
 rest, are willing to lend yourself an easy and vile instrument in the hands 
 of the oppressor. Diebitsch ! Can it be you who so recently passed the 
 Balkan, to deliver a nation from the yoke of barbarism, an action which 
 gained for you so great a name in history ? 
 
 "Do you remember the proclamations which you published on that 
 occasion, (how different from these,) filled with noble thoughts, and in 
 which you felicitated yourself on being placed in command of an army 
 destined to deliver the unfortunate Greek nation from the barbarism 
 which was oppressing it. What a contrast ! There you went to de- 
 liver the unfortunate ; here you come to increase the sufferings of a 
 nation which has for fifteen years been oppressed in a manner which 
 was well known to you, and which it is horrible to think of. General, 
 have you forgotten how you were received at Warsaw, after your re- 
 turn from the campaign of Turkey? Have you lost the recollection 
 of those looks of welcome and of joy at the sight of the man who had 
 effected the deliverance of an unfortunate and oppressed nation ? You 
 were then touched, for the sentiments of the Polish nation were in har- 
 mony with those which you yourself entertained. All those recollec- 
 tions you have turned away from. Dazzled by false ideas of great- 
 ness, arrogance has driven from your heart those noble sentiments 
 which would have made you truly great. Diebitsch ! Poland once 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 91 
 
 The Russian forces, [See plan, No. 1 . ( a)~] consist- 
 ing, as we have already mentioned, of about 200,000 
 men and 300 pieces of cannon, had, on about the 5th 
 of February, passed the Polish frontier at the four 
 general points above named (7, 8, 9, 12). Their dif- 
 ferent commanders, besides the Marshal Diebitscty 
 were, the Grand Duke Constantine, Generals Rosen, 
 Pahlen, Geismer, Kreutz, Prince Wirtemberg, and 
 Witt. The chef d'etat major was General Toll, the 
 most skilful of the Russian generals. The space des- 
 ignated for the entrance of the different detachments 
 of the Russian corps embraced ninety-six English 
 miles. This space was almost wholly occupied by 
 either small or large detachments. General Diebitsch, 
 meaning to attack our centre at Siedlce with a part of 
 his army, intended to outflank us with the rest, and 
 
 had confidence in you. Many Poles had hoped that you would act as 
 a mediator between your monarch and us. No one could be in a more 
 favorable situation than yourself to convince that monarch of the nature 
 of our sufferings, and the claims which we had upon his justice. You 
 would have been in a situation to persuade him that the time had come 
 to aid the cause of civilization, and to promote his own happiness, 
 by conceding to a nation those rights which are essential to its happi- 
 ness and prosperity. Poland had such expectations of you. You 
 alone, who are so near the person of the monarch, and to whom his 
 character is so intimately known, you could have done this. Such 
 conduct would have added indeed to the glory you had already acquir- 
 ed. Who then would have equalled you ? But, for your misfortune, 
 you have chosen another course, and by acting as a servile instrument 
 of tyranny you have tarnished all your former glory. Know then, Die- 
 bitsch, that the Poles despise you. Spare both your promises and your 
 menaces ; for with neither will you effect anything. They long for the 
 approach of your colossal masses, that they may give you an example 
 of what freemen can do." 
 
* 
 
 92 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 to march directly upon Warsaw, and thus, following 
 the plan of Napoleon in the campaign of Prussia, in 
 1806, at Jena and Auerstacdt, to cripple our front, 
 and to put an end to the war in a moment. The plans 
 of this renowned commander were well understood 
 %y our general officers, and to resist them, it was de- 
 termined to contract our forces (6) into a line of op- 
 erations, narrow, but concentrated and strong; a 
 course which the inferiority of our forces seemed 
 to require. This line was posted as follows. Our 
 left wing, formed by the fourth division of General 
 Szembek and a division of cavalry under General 
 Uminski, was in the environs of Pultusk (14). This 
 wing sent its reconnoissances towards Ostrolen- 
 ka (4). In the environs of the town of Jadow (16) 
 was the division of General Krukowiecki ; and in the 
 environs of Wengrow (15), the division of General 
 Skrzynecki, with the division of cavalry commanded 
 by General Lubinski. The centre of our position 
 was about half way between the two latter places. 
 Our right wing was at Siedlce (2), and was composed 
 of the 2d division of infantry under General Zym- 
 irski and 2d division of cavalry under General Stry- 
 inski. To cover the right wing, a small corps under 
 the command of General Dwernicki was posted at 
 Seroczyn (17). That corps consisted of 3,000 in- 
 fantry, 800 horse, and three pieces of cannon. Dif- 
 ferent patrols of cavalry were employed in observing 
 the enemy along the whole space between Sokolow, 
 Miendzyrzec, and Parczewo. The rivers Na- 
 rew (N), Bug (B), and Liewiec (L) covered the whole 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 93 
 
 line of our operations, and made it sufficiently strong. 
 Our centre, especially, was well posted between Ja- 
 dow (16), Wengrow (15), and Siedlce (2). It was 
 protected by the great marshes formed by the river 
 Lieviec (L). Excepting in a few points, which were 
 well fortified, these marshes were wholly impassable. 
 It is to be regretted that this position was not made 
 still stronger by more ample fortifications. Besides 
 making the passage of this point cost a more severe 
 loss to the enemy, such fortifications would have 
 enabled us to spare one whole division for other pur- 
 poses. Fortifications of positions should be the more 
 freely combined with tactics, in proportion to the in- 
 feriority of the force. 
 
 In the abovementioned position we were to await 
 the first shock of the enemy, after which the army 
 was to retire slowly towards the environs of Praga, 
 in such a manner that each corps should always be 
 on the parallel with the rest. In this retreat each 
 corps was required to profit by every opportunity, to 
 cause the utmost loss to the enemy, and to harass 
 him as much as possible. By a retreat of this nature, 
 it was intended to draw the enemy on to the walls 
 of Warsaw., and, after having weakened him by such 
 a retreat, to give him a decisive battle there, 
 
* 
 
 94 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The opening fire. Affairs of the 10th and llth February. Combat of 
 Stoczek. Disposition in consequence of that battle. Battle of Boimie. 
 Retrograde movement to Dobre. Combat of Makowiec. Passage of 
 the Orsyca. Combat of Dobre. Attack on the right wing at Minsk. 
 
 
 
 THE tenth of February, 1831, was the first day, after 
 an interval of fifteen years, of the encounter between 
 the Russian and Polish arms. Mendzyrzec (18) was 
 the place in which the first fire was given ; and the 
 little skirmish which took place there was, for us, a 
 good presage. On the morning of that day, two 
 regiments of Cossacks showed themselves upon the 
 plain before the town, on which were posted two regi- 
 ments of Krakus, or light cavalry, and the 4th regi- 
 ment of lancers, as an advanced guard. Our cavalry 
 were impatient to engage with the enemy, and begged 
 of their commander to be allowed to attack him. 
 When it was seen that this body of the enemy was 
 detached from his larger force, permission was given 
 to one of the two new regiments of light cavalry, 
 supported by a squadron of the old cavalry as a re- 
 serve, to throw themselves upon the enemy. In a 
 moment our cavalry were among the ranks of the 
 Cossacks. Both of the enemy's regiments were 
 dispersed, and one squadron with six officers were 
 taken prisoners. The enemy was not pursued, our 
 troops being satisfied with this successful attack, and 
 with having excited the first consternation in the en- 
 

 
 I 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 95 
 
 emy's ranks. After this skirmish, our cavalry, in 
 obedience to previous instructions, retired to the en- 
 virons of Siedlce (2). In this town was a little gar- 
 rison consisting of a regiment of light infantry and a 
 detachment of riflemen, formed and commanded by 
 Michel Kuszel. On the llth, at about mid-day, the 
 whole of the advanced guard of the Russian centre, 
 which was commanded by Diebitsch in person, reach- 
 ed the environs of Siedlce (2), and took position there. 
 Before the night set in, other Russian columns began 
 to place themselves upon the same plain. Their ad- 
 vanced guard then recommenced the march, throwing 
 their tirailleurs forward, who began a warm fire, which 
 was answered by our own light troops, who were 
 placed in the faubourgs and the sides of the town. 
 The brave detachment of KuszePs riflemen, who 
 were finely trained and equipped, caused a great loss 
 to the enemy. The Russian artillery, to protect 
 their tirailleurs and the columns of infantry which 
 followed them, commenced a heavy fire upon the 
 faubourgs occupied by our infantry. This fire of the 
 Russian artillery was ineffectual ; but our own fire, as 
 the Russians were exposed in an open plain, was very 
 destructive. The action continued until dark, when 
 our infantry began to evacuate the town, and march- 
 ed to rejoin the divisionary camp, w 7 hich was about a 
 mile in the rear. 
 
 At 8 o'clock, General Zymirski, supposing that 
 the enemy had taken possession of the town, deter- 
 mined to make an attack, with two regiments, up- 
 on the town and the Russian camp, at the point of 
 the bayonet. The 7th regiment of the line and the 
 
96 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 4th regiment of light infantry, which were designated 
 for this object, fell with impetuosity upon the enemy, 
 whom they found in an wholly unprepared state. A 
 few hundred prisoners were the fruits of this attack, 
 after which our forces evacuated the town. These lit- 
 tle advantages gained in those two days, retarded the 
 advance of the enemy. He remained inactive on the 
 12th and 13th. On the 14th, the Russian corps un- 
 der the command of General Kreutz, composed of 
 15,000 men and 24 pieces of cannon, attacked the 
 small corps of observation on our right, under the 
 command of General Dwernicki. 
 
 COMBAT OF STOCZEK. [See Plan II.] 
 
 General Dwernicki, although aware of the vast su- 
 periority of the enemy's force, yet, trusting in the 
 strength of his own posi tion, determined to meet his at- 
 tack, and give him battle. The position of Stoczek(a) 
 was strong in several respects ; first, from its com- 
 manding elevation ; secondly, from the circumstance 
 that the town is protected by the river Swidef (6), 
 which forms marshes that are not passable but by a 
 dyke (in) at a short distance from the city, in the direc- 
 tion in which the Russian army was approaching. 
 That dyke was defended by the whole artillery of our 
 corps, consisting of three pieces (e); and the declivity 
 descending toward the dyke was occupied by two com- 
 panies of light troops dispersed in favorable positions as 
 sharp-shooters, and in such a manner as to act on the 
 dyke. General Dwernicki divided his forces into the 
 smallest possible bodies, to give an appearance of ex- 
 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 97 
 
 tent to his line, and thus mask his inferiority of force. 
 Leaving a battalion of infantry (d) to protect the artil- 
 lery and prevent the passage of the dyke, which pas- 
 sage, he was sure that the enemy could not possibly 
 execute rapidly, and that this small force was suffi- 
 cient, if not to prevent at least to retard it, he took 
 the two battalions (d} which made the remainder of his 
 force, and throwing them upon the right bank (A) of 
 this river, in the forest, where an easier and safer pas- 
 sage was open to the enemy, he there awaited the ene- 
 my's movements. The first step of the Russians ($*, h) 
 was to place all their artillery (/) at the nearest possi- 
 ble point to our position, and to commence a warm 
 fire upon the town. Under this fire they thought to 
 effect the passage of the dyke. General Dwernicki 
 ordered his artillery not to fire, until the Russian col- 
 umns should make their appearance on the dyke, and 
 then to open a fire of grape upon them. In this man- 
 ner some hours passed, during which the Russian ar- 
 tillery kept up an ineffectual fire, and the Russian 
 corps executed various manoeuvres in attempting to 
 force the passage of the dyke, and in forcing the attack 
 in the direction of the forest. General Kreutz, seeing 
 that the attempts of the passage of the dyke were 
 attended with severe loss, and thinking that in the 
 other direction the passage would be much more easy, 
 decided on a general attack in that quarter. He di- 
 vided his corps, leaving one part before the dyke, 
 and with the remainder he advanced to the att 
 of our right (A). Strong columns (B) of RUSJ 
 infantry and cavalry, marched against it. As soon 
 as this manoeuvre was observed by Dwernicki, the 
 13 
 
 Hfe 
 
98 
 
 idea was conceived by him to prevent the attack, 
 by throwing himself with the utmost impetuosity 
 upon the enemy before he had taken a position, 
 and while on the march. He renewed his orders 
 to defend with the utmost firmness the passage of 
 the dyke ; and, taking all the cavalry with him, he 
 passed over towards the forest ; and, with the united 
 force of this cavalry and the infantry who were con- 
 cealed in the forest, he threw himself upon the Rus- 
 sian artillery, and the cavalry which was protecting 
 it. In a moment both artillery and cavalry were 
 completely overthrown and dispersed, and seven 
 pieces of cannon remained in our hands. The dis- 
 order communicated itself to the columns which were 
 on the march, who thought no longer of following up 
 their attack, but retreated as fast as possible, and in 
 fact a general and disorderly retreat commenced. 
 The ruin of their left wing caused a consternation 
 in their right, who, not knowing what had happened, 
 ceased their fire, quitted their position, and joined in 
 the general retreat. Besides the killed and wounded, 
 more than 1,000 prisoners, with twenty officers, were 
 taken, together with a great quantity of ammuni- 
 tion, baggage, &c. among which were several voitures 
 containing the chapels of the camp.* 
 
 * It was in this battle that the celebrated Matuszka (in Russian 
 Mamyuika,) or the image of the Holy Mother fell into our hands. This 
 image was in great veneration among that superstitious people. In 
 the campaign of Turkey, many of their successes were attributed to the 
 Mamyuika. Its loss occasioned a general sensation in the Russian ar- 
 my, and was regarded by them as a most unfavorable presage. We 
 often heard the prisoners whom we afterwards took, attribute all their 
 misfortunes to the Holy Mother having abandoned them. 
 
REVOLUTIO 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 99 
 
 The enemy was followed a short distance only, as 
 the inferiority of our force would not of course admit 
 of an extended pursuit, and it was also an important 
 object with General Dwernicki not to permit the ene- 
 my to discover our inferiority. He contented him- 
 self therefore with having destroyed nearly a third 
 part of the enemy's corps, and with having thrown 
 his whole force into the greatest consternation. 
 This brilliant affair was the commencement of the 
 remarkable career of General Dwernicki ; and it 
 was a propitious opening for our campaign. 
 
 General Dwernicki resumed his former position 
 at Stoczek, where he awaited the orders which 
 the commander in chief niight issue on receiving 
 the report of what had taken place. To make this 
 position more strong, he ordered a barricade of trees 
 to be made at the termination of the dyke, and in the 
 other points where the approach was easy, and, to keep 
 a close observation upon the enemy, he sent patrols 
 in the direction of Kock and Zelechow. While thus 
 occupied, he received an order to leave his position 
 immediately by a rapid march in the direction of Ze- 
 lechow and Macieiowice, then to pass the Vistula and 
 meet the Russian corps under the command of 'the 
 Prince Wirtemburg, who, after having crossed that 
 river at Pulawa, had made a demonstration on its left 
 bank, and was approaching Warsaw. 
 
 On receiving this order, General Dwernicki left 
 Stoczek on the same night. 
 
 In consequence of the enemy's attack upon Dwer- 
 nicki's corps, which covered our right wing, that wing 
 
. 
 
 100 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 was inclined and withdrawn towards Kaluszyn, in or- 
 der not to be exposed to the enemy's demonstrations 
 upon its flank or rear. The town of Minsk was al- 
 so occupied by a detachment. On the 15th the Rus- 
 sians made a simultaneous attack on Wengrow and 
 Kaluszyn. But the principal attack was intended 
 to be directed against Kaluszyn, or rather the village 
 of Boimie adjoining it. At Wengrow the attack was 
 masked. By a strong attack upon our right wing, 
 the enemy had the design of gaining the great road 
 to Warsaw, a plan which it was of the utmost im- 
 portance for us to defeat ; for, if he succeeded in forc- 
 ing our right wing he would have cut off our commu- 
 nications with the corps of General Skrzynecki, and 
 Krukowiecki, which were in a more advanced posi- 
 tion. Our generals saw the necessity of the most 
 determined defence of the position, and General 
 Zymirski resolved to resist to the last extremity. 
 
 BATTLE OF BOIMIE. (See Plan III.) 
 
 The battle of Boimie consisted of a persevering ef- 
 fort on the part of the enemy to force the passage of 
 a dyke (&), under the protection of the fire of a strong 
 battery of artillery (e). On our side, every effort was 
 directed to the making of the passage of that dyke 
 as destructive as possible to the enemy. For this 
 object our arrangements were as follows. On the 
 night of the 14th, we destroyed the bridge (m) 
 over the small river of Kostrzyn, which traverses the 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 101 
 
 i(p . . JH [I ' ^^ 
 
 dyke or main road in two places. Not far from the 
 nearest bridge, a defence of branches of trees (n) was 
 thrown together, which, being well placed, made a 
 good cover for our marksmen, and for a battalion of 
 infantry (o), which were concealed behind them. The 
 fire of grape from the enemy's artillery was rendered 
 ineffective to a great degree by this mass of trees. 
 Upon the nearest elevations of ground (B), General 
 Zymirski placed eighteen pieces of cannon (a), the 
 fire of which was concentrated upon the dyke. By 
 this means every attempt of the enemy to re-con- 
 struct the bridge was made to cost him a severe loss, 
 and was rendered ineffectual. The main body of 
 our forces was placed without the reach of the ene- 
 my's artillery. On the left of our position, at the dis- 
 tance of about half a mile, a small road (p) led to 
 Dobre, and that road was intersected by the small 
 river above mentioned. The bridge which continued 
 the road over this river was destroyed by us, and a 
 small detachment placed there to prevent its recon- 
 struction and its passage by the enemy. 
 
 Such was the distribution of the small force which, 
 profiting by the strength of its position, was able to 
 meet the attacks of the numerous body of the enemy 
 commanded by Marshal Diebitsch in person, and 
 which were renewed during the whole day. 
 
 The details of the action are as follows : At about 
 9 o'clock on the morning of the 15th, the Russian 
 force commenced debouching from the forests which 
 border the main road, between Mingosy and Boimie, 
 and deploying to the right and left, took a position. 
 In a short time the field was covered with the ene- 
 
102 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 my's masses. His force consisted of twelve regiments 
 of infantry (/), six of cavalry (g), and sixty pieces of 
 cannon. It was at about noon that the enemy placed 
 his artillery upon the heights (A) above the bridge and 
 commenced his fire. After continuing for some time 
 this fire, which was but occasionally answered by 
 our artillery, the enemy sent several battalions in 
 column, upon the bridge, a part of which force en- 
 gaged in the repair of the bridge, and the rest at- 
 tempted to make the passage. Every approach of 
 the enemy was met with a warm fire from behind 
 the defence of trees abovementioned, and our artil- 
 lery at the same time opened a destructive fire of 
 grape upon the bridge. These attempts of the ene- 
 my were renewed for some hours, in vain. 
 
 Finding the impossibility of forcing, this passage, 
 he directed his efforts to that on his right (D), and sent 
 a cloud of light infantry and cavalry to attempt to pass 
 the marshes, and ford the stream. But this passage 
 was equally impossible, and several Russian regi- 
 ments, who were engaged in the attempt, exposed 
 themselves to a severe fire of platoons from our 
 troops, and several staff officers of the enemy were 
 killed at the head of those regiments. In these re- 
 newed and bloody attempts, the day passed away, 
 and as the night approached, our troops quietly evac- 
 uated their position, and took another a few miles 
 in the rear. 
 
 As to the affair at Wengrow, it was only an en- 
 gagement with the rear guard of the corps of Gen- 
 eral Skrzyenecki. That general, knowing his position 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 103 
 
 to be too far advanced, decided to retire as far as the 
 environs of Dobre. This retreat was so orderly that 
 it seemed rather an evolution than a retreat. All the 
 movements were executed with perfect coolness, and 
 the alternate retreat and fire of the different battal- 
 ions, the displaying and closing of the columns, the 
 change of front, &c. were executed with such pre- 
 cision that it impressed the enemy with a certain de- 
 gree of respect, and though three times superior in 
 force he did not attempt to push his attack. In this 
 manner the corps arrived at the village of Makowiec, 
 where it took position. On the next day, with the 
 exception of a few light skirmishes between the out- 
 posts, nothing of importance took place. The right 
 wing received on that day the order to fall back as 
 far as Minsk, some miles in the rear of their former 
 position. On the evening of that day the line of op- 
 eration of our army was as follows : Our right wing 
 was at Zegrz, the centre in the environs of Dobre, 
 and the right wing at Minsk. 
 
 On the 17th, the enemy attacked our centre at 
 Dobre and our right at Minsk. It was a day of great 
 bloodshed along our whole line, but, like the pre- 
 ceding, highly honorable to our arms. 
 
 BATTLE OF MAKOWIEC AND DOBRE. (See Plan IV.; 
 
 This battle is generally known by the name of the 
 battle of Dobre ; but as it was fought in two dif- 
 ferent positions, and with two different plans of op- 
 
104 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 eration, I have given the name of the two general 
 positions, in speaking of the battle. General Skrzy- 
 necki was, as we have already remarked, in a position 
 too far in advance of our right wing ; and as the enemy 
 on that day had attacked, as we have also stated, the 
 right wing and the centre simultaneously, and could 
 have made, as will be seen by the plan, a demonstra- 
 tion on Stanislawow, and thus have acted on the rear 
 of Skrzynecki, which was nearest to him, that gen- 
 eral had two objects to effect. First, to make the at- 
 tack of the enemy as costly to him as possible, and 
 next to arrange his retrograde movement in such a 
 manner as to be able to reach Stanislawow by night. 
 Both of these designs were exceedingly well executed. 
 Upon each of his positions he was master of his own 
 movements, and quitted them at his own time. This 
 affair of the 17th of February was the occasion of the 
 firstdevelopment of the remarkable talents of this com- 
 mander. It was from that day that his name began 
 to be distinguished ; it was then that he first-awakened 
 the high expectations and first gained the confidence 
 of the nation, which soon after committed to him the 
 trust so honorably and faithfully executed by him. 
 In regard to the first position at Makowiec, the reader 
 will observe, on examining the plan, that the Polish 
 forces were principally engaged in defending a trian- 
 gular space embraced betweeen the two roads (/) 
 which lead from Wengrow and Kaluszyn and meet be- 
 hind Makowiec (h). This space, over which small el- 
 evations covered with brush-wood were scattered, af- 
 forded good positions for artillery as well as infantry ; 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 105 
 
 but the principal advantage of this peculiarity of the 
 ground was, that it concealed the inferiority of our for- 
 ces. In this position, the village of Makowiec was 
 made a point tfappui upon our left wing, and it was 
 defended by five companies (d) , under the command 
 of Colonel Dombrowski. Six pieces of artillery (e) 
 placed in the rear of this village, reached with their 
 fire the village and the plain in front of it. The 
 Russian position was an open plain. 
 
 The enemy commenced by an attack upon the two 
 roads from Wengrow and Kaluszyn ; and as the at- 
 tack was met with a strong resistance, he began to 
 deploy upon the plain between the two roads, and to 
 take order of battle. Nearly 30,000 Russians, with fif- 
 ty or sixty pieces of cannon (c), in a short time were 
 seen upon that plain, and commenced a terrible fire of 
 artillery and musquetry along their whole line, di- 
 rected principally against the village and the wooded 
 ground. Several battalions (a), in column, attempted 
 an attack upon these points. Those attacks were 
 witnessed by Colonels Dombrowski and Boguslawski 
 with perfect indifference. They even ordered our 
 artillery not to fire. Our tirailleurs, and all the infan- 
 try in that position, formed themselves into detached 
 columns (k) of half battalions, and the Russian col- 
 umns approached. Our artillery then commenced a 
 fire of grape, and this fire was a signal for our columns, 
 with the brave Colonels Boguslawski and Dombrowski 
 at their head, to leave their cover and to throw them- 
 selves upon the enemy. The 4th regiment immor- 
 talized itself in that attack. One of its columns 
 14 
 

 
 105 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 threw itself upon three of the enemy, the fire ceased, 
 and a terrible carnage at the point of the bayonet 
 commenced. The enemy repeatedly renewed his 
 attacking force, but he found it impossible to move 
 our position. At about mid-day, having suffered so 
 much from loss and exhaustion, he discontinued the 
 attack. General Skrzynecki, profiting by the cessa- 
 tion of the enemy's fire, took the opportunity to pass 
 the Liwiec, and ordered a light fire of tirailleurs to be 
 kept up, under cover of which his columns commenced 
 executing the passage. When the greater part of 
 the corps had passed, the tirailleurs began to make a 
 retrograde movement, and were undisturbed by the 
 enemy. Six squadrons of cavalry (V), left as a rear 
 guard, protected the passage of the river by the light 
 troops. In this manner the position was slowly evac- 
 uated, the bridge destroyed, and by about two o'clock 
 the whole corps were on the march for Dobre. The 
 six squadrons abovenamed, to which were added nine 
 pieces of light artillery (m), prevented for a long while 
 the reconstruction of the bridge by the enemy, and 
 did not quit their position until the corps was at a 
 safe distance, after which they followed rapidly and 
 overtook the corps at about four o'clock, and with 
 it took position in order of battle near Dobre. 
 
 BATTLE OF DOBRE. [See Plan V.J 
 
 The position of Dobre was more advantageous for 
 us than the former. It w r as protected in front by 
 
I 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 107 
 
 two ponds of considerable size, which lost themselves 
 at their extremities in marshy ground. The only 
 passage which led between those two ponds was 
 easy of defence, and General Skrzynecki posted upon 
 it twelve pieces of artillery of large calibre (a). The 
 remaining part of this position was, like the former, 
 covered with scattered clumps of brush-wood. The 
 principal circumstance, however, which made this 
 position eligible was the declivity of the ground, in- 
 clining towards the marshy ponds abovementioned. 
 
 General Skrzynecki collected all his cavalry upon 
 his right wing, to hinder the enemy from gaining the 
 road that leads to Minsk (A). The left of his position 
 (B) he laid open to the enemy. The position in that 
 direction was surrounded by marshes, upon which, if 
 the enemy should advance, it would be impossible 
 for him to extricate himself without being exposed 
 to fight on the most disadvantageous terms. 
 
 On this oblique front, General Skrzynecki awaited 
 the approach of the Russian force. In about half an 
 hour after our position was taken, the enemy arrived, 
 and began to debouch between the two ponds, which 
 he was allowed to do, under a very light fire of our ar- 
 tillery. Every manoeuvre, however, upon our right 
 was met with desperate charges of the bayonet, and 
 the fire of our whole artillery. All his attempts in 
 that quarter were ineffectual. In the repulses of 
 these attacks, two of our bravest colonels, Boguslaski, 
 commander of the 4th regiment of infantry, and 
 Ziemiecki, commander of the 2d regiment of hulans, 
 (the former fighting on foot with his carbine in his 
 
108 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 hand at the head of his regiment,) were severely 
 wounded. At last, after these ineffectual attempts 
 on our right, the enemy fell into the plans of Gen- 
 eral Skrzynecki, and began to act on our left, when 
 our commander hastened to take all the advantage 
 of the situation in which the enemy were about to ex- 
 pose themselves, that the lateness of the day per- 
 mitted. General Skrzynecki passed down the front 
 of our line, and addressed the soldiers in a few an- 
 imating words, to prepare them to make a general at- 
 tack on the enemy. Our forces were divided into 
 two parts, the smaller of which occupied, by their 
 attack, the main body of the enemy, while, at 
 the same time, the larger force threw themselves 
 upon the enemy's right wing, which was at some 
 distance from the rest of his forces, and was appa- 
 rently intending to act on our right wing and to turn 
 it. In a moment this body of the enemy was com- 
 pletely broken up. The fury of the attack was 
 such, that some Russian battalions were entirely 
 destroyed. It was only the near approach of night, 
 and the inadequacy of our force for a pursuit, which 
 saved the whole of the enemy's corps from destruc- 
 tion ; for his whole right wing took to flight, and a 
 general consternation ensued. The enemy lost on 
 that day, according to his own reports, more than 
 6,000 men, in killed, wounded and prisoners. On 
 our side the loss amounted to about 800. 
 
 Thus ended the memorable battle of Dobre. 
 General Skrzynecki left his position, and arrived on 
 the same night at Stanislawow. Marshal Diebitsch 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 109 
 
 and the Grand Duke Constantine were with the Rus- 
 sian forces, in person, on that day, according to the 
 report of the prisoners. The former, to whom this 
 commencement of the withering of his laurels had 
 lecPto a state of the greatest exasperation, often led 
 the columns in person to the fire but all in vain. 
 
 On the same day, as we have already remarked, 
 our right wing was attacked at Minsk. The enemy 
 supposed that our main force was there, and it was 
 for that reason that he chose to attack Dobre, being 
 more confident of piercing our line at that point. 
 The Russian corps under General Rosen, which at- 
 tacked our right wing, satisfied themselves with keep- 
 ing up a fire of artillery on Minsk, and the day passed 
 without any attempt to force the position having 
 been made. Our troops were in the same position 
 at night as in the morning, and nothing of importance 
 occurred, although occasionally severe losses were 
 sustained on both sides. 
 
110 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Retrograde movement of the 18th of February. Details of this move- 
 ment, and of the actions which took place. The army reaches $he 
 field of Praga. Its reception at Warsaw. Position of the army. 
 Battle of Wavre and Bialolenka. Operations of General Dwernicki 
 against the corps of Prince Wirtemburg. Defeat of that corps by Gen- 
 eral Dwernicki at Swierza. Renewal of the enemy's attack on the 
 main army on the 20th. Its successful resistance. 
 
 ON the 18th, our whole line were ordered to make a 
 retrograde movement. (See Plan VI.) The utmost 
 order and tranquillity was to be observed in this move- 
 ment. The several corps were required to preserve a 
 constant communication with each other, and to keep 
 themselves uniformly on the same parallel. General 
 Zimirski, commanding the right wing (A), and who 
 remained on the main road, received orders to take ad- 
 vantage of every good position which he should meet 
 with between Dembe-Wielkie (13) and Milosna (12). 
 Three points in particular were recommended to his 
 attention, Dembe-Wielkie, Konik(14), and Milosna. 
 Nature presents at those points commanding positions 
 surrounded by forests. In each of those positions, the 
 enemy would be exposed to the fire of our artillery, 
 on debouching from the intervening forests ; and it 
 was designed to make the attack of those positions 
 as costly as possible to the enemy. 
 
 The centre (B), which was commanded by Generals 
 Skrzynecki and Krukowiecjd, was to retire upon the 
 road which leads from Stanislawow (9) to Oku- 
 niew (11). Upon this winding road, which traverses 
 Ithick forests, the means of defence was easy, 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 1 1 1 
 
 The left wing (c), commanded by Szembek and 
 Uminski, which was in the environs of Zegrz (4), re- 
 ceived orders to gain Jablonna(lG), and Zombke(15), 
 on the same night. The great bridge over the Narew 
 (12) at Zegrz was to be destroyed, and a small detach- 
 ment to be left at Zagroby, for the purpose of ob- 
 serving the enemy. 
 
 Conformably to the above orders, our whole line 
 commenced the evacuation of its position throughout 
 our line, and an incessant fire was kept up during the 
 whole day. In the morning, two squadrons of light 
 cavalry, who were sent from Minsk to Stanislawow, 
 met a regiment of cossacks, who were making a re- 
 connoissance, after having traversed the forest of Ja- 
 kubow. The cavalry threw themselves upon them, 
 dispersed them, and took two hundred prisoners with 
 their horses. Upon the position of Dembe, our cav- 
 alry threw themselves upon some Russian artillery 
 which appeared upon our right, and were marching 
 in a direction from Ruda. Six chests of ammunition 
 were taken, and four pieces of cannon were spiked. 
 At Stanislaus, the 2d regiment of hulans and the 
 4th of the line performed prodigies of valor, throw- 
 ing themselves continually upon superior masses of 
 the enemy. The division of General Zimirski re- 
 pelled two successive attacks from a superior force 
 of the enemy at Konik, upon the road between Dem- 
 be-Wielkie and Janowek. Twelve pieces of artille- 
 ry, placed upon the elevated points of the road, 
 poured an incessant fire of grape upon the masses 
 which were advancing to the attack, and which 
 
* 
 
 1 12 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 were enclosed by forests on both sides, as well 
 as impeded in their progress by the trees which had 
 been placed across the road to obstruct the enemy ; 
 and, although he constantly renewed his attacking col- 
 umns, he was not able to force our position, which in- 
 deed was not evacuated, until the movement of the 
 general line required a corresponding withdrawal of 
 this division. 
 
 Our left wing fought with equal advantages at 
 Nasielsk. From this town, which was entirely in 
 flames, the attack of the enemy were repeatedly re- 
 pulsed. Our artillery distinguished themselves by 
 acts of daring valor. They drew their pieces in the 
 midst of blazing streets, in order to pour a more ef- 
 fective fire upon the masses of the enemy, who had 
 entered at the opposite extremities. 
 
 The first regiment of light infantry, having at their 
 head the brave Szembek, threw themselves upon a 
 part of the town occupied by a whole division of the 
 enemy, and drove them out. Even in the midst of 
 the burning town, our chasseurs fell upon and destroy- 
 ed the different parties of the enemy. The enemy, 
 on quitting the place, were exposed to continual at- 
 tacks from our cavalry, under the command of Gen- 
 eral Uminski, who took on that day some hundred 
 prisoners, and among them several officers. 
 
 Our right wing, in its last position at Milosna (12), 
 held the enemy in check before that town. General 
 Zimirski placed his artillery upon the heights behind 
 the town, from which the town and the adjoining plain 
 was commanded. Every attempt of the enemy, ev- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 1 13 
 
 ery debouchment from the forest, cost him a severe 
 loss. The enemy in vain took positions with his 
 artillery to act upon us. He was not permitted to , | 
 occupy Milosna until night approached. 
 
 At Okuniew the road passes a marshy forest for 
 more than half a mile. The enemy was imprudent 
 enough to push his columns upon this road. Gen- 
 eral Skrzynecki awaited them at a point not far dis- 
 tant on the opposite side.. The advanced guard of 
 the enemy, imprudently composed of several regi- 
 ments of cossack cavalry, had already passed the 
 dyke, when the 4th regiment threw themselves in 
 columns upon them. 
 
 The enemy was thrown into the utmost conster- 
 nation. Their only escape was into the marshes on 
 either side, where some hundreds of them were taken 
 prisoners without resistance. The arrival of the 
 night terminated the scene, and saved this advanced 
 guard of the enemy from total destruction. Thus 
 ended a sanguinary day, on which, in every part of our 
 line, our troops were victorious, and the enemy was 
 subjected to immense losses. Our generals had made 
 the best choice of their positions, and had profited by 
 them to the utmost. 
 
 The enemy's loss on that day, in killed, wounded, 
 and prisoners, amounted to at least 10,000 men. On 
 our side the loss did not exceed 1,000.* 
 
 * I cannot pass over this occasion of describing the manner in which 
 the nation received that army, which had but a month before left the 
 walls of Warsaw, and had, after so many glorious actions, returned 
 to give there a decisive battle to the enemy, and to fall or conquer 
 
 15 
 

 
 114 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 On the night of the 18th our army took the fol- 
 lowing position. [See Plan VII.] Our left wing was 
 
 there before the eyes of the nation.- These are moments which are 
 rare in history, and should be handed down to posterity ; for they de- 
 monstrate to what a height the feelings of the nation were exalted, 
 and what a unanimity was felt in the great cause that warmed all hearts. 
 The thunder of the cannon which, during the 15th, rolled over the fields 
 of Milosna and Okuniew, was heard at Warsaw, and announced the 
 approach of the army. At night-fall, when .our first detachments began 
 to debouch from the forests of Milosna and Jablonna, and t6 deploy 
 upon the plains of Wavre and Bialolenka, the whole population of 
 Warsaw began to leave the city, and go forth to meet and hail their 
 defenders. The senate, whose estimable president, Czartoriski, was 
 with the army, left the city also. In a short time the fields were cov- 
 ered with an exulting multitude. When the army took its position, 
 and all was quiet under the protection of night, the people approached 
 and entered into the camp. What a touching scene was there pre- 
 sented ! Here a father and a mother seek their son, who, meeting them r 
 presses them to his bosom. There a wife, leading her children, finds 
 her husband and their father, and throws herself into his arms, while 
 those children cling around the knees of their delighted parents. A 
 melancholy contrast was presented by those who sought in vain for 
 son, husband, or parent But no complaint was heard. The tears fall- 
 ing in memory of those who were no more, were checked by the thought 
 that they had died for their country. 
 
 The senate, in the name of the nation, in the most touching language, 
 thanked the commander in chief and his officers for the services which 
 they had rendered to their country, and requested them to communicate 
 these sentiments to the whole army. They finished their address in 
 nearly the following terms. " Preserve, brave compatriots, this noble 
 energy, and in a short time the throne of despotism will fall, and upon 
 its ruins civilization and public happiness will rise." The people con- 
 tinued with the army, furnishing them with every comfort, and regard- 
 less of the fire which commenced the next day from the enemy's ar- 
 tillery. Under this fire, vehicles with provisions and ammunition were 
 continually arriving from the city, and some of them were destroyed 
 by the enemy's shot. During the actions before Warsaw, the inhab- 
 itants made it a duty to be at hand, to bear off and to relieve the wound- 
 ed; and among those who engaged in these offices were some of the 
 most distinguished ladies of Warsaw. The strangers who were then 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 1 15 
 
 between Jablonna(lG) and Zombki (15), and sent out 
 its reconnoissances as far as Zagroby (4), upon the 
 Narew (N), the bridge over which at that place they 
 
 there, and who witnessed the enthusiasm which animated the peo- 
 ple, and seemed to unite them into one family, exclaimed that such a 
 nation could never, and ought never to be conquered. 
 
 On the following days, the 21st, 22d and 23d of February, in which 
 no action took place, were days of thanksgiving to God, for his favor in 
 protecting the Polish cause thus far. In all the churches the people 
 assembled to offer prayers for the welfare of the country ; and the ar- 
 my employed their period of repose in the same manner. On that 
 field, over which the three hundred cannon of the enemy were pointed 
 in battle array, while the first line was in position, the rest of the ar- 
 my Avere engaged in these devotional exercises. At each collection 
 of troops, the ministers of religion administered patriotic oaths, ana by 
 their addresses animated the soldiers to perseverance in the holy strug- 
 gle. Those sacred ceremonies were followed by hymns, which were 
 sung along the whole line, mingled with the solemn sounds of the bells 
 of Warsaw tolling for the assembly of the people in the churches. 
 These exercises ended in the general shout of " Poland forever!" 
 
 To convince the Russians that the Poles were not blindly fighting 
 against them as Russians, but were fighting for that cause of civiliza- 
 tion and happiness which was of equal interest to themselves, several 
 hundred white flags were prepared with inscriptions in the Russian 
 language, in terms such as follows. " Russians ! brother Sarmatians ! 
 we march to combat not as your enemies, but to fight for your's as well 
 as our own welfare." Each regiment received from ten to twenty of 
 those flags, which, during the combat, were to be distributed among the 
 tirailleurs and flankers. They were directed to throw them, as occasion 
 might offer, among the Russian ranks. Many of those volunteers, in 
 rushing forward to plant those flags among the Russian skirmishers^ 
 met their death from the hands of those whom they wished to save from 
 tyranny. Thus the Poles had done all that their duty required of them 
 in this holy contest, to convince the world that the general cause of 
 civilization and happiness was the great end of their struggle. They 
 sought not their own aggrandizement by conquests of the territory of 
 another nation, for their ancient boundaries are wide enough for them. 
 They fought for that liberty which they had possessed for ages. It was 
 that ancient liberty and those ancient limits, which they fought to re- 
 gain, and sooner or later these objects will be gained. 
 
116 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 destroyed. Our centre was between Okuniew(ll) 
 and Zombki(15). Our right wing was at Wavre (17). 
 
 After two such bloody days, as the preceding had 
 been for the Russians, we cannot sufficiently express 
 our astonishment that Marshal Diebitsch should 
 have allowed his army no repose, but should have 
 again pushed his attack, without any new plan, on 
 the 19th and 20th. These operations of Diebitsch, 
 without an assignable end, indicated a blind confi- 
 dence in numbers, or the fury of a man inflamed by 
 the renown which he had acquired,, and who was 
 determined to make the event bear out as nearly as 
 possible, whatever sacrifice it might cost, the rash 
 boast which h is said to have made, that he would 
 finish the war in twenty-four hours. But he sacrifi- 
 ced his thousands in vain. 
 
 On the 19th an action took place, not only with the 
 grand army under the walls of Warsaw, or on the 
 fields of Praga, but also on the left bank of the Vistula 
 at Swierza [(7) PL VII.], forty miles from Warsaw, 
 where General Dwernicki beat Prince Wirtemburg, 
 who, as we have already mentioned, had passed the 
 Vistula at Pulawa [(6) PL VI.], and was approaching 
 Warsaw [(I) PL VI.]. 
 
 BATTLE OF WAVRE AND BI ALOLENKA. [PL VIII. and IX.] 
 
 At the break of day, upon every point, the right 
 wing, the centre, and the left wing, our line was at- 
 tacked. We might remark in regard to the positions, 
 
 \ 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 1 17 
 
 of the two armies on that day, that our right wing,(A) 
 which was at Wavre, was unprotected, while on the 
 other hand the left wing(C) of the enemy, opposite to 
 it, was very advantageously placed on heights covered 
 with wood, between Milosna and Wavre. Our cen- 
 tre (B) was better posted at Kawenzyn. It occupied 
 this village, (which was in a corhmanding position,) 
 and the declivity descending from it to the plain of 
 Zombki. Our left wing at Bialolenka was also ad- 
 vantageously covered by little wooded hills, having 
 two dykes in front leading toward them. 
 
 The Russians on that day directed their strongest 
 attack upon our right wing, which occupied the weak- 
 est position. With the view of carrying this position, 
 they sent against it some forty battalions of infantry 
 and some thirty squadrons of cavalry, supported by 
 seventy pieces of artillery. On the other hand, our 
 wing was defended by a division of about ten battal- 
 ions of infantry and fifteen squadrons of artillery, sup- 
 ported by twenty-four pieces of artillery. This enor- 
 mous disproportion did not discourage our sol- 
 diers. Their energy supplied the place of num- 
 bers. The enemy commenced his attack by a warm 
 fire of light troops and a fire from his artillery, which 
 commanded the plain. The skilful manoeuvres of 
 General Zimirski, by displaying his front, contracting 
 it, dividing it into small parties, and withdrawing or 
 advancing, as the direction of the enemy's artillery re- 
 quired, and thus avoiding the effect of his fire, prevent- 
 ed the loss which it would else have occasioned. 
 In this way several hours were occupied, when 
 

 
 118 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 the enemy, trusting to the* impression which he sup- 
 posed his fire to have made, at about ten o'clock sent 
 forward twelve or more battalions (D) to the charge. 
 General Zimirski anticipating this movement, with- 
 drew, in order to lead them on to the plain between 
 Wavre and Grokow, sending to General Skrzynecki 
 an aid-de-camp to inform him of this manoeuvre, and 
 to engage him to send a force of cavalry to act upon 
 the enemy's columns in flank. General Skrzynecki, 
 who occupied, as we have stated, the heights of Ka- 
 wenzyn, was also warmly engaged with a brigade 
 of the enemy, and had already observed this impru- 
 dent advance of the enemy in his attack, who had 
 indeed gone beyond the line of Skrzynecki's position. 
 In a moment the order was given for the brigade of 
 General Kicki to throw themselves upon the enemy's 
 flank ; and as General Kicki approached with the ten 
 squadrons (E) which composed his command, General 
 Zimirski gave orders for a general charge of both upon 
 the enemy's cavalry (F) and infantry (G). The col- 
 umns of the enemy were carried away before these 
 charges, and their attack was wholly paralyzed. 
 This onset, which was so successfully made, forced the 
 enemy (H) to incline his position back from Kawen- 
 zyn to Milosna. That manoeuvre was decisive of 
 the enemy's fate, and it was well understood by our 
 generals. General Skrzynecki, by pushing forward 
 the left of his division, cut off the right wing of the 
 enemy from all communication with his centre, and 
 at about mid-day our right wing and centre occupied 
 their former position at Wavre, including- the small 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 119 
 
 forest of elders which was between the enemy's left 
 wing and centre ; and, in fact, General Skrzynecki 
 occupied a part also of the Great Forest. This state 
 of things was to be profited by, and the right wing 
 of the enemy, thus separated, was to be attacked 
 before the enemy should be able to renew his attack 
 upon Kawenzyn, and the forest of elders and our right 
 wing. To execute this plan, the two divisions of 
 Krukowiecki and Szembek, composing our left wing, 
 which was fighting at Bialolenka, [See Plan IX.] re- 
 ceived orders to push a strong attack against the ene- 
 my's front, at the same moment that a brigade (B) of 
 Skrzynecki's division, supported by some pieces of 
 cannon, operated upon the road (a) leading from Ka- 
 wenzyn (6) to Zombki (&). By this manoeuvre the 
 enemy was menaced with being taken in the rear. 
 
 The left wing, as we have said, was warmly engag- 
 ed with the superior force of the Russians ; who, by 
 placing some fifty pieces of cannon (/) behind the two 
 dykes(e) abovenamed, kept up a sweeping fire of grape 
 upon our artillery (d) and infantry (c), which were 
 defending the passage of the dykes. A considerable 
 body of the enemy had already reached this side of the 
 dykes, when General Uminski, with a brigade of cav- 
 alry(D), advanced to the charge, and at the same time 
 communicated the orders to the two divisions to com- 
 mence the general attack. Under a warm fire of 
 grape, our cavalry threw themselves upon the enemy's 
 infantry, which had debouched over the dykes. A 
 general charge commenced, and our cavalry pene- 
 trated the enemy's masses. The 2d and 3d regi- 
 
120 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 ments of chasseurs distinguished themselves by their 
 feats of bravery. The enemy was repulsed, and be- 
 gan to fall back and crowd upon the dykes, and at 
 this moment their route was effected. A brigade (B) 
 from General Skrzynecld's division arrived, and com- 
 menced a fire of grape upon the dykes, over which 
 the enemy was flying in the greatest disorder. 
 Their ranks were in the utmost confusion ; they 
 crowded with precipitation upon the dykes, exposed 
 continually to our destructive fire. By this repulse the 
 whole of the enemy's right wing was broken, and 
 they commenced a general retreat, leaving a great 
 number of prisoners, who either had not reached the 
 dykes or could not get from them, amounting to per- 
 haps a thousand men, besides another thousand killed 
 and wounded. The enemy also lost two standards, 
 four pieces of cannon, several chests of ammunition, 
 and many horses. 
 
 In this manner ended the attack upon that wing ; 
 and indeed the general attack might be said to have 
 ended here. Towards night the enemy renewed his 
 attacks upon our centre and right, but they were 
 feeble. Thus closed another day, which, like the 
 preceding, was most propitious to our arms. 
 
 BATTLE AT SWIERZA. [See Plan X.] 
 i 
 
 On this same day, as we have mentioned, General 
 Dwernicki, with a detached corps, fought the enemy 
 at Swierza. The reader is already aware that this 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 121 
 
 general, having gained a victory over the corps of Gen- 
 eral Kreutz at Stoczek [Plan VI. (18)], on the 14th of 
 February, received orders to pass the Vistula, in order 
 to defend the palatinate of Mazovie, to check the ope- 
 rations of the enemy there, and to obstruct his dem- 
 onstrations upon Warsaw. 
 
 On receiving this order, General Dwernicki, on the 
 night of the same day, quitted Stoczek, traversed Ze- 
 lechow (19) and Macieiowice, and on the 17th passed 
 the Vistula near Ryczywol (7). On the 18th he com- 
 menced his operations against the corps of Prince 
 Wirtemberg, which was on its way from Radom, the 
 advanced guard of which begun to show itself upon 
 the plain of Ryczywol.* 
 
 * The Prince Wirtemberg, who 'commanded the corps against which 
 General Dwernicki was sent, had served in the Polish army as Brig- 
 adier-General. He was cousin to the present king of Wirtemberg, 
 and nephew of the late Emperor Alexander, who married his aunt. 
 This prince commanded the 2d and 4th regiment of hulans, of the first 
 of which regiments General Dwernicki was colonel. In this way the 
 prince was perfectly well known to General Dwernicki, and was held by 
 him in very low esteem, as a man of vanity and pretension, and a 
 tyrant over his subalterns. The vices of his character developed them- 
 selves sufficiently during our revolution. At the breaking out of the 
 revolution at Warsaw, this man was at Krasny-staw, a small town in 
 the palatinate of Lublin, in which his brigade was posted. On the ar- 
 rival of the news of the revolution, his first care was to secrete himself. 
 Afterwards, finding that it was impossible to keep concealed, he began 
 to tamper with the brigade, and tried to persuade his soldiers to adhere 
 to the service of the Grand Duke, and to refuse to join the cause of their 
 country. These false persuasions, coming from him, a general in the 
 Polish service, in defiance of the will of the nation, and in opposition 
 to its holiest efforts, afforded a sufficient ground of accusation against 
 him, to have brought him to judgment as a traitor. Besides all this, 
 by his tyrannic conduct as a general he had deserved severe treatment. 
 But all these offences were forgotten, and the nation pardoned him, 
 
 16 
 
\ 
 
 122 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 General Dwernicki harassed the enemy on that 
 day [See Plan X.] by continual charges of cav- 
 alry, in which the krakus of Krakowie were par- 
 ticularly distinguished. His only plan upon that day 
 was to keep the enemy upon the plain of Ryczy wol. 
 
 merely ordering him to quit the country. He exhibited his gratitude for 
 such delicate treatment, by departing for Russia and the Polish prov- 
 inces, and pointing out for arrest some of the most respectable citizens, 
 who were known for their patriotic sentiments. He passed several 
 days at Wlodawa, a small frontier town between the Polish kingdom 
 and the government of Grodno. There he was guilty of the mean 
 act of intercepting the correspondence between the different patriotic 
 individuals. 
 
 This was not enough. In the campaign he took the command of a 
 Russian corps destined to act in the very palatinate of Lublin where he 
 had held his Polish command for fourteen years, and where all the pro- 
 prietors had treated him with the greatest kindness and delicacy. 
 This man, arriving with his corps, left at every step the traces of his 
 tyranny. On reaching Pulawa, the estate of the beloved Czarto- 
 riski, the president of the national government, the residence of that 
 family from which he had himself received so many kindnesses, and 
 where every virtue reigned, he did not scruple to give orders to burn 
 that town ; he did not scruple to take the name in history of " the de- 
 vastator of Pulawa " of that beautiful place on which the labor of ages 
 had been expended, and which was so celebrated for the charms with 
 which nature as well as art had enriched it. His cruelties were-carried 
 to such a point, that he actually caused to be beaten with the knout a 
 young lady, a friend of the princess Czartoriski, who had manifested 
 her patriotic sentiments by the sacrifice of her jewels to aid the cause 
 of her country. Even the princess Gzartoriski, who was already at an 
 advanced age, was not spared the insults of this gross man, who, to put 
 the finishing stroke to his barbarity, on his second visit to Pulawa, di- 
 rected a fire of cannon upon the palace, which he knew was occupied 
 only by the princess and her ladies. Even the Russians themselves 
 regarded these actions with abhorrence. In regard to his military tal- 
 ents, they were of the lowest order. General Dwernicki himself 
 promised that in a few weeks he would dispatch him. And he in fact 
 kept this promise to the letter. 
 
' 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 123 
 
 During the night he intended to pass, with the chief 
 part of his force, the river Radomierza above Ryczy- 
 wol (/), and by this course to present himself to the 
 enemy upon the road which leads from Radom to 
 Ryczywol, the same road in fact upon which the 
 enemy had advanced, and attack him both on his 
 flank and rear, the Vistula being on his front. In 
 executing this movement, General Dwernicki left two 
 squadrons of cavalry(A), one battalion of infantry(A), 
 and two pieces of cannon, at the side of the river, under 
 the command of Colonel Russyian. He then quietly 
 left his position, and crossed the river in its fordable 
 places(/) about half a league above. Colonel Russ- 
 yian, who as we have said remained on the position at 
 Ryczywol, was ordered to commence a light fire of 
 skirmishers at break of day, but to retrograde con- 
 stantly, and to allow the enemy an easy passage over 
 the bridge. On the 1 9th, the enemy (D), who had no 
 suspicions of the manoeuvre, commenced in the morn- 
 ing his debouchement upon the bridge, having the ex- 
 pectation of engaging with oqr whole force in a de- 
 cisive battle upon the field of Ryczywol. His as- 
 tonishment may be imagined, when, as the day com- 
 menced, he found both upon his flank and his rear a 
 force marching against him to the attack (B). The 
 enemy stopped passing the bridge, and attempted to 
 turn and meet the attack, but this was not permitted 
 him. Our cavalry threw themselves with impetuos- 
 ity upon that part of his forces which were attempt- 
 ing to place themselves in position ; and our artillery, 
 which was boldly brought near the enemy's columns, 
 
124 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 poured a terribly destructive fire of grape upon them, 
 the utmost consternation ensued, and a general and 
 disorderly flight was commenced in the direction of 
 Nowa-wies (N), to which place our corps continued 
 the pursuit of the enemy (R). 
 
 This day, which may be called one of the most 
 brilliant in our war, cost the enemy, besides killed 
 and wounded, two thousand prisoners, with more 
 than twenty officers, four standards, ten pieces of 
 cannon, some hundred horses, and about thirty chests 
 with ammunition, with officers' baggage, &c. The 
 Prince Wirtemberg with the remains of his corps re- 
 treated by forced marches to the small town of Gran- 
 ica, where he repassed the Vistula and reached Pu- 
 lawa. Thus, by a single battle, the whole country 
 on this side of the Vistula was cleared of the pre- 
 sence of the enemy. 
 
 General Dweijiicki permitted to his corps, who 
 were really much exhausted by fighting and march- 
 ing, to repose by a slow march as far as Kozienice, 
 where he remained, sending out, however, his recon- 
 noissances as far as Pulawa. 
 
I 
 
 . . 
 
 '...'. ' ' * ' 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 125 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Renewal of the enemy's attack on the 20th Its result. Review of the 
 events of the preceding day. The enemy's loss. Examination of the 
 plan of operations of the Polish army Neglect 'of fortification. Want 
 of concert in the different operations. Advantageous offensive op- 
 erations neglected. Acts of the National Government. Provision in 
 lands for the soldiers. Abolition of the Corvee, &c. Marshal Diebitsch 
 remains in a state of inactivity. Negotiations are opened by him. 
 His propositions are declined. Position of the 24th, and battle of Bia- 
 lolenka. 
 
 ON the 20th of February our army was engaged 
 with the enemy the whole day upon the same po- 
 sition as on the preceding. This repetition of his 
 attack without a change of plan or position was a great 
 weakness in the enemy. On that day, feeling sensi- 
 bly the loss of a part of the great forest opposite Ka- 
 wenzyn, as well as that of the small forest of elders, 
 the enemy commenced his attack upon those points. 
 Some twenty battalions were incessantly pushed for- 
 ward to the attack, against which eight battalions on 
 our part kept an effectual stand for several hours. 
 This day, although uninteresting and indecisive in 
 manoeuvres, was bloody. No important blow was 
 attempted by us, but every attack of the enemy was 
 met with a vigorous and sanguinary repulse. It was a 
 day of glory for the 4th regiment the day on which 
 that celebrated regiment, though already distinguished, 
 began to take its high place in our reports ; and on 
 which it fought with a degree of valor that could never 
 have been surpassed. Without waiting even for or- 
 
126 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 ders, this brave regiment was constantly seen push- 
 ing itself towards the points of the greatest danger ; 
 and its companies were often fighting in the very 
 midst of the thickest masses of the enemy. 
 
 By the unsuccessful and costly attacks of the enemy 
 the whole day was occupied, and at the close of that 
 day, after the loss of thousands of men, he had not 
 gained a foot of ground. 
 
 In this manner ten days had passed in continual 
 and bloody actions upon the same position in which the 
 Polish army had been uniformly successful, and at the 
 end of which the enemy discontinued his attacks, thus 
 giving the most convincing proof of the extent of the 
 losses which he had suffered on all points during the 
 preceding days, amounting, in fact, in killed, wounded 
 and prisoners, to full 30,000 men. In this space of 
 ten days, the whole army of the enemy had been en- 
 gaged, and that army amounted, as we have already 
 said, and as will be confirmed by all the official re- 
 ports, to more than 150,000 infantry, 50,000 cavalry, 
 and 300 pieces of cannon. To this force was opposed 
 a handful, comparatively, of Poles, consisting of 30,- 
 000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry, and 96 pieces of can- 
 non .; a sixth part, in fact, of the Russian force. 
 
 This memorable commencement of our war will 
 show to the world what can be effected by a nation 
 which goes to combat to defend its liberty and to 
 throw off an oppressive yoke. Those bloody com- 
 bats, and that enthusiasm to which my feeble pen 
 cannot render justice, but which some better historian 
 will present to the world in its true colors, should 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 127 
 
 convince men that the immense mercenary forces 
 which a despqt may lead on, and with which he trusts 
 to enforce his will, may avail him little. His enor- 
 mous masses are like a heap of sand, which a little 
 stone can pierce. Without animating motives, arid 
 therefore without energy, a machine scarcely to be 
 trusted, that army itself, upon the slightest change 
 of circumstances, may become terrible to the despot, 
 of whom and of whose creatures it was to have been 
 made the unhappy sacrifice. 
 
 The reader will pardon me, if I fatigue him by 
 further reflections upon this stage of our affairs. I 
 shall not exaggerate in saying that this enormous 
 mass of the enemy's forces would in an equal period 
 have been absolutely annihilated, if we had then had 
 a commander in chief of greater talent, and a gen- 
 eral plan of operation differently arranged ; for the 
 different operations in detail were, in general, per- 
 fectly executed. The commander in chief, Prince 
 Radzivil, was an individual of the most estimable 
 character, but as he afterwards himself avowed, not 
 possessed of military talent. General Chlopicki, who 
 was always near him, and who in fact virtually com- 
 manded, if he had in the early part of his life exhib- 
 ited military talent, in his present advanced age had 
 certainly lost much of his energy, and was unfit to 
 undertake things which demanded the most active in- 
 tellect, and the most absolute devotedness of mind 
 and body to the cause. We cannot too strongly ex- 
 press our astonishment that General Chlopicki, who 
 had formed the plan, and a very judicious one it was, 
 
. 
 128 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 of drawing the enemy on to the walls of Warsaw, 
 to give him there a decisive battle, should have ne- 
 glected to fortify the natural positions upon his route, 
 by which the enemy's loss would have been doubled 
 or even trebled. Serock and Zagroby (4), [See 
 Plan, Nb. 6], situated upon points of the greatest im- 
 portance, especially the first, were evacuated by our 
 forces, for the want of proper necessary defences. 
 Not the slightest fortification was constructed at the 
 different passages of the Narew (N), the Bug(B), 
 the Liewiec (L), and the Swider (S), nor upon the 
 region between those rivers, which was full of forests 
 and impenetrable marshes, and in which proper forti- 
 fications would have presented the most important ob- 
 structions to the enemy's passage. No concealed 
 passages or by-roads through those forests were con- 
 structed, as they should have been, by which a body 
 of troops could be led in ambuscade and brought to 
 act suddenly on the enemy's flanks or otherwise, in 
 critical moments, and with decisive effect. Such 
 works would have required but little expense, and 
 could have been made by the Jewish inhabitants, of 
 whom there are some millions in Poland, (twenty 
 thousand in Warsaw alone,) and who could have no 
 claims for exemption, for they render no service to the 
 country, but on the contrary lead a life of profitable 
 fraud and deception, practised upon our inhabitants. 
 The Jews, in fact, with some very few exceptions, 
 did not in the least aid in the war, but often frus- 
 trated our exertions by their espionage ; and there 
 are in fact instances of their having fought against 
 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 129 
 
 us, against those who had given them an asylum 
 upon their soil. In the towns of Nasielsk and Makow 
 this actually occurred. This part of our population, 
 who had an equal interest with us in the protection of 
 the country as far as it concerned property, could have 
 been thus employed with perfect justice and propriety. 
 If, by such arrangements, a system of fortification had 
 been properly united with tactics, and all the plans 
 directed by a man of talents and energy, of which 
 examples were certainly to be found in our ranks, 
 having such troops to command, the reader will ad- 
 mit that the Russian forces could have been soon 
 driven back to the frontiers. The succession of vic- 
 tories which we have described were not the results 
 of any general system : they were victories of de- 
 tail, executed with energy and rapidity, and for 
 which we were indebted to the generals of divisions 
 and brigades, the colonels of the regiments, &c. 
 These successes were isolated, but, had they been 
 made to bear upon each other, their advantages would 
 have been much greater. For example, the battle 
 of Dobre, which was so brilliantly gained by Skrzy- 
 necki, would have caused the total ruin of the corps 
 opposed to him, if the llth division of Krukowiecki, 
 which was in the environs of Jadow, had come to the 
 aid of Skrzynecki during that action. And indeed 
 this was the expectation of Skrzynecki when he re- 
 mained so long upon the position of Makowiec. But 
 this division, instead of acting upon the rear of the 
 enemy, as it might have done, having no orders to 
 17 
 
130 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 this effect, continued its retrograde march, although 
 within the sound of the cannon of that action. 
 
 On the 1 8th, there was not enough of harmony in 
 the operations of the several divisions. On that day, 
 if those operations had been directed from one point 
 as from a centre, the enemy, who had been guilty of 
 extreme imprudence in the advance which he had 
 made into the marshy and wooded region between 
 Stanislawow (9) , Okuniew (11), and the great road, 
 could have been completely hedged in. [See Plan, 
 No. 6.] The manoeuvres of General Zimirski, 
 when the enemy made his rapid attack on the morn- 
 ing of the 19th, were executed at hazard, no general 
 order having been given in anticipation of such an at- 
 tack. These manoeuvres were well executed by 
 General Zimirski ; but if the case had been thus an- 
 ticipated by the commander in chief, and, at the 
 commencement of the action, our right wing had 
 been withdrawn to Grokow, [See (A) Plan 8,] an ob- 
 stinate defence of the commanding position of Ka- 
 wenzyn (B) being kept up, and the enemy had been 
 thus allowed to follow our right wing with his left ; 
 by the same method of operation which was in fact 
 executed by Skrzynecki and Zimirski, in concert, 
 but with much larger forces ; the enemy could have 
 been attacked on his flank, and instead of the annihi- 
 lation of his sixteen battalions, the same fate would 
 have attended twice or thrice that number ; for, 
 when a force is taken by surprise in flank and rear, 
 numbers avail comparatively little in resistance ; 
 indeed the greater the number, the greater is the 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 131 
 
 difficulty of changing position, and the greater the 
 disorder and consternation which follows. 
 
 The Russian army was thus early inspired with 
 terror at the resistance which they had experienced 
 and the immense losses to which they were subjected. 
 It was of the utmost importance to profit by this con- 
 sternation ; but the vast advantages which might 
 have been gained under such circumstances, by some 
 general plan of offensive operations of bold and deci- 
 sive character, were let pass. 
 
 Whilst the army was thus gloriously fighting, the 
 national government were laboring for the happiness 
 of the people. Among other valuable institutions, it 
 adopted a paternal guardianship over the defenders of 
 the country by designating an allotment of lands for 
 each soldier. Many of the most wealthy families 
 contributed of their landed property for that object. 
 Another act was to free the peasantry from the Cor- 
 vee, by purchasing the rights of the landholders over 
 them. Each peasant was made a proprietor, and for 
 the landholders an arrangement of compensation in 
 the form of annual instalments for a period of years, 
 was made by the government. Other institutions 
 for the public welfare, as the establishment of schools, 
 received also the attention of the government. 
 
 When, after so many battles, the Russian command- 
 er discontinued his attacks, it may be supposed that 
 besides the repose which his army required, he had 
 another object, viz. to wait the arrival of new corps, 
 consisting of 20,000 men, and 36 pieces of cannon, 
 under Prince Sczachowski. He evidently wished to 
 

 132 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 concentrate all his small detachments and all his re- 
 serves, in order to strike, with his whole force, a 
 decisive blow ; and the attempt was, in fact, soon 
 made.' 
 
 Our army, which in the ten preceding days had lost 
 about six thousand men, was reinforced by three reg- 
 iments armed with pitchforks, amounting to about 
 the number we had lost. Our whole army, infantry 
 and cavalry, may have amounted to 40,000 men, and, 
 with the pieces taken from the enemy, 100 can- 
 non. The Russian army, with the new corps of 
 Sczachowski, amounted to 188,000 men and 316 
 pieces of cannon, deducting the artillery which had 
 been lost or dismounted. 
 
 Marshal Diebitsch, before commencing hostile op- 
 erations, opened negotiations, and, for this purpose, 
 sent a general of division, Witt, with a flag of truce 
 to our head-quarters. This general was stopped 
 upon our advanced post, whither General Kruko- 
 wiecki was sent by the commander in chief, with 
 full powers, to meet him. General Witt com- 
 menced with expressions of the greatest sensibility, 
 and enlarged much upon the friendship which ought 
 to exist between the Poles and the Russians as bro- 
 ther nations. He then spoke in very flattering terms 
 of the heroism of the Poles, &c. After those com- 
 pliments, he insensibly passed to the ideas of duty and 
 obedience to the monarch, &c. General Krukowiecki, 
 who understood perfectly well all these professions, 
 which he knew to be insidious, answered nearly in 
 the following laconic terms : " General, after the sad 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 133 
 
 circumstances which have taken place, after the 
 bloody combats to which we have been forced by 
 the tyranny of fifteen years, by the refusal of justice, 
 and in fine by the violation of our frontier, and the 
 laying waste of our territory, upon this territory we 
 can make no arrangements. You know well what 
 are the frontiers of Poland. Upon the banks of the 
 Dnieper, four hundred miles hence, we may enter in- 
 to negotiations." 
 
 Thus all was ready for the sanguinary battle of 
 two days, which followed, and one memorable in the 
 annals of war. It commenced by a combat on the 
 24th at Bialolenka, and ended on the 25th on the 
 plain of Grokow. 
 
 POSITION OF THE 24th, AND BATTLE OF BIALOLENKA. 
 
 The position of the two armies, on the 24th, was 
 as follows. The Polish army occupied the same 
 ground as when they ceased firing on the 20th ; but 
 the force was disposed in a different manner. 
 The right wing was reinforced by the division of 
 General Szembek; and although Bialolenka, Ka- 
 wenzyn and Wavre composed the line of combat, 
 there was this difference, that, while before, the 
 centre was Kawenzyn, and the left wing at Bialo- 
 lenka, at present the left wing was at Kawenzyn ; 
 the forces which were at Bialolenka were posted as 
 a detached corps, and the centre of the army was at 
 the forest of elders. The right wing occupied the 
 
<t 
 
 134 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 space between the great road and the marshes of the 
 Vistula, called the marshes of Goclaw. This arrange- 
 ment made our line more concentrated. The first 
 division under Krukowiecki, which was at Bialolenka, 
 with the division of cavalry under Uminski, was di- 
 rected to observe the great road from Jablonna, and 
 all the roads leading from Radzimin and Zombki to 
 Warsaw. Between Kawenzyn and Bialolenka the 
 debouchment of the enemy was prevented by expen- 
 sive marshes. 
 
 The Russian army was upon the same points as 
 on the 20th. Their greatest force was opposed to 
 our right wing at Wavre. 
 
 On the afternoon of the 24th, the enemy attacked 
 with impetuosity the first division at Bialolenka. 
 The corps of the enemy which made this attack 
 was that of the Prince Sczachowski, which had re- 
 cently joined the main army, and for which Mar- 
 shal Diebitsch was supposed to have waited. This 
 corps, as was afterwards ascertained, had missed their 
 road, and became unintentionally engaged with our 
 forces on that day. The orders of that corps were 
 to traverse the forests between Radzimin and 
 Zombki, and to join the army without being ob- 
 served by our forces. It was the false direction 
 which they took that brought on the engagement 
 at Bialolenka. 
 
 This battle consisted, like the former actions at 
 this place, of an attempt by the enemy to force the 
 passage of the dykes, which were defended on our 
 side by about eight battalions, protected by some 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 135 
 
 twenty pieces of cannon. This small force repulsed 
 the enemy in three successive attacks upon the 
 dykes. At about 5, P. Mt another Russian corps, 
 under General Pahlen, came to the succor of Scza- 
 chowski, and as the first corps attempted to pass the 
 road leading from Radzimin, the latter attempted to 
 force the passage of the two dykes leading from 
 Zombki, and in both points under the cover of a ter- 
 rible fire of artillery. If the reader will consider that 
 our small force, consisting of eight battalions and 
 fifteen squadrons, stood their ground against two 
 Russian corps of nearly 40,000 men and 60 pieces 
 of cannon, the efforts which were made on that day 
 by our forces may be appreciated. Their plan of 
 action consisted chiefly in allowing a part of the en- 
 emy's forces to pass the dykes, and then falling up- 
 on and cutting them up by successive charges of cav- 
 alry and infantry, supported by an effective fire of 
 artillery ; and by such efforts this handful of brave 
 men repulsed the attacks of the enemy until night, 
 when those attacks ceased. At the approach of 
 night, General Krukowiecki sent small reconnoiter- 
 ing parties upon the roads from Radzimin and Zomb- 
 ki. These patrols, pushing as far as, and even be- 
 yond Zombki, saw nothing of the enemy, and learnt, 
 in fact, to their astonishment, by the marauders which 
 they took, that the two Russian corps had quitted 
 their position, and were on their march across the 
 forest by Kawenzyn, to join the main army. This 
 "sudden withdrawal of the enemy's corps was an in- 
 dication that they had received orders to join the 
 
136 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 grand army, and that a general attack was in con- 
 templation for the next day. In expectation of this 
 attack, a body of men ^as sent, during the night, to 
 obstruct, by defences, the three roads leading from 
 Radzimin and Zombki. Small detachments were 
 left on those roads, and the forces which were at Bia- 
 lolenka quitted their position, to reinforce the larger 
 corps upon the plain of Wavre. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 137 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Position of the armies on the 25th. Great battle of Grokow. Details. 
 State of the Russian army after its defeat. Examination of the plan of 
 the battle of Grokow. Remarks upon the course adopted by Prince 
 Radzivil after that victory. The Polish army crosses the Vistula to 
 Warsaw. Its reception by the national government and the citizens. 
 Resignation of Prince Radzivil. 
 
 THE following was the position of the two ar- 
 mies on the 25th, the day of the memorable battle 
 of Grokow. [See Plans XI. and XII.] The Rus- 
 sian army was distributed into eight divisions of com- 
 batants, and three divisions of reserves. Those eight 
 divisions consisted of 126,000 infantry (a), 42,000 
 cavalry(6), and 280 pieces of cannon (c). The three 
 divisions of reserve (E) were composed of 16,000 in- 
 fantry, 4,000 cavalry, and 32 pieces of cannon. This 
 enormous force, which occupied the space between 
 Kawenzyn (A) and the marshes Goclaw (B), a dis- 
 tance of about three English miles, was arranged in 
 two lines of combatants (C, D) and a third of reserve. 
 Their position was as follows : Their left wing was be- 
 tween Wavre (r) and the above marshes of the Vis- 
 tula, and was composed of four divisions of infantry, 
 of 47,000 men, four divisions of cavalry, 15,700, and 
 120 pieces of cannon. The centre, opposite the for- 
 est of elders, consisted also of four divisions of in- 
 fantry, of 47,000 men, three of cavalry of 10,500 
 men, and 108 pieces of cannon. The right wing, 
 opposite the village of Kawenzyn, consisted of 
 18 
 
138 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 three and a half divisions of infantry of 31,000 men, 
 four divisions of cavalry of 15,750 men, and 52 
 pieces of cannon. Upon the borders of the great for- 
 est opposite the forest of elders, was placed the re- 
 serve, commanded by the Grand Duke Constantine. 
 Against this force our inconsiderable army was 
 posted in the following manner. . The right wing(G), 
 formed by the division of Szembek, consisting of 
 about 7,000 infantry (rf) and 24 pieces of cannon (/), 
 occupied the space between the road and the marshes 
 abovementioned. The centre (H) occupied the forest 
 of elders, and touched upon the great road. It was 
 composed of two divisions commanded by Skrzynecki 
 and Zimirski, composed of about 15,000 infantry (d) 
 and 60 pieces of cannon (/). The left wing (T) occu- 
 pied Kawenzyn, consisting of the first division, com- 
 manded by Krakowiecki, composed of 6,500 men (d) 
 and 12 pieces of cannon (/). Four divisions of cavalry 
 (g), consisting of 9,500 men, commanded by Uminski, 
 Lubinski, Skarzynski, Jankowski, were not posted 
 on any fixed point, but stood in readiness to act wher- 
 ever occasions might offer. Besides these, was a small 
 reserve (K) of four battalions and eight squadrons, in 
 all about 5,400 men, under the command of Gen- 
 eral Pac. 
 
 BATTLE OF GROKOW. 
 
 On the 25th, at break of day, the fire commenced 
 on our left wing, on the position of Kawenzyn. The 
 enemy pushed forward all the forces which were col- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 139 
 
 lected on his right wing, and commenced a ter- 
 rible fire of artillery and musquetry, with the apparent 
 determination to carry our wing by a single and over- 
 powering effort. Nearly fifty pieces of artillery open- 
 ed their fire upon Kawenzyn, and numerous columns 
 of infantry, under the protection of this fire, pressed 
 forward to carry the position. But our forces pre- 
 pared to] meet the attack. Small as they were, 
 consisting only of seven battalions with twelve pieces 
 of cannon, they had formed the determination to die, 
 or conquer upon that ground. They could hope for 
 no succor, for the whole line was in expectation of a 
 general attack. 
 
 The Brave generals Krukowiecki and Malachowski 
 made every effort to sustain the perseverance of their 
 troops, and each of them, at the head of their columns, 
 and on foot, threw themselves upon the enemy's 
 ranks. Our artillery did not answer that of the Rus- 
 sians, but directed its fire of grape wholly upon 
 their columns, which were approaching. By the 
 unparalleled bravery of our wing, of which every 
 soldier seemed to have formed the resolution to fall 
 rather than yield a foot of ground, this tremendous 
 attack of the enemy was sustained for several hours, 
 till at last he was obliged to slacken it. 
 
 During the whole of this attack upon our left wing, 
 the centre and the right remained still in their po- 
 sitions, awaiting the expected attack. It was nearly 
 ten o'clock when the fields of Wavre became, as it 
 were, in one moment, covered w r ith the forces of the 
 enemy, which issued out of the cover of the forests 
 
140 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 which hung over that plain. Looking over that plain, 
 between the forest of 'elders and the Vistula, one 
 would have thought it was one undivided mass of 
 troops which was in motion ; for in that compara- 
 tively limited space, the eye could not distinguish the 
 different divisions from each other. 
 
 Two hundred pieces of cannon, posted upon that 
 plain, in a single line, commenced a fire which made 
 the earth tremble, and which was more terrible than 
 the oldest officers had ever witnessed. After having 
 prolonged for some time this tremendous fire of ar- 
 tillery, the enemy made an attempt to carry our right 
 wing ; but in a moment all our cavalry were collected 
 there, and fell upon and overthrew his columns, and 
 thus his efforts were equally in vain here, as they had 
 been against our left wing. Having been unsuccess- 
 ful in these two attacks on the wings, and hoping that 
 he had weakened our line by the terrible fire of ar- 
 tillery, which was constantly kept up, he collected 
 the greater part of his forces opposite the forest of 
 elders, and it was there that an attack was com- 
 menced which presented a scene unheard of in the 
 annals of war. It could with more propriety be 
 called a massacre of nearly four hours duration. The 
 Russians brought together at this point one hundred 
 and twenty pieces of cannon, posted in the rear and 
 on the sides of that forest. Some fifty battalions were 
 incessantly pushed to the attack, with the view to get 
 possession of that forest. Had they been able to ef- 
 fect this, they would have divided our army into two 
 parts, and thus could not but have ensured its destruc- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 141 
 
 tion. It was the consideration of this important fact 
 which prompted the horrible attack, and the des- 
 perate resistance which it met. The brave Skrzy- 
 necki, Zimirski, Boguslawski, Czyzewski, and 
 Rohland, defended this forest with fourteen bat- 
 talions, whose admirably executed manoeuvres, as 
 the changing of front, the arrangement of the at- 
 tack in columns and escalon, the concentration of 
 force upon the points in which the enemy's line 
 seemed to waver, a fire which was never lost, but 
 was always reserved for the closest approach of the 
 enemy all were executed with an activity and or- 
 der and coolness never surpassed. It was only by 
 such conduct that the tremendous attack of the ene- 
 my could have been sustained for four hours, and that, 
 after having nine times gained possession of the for- 
 est, he was as often repulsed with an immense loss. 
 Like the infantry, our artillery performed prod- 
 igies. All the batteries, protected by cavalry which 
 never abandoned them, pushed themselves in ad- 
 vance even of the line of the skirmishers, and 
 approached sometimes within a hundred feet of 
 the enemy's columns, in order to give their fire with 
 the most infallible execution. The battery of the 
 brave Colonel Pientka, which defended the border of 
 the forest, was so far advanced that it was sometimes 
 surrounded by the enemy, who, in his own disorder, 
 did not become aware of the advantage. All the dif- 
 ferent operations of our artillery in this battle were 
 indeed truly admirable. Batteries, now concentrated 
 upon one point, were in a moment hurried to another 
 
1 42 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 and distant one, where the enemy was wholly un- 
 prepared for them, and was thrown into disorder 
 by their sudden attack. In the early part of the 
 afternoon, when the enemy, after having been sev- 
 eral times repulsed, renewed his attack with the 
 greatest determination, and our 22d division began 
 to give way, the four batteries of artillery of the brave 
 Adamski, Maslowski, Hildebrand, and Bielak, in 
 concert with that of Colonel Pientka, advanced like 
 cavalry to the charge, and, approaching close to the 
 Russian columns, opened a fire of grape, which spread 
 destruction and disorder 'in his ranks. Our infantry, 
 thus animated to the contest, rallied, and threw 
 themselves again upon the enemy, who then yielded 
 before them. 
 
 Like the artillery and infantry, our cavalry, besides 
 the different charges which they executed with so 
 much bravery, was manoeuvred with the utmost skill 
 by our generals, and was made to fill the voids oc- 
 casioned by the inferiority of our forces, so as always 
 to present to the enemy an unbroken line. 
 
 By such manoeuvres of the three arms, executed 
 with the greatest determination, while every com- 
 mander performed his duty to the utmost, the enemy's 
 plans were continually disorganized, and his enormous 
 force, which at first sight would have been supposed 
 capable to have absolutely crushed the small army op- 
 posed to it, was in effect only a great mass making a 
 continual oscillation, and which seemed to trust to do 
 every thing by a terrible fire of artillery, which was 
 always kept up, whether necessary or not. 
 

 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 143 
 
 Thus it was that fifty battalions of the enemy, 
 amounting to over 40,000 men, supported by 120 
 pieces of artillery, in a concentrated attack upon 
 one point, the forest of elders, the decisive point 
 of the position, were nine times repulsed from 
 that forest, which was left literally covered with 
 their dead. 
 
 From eleven o'clock until three, these attacks con- 
 tinued through the whole line, (the most powerful be- 
 ing in the centre), and the destruction of life was im- 
 mense. At the last named hour, our generals, each of 
 whom we may remark had had their horses shot under 
 them, and several of whom were severely wounded, 
 fighting on foot at the head of their divisions, formed 
 the plan of giving the enemy a decisive blow. Their 
 plan was to withdraw from the fire the 2d and 3d 
 divisions, which had most severely suffered, and to 
 make a general retrograde movement in such a form 
 as to have the wings considerably in advance of the 
 centre, which was to be drawn back as far as the 
 Obelisk of Iron (&), at which there was a position 
 more commanding. This plan had the following ob- 
 jects : The first was, to draw the enemy upon the 
 open plain. The second was, to concentrate our force 
 still more, and to place it in two lines, the inner one 
 to be composed of the whole of the 2d and a part of 
 the 3d division, which were withdrawn for repose. 
 A third object was, to lead the enemy to believe that 
 a retrograde movement was forced upon us by our 
 losses, and that we felt ourselves too weak to con- 
 tinue the defence of the forest. 
 
. 
 
 144 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 To execute this manoeuvre, and to enable the 2d 
 division to retire without being molested, the artillery 
 was left with some twenty squadrons of cavalry to 
 protect the retrograde movement. This artillery 
 and cavalry were ordered afterwards to evacuate 
 their positions gradually, and the former to take post 
 in the centre under the protection of the whole of 
 the cavalry, who were in escalon, and prepared for a 
 general attack. The manoeuvre was as admirably ex- 
 ecuted as it was conceived. The enemy had no suspi- 
 cion of its object, but, presuming it to be a flight, un- 
 dertook to profit by it. It was at this moment that 
 Marshal Diebitsch, as if sure of victory, saw him- 
 self already at Warsaw, and, on the field of bat- 
 tle, he allowed these words to escape him : " Well, 
 then, it appears that after this bloody day, I shall 
 take tea in the Belvidere palace." 
 
 It was at about three P. M. that our 2d division, in 
 conformity with the plan adopted, began to retire by 
 an escalon movement. To hasten the execution of 
 this movement, it was ordered that the columns, re- 
 tiring in succession, on reaching a considerable dis- 
 tance from the enemy, should quicken their pace as 
 they proceeded, in order to form the second line as soon 
 as possible, and to give space for the operations of the 
 artillery and cavalry. It was at this moment that Gen- 
 eral Zimirski, who had lost several horses under him, 
 and had just placed himself upon a fresh horse, to su- 
 perintend this movement, was struck with a twelve 
 pound ball in the left shoulder, which carried away his 
 arm, and caused his death in a few hours. The mel- 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 145 
 
 ancholy loss of this general was most deeply felt by 
 the whole army, and particularly by his own division, 
 but it did not interfere with the execution of these 
 orders.. The brave general Czyzewski immediately 
 took command of the division, and continued the or- 
 derly movement of the division towards the rear, and 
 he received great support from Generals Rohland and 
 Zaluski. As soon as the last columns of this force 
 quitted the forest, [See Plan XII.] the Russian troops 
 began to debouch from it, and our artillery commenced 
 a terrible fire. The brave Colonel Pientka, who 
 was still far in advance, checked the debouche- 
 ment from the forest near him. Seated with the 
 most perfect sangfroid upon a disabled piece of 
 artillery, this brave officer directed an unremitting 
 fire from his battery. The artillery and cavalry, 
 after having protected the retrograde movement 
 of the centre, still continued to keep their ground, to 
 enable the wings also to retire undisturbed. All our 
 forces were then in movement, arid the enemy pressed 
 on. The Russian columns had already advanced be- 
 yond the position of Colonel Pientka, but that brave 
 officer still kept up the defence.* By this time, 
 
 * Admirable as was the conduct of all our artillery, every man in 
 which deserved a decoration, yet among this artillery, the battery of 
 Colonel Pientka must be distinguished. Without yielding a step of 
 ground, that battery held its place for five hours, and it often happened 
 during the battle, that this single battery was* left exposed alone to the 
 fire of thirty or forty of the enemy's pieces. It was computed that this 
 battery alone caused a greater loss to the enemy than the entire loss that 
 his whole artillery caused in our ranks ; and I do not exaggerate in say- 
 ing that the fire, chiefly of grape, which Pientka kept up for five hours 
 19 
 
146 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 however, the 2d division had already reached their des- 
 tined position, and their battalions had commenced 
 forming. Such was the state of things, when, be- 
 tween Kawenzyn and the forest, a cloud of Russian 
 cavalry were seen advancing to the attack, having 
 at their head five regiments of heavy cuirassiers ; 
 a force in fact of some forty squadrons, or between 
 eight and nine thousand in all. Colonel Pientka, with 
 his artillery, supported only by a single regiment of 
 Mazurs, still held his post, to give yet another effective 
 fire upon this advancing cavalry, which was already 
 between him and Skrzynecki's division ; and then, to 
 save himself from being cut off, he quitted at full 
 gallop a post which he had occupied for five hours 
 under the terrible fire of the artillery of the enemy. 
 This rapid movement of Pientka's battery and the 
 regiment of cavalry which attended him, animated 
 the Russian cuirassiers in their advance, and the in- 
 fantry and artillery of the enemy followed their cav- 
 alry. At this moment Chlopicki was wounded 
 by a grenade, and the army was without a head ; 
 but generals Skrzynecki and Czyzewski had already 
 formed their divisions into squares, and awaited the 
 attack of the enemy. 
 
 and at the distance often of a few hundred paces only, must have cost 
 the Russians from one to two thousand men. What is most remarkable, 
 is, that this battery itself, during the whole of the fire, did not lose 
 more than one officer and six men killed, six wounded, and ten or 
 twelve horses, two of which were killed under Colonel Pientka, whose 
 clothes were pierced through and through with grape, and his casque 
 torn in pieces, while, as if providentially preserved, his person was not 
 in the slightest degree injured. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 147 
 
 The Russian cavalry (/) advanced upon the trot, and 
 came in a direction perpendicular to the line of our 
 battery of rockets (6), which was posted between the 
 2d and 3d divisions (A). Suddenly a discharge from 
 this battery was poured into their ranks, and envel- 
 oped them with flame and noise. Their horses, galled 
 to madness by the flakes of fire which were showered 
 over and among them, became wholly ungovernable, 
 and, breaking away from all control, spread disorder 
 in every direction. The enemy's ranks were soon 
 in the most utter confusion, and in a short time this 
 enormous body of cavalry became one disordered 
 mass, which swept along towards the fire of our 
 squares. In a very few minutes that cavalry was 
 almost annihilated. So nearly complete, in fact, was 
 their destruction, that of a regiment of cuirassiers, 
 which was at the head of the attacking force, called 
 the regiment of Albert, and which also bore the des- 
 ignation of the " Invincible" inscribed upon their hel- 
 mets, not a man escaped. The few who were not 
 left dead upon the field were taken prisoners. In 
 fact, some hundred horse of that regiment were whirl- 
 ed along through the intervals of our squares, and 
 were left to be taken prisoners at leisure. The 
 wrecks of this routed cavalry, closely pursued by our 
 lancers (rf), ? carried along in their flight the columns 
 of infantry which were folio wing them, and a general 
 retreat of all the enemy's forces commenced. The 
 battle was gained. The cry of " Poland forever'! " 
 arose along our line, and reached the walls of War- 
 saw, to cheer the hearts of its anxious inhabitants. 
 
148 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 Nothing was wanting but a skilful commander in 
 chief to our forces, to have insured the entire de- 
 struction of the Russian army. 
 
 Two thousand prisoners, among them twenty offi- 
 cers of different grades, five pieces of cannon, and up- 
 wards of a thousand horses, were the trophies of that 
 immortal day, a day, the memory of which will be 
 forever terrible to tyrants. 
 
 It was nearly five P. M. when the Russian army 
 commenced a general flight, and even evacuated its 
 first position, which it had occupied in the early morn- 
 ing. It is to be regretted that the order to follow up 
 the pursuit was wanting. Szembek alone threw him- 
 self, at times, with his division among the Russian 
 ranks, and took a great number prisoners, baggage and 
 chests of ammunition. According to the declaration 
 of General Szembek, if, during the retreat of the 
 enemy, a charge of cavalry and artillery had been 
 ordered between the left wing and the centre of the 
 enemy, a great part (P) of that wing, which was con- 
 siderably detached from the centre, would have been 
 cut off. This could have been easily done, for no 
 part of our little reserve was brought into action 
 during the day, and they were eager to be permitted 
 to make the charge. The Prince Radzivil, after the 
 withdrawal of General Chlopicki from the army in 
 consequence of his wound, found himself without 
 council ; and not feeling himself sufficiently capable 
 to risk any bold manoeuvre, and seeing that the ar- 
 my was much exhausted by the fighting of that day 
 and the preceding ; fearing also that the Vistula might 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 149 
 
 become impassable, and the bridges be endangered by 
 the melting of the ice ; in fine, being unwilling to take 
 upon himself the great responsibility of attempting 
 to pursue his advantages, decided to give the army 
 an interval of repose, and to occupy the time in re- 
 organizing it. 
 
 Some further details, and remarks upon the im- 
 portant battle may not be unacceptable to the reader. 
 1st. In regard to position : On examining critically 
 the position of the Polish army, we notice some great 
 faults. The right wing was upon a plain entirely 
 uncovered, and exposed to the commanding fire of 
 the enemy's artillery. All the talents of the brave, 
 Szembek were required to prevent this wing from 
 being unprofitably sacrificed. This same wing, if it 
 had been withdrawn a thousand paces further to the 
 rear, in such a manner as not to have leant on the 
 marshes of the Vistula, but have occupied the small 
 wooded hills on the right of the main road, and on a 
 line with the village of Grokow, would have been 
 then in a commanding position, and safe from the 
 tremendous fire of the enemy. On the other hand, 
 the enemy would probably have then occupied the 
 plain, and been thus disadvantageously exposed to 
 our fire. His loss would have been doubled, and all 
 the charges of our cavalry and infantry would have 
 been much more effective. But what w r as above all 
 unpardonable, was that, with a full knowledge of the 
 enemy's intention to attack us, together with the 
 consciousness of our own inferiority of force, and the 
 nature of our position, which was wanting in strength, 
 

 150 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 no fortifications whatever were erected, although four 
 days and five nights were passed in that position, 
 during which the national guard of Warsaw, and all 
 the unenrolled population, who would have cheerfully 
 volunteered for the purpose, could have been em- 
 ployed in the construction of works to any desired 
 extent. 
 
 In regard to the centre, we may remark, that it 
 was indeed covered by the forest of elders, of which 
 it occupied a part, but the attack of this forest by 
 the enemy was thus made necessary, and their re- 
 pulse cost us too great sacrifices. But besides the 
 sacrifices which the support of such a position re- 
 quired, our troops were so incessantly occupied 
 with repulse of the successive attacks of the enemy, 
 that it was impossible to attempt any decisive ma- 
 noeuvre. It was not there, in fact, as we have seen, 
 that the battle was decided, but at the Obelisk of 
 Iron, and by other means. The centre, like the right 
 wing, should have been withdrawn so far as to have 
 been on a line with the village of Grokow, and in 
 such a manner as to profit by all the commanding 
 positions between Targowek and Grokow, upon which 
 our artillery (which, as the case was, were upon a 
 low and exposed position opposite the forest), would 
 have been very advantageously posted. In general, 
 our whole position was too extended, reaching from 
 Kawenzyn to the marshes of the Vistula at Goclaw. 
 It ought to have been from the beginning more con- 
 centrated, and supported on the outermost circumval- 
 lations of Praga (B). It could thus have profited by the 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 151 
 
 advantageous positions which adjoin those defences. 
 In consequence of this too great extent of position, our 
 forces remained in a single line for five hours in suc- 
 cession, in most dangerous exposure. 
 
 In regard to the evolutions, although the details 
 were admirably executed, it is to be remarked that 
 the left wing did not yield a sufficient support to the 
 other bodies. The communications with that wing 
 were not well sustained another effect of the too 
 great extent of the position. The line of the enemy 
 was. encumbered with artillery, and there were favor- 
 able moments for a general attack on that artillery 
 by our cavalry. Such opportunities were perceived 
 by our generals of cavalry, and the attack suggested 
 by them to the commander in chief, but nothing was 
 done. The greatest fault of all, however, and that 
 which perhaps saved the Russian army from en- 
 tire destruction, was the neglect to follow up the en- 
 emy in his retreat, and by a judicious manoeuvre to 
 cut off his right wing, as was perfectly practicable ; 
 such a manoeuvre, as was, in fact, afterwards 
 successfully practised by Skrzynecki at Wavre, 
 where a great part of that same force were taken 
 prisoners. 
 
 The battle of Grokow cost the enemy in killed, 
 wounded and prisoners, according to the reports pub- 
 lished by the Russians themselves, 20,000 men: 
 On our side the loss amounted to 5,000. But to 
 give the reader an idea of the terrible fire of that day, 
 it may be remarked that there was not a single gen- 
 eral or staff officer, who had not his horse killed or 
 
152 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 wounded under him. Full two thirds of the officers, 
 and perhaps the same proportion of the soldiers, had 
 their clothes pierced with balls, and more than a tenth 
 part of the army were slightly wounded, though not 
 unfitted for service. In this battle the 2d and 3d 
 divisions of infantry suffered the most, and twenty 
 of their officers were mortally wounded with grape- 
 shot. I do not wish to present a revolting picture of 
 the horrors of a battle-field, yet for the sake of im- 
 pressing upon the reader how great a scourge tyran- 
 ny is to mankind, I could wish to point out to him, 
 along the whole road from Kawenzyn to the marshes 
 of Goclaw, hillocks of dead at every step, especially 
 in the forest of elders, where rank upon rank was seen 
 prostrate upon the earth. Indeed, so strewed with 
 bodies was that forest that it received from that 
 day the name of the forest of the dead* 
 
 * Up to the 10th of March, when a reconnoisance was made, as far 
 as the plain of Wavre, the dead were not yet interred, and all the con- 
 fusion of a battle-field remained, proving that the enemy was too much 
 occupied to give the ordinary attention to these duties. On that day 
 several wagons filled with Russian cuirassiers were sent to Warsaw. 
 Many ruined caissons of ammunition, many gun-carriages, three de- 
 serted cannons, and several hundred carbines, sabres, and pistols, knap- 
 sacks, and helmets in considerable numbers were strewed over the field, 
 and indicated the disorder in which the enemy had made his retreat. 
 To prevent an epidemical malady, our government made a request 
 to General Diebitsch to send a body of his men to aid in the in- 
 terment of the dead, which was in fact done. Looking on those 
 masses of Russian dead, the victims of a horrible despotism, what re- 
 flections were awakened ! Those unfortunate men were dragged, as 
 it were, to the combat to be sacrificed. Not one of that mass of vic- 
 tims could perceive the justice of the cause for which they were thus sa- 
 crificed. What consolation could there be for them in the last agonies 
 of suffering incurred in such a cause ? There could be none. How 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. . 153 
 
 With the twilight, our whole army began to evac- 
 uate their position, and to cross the Vistula to War- 
 different must have been the death of the Polish soldier, who was fully 
 convinced of the sacredness and importance of the struggle on which 
 he had entered. His last moments were consoled with the thought 
 that his life was sacrificed for the good of his country. 
 
 If the deaths of the Russian and the Polish soldier were thus differ- 
 ent, their lives are not less so. What reward awaits the Russian sol- 
 dier? Is it a service of twenty-five years under the terror of the knout, 
 in which service he most generally dies, or if he survives, is too much 
 broken down to be able to gain a subsistence afterwards ? The Rus- 
 sian soldier, besides the fatigues of the general service, is subject to a 
 private service under any one of his superiors, the merest subaltern 
 perhaps, who, far from rewarding him' for such services, abuses him 
 but the more freely. The full pay of a Russian soldier is a groat a 
 day ; and even out of this little pay his superiors exact a profit. The 
 consequence is, that the degree of his misery is excessive, and he 
 would be in extremity if the proprietors of land where he is quartered 
 did not succor him. What other recompense is given to these wretch- 
 ed men, who are thus led to the sacrifice of their lives for the self-will 
 of a despot, who, perhaps at the moment that the soldier, covered with 
 wounds, is groaning under his sufferings, is spending his time in lux- 
 urious enjoyment, and perhaps mocking at the abjectness of men who 
 are thus willing instruments of his pleasure ? What other recompense 
 for all this ? Perhaps to this soldier is given a medal of brass, which, 
 if his commander in a moment of good humor as he passes down the 
 line, may have addressed him with tKe title of" Staryk" or "old sol- 
 dier," he receives as a token of his having been through a campaign. 
 Compare this with the recompense which awaited the Polish soldier 
 on his return from the campaign. He was received by his countrymen 
 with the warmest demonstrations of joy. Mothers lifted their children 
 in their arms, and pointed him out to them as one of the defenders of 
 their country. No anxiety for the future weighed upon him, for his 
 country had made ample provision for him. It was at his will to remain 
 in the service, or to go to occupy the land designated for him by the 
 national government. He would find there all that his wants might 
 require. Remaining in the military service, he enjoyed the respect of 
 those about him. All were his brothers, and the greatest delicacy of 
 intercourse was observed between him and his superiors. His service 
 
 20 
 
154 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 saw. The passage of the river occupied the whole 
 night. On the morning of the next day, all that re- 
 mained of our forces upon the right bank, were two 
 battalions of infantry, and thirty-six pieces of cannon, 
 which were at the bridge-head of Praga. The Rus- 
 sians were well satisfied with our passage of the Vis- 
 tula, for they felt the need of repose. It was at first 
 presumed that in a few days the enemy would storm 
 Praga. This, however, was soon found not to be their 
 intention ; and, for what cause we cannot conjecture, 
 they continued in a state of complete inaction. 
 
 Such then was the end of the grand operation of 
 Marshal Diebitsch, with his colossal forces, by which 
 it was his purpose to put an end to the war in a few 
 days ! The boasted Grosser of the Balkan, with from 
 180,000 to 200,000 men, and 316 pieces of cannon, 
 was not only unable to crush, as he proposed to do, 
 an army of scarcely 40,000 men and 100 cannon, 
 but was beaten by that small army, and only escap- 
 ed a total ruin from the absence of a competent 
 leader to the Polish forces. Such facts, so rare in 
 history, cannot be too frequently impressed upon the 
 mind of the reader, and they should be held up to the 
 view of every despot, to teach him upon what a frail 
 foundation his confidence in numbers may rest, and 
 to convince him that his masses must melt away and 
 be dispersed, before a people, who, on their own 
 soil, are resolved to throw off the yoke of despot- 
 was an agreeable duty, in which, besides gaining an honorable sub- 
 sistence, he received each day some new mark of friendship and 
 esteem. 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 155 
 
 ism, and who fight for liberty with the energy of 
 despair.* 
 
 * The courage of our forces that day, was no doubt much animated 
 by the vicinity of Warsaw, for the battle was fought within view of the 
 inhabitants, who covered the fields about Praga. Many of the equi- 
 pages of the wealthy families attended to receive the wounded from 
 the field of battle, and all the inhabitants, without distinction of rank, 
 pressed forward to remove and succor them. Those of the wounded 
 who could not be led to the carriages, were carried in the arms of the 
 citizens, and among those who performed this office were the highest 
 members of the national government, ministers of religion, and even 
 ladies. How then could such an attachment of the nation to her de- 
 fenders, (like that of the mother who holds her infant to her bosom,) 
 fail to be answered by an enthusiasm, in her defence which knew no 
 bounds. The wounded soldiers, in order not to draw upon this sym- 
 pathy, conquered their sufferings, and repressed their groans; and to 
 check the tears of those who bore them, they even forced themselves 
 to raise the patriotic shout, and sing the national hymn. 
 
 To the details illustrating the courage which was displayed upon 
 that field, I may add the following : In one of the . attacks up- 
 on the forest of elders, when the enemy had gained possession of it, 
 there was an interruption to our advance from a ditch which had been 
 cut across the road, and which it was necessary to pass. The Russian 
 artillery, observing the effect of this obstruction, poured a heavy fire 
 of grape upon the spot to add to the confusion. Lieutenant Czaykow- 
 ski, who commanded a platoon of grenadiers of the 7th regiment, in 
 the attacking columns, had passed with his platoon this small ditch, 
 when he received a grape-shot in the leg, which threw him down. As 
 he fell, he cried, "Grenadiers advance!" and continued this cry, re- 
 gardless of his suffering, as he lay prostrate on the ground. Those 
 brave grenadiers, animated by this noble spirit, pushed their attack 
 with such fury that they drove the enemy from their position. 
 
 Our artillery, which had so bravely fought, and which had to answer 
 the terrible fire of the numerous artillery of the enemy, as well as to 
 check the strong attacks of the Russian columns, were obliged often 
 to change their place, to concentrate, and disperse, as occasion required. 
 It was in one of those evolutions, that a battery, posted near that 
 commanded by captain Hilderbrand, was required to change its posi- 
 tion. The bombardier Kozieradzki was sent to give orders to this ef- 
 

 
 156 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 The nation and the army occupied this interval of 
 repose in giving thanks to Providence for the suc- 
 cesses of the preceding day. In all the churches 
 Te Deums were sung, as well as in the chapels of 
 the camp near Warsaw T . The army was received 
 by the people with solemnities. The senate, ac- 
 companied by the inhabitants, repaired to the camp, 
 where patriotic addresses were delivered, and a 
 public fete given to the army. For three suc- 
 cessive nights, Warsaw was illuminated, and the 
 inscription " To the Defenders of their Country," 
 was every where seen. Unequal to the description 
 of these moments of exultation of a people animated 
 with the recovery of their freedom, I can only say that 
 they were moments which will live forever in the 
 
 feet. He was on his way to execute this commission, when a ball car- 
 ried away his arm. That brave man, however, continued his way, thus 
 severely wounded, reached the battery, executed his commission, and 
 then fell from the loss of blood. 
 
 The following incidents of this battle-field deserve to be mentioned, 
 as indicating how little of national animosity mingled with the feelings 
 of the combatants. It was often seen that the wounded soldiers of the 
 hostile forces who happened to be thrown in each other's vicinity, 
 would drag themselves towards each other for mutual relief, and en- 
 gage in friendly conversation. " Why," would a Polish soldier say to 
 the Russian, " why are we shedding each other's blood ? The cause for 
 which we have taken arms is that of your happiness, as well as our 
 own." The Russian soldier could only answer, with tears of shame, 
 ' " We have been driven to march against you." No stronger example 
 could be given, of the kindest dispositions of the Poles, towards the 
 Russians, than the treatment of the latter in our hospitals. They were 
 nursed and fed, like our own wounded, by the hands of those benevo- 
 lent and patriotic females who had devoted themselves to these holy 
 duties. Oh leaving those hospitals, the Russian soldiers swore never 
 . .to forget the kindness they had experienced. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 157 
 
 heart of every Pole, and will satisfy him that a na- 
 tion so united will be always capable of great efforts, 
 On the day after the religious ceremonies, the 
 provisional government met in the National (for- 
 merly the Royal) Palace, where all the general 
 officers of the army were also assembled to de- 
 liberate upon the measures to be adopted both in 
 regard to military and civil affairs. It was on that 
 occasion that the Prince Michael Radzivil, animated 
 by the noblest impulses, and having a single view 
 to the good of his country, abdicated the chief 
 command, surrendering his trust into the hands of 
 the national government, with the avowal that he 
 did not feel himself sufficiently capable to continue 
 to hold so responsible a post. This step, which 
 showed a great elevation of character, impressed 
 the nation with feelings of gratitude, and has giv- 
 en to Prince Radzivil a name in history. 
 
158 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Passage of the Vistula to Warsaw. Disposition of the Polish forces on its left 
 bank. Appointment of General John Skrzynecki to the chief command. 
 Proclamation. Prompt attention given to the reorganization of the ar- 
 my, the arsenals and manufactories of arms, the fortifications, &,c. De- 
 portment of the commander in chief towards the army. General en- 
 thusiasm of the nation. The patriotic offers of the Polish women. 
 New regulations established for conferring orders of merit. Disorderly 
 state of the Russian army. Attempt of Diebitsch to bribe the Polish 
 soldiery. General view of the encouraging; circumstances of this epoch. 
 The insurrection in Russia under Yermolow. View of the state of 
 the Polish forces when General Skrzynecki took the chief command. 
 He presses- the organization of the new forces. Their distribution and 
 that of the general forces. Positions of the Polish army and the de- 
 tached corps. Russian position. 
 
 AFTER the memorable battle of Grokow, fought on 
 the 25th of February, before the walls of Warsaw, a 
 day on which we had defeated a force three times su- 
 perior to our own, the Prince Radzivil made the pas- 
 sage of the Vistula to Warsaw and the left bank* 
 The objects which he had in view in that movement 
 we have already detailed. Two battalions of infan- 
 try, with thirty-six pieces of artillery, were left to de- 
 fend the fortifications of Praga, on the right bank of 
 the Vistula opposite to and separated by a bridge 
 from Warsaw, and which were in the form of a horn- 
 work, supported on each wing by the river. 
 
 The army was disposed in the following manner 
 upon the left bank of the Vistula. The cavalry 
 were posted in positions a few miles above and below 
 Warsaw. The infantry and the artillery were either 
 
fr 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 159 
 
 concentrated in Warsaw, or were encamped near the 
 city. Upon receiving the resignation of prince Rad- 
 zivil, the national government proceeded to the choice 
 of his successor, and on the 27th of February, 1831,. 
 elected, by an unanimous voice, to the chief com- 
 mand of all the national forces, the hero of Dobre, 
 General John Skrzynecki, a man of the most devoted 
 patriotism, of great decision of character, and uncom- 
 mon military talent. He was, above all, eminently 
 possessed of that rapidity of coup d'ceil, that capacity 
 of seizing conjunctures, which enabled him, in the 
 midst of the. most complicated movements, to per- 
 ceive, and instantly to profit by, every advantage which 
 offered itself. This general was, in the time of the 
 Russian government, and at the commencement of 
 our revolution, colonel of the 8th regiment of infan- 
 try of the line, a regiment by which he was regarded 
 with an almost filial attachment. On the enrollment 
 of new forces, after the revolution had taken place, 
 he was made general of brigade. In the month of 
 January, before the commencement of the campaign, 
 he was advanced to the rank of general of division, 
 and the command of the 3d division of infantry was 
 confided to him, at the head of which division, as the 
 reader already knows, he gained laurels in several 
 brilliant actions. 
 
 jm 
 
 ^ On the 27th, at mid-day, proclamation was made 
 of the abdication of the Prince Radzivil, and the ap- 
 pointmentof General John Skrzynecki, as commander 
 in chief of the army. The nation, to whom the great 
 merit of this officer was already so well known, receiv- 
 
160 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 ed this annunciation with the greatest satisfaction. 
 No dissentient voice was heard. Even the oldest gen- 
 erals in the service warmly applauded the choice. 
 .General Skrzynecki, on receiving the chief command, 
 addressed to the army, on the 28th of February, the 
 following proclamation : 
 
 " Soldiers and brethren ! God has willed that, by 
 your choice, I should be made the instrument of his 
 providence in the important trust to which I have been 
 designated. The Senate, the Chamber of Deputies, 
 and the. National Government have honored me with a 
 difficult task, which I cannot worthily execute, but as 
 your valor and constancy shall second me. Soldiers ! 
 we have before us an enemy, proud of his former suc- 
 cesses, of his strength in numbers, and of the influence 
 which he exercises in Europe. But if, in one point 
 of view, the power of our enemy appears formi- 
 dable, on the other hand, the outrages with which 
 the Russian government have oppressed us, render 
 that enemy so guilty in the eyes of God and of man, 
 that, full of confidence in Providence and the sacred - 
 ness of our cause, we can boldly measure our 
 strength with him. We have only to swear in our 
 hearts that we will be faithful to that motto which 
 we so often repeat, " To conquer or die for our coun- 
 try," and we shall surely serve as an example, irf 
 the annals of the world, of encouragement to the de- 
 fenders of the sacred rights of the people. If we do 
 not succeed in conquering our powerful enemy, we 
 will not live to submit to him to him who has vio- 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 161 
 
 lated in regard to us every obligation of good faith. 
 There is enough of glory in the sacrifice which I call 
 on you to make ; and in this heroic career, and so full 
 of danger, I offer you crowns of laurel. We shall be 
 sure to gain them, if you will support me by your 
 valor, your union, your subordination, and your 
 promptitude in performing the orders which will be 
 given you." 
 
 The first object upon which the attention of the 
 general in chief was fixed, was the state of the army. 
 Even from the first hour of his investiture with the 
 chief command, prompt and energetic orders and in- 
 structions were issued, to form new forces, to com- 
 plete those which were already in a state of for- 
 mation, and to fill up the ranks of the regiments 
 which had suffered in the late engagements. Under 
 the dictatorship of Chlopicki, and under the command 
 of the Prince Radzivil, all the arrangements of the 
 military administration were sluggishly attended to, 
 as the reader is well aware. At the time of the bat- 
 tle of Grokow there had been only ten thousand new 
 infantry levied, and even this infantry were neither 
 well organized nor armed ; the only armament of the 
 greater part of them consisted of pikes or pitchforks. 
 It was the same with the new cavalry, of which the 
 number at the time of that battle did not amount to 
 more than three thousand six hundred : and even 
 these forces were not formed by the exertions of the 
 government, but were volunteers. In the arsenals 
 the works were not conducted with promptitude. 
 21 
 
ir 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 This department of the military administration had 
 been made great account of on paper, but was in re- 
 ality neglected. As we have before remarked, the 
 time was occupied in useless diplomatic discussions, 
 while the subject of the greatest importance 
 the armament of our forces, was lost sight of. Gen- 
 eral Skrzynecki was well aware of this neglect, and 
 soon gave a new aspect to these matters. From the 
 1st of March, in which he commenced the inspection 
 of the arsenals, he was daily occupied with this duty, 
 entering into all the details, (with which he was fa- 
 miliarly acquainted,) and infusing a new vigor and 
 promptitude into this essential department of the mil- 
 itary administration. In fact, in the several manu- 
 factories of arms, six hundred musquets per day were 
 soon made. 
 
 The soldiers, who before had but rarely seen their 
 commander, and to the greater part of whom indeed 
 the former commander was personally unknown, were 
 elated to meet their chief often among them, and 
 their enthusiasm was augmented by the frequent 
 words of encouragement with which he took every 
 occasion to address them. General Skrzynecki es- 
 tablished a regulation in respect to the conferring of 
 orders of merit, which was, that none should be given 
 either to the officers or the soldiers, but upon the ex- 
 pressed consent and approbation of the latter. By 
 thus submitting the conferring of these honors to the 
 judgment of the soldier, he encouraged his self- 
 respect, destroyed the power of the personal in- 
 
 I "I Ww- -V'V' 
 
:r*:' 
 
 -Jjj^^j^^ 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 163 
 
 
 fluence of the generals, and added much to the 
 value of those honors as a motive for exertion.* 
 
 The time at. which Skrzynecki received the chief 
 command, was indeed a happy period with us, and 
 
 * This regulation led to an occasion for the exhibition of the firm- 
 ness of General Skrzynecki's character. On the very day of the issu" 
 ing of the order, the General of division Szembek brought in a report* 
 in which he presented for decorations the names of several officers. 
 General Skrzynecki refused his application. General Szembek think- ,<H 
 
 ing himself injured by this refusal, addressed a letter to the general in 
 chief, renewing his application, and adding that if it should not be grant- 
 ed, he would feel obliged to surrender his commission. General Skrzy- 
 necki, far from being moved from the resolution which he had adopted, 
 again promptly refused the request. Szembek surrendered his com- 
 mission. The whole nation regretted the loss of the valuable services 
 of this officer, and under such circumstances. But in regretting their 
 loss they applauded the firmness of General Skrzynecki. The latter 
 indeed felt this regret strongly, but on the other hand he was satisfied 
 that he had done his duty. The opinion of most of the patriots was 
 decidedly expressed against General Szembek, who, upon such a point of 
 personal feeling, could forget his duties to his country, and abandon the 
 ranks of his fellow-soldiers, by whom he was held in high estimation. 
 Szembek indeed more than once reproached himself for the sacrifice 
 which he had thus made. The following anecdote will show the degree 
 to which General Skrzynecki was beloved by the army, and the influ- 
 ence which his appointment to the chief command had on the minds 
 of the soldiers. A soldier named Golembiewski, of the 7th regiment 
 of infantry, who had been wounded in the battle of Boimie,had, on the 
 1st day of March, left the hospital convalescent, although his wounds 
 were not entirely healed. Skrzynecki, while inspecting the regiment, 
 noticed him with his head still bandaged, and said to him, " My dear com- 
 rade, why have you left the hospital in such a state ? You had better 
 return immediately." The soldier answered, " General, I have heard 
 of your courage and your achievements, and how much you are beloved 
 by the nation, and I could not refuse myself the satisfaction of being 
 present at the first fire under your command, and in which I hope that 
 the Polish army will be victorious." Skrzynecki, embracing him, ex- 
 claimed, " with such soldiers to command, I need have no fear that I 
 shall fail to support the honor of my country." 
 
164 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 enthusiasm was then at the very greatest height. No 
 stronger evidence of this could be given, than the 
 fact that the women of Poland actually formed three 
 companies of infantry, composed from their own 
 
 sex.* 
 
 Our army was victorious and full of energy, and 
 being then at Warsaw, it enjoyed all the conveniences 
 which could be required by an army in a state of 
 war. Their arms of every kind were well construct- 
 ed, and in good order. The Russian army, on the 
 other hand, was in a most disadvantageous situation. 
 Their number had been sensibly diminished, and was 
 diminishing every day, from the difficulty of subsist- 
 ence and shelter, situated as they were in those en- 
 virons of Praga which had been sacked and burnt 
 by themselves. 
 
 * The Polish women, wishing to share the dangers and sufferings, 
 and to witness the triumphs of their brethren, proposed to follow the 
 example of the daughters of Sparta, and to form three companies under 
 the command of several ladies of the most distinguished families. 
 They proposed to march upon the rear of the army, and when an ac- 
 tion occurred, they were to advance to the aid of their countrymen. 
 The first company, to be composed of the young and active, were to 
 receive and carry off the wounded from the field of battle, thus at the 
 same time animating the soldiers by their presence. The second com- 
 pany was to be placed near the vehicles in which the wounded were 
 transported, there to receive and place them, and to dress their wounds. 
 The third was to take charge of the provisions, the preparation of lint 
 and bandages, and even of the washing of the clothing of the soldiers. 
 These patriotic propositions, however, neither the nation nor the gen- 
 eral in chief were willing to accept, considering that the fatigues of a 
 campaign would be too trying to the female constitution. But to sat- 
 isfy in some degree the noble impulses of these ladies, the three com- 
 panies were distributed among the hospitals, to take care of the sick 
 and wounded there. 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 165 
 
 Marshal Diebitsch and his army began to be con- 
 vinced, by the victories which had been gained over 
 them, and the firm resistance which they had uni- 
 formly met, that they were fighting with a nation 
 which had resolved to sacrifice every thing for liberty 
 and independence, and that this war, which Diebitsch 
 expected and even promised to finish in a few weeks, 
 would be protracted, and presented to them as yet 
 no hope of a fortunate issue. A certain degree of 
 disorder began to take place in the Russian army, 
 caused by their physical want^ and the severe treatment 
 to which the soldiers were subjected. Their wound- 
 ed and sick were left neglected, and were accumu- 
 lated in great numbers in the ruined buildings of the 
 half-burnt villages, exposed to the open air in the 
 severe month of February. Desertions began to take 
 place. Every day, in fact, small parties of deserters, 
 and among them even officers, arrived at Warsaw. 
 Those men assured us that a smothered discontent 
 pervaded the army. They stated that the soldiers 
 had marched under the expectation that they were 
 to act against the French and Belgians, and not 
 against the Poles, whose revolution had been repre- 
 sented to them as merely the revolt of one or two 
 regiments ; and that, seeing the true state of things, 
 great numbers of them desired even to unite with us, 
 when a favorable moment should offer. These un- 
 fortunate men, who were in the most deplorable state, 
 with tears in their eyes, addressed themselves to our 
 soldiers in terms like these : " Dear Poles, do you 
 think that we willingly fight against you ? what could 
 
1 66 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 we do ? We were compelled to march against you 
 by the force of blows. Many of our brethren gave 
 out, and, falling from exhaustion on the road, have 
 died under the blows of the knout." These desert- 
 ers stated also that such a severity was exercised in 
 the regulations of the camp, that some officers were 
 shot, merely for having spoken on political subjects ; 
 and that it was strictly forbidden to any persons 
 to assemble together to the number of three or four. 
 Such information satisfied us, that, although the Rus- 
 sian army was strong in numbers, in moral power 
 it was weak. Our own army began soon to con- 
 ceive high hopes, and to dream of victory under its 
 brave chief. * 
 
 * To satisfy the reader that Marshal Diebitsch had began to be con- 
 scious of his weakness, the folio wing trifling circumstances will suffice. 
 On the first day of March, two of our soldiers who had been made 
 prisoners by the Russians, returned to Warsaw, and presented them- 
 selves to the general in chief. One of them, who was a Galician vol- 
 unteer, on the question being asked in what way they escaped, answer- 
 ed, that General Diebitsch himself dismissed them with a present of 
 four ducats each, enjoining them to make it known in the army, and to 
 say that each soldier who should go over to the Russians, would receive 
 a like sum, and in addition to it a portion of land sufficient for his main- 
 tenance ; and that moreover they should not be forced to enter the ser- 
 vice of the army. He also assured them that if they should return with 
 many of their comrades, to accept these terms, they should be made of- 
 ficers. " Dear General," the Galician added, " we have sought your pre- 
 sence, in order to apprize you of these circumstances, and to place you 
 upon your guard. The money which we have received, we request you 
 to take as a contribution to the service of our country. We have no need 
 of it; your care will provide for our wants, and our desires are limited 
 to the satisfaction of fighting for the cause of our beloved country." 
 These brave soldiers were hailed with enthusiastic expressions of re- 
 spect and affection by their comrades, and the circumstance was pub- 
 lished in an order of the day, to the whole army. This adoption of such 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 167 
 
 At this period, with the exception of Prussia, who 
 had publicly manifested her hostility to our cause, 
 none of the great powers had directly injured us. 
 Austria was occupied with Italy. From France and 
 England the Poles had even cherished hopes of a 
 favorable interposition. From the former, especially, 
 after the intelligence derived from the correspon- 
 dence of the two ministers, Lubecki and Grabowski, 
 found among the papers of Constantine, and which 
 has been presented to the reader, giving satisfactory 
 evidence that Russia was in preparation for a cam- 
 paign against her, and that our cause was the cause 
 of France, after this discovery, we had certainly 
 the right to cherish the strongest hopes from that 
 government. But more important still than all these 
 circumstances, was the intelligence received of a rev- 
 olution which had broken out in the Russian depart- 
 ment of Orenburg, under the famous Yermolow, 
 and the point of concentration of which was to have 
 
 a system of intrigue and espionage indicated sufficiently the sense of 
 weakness which Marshal Diebitsch began to feel, in the situation in 
 which he was then placed. 
 
 One of our Generals published in the Gazette some remarks upon 
 this conduct of General Diebitsch, from which the following is a pas- 
 sage. " Marshal ! such conduct is reproachful to you ; and by it, you 
 have strengthened the current suspicions of the world, that the passage 
 of the Balkan, which has given you such a name in history, was 
 made upon a bridge of gold. But if such measures might have been 
 successful in Turkey, they will not do in Poland. If you do not by 
 this time know it, I can assure you that every Pole is willing to sac- 
 rifice his all in the cause of his country, and your offers can therefore 
 avail little. I repeat to you, that the words of our motto are, ' to die or 
 conquer.' Come then, Marshal, with the sabre, and not with ducats, to 
 the contest ! " 
 
 
168 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 been the town of Samara, situated on the frontier of 
 Europe and Asia. The highest expectations were 
 entertained of the results of this movement, from 
 the knowledge which we had of the character of this 
 celebrated general, and of his great influence, as one 
 of that distinguished family of Yermolow, perhaps 
 the most influential in the empire, (which, in fact, 
 cherishes pretensions to the throne,) and of the dis- 
 tinction which he had acquired as a bold and firm 
 leader, in a service of many years. 
 
 His proclamations to the Russians, of which a few 
 copies were found on the persons of their officers 
 who were killed in the battle of Grokow, were full 
 of energy and of the sentiments of a true republican 
 of one who calmly and dispassionately aims at the 
 good of his country. These proclamations were pub- 
 lished in all the gazettes of Warsaw on the first of 
 March.* 
 
 * Extract from the proclamation of Yermolow. " Brave sons of Rus- 
 sia ! An old man of seventy, who, the contemporary of four reigns, 
 knows well his nation and its sovereigns, lifts his voice towards you 
 with a heart devoted to the good of his country. He wishes, in the 
 decline of a life which has been agitated by the storms of despotism, 
 to infuse into your hearts the sentiments of liberty, and to die a freeman. 
 Our complaints have been uttered in vain: our blood has been shed in 
 vain. Are these complaints the only arms worthy of the Russian people ? 
 No ! It is with the sword in hand, in the capital itself, on the field of bat- 
 tle, in the north and in the south, that you should claim your national 
 liberty. The idols of despotism will fall before you. The books of the 
 divine law will be opened. The Czars will become the fathers of their 
 people : we shall be no longer orphans and strangers upon our native 
 soil. As the French and English have done, and even as the Greeks, 
 our brethren in Jesus Christ, have done, we will swear to conquer our 
 liberty, and that achievement will immortalize us. Nations less cele- 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 169 
 
 This general was for a long while governor of the 
 provinces beyond the Caucasus, Abassia, Migretia, 
 Imiretia, and Georgia, provinces which were con- 
 quered from Persia and Turkey. Besides possessing 
 a great degree of military knowledge, Yermolow was 
 familiar with the duties of the civil administration. 
 Those provinces were happy under his government. 
 He ameliorated the state of the commerce by which 
 they were enriched. The city of Tiflis, under 
 him rapidly increased to a great extent. That city 
 became in fact a general depot of all the trade of 
 Armenia, Persia, and Turkey in Asia. This general, 
 who could have held a post of greater distinction, 
 and nearer the throne, asked for this situation with 
 the view to be removed as far as possible from that 
 court which he despised, and the intrigues of which 
 
 brated, and less populous than ours, surrounded by monarchs who have 
 combined to destroy them, have arisen. Their brave men have joined 
 together. They hasten, at the call of their country, to defend their 
 national liberty, by their arms and their acts of valor. The hour is 
 come. God, who holds in his hands the fate of kings and people, will 
 bless us. Russians! break the chains of despotism! You have sworn 
 fidelity to the Czar, but he also has sworn to be our father. He has 
 perjured himself, and we are therefore released from our oaths. Re- 
 spect nevertheless the person of the Czar, for he is the anointed of the 
 Lord, and our sovereign. Limit yourselves to a change of the form of 
 the government, and demand a constitution. Rise up, and the throne 
 will tremble. But if the despot should attempt to arrest your enterprise 
 by the aid of the accomplices upon whom he lavishes all his favors, 
 forgetting that he is our monarch, and not theirs, and that he is the 
 father of the great family of Russians ; it is then that it will be seen 
 that the autocracy must cease to exist, that the Russians long for lib- 
 erty, that they can and will be free. YERMOLOW. 
 Samara, 29th of January, 1831. 
 
 22 ' 
 

 jl 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 ^- 
 
 excited his abhorrence. Out of the reach of its in- 
 fluence, he could follow the impulses of his heart, and 
 labor for the happiness of his fellow men. But 
 this separation was not enough; those intrigues 
 passed the barrier of the Caucasus to interrupt 
 him in his benevolent labors. Several commis- 
 sions were sent to make inquiries into his admin- 
 istration in various departments. Yermolow, to avoid 
 these persecutions, sent in his resignation. General, 
 now Marshal Paskewitch, filled his place. Yermo- 
 low, on quitting his post, retired to his own estates 
 in the government of Orenburg, and lived there 
 quietly in the bosom of his family. The breaking 
 out of the revolutions of France, Belgium, and at last 
 that of Poland, filled his heart with joy. He hoped 
 that the time was near at hand, when the people 
 would have security for their rights, and would emerge 
 from the darkness into which despotism had plunged 
 them. He commenced the revolution in his part of 
 the empire, and (as we learnt at Warsaw) sustained 
 himself for a long while against the superior forces 
 which were sent against him. He was not, however, 
 sufficiently supported by the people, and was too 
 isolated to continue hostilities. It is to be regret- 
 ted, that he did not commence this movement in the 
 provinces which border upon Poland. 
 
 A VIEW OF THE STATE OF THE POLISH FORCES AT THE PERIOD OF 
 SKRZYNECKl's APPOINTMENT TO THE CHIEF COMMAND. 
 
 After the battle of Grokow, the Polish grand ar- 
 my was composed, as at the commencement of the 
 
 ' 
 

 . 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 171 
 
 *^k,ft* 
 
 war, of nine regiments of infantry, each consisting 
 of three battalions. They amounted, after deduct- 
 ing the losses sustained during the campaign, to about 
 25,000. The newly-formed infantry, which was in 
 the battle of Grokow, amounted to about 6,000; 
 from which are to be deducted about 500, lost in 
 that battle. The whole force of infantry, then, 
 amounted to 30,500 men. The cavalry was also 
 composed of nine regiments, each comprising four 
 squadrons ; making, after the deduction of the losses 
 by that battle, about 6,000 in all. The newly-form- 
 ed cavalry, consisting of eighteen squadrons, can also 
 be estimated, after the losses at Grokow, at about 
 3,000; making, in all, 9,000 cavalry. The artillery 
 was composed of ninety-six pieces of cannon. 
 
 Total of the grand army : Infantry, 30,500. 
 Cavalry, 9,000. Artillery, 96 pieces. 
 
 The detached corps of General Dwernicki consist- 
 ed, at the beginning of the campaign, of one regi- 
 ment of infantry, composed of three battalions, num- 
 bering, after the losses of the campaign, 2,800 men. 
 The cavalry consisted of six squadrons, making, in 
 all about 1,000. The artillery, consisting at first 
 of but three pieces, augmented by seven pieces taken 
 from the Russians, amounted then to 10 pieces. 
 
 The small partizan corps under the command of 
 Colonel Valentin, operating in the environs of Pul- 
 tusk, consisted of 600 infantry and 100 cavalry. 
 
 The garrison of Zamosc consisted of 3,000 infan- 
 try and eighty-four pieces of cannon. That of Mod- 
 lin, of 3,500 infantry and seventy-two pieces of can- 
 
172 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 non ; and that of Praga, of 2,000 infantry and thirty- 
 six pieces of cannon. 
 
 The total amount then, of disposable forces, (exclu- 
 ding, of course, the garrisons,) on the 1st of March, 
 the day on which Skrzynecki took the command, was, 
 Infantry, 33,900. Cavalry, 10,100. Artillery, 106 
 pieces. 
 
 General Skrzynecki renewed the arrangements 
 of the Dictator Chiopicki, in regard to the organiza- 
 tion of new forces. These were, that each depart- 
 ment should furnish from 6 to 8,000 infantry and 
 1,000 cavalry. When this arrangement was first 
 made, four departments on the right bank of the Vis- 
 tula, were occupied by the enemy ; viz. Augustow, 
 Podiasia, Lublin, and Plock. Besides the forces which 
 these departments should furnish, General Skrzynec- 
 ki proposed to the nation, that in the other depart- 
 ments, on the left bank of the Vistula, .viz. Mazovia, 
 Kalisz, Sandomierz, and Cracovia, a general levy 
 should be made. These arrangements were executed 
 with such promptitude, that six regiments of two bat- 
 talions each, the formation of which had begun in 
 December, and were but half formed on the 1st of 
 March, were, by the 10th, in a complete state for ser- 
 vice. Those regiments were distributed among the 
 four divisions of the grand army. In addition to 
 these, four regiments of cavalry, of four squadrons 
 each, were also formed ; and in this manner, the ar- 
 my received a reinforcement of 12,000 infantry? 
 among which were 2,000 volunteer chasseurs, and 
 
JP 
 
 * 
 
 t 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 173 
 
 of 3,200 cavalry. These newly levied forces, besides 
 being well equipped and in fine condition, were full 
 of spirit and energy. When Skrzynecki made the 
 inspection of these new troops, they entreated of him 
 to be led to the first fire. 
 
 In addition to the above forces, General Skrzynec- 
 ki ordered the formation of eight regiments of infan- 
 try and four of cavalry, to be kept as a reserve to 
 fill the ranks of the army as they should be wasted 
 by the campaign. From this last body, was after- 
 wards, (on the 1st of May,) formed a fifth division. 
 The infantry of the grand army was distributed into 
 four divisions. They were formed and commanded 
 as follows : 
 
 The 1st division, under General Rybinski, consist- 
 ed of four regiments. The 2d division, under Gen- 
 eral Gielgud, three regiments. The 3d division, 
 under General Malachowski, four regiments. The 
 4th division, under General Muhlberg, four regi- 
 ments. The total of the four divisions was about 
 45,000 men. 
 
 In this number are included the different small 
 detachments of volunteers, who acted with the army. 
 
 Besides this infantry, was the National Guard of 
 Warsaw, amounting to 10,000 men. 
 
 The cavalry were also formed into four divisions, 
 as follows. The 1st division, under the command 
 of General Uminski, 16 squadrons. The 2d, under 
 General Lubinski, 16 squadrons. The 3d, under 
 General Stryinski, 16 squadrons. The 4th, which 
 formed the reserve of 19 squadrons, was under Gen- 
 
174 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 eral Pac. The whole force of cavalry amounted to 
 about 14,000. 
 
 The construction and completion of the fortifica- 
 tions at Warsaw and Praga were not less actively 
 pressed than the administration of the army ; and, 
 as the left bank of the Vistula, on which Warsaw is 
 situated, commands the right, with Praga and its en- 
 virons, General Skfzynecki placed on the left bank 
 twelve pieces of cannon of 24 pound calibre, on the 
 heights of Dynasow and Zoliborz. This battery cov- 
 ered with its fire the neighboring plain, to the ex- 
 tent of a circle of three miles in diameter, and could 
 overpower any battery which the enemy might open 
 against Praga. That town is divided into tw : o parts, 
 the first of which borders on the Vistula, and formed 
 the bridge-head of the position ; the other part, which 
 is more distant, was not fortified. This latter part 
 was taken possession of by the Russians, after the 
 battle of Grokow, and was burnt by them. To the 
 inhabitants this was a disaster; but for our defence 
 it was a most favorable circumstance, as it left the 
 enemy's approach unprotected, and opened a range 
 for our fire. 
 
 General Krukowiecki, who was appointed govern- 
 or of Warsaw, continued the works in the city and 
 its suburbs with great activity. The rampart, 
 which surrounds the city beyond the walls, had been 
 constructed for a defence against musquetry only ; 
 but at several points, it was now made defensi- 
 ble against artillery. The ditch was considerably 
 widened and deepened. Beyond the ramparts, the 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 175 
 
 city was surrounded by a chain of lunettes, placed 
 in two lines, so as to alternate with each other, and 
 afford a mutual support. The city itself was divided 
 into six parts ; each part being susceptible of an in- 
 dependent defence. The barricades in the streets 
 were constructed with openings for the fire of the ar- 
 tillery, above which platforms were raised for the in- 
 fantry. Mines were also prepared in different parts 
 of the city.* 
 
 The positions of the army, and of the different de- 
 tached corps were as follows: The infantry, the 
 artillery, and the 4th division of cavalry of the grand 
 army, were at Warsaw and its environs. Three di- 
 visions of cavalry were posted above and below the 
 city, on the left bank of the Vistula, whose duty it 
 was to patrol the river, and to guard the communica- 
 tions between the fortress of Modlin and Kozienice. 
 This chain of patrols, by watching the movements of 
 the enemy, kept the grand army continually advised 
 of his intentions, and in constant readiness to act 
 against him, at any point which he might choose for 
 attempting the passage of the Vistula. 
 
 The corps of General Dwernicki was at Pulawa. 
 The plan of operations which had been assigned to 
 him, and which, indeed, he had already put in execu- 
 tion, was to transfer the seat of hostilities to the right 
 bank of the Vistula, to hang over and harass the left 
 
 * In the construction" of these works in the city and the environs, 
 all the citizens engaged, without distinction of age or sex. One of the 
 outworks received the name of the " lunette of the women," having 
 been constructed wholly by the hands of the fair sex. 
 
* 
 
 1 76 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 wing of the enemy, to relieve the palatinate of Lublin 
 from his presence, and, in case of danger, to fall- back 
 to the fortress of Zamosc, and from that point to act 
 on the neighboring region, according as circumstances 
 might indicate. 
 
 Colonel Valentin was in the environs of Pultusk, 
 with his small corps of partizans. In concert with 
 the garrison of Modlin, he was to act on the right 
 wing of the enemy, and hold in check all his manoeu- 
 vres upon Plock. This concave line of operations, 
 of which the extremities were at Zamosc and Modlin, 
 and the centre at Warsaw and Praga, was strength- 
 ened by the Vistula, which, although frozen, would 
 not allow of a passage by the enemy in large bodies, 
 or of the construction of a bridge, as the ice of the 
 river was momentarily expected to break up. 
 
 The position of the Russian army was as follows. 
 The right wing was at Nowy-dwor, opposite to Mod- 
 lin. At Jablonna, which is situated half way from 
 Praga to Nowy-dwor, was placed a strong detach- 
 ment. At Praga were two divisions, one of infantry, 
 and the other of cavalry, with twelve pieces of cannon, 
 under the command of General Giesmar. The greater 
 body of the Russian forces was between Wavre and 
 Milosna ; and with them was the head-quarters of 
 Diebitsch and Constantine. Their left wing occu- 
 pied Karczewo, and their patrols extended themselves 
 along the right bank of the river, as far as Macieo- 
 wice. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 177 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Operations of the corps of General Dwernicki against the Russian corps 
 under the Prince of Wirtemberg, in the Palatinate of Lublin. Battle 
 of Pulawa, and defeat of Wirtemberg. Atrocities of that prince at 
 Pulawa. Pursuit of the enemy. Battle of Kurow, and annihilation of 
 Wirtemberg's corps. Operations of Colonel Valentin, between Modlin 
 and Pultusk. A detachment of the enemy is surprised at Nasielsk. 
 Transports of provisions for the enemy from Prussia taken. Successful 
 skirmishes. Marshal Diebitsch demands the capitulation of the fortress 
 of Modlin. Reply of Colonel Leduchowski. A detachment from the 
 garrison of Modlin attacks and defeats a Russian force atSerock. Gen- 
 eral Skrzynecki makes an offer of pacification on the basis of the con- 
 cessions originally demanded by the Poles. This proposition is re- 
 jected and hostilities are recommenced. Reconnoissance upon the right 
 bank of the Vistula under Jankowski and Gielgud. A Russian corps un- 
 der General Witt is sent against Dwernicki. General Uminski is sent 
 against the Russian guard. First encounter. The Russian guard is 
 compelled to leave their position for Ostrolenka. The Guard evacuates 
 Ostrolenka to join the Grand army. 
 
 ON the day after the battle of Grokow, Colonel 
 Lagowski fought with success at Pulawa, at the head 
 of a detachment from the corps of General Dwer- 
 nicki. The details of that combat are as follows : 
 
 COMBAT OF PULAWA. [See Plan XIII.] 
 
 The Prince of Wirtemberg, having been beaten, as 
 the reader has seen, by General Dwernicki at Swier- 
 za and Nowawies, was forced to retreat rapidly in 
 the direction of Pulawa, and to repass the Vistula, 
 opposite that place. The ice of the river was, for- 
 tunately for him, still strong enough to admit of a 
 passage upon its surface ; but notwithstanding this 
 advantage, he had been pursued by Dwernicki so 
 23 
 
178 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 closely, through the whole of his line of retreat, 
 that he daily lost great numbers of prisoners. It was 
 on the night of the 23d of February, that this 
 passage was made by the Russians, and Pulawa 
 occupied by them. As the position of that place 
 was strong and commanding, General Dwernicki did 
 not think it expedient to attack the enemy in front, 
 who, although beaten, were still superior in force. 
 He conceived the plan of passing the Vistula, 
 at a point at some distance below Pulawa, and of 
 making an attack upon the Russian right wing. 
 On the evening of the 26th, the brave Colonel La- 
 gowski, with 500 infantry and two squadrons of cav- 
 alry, passed the Vistula (p). On reaching the oppo- 
 site side of the river, he threw himself into the for- 
 ests which surround Pulawa. The position of La- 
 gowski would have been critical, if the Russians had 
 obtained intelligence of this manoeuvre ; but they 
 had no suspicions of it. Colonel Lagowski, expect- 
 ing that General Dwernicki would soon make a de- 
 monstration in front, left the forest, and approached 
 the town, keeping up a brisk fire of skirmishers (a). 
 The Russians, surprised by this attack, directed 
 against it as strong a fire of artillery (/) and infan- 
 try (d) as its suddenness would allow ; but our 
 light troops succeeded in approaching the town, and 
 getting possession of several houses, keeping up a 
 continued fire. The two squadrons of cavalry (6) 
 which had been sent to attack the enemy in his rear, 
 threw themselves upon him at the same time, with 
 great impetuosity. The consternation of the Rus- 
 sians became general, the greatest disorder soon 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 179 
 
 followed, and a retreat was commenced, which was 
 attended with the loss of several hundred men and 
 horses, and four pieces of artillery. The enemy, in 
 evacuating the town, set it on fire, to complete the 
 barbarities which they had been practising. Pulawa, 
 a spot one of the most favored of nature, and perhaps 
 presenting one of the finest scenes in Europe, was 
 soon a mass of ruins, the sight of which filled the 
 bosom of every Pole with regret and horror. Those 
 ruins, such indeed as the whole country is now filled 
 with, evidences of the horrible barbarity of the Rus- 
 sians, in recalling to the minds of the Poles the lost 
 beauty and magnificence of their country, will be a 
 pledge of their eternal hatred of the despotism which 
 authorized those ravages. 
 
 The Russians had gained already a considerable 
 distance from Pulawa, before the corps of General 
 Dwernicki approached it, and, of course, the whole 
 glory of that defeat is due to Colonel Lagowski.* 
 
 * General Dwernicki, on arriving; at Pulawa, regarded it as his first 
 duty to repair to the palace of the Princess Czartoriski, the estimable 
 lady of the President of the National Senate, to offer his services to 
 her, and to assure her of safety. On entering the court, the venerable 
 Dwernicki and the officers who accompanied him, could not restrain their 
 tears at the sight of the ruins of that edifice, so uselessly destroyed, to 
 gratify the brutality of the Prince of Wirtemberg, who pushed his 
 fury to such a degree, as to have directed a fire of artillery against the 
 central division of the palace, occupied at that moment by the prin- 
 cess and her attendants. General Dwernicki and his officers, struck 
 by the melancholy scene before them, feared to advance another step 
 in the dread of meeting even more horrible traces of barbarity, to 
 find perhaps the princess and her suite the victims of Russian cruelty. 
 But what was their astonishment when, on entering the porch of the 
 edifice, they were accosted by the princess, who with a cheerful air, 
 exclaimed ; " Brave general, and officers ! how happy am I, that God 
 
180 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 The corps of General Dwernicki, after a short re- 
 pose at Pulawa, renewed the pursuit of the enemy 
 on that night. In every part of their route the ene- 
 my's stragglers were continually falling into their 
 hands. This corps overtook the enemy so soon, that 
 in order to save himself from total destruction, he 
 was forced to give battle. 
 
 BATTLE OF KUROW. [See Plans XIV. and XV.] 
 
 General Dwernicki, in his pursuit of Wirtemberg, 
 had the intention of effecting the destruction of this 
 corps before they could reach Lublin. To accom- 
 plish this object, he took advantage of the two roads 
 (g,g) which lead from Pulawa to Lublin (1). Remain- 
 ing himself with the greater part of his forces (a) up- 
 on the causeway which leads to Lublin by Konska- 
 wola (2), Kurow (3), and Markuszew (4), he sent a 
 small detachment (6) with two pieces of cannon by 
 
 has allowed me to greet my brave countrymen once more, before 
 my death." Then giving her hand to General Dwernicki, and pre- 
 senting to him and his officers the Jadies who were her attendants dur- 
 ing the whole of these horrible scenes, she continued, " General, do 
 not be astonished to see us accoutred in the best garments which the 
 Russians have left to us ; we have arrayed ourselves in our funeral at- 
 tire," and pointing to the holes with which the enemy's artillery had 
 pierced the walls, she added, " Those marks will explain my language." 
 General Dwernicki, struck with the heroism of the princess and her 
 companions, addressed her in the following terms : " Madam, permit 
 me, in the name of the whole nation, to make to you the homage of my 
 high admiration. Brave indeed ought Poles {o be, with mothers and 
 sisters such as these!" He then urged upon the princess the expe- 
 diency of leaving Pulawa, which might still be the scene of distressing 
 events, and upon this suggestion she departed under an escort furnish- 
 ed by General Dwernicki, for her estates in Galicia. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 181 
 
 ad 
 the other and smaller ro , which traversing the forest 
 
 between Belzyc and Pulawa, present a shorter and 
 more direct route to Lublin. This road had not been 
 occupied by the enemy. Colonel Lagowski, who com- 
 manded this detachment, had instructions to follow 
 out this road, and to keep up a constant communica- 
 tion with the superior force under General Dwernicki. 
 He was ordered to keep himself constantly abreast of 
 the enemy (d). At the moment that he should hear 
 the fire of our cannon, he was directed to hasten to 
 the attack of the enemy on his left wing, or on his 
 rear, as circumstances might direct. This manoeuvre 
 was executed with the utmost punctuality. The 
 enemy pressed in upon the causeway by the larger 
 body under Dwernicki, and thus forced to give bat- 
 tle, took a position upon the heights of the town of 
 Kurow, in doing which, his consternation or his in- 
 considerateness was such, that he neglected the or- 
 dinary means of security, and did not occupy the 
 roads which centre at that place, not even that which 
 it was of the utmost importance for him to occupy, 
 the one which leads from Belzyc to Pulawa ; in fact, 
 he had even neglected to send out reconnoissances 
 on any side, supposing that our entire force was be- 
 fore him on the causeway. This battle commenced 
 on the afternoon of the 2d of March, and continued 
 only a few hours. 
 
 General Dwernicki, after reconnoitering the ene- 
 my's position, which was commanding, and strength- 
 ened in its front by sixteen pieces of cannon [(/), 
 PL XV.] thought it expedient to commence with a fire 
 
182 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 of skirmishers only (a), under cover of which he ma- 
 noeuvred his cg^alry (6) upon the Russian wings, with 
 the sole purpose of occupying the attention of the en- 
 emy until the detachment of Colonel Lagowski should 
 make its appearance. The enemy, on the other hand, 
 commenced a warm fire from his artillery, and threw 
 forward his light troops (d) in every direction. Some 
 hours passed in this manner, the enemy attempting 
 from time to time to force our position. But the 
 hour of his destruction was approaching. General 
 Dwernicki perceiving, from an elevation of ground, 
 the detachment of Lagowski (A) advancing upon the 
 enemy's rear, instantaneously gave orders for the 
 cavalry to concentrate themselves. The signal for 
 advance was then given, and the cavalry having form- 
 ed on each side of the main road, pressed forward 
 and fell upon the centre of the enemy. At the same 
 moment, a charge was made by the cavalry of Lagow- 
 ski upon the enemy's rear. The disorder and con- 
 sternation of the Russian forces was indescribable. 
 In a moment ten pieces of cannon, a thousand pris- 
 oners, some hundreds of horses, with many wagons 
 of ammunition and baggage, fell into our hands. 
 The route was general. The enemy fled pell- 
 mell, and his loss was much increased, by a fire of 
 grape from the two pieces of artillery of Colonel 
 Lagowski, which he placed by the side of the road 
 from Kurow to Lublin, over which the Russians re- 
 treated. This road was literally covered with dead. 
 Nothing but the coming on of night saved the enemy 
 from entire destruction. After this battle, the forces 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 183 
 
 of the Prince of Wirtemberg ceased to act as a corps. 
 What remained of them, took the direction of Lublin, 
 where the corps of General Dwernicki arrived the 
 next day, having taken prisoners during the whole 
 route. The Prince of Wirtemberg barely escaped 
 from our hands, for he was in quarters in that city 
 when our advanced detachments entered it, and was 
 just able to save himself by flight. Such was the 
 end of this Russian corps, which, when it began to 
 act againsj; Dwernicki with his small force of 3,000 
 men, and ten pieces of cannon, consisted of 15,000 
 infantry and 24 pieces of cannon. In the course 
 of eleven days, General Dwernicki gave battle to 
 this corps four several times, viz. at Swierza, Nowa- 
 wies, Pulawa, and Kurow ; and besides the loss 
 he caused them in killed and wounded, he took 
 8,000 prisoners, 19 pieces of cannon, besides 1,000 
 horses, with a great quantity of ammunition, bag- 
 gage, &c. In all these actions the corps of Gen- 
 eral Dwernicki lost but 500 men, in killed and 
 wounded. The panic which had began to prevail 
 in the Russian forces, in consequence of these dis- 
 asters, reached such a degree that, at times, the mere 
 sight oi our troops was sufficient to put them to 
 flight. The Russian commander in chief deprived 
 the Prince of Wirtemberg of his post, and his name 
 was not heard of during the rest of the war. 
 
 General Dwernicki, by his victories over this corps, 
 had completely freed the department of Lublin from 
 the presence of the enemy. On arriving at Lublin, 
 he restored the authority of the National Government 
 
184 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 in that place, and the region about. He made the 
 necessary arrangements for reinforcing his corps, and 
 left for Krasnystaw, in the environs of Zamosc. 
 
 While these successful operations of General Dwer- 
 nicki, in the southern part of the kingdom, were in 
 progress, and by this series of victories, he was ap- 
 proaching the frontiers of Wolhynia and Podolia, our 
 arms were not less successful in the North. 
 
 The brave Colonel Valentin, with a small detach- 
 ment of partizans, fought the enemy with success 
 between Modlin and Pultusk. This detachment was 
 thrown into that region, (acting, however, more par- 
 ticularly between the rivers Wkra and Orsyca,) in 
 order to hold in check the operations of the enemy 
 upon Plock. This detachment was to obtain suc- 
 cor, in case of necessity, from the garrisons of Mod- 
 lin. It was especially destined to intercept the 
 transports which were to come from Prussia upon the 
 road to Mlara, for the relief of the Russian army. 
 
 Colonel Valentin was occupying with his detach- 
 ment the forest near the town of Nasielsk, when he 
 was apprised that a small body of Russian troops, 
 under the order of Colonel Schindler, consisting of 
 two regiments of cavalry, a battalion of infantry, and 
 two pieces of cannon, had arrived on the 3d of March, 
 at that town. This detachment had been sent to 
 protect a transport which was to pass there. Colonel 
 Valentin immediately formed a plan to attack it. 
 During the night of the 3d and 4th of March, 
 he approached the town, invested it, and ordered 
 an attack, in which the detachment surprised the 
 
< . - * ' 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 185 
 
 enemy, and forced him to quit the city, leaving his 
 two pieces of artillery, and a number of prisoners. 
 Colonel Valentin, thinking that the Russians might 
 possibly return with a superior force, evacuated the 
 city, and took his prisoners to Modlin, in order, by 
 disembarrassing himself of them, to hasten his march 
 and reach the environs of Pultusk, in time to inter- 
 cept the transport. On the 5th, he took this trans- 
 port, consisting of eighty vehicles loaded with va- 
 rious kinds of provision, together with twelve loads 
 of equipage, &c. for the Russian generals, which he 
 sent to Warsaw, The detachment of Colonel Val- 
 entin continued to manoeuvre for a long while in those 
 environs without any support. 
 
 In the vicinity of Warsaw, along the banks of the 
 Vistula, both above and below the city, small skir- 
 mishes almost daily occurred. On the fourth of 
 March, the brave lieutenant Berowski, passing the 
 Vistula opposite Jablonna with his platoon, surprised 
 a squadron of cossacks, and took a hundred prisoners 
 and as many horses. The battalion of volunteer chas- 
 seurs of Colonel Grotus, posted in the environs of the 
 villages Siekierki, and Wilanow, brought in almost ev- 
 ery day parties of Russian prisoners, by surprising the 
 different detachments of the enemy placed upon the 
 island of Saxe, opposite to the abovementioned 
 places. This same battalion burnt two batteaux, in 
 which were a party of Russian troops, who were 
 sent during the night with combustibles to burn the 
 bridge between Warsaw and Praga. These boats 
 were sunk, and the Russians who escaped drowning, 
 24 
 
 
186 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 were taken prisoners. In the environs of the small 
 town of Gora, about twenty miles from Warsaw, a 
 considerable body of workmen who were sent by the 
 enemy to prepare the materials for building a bridge, 
 were surprised by a battalion of the 2d regiment of 
 light infantry. A hundred pioneers and sappers 
 were taken prisoners, and many hundred male and 
 female peasants set at liberty, who had been forced 
 to work for the enemy. 
 
 At about the 8th of March, Marshal Diebitsch de- 
 manded the capitulation of the fortress of Modlin, for 
 which object he despatched Colonel Kil. This of- 
 ficer was entrusted with a letter to the Count Ledu- 
 chowski, written by the Marshal's own hand. His 
 proposition was rejected.* 
 
 * The reader will perhaps be gratified with a short topographical 
 description of this fortress, and some details of this affair. The for- 
 tress of Modlin, which is in a pentagonal form, is situated sixteen miles 
 from Warsaw, upon the right bank of the Vistula, at the junction of the 
 Narew with the former river. Not far from this fortress, the small riv- 
 er Wkra also joins the Narew. The fortress is thus situated between 
 three rivers. In addition to this peculiarity of its situation in regard 
 to the rivers, its commanding elevation makes it a point of great strength. 
 Opposite to it is the small town of Nowy-dwor, but this town is so low 
 that it is commanded by the fortress, and it is besides too distant for the 
 erection of batteries by which the latter could be bombarded with suc- 
 cess. This post is very important in regard to tactics, and it is a key 
 of position, to protect, or to act upon, all operations between the Narew 
 and the Vistula. Marshal Diebitsch considering these circumstances, 
 and seeing that an open attack was scarcely possible, was led to at- 
 tempt negotiation. The letter sent by the Marshal, was full of flatter- 
 ing language in regard to the heroism of the Polish army. He per- 
 mitted himself, however, to say that it was to be regretted that such a 
 degree of heroism was not exhibited in a better cause that the brave 
 Polish army was made a sacrifice of, by some ambitious and opinion- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 187 
 
 Some days after this answer, a part of the garrison 
 of this fortress, sent as a reinforcement to Colonel 
 Valentin, surprised the Russians in the town of 
 Serock. They had passed the river Bug, and the 
 Narew opposite that town, to make requisitions of 
 forage in the country around. By a prompt arrange- 
 ment, the batteaux of the enemy were taken by our 
 troops ; and his forces, suddenly attacked and defeat- 
 ed, were compelled to evacuate their position, leaving a 
 thousand prisoners in our hands, which were imme- 
 diately carried to Modlin, and thence to Warsaw. 
 
 In this state of things, and while circumstances 
 were continually occurring with uniform advantage 
 to the Polish arms, General Skrzynecki, with the 
 most sincere wish to finish a bloody struggle, and 
 anxious to show that the Poles were always ready 
 to hold out the hand of reconciliation, wrote, with 
 the permission of the provisional government, a com- 
 munication to Marshal Diebitsch, with propositions 
 
 ated men, who had forgotten their duties to their monarch, and their 
 oaths of fidelity. From such men as those, he wished to distinguish 
 the Count Leduchowski, for whom he had the highest esteem, and who, 
 he was convinced, had no desire to continue a useless expenditure of 
 blood, and would willingly surrender the fortress to the troops of his 
 legitimate monarch. To all this, Marshal Diebitsch added the as- 
 surance that the fortress should be garrisoned by equal bodies of Rus- 
 sian and Polish troops. Colonel Leduchowski made a reply to this com- 
 plimentary communication in nearly the following terms: "Marshal, 
 to your letter, in which you have chosen to flatter the valor of my 
 countrymen, and ifi which you have honored me, in particular, with your 
 attentions, I have the honor to answer, that I cannot better deserve 
 your good opinion, than in defending, with my compatriots, our beloved 
 country to the last drop of my blood. This is the course which the 
 honor of each braye Pole dictates to him." 
 

 t 
 
 188 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 of that purport. But as these offers of conciliation 
 were rejected by the Marshal, the contest was re- 
 commenced.* 
 
 On the 10th of March, the operations of the cam- 
 paign were recommenced. The 2d division, the 
 command of which, after the death of General Zim- 
 irski, was given to General Gielgud, and a division 
 of cavalry, under the command of General Jankow- 
 ski, received orders to make a strong reconnoisance 
 upon the right bank of the Vistula. This division 
 was ordered to pass the bridge in the night, and at 
 
 * This letter, written at the moment when our army was victorious, 
 and when a revolution, ready to break out in all the Polish provinces 
 attached to Russia, made the position of the Russian army extremely 
 dangerous, was couched in most conciliatory terms, having for its sole 
 object the termination of a fraternal struggle. In this letter, the Gen- 
 eralissimo sought to convince Marshal Diebitsch, that this was not a 
 war undertaken on our part at the instigation of a few individuals, byt 
 that it was espoused by the whole nation, and that the people were 
 forced to take up arms by the enormity of those acts of tyranny, which 
 were not perhaps even known to the monarch. He urged him to con- 
 sider the amount of blood which had been already shed, and the indefi- 
 nite prolongation to which such a struggle might be extended. He 
 urged him also, to make known these representations to the monarch, 
 and to invite him to lay aside all enmity, to visit and hear in person the 
 complaints of the nation, who would receive him with sincerity, and 
 who demanded of him only the confirmation and observance of the 
 rights granted by the constitution, and the extension of the same rights 
 to our brethren in the Russo-Polish provinces. What an opportunity 
 was here presented to the Emperor Nicholas to act; with magnanimity, 
 and to extend a conciliatory hand to the Polish nation ! Those letters 
 will be an eternal testimony, that the Poles attempt^! every amicable 
 means, to establish upon an equal basis their own happiness and civili- 
 zation, and that of the whole north, and that all the responsibility of 
 the bloody struggle which was continued, rests on the side of des- 
 potism. 
 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 189 
 
 break of day to commence the attack upon whatever 
 force of the enemy they might find on the plains of 
 Grokow or Kawenzyn, and, by this manoeuvre, to 
 harass the right wing of the enemy. But General 
 Jankowski arrived late. It was near eight o'clock, 
 A. M. before he approached with his division, at 
 which time the two divisions united left Praga to 
 commence their attack, but this operation being thus 
 retarded, could not be made effective. The enemy, 
 seeing our movement, had time to prepare themselves 
 to counteract it. Our forces having advanced a mile 
 or two upon the main road, commenced a fire of tir- 
 ailleurs, and the enemy began to retire. As it was 
 designed to act upon Kawenzyn, a battalion was 
 sent to attempt an attack on the forest of elders, 
 well known to the reader; but as the enemy was 
 quite strong at that point and particularly in artillery, 
 a fire from which was immediately opened upon our 
 force, the attack was not made, and our battalion 
 was ordered to withdraw. The Russians, at about 
 mid-day, began to show a stronger force upon the 
 plains of Wavre. Their artillery, also, opened a fire 
 upon the main road. This fire had continued an hour, 
 when our generals, not perceiving that the artillery 
 was protected by cavalry, decided to make a charge 
 upon them with the regiment of Mazurs, and the 3d 
 regiment of light cavalry. This brigade of cavalry, 
 under the command of the brave colonels Blendowski 
 and Miller,* threw themselves with courage up9n 
 that artillery, when, at the moment of the charge, 
 two regiments of Attaman Cossacks, which were 
 
 
190 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 posted in a wood adjoining, displayed their front, 
 and advanced to charge our cavalry upon the 
 flank and rear. Our attack therefore failed, and it 
 was owing to good fortune alone that by a rapid 
 bending of our flank, this body of cavalry was saved 
 from total ruin. This unfortunate affair cost us a 
 heavy loss of men, and of both of the brave colonels 
 who commanded the attack. At about 2, P. M. 
 as the enemy began to debouch from the great forest 
 w r ith increased forces, it was decided to return to 
 Warsaw, and thus ended this reconnoissance, which, 
 had it been executed by more skilful generals, might 
 have had the best success, for all the Russian regi- 
 ments which had advanced towards Praga, at a con- 
 siderable distance from their main forces, might have 
 been taken. A reprimand was publicly given to the 
 two generals Gielgud and-Jankowski, for their re- 
 missness in executing their instructions. The only 
 advantage which was gained by this reconnoissance, 
 was the taking of a great quantity of fascines and 
 other materials, prepared for a storm of Praga, and 
 the collection from off the field of a considerable 
 quantity of arms, 'which had been left there by the 
 enemy, after the battle of the 25th.* 
 
 * The following particulars will demonstrate to the reader how much 
 even the enemy appreciated Polish courage and devotedness, After 
 this affair, our Generalissimo, regretting much the loss of the brave Col- 
 onel Blendowski, who had fallen in his wounded state into the enemy's 
 hands, sent a flag to General Giesmar, the commander *f the Russian 
 advanced guard, to propose an exchange, if Colonel Blendowski was 
 still living, and if dead, to request that his body might be given up. 
 At the moment that the officer bearing the flag, with a party of lancers 
 
t 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 191 
 
 The Russian commander having, as the reader is 
 aware, lost nearly the whole of the corps of the 
 Prince Wirtemberg, the remnants of which was dis- 
 persed and had wholly ceased active operations, sent 
 against General Dwernicki the corps of General 
 Witt, composed of 8,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry, and 
 16 pieces of cannon. This corps arrived on the 1 1th 
 at Lublin, in which town was a small detachment 
 of Dwernicki's corps, commanded by the Colonel 
 Russyian. This small detachment, having only bar- 
 ricaded a few streets, defended with much firmness 
 the passage of the small river Bystrzyca, and left 
 the city at night-fall to rejoin its corps, which was 
 in the environs of Zamosc. 
 
 Against the corps of the Russian Guard, which had 
 recently arrived, under the command of Prince Michel, 
 consisting of 16,000 infantry 4,000 cavalry, and 36 
 pieces of cannon, a division of cavalry, with eight 
 pieces of cannon, was sent into the environs of 
 Pultusk, commanded by General Uminski, who 
 was to take under his command the detachment 
 of Colonel Valentin, and acting in concert with 
 
 arrived at the Russian quarters, he saw a body of Russians with Gen- 
 eral Giesmar, and his suite at their side, bearing a wounded officer, 
 and advancing towards them. Our officer, as they approached, recog- 
 flised Colonel Blendowski in the wounded officer, and annoiyiced 
 to General Giesmar that it was to obtain him that he had been sent. 
 On receiving this communication, General Giesmar replied, " You see, 
 sir, that I had anticipated your object. Make my intentions known to 
 your commander, and let him know how much I honor Polish heroism." 
 This general took part, with his own hand, in all the arrangements for 
 transferring the wounded officer, and two of his suite were among 
 those who bore his body. 
 
192 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 the garrison of Modlin, he was to occupy the 
 attention of the enemy, in order that our main body 
 should not be- disturbed in the offensive operations 
 which General Skrzynecki had decided to adopt. 
 
 General Uminski arriving with his corps, met 
 an advanced detachment of the Russian Guard in the 
 environs of Makow, composed of two regiments of 
 hussars and eight pieces of cannon, who were sent 
 forward as a party of observation in that vicinity. 
 This was the first encounter with this celebrated 
 Guard. Our cavalry waited impatiently for the mo- 
 ment to try their strength with them. Two young 
 regiments, one a regiment of Krakus of Poldlasia, 
 and the other the 5th Hulans, entreated their general 
 to be permitted to make the charge. General Um- 
 inski observing that there was no stronger force near, 
 ordered an immediate attack. 
 
 Our cavalry, on receiving the order, did not even 
 give the enemy time to display his front, or to make 
 use of his artillery ; but rushed upon him with an 
 impetuous charge, under which he was at once borne 
 down. Of one regiment of those hussars nearly a 
 squadron were taken prisoners. This Russian cav- 
 alry, which were in full route, were pursued as 
 far as the environs of Magnieszewo. The enemy 
 was not permitted to take position, and the pursuit 
 was pressed with such rapidity, that they had not 
 time to destroy the bridge which crosses the river Or- 
 syca, but were followed even to the environs of Ro- 
 zany, where they reached the position of their main 
 body. General Uminski, in order not to expose his 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 1 93 
 
 force to the observation of the enemy, halted in an 
 advantageous position in the forests near Rozany, 
 and from this position he continued to hold the ene- 
 my in check. In fact, by harassing and weary- 
 ing the enemy with continual attacks, he at length 
 forced the prince Michael to quit Rozany, taking the 
 direction of Ostrolenka. General Uminski sent in 
 pursuit of the enemy the brigade of cavalry under 
 the command of Colonel Dembinski. This brigade, 
 opposite Ostrolenka upon the JNarew, had on the 26th 
 of March an advantageous affair with the advanced 
 guard of the enemy, in which forty prisoners were 
 taken. By closely observing the enemy in this man- 
 ner, it was ascertained that the Russian Guard, after 
 destroying the bridge, had completely evacuated Os- 
 trolenka. It was evident that the design of Prince 
 Michael, in this sudden evacuation of Ostrolenka, was 
 to join himself to the grand army. General Umin- 
 ski immediately sent an officer to inform the com- 
 mander in chief of this movement, continuing in the 
 mean time in the position which he had taken before 
 Ostrolenka. 
 
 25 
 
194 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Plan of General Skrzynecki to act upon the isolated corps of Rosen and" 
 Giesmar. Battle of Wawr. Various detachments of the enemy are 
 taken after that battle, and a great number of prisoners. Battle of 
 Dembe-Wielke. Destructive pursuit of the enemy by our cavalry. 
 View of the Russian losses in the preceding days. Marshal Diebitsch 
 abandons his plan of crossing the Vistula, and marches to the rescue of 
 the remains of the corps of Rosen and Giesmar, and the Imperial Guard. 
 View of the position of the two armies, after the second repulse of 
 the enemy from before Warsaw. Operations of General Dwernicki. 
 Successes of a reconnoissance under Colonel Russyian at Usciulog. 
 Effect of Dwernicki's victories on the inhabitants of the provinces. 
 Acknowledgement of General Dwernicki's services by the National 
 Government. The instructions for his future operations. 
 
 THE news of this prompt and sudden evacuation of 
 Ostiolenka by the Russian Guard, and the evident in- 
 tention of the Grand Duke Michael to discontinue his 
 operations in the palatinate of Flock, and to make a 
 junction with the grand army, as well as other certain 
 intelligence that Marshal Diebitsch had withdrawn 
 the main body of his forces, [See (A) Plan XVI.] 
 and had left only a corps of observation, composed 
 of the two corps of Rosen and Giesmar (B), in the 
 environs of Wawr and Milosna, determined our 
 generalissimo to hasten to the execution of the plan, 
 for a long time decided upon, which was to throw 
 himself with his whole force upon the nearest Rus- 
 sian corps, and to crush them before Marshal Die- 
 bitsch could come to their succor. 
 
 On the 29th and 30th, our general in chief made 
 a review of the greater part of the army. All the 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 195 
 
 troops received him with expressions of the great- 
 est enthusiasm. He could not but be delighted at 
 the sight of that fine and energetic force, and be con- 
 fident of the most brilliant successes. All the troops 
 defiled before the general, carrying with them the 
 trophies which they had taken from the enemy ; and 
 each platoon, as they passed, hailed him with some 
 patriotic exclamation, and pledged themselves that 
 they would never return without having satisfied his 
 orders to the utmost. On the night of that day, the 
 commanders of the several divisions received the or- 
 der to hold themselves in readiness to march at a 
 moment's warning. 
 
 BATTLE OF WAWR. [See Plan XVII.] 
 
 On the evening of the 30th, the two divisions of 
 infantry under Rybinski and Gielgud, and the brigade 
 of cavalry under Kicki, received orders to pass from 
 Warsaw to Praga. That force quitted Warsaw at 
 ten o'clock, P. M. 
 
 Whilst the division of Gielgud and the cavalry of 
 Kicki were to occupy the great road (g) leading to 
 Grokow, the 1st division under Rybinski was to march 
 upon the right wing of the enemy at Kawenzyn (K). 
 This last division was to drive the enemy from his 
 position in as short a time as possible. If the ene- 
 my's forces at Kawenzyn were found to be greatly 
 superior to his own, General Rybinski was directed 
 to continue his fire, and await a reinforcement, which 
 should be immediately sent to him. If he should be 
 
 
196 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 so fortunate as to take Kawenzyn, General Rybinski 
 was to send, by a small road (/) leading from this 
 place, through the forest, to Milosna, a few battal- 
 ions (m) to that village. Other battalions (d) were 
 to be dispersed in the forest, between that small 
 road and the main road. Having made those ar- 
 rangements, the position of Kawenzyn was to 
 be vigorously defended, in order to baffle every 
 effort of the enemy to retake it. The accurate and 
 prompt execution of this plan was expected to effect 
 the cutting off of all the enemy's forces, which were 
 to be found upon the field of Wawr. In regard to 
 the division of Gielgud upon the main road, the in- 
 structions given were that it should not commence 
 its fire until apprised of General Rybinski's having 
 gained possession of Kawenzyn. This division was till 
 then to limit its attention to the object of retaining 
 the enemy in his position near Praga, long enough to 
 give time for the corps of General Rybinski to oc- 
 cupy the above mentioned forest, and to operate in 
 the enemy's rear. The moment for the advance of 
 the 2d division, was to be, when the fire of the light- 
 troops of Rybinski should be heard in the forest. 
 
 All these dispositions were executed with the 
 greatest exactitude under the protection of a thick 
 fog. The division of General Rybinski having quit- 
 ted Praga at midnight, arrived as far as the environs 
 of Kawenzyn, without being in the least disturbed 
 by the enemy. This skilful general had the pre- 
 caution, not to attack the enemy until an hour before 
 day -break ; in the interval, while resting in the woody 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 197 
 
 ground near Kawenzyn, he sent forward a patrol, 
 with directions to approach near enough to ascertain, 
 as far as practicable, the position, the strength, and 
 the nature of the force of the enemy, and sent an- 
 other patrol in the direction of the forest of elders to 
 reconnoitre the enemy there. Those patrols return- 
 ed with the intelligence, that the enemy's force could 
 not be great, as they could perceive no large detach- 
 ments placed as advanced posts. It was between 
 five and six in the morning, when the first fire ol 
 General Rybinski, at Kawenzyn, gave notice to the 
 2d division of Gielgud, at Praga, that it was the time 
 to advance. The brigade of cavalry under Kicki, 
 (6), with the 2d and 7th regiments of lancers, hav- 
 ing with them three pieces of cannon, spread out 
 their flankers, and advanced slowly, directed con- 
 tinually by the fire of General Rybinski, who in the 
 mean time had pushed two battalions at the charge, 
 supported by a few pieces of artillery, and had carried 
 the enemy's position by storm, and taken possession of 
 Kawenzyn. The enemy were instantly routed by this 
 impetuous attack, and lost three pieces of cannon. 
 The division passed through Kawenzyn, sent two bat- 
 talions (m) to Milosna, occupied the forest (A) in the 
 rear of the enemy's principal force, and commenced 
 a fire. When this fire was heard by our forces (B) 
 upon the main road, they pushed forward, and a gen- 
 eral and rapid advance was commenced under cover of 
 the thick fog. Two regiments of cossack cavalry, 
 (&), who were posted in columns near the Obelisk 
 of Iron, were borne down before them. A great 
 

 1 98 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 number of prisoners were taken on the spot. Our 
 brave lancers, under Kicki, animated by this success, 
 did not halt in their attack. They fell upon an ad- 
 vanced post of Russian artillery of three pieces (/) 
 near Grokow, and took them before they had time 
 to fire. By seven or eight o'clock, the enemy was 
 entirely surrounded, and his retreat by Milosna was 
 wholly cut'ofF. It was with the dissipation of the 
 fog that we witnessed the confusion into which had 
 been thrown the whole advanced guard of Giesmar, 
 composed of four regiments of sixteen battalions of 
 infantry (a), eight squadrons of cavalry (/*,), and twen- 
 ty-four pieces of cannon (/) The disorder of this 
 advanced guard was such, that the Russian battalions 
 had actually been firing against each other, and 
 that fire ceased only with the clearing up of the 
 fog. The 95th and 96th Russian regiments, amount- 
 ing to 5,000 men, with all their officers and colours, 
 were taken in a body, and with them the Brigadier 
 General Lewandowski. If the fog had continued 
 half an hour longer, so that we could have occupied 
 the road to Karczewo, the whole of this advanced 
 guard would have been taken ; for what remained of 
 them, saved themselves only by flying along that road. 
 This attack, which was the business of a few hours, 
 forced the enemy to quit his advantageous position 
 in the commanding forest, between Wawr and Mi- 
 losna, w r hich he had occupied for a month, and on 
 which he had constructed considerable fortifications. 
 Driven from this important position, he could only 
 expect to be subjected to still greater losses. At 
 

 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 199 
 
 Milosna(3), three battalions of the enemy, with four 
 pieces of cannon, placed as an isolated detachment, 
 were dispersed, and their cannon taken. Another 
 isolated detachment of cavalry of hussars and cos- 
 sacks of Czarno-morskie, posted at Janowek, met 
 the same fate, and prisoners were taken in every di- 
 rection. Our two divisions pursued the enemy with 
 unremitted celerity, and, followed by our main forces, 
 reached Dembe-Wielke, at which place was the 
 corps of General Rozen, composed of about 30,000 
 men and 40 pieces of cannon. 
 
 BATTLE OF DEMBE-WIELKE. [See Plan XVIIL] 
 
 As the enemy occupied the heights (D) of Dem- 
 be-Wielke, on the side of the marsh opposite to our 
 forces, which, to attack him, would have had to trav- 
 erse the dyke (k) constructed over this marsh, the 
 commanders of the two divisions considered it expe- 
 dient to await the arrival of our whole force, which 
 approached some hours after. General Skrzynecki, 
 satisfied that an attack made, over the dyke, upon 
 the commanding position of the enemy on the other 
 side, in broad day, would cost too great a sacrifice of 
 men, determined to amuse him by a constant fire of 
 our skirmishers (a), who advanced as far as the 
 marshy ground which divided the two armies would 
 permit. A little before night, the general in chief 
 ordered all the cavalry (6) to be brought together, 
 and formed in columns of attack, with the two squad- 
 
200 '. THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 rons of carbiniers, under the brave Colonel Szneyder, 
 at their head. At the approach of twilight, he 
 ordered these columns to pass the dyke on a trot, 
 and to throw themselves upon the enemy on the 
 right and left, attacking with the sabre. 
 
 While the cavalry was passing the dyke, the ar- 
 tillery (c) was to open a general fire, ceasing, howev- 
 er, when the passage of the dyke should be effected. 
 
 The order was given, and this mass of cavalry, 
 under the fire of the artillery, raised the hurrah, 
 and passed the dyke with the rapidity of lightning, 
 followed by our infantry, having at their head the 
 brave 4th regiment. The enemy was in such con- 
 sternation that he was not in a state to make a de- 
 fence, and his whole battery was overthrown. Full 
 three thousand prisoners were taken, together with 
 the entire battery, consisting of twelve pieces of 
 cannon of large calibre, some fifty voitures of dif- 
 ferent kinds, as caissons of ammunition, baggage- 
 wagons, &c., and a great number of horses.* In a 
 word, the corps of General Rosen was completely 
 broken up ; the coming on of night, and the forests, 
 alone saved them from total ruin. General Rosen 
 himself, with his suite, was pursued and was near be- 
 ing taken. All his equipage, consisting of three voi- 
 tures, fell into our hands. Thus ended the glo- 
 rious 30th of March. The generalissimo, who was 
 
 * The horses taken on that day, and at the battle of Wavre, were 
 employed to mount the entire new regiment of the Lancers of Au- 
 
 gUStOW. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 201 
 
 always in the advance, and who had personally ar- 
 ranged all the details of that day's operations, partic- 
 ularly at Dembe, justified well the high opinion which 
 the general officers and the army had entertained of 
 him. The 30th of March placed his name high on 
 the roll of distinguished leaders. On that memorable 
 day, two Russian corps, those of Giesmar and Rosen, 
 were completely broken up. It cost the enemy, in 
 dead, wounded arid prisoners, full 10,000 men and 22 
 pieces of cannon. On our side the loss was not more 
 than 500 killed and wounded. For the successes of 
 that day General Skrzynecki received from the gov- 
 ernment the order of the great Cross of Military Merit. 
 The general in chief was accompanied, during the ac- 
 tions by Prince Adam Czartoriski, and the members of 
 the National Government, Berzykowski and Mala- 
 kowski. 
 
 To follow up the pursuit [See Plan XIX.] of the 
 fragments of the two Russian corps, General Skrzy- 
 necki designated the division of cavalry (A) under 
 General Lubinski, with a battery of light artillery. 
 This detachment set out during the night, sending re- 
 connoissances to the right and left, to see that the 
 enemy did not prepare ambuscades. The army fol- 
 lowed this advanced guard, which soon overtook the 
 enemy (B), who was still in great disorder. Infan- 
 try, cavalry, artillery, and vehicles, were mingled to- 
 gether, pressing their retreat. At each step, our 
 cavalry took up prisoners. Upon some positions the 
 enemy attempted to make a stand, but every such 
 attempt was thwarted, and he was carried along be- 
 26 
 
202 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 fore our troops. This was the case in the position 
 of Minsk and of Jendrzeiow, where two regiments 
 of Russian cavalry were routed by the second regi- 
 ment of chasseurs. It was the same case in the 
 forest of Kaluszyn, where our artillery approached 
 the Russian rear-guard, and poured upon them a 
 fire of grape, which scattered death among their 
 ranks. The Russians, being no longer in a state to 
 make any stand whatever, fell into a panic, and 
 commenced a general flight. They were pursued 
 by General Lubinski as far as Kaluszyn, where 
 night closed upon the scene of destruction. 
 
 This day cost the enemy nearly as much as the 
 preceding. Besides their loss in dead and wounded, 
 3,000 prisoners fell into our hands, with three stand- 
 ards, four pieces of cannon, and a hundred vehicles 
 of baggage, ammunition, &c., in fact, the whole 
 baggage of the corps. But the most agreeable suc- 
 cess of our army, on that day, was the taking pos- 
 session of the hospitals of Minsk and Jendrzeiow, in 
 which as many as two hundred of our comrades were 
 lying wounded. To witness the joy of those brave 
 sufferers was recompense enough for all our fatigues. 
 The impetuosity of our attack was such, that the 
 enemy had not time to burn the magazines of Mi- 
 losna, Minsk, and Kaluszyn, which fell into our 
 hands. To make a recapitulation of the loss of the 
 enemy on those two days it was as follows : Two 
 of their generals, Lewandowski and Szuszerin, taken 
 prisoners, with as many as sixty officers, of different 
 grades, 15,000 soldiers in killed, wounded and pris- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 203 
 
 
 
 oners; 26 pieces of cannon, seven standards, 1,500 
 horses, a great quantity of different kinds of arms and 
 implements, and as many as 100 vehicles of various 
 kinds. 
 
 The disasters of these two Russian corps were the 
 cause of the abandonment of the plan which had been 
 adopted by Marshal Diebitsch, of passing the Vistula 
 between Pulawa and Maceiowice, opposite Kozienice, 
 with the greater part of his army ; and to execute 
 which he had left his position, on the latter days of 
 March, and had reached the environs of Ryk. [See 
 Plan XVI.] The fear of losing those two corps, to- 
 gether with the Guard, had led him to return in the 
 direction of the town of Kock, to afford them succour. 
 
 After these days, so fortunate for us, in which the 
 Russian forces were again driven from before the walls 
 of Warsaw, the position of their army was as follows. 
 Their right wing, formed of the remains of the 
 corps of Giesmar and Rosen, \vas at Boimie ; de- 
 tachments being also placed in the environs of Wen- 
 grow. The main body, under Diebitsch, was at 
 Kock. His advanced posts extended to Wodynie, 
 Szeroczyn, and Zelechow. The Russian Guard, 
 which, as we have said, had formed the plan of 
 joining their main body, and had left Ostrolenka by 
 the road through Wengrow, was obliged, in conse- 
 quence of the successes of our army, to abandon that 
 plan, and to retire again to the environs of Ostro- 
 lenka, where they now were posted. In the pala- 
 tinate of Lublin was the Russian corps under Gen- 
 eral Witt. 
 
204 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 The position of our army was as follows. Our 
 left wing was opposite Boimie. It sent out its re- 
 connoissances along the river Kostrzyn, as far as 
 Grombkow, Zimna-woda, and even beyond. The 
 head-quarters of the general in chief were with the 
 main body, at Latowicz. Our right wing was at 
 Siennica. Its reconnoissances were sent out as far 
 as Zelechow, at which place was a detached corps, 
 under the command of General Pac. In this man- 
 ner, the marshy rivers Kostrzyn and Swider cover- 
 ed our front. [Refer to Plan VI.] General Uminski, 
 with his detached corps, w r as at Rozany, in the pa- 
 latinate of Plock, opposed to the Russian guard. In 
 the environs of the fortress of Zamosc in the pa- 
 latinate of Lublin, opposed to the Russian corps 
 of General Witt, was the corps of General Dwer- 
 nicki. Besides this, a small corps was placed in the 
 environs of the town of Granica, upon the left bank 
 of the Vistula, under the command of General Sie- 
 rawski. 
 
 While the main forces were acting with such suc- 
 cess, thetwo detached corps, under Generals Uminski 
 and Dwernicki, had also fought gloriously, and gained 
 important advantages. The corps of General Dwer- 
 nicki spread terror in its vicinity, and the Russians 
 were compelled to send a new corps against him, 
 under the command of General Kreutz ; so that the 
 combined Russian forces opposed to him amounted to 
 20,000 men. Greatly superior as this force was, they 
 did not dare to attack General Dwernicki, who, rein- 
 forced every day by volunteers coming from Galicia 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 205 
 
 and Volhynia, soon found himself at the head of 
 4500 men, and 20 pieces of cannon. This corps, in 
 concert with the garrison of Zamosc, was sufficient 
 to hold in check all the operations of the enemy in 
 that quarter. 
 
 On the 25th of March, General Dwernicki sent a 
 reconnoissance as far as the environs of Usciulug, at 
 which place a new Russian corps, coming from Tur- 
 key, was expected to arrive. This reconnoissance 
 was composed of two battalions of infantry, one 
 company of Galician volunteers, three squadrons of 
 cavalry, and four pieces of cannon. The command- 
 er of this force was the brave Colonel Russyian. 
 The detachment arrived at the above place, and re- 
 ceived intelligence of the approach of an advanced 
 guard of the corps of General Rudiger, composed of 
 two regiments or six battalions of infantry, one regi- 
 ment of cossacks, ^and eight pieces of cannon. Col- 
 onel Russyian did not stay for the approach of this 
 guard. He took possession of the different batteaux 
 which were prepared for, and were awaiting the arri- 
 val of the Russian force at the distance of a league 
 from the town. Passing the river Bug, with his 
 corps, in these boats, he suddenly attacked the 
 Russian advanced guard with such success, that 
 he took two thousand prisoners, and six pieces of 
 cannon, and several hundred horses. With these 
 trophies he returned and joined the corps, to their 
 astonishment, for they had received but a single re- 
 port from him, and had no expectation of such re- 
 sults. The rumour of the continual successes of 
 
206 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 this corps of General Dwernicki, spread along the 
 borders of the Dnieper, reached the distant re- 
 gions of our brethren in the Ukraine, and awaken- 
 ed in them an ardent desire to unite themselves 
 to our cause. 
 
 For the continued and glorious advantages of this 
 corps, which commenced its operations with 3000 
 infantry, 800 cavalry, and three pieces of cannon ; 
 and had nearly destroyed two Russian corps, those 
 of Kreutz and Wirtemburg, taking 10,000 prisoners, 
 and thirty pieces of cannon, the 'national govern- 
 ment promoted its brave commander to the rank of 
 full general of cavalry ; and honored him with the sur- 
 name of the famous Czarnecki, the ancient Polish 
 chief.* 
 
 * General Dwernicki, who received, among other titles, that also 
 of the " Provider of cannon," used his cavalry so constantly in the. 
 charge upon artillery, that if the artillery of tne enemy began its fire, 
 and the charge was not ordered, our cavalry were always disappoint- 
 ed. This was the case at the battle of Kurow, on the 2d of March. 
 As the enemy in that battle had placed his artillery in a commanding- 
 position, and as General Dwernicki was awaiting the arrival of detach- 
 ments under Colonel Lagowski, in the direction of Belzge, he was not 
 disposed then to give the order for a charge, but preferred to amuse 
 the enemy by various manoeuvres of his cavalry. Passing down the 
 front of his lancers-, he observed that they wore a look of dissatisfactipn. 
 On noticing this, he was astonished, and demanded an explanation. 
 "What does this mean, my dear comrades," said he; "you arc 
 sad at a moment when, after so many victories, you ought to be joy- 
 ful." The lancers replied " Dear General, it is an hour since the en- 
 emy's artillery commenced their fire, and you do not allow us to charge 
 upon them." The General, smiling, answered, " Make yourselves con- 
 tent ; you shall soon have that satisfaction ; " and in a short time, as 
 the reader will remember, General Dwernicki, seeing the detachment 
 of Colonel Lagowski approaching, gave the order for an attack upon 
 the enemy's artillery, and in a moment they were driven from their 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 207 
 
 The general in chief communicated to General 
 Dwernicki his promotion, with the sincere thanks 
 of the national government ; and at the same time 
 sent him instructions and advice in regard to the 
 operations which he was then to follow. The corps 
 of General Dwernicki was to manoeuvre in such 
 a manner as to menace continually the left wing 
 of the Russian grand army. Keeping this object in 
 view, he was not, unless with the expectation of 
 some very extraordinary advantages, to remove 
 himself very far from the fortress of Zamosc. This 
 place was to serve as a point d'appui in every case 
 of sudden danger. About this point he was to man- 
 osuvre, and from thence he was to push himself, as 
 circumstances might allow, into the environs of Lub- 
 lin and Wlodawa, to trouble incessantly the above 
 mentioned wing, and even the rear of the Russian 
 grand army. In this instruction of keeping himself 
 near the fortress of Zamosc, and in the palatinate of 
 Lublin generally, another advantage was contem- 
 plated: viz. : that he might receive daily accessions of 
 volunteers from Volhynia and Podolia. Our brethren, 
 in those provinces, would hasten to join themselves 
 to his victorious eagles, (of which disposition, indeed, 
 he received continual evidence,) and, in this man- 
 ner, his corps would be gradually increased by such 
 
 position, sabred, and ten pieces of their cannon taken. The Rus- 
 sians, to whom the name of Dwernicki was a terror, would speak 
 of him in the following manner : " What can we make of such a 
 general ? He performs no manoeuvres, and never permits our artillery 
 to fire. His generalship appears to lie only in taking possession at 
 once of our cannon ! " 
 
208 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 aid from those provinces, without attracting the at- 
 tention of the enemy. As the provinces of Volhynia 
 and Podolia, from their geographical character, hav- 
 ing no large forests, were not in a state to carry on 
 a partizan warfare, as was quite practicable in 
 Lithuania and Samogitia, and also, as the Russians 
 had several corps upon the frontiers of Turkey, 
 which, by being concentrated in that open country, 
 might be dangerous to our small forces, General 
 Skrzynecki was of the opinion that General Dwer- 
 nicki, by keeping near the frontiers of the above- 
 mentioned provinces, should rather act by a moral 
 influence upon their inhabitants, than hazard certain 
 advantages by entering them. The river Wieprz 
 was to be the leaning point of his left wing, and the 
 river Bug of his right. Between those two rivers, 
 in a woody and marshy region, he would find many 
 strong natural- positions. Of such he would take 
 advantage, and endeavour to strengthen them by dif- 
 ferent fortifications. General Dwernicki, in receiv- 
 ing these instructions, was also invested with full 
 powers, by the National Government, to institute a 
 provisional administration over the above provinces, 
 (in case that circumstances should lead him to 
 establish a footing there,) similar to that of the king- 
 dom in general, and to bring them into a state 
 to act with effect in concert with the rest of the 
 kingdom. 
 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 209 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 The insurrection in Lithuania. Dispositions of the Lithuanians at the 
 breaking out of our revolution. Their offers of co-operation were re- 
 jected by the Dictator. View of the condition of Lithuania under the 
 Russian sway. Scheme of the Russian government to destroy all 
 Polish national feeling in that province. The insurrection is brought 
 about by the massacre of the patriots at Osmiany. Capture of numer- 
 ous towns by the insurgents, and dispersion of their garrisons. Storm 
 of Wilna, and delivery of prisoners. Several partizan corps are form- 
 ed. Their destination and successes. 
 
 IT had pleased Providence thus far to make the success 
 of our arms, in every point, a just chastisement of our 
 enemy, and encouraged by this success, the nation had 
 begun to cherish the brightest hopes from the future. 
 Their confidence and exultation were complete, 
 when the report was received, that our brethren in 
 Lithuania and Samogitia had risen to break the yoke 
 of despotism, and had openly commenced a revolu- 
 tion. The certain confirmation of this happy intel- 
 ligence was brought to the kingdom by one of the 
 students of the University of Wilna. This brave 
 young man belonged to the patriotic club which had 
 been secretly formed there, and that club had sent 
 him to Warsaw to carry the authentic intelligence 
 of the insurrection.* 
 
 * The young Lithuanian, whose name was Szymanski, had passed, 
 on foot, two hundred and eighty miles in eight days, in the vilest 
 habit of a beggar, and even without shoes, through forests, marshes, 
 and fords, to avoid interception, exposed in fact to every kind of 
 privation. He arrived on the 4th of April, at the camp of the gene- 
 
 27 
 

 210 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 Then it was, at last, that the voice of liberty was 
 heard upon the shores of the Baltic, and at the sources 
 of the Dwina and the Niemen ; and with this voice, 
 was heard that of union with ancient Poland. The 
 brave inhabitants of this immense region, animated 
 with an attachment for us, the strength of which 
 ages had proved, regarded themselves only as a part 
 of one great family with ourselves. Almost within 
 hearing of the bloody combats which had been 
 fought, they could not restrain themselves from join- 
 ing in the struggle, and acting side by side with us, 
 for our common Poland. 
 
 Before I enter upon the details of this revolution 
 in Lithuania, the reader will permit me to refer him 
 (in the Appendix,) to a short description of that coun- 
 try and a view of its connexion with Poland, which 
 is, in general, so imperfectly understood. 
 
 The Lithuanians of Wilna knew, four days after 
 the 29th of November, that Warsaw had given the 
 signal of a new Polish insurrection. A deputation 
 was immediately sent by them to the dictator Chlo- 
 picki, announcing to him that all Lithuania, and 
 particularly the Lithuanian corps d'armee, of 60,000 
 strong, was ready to pass to the side of the Poles. 
 But that inexplicable and lamentable dictatorship 
 rejected this offer, so great and so generous. The 
 
 ralissimo, at Jendrzeiow, where he was received with great en- 
 thusiasm. He was immediately sent to Warsaw, to announce the 
 happy intelligence to the people. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 211 
 
 Lithuanians, however, not despairing, waited for a 
 more propitious moment ; and scarcely was the dic- 
 tatorship abolished, when the national government, 
 thanks to the thoughtful care of Joachim Lelewell, 
 addressed itself officially to the Lithuanian committee. 
 Every disposition was made for a rising at a time 
 agreed upon, which at length arrived. 
 
 It would not be in my power to give the reader 
 a just idea of the tyranny and persecution to which 
 the Polish provinces united to Russia were subjected. 
 If the kingdom was oppressed, it has always had some 
 glimmer of constitutional right, but in the provinces 
 the only constitution was absolute power. Those 
 provinces, abounding in resources, and which, if they 
 had been protected by free laws, would have been, 
 as they formerly were, the granary of Europe, pre- 
 sented every where traces of misery, being ex- 
 posed to the abuses of the Russian administration 
 and its agents, who wrung them to the last drop, to 
 enrich themselves. Justice was unknown. Some- 
 times the governors, or sprawnaks, men of most de- 
 praved conduct, changed the laws at their own will, 
 and not to obey that will was to be subject to be sent 
 into Siberia. All those provinces were submerged 
 by the Russian military, who w r ere quartered in every 
 village ; and those soldiers, receiving only the small 
 compensation of a groat a day, which was altogether 
 insufficient for their subsistence, levied upon the in- 
 habitants the means of their support. But the 
 cause of the greatest suffering in Lithuania, was, 
 that, in order to destroy all sympathy between sol- 
 
212 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 diers and peasantry, and all national feeling in the Li- 
 thuanian soldiers, most of the levies from that province 
 were sent to serve on the barbarian frontiers of Asia, 
 while Russian soldiers were substituted for them, who 
 were without any sympathy with the inhabitants, and 
 who would be regardless of their feelings in their de- 
 portment towards them, and merciless in their exac- 
 tions. It was not so under Alexander, this arrange- 
 ment was made by Nicholas. No idea can be given 
 of the distress which it caused. Many a family was 
 obliged to deny themselves their necessary food, to sup- 
 ply the demands of the military tyrant who was quar- 
 tered upon them. The peasantry in those provinces 
 were treated like brutes. No civilization, not the least 
 glimmer of light, not a school was permitted. That 
 poor race were kept in a state so degraded, that 
 the elements of civilization seemed to be lost in 
 them, and the possibility of their being recovered 
 seemed almost hopeless. 
 
 One of the greatest evils was the systematic en- 
 deavor to destroy all national sympathy with Po- 
 land. The Russians carried their oppression indeed 
 so far as to change the religion of the country, and to 
 introduce the Greek schism. But through all these 
 persecutions, Providence saved that people from losing 
 their national sentiments as Poles. On the contrary, 
 they have proved that neither time nor persecutions 
 will ever destroy that attachment, but will, indeed, 
 rather strengthen it. The late insurrections in Li- 
 thuania and Samogitia, which have been so long 
 under the Russian government, and the inhabitants 
 of which hastened to take up their arms, at the signal 
 
I 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 213 
 
 f 
 
 of our revolution, afford a sufficient evidence of this at- 
 tachment. What deserves especially to be noticed, is, 
 that in Lithuania it was the peasants and the priests, 
 joined with the youths of the academies, who first be- 
 gan the revolt, and who were the most zealous de- 
 fenders of the common cause. That heroic people 
 commenced the revolution without any munitions, and 
 without any arms but the implements of husbandry. 
 Armed in most cases with clubs alone, they aban- 
 doned all to unite in our aid^and fought with courage 
 and success for nearly two months, against the dif- 
 ferent Russian corps, before the corps of Geilgud and 
 Chlapowski arrived, which, instead of succoring them, 
 by the misconduct of their generals, sacrificed the 
 Lithuanians, as well as themselves, and gave the first 
 downward impulse to our cause. 
 
 The insurrection of Lithuania and Samogitia, was 
 propagated with rapidity through all the depart- 
 ments of those provinces. The commencement was 
 made in the departments of Osmiany and Troki, 
 accelerated by the following circumstance. 
 
 Many of the patriots, for the purpose of consulting 
 upon the different arrangements for the revolt, had 
 secretly assembled on the last of March at Osmiany, 
 and held their secret conferences in the church of 
 the place. While occupied in this manner, a loud 
 shouting was heard in the town. A regiment of 
 cossacks had entered the place, and a great part of 
 the regiment surrounded the church. The doors were 
 broken down, and the cossacks entered and sabred the 
 unfortunate men within these sacred walls. Wound- 
 
214 TH POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 ed as they were, those who survived the attack were 
 thrown into wagons to be carried to Wilna. But 
 in this the barbarians did not succeed. A few es- 
 caped from their bloody hands, ran into the suburbs of 
 the town and collected the peasantry, and on that 
 very night, some hundreds of the inhabitants having 
 been got together, Osmiany was attacked with the 
 greatest fury by the patriots. Several hundreds 
 of cossacks were massacred. The others took flight, 
 and the poor prisoners were delivered. Froni that 
 moment the flame spread to the departments of Wil- 
 na, Wilkomierz, Rosseyny, and Szawla. In a few 
 weeks, more than twelve towns were taken by storm, 
 and the Russian garrisons driven out and dispersed. 
 The principal of these towns were Jarbourg, Szawla, 
 Keydany, Willcomierz, Kowno, Troki, Swienciany, 
 Rossienice and Beysagola. In a short time, more 
 than a thousand Russians fell under the blows of 
 the Lithuanians, and another thousand were taken 
 prisoners. The Lithuanians accoutred themselves 
 with their arms. Some hundred horses, and sev- 
 eral pieces of cannon were also taken. The most 
 bloody affair was the storm of Wilna, on the night of 
 the 4th of April. Two hundred Lithuanians attacked 
 this town, and fought with 4,000 Russian infantry, 
 (nearly two regiments,) six squadrons of cavalry, and 
 twelve pieces of cannon. For the whole night, the 
 Lithuanians pressed their attack with fury. They 
 took the powder magazine, and arsenal, where they 
 found many arms. But the most consolatory success 
 was, the rescuing of some hundred patriotic students, 
 

 * 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 215 
 
 and proprietors, who had been confined in prison 
 there for years. The battle of Keydany and Szer- 
 winty was also severe, and the valor of the brave 
 Lithuanians was equally displayed there. At Key- 
 dany, twenty of the brave youths of the academy 
 defended the bridge over the Niewiaza, against two 
 squadrons of cavalry, while, on the other side, some 
 hundreds of those brave youths made a storm upon 
 the city, and routed the garrrison, which consisted 
 of three squadrons of hussars. In a word, not quite 
 2,000 Lithuanians, armed in the most defective 
 manner, commenced the struggle, and drove out gar- 
 risons to the amount of eight or ten thousand Rus- 
 
 o 
 
 sian regular troops, spreading consternation through- 
 out the whole of the enormous space between the 
 Dwina and the Niemen. Their numbers were soon 
 augmented, and armed with weapons taken from the 
 Russians. Their forces were afterwards divided in- 
 to several small detached partizan corps, which re- 
 ceived the following destination. 1st, the corps un- 
 der the command of B***, consisting of about 1,500 
 infantry and 100 horse, was to observe the territory 
 upon the Russian frontier, between Jarbourg, upon 
 the Niemen, as far as the frontier of Courland. This 
 corps was to interrupt the transport of provisions 
 from the Russian territory, and also to keep a com- 
 munication between the ports of the Baltic Sea, 
 Lipaw r a and Polonga, so as to secure a correspon- 
 dence with foreign vessels which might arrive with 
 ammunition and other aid for Poland. The 2d corps 
 consisted of about 2,000 infantry, under the command 
 
216 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 of P***, and Z***, and were to act between Uceamy 
 and Dawgeliszki. There this corps of partizans was 
 to profit by the strong positions which the nature of 
 the country offers, among its lakes and forests. This 
 corps 'was to observe the great road which leads 
 through that county from St. Petersburgh to War- 
 saw, and to surprise and attack all the Russian de- 
 tachments which might pass that road, on their way 
 to Poland. 
 
 To act in communication with this corps, and 
 against the garrison of Wilna, was designated a 
 3d corps, under the command of M***, composed of 
 nearly 2,000 infantry and 100 cavalry. This corps 
 made itself severely felt. A fourth small detachment, 
 under the command of B***, of about 800 strong, 
 acted in the department of Grodno, and occupied a 
 part of the forest of Bialowiez. 
 
 Besides these, was a detachment of 400 horse, un- 
 der the command of V***. This detachment was 
 constantly in movement, and kept open the commu- 
 nications between the other corps, and acted as occa- 
 sion required. It was especially to attempt to sur- 
 prise the enemy's artillery, which was often sent in 
 an unprotected state. This detachment of cavalry, 
 with the first-named corps under the command of 
 B***, attacked so suddenly and vigorously the Rus- 
 sian corps under the command of General Szyrman, 
 that they were forced to take refuge upon the Prus- 
 sian territory at Memel. The Prussians received 
 them, and afterwards permitted them to leave with 
 their arms and ammunition. This was not the 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 217 
 
 first nor the last example of such relief of our 
 enemy by Prussia. 
 
 The insurrections of Lithuania and Samogitia, 
 which had begun so sucessfully and gave the hope 
 of extending to the borders of the Dnieper and 
 the Black Sea, could not but threaten the utmost 
 danger to the Russian forces which had entered the 
 kingdom, and it was from this moment that that 
 army was in a most critical situation, as every mili- 
 tary judge will perceive. The danger of their posi- 
 tion was still more to be augmented by our success 
 in the battle of Igani, on the 9th of April. 
 
218 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Plan of operation against the two corps of Rosen and Kreutz. Battle of 
 Igani. Reflections on the state of the Polish cause after the victory 
 oflgani. Review of the course of the campaign. Condition of the 
 Russian army .-Discontents in Russia. Representations of the Se- 
 nate at St. Petersburgh to the Emperor. Comparative view of the 
 forces of the two armies at the present stage of the conflict. 
 
 MARSHAL DIEBITSCH, as is known to the reader, was 
 forced, by our victories of the 31st of March and the 
 1st of April, to abandon his new plan of passing the 
 Vistula opposite to Kozienice, and to think of noth- 
 ing further at present, than of saving the two corps of 
 Rosen and Giesmar, and the Guard. He was so far 
 separated from them while between Kock and Ryk, 
 where he then was, that by a prompt diversion on 
 our part, by Lukow, he might have lost those corps, 
 and it was in fear of this, that he hastened to arrive as 
 soon as possible to their succor at Siedlce. Our gen- 
 eral in chief thought to anticipate this movement, and 
 to throw himself upon the combined corps of Giesmar 
 and Rosen, before Diebitsch should reach them.* 
 
 * Every military reader, who shall follow, with strict attention, the 
 plans of our general in strategy and tactics-, will be astonished, per- 
 haps, that after such victories as those of the 31st of March and the 
 1st of April, he should have abandoned the advantages which he might 
 have gained, in following up, immediately, his operations upon the two 
 corps of Rosen and Giesmar, and then throwing himself rapidly upon 
 the superior forces of Diebitsch, which, after those corps were cut off, 
 could, by a simultaneous diversion upon Zelechow and Lukow, [See 
 P/an], have been attacked on both sides, and thrown into confusion. 
 
THE POLISH -REVOLUTION. 219 
 
 BATTLE OF IGANI. [See Plans XX. and XXL] 
 
 On the 9th of April, the Russian army was nearly 
 in the same position as we have last described them. 
 The main body, under Marshal Diebitsch, were in 
 the environs of Kock, and the combined corps of 
 Rosen and Giesmar [Plan XX. (a)], were upon the 
 small river Kostrzyn (6), at Boimie. Our army 
 also had not changed its position. 
 
 The following were the dispositions for the at- 
 tack. The reader, on examining the plan, will see 
 that the two corps opposed to our forces, which 
 were at Latowicz (e), were too far advanced, which 
 exposed them to be turned on their left wing, and 
 even taken in the rear, if our forces there (c), 
 should succeed in driving back the forces (e) of the 
 enemy on the road (d) from Latowicz by Wodynia 
 to Siedlce. To execute this movement the order 
 was given that when the first division of infantry 
 (/), supported by twenty-four pieces of cannon, 
 should commence the attack upon the great road 
 opposite Boimie, the third division (g), having with 
 them the brigade of cavalry of Kicki, should leave 
 the position at Latowicz before day-break, and 
 
 Although I cannot give a satisfactory explanation of this apparent 
 fault, it must be considered, that those subsequent events which 
 give a colour to the imputation, could not perhaps have then been 
 reasonably anticipated by the general ; and the talent so uniformly 
 displayed by Skrzynecki should force us to suppose that there were 
 some conclusive objections to such a course, occuring to his mind, 
 which are not now apparent to the observer. 
 
220 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 take the direction of Wodynia, to attack the forces 
 which it might find there ; but if those forces should 
 be found greatly superior, the division was to remain 
 in a strong position at Jeruzalem (/&). If it should 
 succeed in driving back the enemy's forces, it was to 
 take the road on the left, leading from Wodynia 
 through Igani (i) to Siedlce. Every effort was to 
 be directed to the point of arriving as soon as possi- 
 ble upon the dyke (&) at Igani, which leads over the 
 marshes of the river Sucha (/). By a prompt ma- 
 noeuvre of this kind, the enemy could not, as we 
 have said, escape being turned. For the better ex- 
 ecution of this plan, the enemy was to be harassed 
 on the main road, in order that General Prondzyn- 
 ski 5 who was to command the expedition to Wody- 
 nia, might have time to manoeuvre upon the en- 
 emy's flank. 
 
 A division of cavalry (m), under the command of 
 General Stryinski, was to leave Bonnie, and take a 
 direction on the left, towards the village of Gruski, 
 to pass there the fords of the river Kostrzyn,.and in 
 case of the retreat of the enemy, to fall upon his 
 right wing. 
 
 Having issued these instructions, the general in 
 chief, confiding the command of the little corps 
 which was to act upon the enemy's left wing at 
 Wodynia, to General Prondzynski, left himself for 
 Boimie, to lead the attack in person upon the main 
 road. As was the case in the position at Boimie, 
 [Refer to Plan II.], we were separated from the en- 
 emy by the marshes of the river Kostrzyn. The two 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 221 
 
 ruined bridges upon the dyke not permitting either 
 ourselves or the enemy to pass, the generalissimo con- 
 tented himself with opening a fire of artillery upon 
 the Russian position, in order to occupy the atten- 
 tion of the enemy, while preparations were made 
 to repair the bridges sufficiently to admit a passage. 
 The moment that the work was to be put in exe- 
 cution was to be decided by the time and the di- 
 rection in which the fire of General Prondzynski 
 should be heard. If the latter general should suc- 
 ceed on the enemy's flank, then, of course, the bridges 
 were to be reconstructed, if not, they were to remain 
 in their present state to obstruct the passage of the 
 enemy. Several hours were occupied in this fire of 
 artillery, and in slight manoeuvres of the light troops, 
 when at last, between eight and nine o'clock, the 
 fire of General Prondzynski was heard, who had evi- 
 dently passed Wodynia, and had begun acting on 
 the enemy's flank. This was the signal to com- 
 mence repairing the bridges. General Skrzynecki, 
 with his suite, superintended the work, arid several 
 battalions were employed in bringing together the 
 materials. A degree of consternation was observed 
 in the enemy's forces, in consequence of the attack 
 on his ilank, arid his columns began a movement; 
 but his artillery continued in their position, and com- 
 menced a terrible fire upon our men, engaged in 
 reconstructing the bridges. The presence of mind, 
 however, of the general in chief, who exposed 
 himself at the most dangerous points, encouraged 
 the men to persevere in their labours under this 
 
222 THE POLISH REVOLUT10JN. 
 
 destructive fire of artillery.* When the fire on 
 his flank was at its height, the enemy began to 
 withdraw his artillery, and commenced a retreat. 
 By between 10 and 11 o'clock no part of the enemy's 
 forces were remaining upon the plain of Boimie ; 
 but, although the work of repairing the bridges was 
 pressed to the utmost, it was near two o'clock be- 
 fore they could be brought to such a state as to ad- 
 mit the passage of artillery; and although several 
 battalions of the infantry had passed over before this, 
 they were not able, without too much exposure, to 
 overtake the enemy, who was in rapid retreat, leav- 
 ing his cavalry as a rear guard. It was not until 
 the last mentioned hour, that the whole division 
 passed the bridges, and pressed forward at a rapid 
 pace in the pursuit, the cavalry advancing upon the 
 trot. While this was taking place upon the great 
 road to Boimie, General Prondzynski (A), who, ac- 
 cording to his instructions, advanced to Wodynia, 
 found there a division of sixteen squadrons of Rus- 
 sian cavalry, whom he drove from their position : he 
 
 * During the re-construction of these bridges, under such a fire, no 
 terms can express the admirable conduct of our commander and 
 his suite, who directed the work in person. The general and his 
 officers all laboured with their own hands at this important task. 
 Some of them were wounded. Our brave soldiers, witnessing the fine 
 example of their chief, shouted their patriotic songs, as they worked, 
 under this destructive fire. While a party of them were placing some 
 trunks of trees, a shell fell among them. To have left their labour in 
 order to avoid the danger, would have delayed the work, they therefore 
 remained in their places, and with the noise of the explosion was min- 
 gled the shout of " Poland forever ! " Providence granted that in that 
 exposed labour our loss was very inconsiderable. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 223 
 
 pursued them in the direction of Siedlce, and reached 
 the environs of Igani, \See Plan XXL], where he saw 
 the corps of Rosen and Giesmar (B) in full retreat. 
 At this moment the position of General Prondzynski 
 was also critical ; for, as the reader is already aware, 
 our main army was not in a condition to follow the 
 enemy, on account of the obstruction from the 
 broken bridges. If the enemy had thrown himself 
 upon Prondzynski, they could have crushed him, and 
 with their other forces could have safely passed the 
 dyke (a) at Igani, before our main forces, retarded 
 as they were, could have arrived. This danger was 
 perceived by Prondzynski, and he therefore contented 
 himself with driving the division of Russian cavalry 
 (C) from a position they had taken upon the heights 
 of Igani, (a task which was bravely executed by the 
 cavalry of Kicki, and in which the colonel Mycielski 
 was wounded) and occupying that position himself, 
 placing there the brigade of Romarino to defend it. 
 
 It was between four and five o'clock that Prondzyn- 
 ski first perceived our lancers (D) advancing upon the 
 main road. A great part of the enemy, particularly 
 of their cavalry, had not yet passed the dyke (a) , be- 
 ing obstructed by their artillery. Generals Prondzyn- 
 ski and Romarino, dismounting from their horses, with 
 carbines in their hands, placed themselves at the head 
 of their columns, and commenced a fire of artillery, to 
 apprize our advancing cavalry of their position. At 
 the sound of this fire, the cavalry of Lubinski in- 
 stantaneously raised the hurrah, rushed forward, and 
 as they approached near the brigade of Romarino, 
 
224 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 threw themselves at the charge upon that portion 
 of the enemy's rear guard which had not yet passed 
 the dyke. Our infantry and cavalry thus fell simul- 
 taneously upon them, the enemy were terribly cut 
 up, and the battle was gained. Nearly five Rus- 
 sian battalions, amounting to 4,000 men, with 
 their officers, amounting to near 100, their standards, 
 and eight pieces of cannon of large calibre, were 
 taken. Six -regiments of cavalry were dispersed, 
 many of them were lost in the marshes of the 
 river into which they were driven, and several 
 hundred men and horse were taken prisoners there. 
 In this battle, which may be counted one of the finest 
 in the campaign, the circumstance that our main 
 force was retarded by the state of the bridges, alone 
 saved the enemy from total ruin. It is to be remark- 
 ed that the 2d division of cavalry of General Stryin- 
 ski, did not improve its time, and effected nothing 
 upon the right flank of the enemy, as the instructions 
 contemplated. The negligence of that general was 
 inexcusable, and the commander in chief deprived 
 him of his command. We lost in this battle 
 about five hundred men, in killed and wounded. 
 The brave General Prondzynski was slightly wound- 
 ed. Before night the two armies were not at the 
 distance of a cannon-shot from each other, but all 
 was tranquil. The disorder and consternation of 
 the enemy may be imagined, when it is stated that 
 our columns took position before their eyes, on the 
 field of Igani, without being in the least disturbed by 
 them. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 225 
 
 The reader will permit me to fix his attention up- 
 on the epoch of the battle of Igani, which was in- 
 deed the brightest moment of our war, the moment 
 of the highest glory of the Polish arms, the moment 
 of the most confident hopes, the moment when every 
 Pole in imagination saw his country already restored 
 to its ancient glory. Let us then, from this point, cast 
 a look backwards to the.commencement of this terri- 
 ble contest. Two months before, that enormous Rus- 
 sian force had invaded our country, defended as it was 
 by a mere handful of her sons ; and any one who had 
 seen that immense army enter upon our soil, could not 
 but have looked on Poland with commiseration, as 
 about to be instantaneously annihilated. In this ex- 
 pectation, in fact, all Europe looked on, and at every 
 moment the world expected to hear of the terrible ca- 
 tastrophe, to see Poland again in chains, and the 
 Russian arms reposing on the borders of the Rhine. 
 Such, in fact, were the expectations and even the pro- 
 mises of Marshal Diebitsch. Providence, however, 
 willed otherwise. The first shock of the Polish arms 
 with the Russians taught the latter what was the moral 
 strength of patriotism, what a nation can do for love 
 of country and of liberty. The fields of Seidlce, 
 Dobre, and Stoczek, the first witnesses of our 
 triumphs, and the grave of so many of our enemies, 
 taught them to respect the nation which they ex- 
 pected to subdue, made them repent the audacity of 
 having passed our frontiers, and gave them a terrible 
 presage of how dearly they would have to pay for 
 this unjust invasion of our soil. Battle upon battle 
 29 
 
226 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 was given, in which the enemy were uniformly subject- 
 ed to the severest losses. The two great roads leading 
 from different directions to Warsaw, on which they 
 had followed the Poles, were covered with their dead. 
 Thus subjected to loss at every step, the enemy 
 reached at last the field of Praga, and there collect- 
 ing all his forces in one body, under a tremendous fire 
 of artillery, he thought to overpower our small forces. 
 But he failed to do it. The immortal day of the 25th 
 of February was nearly the destruction of his enor- 
 mous force, and, after fifteen days of severe fighting^ 
 that great army which was designed to destroy Poland 
 and to make Europe tremble, was brought to a state of 
 extremity. The autocrat and his marshal blushed at 
 the menaces which they had uttered. Poland be- 
 lieved that the former would reflect upon those bloody 
 struggles and the immense losses which he had suf- 
 fered, and would be unwilling to continue such sac- 
 rifices. Nearly 50,000 Russians were already sacri- 
 ficed. How many more lives might he not still lose ? 
 The Poles, although conquerors, held out the hand of 
 reconciliation, as the letters that Skrzynecki address- 
 ed to Diebitsch have proved. In those letters, written 
 with the utmost cordiality, frankness, and directness, 
 he invited the Russian commander to present the real 
 state of things to the monarch, and to assure him 
 that the Poles longed to put an end to this fraternal 
 struggle. A word of justice, of good will, indicative 
 of a disposition to act for the happiness of the nation, 
 and to observe the privileges which the constitution 
 granted, a word of this nature, from the lips of the 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 227 
 
 monarch, would have disarmed the Poles, blood would 
 have ceased to flow, and those arms outstretched for 
 the fight, would have thrown away the sabre, and 
 would have been extended towards him as to a father, 
 to him, the author of a happy reconciliation. He 
 would have been immortalized in history, and would 
 have taken a place by the side of Titus. 
 
 Far, however, from that true and noble course, 
 that proud autocrat, as well as his servant, Diebitsch, 
 thought little of the thousands of human beings he 
 was sacrificing : far from such magnanimous con- 
 duct, he sent for other thousands to be sacrificed, to 
 gratify his arrogance and ambition. He contrives 
 new plans to pass the Vistula. It was not enough 
 to have covered four palatinates with ruin on one side 
 of that river. He determines to spread devastation 
 and ruin upon the other also : in fine, to attack 
 Warsaw, and bury in its own ruins that beautiful cap- 
 ital, the residence of the successors of Piast and 
 Jagellow, and where he himself could have reigned 
 in tranquillity, by only having been just and good. 
 In the execution of this plan of destruction, he was 
 arrested and justly punished upon the glorious days 
 of the 31st of March and the 1st of April, which, 
 in conjunction with the recent revolutions in Lithu- 
 ania and Samogitia, and the recent battle of Igani, 
 seemed to threaten the ruin of his army. 
 
 The Russian army was now in a state of the great- 
 est disaffection, being posted in a devastated country, 
 and having their resources for subsistence entire- 
 ly cut off by the state of Lithuania and Samogitia. 
 
228 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 In addition to their immense losses in action, fatigue, 
 sickness, and other inconveniences had reduced them 
 to a state of extreme distress. Besides the influence 
 of physical evils, there was a moral influence which di- 
 minished their strength, arising from the conviction 
 that begun to be forced upon them, of the justice of 
 the Polish cause. The Russian soldiers began also to 
 reflect, that by thus serving the ends of despotism, 
 they were only securing the continuance of their own 
 servitude. These reflections were not made by the 
 army alone, but, as we were secretly advised by per- 
 sons coming from the interior of Russia, they were 
 made there also, and were accompanied with the 
 same sentiments of discontent. At St. Petersburgh, 
 as well as at Moscow, various discontents were mani- 
 fested, and notices of such must have met the eye 
 of the reader in the journals of the day. The Sen- 
 ate of St. Petersburgh presented to the consideration 
 of the monarch the continual severe losses of the pre- 
 ceding years, in the wars with Persia and Turkey, 
 and those of this campaign, (though much underrated 
 by them,) which they had reason to fear would be still 
 increased, and which might encourage revolutions in 
 all the provinces. For these reasons the senate took 
 upon themselves to advise some propitiatory mea- 
 sures, and some attempt by concessions to satisfy the 
 demands of the Poles. The party most zealous in 
 favor of such a course was composed of those who 
 had relations and friends exiled to Siberia, on account 
 of the revolutionary movement of 1825. The Rus- 
 sian patriots in general, not only thought it a favorable 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 229 
 
 moment to attempt to effect an amelioration of the 
 fate of those individuals, but they hoped that the 
 restoration of their ancient constitutional privileges 
 and nationality to the Polish provinces attached to 
 Russia, would authorise a claim for equal privileges 
 to the people of the whole Russian empire. 
 
 To these circumstances, is to be added that at this 
 time the other cabinets began to feel dissatisfied at the 
 course of Russia, and decidedly refused the requests of 
 aid in men and money which she made on the pretext 
 of former treaties. Every thing, in fine, seemed to 
 promise a near end of the present difficulties. The 
 Polish army, to whom this .state of things was well 
 known, waited impatiently for the moment of a de- 
 cisive contest. One victory more, and the Russians 
 would not be in a state to push their attempts further. 
 Nothing could then stop the progress of our arms, 
 which would rest on the borders of the Dnieper, the 
 only frontier known to our ancestors. One struggle 
 more, and the darkness of ages, which had hung over 
 the Polish provinces of the North, would be dis- 
 persed. The light of civilization would then spread 
 its rays as far as the Ural mountains, and with that 
 civilization a new happiness would cheer those im- 
 mense regions. Upon the borders of the Dnieper 
 fraternal nations would hold out their hands towards 
 us, and there would be made the great appeal : 
 " Russians ! why all this misery ? The Poles wish 
 to deprive you of nothing. Nay, they have even 
 sacrificed their children for your good. Russians ! 
 Awake to a sense of your condition ! You, like us, 
 are only the unhappy victims of the relentless will 
 
230 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 of those who find their account in oppressing you and 
 us. Let us end this struggle, caused by despotism 
 alone. Let it be our common aim to rid ourselves of 
 its cruel power. It is despotism alone that we have 
 any interest in fighting against. Let us mark these 
 frontiers, which so much fraternal blood has been shed 
 to regain, by monuments, that shall tell posterity, 
 that here ended forever the contest between brothers, 
 which shall recall the disasters that despotism has 
 caused, and be a memorial of eternal friendship be- 
 tween us, and of eternal warning to tyranny." 
 
 A COMPARATIVE VIEW OF THE FORCES OF THE TWO ARMIES AFTER 
 THE BATTLE OF IGANI. 
 
 The Russian forces, which commenced the con- 
 test on the 10th of December, amounted, as has 
 been before stated, to about 200,000 men and 300 
 pieces of cannon. That army received two rein- 
 forcements, viz. the corps of General. Prince Sza- 
 chowski, consisting of 20,000 men, and 36 pieces 
 qf cannon ; and the corps of the Imperial Guard, 
 consisting also of 20,000 men and 36 pieces of 
 cannon. The whole Russian force, then, which had 
 fought against us amounted to 240,000 men, and 
 372 pieces of cannon. 
 
 To act against this force, our army, counting the 
 reinforcements of 6000 men which it received before 
 the battle of Grokow, had in service about 50,000 
 men, and about 100 pieces of cannon. Up to the battle 
 of Igani, fifteen principal battles had been given, viz. 
 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 23 * 
 
 those of Stoczek, Dobre, Milosna, Swierza and Nowa- 
 wies, Bialolenka (on the 20th and 24th), Grokow (on 
 the 20th, and 25th), Nasielsk, Pulawa, Kurow, Wawr 
 (on the 18th and the 31st), Dembe-Wielkie and 
 Igani. To these are to be added a great number of 
 small skirmishes, in not one of which could it have 
 been said that the Russians were successful. By 
 their own official reports, after the battle of Gro- 
 kow, more than fifty thousand Russians were hors du 
 combat. It will not, then, be an exaggeration to say, 
 that their whole loss, taking in prisoners and those 
 who fell under the ravages of the cholera, which had 
 begun to extend itself in their army, must have 
 
 amounted to between 80,000 and 100,000 men.* 
 
 
 
 * I cannot pretend to give the reader an accurate idea of the num- 
 ber of prisoners which were taken during the first days of April. 
 From the battle of Wavre to that of Igani, not a day passed in which 
 great numbers of them, with baggage and effects of all kinds, were 
 not brought in. They must have amounted in that interval to full 
 16,000. Those prisoners arrived generally without escort, and it was 
 often the case that old men and even women of the peasantry were 
 seen leading them, or rather showing them the way, two or three 
 peasants, perhaps, with twenty prisoners. This continual influx of 
 prisoners gave a name in fact to that interval of time, which was re- 
 ferred to, as "the Period of the Prisoners." The inhabitants of War- 
 saw found an amusement in witnessing this continual arrival of the 
 captured Russians. "Let us go to Praga, to see the prisoners 
 brought in," was a proposition often made, as referring to an or- 
 dinary recreation which might be counted on with perfect certainty. 
 If, for a half day, no prisoners appeared, the complaint would be 
 sportively made, "What is Mr. John about, (referring to Skrzynecki) 
 that he sends us no prisoners to-day ? " 
 
 The great number of the prisoners engaged the attention of the Na- 
 tional Government. It was impossible to leave them all at Warsaw ; 
 and they were at first divided into three parts, one of which remained 
 in Warsaw to work upon the fortifications, and every soldier was paid 
 

 232 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 From the enormous park of artillery which the Rus-* 
 sians had brought against us, they lost as many as 
 sixty pieces. It may then be presumed that the 
 Russian army remained at between 130,000 and 
 150,000 men, and about 240 pieces of cannon, 
 (not estimating, however, which it would be im- 
 possible to do, the number of cannon which might 
 have been dismounted). Our army, which was re- 
 organized at Warsaw, after its losses, was brought 
 to about the same state as at the commencement of 
 the war, that is, say 40JOOO strong. The artillery 
 was now augmented to 140 pieces. 
 
 Although the enemy's force was still sufficiently 
 imposing, the reader will permit me to say, (and in 
 fact we did reasonably calculate thus) that as we 
 had fought with such success against the enemy in 
 his unimpaired strength, we might with confidence 
 promise ourselves a certain issue of the conflict in 
 
 for h'is labour. The second part being also employed upon wages, 
 laboured on the great roads leading from Warsaw, in the direction 
 opposite to the seat of the war. The third part were dispersed among 
 the farmers in the proportion of one Russian for three farmers ; and 
 these were also paid for their labour. At stated times, an assemblage 
 of the prisoners was held, in which they were addressed in such a 
 manner as to produce a moral effect upon them. They were in- 
 structed in the true nature of their political rights,, the real causes of 
 the contest were exhibited to them, and they were made to be con- 
 vinced that it was for their advantage as well as our own that we 
 were fighting^ 
 
 The greatest harmony reigned between the Poles and their prison- 
 ers ; and I am sure that those Russians will remember the days they 
 passed as prisoners, as the happiest in their lives. With us their pri- 
 son was a state of freedom and tranquillity, in which they received a 
 liberal reward for their labor, while in their own country they were 
 the slaves of despots, great and little, to uhoin obedience was en- 
 forced by the knout. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 233 
 
 our favour, when, with his forces thus diminished in 
 numbers, sick, discouraged, and discontented, we 
 could meet him with the same and even a stronger 
 force than that with which we had already beaten 
 him, animated too, as we were, by the inspiriting 
 influence of our past success, and aided by the ter- 
 ror with which our arms had inspired the enemy. 
 
 d 
 
 30 
 
234 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Position of the two a'rmies after the battle of Igani. Plan of a simultane- 
 ous attack upon the Russian forces upon opposite sides. Instructions 
 to the different corps. Operations on the enemy's front. Unfortunate 
 operations of General Siera'wski, and the first defeat. Details of those 
 operationsOperations of General Dwernicki.---He defeats Rudiger ; 
 but by a false operation exposes himself to be attacked disadvantage- 
 ously by two Russian corps. In the course of the action the Austrian 
 frontier is passed by the combatants. An Austrian force interposes, 
 and General Dwernicki consents to go into camp. His arms and pri- 
 soners are taken from him, while the enemy is permitted to leave the 
 territory freely.- -Rejections on the conduct of Austria Consequences 
 of the loss of Dwernicki's corps. The cholera makes its appearance in 
 the two armies. 
 
 THE positions of the two armies, [See Plan XXII.] 
 were now as follows : The Russian army was di- 
 vided into four principal bodies, having no commu- 
 nication with each other. First, their main body(a), 
 consisting of about 60,000 men and 130 pieces of can- 
 non, were between Lukow(l) and Kock(2). Sec- 
 ondly, the remains of the corps of Rosen and Gies- 
 mar (6) were at Siedlce (3). They could be counted 
 at about 20,000 men, and perhaps 50 pieces of can- 
 non. Thirdly, at Ostrolenka (4) was the Imperial 
 Guard (c), consisting of 18,000 men and 36 cannon. 
 Fourthly, in the palatinate of Lublin, were the com- 
 bined corps of Witt and Kreutz (d), consisting of 
 30,000 men and 60 pieces of cannon. Their differ- 
 ent scattered detachments might be counted at 
 10,000 men. This separation of their different 
 corps invited a sudden attack on either, before it 
 could receive succor from the others. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 235 
 
 Our main bod y(e), composed of four divisions of in- 
 fantry, and three of cavalry, making in all about 30,000 
 men and 80 pieces of cannon, was placed between Iga- 
 ni (5) and Siennica (6). Our reconnoissances were 
 pushed along the left bank of the river Liwiec (L), as 
 far as its junction with the river Bug(B). On the 
 right, those reconnoissances reached Zelechow (7). 
 This was nearly the same as our first position, and 
 it was strong. Besides this main force, was the 
 division of cavalry of General Uminski (/) upon 
 the right bank of the Narew, at Nas^elsk (8), 
 amounting to 3,200 horse and 24 pieces of artillery, 
 placed there to observe the Russian Guard. In the 
 environs of Pulawa (9) was a small partizan corps, 
 under the command of General Sierawski (g), with 
 3000 men and four pieces of cannon. The corps of 
 General Dwernicki (h) was in the environs of Za- 
 mosc, (10) and consisted of 4500 men, and 30 pieces 
 of cannon. This corps, though at a distance from 
 the rest of our forces, could not be cut off, having 
 the fortress of Zamosc as a point tfappui. If the 
 reader will examine a map of the country, or even 
 the small plan in the preceding pages [No. VI. or 
 XXII.], he will be satisfied that by our forces, small as 
 they were, the Russian army was already surrounded, 
 and that on the least advantage which Dwernicki, in 
 conjunction with Sierawski, might gain over Witt 
 and Kreutz, that army could have been taken in 
 the rear, by means of a diversion upon Kock (2) 
 and Radzyn(ll). In a word, the moment ap- 
 proached at which our commander had determined to 
 give the enemy a last decisive blow, by attacking 
 

 236 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 him at the same time on every side ; and for this ob- 
 ject, the following instructions and orders were 
 given. 
 
 First. The generalissimo renewed the order for 
 strengthening the fortifications of Warsaw and 
 Praga, as well as those on the whole plain of Gro- 
 kow. From the first day of April, as many as 
 5000 Russian prisoners were continually employed 
 upon those fortifications. Warsaw, which was al- 
 ready, as the reader is informed, defended by a gir- 
 dle of lunettes and redoubts, communicating with 
 each other, received the additional defence in some 
 places of block-houses. To strengthen the fortifica- 
 tions, of Praga, besides the bridge-head, there were 
 constructed, within the distance of an English mile, 
 a line of circumvallation, which could hold more 
 than twelve thousand men. Still further, at a dis- 
 tance of two miles beyond, or nearly upon the 
 field of Grokow, was constructed a third line, of 
 lunettes and redoubts, which occupied the whole dis- 
 tance from Kawenzyn to the marshes of Goclaw, or 
 the entire field of battle of Grokow, as seen in the 
 plan of that battle. In fine, the approach to Praga 
 was so defended, that the enemy, before reaching 
 it, would have to pass three different lines of fortifi- 
 cation. The general in chief gave instructions to 
 the Governor of Warsaw in regard to the defence 
 of the city, in which he placed his chief trust upon 
 the National Guard. The Guard counted it an hon- 
 or to be entrusted with this duty, arid were unwil- 
 ling that a single soldier of the regular army should 
 be detailed for the service. How admirably they 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 237 
 
 executed their noble resolutions, when the occasion 
 came, is probably well know to every reader. 
 
 After his plans for the defence of Warsaw were 
 communicated to the authorities of the city, he gave 
 particular attention to those points on which he in- 
 tended to support all his operations, and, relying on 
 which, he could at any time hazard the boldest at- 
 tempts. Having thus made Warsaw an axis, upon 
 which all his operations could revolve, he proceeded to 
 arrange his attack. In the first place he sent orders 
 to Genera] Dvvernicki (h) to attack immediately the 
 combined corps of Generals Witt and Kreutz (d) . In 
 this attack the small corps of General Sierawski (g) 
 was to aid, and the two corps were to preserve a con- 
 stant communication with each other. For that 
 object General Sierawski was to pass the Vistula at 
 Kaziemierz (12), and, avoiding an engagement with 
 the enemy, to endeavor to join, as soon as possible, 
 the corps of General Dwernicki, who received orders 
 to leave Zamosc and approach Lublin (13). These 
 two corps were to take such a position, that they 
 could at any time retire upon Zamosc or Kaziemierz. 
 General Dwernicki was also informed that a third 
 small corps would be sent in the direction of Zele- 
 chow (7) and Kock (2), to act in concert with him 
 on the enemy's rear. If they should succeed in the 
 attack, General Dwernicki was to endeavor to force 
 the enemy to take the direction of Pulawa (9), to 
 drive him into the angle formed by the Vistula (V) 
 and the Wieprz(P) ; in fine, so to act as to cut off those 
 two corps from all communication whatever with 
 
238 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 their main body ; and, to continue to observe them, 
 and to push his advantages over them, he was 
 to leave the corps of General Sierawski. Dwer- 
 nicki himself was to pass the Weiprz at Kock, and 
 from thence by forced marches to leave in the di- 
 rection of Radzyn(ll) for Lukow(l) or Seroczyn 
 (14), as circumstances might direct, and according 
 as he should ascertain the position of the enemy to 
 be. Arrived at Lukow or Seroczyn, as the case 
 might be, he was to await there the orders of the 
 general in chief/ to join in the attack upon the main 
 force of the enemy under Diebitsch (c), in w 7 hich 
 attack he was to act on the enemy's left wing. 
 The main body of the enemy, thus taken in front 
 arid in flank, simultaneously, could not but have 
 been broken up. For all these operations the gen- 
 eral in chief had destined fourteen days only. 
 
 On the night of the battle of Igani, the general in 
 chief having decided upon the above plan, sent officers 
 in every direction with orders and instructions. 
 The officers sent to the corps of General Dwernicki 
 were enjoined to communicate their orders to him 
 with the utmost haste. 
 
 The generalissimo, while making his preparations 
 for this last blow, continued an unremitting observa- 
 tion upon all the movements of the enemy, even to 
 the minutest details, and in order that the enemy 
 might be constantly occupied, and diverted from 
 suspecting our plans, he directed small attacks to be 
 continually made upon his front. For this object 
 the second division, posted at Sienica, received or- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 239 
 
 ders to advance to the small town of Jeruzalem. 
 The division, in executing that order, fought the 
 enemy for three successive days, the 12th, 13th and 
 14th of April, at Jedlina, Wodynia, and Plomieniece, 
 and always with advantage. In one of those at- 
 tacks, at Jedlina, a small detachment of sixteen 
 Krakus attacked a squadron of Russian hussars, 
 coming from Wodynia, dispersed them, and took 
 some twenty prisoners. This division received also 
 the order to communicate constantly with the corps 
 of General Pac at Zelechow. This last general 
 was to send continual reconnoissances toward Kock, 
 to keep a constant observation upon, the Russian 
 corps of Kreutz and Witt. Of the movements of 
 those two corps, the generalissimo was each day to 
 receive the most accurate information, in order to be 
 ready prepared to prevent, at any moment, a junction 
 which might be attempted between those corps and 
 their main body. 
 
 General Skrzynecki, seeing that the enemy 
 had fallen into his plan, (of which, indeed, he 
 could not haVe had the least suspicion,) and full 
 of the brightest hopes, waited impatiently in his 
 strong position, for intelligence from General Dwer- 
 nicki, and the approach of the moment for his at- 
 tack upon Diebitsch. Almost sure of the success- 
 ful execution of his admirable arrangements, what 
 can express his disappointment on hearing of the un- 
 fortunate operations of the corps of General Sieraw- 
 ski, arid of the defeat of that corps at Kaziemierz 
 in the palatinate of Lublin, the first defeat in the whole 
 war. That general, in neglecting the instructions 
 
240 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 of the commander in chief, not to engage with the 
 enemy, on account of the inferiority of his forces, 
 (with which forces in fact he could not expect to 
 act but in a partizan warfare), approached Lub- 
 lin, where the two corps of Kreutz and Witt were 
 supposed to be posted, while his orders were, by 
 avoiding those corps, and taking the most circuitous 
 roads, to endeavor to join as secretly and as soon as 
 possible, the corps of Dwernicki. He was probably 
 deceived by false information as to the direction of 
 the enemy's corps, and led to believe that those two 
 corps had quitted Lublin, to attack General Dwer- 
 nicki at Zampsc. He therefore probably took the di- 
 rection of Lublin, with the idea of acting upon the 
 rear of the enemy at the moment of his attack upon 
 Dwernicki. In this manner General Sierawski, 
 quitting Kaziemierz, arrived on the 16th of April 
 at Belzyca. To his great astonishment he found 
 there a strong advanced guard of the above-mention- 
 ed corps. To avoid compromitting himself, he en- 
 gaged with this advanced guard, when, observing the 
 very superior force and the advantageous position of 
 the enemy, he ordered a retreat, which retreat was 
 well executed and without much loss. This general 
 should have continued his march the whole night, 
 with as little delay as possible, in order to repass 
 quietly the Vistula, and thus be protected from all 
 molestation by the enemy. But, for what cause it 
 is almost impossible to conjecture, he awaited the 
 enemy in order of battle the next day, at Serauow. 
 Perhaps, finding himself in rather a strong position, 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 241 
 
 he thought that the corps of General Dwernicki 
 might arrive to his aid. The enemy approached the 
 next day with his whole force against Sierawski, and 
 as warm an action commenced as the nature of the 
 ground would admit, being covered by woods with 
 patches of open ground intervening. Some squadrons 
 of young Kaliszian cavalry, led by the general him- 
 self, advanced to the attack of the enemy's artillery, 
 which being disadvantageous^ posted, was exposed 
 to be taken. That cavalry, however, by a false di- 
 rection of their charge, fell among the concealed 
 masses of the enemy's infantry, and their attack 
 failed. 
 
 This unsuccessful attack had unfortunate results. 
 The corps of General Sierawski was obliged to evac- 
 uate its position, and along its whole retrograde 
 march continual attacks of the enemy were press- 
 ed upon it. The peculiar nature of the ground, with 
 the extreme bravery of General Sierawski, a vete- 
 ran of between sixty and seventy, who, at the head 
 of the detachments of his rear guard always led the 
 charges against the enemy, and held him in check, was 
 all that saved the corps from destruction. At length 
 the corps reached Kaziemierz, the point which it 
 had left ; and here again, instead of passing the Vis- 
 tula, Sierawski awaited another attack from the over- 
 whelming force of the enemy, and that too with only 
 the half of his corps, for the other half was sent to pass 
 the Vistula. This course was inexplicable, and excit- 
 ed much remark in the army. On the 1 8th, the Rus- 
 sians reached Kaziemierz. The town was vigorously 
 31 
 
242 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 attacked by them, and their assaults were repeatedly 
 repulsed by the new Kaziemierz infantry, under Col- 
 onel Malachowski, who, with a scythe in his hand, 
 marched at their head. But the death of that brave 
 patriot spread among the ranks of those new soldiers 
 a degree of disorder, and the city was taken by the 
 enemy. We must again thank General Sierawski 
 for having saved the rest of the corps from ruin ; 
 having executed the evacuation of the town with 
 such order that he passed the Vistula at the point 
 of Borowa, not far from Kaziermierz, without being 
 molested in the attempt. He then took a position 
 on the left bank. 
 
 Although the unfortunate affairs of those two days 
 were not attended by severe losses, yet they were 
 deeply afflictive to the general in chief. They 
 threatened the entire disarrangement of his plans, 
 and were followed by the more important disasters 
 of General DwernickL The latter general, who, as 
 is known to the reader, commenced his career so glo- 
 riously ; whose very name, indeed, was a terror to the 
 Russians, and who, by his successive victories of the 
 three corps of Kreutz, Wirtemberg, and Rudiger, 
 had established the strongest claims upon the grat- 
 itude of his country, this general, 1 must repeat it 
 with pain, finished his great career in the most unfor- 
 tunate manner. His case should serve as a strong 
 example, that it is not bravery alone, which is requir- 
 ed in a great general, for in that it would be difficult 
 to find his equal, but that this bravery loses its value, 
 when not united with circumspection. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 243 
 
 The following are the details of the operations of 
 General Dwernicki. [See Plan No. XXIII,] We 
 cannot well imagine the cause which induced that 
 general to quit Zamosc (1), and the important ope- 
 rations in the palatinate of Lublin, and, neglecting 
 all his instructions and orders, to have crossed the 
 Bug (B) and entered the province of Volhynia, unless 
 it were the reception of some certain news of a fresh 
 insurrection in that province, and the collection of 
 insurgent forces there, who might be waiting for his 
 approach, and who needed his protection. He might, 
 perhaps, have thought to be able so to accelerate his 
 movement as to avail himself of such new strength 
 before a superior Russian force should arrive in 
 that province to crush such insurrection, and dis- 
 perse the insurgents. At the moment when Dwer- 
 nicki might have conceived such a plan, there was, in 
 fact, only a corps of about 12,000 men and some 20 
 pieces of cannon, under Rudiger, in the province. 
 This corps, Dwernicki perhaps intended to attack, in 
 his way, and crush them, and then attaching the insur- 
 gents to his corps, to return to the palatinate, or if 
 circumstances might make it expedient, to follow up 
 his blow into the heart of Volhynia. In fine, on the 
 15th of April, this general quitted the environs of 
 Zamosc, taking the direction of Uscialug (2), where, 
 on the evening of the 16th, he passed the river Bug. 
 On the 17th he continued his march in the direction of 
 Dubno (3), where the insurgents were perhaps sup- 
 posed to be awaiting him. On the road to that 
 town he received information that the corps of Rudi- 
 

 
 244 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 ger had marched from Radziwilow (4) and was now 
 in the direction of Milatyn (5). General Dwernicki 
 turned immediately from the direction in which he 
 was marching, to throw himself upon this corps, 
 which he found on its march, at the village of Boro- 
 mel (6), where, without giving the enemy time to 
 take position, he attacked and overthrew him. The 
 enemy was routed, and lost several hundred in killed 
 and prisoners, with eight pieces of cannon. That in 
 this fine, and the last fine battle of Dwernicki, the 
 Russian corps was not wholly destroyed, was owing 
 to the circumstance that a branch of the river Styr 
 (S), over which the bridge had been destroyed, 
 stopped our pursuit. The Russians, during the night 
 of the 18th, evacuated their position, and took the 
 road to Beresteczko (7), where they took a new po- 
 sition. In regard to tactics, the corps of General 
 Rudiger could not have chosen a worse direction 
 than that of the angle formed by the river Styr, and 
 the frontier of Austria (F). General Dwernicki, 
 by a passage to the right bank of the Styr, could 
 have cut off all the enemy's communications with 
 his other corps, and could have again fought him at 
 the greatest advantage. It was here then that our 
 brave Dwernicki committed his great fault, and in 
 place of acting upon the right bank of the river, 
 where he would have had an open field for the most 
 enlarged operations, he chose to follow up the at- 
 tack ; and as he saw that the enemy could not be 
 safely assailed in front, on account of his strong posi- 
 tion between two small lakes, but found that this posi- 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 245 
 
 tion was open towards the frontier of Austria, there 
 it was that the unhappy idea occurred to him, of march- 
 ing to the environs of Kolodno (8), on the frontier of 
 Austria, and attacking the enemy on that side, feel- 
 ing sure of victory. But General Rudiger did not 
 wait for this attack. Perceiving his exposed position 
 between the river and the frontier, he was satisfied 
 with being permitted to escape, and declined battle. 
 Upon observing that General Dwernicki was ma- 
 noeuvring upon the frontiers of Austria, General 
 Rudiger repassed the Styr, avoided the attack by 
 this manoeuvre, and was in a situation to join him- 
 self with all the Russian detachments which might 
 come into the province from the heart of Russia, by 
 the different directions of Krzemieniec, Ostrog, &c., 
 and to act with them in surrounding Dwernicki, 
 who was confined in this above described angle. 
 This is what in fact took place. 
 
 Dwernicki remained, for what reason we cannot 
 conceive, at Kolodno until the 23d of April, whence, 
 following along the frontiers of Austria, he took the 
 direction of Wereszczaki (9). There dispersing a 
 Russian detachment, he arrived on the 26th at Knielce 
 and Wielkie (10). Knowing that the Russians were 
 observing him, he determined to remain there and 
 take advantage of a strong natural position. He 
 wished in this position to aw r ait the enemy and give 
 him battle, hoping by a victory to free himself from 
 the contracted space in which he was confined. In 
 fact, on the next day, the corps of General Rudiger 
 (6) made its appearance, having come in the direc- 
 
246 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 tion of Krzemienic (11). The battle commenced, 
 and in the midst of the action another Russian corps 
 (c) was seen approaching in the direction of Proski- 
 row(12) and Stary-Konstantynow(13) under the com- 
 mand of General Rott, acting thus upon the right 
 wing and even the rear of General Dwernicki's corps. 
 To avoid being turned, General Dwernic'ki retired 
 in such a manner as to lean his right wing upon the 
 Austrian frontier. The Russians, not regarding this, 
 passed that frontier, and proceeded to push their at- 
 tack upon his flank. This obliged General Dwer- 
 nicki to withdraw his left wing, and indeed his whole 
 front, upon the Austrian territory, where, in fact, 
 the line was not distinctly marked, all the while 
 being engaged with the enemy. The action having 
 continued thus for some hours, a detachment of 
 Austrian cavalry, under Colonel Fac, approached 
 and threw themselves between the combatants, call- 
 ing on them to respect the neutrality of the territory. 
 In this manner the combat ceased. General Dwer- 
 tnicki gave his parole to discontinue hostilities, and 
 consented to advance farther into the interior, and, 
 placing himself in camp, waited the result of the de- 
 cision of the Austrian government upon what had 
 occurred. The Russian corps, which had just pass- 
 ed the frontier, and which had in fact entered it with 
 its whole force, was permitted to leave freely. The 
 first duty which General Dwernicki thought imposed 
 upon him in his present situation, was to make a full 
 and true report of w T hat had occurred to the National 
 Government and the general in chief, which he was 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 247 
 
 permitted to do. He also sent a letter to the com- 
 mander in chief of the Austrian forces in Gallicia, ex- 
 plaining how it was that, in a necessary manoeuvre, 
 he had passed over a point of land on the Austrian 
 territory without the intention of occupying it. 
 Having done this, he supposed that he would be per- 
 mitted to remain in camp, retaining his own arms, 
 those taken from the enemy, and his prisoners, until 
 conferences between the governments should decide 
 respecting the course to be taken. But the Austrian 
 government, far from giving such a reasonable per- 
 mission, collected a strong corps in the environs of 
 Tarnopol, and the Austrian commander in chief de- 
 manded of General Dwernicki to surrender both his 
 own arms and those taken from the enemy. Gen- 
 eral Dwernicki, not wishing to make a resistance, al- 
 though the Austrian corps was not formidable to him, 
 being anxious to avoid the serious political conse- 
 quences which might possibly follow such resis- 
 tance, submitted to this unjust demand, which will 
 be an eternal reproach to the Austrian government. 
 The Austrians returned their arms to the Russian pris- 
 oners, whom they liberated, and retained the arms 
 of the Polish troops. The whole corps was trans- 
 ported into the interior, and thus ended the career of 
 that important body of our forces.* 
 
 * This unfortunate and painful event should serve as an impressive 
 example, which cannot be too often brought to mind, of what disastrous 
 consequences may follow from the neglect of observing a constant 
 communication between corps acting together, and above all, of the con- 
 sequences of departing from orders which are given upon a general 
 plan, the absolute control of which should belong to the general in chief. 
 
248 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 The conduct of Austria, in regard to the corps of 
 Dwernicki, I am sure will excite the indignation of 
 the reader. If General Dwernicki had entered upon 
 the Austrian territory, he was forced to do it by the 
 Russian corps, which had already passed the fron- 
 tier ; and that cannot be regarded as an intentional 
 invasion of the frontiers which was done without de- 
 sign, and was a mere transition over an indistinct 
 line, made necessary by the position which the ene- 
 my had taken: such a case certainly should have 
 formed an exception to a general rule. To the Rus- 
 sian corps all the prisoners were returned, without 
 any consent obtained from our government, to whom 
 they, in fact, belonged, and should be considered as 
 belonging, until the end of the war. 
 
 It was in this manner that those intriguing cabi- 
 nets repaid the debt of gratitude which they owed 
 to Poland. They had forgotten the times of John 
 Sobieski, who, in 1683, delivered their capital, and 
 their whole territory, from destruction at the hands 
 of the Turks. They had forgotten that they thus 
 owed their very existence to Poland. 
 
 If General Dwernicki, conforming to his instructions, had acted only 
 against the corps of Kreutz and Witt, and in concert with the corps 
 of Sierawski, he would have been apprised of that general's quitting 
 Kaziemierz, and both of those two corps could have joined in the at- 
 tack, in which they would have been aided by another corps which was 
 to be sent, as the reader is aware, to act against the enemy's rear. 
 If those corps of Kreutz and Witt had been defeated, immense ad- 
 vantages would have followed ; indeed the war would have been over, 
 for the Russian main army would have been taken in flank and rear, 
 and, in fact, completely cut off. 
 
 Oik 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 249 
 
 At present, putting aside all obligations of justice, 
 they concert with our enemy for our ruin. But if 
 by this unjust treatment of their benefactors, they 
 have gained some temporary advantages, the reader 
 will acknowledge that in reference to their ulti- 
 mate good, the Austrians have acted with a most 
 short-sighted and mistaken policy. The aggran- 
 dizement of Russia can never be an advantage to 
 Austria. 
 
 There were few more melancholy events in our 
 war than this. The disaster of this corps grievously 
 paralyzed all the fine plans of the general in chief. 
 It reinforced the Russian superior force by 40,000 
 men ; for the different corps of Kreutz, Witt, Rudi- 
 ger and Rott could now rejoin their main army with- 
 out obstruction. 
 
 To these disasters of the two corps of Dwernicki 
 and Sierawski, which were deeply felt by the nation, 
 was now to be added the appearance of that horri- 
 ble malady, the cholera, which after the battle of 
 Igani commenced its devastations in our ranks. On 
 the night of that battle several hundreds of our troops 
 fell sick. This terrible disease caused us, on the 
 first few days, the loss of nearly 1,000 men ; but if it 
 was terrible with us, nothing can express the suffering 
 it produced in the Russian camp, aided by the want 
 of comfort in the arrangements of that camp, and 
 the acid food upon which the Russian soldiers were 
 habitually fed. Thousands of those wretched suf- 
 ferers were exposed to the open air, and died upon 
 the field. The Poles took more care of them than 
 32 
 
250 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 of themselves. They were brought together, and 
 transported to Menie, where there was a large con- 
 vent, which was turned into a hospital for their use. 
 The total number of those sufferers may be imag- 
 ined, when it is stated, that, in that hospital and vil- 
 lage alone, two thousand Russian sick were reported. 
 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 251 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 The Russian commander resumes offensive operations. Object of the 
 attack of the 25th of April. Combat of Kuflew. General Dembin- 
 ski evacuates the position of Kuflew and awaits the enemy at Bady. 
 Battle of Minsk. The enemy s-uddenly evacuates his position. Re- 
 flections on this stage of the conflict. Positions of the two armies. 
 
 THE Russian main army, which, since the last 
 of March had been on the defensive, from weakness 
 or from indecision, on the 23d of April began to 
 change its position, and to take the offensive. 
 Having received intelligence, as w r e may suppose, 
 of the disasters of Sierawski, and also of the pas- 
 sage of General Dwernicki into Volhynia, General 
 Diebitsch gave orders to the corps of Witt and 
 Kreutz to pass the Wieprz at Kock, and to attack 
 our detachment at Zelechow, which was forced 
 to retire. On the same day, (23d) the brigade of 
 Colonel Dembinski was attacked at Jeruzalem, with- 
 out any decisive result. Those small attacks by the 
 enemy served, however, as an indication of the inten- 
 tion of General Diebitsch to take the offensive on a 
 larger scale. To meet this intention, all our detach- 
 ments received orders to hold themselves in readiness. 
 Firstly, these detachments were to concentrate them- 
 selves upon a line of operations, between Kaluszyn, 
 Siennica, and Zelechow. [The reader can refer to 
 Plan VI.] The whole line, in case of attack, on 
 whatever quarter it might be, was to make a retro- 
 grade movement, upon the same plan as heretofore, 
 
 
252 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 as far as the field of Wawr. General Pac, in partic- 
 ular, who was the farthest removed from Zelechow, 
 was to use the utmost vigilance, and to take this re- 
 trograde movement in the promptest manner, when 
 occasion required. 
 
 On the 25th of April, in fact, Marshal Diebitsch 
 commenced his attack at two principal points, Boi- 
 mie and Kuflew. Upon the last of those two points, 
 he threw his greatest force, intending to pierce our 
 line there, and by a diversion at Minsk to divide our 
 forces. Besides the prevention of this design, the 
 defence of Kuflew was of the greatest importance to 
 us from the circumstance that along the whole 
 course of the river Swider, at Latowicz, Starygrod, 
 &c. were posted various small detachments, which 
 would have been cut off, if we should be forced to 
 make a sudden evacuation of that point. 
 
 COMBAT OF KUFLEW. [See Plan XXIV.] 
 
 This combat deserved to be forever held up as 
 an example in tactics, to show how much can be 
 done with a small force, managed with prudence and 
 skill. Colonel Dembinski, who, in this battle, com- 
 manded the inconsiderable forces that met the attack 
 of the masses of Diebitsch, well merited the rank of 
 general, to which he was then advanced. In regard 
 to our position, it \\fas covered by the river Swi- 
 der (S) and its marshes, which secured it from be- 
 ing taken in flank. The enemy had one debouch- 
 
 .* 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 253 
 
 ment (a), consisting of a kind of dyke, which led 
 from Kolacze (1). He could pass this dyke easily, 
 for the bridge was entire. On our side, not far from 
 this dyke, were small forests, or rather brush-wood, 
 occupied by two battalions (6) of our infantry. Up- 
 on the plain between Kuflew and the river S wider, 
 ten squadrons of our cavalry (c) manoeuvred. Near 
 the village (2) upon a little hill, on which was a 
 wind-mill, our artillery (d), consisting of only four 
 pieces, were posted, and directed their fire upon the 
 passage over which the enemy were to debouch. 
 The position of the enemy was commanding, for his 
 artillery could sweep the whole plain on each side 
 of the Swider. The details of this battle were as 
 follow : At sun-rise, on the 25th, several regi- 
 ments of cossacks (e) appeared upon the heights of 
 Jeruzalem. They even several times attempted to 
 pass the dyke, but were repulsed by the fire of our 
 tirailleurs from the brushwood. It was mid-day 
 when strong columns of infantry (jQ began to show 
 themselves in the direction of Lukowiec and Plomie- 
 niec. In a short time all the heights of Jeruzalem 
 were covered with columns of infantry, and they 
 began their descent to Kolacze. The Russian 
 light troops (g*) began their debouchment, and a 
 warm fire commenced between the Russian infantry 
 upon the dyke, and our own tirailleurs in the brush- 
 wood. The Russian artillery (fi) which remained up- 
 on the heights on the other side, consisting of twenty 
 and more pieces of large calibre, poured for several 
 hours a heavy fire upon Kuflew, where they supposed 
 
254 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 a large force to be placed, but where, in fact, besides 
 the four pieces of artillery, we had but one company 
 of infantry. Under this terrible fire, that village was 
 burnt to the ground. Those attacks of the Russian 
 artillery and infantry continued for three successive 
 hours, when Colonel Dembinski, being informed that 
 the small detachments, above referred to, had evacu- 
 ated their position and were safe from being cut off, 
 commenced his retreat, as his instructions directed. 
 By accelerating his retreat he had another object in 
 view, namely, to lead the enemy in the direction of 
 the 2d division, which was posted at Ceglow, and 
 was prepared to receive him. Our infantry and artil- 
 lery had left their position and were on the road, 
 when Colonel Dembinski, placing himself at the head 
 of his cavalry, threw himself with great boldness 
 upon the columns of the enemy which had debouch- 
 ed over the dyke, and by repeated attacks kept 
 them off from our rear. After having passed the 
 first forest without molestation, between Ceglow and 
 Kuflew, Colonel Dembinski took a position, between 
 forests, in the environs of Bady, where a part of the 
 2d division was placed in expectation of the enemy, 
 in a kind of ambuscade. Here our forces waited in 
 vain until night for the enemy, who had contented 
 himself with having taken Kuflew. Two squadrons 
 of cossacks, whom he ventured to send towards our 
 position, to reconnoitre, were, as soon as they were 
 seen, fallen upon by our cavalry, and either cut 
 down or made prisoners, to the amount of more than 
 a hundred men and horses, with two officers. As 
 
:> , 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 255 
 
 the enemy attempted nothing more, our forces, dur- 
 ing the night, evacuated their position, agreeably to 
 instructions, and reached Minsk at 3, A. M. of the 
 next day. At Kuflew, full 40,000 men, with some 
 twenty pieces of artillery, and commanded by Die- 
 bitsch in person, were opposed to General Dembin- 
 ski, who had not quite 4000 men and four pieces of 
 artillery, with which force he stood against the ene- 
 my for that whole day. The loss of the Russians 
 was about a thousand men,- and on our own side it 
 was not fifty. 
 
 The actions which took place on the same day at 
 Boimie, were without any decisive result, consisting 
 only of a continued fire of artillery. During the 
 night of that day, our forces in every point made a 
 retrograde movement. The general in chief ar- 
 ranged his preparations to receive the enemy on the 
 26th, dividing his forces into two parts. The second 
 division under Gielgud, and the division of cavalry, 
 under Skarzynski, was to await the enemy at Minsk ; 
 while the general in chief, with the main body, 
 awaited him in person at Dembe-Wielke. 
 
 BATTLE OF MINSK. [See Plan XXV.] 
 
 The position of Minsk may be considered as one 
 of the strongest upon the great road from Siedlce to 
 Warsaw. That town is situated in a plain, sur- 
 rounded by an impenetrable forest, and traversed by 
 a small river, which falls into the Swider. Upon 
 
256 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 the side of Warsaw, where our forces were placed, 
 are heights which overlook the whole town, and 
 they were particularly commanding upon the right 
 of the roads leading to Warsaw. The fire from 
 those heights could sweep almost every street of the 
 city, and they were occupied by twenty-four pieces 
 of artillery (a). Upon the side of Siedlce and Ceg- 
 low, whence the enemy was approaching, the whole 
 plain was exposed to the commanding fire of this 
 artillery. The town of Minsk was occupied by two 
 battalions of our light-infantry, dispersed as sharp 
 shooters (6). 
 
 It was mid-day when the Russians (c) (d) de- 
 bouched from the forest, commenced their advance, 
 and deployed upon the plain under the fire of our 
 artillery, which was opened immediately. Some 
 fifty pieces of the enemy's artillery (e) approached 
 the city, took position, and commenced their fire. 
 As the town was occupied by so small a force, and 
 so distributed as not to be affected by the enemy's 
 fire, he was permitted to continue this fire, and our 
 artillery reserved theirs for the moment when he 
 should make a general advance to storm the town. 
 This soon took place. An enormous mass of infan- 
 try (/) advanced to the assault. Our light troops 
 evacuated the part of the town beyond the river, to 
 enable our artillery to open upon it. That part was 
 immediately occupied by the enemy, who, crowded 
 together in the streets, were subjected to a fire which 
 spread death among their ranks. The enemy hesi- 
 tated whether to advance or retire, and remained in 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 257 
 
 the utmost disorder, falling under the fire of our ar- 
 tillery and the torn and burning fragments of the 
 wooden buildings which were rent in pieces by that 
 fire. While the enemy remained in this horrible sus- 
 pense, the brave Colonel Oborski led his regiment to 
 the charge, and bore down all before him. A most 
 terrible massacre, at the point of the bayonet, then 
 took place in the Square of the Church (g), where 
 great masses of the enemy were crowded together. 
 The Russians were driven out of the town after a 
 most severe loss. They were left at liberty to take 
 possession of the same part again, but they did not 
 repeat their attacks upon the town, satisfying them- 
 selves with concentrating a heavy fire of artillery 
 principally upon the heights occupied by our own. 
 This state of things continued till three o'clock, 
 when General Gielgud gave orders to evacuate the 
 position, agreeably to the directions of the general 
 in chief. Sixteen squadrons of cavalry were left to 
 cover the movement, and in this way our division, 
 reaching the village of Stoiardly, two English miles 
 distant, took a second position there. This new 
 position was advantageous, on account of the eleva- 
 tion of the ground. Our right wing, in particular, 
 was well supported upon a thick marshy forest, and 
 was pushed forward far enough to give a cross fire 
 to the enemy, in case he should try to force the pas- 
 sage of the great road. As the enemy was so im- 
 prudent, after our evacuation, as to commence his de- 
 bouchment through the town, with his cavalry in 
 advance, he exposed himself to a severe loss; for our 
 S3 
 
258 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 artillery, consisting of six pieces, poured a destructive 
 fire upon the main street of the city, which afforded 
 the only passage over the river ; and again, after de- 
 ploying under this fire upon the plain, he was subject- 
 ed to vigorous charges from our cayalry under 
 Skarzynski, which cost him a severe loss, and delayed 
 his advance for more than half an hour. As the 
 space between Stoiardly and Minsk was a plain gent- 
 ly descending from our side, moist in the lower 
 parts, and in every way favorable for attacks by our 
 cavalry, their charges were continually repeated, and 
 the combat on this plain deserved the name of the 
 combat of cavalry. To give the reader an idea 
 of these effective charges against a cavalry of much 
 superior force, I will merely state that each squadron 
 of the sixteen, was engaged some three or four suc- 
 cessive times with the enemy. Their horses were 
 continually in foam. The regiment of Zamoyski, the 
 Krakus, and the 5th Hulans greatly distinguished 
 themselves. The loss of the enemy's cavalry, of 
 which the greater part consisted of regiments of 
 heavy dragoons, was very great. Their horses' hoofs 
 sunk into the humid ground, and our Krakus, with 
 their light animals, assaulted them in the very midst 
 of their ranks. Many staffand other officers of the en- 
 emy were left dead upon the field. In this way, our ad- 
 vanced guard having fought with such advantages, 
 against the whole Russian army, at Minsk and Sto- 
 iardly, from mid-day until 5, P. M. ; the general 
 in chief ordered them to evacuate their position as 
 promptly as possible, and to retire to Dembe-Wielke, 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 259 
 
 where he awaited the enemy in order of battle, 
 and where he was desirous of meeting his attack be- 
 fore nisfht. This movement was executed without 
 
 o * 
 
 molestation from the Russians. Our advanced 
 guard passed the forests between Dembe-Wielke 
 and Stoiardly, and arrived at the position of Dembe- 
 Wielke, where fifty pieces of our artillery were post- 
 ed to receive the enemy, and our whole force took 
 the order of battle. The enemy, however, did not de- 
 bouch from the forests, but remained on the other side. 
 This finishes the details of that day and of the battle 
 of Minsk, in which the early cessation of the at*- 
 tacks of the enemy proved how much he had suffered. 
 He had two generals mortally wounded, General 
 Pahlen and the Prince Galiszyn, and lost nearly 
 4,000 men. On our side the loss was four or five 
 hundred only. 
 
 For their conduct in this battle, the National Gov- 
 ernment and the general in chief, presented their 
 thanks to the 2d division under Gielgud and the di- 
 vision of cavalry under Skarzynski. General Giel- 
 gud was advanced to the rank of general of division, 
 and it was perhaps owing to his skilful dispositions and 
 brave conduct on that day, that it was not feared to 
 entrust him with the command of the important ex- 
 pedition to Lithuania. 
 
 On the 27th and 28th, no events took place. 
 During the night of the 28th, the enemy, to our as- 
 tonishment, evacuated his position and retired as far 
 as Kaluszyn, twenty-four English miles distant. We 
 
260 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 cannot give the true cause of this sudden and un- 
 expected retreat. Perhaps it was on account of a 
 failure of provisions. Another cause might have been 
 the rumors, which had begun to take an aspect of im- 
 portance, of the revolutions in Lithuania and Samo- 
 gitia. 
 
 The reader will allow me to dwell for a moment 
 upon this extraordinary movement of the enemy, 
 which must be considered an indication, either of the 
 extreme of physical and moral weakness to which 
 the Russian army was reduced, or of a great want 
 of generalship on the part of Marshal Diebitsch. 
 Such a course voluntarily taken, in the eyes of the 
 military critic, is enough to destroy all claim to mil- 
 itary talent on the part of that commander. Such 
 great objects attempted, followed up with so little 
 perseverance, and abandoned without an adequate 
 cause, would seem to indicate either the absence of 
 any fixed plan, or a degree of indecision, inconsistent 
 with any sound military pretensions. 
 
 Our commander in chief felt sure that when Gen- 
 eral Diebitsch attacked, on the 25th and 26th, it was 
 with the view, having no longer any fear of the corps 
 of Generals Dwernicki and Sierawski, and being re- 
 inforced by the corps which had been opposed to the 
 former, to follow up his attack and compel us to a 
 general battle. Whatever might have been the re- 
 sult of that battle, it was the only course which a 
 true general could have followed, especially when 
 his army was in such superiority of strength. To 
 one who considers these circumstances, two ques- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 261 
 
 tions will arise. First, what was the object of com- 
 mencing the attack ? Secondly, what was, in regard 
 to tactics, the cause of its cessation, and of that sud- 
 den retreat ? It will be very difficult to find a satis- 
 factory answer to either of those questions.* 
 
 Our army, after this retreat of the enemy, com- 
 menced anew its advance, and, on the 30th, it 
 occupied again its former position at Boimie on 
 the river Kostzyn. At this time, our left wing under 
 Uminski, which, as the reader is aware, was on the 
 right bank of the Narew, at the environs of Pultusk, 
 received orders to join the main army, leaving a de- 
 tachment at Zagroby, where the generalissimo or- 
 dered a strong bridge-head to be erected. 
 
 The position of the two armies on the 30th was 
 as follows. [Plans VI. and XXIX.] Our army was 
 
 * In the whole of this war, the videttes of the two armies were at 
 no time so near as they were after this last battle. On the 27th and 
 28th, those of the Russian cavalry, cossacks and hussars, occupying the 
 main road, were within fifty paces of the videttes of our lancers, so 
 near in fact that they could have conversed together. On having these 
 circumstances reported to him, the general in chief did not take ad- 
 vantage of it by any attack, but he ordered the utmost forbearance to 
 be observed, and the most friendly demonstrations to be made by our 
 ;outposts. On changing of the guard, our sentinels, as they quitted their 
 post bade a friendly adieu to the opposite sentinel of the enemy ; and un- 
 der the cover of night, the enemy's sentinels, and even some of their 
 officers, approached our videttes, gave their hands, and entered into 
 friendly conversation. It was touching to see those brave soldiers 
 deeply affected at such meetings. With tears in their eyes, the Rus- 
 sians could only repeat that they had been forced to this contest, and 
 confessed that, even if we should be conquerors, they would be the 
 gainers in other respects. They also uttered their complaints of the ty- 
 ranny and the privations to which they were subjected, and our lancers 
 gave them all the relief which their own means could furnish. 
 
262 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 again concentrated between Wengrow and Ceglow, 
 and indeed Wengrow was occupied by a small de- 
 tachment. The centre or the greater force was on 
 the main road at Kaluszyn. Its advanced posts were 
 along the banks of the river Kostrzyn at Grombkowo, 
 Strzebucza, and Boimie. Our right wing was again 
 posted upon the river Swider, between Karczewo and 
 Ceglow. The Russian army [See Plan XXIX. (a)] 
 was concentrated in the environs of Mordy and 
 Sucha, where Marshal Diebitsch entrenched himself 
 in a fortified camp, and took again a defensive atti- 
 tude. The corps of Kreutz and Witt were in the 
 environs of Pulawa, and the Russian Imperial Guard 
 (6) advanced to the environs of Pultusk. 
 
 
' 
 
 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 263 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 General Skrzyneclu resumes the offensive. He decides to adopt an en- 
 larged plan of operations, and to make the revolutionized provinces 
 supply the place of a corps d'arrnee. The corps of Chrzanowski is sent 
 to occupy the Russian corps of Witt and Kreutz. Admirable execution 
 of this enterprise. Attack on Kock. Attack of Rudiger's camp. 
 Plan of operations by the main army against the Russian Gudld. Forc- 
 ed march from Kaluszyn by Praga to Serock. Advanced post of the 
 Guard attacked and defeated. The corps of Saken is cut off. The 2d 
 division under Gielgud sent into Lithuania. The Imperial Guard are 
 driven with great loss beyond the frontier. Retrograde movement. 
 
 As several days passed away, without any thing hav- 
 ing been attempted on the part of the enemy, our 
 general in chief decided to recommence hostilities 
 by small attacks, which were designed to mask the 
 great plan he intended to put into execution. The 
 general view which occupied our commander, was 
 to continue the offensive, to follow up the enemy 
 constantly, and not to leave him unless some vury 
 important occasion should call for a different course. 
 Let us reflect upon the difficulties of such a plan, 
 and let us then examine how it was in fact executed 
 by the general in chief. 
 
 General Skrzynecki regarding all the existing cir- 
 cumstances, the actual position of the enemy, and 
 his strength, found a great difference between the 
 present state of things and that which existed after 
 the battle of Igani. The misfortunes of the corps 
 of Dwernicki and Sierawski, had made a vast change 
 in the relative strength of the two parties. The fate 
 
'4 
 
 264 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 of those two corps gave a great advantage to the en- 
 emy, leaving him free to concentrate all his forces 
 and to act in one mass. This advantage of the 
 enemy was to be met, and means were to be taken 
 to keep his forces in detached bodies, by giving 
 occupation to each. To provide such means, it 
 was next an object to give an important charac- 
 ter to the revolution in Lithuania, and in fact to make 
 that revolution supply the place of a corps cParmee, to 1 
 send a body of troops to aid it, and to direct and lead 
 the partizan forces which might be there enrolled. 
 If then by such operation, Lithuania and Samogitia 
 could be kept in constant communication with the 
 main army, the line of operations would be enlarged, 
 and would be based upon Wilna and Warsaw. This 
 line of operations would embrace also the towns of 
 Grodnow and Lomza. To occupy the corps of Witt 
 and Kreutz, which were still in the palatinate of 
 Lublin, the general in chief detached a small corps 
 under the command of General Chrzanowski, which 
 were furnished with the same instructions as its pre- 
 decessor, that of General Dwernicki, which were, 
 in general, to act in the environs of Zamosc. 
 
 To facilitate the execution of these plans, the gen- 
 eral in chief determined to give daily occupation to the 
 enemy. On the 2d of May, the fire was renewed 
 along our whole line. Each following day presented 
 sanguinary scenes at different points. In the midst 
 of one of these actions, on the 7th, the small corps 
 abovementioned, consisting of 4,000 men and eight 
 pieces of cannon, under General Chrzanowski, left 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 265 
 
 the main body [See Plan XXVI.], took the direction 
 of Stoczek (1), Zelechow (2), and Kock (3), to reach 
 the environs of Zamosc (4). The reader, on exam- 
 ining the plan, and looking at the space which this 
 corps (a) was to pass over, in the midst of the ene- 
 my's detached corps(fe), and in which it was exposed 
 every moment to be surrounded and cut off, will ac- 
 knowledge that this expedition, which w r as most suc- 
 cessfully executed, is to be ranked among the finest 
 operations in the campaign. It demanded a general 
 of talent, and a soldier of determination. 
 
 When 1 allow myself thus to detain the attention 
 of the reader upon the extraordinary efforts of this 
 war, it is only with the view to convince him that 
 nothing is difficult of execution which is prompted by 
 a resolute determination based upon high principles, 
 and that what would be deemed almost impossible in 
 an ordinary war, in which despots, to gratify their am- 
 bition or their caprices, force their subjects to battle 
 an involuntary sacrifice, is far from being so, in a war 
 like ours. In such a war, moral impulse becomes an 
 element, the importance of which cannot be over-es- 
 timated. 
 
 General Chrzanowski, quitting, as we have men- 
 tioned, the main body, took the direction of Ceglow, 
 and threw himself into the great forest of Plomieniec. 
 Leaving that forest, he met, near Wodynia, a strong 
 detachment of the enemy, composed of infantry, cav- 
 alry, and several pieces of artillery, belonging to their 
 main body, and probably detached to make a recon- 
 noisance. By a sudden attack from General Chrza- 
 34 
 
266 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 nowski, that detachment was at once overthrown. 
 The cavalry ordered for their pursuit were instructed 
 to return in another direction, in order to deceive 
 the enemy. In this manner General Chrzanowski, 
 frequently meeting with small detachments of the 
 enemy and deceiving them continually, traversed the 
 woody plain between Stoczek and Zelechow [See 
 Plan] and arrived, on the night of the 9th, at the 
 environs of Kock, where he had to pass the river 
 Wieprz. 
 
 ATTACK OF KOCK. [See Plan XXV1L] 
 
 At the moment of the arrival of the corps of Gen- 
 eral Chrzanowski, this town was occupied by a part 
 of the corps of General Witt, composed of 6,000 men 
 and 20 pieces of artillery. Besides this considerable 
 garrison, the place had been strengthened by several 
 fortifications(l) on each side of the river, to defend the 
 passage of the bridge (21), and without taking those 
 fortifications it would be impossible for us to pass 
 the bridge. In such circumstances there was no al- 
 ternative, and it was necessary to attempt to take 
 the town by storm. General Chrzanowski an- 
 nounced his intention to the corps, and addressed a 
 few animating words to them. Having divided his 
 corps into small parties(a,a), he surrounded the town. 
 He placed especial importance upon the forcing of the 
 avenue (3) leading to the palace, and getting posses- 
 sion of the garden (4) which surrounded the palace, 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 267 
 
 and bordered on the river. If all this could be ra- 
 pidly executed, the enemy would be taken in the 
 rear. 
 
 The signal for the attack being given, a warm fire 
 from our skirmishers was commenced in all points 
 round the city, and, while the cavalry(6), divided into 
 detachments, threw themselves continually upon the 
 Russian infantry (c), our infantry, at the charge, forced 
 the entrance to the palace and garden, which was 
 immediately occupied by our tirailleurs, who opened 
 their fire upon the fortifications (1) and on the Rus- 
 sian columns in the square (d) . In this manner the 
 enemy was surrounded, and forced to evacuate the 
 city with great loss, and to take the direction of 
 Radzyn. General Chrzanowski passed the river and 
 took the direction of Lubartow. Leaving the town 
 of Lublin on the right, and following the banks of 
 the river Wieprz, he reached on the llth the envi- 
 rons of Piaski. In the latter place he was apprized 
 that a Russian corps under Rudiger was at Krasny- 
 staw. Chrzanowski decided to attack them. 
 
 ATTACK OF RUDIGER'S CAMP. [See Plan XXVIIL] 
 
 The corps of General Rudiger, after the unfortu- 
 nate disaster of General Dwernicki, having traversed 
 Volhynia, entered the frontiers of the kingdom, and 
 took the direction of Lublin, being destined probably 
 to reinforce the main army under Diebitsch. This 
 corps, which was composed of about 12,000 men, and 
 
268 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 some twenty pieces of cannon, was in camp (A) near 
 the town of Krasny-staw, having that town and the 
 river Wieprz in its rear. 
 
 General Chrzanowski, who halted with his corps 
 in the forest between Piaski and Krasny-staw, 
 having sent out patrols, was perfectly informed of 
 the position of the enemy, and ascertained that 
 he had not his wing supported on the river ; 
 indeed, he was in such a state, as satisfied our 
 general that he had no expectation of meeting 
 a Polish force, and that he might be surprised 
 in his camp. To effect this object, General Chrza- 
 nowski divided his corps into two parties, and giv- 
 ing the command of one to the brave General 
 Romarino, he ordered him to traverse the forest 
 longitudinally, as far as the road which leads from 
 Tarnogora to Krasny-staw, and by this road, which 
 is wholly through forests, to approach, as near as 
 possible, to the left of the enemy's camp ; and also, 
 if circumstances might permit it, to push himself 
 even against the enemy's rear, On arriving there, 
 he was to commence his fire immediately. These 
 instructions to General Romarino being given, Gen- 
 eral Chrzanowski (B) advanced with the other part 
 of the corps, through the forest, keeping the left 
 bank of the Wieprz. He approached so near the ene- 
 my, without being perceived, as even to be on a line 
 with him. Not long before evening, Romarino hav- 
 ing reached the enemy on the other side (C), 
 began his attack, and his fire was a signal for 
 Chrzanowski to quit the forest. Thus suddenly as- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 269 
 
 -saulted upon his two wings and his rear, the disorder 
 of the enemy was unimaginable, and he was not in 
 a state to offer resistance. The whole camp was 
 taken, with all its baggage, ammunition, &c., and as 
 many as two thousand prisoners and six pieces of ar- 
 tillery fell into our hands. The remains of his force 
 fled along the great road (D), which was purposely 
 left open to him. General Chrzanowski contented 
 himself with occupying the town, in which he fur- 
 nished himself with ammunition from the magazines, 
 and, remaining there but^a short time, left for the 
 environs of Zamosc, in which fortress he depos- 
 ited his prisoners. 
 
 Conformably to his instructions, he remained in 
 camp, near this fortress, at Labunia.* 
 
 * The reader may be pleased with a short biographical sketch of 
 'General Chrzanowski, who distinguished himself here so much. This 
 skilful officer commenced his military career in 1815, on leaving the 
 Military School at Warsaw with the rank of officer, in the corps of 
 engineers, in which department he was distinguished for his skill and 
 industry. In the year 1828, during the war of Turkey, the Em- 
 peror Nicholas was desirous of obtaining the aid of Polish offi- 
 cers of engineers, and General Chrzanowski was among the num- 
 ber chosen. In this campaign, his talents made themselves remarked, 
 and Marshal Diebitsch gave him great marks of confidence, and placed 
 him near his person. He returned from the campaign as captain, and 
 received several Russian decorations. In the revolution, like a worthy 
 son of Poland, he offered his services to the common cause ; but the 
 dictator Chlopicki, who, among his other faults, had that of either 
 being unable to appreciate, or willing to overlook the merits of the 
 officers from whom he was to make his appointments, did not give any 
 important trust to General Chrzanowski ; perhaps it was because 
 Chrzanowski was among the number of those who were desirous 
 of taking the field without delay. With the glorious commencement 
 of the era of the command of our estimable Skrzynecki, this brave offi- 
 
270 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 The general in chief having thus accomplished 
 his object of supplying the place of General Dvver- 
 nicki's corps, and holding in check the corps of Witt 
 and Kreutz, in the palatinate of Lublin, it remained 
 to him to complete his great plan by sending a corps 
 into Lithuania. He decided to remove the only 
 obstacle to this attempt by attacking the Rus- 
 sian Imperial Guard, which was somewhat de- 
 tached from the Russian Grand Army. To carry 
 this bold purpose into effect, the following instruc- 
 tions were given to the different commanders. 
 
 OPERATIONS AGAINST THE RUSSIAN GUARD. [Plan XXIX.] 
 
 On the 12th of May, General Uminski with his 
 division of cavalry (a) was ordered to quit the left 
 wing and the position of Zimna-Woda,and to move to 
 
 cer was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and was placed 
 in the post ofchef d'etat major. While in this post he was advanced 
 to the rank of general. The generalissimo, who in all his plans ob- 
 served the greatest secrecy, and his example ought to be followed by 
 every good general, initiated, however, Chrzanowski, and Prondzynski, 
 who suceeded the former as chef d'etat, into all his plans ; and indeed 
 those two brave generals were valuable counsellors to Skrzynecki. 
 Among other qualities necessary to a great general, Chrzanowski was 
 endowed with great coolness and presence of mind, and with a spirit 
 of system, which he carried into every thing which he undertook. 
 He was seen in the midst of the hottest fire, with his plan of the battle 
 before him, referring the movements to the plan, and giving his orders 
 with the most perfect sangfroid imaginable. The generalissimo could 
 not enough regret that lie had not given him the command of the ex- 
 pedition to Lithuania, in place of Gielgud. If the skill and coolness 
 of Chrzanowski, could have been united, in that expedition, with the 
 bold and adventurous enterprise of Dwernicki, every thing would have 
 been effected there in a few weeks. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 271 
 
 the position of Kaluszyn. This traverse of the line 
 he was to make in full view of the enemy, and he 
 was to give to the manoeuvre the aspect of a recon- 
 noissance. The object of this change of position 
 was, that in the new position he might mask the 
 movements of the main body. This important dis- 
 position General Uminski was directed to carry into 
 effect with the utmost prudence. The enemy was 
 to be each day harassed, but never to be engaged 
 with in any decisive manner. Small detachments 
 were to be sent against the enemy, along his whole 
 line, and especially on the first days of the move- 
 ment. The general in chief instructed General 
 Uminski, to watch every movement of the enemy, 
 and give information of such at head-quarters. 
 If the main body of the Russian force should make 
 an attack, he was to execute his retreat upon the 
 main road, as far as the fortifications of Praga, and 
 there he was to act in junction with the other de- 
 tachments left there for the defence of those fortifi- 
 cations. If, on the contrary, the Russian army 
 should make a retrograde movement, General Umin- 
 ski was to endeavor, by following them, to keep 
 them constantly in view. If circumstances per- 
 mitted, the rear guard of the Russians might be 
 harassed during the night. Above all, General 
 Uminski was to endeavor to keep up his commu- 
 nications with the neighboring corps, that of General 
 Lubinski, and the detachments left at Siennica and 
 Karczewo. In this moderate pursuit of the enemy, 
 the general was to ascertain whether their retro- 
 
272 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 grade movement was a retreat or a manoeuvre, in 
 order to avoid every hazard. 
 
 General Lubinski (6), with his division of cavalry, 
 w T as to pass to the right bank of the Bug (B), and 
 leaving small detachments at Wyszkow (1) and 
 Brook (2) ? he was to advance as far as the environs 
 of Nar (3), not quitting the right bank of the river. 
 All his care was to be devoted to the observing; of the 
 
 o 
 
 enemy, and to the preventing of any sudden passage 
 of the river by him. In regard to his communications, 
 the same instructions were given to him as to General 
 Uminsld. 
 
 Having given these orders to the abovementioned 
 corps, General Skrzynecki, with the main force (<f), 
 left suddenly the position at Kaluszyn (4), making 
 a retrograde movement upon the great road, by Minsk 
 (5), traversed Praga(6), and through Jablonna (7), 
 and Zegrz(8), arrived, on the 15th, at Serock (9). 
 On the 16th, he passed the Narew (N), at this 
 place, leaving a brigade of infantry and cavalry (C) r 
 under General Dembinski, upon the right bank, 
 with orders to advance to Ostrolenka (10), through 
 the towns of Pultusk, Magnies-zewo and Rozany 
 (11). This detachment was not to commence the 
 attack, on meeting the enemy, but was only to harass 
 him and keep him in check, and to detain him as near 
 as possible to Serock. If the enemy should com- 
 mence the retreat, this corps was to pursue him 
 with the greatest activity, in order that at Ostro- 
 lenka, where the general in chief had determined to 
 attack him, he might be exposed between two fires. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 273 
 
 On the 17th, this corps met the first advanced 
 post(/) of the Russian Imperial Guard at Modzele, 
 which, after a slight engagement, evacuated its po- 
 sition, and retired. Being pursued by the brigade 
 of cavalry under General Dembinski, they, on the 
 18th, commenced the passage of the Narew, at Os- 
 trolenka. In attempting this passage, the rear-guard 
 of the enemy was overthrown, and four regiments of 
 the light infantry of Finland were taken prisoners. 
 This pursuit by the brave Dembinski was executed 
 with such rapidity, that the corps of General Saken, 
 which made a part of the grand corps of the Guard, 
 but was a little detached, was completely cut off from 
 the main body and forced to take refuge in the palat- 
 inate of Augustow. It is much to be regretted that our 
 main force (d) could not reach Ostrolenka ; having to 
 pass narrow roads, through forests, in which the artille- 
 ry met with much obstruction. Otherwise, the whole 
 of that Imperial Guard would have been surrounded. 
 
 With the arrival of our main body, on the night 
 of the 18th, the Russians passed the Narew, but ma- 
 ny voitures and stragglers fell into the hands of our 
 cavalry in the forest of Troszyn (12). The general 
 in chief, having given the corps a short rest, and hav- 
 ing despatched a detachment, under the command 
 of Colonel Sierakowski (g), for the pursuit of the 
 corps of Saken (ft), on the same night continued his 
 march in pursuit of the Guard, in the direction of 
 Troszyn (12). On the morning of the next day, 
 arriving at Dluge-Siodlo (13J, this village was found 
 occupied by two regiments of infantry and two of 
 35 
 
274 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 cavalry, the latter covering the village. Our 1st 
 regiment of Lancers, which were the leading force, 
 leaving the forest and finding the Russian cavalry in 
 line before that village, threw themselves upon them 
 with the rapidity of lightning. The enemy's cav- 
 alry was borne down before them, and pursued by 
 our Lancers into the village; but his infantry, 
 under cover of the village, opened a terrible fire 
 upon our cavalry, which compelled them to retire 
 and await the arrival of the artillery. At length, 
 eight pieces of light artillery, commanded by Colonel 
 Boehm, arrived, and commenced a vigorous fire of 
 grape upon the village, which compelled the enemy's 
 infantry to evacuate it, and they were pursued with 
 such spirit, that one battalion was taken, and the 
 rest were dispersed in the forest. On the same day, 
 the enemy was again pressed upon in his retreat, 
 in the environs of Xienzopol (14), especially on the 
 passage of the river and marshes of Kamionka. 
 
 The 1st Lancers, and the battery of light artillery, 
 who did not quit the enemy a moment, arrived simul- 
 taneously with him at the point of the passage. The 
 enemy was obliged to debouch under the fire of our 
 artillery and the charges of our cavalry, and lost again 
 several hundred in dead, wounded and prisoners. 
 
 [ cannot give the read era satisfactory explanation, 
 why General Skrzynecki did not pursue the enemy 
 on the 20th. Perhaps he considered the great 
 fatigue of the army, particularly the infantry, which 
 the reader will, of course, presume to have been incur- 
 red by the forced march which the distance passed 
 over supposes. Another reason, perhaps, was, that 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 275 
 
 he had sent from this place the first detachment (i) 
 for Lithuania, wishing to be sure of its safe passage 
 to the frontiers. The detachment, in fact, left on that 
 day, in the direction of Minieszew, and passed the 
 frontier of the kingdom at the village of Mien, be- 
 tween Diechanowiec and Suraz, opposite Brainsk. 
 
 Our army, having halted one day at Xienzopol, on 
 the evening of the 20th, quitted this position to con- 
 tinue the pursuit of the Guard, and overtook them in 
 the forest of Menzynin (1$). This forest, occupied 
 by the Russian rear-guard, was so near the heights 
 of the village, which command the whole vicinity, 
 that it was exposed to a fire of artillery from these 
 heights. Our generalissimo placed his artillery on 
 the heights, and directed a fire upon the forest ; the 
 infantry was ordered to take the enemy in front, in case 
 he should quit the forest, and the cavalry was to ad- 
 vance in strong columns along the road, to cut off 
 his escape from the forest into the road. In this, they 
 were successful, and took many prisoners. Thus con- 
 tinually pursued, and subject to severe losses along the 
 whole route, the Guard (/) was again pressed at the 
 passage of the Narew at Tykocin (16). The con- 
 sternation and disorder of the enemy was such, that 
 he did not take time to destroy the bridge. Our Lan- 
 cers, commanded by the brave Colonel Langerman, 
 commenced an attack upon the Russian cuirassiers, 
 on the bridge itself. The regiment of cuirassiers was 
 almost annihilated, many being thrown from the 
 bridge, and a great number taken prisoners. 
 
 Having thus driven the Russian Guard from the 
 kingdom, (of which the Narew was the boundary,) 
 
276 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 General Skrzynecki commenced a retrograde move- 
 ment, to meet the demonstration which General Die- 
 bitsch might make upon his rear. On the night of the 
 22d, our army(m) began this movement, having de- 
 stroyed the several bridges of the Narew. 
 
 These then are the details of the operations upon the 
 Russian Guard, which will be admitted to be among 
 the finest in the history of modern warfare. The 
 operations of Napoleon, in the campaign of Italy 
 the brilliant commencement of his career, in 1796, 
 will be always cited as the highest examples of strat- 
 ago-tactics, but I do not think that a finer and bolder 
 plan of operations can be found even there. In both 
 cases, success was owing, not more to the great mil- 
 itary genius of the leaders, than to those high moral 
 impulses which must animate armies, in every contest 
 for national existence. 
 
 Our army, evacuating on the 12th, the position at 
 Kaluszyn, from that date to the 26th, when the battle 
 of Ostrolenka took place, had passed over a distance 
 of from 200 to 250 miles, which, deducting the six 
 days occupied in action, was executed in eight days, 
 making an average of twenty-eight English miles 
 per day, an extraordinary and perhaps unexampled 
 effort. The rapidity, in fact, with which this move- 
 ment was performed, was such, that our forces were 
 on their return before Marshal Diebitsch commenced 
 his march to intercept them. This object the Marshal 
 thought himself in season to effect, but the reader 
 will see in the sequel how completely he failed of it. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 277 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 The Lithuanians compel two Russian corps to evacuate Samogitia. Op- 
 erations of General Chlapowski in the department of Bialostok. Cap- 
 ture of Bielsk. Defeat of a Russian force at Narewka and expulsion of 
 the enemy from the department. Recapitulation of the forces which had 
 been sent into Lithuania. Operations of the main army. Attempt of 
 Marshal Diebitsch to intercept Skrzynecki on his retrograde march, by 
 a diversion to Ostrolenka. General Lubinski surprises the Russian ad- 
 vanced guard at Czeyzew. Marshal Diebitsch attacks the Polish rear- 
 guard at Kleczkowo. The rear-guard quits its position at night, and 
 joins the main army at Ostrolenka. --Battle of Ostrolenka. 
 
 QUITTING the main army, which had thus success- 
 fully executed the important operation of driving the 
 Russian Imperial Guard from the kingdom, and send- 
 ing a corps into Lithuania, we will now turn to 
 take a view of the state of affairs in that province. 
 
 The brave Lithuanians in a series of bloody en- 
 counters had made themselves severely felt by the 
 enemy. In the departments of Roszyienie and 
 Szawla, at about the middle of the month of May, a 
 short time before the battle of Ostrolenka, the two 
 Russian corps, under Malinowski and Szyrman, were 
 almost annihilated by the Lithuanian insurgents, 
 who, night and day, falling upon them from forest 
 ambuscades, subjected them to immense losses. 
 Those corps literally wandered about, for some time, 
 and being unable to hold themselves in any position, 
 were forced at last to evacuate Samogitia. 
 
 In the department of Bialostok, the little corps re- 
 cently sent under the command of General Chlapow- 
 
278 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 ski, began its operations with great success. In the 
 environs of Bielsk, that small detachment, composed 
 of four squadrons of the first regiment of Lancers of 
 four hundred and fifty horsemen, a hundred and 
 ninety light infantry volunteers mounted,* and two 
 pieces of cannon, routed two regiments of cossacks 
 and two battalions of infantry, the latter being taken 
 in a body and the former dispersed ; and, what was 
 of much importance to us, in Bielsk, as well as in 
 Brainsk, several magazines of powder were found. In 
 the environs of Bielsk, Colonel Mikotin, aid-de-camp 
 of the Grand Duke Michel, and on his way with dis- 
 patches from him to the Grand Duke Coristantine, 
 was taken prisoner.! 
 
 * We found, on experiment, that this species offeree acting in con- 
 junction with cavalry could be used with great advantage, especially 
 against a hostile cavalry. The mounted infantry were placed in the 
 rear of the cavalry. When the latter advanced to the charge. the for- 
 mer dismounted, and leaving their horses in the care of a party detail- 
 ed for the purpose, dispersed themselves as sharp-shooters, and com- 
 menced a fire upon the enemy, who, thrown into confusion by this un- 
 expected attack, were open to a destructive charge from the cavalry. 
 
 f The capture of the town of Bielsk and its garrison was marked with 
 such singular circumstances, that I think that some of the details will 
 interest the reader. The small corps of General Chlapowski arriving 
 suddenly before this town, on the 22d of May, was informed that it had 
 a garrison of two battalions of infantry, and that near the town was a 
 body of a thousand cossacks, in camp. The advanced guard of our small 
 corps, with which was the general and several of his officers, approach- 
 ed the barriers of the town. The Russian sentinel observing our party, 
 and seeing a general officer among them, did not recognize them as 
 enemies, but called the guard, to give them the honors of the place. 
 General Chlapowski, on the approach of the guard, commanded them 
 to lay down their arms, which they did. The same ceremony was gone 
 through with the grand-guard in the square of the town, and the Rus- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 279 
 
 The corps of General Chlapowski left Bielsk in 
 the direction of the town of Orla, and entered the 
 forest of Bialowiek, where he received reinforcements 
 of Lithuanian insurgents. 
 
 On the same day that our main army fought at 
 Ostrolenka, the 26th of May, this little corps had an 
 engagement with the enemy in the environs of Na- 
 rewka. A considerable Russian detachment, under 
 the command of General Rengardt, composed of 
 6,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, and five pieces of can- 
 non in all, nearly 9,000 men was posted near Na- 
 sielsk. This considerable force was attacked by our 
 small corps, to which were added some hundreds of 
 insurgents, making in all, a force of not more than a 
 thousand men. The Russians were completely 
 beaten in this action. Full a thousand prisoners were 
 taken, and all their artillery. An important advan- 
 tage of this affair, was the taking of a great transport 
 of some hundred vehicles with provisions, destined 
 for the Russian grand army. By the dispersion and 
 ruin of this corps, the department of Bialostok was 
 
 sians mechanically obeyed these orders, in a state of amazement. 
 General Chlapowski, fearing that he might be surrounded by the cos- 
 sacks, left his infantry volunteers to disperse any detachments of the 
 enemy in the town that might rally to oppose him, and led all the artille- 
 ry and cavalry against the camp of the cossacks. The Russian infantry 
 who attempted to make a resistance in the town, were dispersed at the 
 point of the bayonet, and, with the assistance of the inhabitants, they 
 were all made prisoners ; while by the attack of the artillery and caval- 
 ry, the encamped cossacks were entirely dispersed, and several of them 
 taken prisoners. General Chlapowski left his prisoners in the care of 
 the inhabitants, taking with him only those who were Poles, and v.ho 
 volunteered their services. 
 
280 > THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 entirely cleared of the Russians, and nothing inter- 
 rupted the formation and organization of the insur- 
 gent forces. The taking of Bielsk, and the affair of 
 Narewka, will be admitted by the reader to have been 
 above the rank of ordinary achievements, and should 
 immortalize the handful of brave men which formed 
 this detachment. They may be pointed at, as exam- 
 ples, with many others, in this war, of how much 
 can be effected by that prompt and energetic action 
 which no ordinary motives will sustain. 
 
 While the affairs of Lithuania and Samogitia, and 
 those in the department of Bialostok, wore this favor- 
 able aspect, the new corps was approaching to aid 
 this propitious state of things, to protect the insurrec- 
 tions, and, as might be confidently hoped, to bring 
 them to a sure and happy result. The new force 
 destined for this object consisted of the 2d division, 
 reinforced by a squadron of cavalry, which force, as 
 the reader will remember, quitted Lomza on the 
 27th for Lithuania. Before returning to the opera- 
 tions of the grand army, we will give a short re- 
 capitulation of the forces which had been sent into 
 Lithuania and Samogitia, at successive periods, to 
 support the insurrections in those provinces. 
 
 The first corps under General Chlapowski, left, on 
 the 20th of May, the village of Xienzopol, with the des- 
 tination to enter the department of Bialostok, to oc- 
 cupy the forest of Bialowiez, in which were collected 
 the forces of the revolted Lithuanians, with the view 
 to organize these forces, from that position to act on 
 the Russian communications, and, if circumstances 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 281 
 
 might allow it to make an approach upon Wilna. 
 This little corps, as we have seen, was composed of 
 190 infantry volunteers mounted, the 1st regiment 
 of Lancers, consisting of 480 horsemen, and two 
 pieces of light artillery. 
 
 The second corps, under the command of Colonel 
 Sierakowski, left, a few days before, that of General 
 Chlapowski, with the view, as we have also seen, to 
 follow and observe the division of General Saken, who 
 had been cut off by General Skrzynecki from the 
 Russian Guard, and compelled to remain on the right 
 bank of the Narew. This corps consisted of two 
 battalions of infantry of the 1 8th regiment, recently 
 formed, amounting to 1,500 men, two squadrons of 
 horse, of Plock, also recently formed, 250 in all, and 
 two pieces of cannon. This corps, in the execution 
 of its instructions, obtained several advantages over 
 General Saken, near Stavisk. Colonel Sierakowski 
 then advanced to the environs of the little town of 
 Graievo, where he took a strong position, and await- 
 ed the arrival of the corps of General Gielgud. 
 
 The third corps, under the command of General 
 Gielgud, or the second division, left the town of 
 Lomza on the 27th of May. It was composed of 9 
 battalions of infantry, consisting of 4,500 men, 5 
 squadrons of cavalry of 600 men, 160 sappers, and 24 
 pieces of cannon. The total force of these three 
 corps was then as follows : 
 
 Artillery, 28 pieces. Infantry, 6,350 men. Cav- 
 alry, 1 ,300 horse. 
 
 Besides these forces, which were detached from 
 36 
 
282 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 the grand army, there were formed in Lithuania? 
 several regiments of infantry and cavalry, which we 
 shall designate in the sequel, but which did not com- 
 mence active service until the battle of Wilna. 
 
 To return to the main army. Such was the rapidi- 
 ty with which the operations of General Skrzynecki 
 upon the Russian Guard were executed, that, as we 
 have said, he was on his retrograde march, after hav- 
 ing driven that guard beyond the frontiers, before 
 Marshal Diebitsch received intelligence of his opera- 
 tions. It was then that the Russian commander, 
 having no hope of saving the Guard, conceived the 
 plan of attempting, by a prompt diversion towards 
 Ostrolenka, to cut off the communication of our army 
 with Warsaw. [See Plan XXIX.] 
 
 With this view, he evacuated his position at Sucha 
 and Mordy (2), passed by Sokolow (15J, crossed the 
 river Bug at Granne(16), entered into the Russian 
 province of Bialostok, passed through a corner of this 
 department on the 24th of May, and crossing the lit- 
 tle river Nurzec (R), at Ciechanowiec (17), entered 
 again into the Polish territory, and occupied the road 
 of Czyzew (18) and Zambrowo (19). Without any 
 delay he pushed his advanced guard as far as Czyzew. 
 General Lubinski was then at Nur. This little 
 town was at the same distance from Ostrolenka as 
 Czyzew, but the communications with Ostrolenka 
 Were more difficult, Czyzew being on" a principal 
 road. The enemy, observing this circumstance, and 
 taking it for granted that Lubinski was cut off from 
 the main army, sent an aid-de-camp with a flag of 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 283 
 
 truce to summon him to surrender. This officer an- 
 nounced to General Lubinski that the whole Rus- 
 sian army had occupied Ciechanowiec, that the ad- 
 vanced guard was already at Czyzew, and that those 
 circumstances ought to satisfy him that his commu- 
 nications with his friends were entirely cut off, and 
 that therefore he w T ould do well to lay down his arms 
 and throw himself upon the magnanimity of the Em- 
 peror. To this proposition General Lubinski replied, 
 that although such might be his situation, he could 
 not think of surrendering himself without a struggle ; 
 and to satisfy the aid-de-camp that this was not 
 his individual feeling alone, but that it was partaken 
 by the whole body of his soldiers, he would present 
 him to them, and enable him to satisfy himself per- 
 sonally on this point. The aid-de-camp was then 
 conducted to the front of the line, and he addressed 
 himself to the troops, exhibiting the circumstances 
 under which they were placed, assuring them that 
 the bravest resistance would be hopeless, and inviting 
 them to surrender. This address was interrupted 
 by a universal shout of indignation from the soldiery,* 
 and they commanded him to leave their presence. 
 After the departure of the aid-de-camp, General Lu- 
 binski commenced his march, and, though it was prac- 
 ticable for him to reach Ostrolenka by a direct route, 
 yet thinking it possible that Czyzew was not occu- 
 pied by a very strong force, and that he might profit 
 by the approach of night, he determined to march 
 
 * This division was composed of two regiments of old light infantry, 
 and two recently formed regiments of Mazurs. 
 
284 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 at once upon the latter place, and to attack the Rus- 
 sian advanced guard there. This bold thought was 
 executed with perfect success. On reaching Czyzew 
 he found two regiments of cavalry encamped, and 
 wholly unprepared for an attack. They had not 
 even an outer-guard upon the road to Nur. He made 
 a charge which threw them into complete disorder, 
 and compelled them to retreat with the loss of a great 
 number in killed and wounded, and four to five hun- 
 dred prisoners. It was to be regretted that the ne- 
 cessity under which General Lubinski was placed of 
 reaching Ostrolenka as soon as possible, did not per- 
 mit him to profit further by these advantages. 
 
 On the next day, (the 25th) the rear-guard of our 
 main army, consisting of the brigade of General Wen- 
 gierski, was attacked at mid-day by the Russians, 
 on the side of Zambrowo, near Kleczkowo (20), a 
 village situated at the distance of three leagues from 
 Ostrolenka, on the left bank of the Narew. General 
 Diebitsch, being under the conviction that he had 
 encountered the whole Polish force at Kleczkowo, 
 consolidated his strength there, and determined to 
 come to action, and, by so doing, give time for an- 
 other corps to advance in the direction of Czyzew, 
 and occupy Ostrolenka, by which movement he 
 trusted that our army would be cut off from Warsaw, 
 and forced to retire to Lomza. The Russian com- 
 mander, presuming on the celerity of his movements, 
 was so confident of meeting our whole army at this 
 point, that nothing could exceed his surprise on learn- 
 ing that our army had already passed the town, and 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 285 
 
 that it was only the rear-guard which was before 
 him.* In order to lose no time, he commenced 
 an immediate attack on the rear-guard thus posted 
 at Kleczkowo. Our general in chief who was then 
 at Troszyn, on hearing the fire of the Russians at 
 KLeczkowo, immediately repaired thither, and profit- 
 ing by the fine position of that place, which com- 
 manded the marshy plain on the side of the ene- 
 my, passable only by a dyke, the bridge over which 
 had been demolished by our troops, ordered Gen- 
 eral Wengierski to sustain himself in that position 
 until night. In vain the Russian cavalry and infan- 
 try attempted to pass this dyke. At each approach 
 they were uniformly driven back by a destructive fire 
 of grape from our artillery. In vain were sixteen 
 pieces of their artillery employed to silence this fire ; 
 our position was too commanding to be afTected by 
 them. 
 
 The brigade of General Wengierski, having held 
 out in this position, with the greatest determina- 
 tion against a vastly superior force, for nine hours, 
 left the place at night in the greatest order, and 
 followed the main army. On the next day, the 
 26th of May, our army (h) evacuated Ostro- 
 
 * Marshal Diebitsch must by this time have become satisfied that 
 the operations, both in strategy and tactics, of the Polish commander, 
 were the result of extensive and just combinations. General Skrzy- 
 necki, in contriving this plan (with the valuable assistance of General 
 Proridzynski,) of surprising and defeating the Russian guard, had sat- 
 isfied himself of the practicability of returning to Ostrolenka without 
 being intercepted. 
 
286 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 lenka, passed the river Narew, and took, upon the 
 right bank of that river, opposite to Ostrolenka, a 
 new position,* leaving the bridge 'partly destroyed, 
 but in such a state that the Russian infantry might 
 pass it slowly. Not long after we had occupied our 
 position, the enemy (a) commenced debouching over 
 this bridge. 
 
 BATTLE OF OSTROLENKA. [See Plan XXX.] 
 
 The battle of Ostrolenka, which cost us the lives 
 of two brave Generals, Kicki, and Henry Kaminski, 
 was, in point of tactics, simply the passage of a river. 
 We may presume that the intention of General Die- 
 bitsch was, by passing at this point, the river Na- 
 reWj to send at the same time a corps to Serock, to 
 cut off our army, and place it between two fires. At 
 11 o'clock, as we have already stated, the Russian 
 infantry (a) under the protection of a most terrible 
 fire from fifty-four cannons, (6) which had taken a 
 very strong position on the left bank of the Narew, 
 commenced the passage of the river. General 
 
 * The question might be asked by some, whether this battle was 
 necessary, and why General Skrzynecki did not pursue his route to 
 Warsaw, as he could have done without molestation. In the course 
 which he took, he had two objects in view ; the one was, to cause this 
 destructive passage of the Narew, and thus diminish the forces of his 
 enemy ; the other was, by thus occupying General Diebitsch to' give 
 time to General Gielgud to leave Lomza in safety for Lithuania. [See 
 Plan XXIX.] 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION, 287 
 
 Skrzynecki, not wishing absolutely to prevent this 
 passage, placed but sixteen cannon in advantageous 
 positions, on slight elevations of ground, ( d) designed 
 to prevent the repairing of the bridge, and the con- 
 sequent rapid passage of the enemy's infantry. The 
 powerful Russian artillery attempted, without success, 
 to silence these few pieces. Their fire was equally 
 harmless to our artillery and the main army (A) ; for 
 the latter was withdrawn to an advantageous position. 
 Our artillery, on the other hand, was used with 
 great effect, being brought to bear directly upon the 
 bridge. During these operations the advanced guard, 
 with all the baggage and ammunition of the army, 
 received the order to take up the march towards 
 Warsaw. 
 
 At 3 o'clock, our artillery received orders to evac- 
 uate their position, and the tirailleurs (e) were order- 
 ed to advance. On the cessation of the fire of the 
 artillery, the light troops commenced a warm fire 
 upon the columns of Russian infantry, which had al- 
 ready passed the bridge. The enemy, profiting by 
 the withdrawal of our artillery, commenced repair- 
 ing the bridge, to afford a passage for large masses 
 of infantry, and their artillery. A strong Russian 
 column (/), after passing the bridge, took a direction 
 to the left, to throw itself into the forest which bor- 
 dered on the Narew, at the distance of a quarter 
 of a league from the bridge, and by occupying that 
 forest and the communications which traverse it, they 
 thought to commence an attack upon our right wing. 
 To have permitted this would have much deranged our 
 

 288 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 dispositions. The Polish commander, observing that 
 a great body of the Russian infantry had already 
 passed the bridge, and that this strong column had 
 been sent to occupy the forest, ordered General 
 Lubinski to send forward a brigade of cavalry (g), to 
 charge upon this column, on its march, and at the 
 same time ordered General Kaminski, with a divi- 
 sion of infantry, to make a charge upon the Russian 
 infantry near the bridge. These two attacks were 
 executed with great promptness and spirit, and were' 
 successful. The column which the cavalry attacked 
 on its march to the forest, was dispersed with the 
 loss of more than a hundred men left on the field. 
 The attack of the division of General Kaminski was 
 equally fortunate. The Russian columns r on receiv- 
 ing his charge, fell back upon the bridge, or conceal- 
 ed themselves under the banks of the river. These two 
 attacks cost us the lives of the two generals, Kamin- 
 ski and Kicki, who threw themselves upon the ene- 
 my, at the head of their respective columns. Their 
 loss was deeply regretted by the army and the nation. 
 
 Although the result of these attacks w r as favorable 
 to us, yet, the general in chief, considering the ter- 
 ribly destructive fire of the Russian artillery, which 
 commanded the whole plain near the bridge, decided 
 that the repetition of them would cost us too severe 
 a loss, and commanded both the cavalry and infantry 
 to withdraw to their former position, and to cease? 
 firing. 
 
 At 6 o'clock, the firing on both sides had entirely 
 ceased. Profiting by this interval, the Polish army 
 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 289 
 
 pursued its route, and the Russian infantry again 
 commenced debouching upon the bridge. At dusk, 
 nearly the whole Polish army was on the march to 
 Warsaw, and one division only (d) remained on our 
 position. On the part of the Russian army, we 
 may suppose that nearly two divisions had passed 
 the bridge, when our general in chief, wishing to pro- 
 fit by the obscurity of the night, in order to subject 
 the enemy to still greater losses, conceived the 
 bold idea, of advancing our artillery [Plan XXXI. 
 (a)] so near the Russian columns (6), as to pour 
 upon them a fire of grape-shot. General Skrzy- 
 necki himself, approached to Colonel Boehm, and 
 taking the command of the twelve pieces of light 
 artillery under him, led them in person to the dis- 
 tance of within three hundred paces of the enemy, and 
 brought forward at the same time two regiments of 
 cavalry for the support of this artillery. Placing this 
 little detachment in a very advantageous position be- 
 hind small elevations of ground, he commanded 
 Colonel Boehm to commence firing. The Russian 
 columns were thrown into confusion by this unex- 
 pected and terrible fire ; and it may be imagined that 
 their loss was immense, enclosed as they were with- 
 in a narrow space, on the bank and on the bridge. 
 Every discharge of the artillery was with effect, and 
 by the testimony of the prisoners taken, their loss 
 must have amounted to an entire brigade, without es- 
 timating those who left the field wounded, and those 
 W 7 ho fell into the river. On our side, this attack cost us 
 only the loss of two officers of the artillery, although 
 37 
 
290 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 this detachment was exposed to the fire of the whole 
 Russian artillery.* Our battery fired but three rounds, 
 when the general gave the order to withdraw, and 
 follow the main army (A) to Warsaw.f 
 
 These are the details of the battle of Ostrolenka, 
 in which the loss on the enemy's side was from 
 10,000 to 15,000 men, and on our side, the two gen- 
 eral officers abovementioned, with about 4000 men. 
 
 On the afternoon of the day of the battle of Os- 
 trolenka, the division of General Gielgud received 
 orders to depart from the town of Lomza. Gener- 
 al Dembinski, on the night of the same day was or- 
 dered to join him with two squadrons of Lancers of 
 Poznam. The latter general left the field of battle 
 with these squadrons, and on the next day joined the 
 division of General Gielgud. t 
 
 * This fire of the Russian artillery might almost be compared to the 
 terrible fire of the 25th of February, at Grokow, in the attack on the 
 forest of elders. 
 
 f This manoeuvre, of bringing the artillery so near the columns of 
 the enemy, and under the terrible fire of the Russian artillery, was one 
 of those bold and hazardous steps which were necessary for the ob- 
 ject of reducing the immense superiority of the enemy's force. The per- 
 sonal agency of General Skrzynecki was demanded for a blow like this ; 
 and in executing it he displayed equally the qualities of the soldier and 
 the general. The admiration of his soldiers was excited by seeing him 
 dismount and place himself with the utmost coolness at the head of 
 this battery of artillery, exposed to the incessant fire of that of the en- 
 emy. Neither the fear of the enemy, nor the entreaties of his officers, 
 who begged him, on their knees, to withdraw and to reserve his val- 
 uable life for his country, could induce him to move from his place, 
 until he had seen the successful termination of this effort. 
 
 J For those who have asserted that General Gielgud was cutoff 
 from the main body of the Polish forces and compelled to escape into 
 Lithuania, the sending of these two squadrons of Lancers to join him, 
 will be a sufficient answer. The division of General Gielgud could 
 have even remained at Lomza for as many as three days after this battle. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 291 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Operations of the Lithuanian corps. Battle of Raygrod and defeat of the 
 Russian corps of Saken. ---Importance of this first success in Lithua- 
 nia. General Gielgud neglects to follow up his advantages. He loses 
 time by passing the Niemen at Gielgudiski, and enables the enemy to 
 concentrate his forces in Wilna. Entrance into Lithuania and recep- 
 tion by the inhabitants. Position of the two main armies. The Rus- 
 sian forces remain inactive and receive supplies from Prussia. ---Death 
 of Marshal Diebitsch. 
 
 ON the 27th of May, the corps of General Giel- 
 gud, attached to which were generals Rohland, 
 Szymanowski, Dernbinski, and Colonel Pientka, 
 left Lomza, and commenced their march into Lithu- 
 ania. On the evening of that day, they arrived at 
 Stawisk, passing through Szczuczyn and Graiewo. 
 In the last town they were joined by the little corps 
 of General, then Colonel, Sierakowski, which, as we 
 have already remarked, had been employed in ob- 
 serving General Saken, and was here occupying an 
 advantageous position. The force of this corps has 
 been already stated. 
 
 BATTLE OF RAYGROD. [Plan XXXIL] 
 
 I have divided this battle into two different periods, 
 marked by the two different positions which the en- 
 emy successively took. 
 
 On examining the plan of the first position of .the 
 Russians, it will be at once seen that they had no 
 
292 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 knowledge of the arrival of our corps. They sup- 
 posed that they were acting against the corps of 
 Colonel Sierakowski alone, and they had conceived 
 the design of out-flanking him. On the morning of 
 the 29th, our whole corps, quitting the little town of 
 Graiewo, met, at the distance of about a quarter of a 
 league, the Russian flankers, against whom our own 
 were immediately sent out. The Russian cavalry 
 began to retire. Our columns continued their march 
 slowly, having the forces of Colonel Sierakowski in 
 front, as an advanced guard, *'and WG thus arrived at the 
 lake of Raygrod, the advanced guard meeting only 
 small detachments of the Russian cavalry, which re- 
 tired as we approached. On reaching the lake, our 
 advanced guard were fired upon by the Russian skir- 
 mishers, concealed in the woods on the opposite side 
 of the lake, which bordered upon the causeway. 
 Colonel Sierakowski received orders to engage with 
 them. He sent forward his own light troops, and 
 placed two cannons upon the causeway, with which 
 he commenced a fire upon the woods. The Russian 
 infantry instantly evacuated the woods, and allowed 
 our skirmishers to occupy them. By this manoeuvre, 
 the Russians intended to lead on our forces with the 
 view to attack them on their flank, and even to sur- 
 round them, by sending detachments (, 6) to the 
 right and left, as will be seen on the plan. In a 
 short time our larger force, under General Gielgud, 
 
 * This disposition was made, expressly with the view of confirming 
 the Russian General in the idea, that he was opposed by Colonel Sie- 
 rakowaki alone. 
 

 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 293 
 
 commenced debouching between the two lakes. A 
 strong column (c) of our infantry took a direction 
 towards the forest, to the left, and another 
 column (d) to that on the right, to dislodge the en- 
 emy, if he should be found to have occupied either. 
 At the same time our artillery(e), to the number of 
 fourteen pieces, taking a position at the side of the 
 causeway, opposite to that of the enemy (/), com- 
 menced firing. The whole of our cavalry, and the 
 greater part of our infantry remained in the centre, 
 and constituted a formidable front. 
 
 In a few moments after these dispositions were 
 made, a brisk fire of tirailleurs was commenced on 
 our left wing (A). The Russian centre (B), suffer- 
 ing from the fire of our artillery, and taken by sur- 
 prise at the unexpected strength of our forces, be- 
 gan to waver. This was a signal for our advance. 
 Colonel Pientka, who commanded the artillery, gave 
 the order. A strong column of three battalions of 
 infantry commenced the hurrah, and charged with 
 the bayonet, upon the wavering columns of the en- 
 emy. At the same time, General Dembinski gave 
 the order to our cavalry (g) to charge upon that of 
 the enemy on the right and left. The first squad- 
 ron of the Lancers of Poznam received the order to 
 throw themselves forward, and fall upon the break- 
 ing columns of the enemy. The greatest consterna- 
 tion and disorder began to exist in the Russian 
 ranks. It was no longer a retreat ; it was a flight. 
 This squadron of Lancers, commanded by the brave 
 Major Micielski, performed prodigies of valor. They 
 
 
294 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 entered the town simultaneously with the Russian 
 columns, cutting down immense numbers of the ene- 
 my, and taking many prisoners. This squadron 
 courageously remained in the streets of the city, 
 exposed to the fire of the enemy's infantry, who had 
 occupied the houses, until the arrival of our own in- 
 fantry. In this exposed situation they lost their 
 commander.* 
 
 * The reader will allow me to give some details' of this charge of 
 cavalry, which was, indeed, of an extraordinary character. At the 
 moment that the Russian centre began to waver ; with the view to 
 continue and augment the disorder of the enemy, and to break their 
 front, order was given to the cavalry to push their attacks, without in- 
 termission, on the sides of the great road. With this force was the 
 1st squadron of the Lancers of Poznam, of between 80 and 100 men. 
 This squadron threw themselves upon the Russian columns, and, 
 simultaneously with them, entered the town, which was full of the en- 
 emy's infantry. Far from being discouraged by this overwhelming 
 force, the brave Poznainians penetrated the different streets, and con- 
 tinued their attack on the enemy on every side. But the Russian 
 infantry protected themselves within the houses, and behind the 
 walls, and commenced a fire of musquetry, which fell like hail 
 upon this brave handful of Lancers, and it would have been thought 
 that not a man would have escaped. It was impossible for our Lan- 
 cers either to advance or retire, for the streets before them were com- 
 manded by artillery, and the enemy's columns of infantry had closed 
 in behind them ; there was only one outlet for them, which was by a 
 small street, issuing out of the town to the left, and that was also 
 occupied by the enemy. There was no alternative but to force 
 their way through it. Our Hulans, then forming a phalanx of lances, 
 opened a passage through the enemy, and quitted the town. It was 
 here that the brave Micielski fell. The brave Poznamians, leaving 
 the town, by the side of the lake, whither the Russian right wing 
 had retreated and were about entering the city, presented to the Rus- 
 sians the impression that the cij.y was in possession of our troops, and 
 supposing themselves between two fires, they no longer hesitated to 
 lay down their arms to the pursuing force. 
 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 295 
 
 These several attacks, which did not occupy two 
 hours, caused an immense loss to the enemy. Three 
 entire battalions, which formed their right wing(C), 
 consisting of 2,000 men, were taken prisoners, with 
 three superior officers, and fourteen of a lower grade. 
 By the entry of our forces, the enemy were driven 
 from the town, and took another position(D) upon ele- 
 vated ground, on the opposite side of a small stream, 
 near the town. This position was strong, and com- 
 manded the town and the whole of the other side of 
 the stream. General Saken would certainly have 
 remained long in this position, if, as we shall see, our 
 right wing under Colonel Koss had not succeeded in 
 passing the stream at a higher point (i), and acting 
 on his flank. The Russian general, as soon as he 
 had established himself in his new position, com- 
 menced a fire upon the town, which was returned 
 by our artillery. It was during this fire that Colonel 
 Koss succeeded in passing the stream, at a quarter 
 of a league above the city, on the right. This was 
 effected by demolishing the buildings in the vicinity 
 and making a passage for the artillery from their 
 materials. General Saken, seeing his left wing 
 thus menaced, evacuated his position, in which, as 
 we have said, but for this attack on his flank, he 
 could have well supported himself for some time. 
 
 At 3 o'clock the Russians commenced their retreat 
 upon the road to Kowno, and thus terminated a bat- 
 tle of the most advantageous character for us, and 
 with which begins an important era in our affairs. 
 
 By this battle the Polish forces had made the 
 
 
 
296 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 acquisition of great advantages, both in respect to 
 strategy and tactics, and the highest hopes might 
 reasonably be cherished in regard to the future. 
 
 It was, as it were, a return of the state of 
 things brought about by the victory of Igani, and 
 which menaced the enemy with total ruin. Our 
 main army was then near to Warsaw, composed of 
 a force of considerable strength, and which, under 
 the command of Skrzynecki, had been victorious in 
 every battle. New troops had been formed there. 
 Neither provisions, nor forage had failed, for they 
 were constantly sent from Warsaw to the army, in 
 whatever quarter it might be. 
 
 The Russian army was, in the mean while, suffer- 
 ing under all the disadvantages which we have be- 
 fore described. Wearied and discouraged by the 
 disasters of the campaign, posted in regions which 
 they had devastated, and therefore suffering from 
 scarcity ; without hospitals for their sick and their 
 wounded, for the towns which contained them had 
 been destroyed, and with the cholera ravaging their 
 ranks, that army was in the most precarious situ- 
 ation. The communications between the Russian 
 provinces and the army were entirely cut off by the 
 Polish Lithuanian corps. They received their pro- 
 visions exclusively from Prussia ; and, but for this 
 assistance of Prussia, no one can doubt that Die- 
 bitsch would have been, before this, under the neces- 
 sity of withdrawing from the country. The reader 
 will also remember that at this time, the brave and 
 skilful general, Chrzanowski, had obtained repeated 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 297 
 
 advantages over General Rudiger, in the environs of 
 Zamosc, and that the little corps of General Chlapow- 
 ski which had entered, on the 20th of May, the Rus- 
 sian department of Bialostok, was acting with great 
 advantages. From the Baltic to the Black Sea, the 
 provinces of Podolia, Volhynia, Ukraine, as well as Li- 
 thuania and Samogitia, containing a population of 
 twelve millions of inhabitants, were in a state of ex- 
 citement, and would soon have risen in the holy cause. 
 They were waiting only the .arrival of our victorious 
 troops. It cannot but be assumed, therefore, that 
 if General Gielgud, at the head of the Polish corps 
 in Lithuania, had acted with promptness and ener- 
 gy, the most happy results would have been achieved. 
 It is, therefore, with the deepest chagrin, that I 
 have to acknowledge that from the moment of the 
 termination of the fortunate battle of Raygrod, all 
 the operations of General Gielgud were not only de- 
 ficient in energy, but altogether wrongly conceived. 
 The first fault which he committed, was not con- 
 tinuing to press the attack upon General Saken, after 
 he had retired from Raygrod. Under the pretext 
 that the soldiers were fatigued, the corps was en- 
 camped. This pretext was groundless, for the sol- 
 diers themselves demanded to be led on in pursuit of 
 the enemy. In this camp we passed the whole 
 night, and left it \Plan XXXIIL] at the hour of nine 
 the following morning ; having given fifteen hours 
 to the retreating enemy. We continued our march 
 to Kowno, through the duchy of Augustow. On the 
 30th of May, we arrived at Suwalki(l) its capital, 
 38 
 
298 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 and remained there a day and a night, without 
 any conceivable reason. The enemy, profiting by the 
 slowness of our movements, escaped the certain de- 
 struction with which he had been threatened. On 
 the 1st of June, we arrived at Kalwaryia (2), and at 
 that town our corps was very uselessly divided into 
 two parts, the larger (a), under General Gielgud, 
 took the road to Gielgudiski (3), on the Niemen,* 
 to pass the river at that point. General Dembinski, 
 with the remainder of the corps (6), continued on 
 the main road, and on the 3d of June arrived at Al- 
 exota (4). 
 
 This separation of our forces into two bodies, to 
 pass the Niemen at Gielgudiski, was not recommend- 
 ed by any conceivable advantage, and, indeed, 
 operated much to our injury. This plan of opera- 
 tions was also in opposition to the instructions, not 
 only of the general in chief, Skrzynecki, but of the 
 National Government, and obstructed the rapid ex- 
 exution of the great designs of the campaign. 
 
 In any plan for the occupation of a foreign country, 
 the first object should be to get possession of the 
 principal towns, for at those points are chiefly con- 
 centrated both the moral and physical resources of 
 the country. In Lithuania, the town of Wilria (5) 
 is the capital. Against it all our plans should have 
 been directed ; and, in fact, the instructions of the 
 government to General Gielgud were all to this 
 effect. By a prompt occupation of that city, we 
 
 * Gielgudiski was the paternal estate of the Polish general. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 299 
 
 should have unquestionably reaped the greatest ad- 
 vantages. As Wilna was the residence of the prin- 
 cipal officers of the government of the province, it 
 would have been there that all the arrangements 
 could best be made for a provisional administration, 
 and for the convocation of a conventional Diet of the 
 people. In regard also to the formation of new 
 forces, Wilna was the place that presented the great- 
 est facilities. 
 
 Taking all these circumstances into view r , it 
 must be conceded that after the battle of Raygrod, 
 the first object of General Gielgud ought to have 
 been to march upon and to occupy Wilna w r ith the 
 utmost promptness. With this view, his course 
 should have been, after masking his movement at 
 Kowno, to have passed the Niemen (N) at Rumszys- 
 zki (6), a village which was about sixteen English 
 miles above Kowno (7) arid in the direction of Wilna, 
 while Gielgudiski, on the other hand, was thirty-two 
 miles below Kowno, and forty-eight from Rumszyski, 
 and out of the direction of Wilna. With the exception 
 of that of General Saken, no other Russian force was 
 interposed between us and Wilna. Indeed the corps 
 of General Chlapowski(c),with which he had travers- 
 ed the department of Bialostok, was at that moment 
 between Kowno and Wilna, and had we passed at 
 Rumszyski, we should have been within but one 
 day's march of him. It is evident, then, that Wil- 
 na would have fallen into our hands without a blow. 
 All these advantages were sacrificed by making the 
 passage at Gielgudiski. General Saken, meeting 
 
300 THE POLISH REVOLUTIOiV. 
 
 with no interruption, thus escaped a second time, 
 and marched from Kowno to Wilna. At the same 
 time several other Russian corps began to concen- 
 trate themselves at Wilna. 
 
 The corps of General Dembinski, having main- 
 tained a moderate fire upon Kovvno for two days, in 
 order to mask our movements from the enemy, 
 marched for Gielgudiski, to follow the other corps 
 in the passage of the river, at that point, on the 7th 
 of June. Our troops thus entered the province of 
 Lithuania, an interesting day for us, thus engaged in 
 the effort to re-unite this dissevered portion of our 
 country to its ancient parent. The manner in which 
 the inhabitants of every village received us, expres- 
 sive of the warmest satisfaction, showed that they re- 
 garded us as brothers. This reception deeply affected 
 both soldiers and officers. They hailed us as their 
 deliverers, and it is now a mournful reflection that, 
 owing to the misconduct of our commanders, that 
 enthusiasm, instead of leading to happy results, 
 proved, in the end, only an aggravation of their mis- 
 fortunes. 
 
 Leaving the corps of General Gielgud upon the 
 Niemen, we wiir return again to the operations of 
 the Grand Army, and the different detached corps. 
 Our main body, which after the battle of Ostrolenka, 
 retired towards Warsaw, was now at Praga, where 
 the head-quarters of the commander in chief were 
 fixed. General Skrzynecki, during the repose of 
 the army, occupied himself with its re-organization. 
 
 In the environs of Zarnosc, the corps of General 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 301 
 
 Chrzyanowski, in which the brave General Roma- 
 rino commanded a brigade, was sufficient to keep the 
 different Russian corps in check. 
 
 On the 3d of June, the Russian army, which, up 
 to the present time, continued in the environs of 
 Ostrolenka, on the left bank of the Narew, com- 
 menced its operations upon the right bank of that 
 river. A considerable corps, amounting to 20,000 
 men, passed that river in the neighborhood of Pras- 
 nysz. The principal object of this corps was not to 
 recommence hostilities, but to protect the large trans- 
 ports of provisions which were sent daily from Prus- 
 sia. In the environs of Brzesc was the corps of 
 General Kreutz. The Russian army thus fed by 
 Prussia, remained inactive in their position at Os- 
 trolenka, during which interval, and while he was 
 perhaps contriving new plans for our subjugations oc ~ 
 curred the sudden death of Marshal Diebitsch. He 
 died at Kleczkowo, not far from Ostrolenka, on the 
 9th of June. 4 ' 
 
 * The reader may be curious to know some details of the career of 
 Marshal Diebitsch. He was born in Silesia, not far from Wroclaw, 
 the capital of that province. His father was a major in the Prussian 
 service, and young 1 Diebitsch was sent by him at an early age to the 
 military school at Berlin. It was, perhaps, in about the year 1805. that 
 he first entered the Russian military service, as a cadet in one of the 
 regiments of the guard, from which he was, in 1807, transferred to the 
 corps of engineers. In this service he advanced rapidly, not so much by 
 real talent, as by a certain art which he had of exhibiting himself to the 
 best advantage. In the place of aid-de-camp of the late emperor Al- 
 exander, to which he was soon advanced, he was known to have in- 
 trigued in opposition to the interest of Poland. These intrigues, as 
 well as tho'e which he afterwards practised, to supersede Wittgens- 
 
302 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 The provisional command of the Russian army 
 was taken by General Toll. 
 
 If the reader should examine closely the operations 
 of the two armies after the battle of Ostrolenka, he 
 will, perhaps, be astonished at their inactivity. He 
 will, however, acknowledge that the blame of that in- 
 activity cannot rest upon the Polish side. The retreat 
 which we made, was necessary ; first, for the sake of 
 the re-organizing of the army; secondly, for the object 
 of leading the enemy to the environs of Praga, which 
 were in a state of devastation, and generally into 
 the region between the Bug and the Liewiec, where 
 he would not be able to support himself; and in this 
 mariner to force him to attack the fortifications of 
 Praga, to attempt a passage of the Vistula, or to 
 evacuate the country. That either of the two first 
 would be attempted, while the insurrections in Lithu- 
 ania and Samogitia, &c. were in progress, and after 
 our success at Raygrod, was hardly to have been 
 expected ; for the one would cost too great a sacrifice 
 
 tein, in the command of the army against Turkey, degraded him in the 
 esteem of all upright men. He was never regarded by us as a general 
 of talent, and the truth of our estimate will be by this time conceded. 
 One cannot but be impressed with the fate which has awaited the 
 two greatest enemies of Poland, Diebitsch and Constantine. Ar- 
 rested by Providence, amid the persecutions which they had inflicted, 
 and were designing to inflict upon our country, they perished in dis- 
 grace. They died acting the part of the enemies of humanity, and 
 their names thus rest, sealed with the eternal reproach of history. Here 
 is a fate which ought to alarm despots. The thought that in the moment 
 that they are most deeply engaged in contriving the oppression of their 
 fellow-men, a sudden death may come upon them, and thus stigmatize 
 their names forever, should teach them an impressive lesson. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 303 
 
 of men, and the other would be attended with too 
 much hazard. If, then, the Russian army undertook 
 nothing, it was a consequence of their critical situa- 
 tion. We can, in fact, safely assume that it was 
 their intention to evacuate the country ; for to have 
 obtained sufficient supplies by their own means was 
 almost impracticable. When, therefore, this army 
 remained there, it was only because it was fed by 
 Prussia, who did not scruple openly to aid them in 
 their perilous position, by sending enormous trans- 
 ports by the roads of Neydenburg and Mlawa. It 
 was those transports which saved the Russian army 
 from the utmost extremity. I leave to the reader 
 to judge, then, whether it was with one enemy alone 
 that the Poles had to contend. The Prussian gov- 
 ernment, which arrested all the volunteers who were 
 passing through its territory to augment our ranks, 
 and which stopped all the aids of money and arms 
 sent to us by the generous friends of liberty in other 
 countries, took every occasion to aid and protect 
 our enemy. If that government has satisfied its own 
 inhuman will, by this interference to injure a cause 
 so sacred as that of the Poles, they have involunta- 
 rily aided that cause by raising its merit in the 
 eyes of the present and future ages, who will 
 know with what difficulties we had to struggle. 
 In return for these good offices of the Prussian 
 government, the Poles will on ly say, " Przyidzie 
 kryska na malyska," "Each one in his turn." 
 
 If the two main armies were at rest, it was not 
 so with the corps in the palatinate of Lublin, where 
 
304 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 General Chrzanowski beat, on the 10th of June, 
 General Rudiger, between Zamosc and Uchania, and 
 took from him numerous prisoners. General Rudi- 
 ger was forced, by this action, to retire to Lublin, 
 and to cease offensive operations. General Chrza- 
 nowski then prepared to surprise this corps, with the 
 aid of the garrison of Zamosc. 
 
 It was on the 1.2th of June, that after being ap- 
 prized of the continual victories of General Chrza- 
 nowski, the general in chief concluded to re-com- 
 mence hostilities. His plan was, to act in concert 
 with this corps, and to crush the enemy in all the 
 southern parts of the kingdom. He would after- 
 wards have to do only with the Russian main arrriy, 
 which had commenced passing the Narew and en- 
 tering into the palatinate of Plock, to keep its com- 
 munications open with Prussia, and where it would 
 have been in a manner cooped up between the Narew 
 and the Vistula, with insurrectioried Lithuania in its 
 rear, and our army in its front or flank, according as 
 that army should operate, at Stanislawow, at Wys- 
 kow, or at Ostrolenka. 
 
 It was here again that our commander in chief 
 felt his hopes renewed, confiding always in the for- 
 tunate result of the operations in Lithuania, which 
 had so happily commenced ; but he was to be again 
 mournfully disappointed, by the pusillanimity of the 
 generals to whom the all-important expedition to 
 Lithuania had been entrusted. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION, 305 
 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 General Gielgud advances into Lithuania. Allows a Russian corps to 
 pass within a league of him unperceived. Operations on Wilna . 
 Enumeration of our present force.---Plan of a simultaneous attack upon 
 Wilna on opposite sides by the corps in two divisions. General Dem- 
 binski engages the enemy with the Smaller part of the corps. Being 
 unsupported by Gielgud, is forced to retreat. General Gielgud attacks 
 Wilna. Battle of Wilna. A retreat is commenced. Prodigious 
 efforts of the Po!ish cavairy in protecting this retreat. Consequen- 
 ces of the repulse from Wilna. The removal of General Gielgud 
 is called for.-^-General Chlapowski consents to take the virtual com- 
 mand of the corps, in the post of chef d'etat major. Consideration 
 on the state of things consequent to the battle of Wilna. Details of the 
 admirable plan of operations proposed by Colonel Valentin. 
 
 THE forces of General Gielgud having thus crossed 
 the Niemen, passed a night at Rewdany, and the 
 next day [Plan XXXIV.] marched on to Czaykisz- 
 ki (1), in the direction of Keydany. We cannot un- 
 derstand why General Gielgud did not attack Ma- 
 linowski (6), who passed at the distance of half a 
 league from us, at the head of 6,000 men, on his 
 march to Wilna. It is, we believe, a thing unheard 
 of in the history of military affairs, that an inferior 
 force should be suffered to pass, unmolested, so near 
 a hostile army. It discovered the very last degree 
 of carelessness, to enter a country in the occupa- 
 tion of the enemy, without sending out even the or- 
 39 
 
306 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 dinary reconnoissances. General Malinowski,* with 
 his corps, which ought to have fallen into our hands, 
 escaped, and made the second Russian force which 
 had owed its safety to our negligence, and contributed 
 a new accession to the forces which we should have 
 to contend with. 
 
 On the 10th of June, our corps arrived at Keydany 
 (2), in which place we were joined by General Chla- 
 powski with his corps, which had so successfully 
 traversed the departments of Bialostok and Grodno. 
 
 This force, which, on quitting Xienzopol, amount- 
 ed to scarce 1,000 men, received reinforcements in 
 cavalry and infantry, from the insurgents of the pro- 
 vinces, through which it had passed. f From the new 
 forces, ten squadrons of cavalry, counting nearly 1,200 
 
 * This General Malinowski, as was generally understood, was a na- 
 tive of Mopilew, or Little Russia, a province of ancient Poland, and 
 had been long in the Russian service. The Lithuanians and Samogi- 
 tians had much to complain of in his conduct in those provinces. 
 
 f Among the Lithuanians who hastened to join our ranks, and to 
 aid in the restoration of their beloved country, were several of the fair 
 sex ; generally from the principal families of the province. There 
 were personally known to me the following, whose names I deem it an 
 honor to record: Plater, Rasinowicz, Karwoska, Masusewicz, Za- 
 wadzka, and Lipinska. The Countess Plater, perhaps, should receive 
 a more especial notice. This young heroine joined our corps with a 
 regiment of from five to six hundred Lithuanians, raised and equipped 
 at her own expense, and she was uniformly at their head in the midst 
 of the severest engagements. How strongly do such examples illus- 
 trate the sacred nature of our cause ! What claims must not their 
 country have presented to the minds of these females of the most ex- 
 alted character, to have induced them thus to go out of their position 
 in society, and to sacrifice domestic happiness, wealth, life itself, in 
 the effort to rescue that country from her degradation ! 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 307 
 
 horse, and two battalions of infantry, amounting to 
 nearly 1,800 men, were formed. 
 
 On the llth of June, our united corps quitted 
 Keydany, to march to Zeymy (3) , where we arrived 
 at night. In this little town we remained several 
 days, we know not for what object. From this place 
 General Chlapowski was sent with a detachment, con- 
 sisting of the 1st regiment of Lancers and five pieces 
 of light artillery, to make reconnoissances in the di- 
 rection of Wilna. The new forces of which we have 
 just spoken, were attached to the main body, under 
 General Gielgud. A few hundred of insurgent cav- 
 alry of Lithuania also arrived at Zeymy, which were 
 joined to the Lancers of Poznam and the 3d regiment 
 of Lancers. 
 
 On the day of our departure, General Szymanow- 
 ski received orders to leave for Polonga with a small 
 corps of insurgents (c) from the department of Szaw- 
 la. This corps consisted of 1 ,500 infantry, 400 light 
 cavalry, and two pieces of cannon. 
 
 As it was from Zeymy that we commenced our 
 operations upon Wilna, after having organized our 
 new forces ; and as from this point commences an 
 era in the history of our expedition, it may be well 
 to give a new enumeration of our forces. Our in- 
 fantry consisted of 13 battalions of infantry, amount- 
 ing in all to nearly 8,700 men, including a body of 
 sappers ; our cavalry of 24 squadrons, amounting to 
 about 2,750 ; and our artillery of 29 pieces of cannon. 
 To these forces we might add a detachment of 500 
 men and 100 horse, acting independently as a corps 
 
308 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 of partizans, under Colonel Zaliwski. This corps of 
 Colonel Zaliwski was formed in the Duchy of Au- 
 gustow, with the destination to operate there upon 
 all the demonstrations of the enemy, on his commu- 
 nications, his magazines, his baggage, his transpor- 
 tations of provisions, &c. ; and when it is considered 
 that this officer remained for four months thus suc- 
 cessfully employed, and exposed to the enemy's forces 
 on all sides, a particular acknowledgment is due to 
 him for his meritorious services. In the above enu- 
 meration we have, of course, excluded the force of 
 General Szymanowski, which, as we have stated, 
 received another destination. 
 
 With the forces which we have enumerated, Gen- 
 eral Gielgud left Zeymy on the 14th of June. The 
 operations on Wilna were planned for an attack on 
 two sides, and with that view General Dembinski 
 was detached with a small corps (d) of 1,200 infan- 
 try, 900 cavalry, and 4 pieces of cannon. This gen- 
 eral was to attack Wilna on the road from Willco- 
 mierz to that city, at the same time that the larger 
 force (e) made the attack on the road from Kowno, 
 on the left bank of the river Wilyia. This plan de- 
 manded the most exact communication between the 
 two attacking corps. That communication was not 
 observed, and, in fact, as it will be seen, the plan 
 itself was not executed. 
 
 The corps of General Dembinski reached Wieprz 
 (4), on the river Swieta, on the 14th of June. On 
 the next day it passed that river, and arrived at Szer- 
 winty (5). From thence, after resting for a few 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 309 
 
 hours, the corps marched to Myszegola (6) , where it 
 passed the night. On the 16th, leaving this village, 
 after a march of two leagues, the corps began to meet 
 with small detachments of the enemy's Circassian 
 cavalry.* General Dembinski gave the order to throw 
 forward the flankers. The Circassians commenced 
 a retreating fire, and, thus engaged with them, we 
 approached within a league of Wilna, taking a posi- 
 tion at Karczma-biskupia (7), or The Tavern of the 
 Bishop, a large public house, surrounded by small 
 dwellings, and which was in rather a commmanding 
 situation. 
 
 On the 17th, General Dembinski, sent parties of 
 cavalry to the right as far as the river Wilyia (W), 
 and to the left as far as Kalwaria (8), to make re- 
 connoissances, and advanced with his w r hole corps 
 in the centre, for the same object. In these recon- 
 noissances a constant fire of flankers was kept up, with 
 which the whole day was occupied. It was a great 
 fault in General Dembinski, to have commenced 
 this fire, without having any intelligence of the sit- 
 uation of the corps of General Gielgud, with which 
 he was to act in concert. On the morning of the 
 same day, in fact, on which General Dembinski 
 was thus employed, the corps of General Gielgud 
 
 * This was a formidable force from the province of Circassia, in two 
 regiments, amounting to about 3,000 men, and which had recently ar- 
 rived at Wilna. It was a species of light cavalry, of the most efficient 
 character. The fleetness of their horses was such, that they would 
 often throw themselves in the very midst of our flankers, and having- 
 discharged their arms, retreat in safety. They were armed with two 
 pistols, a long fusil, a sabre, a long knife, and a lance. 
 
310 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 was at the distance of thirty-six English miles 
 from him. By these imprudent reconnoissances, 
 General Dembinski laid open all his forces to the 
 knowledge of the enemy. Of this fault the enemy 
 took advantage on the next day. 
 
 On the 18th, at sunrise, clouds of Circassian cav- 
 alry made their appearance, and commenced attacks 
 upon our flanks, endeavoring to turn them. Several 
 columns of Russian infantry then approached, and ma- 
 noeuvred upon our centre, on which also 12 pieces of 
 Russian artillery of large calibre commenced firing. 
 Other columns of cavalry manoeuvred upon our wings. 
 As far as we could judge, the enemy's forces amount- 
 ed to about 8,000 men. General Dembinski, seeing 
 the strength of the enemy, and appreciating his own 
 danger, gave orders for a retreat, which was com- 
 menced under a terrible fire from the enemy's artille- 
 ry, and from his flankers, who harassed us on every 
 side. The retreat was executed in the greatest or- 
 der, as far as Myszegola, a distance of 12 miles from 
 our position, with the loss only of some fifty cavalry. 
 On arriving at Myszegola, General Dembinski, con- 
 cerned at receiving no intelligence from General 
 Gielgud, sent an officer with a report of what had 
 occurred. That officer found General Gielgud with 
 his corps, at Oyrany, occupied in making the pas- 
 sage of the Wilyia, at that place. The report of 
 General Dembinski, as we can assert from personal 
 knowledge, gave a faithful description of the occur- 
 rences of the preceding days, and contained a re- 
 quest, that, in case he (Dembinski), was expected to 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 31 1 
 
 maintain the position in which he then was, Gener- 
 al Gielgud must send him reinforcements of infantry 
 and artillery. The report finished with the suggestion, 
 that it would be, under all circumstances, the course 
 most expedient, to re-unite his forces with those of 
 General Gielgud. Upon the receipt of this report, to 
 which General Gielgud gave little attention, orders 
 were sent to General Dembinski to depart for Pod- 
 brzeze (9), eight miles to the left of the road which 
 leads from Willcomierz to Wilna. The pretext of 
 this order was to attack Wilna on the side of Kal- 
 wargi, and to pass the river Wilyia at that point. 
 Thus, instead of being allowed to unite his corps 
 with that of General Gielgud, as he had proposed, 
 General Dembinski was ordered to remove to a still 
 greater distance, a disposition for which we can con- 
 ceive no possible motive. On the 19th of June, the 
 day on which General Gielgud commenced his at- 
 tack on Wilna, General Dembinski was thus em- 
 ployed on his march, without an object, to Podbrzeze. 
 
 BATTLE OF WILNA. [Plan XXXV.] 
 
 The battle of Wilna was, in point of tactics, sim- 
 ply a strong attack upon the Russian centre (A), 
 with the view, by forcing it, to pass on to the oc- 
 cupation of the city. The adoption of such a plan 
 supposes an ignorance of the nature of the position 
 of the enemy, and of the strength of his forces.* In- 
 
 * As we have been informed, Wilna was defended by five corps, 
 consisting in all, of about 30,000, men under Generals Kurata, Tolstoy, 
 Saken, Malinowski, and Szyrman. 
 
312 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 deed any plan of attacking this city on its strongest 
 side, that of the road to Kowno, was almost impos- 
 sible of execution. The battle commenced on the 
 morning of the 19th of June. The enemy was 
 dislodged from his first position, which was about 
 one mile from the city. Their retreat was caused 
 by a spirited charge, by the 1st regiment of Lancers, 
 upon the Russian artillery, and the columns of infan- 
 try in the centre. The enemy, on quitting this po- 
 sition, took another of great strength on the heights 
 called Gory-Konarski (B). This strong position was 
 already covered with fortifications. The right wing 
 of the enemy (C), composed of strong columns of 
 infantry (a), rested on the river Wilyia ; the cen- 
 tre, (A), embracing all their artillery, which consist- 
 ed of 50 pieces of cannon (6), occupied the heights 
 abovementioned ; the declivity of those heights was 
 covered with sharp-shooters (c?), concealed behind 
 small heaps of earth, thrown up for this purpose. 
 The left wing of the enemy (D) was entirely com- 
 posed of cavalry (e). 
 
 After driving the Russians from their first position, 
 our artillery (f) was brought forward and placed 
 opposite the enemy's centre. This is to be regard- 
 ed as a great fault. At the same time that our ar- 
 tillery was thus disposed, our left wing received or- 
 ders to attack the right wing of the enemy. The 
 columns of our infantry (g-), composed in part from the 
 new Lithuanian levies* threw themselves with such 
 
 * This Lithuanian force consisted of the regiment of the Countess 
 Plater, who accompanied them in the charge. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 313 
 
 fury upon the enemy, that they did not give them 
 even time to fire, but fought them hand to hand : 
 an immense slaughter ensued, and the Russians 
 began to give way before this desperate assault ; but 
 at this very moment, our artillery, who could not sus- 
 tain themselves under the overpowering fire of the 
 enemy, from its commanding position, began to 
 fall back ; and this gave time to the Russians to 
 send fresh bodies of infantry to support their right 
 wing. Our left wing, being unable to sustain a 
 conflict with the reinforced strength of the enemy, 
 and apprehensive of being cut off, to which hazard 
 they were exposed by the retreat of our artillery, be- 
 gan to give way also, and upon that a retreat com- 
 menced along our whole line, under the protection 
 of the cavalry (A). The cavalry, both old and new, 
 performed prodigies of valor, in executing this duty. 
 Single squadrons were forced to make charges against 
 Whole regiments of the enemy, who constantly 
 pressed upon us, with the object of throwing our 
 forces into disorder. All the efforts of the enemy 
 were thwarted, by their determined bravery. The 
 Russians themselves have borne testimony to the 
 unparalleled efforts of our cavalry on this occa- 
 sion. Our Lancers seemed to feel the imminent dan- 
 ger of permitting the Russian cavalry to fall upon 
 our ranks, and they fought with the energy of des- 
 peration. They repelled the attacks of a cavalry 
 three times superior in force, and which was in part 
 composed of regiments of the Imperial Guard. 
 40 
 
314 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 The enemy having been thus foiled in his attacks, 
 our forces repassed in safety the bridge of Oyrany, 
 leaving it destroyed. 
 
 The battle ofWilna, so disastrous to us, was our 
 greatest fault in the expedition to Lithuania ; and it 
 was the first of a series of disasters. The evil con- 
 sequences of this battle did not rest with ourselves ; 
 they fell heavily upon the inhabitants of Wilna, 
 whose hopes of acting in concert with us were dis- 
 appointed. At the sound of our cannon, a revolt of the 
 inhabitants commenced, and after the repulse of our 
 forces, arrests and imprisonments of course followed. 
 This unfortunate battle, in fine, disorganized all the 
 plans of the main army, and had a most discouraging ef- 
 fect upon the spirits of the army and the nation. An 
 attack upon Wilna, at a time when all the enemy's 
 forces were concentrated there, should only have 
 been made upon the basis of the most extensive and 
 carefully adjusted combinations. A successful at- 
 tack on Wilna would have been a difficult achieve- 
 ment, even by a force equal to that of the enemy, 
 when the strong positions of the place are consider- 
 ed ; what then shall we say of an attack, with a 
 force amounting to but one third of that of the en- 
 emy, and made also, in broad day, upon the most 
 defensible point of the enemy's position ? 
 
 But, as if these disadvantages were not enough, 
 General Dembinski, after having been compromised 
 at Myszegola, instead of being enabled to aid in 
 this attack, was, by the orders of General Gielgud, 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 315 
 
 at the very moment of the attack, marching in the 
 direction of Podbrzeze, [(9)P/anXXXI V.] and -was 
 also by this separation exposed even to be cut off by 
 the enemy, who could easily have done it, by sending 
 a detachment for this object on the road from Wilna 
 to Willcomierz. 
 
 This succession of inconceivable faults arrested 
 the attention of the corps, and created an universal 
 dissatisfaction. The removal of General Gielgud, 
 and the substitution of General Chlapowski in the 
 chief command, who had distinguished himself so 
 much in the departments of Bialostok and Grodno, 
 was loudly called for. General Chlapowski was un- 
 willing to take the chief command, but, to satisfy 
 the wishes of the corps, he consented to take the 
 office of chef d'etat major, a post in which he was 
 virtually chief, having the exclusive responsibility of 
 every operation. To this arrangement General Giel- 
 gud readily consented. It took effect on the even- 
 ing of the 20th. From that day General Chlapow- 
 ski was the director of all our operations. 
 
 After all these disasters, which had both morally 
 and physically weakened us, and having a clear 
 knowledge of the amount of the enemy's strength, our 
 leaders should have been satisfied that it must be out 
 of the question with us to act any longer in the of- 
 fensive, and that our whole plan of operations on 
 Samogitia ought to be abandoned. We will give the 
 reader an exposition of the views of the great majority 
 of the officers of the corps, upon this point, formed 
 even during the battle of Wilna. 
 
316 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 It was near mid-day on the 19th, and when our line 
 was commencing their retreat, that Colonel Valentin, 
 with several other officers, sought an interview with 
 General Gielgud, represented to him the disastrous 
 situation in which we were placed, and proposed to 
 him a plan of operations adapted to our new circum- 
 stances. There was, in their opinion, but one course 
 to pursue. This was to abandon our whole plan of 
 operations between the rivers Niemen, Dwina, and 
 Wilyia. The space enclosed between these rivers, 
 the Baltic Sea and the Prussian territory, was a dan- 
 gerous position for us, as it contracted our move- 
 ments, and at the same time exposed us to being 
 surrounded by the superior forces of the enemy. 
 Colonel Valentin designated, as the most eligible line 
 of operations, the space between Kowno and Lida. 
 From this oblique line we could at any moment 
 menace Wilna. He proposed to occupy Kowno, and 
 to fortify this town as well as Alexota and Lida in 
 the very strongest manner. On this line we should 
 have been in a situation to profit by any advantageous 
 opportunities which the negligence of the enemy might 
 leave to us, of acting upon Wilna ; and if we might 
 not be fortunate enough to surprise that city, we 
 should, at least, compel the Russians to keep a 
 strong force within its walls, as a garrison. The 
 town of Lida touches upon the great forest of Bia- 
 lowiez. It is situated at the meeting of three great 
 roads, viz. from Poland, from Volhynia, and from the 
 province of Black Russia, a circumstance in its po- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 317 
 
 sition which made it a place of great importance. 
 The communications of the town with the neighbor- 
 ing forest were extremely easy, and this forest 
 Colonel Valentin designed a place of concentration 
 for all the insurgent forces of Lithuania and the 
 other provinces. He proposed to fortify, in the 
 strongest manner, all the roads which concentrated 
 here, and thus to make the position difficult and 
 dangerous of access to the enemy. This forest, 
 which is more than one hundred and twenty English 
 miles in length, and from thirty to sixty in breadth, 
 reaches the great road which passes by Bielsk, 
 from Warsaw to St. Petersburgh and Moscow, and 
 it extends northwards to the environs of Wilna. 
 
 By means of prompt operations, according as cir- 
 cumstances might direct, our forces could act upon 
 each of these roads, and could obstruct all the com- 
 munications of the enemy with St. Petersburgh and 
 Moscow. Colonel Valentin, in proposing this plan, 
 also gave much weight to the consideration that our 
 main army, under General Skrzynecki was victorious 
 in the vicinity of Warsaw, and that General Chrza- 
 nowski was with a corps in the environs of Zamosc, 
 having been victorious over Rudiger, and on the 
 point of entering into Volhynia ; with this latter 
 corps, a junction could easily be effected, and the two 
 corps could act in concert, for the support of the in- 
 surrections which might occur in all the provinces 
 between the Dnieper and the Black Sea ; and even 
 if all these great advantages, which we should have 
 
318 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 been justified in counting upon, had not been at- 
 tained, we should, at least, have compelled the ene- 
 my to retain a great body of forces in Lithuania, and 
 thus hindered him from reinforcing his main army.* 
 
 * This valuable officer, Colonel Valentin, unfortunately lost his 
 life on the day after the battle of Wilna, while bathing in the Wilyia. 
 The regrets of his brother officers were aggravated by their sense of 
 the value of those wise counsels, the suggestion of which was the 
 last act of his life. He had every quality of heart and intellect for 
 the highest military station. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 319 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Operations of the main army. Expedition under Jankowski. General 
 Chrzanowski having driven Rudiger from his position, crosses the Vis- 
 tula, but returns to act in concert with General Jankowski against the 
 enemy near Kock. Details of General Jankowski's movement.---He 
 remains inactive within sight of the fire of the corps with which he 
 was to co-operate. ---Other evidences of treason. Generals Jankowski 
 and Bukowski are arrested and ordered for trial. View of the advanta- 
 ges that were sacrificed by this misconduct. Discovery of a plot to lib- 
 erate and arm the Russian prisoners at Warsaw, and to deliver 
 the city to the enemy. State of the public mind induced by these 
 events. 
 
 FROM these melancholy circumstances in Lithuania, 
 let us turn to follow the operations of the grand 
 army. 
 
 On the 13th and 14th of June, a division of infan- 
 try, under the command of General Muhlberg, left 
 Praga, and took the direction of the environs of 
 Stanislawow and Jadow. In the latter place this 
 division surprised a strong detachment of the ene- 
 my in camp, and took many prisoners. Thence, 
 they were instructed to follow the left bank of the 
 Liwiec as far as the environs of Kaluszyn, and even 
 to Zelechow, clearing each bank of the presence of 
 the enemy. This division was then to join itself 
 with the division of cavalry of General Jankowski, 
 which on that day left for Kock. Those two divis- 
 ions combined, were to endeavor to act upon the dif- 
 ferent corps of the enemy which were pressed by 
 the corps of General Chrzanowski. 
 
320 THE POLISH REVOLUTION, 
 
 The latter general had commenced the offensive- 
 on the 16th, and had driven the corps of Genera! 
 Rudiger from its position at Krasznystaw, and com- 
 pelled it to retreat to Lublin, continually pursued by 
 him. On the 23d, he took that town by storm. 
 The enemy was obliged to evacuate it in disorder, 
 leaving a great number killed, worfnded y and prison- 
 ers, and to take the direction of Kock. The corps 
 of Rudiger would have been inevitably destroyed, if 
 another Russian corps* of 15 y OOO strong fead not 
 marched to its aid. 
 
 General Chrzanowski, apprized of the arrival of 
 this reinforcement, quitted the pursuit, for a more 
 favorable moment ; and, to avoid an engagement 
 with this combined force of the enemy, as well as to 
 escort the prisoners, which he had taken at Lublin, 
 to a place of safety, he repassed the Vistula, at Pu- 
 lawa. He had scarce reached the opposite side of 
 the river, when he received the intelligence that the 
 division of General Jankowski, reinforced by a brigade 
 of infantry, was approaching Kock, where was already 
 the corps of General Rudiger, and whither the corps 
 of General Keisarow, abovementioned, was hasten- 
 ing to join him. In order, therefore, to take be- 
 tween the two fires all the forces which might be 
 collected at Kock, General Chrzanowski, promptly 
 repassed the river, reached the environs of Kock, 
 and waited impatiently for the attack of General 
 Jankowski, in the opposite direction ; but Jankow- 
 ski delayed his movement, and allowed the corps of 
 Keisarow to join Rudiger. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 321 
 
 The following are the details of this expedition, 
 as they were related by an officer of the division 
 of Mu hi berg, and which exhibit satisfactory evidence 
 of treason on the part of General Jankowski. 
 
 " The result of this expedition, which could have had 
 the most brilliant result, has filled us with grief and 
 indignation. We were marching in the utmost haste 
 upon Kock, with the hope of beating Rudiger. On 
 our route, at Stoczek,for our misfortune, we were join- 
 ed by the division of cavalry under General Jankow- 
 ski, who then took the command. We ought to have 
 passed the Wieprz, to meet Rudiger, and cut him 
 off. Suddenly news is brought to us that the enemy 
 had passed the Wieprz, at Lyssobyki, with 6,000 
 infantry, sixteen squadrons of cavalry, and ten pieces 
 of cannon. General Jankowski then called a coun- 
 cil of war, at which the following plans were adopt- 
 ed. General Turno W 7 as to attack the enemy, in the 
 direction of Sorokomla,and General Jankowski was to 
 come to his support, at the first sound of his cannon. 
 The brigade of General Romarino (detached from 
 the corps of General Chrzanowski, and destined to 
 act as an independent corps) was to act upon the 
 left wing, and General Bukowski, with a brigade of 
 cavalry, upon the right wing of the enemy by Bialo- 
 brzegi. This plan, which in the conviction of all our 
 officers would have exterminated the corps of Gen- 
 eral Rudiger, and the execution of which was re- 
 served to General Jankowski, came to nothing. 
 
 " General Turno, trusting in the faithful execution 
 of the plan, attacked the enemy with courage and 
 41 
 
322 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 vigor. He was sure of receiving support on three 
 sides. He made head against the enemy for six 
 hours, while Generals Jankowski and Bukowski, at 
 the distance of about three miles from him, hearing 
 and even seeing the fire of the action, remained in 
 a state of complete inaction. Naj more, a Russian 
 detachment took possession, almost before their eyes, 
 of the ammunition and baggage of a whole regiment, 
 and they did not stir to prevent it. General Turno 
 fought with bravery and sangfroid, notwithstanding 
 that none came to his support, and did not retire till 
 he received orders to do so. The whole corps was 
 indignant at the conduct of Jankowski, and his broth- 
 er-in-law, Bukowski, who had evidently acted the 
 part of traitors." 
 
 General Skrzynecki was deeply afflicted with the 
 sad result of an expedition, which, based upon infal- 
 lible calculations, had promised the very finest suc- 
 cess. The event was of the most disastrous con- 
 sequence to us. If the corps of General Rudiger 
 had been crushed, as it certainly could have been, 
 the combined corps of Chrzanowski, Muhlberg, and 
 Jankowski, could have acted upon all the corps 
 of the enemy, which might be found between the 
 Wieprz, the Swider, and the Liwiec. As those 
 corps were quite distant from their main army, 
 which was now upon the right of the Narew, and 
 as they were even without a free communication with 
 each other, they could have each been beaten in de- 
 tail, by a prompt action on our part. I leave to the 
 reader to decide, whether, after we should have ob- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 323 
 
 tained such successes over these detached corps, we 
 could not have acted with certain success against 
 the Russian main army. 
 
 The corps of General Rudiger, which thus es- 
 caped its fate, left for the environs of Lukow, whither 
 it was followed by General Chrzanowski. The 
 corps of General Jankowski returned in the "direc- 
 tion of Macieowice and Laskarzew, and the divis- 
 ion of General Muhlberg returned to Minsk. The 
 general in chief deprived Generals Jankowski and 
 Bukowski of their command, and ordered them to be 
 tried by a court-martial. 
 
 But other and even more affecting disasters were 
 awaiting us. Poland, which had been so often made 
 a sacrifice of, through her own generosity and confi- 
 dence, now nourished upon her bosom the monsters 
 who were plotting her destruction. 
 
 On the 28th of June, General Skrzynecki received 
 information of a conspiracy which had for its object 
 the delivering up of Warsaw into the hands of the 
 enemy, by liberating and arming the Russian prison- 
 ers. Several generals, of whom distrust had been felt, 
 aud who had been deprived of their commands when 
 the revolution broke out, having been known as the 
 vile instruments of the former government, were at 
 the bottom of this plot. Of this painful intelligence, 
 General Skrzynecki immediately apprized the Na- 
 tional Government, who, relying on his report, caused 
 to be arrested General Hurtig, former commander 
 of the fortress of Zamosc, and a base instrument of 
 Constantine, General Salacki, Colonel Slupecki, the 
 
324 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 Russian chamberlain Fenshawe, a Mr. Lessel, and 
 a Russian lady, named Bazanovv. Generals Jankow- 
 ski and Bukowski were also implicated in the con- 
 spiracy. This band of traitors intended to get pos- 
 session of the arsenal, to arm the Russian prisoners, 
 and to destroy the bridges ; in order to cut off all com- 
 munication with the army, which was then on the 
 right bank of the Vistula ; and the Russian army, 
 advertised of this movement, w r as then to pass to the 
 left bank of the Vistula, at Plock or Dobzyn, and 
 take possession of Warsaw. Those traitors succeed- 
 ed in setting at large a great number of Russian pris- 
 oners at Czeustochow. 
 
 What a terror must poor Poland have been to the 
 Russian cabinet, who did not find it enough to have 
 deluged her with their immense forces, and to have 
 engaged all the neighboring cabinets to aid them 
 against her, but must go farther, and by the employ- 
 ment of such vile means attempt to kindle hostilities 
 in her interior, and to subject her at the same time to 
 a civil and an external w r ar ! They had good cause 
 for these desperate attempts. Their fears were well 
 grounded. From the earliest stage of the conflict, 
 they had seen that the Poles, nerved by the con- 
 sciousness of the justice of their cause, were capable 
 of crushing the force which they had sent to execute 
 the will of the despot. Unable to meet us in the open 
 field, they must invent some new method, no matter 
 how base, to accomplish their end. It was through the 
 instrumentality of such intrigues that the dictatorship 
 was prolonged. It was by such intrigues, that the ap- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 325 
 
 pie of discord was thrown into our national congress 
 and even into the ranks of that handful of brave men 
 who had sworn to sacrifice themselves in the cause 
 of their country. They employed their vile accom- 
 plices to betray us, and they succeeded. 
 
 The discovery of this extensive treason struck 
 the people with consternation and dismay. It drove 
 them to a state bordering on desperation. When 
 Poland had sent arid was sending her sons, and 
 even her daughters, to the" field of death ; when 
 she was sacrificing every thing to achieve her de- 
 liverance, and was awaiting the fruits of such sac- 
 rifices, sure, if not to conquer, at least to fall with 
 honor, she sees that all is in vain that her holy 
 purposes are mocked at, and that all her noble efforts 
 are thwarted ! Can we be surprised, then, at the state 
 of the popular mind which ensued ? 
 
 The state of feeling which these events caused 
 was aggravated by the reflection, that the surveillance 
 of certain individuals, of whom distrust had been al- 
 ready entertained, had been more than once demand- 
 ed ; and that from an early period it was urged upon 
 the government, that the Russian prisoners, partic- 
 ularly those of distinction, should be carefully watch- 
 ed, and prevented from holding free communication 
 together, or with others. So far, however, was such 
 care from having been taken, that the very Jews were 
 permitted to communicate with them constantly, and 
 to bring them intelligence of the events of the war. 
 Can it be wondered then, that the neglect of these 
 repeated warnings, and the tremendous consequences 
 
326 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 which had well nigh followed this neglect, should have 
 weighed upon the minds of the people, and have even 
 brought the National Government itself into sus- 
 picion? It was, in fact, from this moment, that the 
 nation began first to look with dissatisfaction and 
 distrust upon that government, upon Prince Czarto- 
 riski its head, and even upon the general in chief 
 himself. The melancholy news of the treason of 
 Jankowski, filled the minds of the patriots with bit- 
 ter anticipations; they naturally forboded, that if such 
 treasons could be perpetrated in the grand army, un- 
 der the very eyes of the general in chief, the danger 
 might be still greater in the more distant corps. Their 
 forebodings were but too well justified by the events 
 which took place in Lithuania, and the intelligence 
 of which was soon received at Warsaw. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 327 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII- 
 
 General Chlapovvsld arrives at Keydany, having ordered General Dem- 
 binski to withdraw to Willcomierz.---Tlie position of the two forces 
 and their line of operations.Examination of these arrangements. 
 Neglect of the important position of Kowno. ---General Chlapowski, at 
 Keydany, proposes to form a provisional government, and obtain a levy 
 of troops.Dispositions of the Lithuanians, as effected by the mis- 
 management of our leaders. ---Advantages offered to the enemy by 
 the delay at Keydany. Brave defence of Kowno. by tjie small force 
 left there. Skirmish at Willcomierz.---The opportunity of concentrating 
 all the forces at Keydany, and repassing the Niemeri, is neglected. --- 
 The enemy presses his pursuit. Battle of Rosseyny. Attack " on 
 Schawla.---Loss of the ammunition and baggage of the corps. ---The 
 corps retreats in order to Kurzany, protected by a rear guard of cav- 
 alry and light artillery. ---At Kurzany the corps is subdivided into 
 three parts. Destination and strength of each.- Examination of this 
 plan. 
 
 GENERAL CHLAPOWSKI, whom we shall hereafter 
 name as having the chief command of the Lithuanian 
 force, arrived on the night of the 22d of June at Key- 
 dany, having sent orders to General Dembinski to 
 withdraw with his corps, and to march to Willco- 
 rnierz. (10) [Plan XXXIV.] The corps of Gen- 
 eral Dembinski arrived, on the 21st, at Szerwinty, 
 and on the 22d, at Willcomierz. On quitting Pod- 
 brzeze, General Dembinski left a small detachment 
 in the environs of Myszegola, to act as partizans. 
 
 The position of our corps was then, as follows ; 
 The larger force was at Keydany. The corps of 
 Dembinski was at Willcomierz, and a small corps (c) 
 under the command of General Szymanowski was in 
 the environs Szawla. Our line of operations was on 
 
328 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 the river Swienta (S) and along the Wilyia (W), for 
 a short distance below the junction of the former 
 river with it. To defend the passage of those rivers 
 against the enemy, the following detachments were 
 designated. Kowno(ll) was occupied by two bat- 
 talions of Lithuanian infantry, recently levied, un- 
 der the command of Colonel Kikiernicki, and a 
 squadron of the 1 1th regiment of Lancers, also Lith- 
 uanian, and recently formed. 
 
 At Janow (12) was a battalion of infantry and a 
 squadron of the llth Lancers, under the command 
 of Colonel Piwecki. At Wieprz were three squad- 
 rons of the 10th Lancers. 
 
 This separation of our forces in Lithuania, and, 
 above all, this designation of the most recently or- 
 ganized troops for the defence of the passage of the 
 two rivers, with a full knowledge of the great strength 
 of the enemy, was a great error. To leave the de- 
 fence of Kowno, a place of so much importance, to 
 three battalions of infantry and a squadron of caval- 
 ry, all of them newly-formed troops, and that too, 
 without am munition, (for they had barely three rounds 
 each), was a course which is perfectly inexplicable. 
 Besides all this, the river Swienta was so shallow as 
 to be fordable by both infantry and cavalry, and in 
 some places even by artillery. Why then was that 
 river defended? It was owing, in fact, to good for- 
 tune that all these detachments were not cut off. 
 
 On the arrival of the two corps at Keydany and 
 Willcomierz, the organization of a provisional gov- 
 ernment for the province, was commenced. Diets 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 329 
 
 were convoked at these two places, to organize an 
 administration, and to procure levies of forces. Al- 
 though these arrangements were all proper in them- 
 selves, jet it was a late hour to undertake them, and 
 no place could have been so well adapted for them 
 as Wilna. Had the corps of Saken been pursued and 
 broken up, Wilna would have been ours ; and all 
 such arrangements could have been made there under 
 the most favorable circumstances. In that event, the 
 brave Lithuanians would have come in from all sides 
 and crowded our ranks, without waiting for any ap- 
 peal to be made to them. But at present, a new 
 crisis had arrived. We had fought the battle of 
 Wilna with a disastrous result. The enemy had be- 
 come acquainted with the inferiority of our forces, and 
 had begun to understand the errors of our command- 
 er, and was prepared to take advantage of them. 
 In fine, the Lithuanians themselves, witnessing all 
 this gross mismanagement, became disgusted, and 
 after having once so cheerfully tendered their co- 
 operation, began, at length, to discover that they 
 were sacrificing themselves in vain, and that the fate 
 of the inhabitants of Wilna would await them. This 
 people, as we have already stated, had commenced their 
 insurrection two months before they had hopes of 
 any assistance from our forces, and badly armed as 
 they were, they had maintained a partizan warfare 
 during this period with uniform success. We can, 
 therefore, have no reason to reproach them, if after 
 the misconduct which was exhibited before their 
 42 
 
330 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 eyes, they began to be reluctant to join their forces 
 to our own, and chose to reserve the sacrifice of their 
 exertions and their lives for some other occasion, 
 when there might be a hope of useful results. 
 
 The six or seven days which we passed thus at 
 Keydany and Willcomierz, seemed as if designed to 
 invite the enemy to pursue his advantages, and to 
 lead him to the idea, of surrounding our forces. The 
 enemy, fortunately for us, did not improve the oppor- 
 tunity which we presented him, but remained inac- 
 tive. This inactivity, whether it arose from the 
 imbecility of his commanders, or from whatever 
 cause, afforded us an opportunity of changing our 
 plans, and of extricating ourselves from the danger- 
 ous position in which we were placed. But instead 
 of this, we awaited 'his attack. On the 29th, the 
 enemy commenced an attack upon every point, at 
 Willcomierz, Wieprz, Janow, and Kowno, with his 
 whole force. 
 
 A corps of 4,000 Russians, with 16 cannon, com- 
 menced the attack on Kowno, defended, as we have 
 said, by 2,000 new troops. From morning until 
 night, the defence was sustained with great courage. 
 The contest was for the first half of the day in the 
 town itself, and the rest of the day was spent in dis- 
 puting the passage of the bridge over the Wilyia. The 
 Russians occupying all the houses upon the banks of 
 the river, and the neighboring heights, commenced 
 a terrible fire of artillery and musquetry upon the 
 bridge, which was defended by a body of infantry 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 331 
 
 almost without ammunition. At night-fall, Colonel 
 Kikiernicki, seeing that the Russian cavalry had 
 found means of fording the river, ordered a retreat, 
 but remained, himself, at the head of a single com- 
 pany, defending the bridge, until he learnt that the 
 rest of the corps had passed the town of Sloboda, and 
 had gained the heights which are behind the town. 
 Upon that bridge, fell the captain of this company, 
 Zabiello, a Lithuanian. He was shot in the act of 
 cutting away the bridge with- his own hands. This 
 company, after having thus sustained' their post at 
 the bridge with the greatest bravery, commenced 
 their retreat. Trre Russian cavalry, having succeed- 
 ed in fording the river, had already commenced acting 
 in their rear. At the same time, the Russian columns 
 of infantry were debouching upon the bridge. Colo- 
 nel Kikiernicki, perceiving his situation, animated his 
 little corps to make the desperate effort of breaking 
 through the Russian cavalry, and of gaining Sloboda. 
 His spirit was seconded by his brave followers, and 
 this company of one hundred men, raising the hurrah, 
 forced a passage through the enemy's cavalry, gained 
 Sloboda, and, under cover of night, succeeded in 
 joining their comrades.* Tn this effort, Colonel 
 Kikiernicki fell wounded, and was made prisoner 
 by the enemy. 
 
 * With this company was the Countess Plater, and her aid-de-camp 
 M'lle Rasynowiecz. The Countess Plater, in fact, uniformly accompa- 
 nied the regiment which she had raised, encouraging them by her brave 
 example, in every battle and even in every skirmish. 
 
332 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 The detachment, having lost one half of their num- 
 bers in the sanguinary attack to which the misman- 
 agement of our general had exposed them, took the 
 road to Janow. In this manner ended the attack on 
 Kovvno, and the Russians took possession of that im- 
 portant post, which might be regarded as the key to 
 all our communications with Poland. 
 
 There can be no excuse for not having fortified 
 Kowno. It is a town, containing ten or twelve thou- 
 sand inhabitants, of which one half, perhaps, were 
 Jews, but they could have been employed in the con- 
 struction of the works. It was also most favorably 
 situated for defence, being surrounded by heights on 
 every side. 
 
 On the same day, sanguinary skirmishes took place 
 at Janow, Wieprz, and Willcomierz. The two first 
 towns were abandoned. In the attack on Willcom- 
 ierz, w r hich was successfully repelled, an action took 
 place, in which the Lancers of Poznam and Plock 
 threw themselves upon the flank of Russian cavalry, 
 and, after causing severe loss, took about eighty pris- 
 oners, consisting of Circassians. General Dembin- 
 ski, on the night of the 29th, learning that our po- 
 sitions of Janow and Wieprz were abandoned, quit- 
 ted Willcomierz on the next day, and took the road 
 to Schavla. [Plan XXXIV. (13)]. Although the 
 occupation, by the enemy, of the town of Kowno, and 
 the interruption of our whole line of operations on 
 the Swienta and Wilyia, made our situation very peri- 
 lous ; yet it was still possible to avoid the disasters 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 333 
 
 which followed, and to effect a return to Poland. 
 By concentrating all our forces at Keydany, we could 
 have effected a passage of the Niemen, in the same 
 manner as we had already done in the direction of 
 Gielgudiski, which would have left the enemy in our 
 rear ; while on the other side of the Niemen, the 
 enemy were not in force enough to prevent our pas- 
 sage. But, instead of doing this, as if to insure our 
 ruin, a small detachment, consisting of four squadrons 
 of cavalry, and the sappers, under the command of 
 Colonel Koss, were sent to make a bridge over the 
 Niemen ! This measure is perfectly inexplicable. 
 Scarcely had this detachment arrived at the river, 
 and commenced the erection of the bridge, when 
 they were attacked on two sides, by the cuirassiers 
 and the artillery of the enemy. They were saved 
 only by the judicious conduct of Colonel Koss, who 
 threw himself into the protection of the neighboring 
 forest, and succeeded in rejoining the corps. The 
 loss which we incurred by this expedition, of all our 
 implements for the construction of bridges, was irre- 
 parable. 
 
 From this time, the enemy did not for a moment 
 lose sight of us ; and throwing his superior forces up- 
 on the great road which leads from Keydany, through 
 Rosseyny (14), to Schavla, forced us to take that 
 direction which was the most dangerous for us, as 
 the field of operation for our forces was continually 
 becoming more and more contracted. 
 
 - 
 
334 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 ' 
 COMBAT OF ROSSEYNY. 
 
 The cause of this action, which it would have been 
 most desirable to have avoided, was a strong attack 
 bj the enemy upon the rear-guard of General Chla- 
 powski which was marching on the road to Schavla. 
 To avoid exposing the rear-guard to a great loss, or 
 even to the chance of it, the command was given, to 
 take position, and the corps was placed in order of 
 battle. The battle of Rosseyny, which lasted scarce- 
 ly four hours, was very sanguinary, and highly hon- 
 orable to the Polish arms. The object of the ene- 
 my on this occasion was to surround our left wing. 
 As soon as he perceived that our v corps had taken 
 position and was arranged in order of battle, the ene- 
 my brought forward his artillery, consisting of 24 
 pieces of cannon, and commenced a heavy fire upon 
 our centre. This fire did not cause a great loss, for, 
 our position being elevated, the shot struck too low 
 to be effective. A few moments after this fire of 
 artillery was commenced, a strong column of Rus- 
 sian cavalry showed itself on our right wing. This 
 column had with it a body of light artillery, which 
 commenced fire also. On our left wing, which was 
 supported upon a marsh, and, for that reason, in little 
 expectation of an attack, but a small force was col- 
 lected. This Wng was composed of a battalion of 
 infantry and the 1st regiment of Lancers. These 
 troops had been placed on this wing to repose from 
 the combats and fatigues of the day and night pre- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 335 
 
 ceding, in which they had acted as rear-guard. The 
 brave Lancers, however, at the first sight of the ene- 
 my, demanded of the general to be permitted to 
 make a charge. This permission being given, at 
 the first discharge of the Russian artillery, our sol- 
 diers threw themselves with impetuosity upon both 
 the cavalry and the artillery of the enemy. The 
 capture of sixty prisoners and the spiking of three 
 cannon were the fruits of this brilliant attack. It 
 was the last charge of that brave regiment. 
 
 Our centre was not less fortunate than our left 
 wing. Our artillery being better placed than that of 
 the enemy, several of his pieces were dismounted, 
 and his fire began to slacken. For some hours a 
 light .fire of tirailleurs was continued on both sides, 
 when our generals, seeing that the enemy did not 
 renew the attack, gave orders to evacuate the posi- 
 tion, and to resume the march for Schavla. 
 
 On the same night, the corps arrived at Cyto- 
 wiany. There our forces were joined by the corps 
 of General Kohl and, which had had a bloody skirmish 
 atBeysagola, [Plan XXXIV. (15)] on the same day, 
 on which General Dembinski was also attacked at 
 Poniewieze, The corps of General Chlapowski left 
 the next day for the attack of Schavla, which was 
 occupied by a Russian garrison. The corps of Gen- 
 eral Dembinski, which as we have already stated, 
 was marching by another route upon Schavla, ar- 
 rived there at mid-day of the 7th. That general, 
 considering the smallness of the Russian garrison 
 
336 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 in this town, consisting only of four battalions of infan- 
 fry, and six pieces of cannon, after waiting a short 
 time for the arrival of the corps of General Chlapow- 
 ski, concluded to send a summons, by Colonel Miros- 
 zewski, to the Russian commandant, proposing to him 
 to surrender, and save a useless effusion of blood. 
 The Russian Colonel Kurow would not accept of 
 these friendly propositions, and compelled General 
 Dembinski to order an attack, a very moderate one, 
 however; as he was in hopes that the arrival of our 
 superior forces would soon convince the Russian 
 commander that a defence would be useless. In 
 fact, the corps of General Chlapowski arrived at about 
 5, P. M. at a village about four miles from Schav- 
 la, where he was met by an officer, sent by General 
 Dembinski, with a report of the circumstances which 
 had taken place. Indeed, the sound of the cannon 
 and musquetry, ought already to have satisfied 
 General Chlapowski that General Dembinski was 
 engaged in the attack ; but instead of hastening to 
 his assistance he went into camp, and thus remained 
 until two hours past midnight. At two o'clock then, 
 of the morning of the 8th, the corps took up the 
 march, and arrived by day break before Schavla. 
 
 ATTACK ON SCHAVLA. 
 
 On examining the plan of this battle, and 
 considering the smallness of the Russian gar- 
 rison in Schavla, we cannot but be satisfied that 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 337 
 
 the town ought to have been taken at the first 
 assault, and it will seem almost incredible that af- 
 ter having occupied four hours in an unsuccessful 
 attack, we should have at last quitted our position. 
 
 On arriving on the plain before Schavla, the two 
 corps were placed in order of battle. The force of 
 General Dembinski changed its position, and formed 
 our left wing. We commenced a fire of artillery 
 from the right wing and the centre, at the same time 
 throwing forward our skirmishers. The enemy had 
 made an entrenchment round the whole town, be- 
 hind which his infantry was concealed ; and upon the 
 right of the town, he had constructed a redoubt. 
 On the sides of the town against which the right 
 Wing and centre were posted, a general fire of mus- 
 quetry and artillery was commenced, under the cover 
 of which our light troops endeavored to take posses- 
 sion of the ramparts. 
 
 General Szymanowski and Colonel Pientka, who 
 were the only general officers who were actively en- 
 gaged in this battle, seeing that this attack of the 
 light troops upon the Russian infantry, thus safely 
 entrenched, was very destructive to us, and would 
 prolong the attack, ordered two battalions of infantry, 
 under Colonel Jeroma and Piwecki, to make an as- 
 sault, protected by two pieces of cannon and a squad- 
 ron of the 3d regiment of Lancers. This order was 
 executed with the greatest determination. Our ar- 
 tillery, having fired two rounds of grape, the two 
 battalions of infantry entered the city at the charge, 
 and regardless of the terrible fire from the windows 
 43 
 
338 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 of the houses, they reached the market-place of the 
 town.* The enemy was in consternation, and the 
 taking of a hundred prisoners by us, showed the disor- 
 der into which he had already fallen. If but two other 
 battalions had been sent to support those which had 
 entered the town, the attack would have ended here. 
 But this was neglected, and the latter were remain T 
 ing in their dangerous situation, while the rest of 
 our forces were uselessly engaged, and received no 
 orders. The bold idea of the brave Colonel Pi- 
 entka, of forcing the attack, was no where second- 
 ed. The corps of General Dembinski remained 
 wholly inactive, although officers were occasionally 
 sent by him to General Chlapowski for orders. By 
 this fault the battalions who had entered the city 
 were exposed to the superior forces of the enemy, 
 who, falling upon them from all sides, forced them 
 to quit the city, leaving among their dead the brave 
 Colonels Jeroma and Piwecki, and nearly one half 
 of their whole number.f With the retreat of these 
 brave battalions, all our forces commenced evacuat- 
 ing their position, we cannot tell for what reason. 
 The enemy did not attack us ; on the contrary, he 
 was well satisfied with the cessation of hostilities 
 on our part. At 9 o'clock our corps recommenced 
 its march. 
 
 * The Jewish inhabitants of the city even fired upon our soldiers. 
 Many of them were taken with pistols in their hands, and afterwards 
 executed. 
 
 f In this affair, we ought to make particular mention of the estima- 
 ble Laga, a priest, who was at the head of the squadron in this attack, 
 having the cross in one hand and the sabre in the other. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 339 
 
 These are the details of the battle, or rather the 
 attack, of Schavla, which town we quitted, after in- 
 vesting it for nearly five hours, and after having sus- 
 tained a severe loss in men and officers, a sacri- 
 fice which is due to our most defective and ill-judged 
 arrangements. 
 
 On this same day, we were again unfortunate, in 
 the loss of all our baggage and several wagons of 
 ammunition, which were sent forward by a road on 
 our right, and fell into the hands of the light Circas- 
 sian cavalry of the enemy. 
 
 This battle discovered an extreme of negligence 
 in our commander in chief. With the knowledge 
 that the enemy was pursuing us in the rear, and on 
 each side, we remained uselessly encamped during 
 the night of the 7th, which we ought to have em- 
 ployed in the attack. The true course should have 
 been to have set fire to the city, which would have 
 required only the agency of a few bold men. This 
 .town, indeed, deserved no better fate ; for it was in- 
 habited almost exclusively by hostile Jews. When 
 the general welfare is at risk, there should be no 
 hesitation in sacrificing the convenience of individu- 
 als. If we compare the consequences of having burnt 
 this town, and of having attacked it, we shall see that, 
 by the former course, we should have compelled the 
 Jews to fly with their effects, and the Russian garri- 
 son to surrender, without any effusion of blood, while, 
 by attacking it, we lost nearly one thousand men, 
 without any advantage whatever. 
 
 In regard to the attack, the surrounding of the city 
 
340 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 was a great fault ; for neither the fire of the artillery, 
 nor of the light troops could be effective, as the Rus- 
 sian artillery was in a dominant position, and was 
 concealed within the city, as their infantry behind 
 their entrenchments. The skirmishers, in approach- 
 ing the city, fell, without having harmed the enemy. 
 The plan of Colonel Pientka, of masking the attack 
 on one side, and forcing the attack upon the other, 
 at a single point, was well conceived, but failed, as 
 we have seen, by the want of support. 
 
 At about 10 o'clock the flanking parties of the 
 Russian cavalry began to show themselves on each 
 side of us, upon the road to Willcornierz, and on that 
 of Cytowiany. Our corps was already on the march 
 for Kurszany. The 1st regiment of Lancers and the 
 light artillery were designated as a rear-guard. This 
 rear-guard, taking advantage of a small defile, which 
 presented a favorable position, took post there, and 
 sustained themselves for some hours against an at- 
 tack from the Russian advanced guard ; thus pro- 
 tecting the march of our main body, which was ex- 
 ecuted with the greatest order. The Lancers and 
 light artillery then evacuated their position, by 
 a retreat at full speed, which, by taking advantage 
 of the windings of the road, and the vicinity of the 
 forests, they were able to effect with inconsiderable 
 loss. On the evening of the same day, we arrived 
 at Kurszany. On the next day we remained some 
 hours in that place, to hold a council of war. Gen- 
 eral Chlapowski proposed to divide our forces into 
 three corps, each to act independently. This arrange- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 341 
 
 ment was carried into effect, and our forces were 
 thus distributed. 
 
 The 1st corps, under General Chlapowski, with 
 which General Gielgud remained, consisted of five 
 battalions of infantry, amounting to 1,500 men ; four 
 squadrons of the 1st regiment of Lancers, and two 
 squadrons of Kaliszian cavalry ; in all, 450 horse, and 
 an artillery consisting of 13 pieces of cannon. 
 
 This corps received the destination, to march for 
 Rosseyny, leaving the enenly on the right, and from 
 thence directly for Kowno, and, by this unsuspected 
 march, to surprise the last important position. By 
 that means, the communication between us and Po- 
 land would be re-opened ; and to protect this commu- 
 nication, was to be the principal employment of that 
 corps. 
 
 The 2d corps, under the command of Generals Roh- 
 land and Szymanowski, was composed of eight bat- 
 talions of infantry, amounting to about 3,000 men ; 
 all the cavalry which was recently formed in Lithu- 
 ania, consisting of nearly 1,000 horse; and an ar- 
 tillery, commanded by the brave Colonel Pientka, 
 consisting of 12 pieces of cannon. 
 
 This corps was directed to march upon Polonga, 
 a port on the Baltic. It had been rumoured that 
 two French vessels with arms, funds, and ammunition, 
 together with a small body of volunteers, were cruis- 
 ing near that port. After they should have received 
 these expected supplies, the corps was directed to 
 march towards the Dwina, and, by following along 
 the banks of that river, to observe and interrupt the 
 
342 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 communications between the forces of the enemy in 
 Lithuania, and the province of Courland. 
 
 The 3d corps, under General Dembinski, was com- 
 posed of three battalions of infantry of the 1 8th reg- 
 iment, recently formed, consisting of about 1,000 
 men ; two squadrons of the Lancers of Poznarn, two 
 squadrons of the Lancers of Plock, and one squad- 
 ron of the 3d regiment of Hulans, in all, about 500 
 cavalry ; and seven pieces of artillery. This corps 
 received orders to march for the environs of Schavla, 
 traversing the forests, and leaving the enemy on the 
 right ; from thence to take a direction to Willco- 
 mierz, and thence to the environs of Wilna, and to 
 attack that city, if circumstances might allow of it ; 
 and then to manoeuvre in the department of Minsk, 
 and in the forests of Bialostok, acting there in sup- 
 port of the insurrection, and collecting the forces of the 
 insurgents. An important object of this corps was 
 to support a communication with the corps of Gen- 
 eral Chlapowski. This plan, the reader will ob- 
 serve, was, in many of its points, the same with that 
 suggested by Colonel Valentin. 
 
 A proper reflection upon all these arrangements 
 would convince any one that much more loss than ad- 
 vantage was to be anticipated from them. This subdi- 
 vision of the force was, in fact, a visionary scheme. 
 Many officers openly declared their opinions to this 
 effect, and urged that in our critical situation, almost 
 surrounded as we were by a hostile force, so supe- 
 rior to our own, we ought not to form any new pro- 
 jects, but, profiting by the concentration of our forces, 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTLON. 343 
 
 to redouble the rapidity of our march, and, taking 
 advantage of the forests and covered roads, to reach 
 Poland as soon as possible. This would, indeed, 
 be attended with difficulties ; but it would still be 
 much easier of execution, and much more proper to 
 be attempted, than the plan which we have detailed. 
 Such views, however, were not regarded. The pro- 
 ject was highly coloured, and the most brilliant suc- 
 cesses were promised to follow from it. The sepa- 
 ration of the corps was accordingly ordered, and our 
 fate was sealed. 
 
344 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 The three subdivisions of the corps take their respective destinations.- 
 Details of the operations of that of General Rohland. He meets alone 
 the attack of the whole Russian force. Battle of Powenduny and Wor- 
 na. General Rohland, on his way to Polonga learns that General Chla- 
 powski had marched towards the Prussian frontier. He presses his 
 inarch to overtake and form a junction with him. The greater part 
 of the corps of Gielgud and Chlapowski were found to have passed the 
 frontier, when that of Rohland came in sight. Indignation of the 
 soldiery. Death of General Gielgud. General Rohland, joined by a 
 portion of the corps of Gielgud which had not yet passed the frontier, 
 continues his march to Nowe-Miasto. He declines a proposition from 
 General Kreutz, to surrender. Successful skirmish with the enemy's 
 cavalry. General Rohland takes a position at Nowe-Miasto, and awaits 
 the enemy. The Russian forces, however, do not continue their pur- 
 suit, but go into camp. Propositions to pass the frontier, are sent to 
 General Rohland by the Prussian authorities. They are submitted to 
 the corps, and accepted. 
 
 ON the 9th of July, at about 10, A. M., each of the 
 three subdivisions of the corps took the road designated 
 for it. From this moment, commences a new epoch 
 in our operations, in Lithuania, and we shall give a 
 separate detail of the proceedings of each of these* 
 corps, commencing with that of General Rohland, 
 which was in the line of the enemy's pursuit, and 
 was followed by his whole force. This corps, quitting 
 Kurszany, took the road for Telze. On the night 
 of the 10th, it arrived at Powenduny and the lake of 
 Worna. Upon the road, it was joined by Colonel 
 Koss, who had been sent, as we have said, with his 
 detachment, from Keydany, to construct a bridge over 
 the Niemen, and who had extricated himself from 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 345 
 
 the exposed situation in which this attempt had 
 placed him. As the position was advantageous, and 
 as our soldiers had need of repose after their fatiguing 
 march, we remained there the whole night. On 
 the next day, at sunrise, our camp was alarmed by 
 the approach of the Circassian cavalry of the enemy. 
 Our generals decided to wait the enemy's attack in 
 their eligible position, and that day was one of 
 most brilliant success. We will present to the read- 
 er full details of the events of that day, for they were 
 of an extremely interesting character. The ma- 
 noeuvres of all our forces were admirable ; but those 
 of the cavalry were indeed, extraordinary. The 
 reader will be astonished to find how much was done 
 by a cavalry, fatigued, their accoutrements in disor- 
 der, and almost without ammunition, against a cav- 
 alry like that of the enemy, well mounted, with 
 fresh horses, and in every respect in perfect order. 
 
 COMBAT OF POWENDUNY AND WORNA. 
 
 The battle commenced at sunrise, as we have al- 
 ready mentioned, with an attack from two squadrons 
 of Circassian cavalry. Those squadrons turned our 
 outer guard, and came in contact with our tirailleurs, 
 who received them with a warm and unexpected fire. 
 These tirailleurs were concealed in the forest and 
 brushwood. The Circassians halted, and commenced 
 a fire of carbines in return. Our fire could not but 
 be attended with great loss to the enemy, and they 
 44 
 
346 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 were forced to retire. In this retreat, our own cav- 
 alry, which was at Powenduny, and which had de- 
 bouched by a covered road, and taken a position, 
 entirely surrounded these two squadrons, and, at- 
 tacking them on all sides, causing a severe loss 
 and taking forty prisoners. An hour after, the Rus- 
 sians renewed the attack. Strong columns of in- 
 fantry and cavalry passed through a little village 
 which is on the road from Kurszany to Powenduny. 
 The Russian artillery took positions upon the de- 
 clivity of the heights adjoining that village, and com- 
 menced a fire upon our cavalry. At the same time, 
 several columns of the Russian infantry threw them- 
 selves into the brushwood on the right of our posi- 
 tion, while a strong detachment, composed of infan- 
 try, artillery, and cavalry, was pushed forward upon 
 our right wing, with the design of turning our flank, 
 and, by surrounding us, to cut off our communications 
 with Worna. This detachment, after losing several 
 hours in attempting to act upon us, under the ob- 
 stacles which were presented by the marshy nature 
 of the ground, returned without having effected 
 any thing. Our generals seeing the superior force 
 of the enemy, ordered our cavalry to retire, and 
 to place themselves in the rear of our artillery, 
 which occupied heights commanding the whole 
 vicinity, and arrested by an incessant fire, for more 
 than four hours, the advance of the enemy. After 
 our cavalry had retired, the tirailleurs began to evac- 
 uate the wood, and concentrating themselves upon 
 the road to Powenduny, retired also, after hav- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 347 
 
 ing destroyed the bridge which crosses a small 
 marshy stream, intersecting the road, and burnt a 
 faubourg which adjoins Powenduny, and was near 
 this bridge. Such was the state of things when, 
 at about ten o'clock, a flag was announced from the 
 Russian commander. It was brought by an aid-de- 
 camp of General Delinghausen. The proposition 
 was brought by this flag, that we should surrender, 
 on the ground that we were engaged with the whole 
 of the Russian force, amounting to nearly 20,000 
 men, and that that force had already occupied the 
 road to Worna, the only communication which re- 
 mained to us. This proposition was followed by 
 the usual considerations, the wish to prevent the ef- 
 fusion of blood, &c. &c. It was declined, and the 
 aid-de-camp returned to the Russian head-quarters, 
 but in a short time appeared again with a renewal 
 of the proposition. General Szymanowski, who 
 received the aid-de-camp, persisted in his refusal, 
 adding, that " he knew the duties of a soldier 
 duties which were doubly obligatory upon one who 
 is fighting in the cause of liberty, and in the defence 
 of the country of his ancestors." After the departure 
 of the aid-de-camp, the order was given to the ar- 
 tillery and infantry to re -commence their fire. At 
 the same time, arrangements were made for the con- 
 tinuation of our march to Worna. At about mid- 
 day, our columns of infantry, and a part of the cav- 
 alry and artillery, quitted their position, and took up 
 the march for Worna. After a short time, there re- 
 mained but one battalion of infantry, and three squad- 
 
348 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 rons of cavalry. The cavalry was employed to mask 
 the withdrawal of the remaining artillery. After 
 our corps had, by a march, arranged in the manner 
 we have described, reached a point sufficiently dis- 
 tant from our first position, the battalion of light- 
 infantry which remained in that position was or- 
 dered to withdraw as far as certain mills, keeping up 
 a retreating fire. After passing those mills, the 
 tirailleurs received orders -to run at full speed tore- 
 join the corps, arid to occupy the adjoining forests, 
 while the cavalry were ordered to take post at the 
 mills, to cover this movement, and afterwards to re- 
 tire slowly, pass a small village which was on the 
 road,, and on the opposite side of that village to await 
 the approach of the enemy. This manoeuvre was 
 well executed by both the infantry and cavalry, the 
 latter placing themselves on rather an open space 
 behind the village, to await the enemy. After some 
 time, six squadrons of the light Russian cavalry, con- 
 sisting of hussars and Circassians, passed through the 
 village, and seeing the small number of our cavalry, 
 gave the hurrah, and threw themselves upon them. 
 Our cavalry, expecting this attack, received orders to 
 quit their position with promptness, in order to lead 
 the Russian cavalry upon the fire of our infantry, 
 who were concealed in the woods. The Russian 
 cavalry, presuming that this was a disorderly retreat, 
 followed with impetuosity, while our cavalry threw 
 themselves on one side, to pass a ford which had 
 been designated for that object, and thus left the en- 
 emy exposed in a mass, to the fire of our tirailleurs. 
 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 349 
 
 This manoeuvre cost the Russians two hundred men, 
 by the acknowledgment of officers who were made 
 prisoners. After having caused this severe loss to 
 the enemy, our infantry and cavalry retired slowly, 
 to occupy their third position, and the enemy did 
 not follow. 
 
 A short time after we quitted our second position, 
 the Russian cavalry showed themselves again. Gen- 
 eral Szymanowski remained, with two companies of 
 the 7th regiment of the line; to defend the passage 
 of the third village against the enemy, and to give 
 time to our cavalry to take a third position. This 
 general, for nearly an hour, resisted the attack of a 
 strong force of cavalry, but commenced evacuating 
 the position on the approach of considerable bodies 
 of the Russian infantry, withdrawing through the 
 forests. The Russian cavalry, seeing that the village 
 was abandoned by our infantry, began to debouch 
 through it. It was an act of the greatest imprudence 
 in the Russian cavalry, unsupported by either infan- 
 try or artillery, to advance thus upon a plain surround- 
 ed by forests, in which they might have supposed 
 infantry, and even cavalry, to be concealed. Two 
 squadrons of our cavalry commenced a fire in order 
 to harass them, and draw them on to the middle of 
 the plain. Afterwards, those two squadrons wheel- 
 ing about, laid open the Russian cavalry to the fire 
 of our artillery, which was posted on a little eleva- 
 tion and concealed by brushwood. This fire of our 
 artillery was effective. The enemy's cavalry began 
 to waver. General Szymanowski observing this, 
 
350 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 ordered an immediate attack by our whole cavalry, 
 consisting of twelve squadrons. This attack was 
 made with great impetuosity. Sixteen hussars, with 
 two officers, were taken prisoners, and forty or fifty 
 were left, killed or wounded, on the field. After 
 this, the corps recommenced its march to Worna, 
 leaving two battalions of the 7th regiment of infan- 
 try, as a rear-guard, in the forests which border on 
 that road. 
 
 The successes which we had thus obtained in our 
 three first positions were over the advanced guard of 
 the enemy ; but in the fourth position, arranged by 
 the brave and skilful Colonel Koss, and in which 
 our successes were even greater, we had to encoun- 
 ter the whole body of the Russian forces in Lithu- 
 ania, which, according to some of our prisoners, were 
 to be estimated at 18,000, and by others at 25,000 
 men, with 36 pieces of artillery, under the command 
 of the several Russian generals Kreutz, Tolstoy, 
 Szyrman, Delinghausen, and Saken. The town of 
 Worna is surrounded by two large lakes, in such a 
 manner -that the only communication with that town 
 to the west, is by a neck of land, separating the ex- 
 tremities of those two lakes. The town is situated 
 upon an elevated ground, which overlooks the whole 
 vicinity. On our left wing was a forest, that reach- 
 ed one of the lakes. This forest was occupied by two 
 battalions of infantry. Our right wing leaned upon 
 the other lake. All our artillery remained in the 
 centre, and occupied the heights near Worna. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 351 
 
 When our arrangements were completed, we 
 heard the fire of the two battalions composing our 
 rear-guard, who were engaged, while withdrawing, 
 with the Russian infantry. Strong columns of the 
 enemy's infantry, which were following these bat- 
 talions, began to debouch from the forests, and to de- 
 ploy upon the plains before Worna. Those columns 
 were followed by the enemy's artillery, 12 pieces 
 of which took post on the side of the road, and im- 
 mediately opened a fire upon our centre. At the same 
 time, a warm fire of skirmishers was commenced on 
 each side. Our artillery, which w r as very advantageous- 
 ly placed, without replying to that of the enemy, open- 
 ed a fire upon the columns of the enemy's infantry. 
 Before night, the whole Russian forces had deployed 
 upon the plain, and a powerful attack on their side 
 was expected ; but instead of this we were astonish- 
 ed to find that their fire began to slacken, perhaps 
 owing to a heavy rain, which had just began to fall. 
 Our commander, with the view to profit by this rain 
 and the approach of darkness, after an interval of 
 not more than ten minutes, ordered the two battalions 
 which remained in the forests on our left, to make a 
 sudden charge with the bayonet upon the right wing 
 of the enemy. These battalions, under the command 
 of the brave Colonel Michalowski, performed pro- 
 digies of valor in this charge, and bore down all be- 
 fore them. Colonel Koss at the same time taking 
 the command of the cavalry, and addressing a few ex- 
 citing words to them, led them upon the centre of 
 the enemy at the charge. The consternation of the 
 
352 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 Russians was extreme. A great part of their cavalry 
 was found dismounted, for they had not the least ex- 
 pectation of an attack; their artillery fled, and aban- 
 doned their cannon ; the utmost disorder followed, 
 and a vast number of the enemy fell upon the field. 
 According to the testimony of prisoners, the conster- 
 nation was at such a height that we might have put 
 their whole corps to rout. Our forces, however, could 
 not follow up these advantages ; for the obscurity of 
 the night and our own weakness made it impossible. 
 We were content with having reduced the strength 
 of the enemy by the great losses we had occasioned ; 
 and we continued our route towards the sea-port of 
 Polonga, agreeably to our orders, where we were 
 looking for reinforcements, and where our generals 
 believed that the corps of General Chlapowski would 
 join, and act with us upon some new plan. On the 
 morning of the 12th we arrived at Retow. 
 
 The battle of Powenduny and Worna, in which we 
 had beaten the Russians in four positions, and which 
 cost the enemy more than a thousand men, including 
 prisoners and wounded, renewed our hopes. We 
 were expecting, as we have said, new accessions of 
 strength at Polonga ; and we were not without hope 
 that our other corps under Dembinski and Chlapow- 
 ski, who could not have been far distant, finding 
 that we had been thus engaged and so successfully, 
 with the whole force of the enemy, would change 
 their plan of operations, and attack him in his rear 
 or his flank. To this end, in fact, on the very 
 morning of that battle, after our first successes, we 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 353 
 
 sent two officers in the direction of Dembinski and 
 Chlapowski, to apprize them of the circumstances in 
 which we were placed, and especially to inform them 
 of the important fact that the whole force of the en- 
 emy were before us. With these hopes awakened 
 in our minds, our disappointment may be imagined 
 on learning;, at Retow, that the corps of General 
 Chlapowski had passed through that place on the 
 day before, in a rapid march towards the Prussian 
 frontier. During the battle of Powenduriy, there- 
 fore, the corps of General Chlapowski was at the 
 distance of only four miles from us. He heard our 
 fire during the whole day, but instead of marching 
 to our support, which, as we afterwards learnt, his 
 officers and even his soldiers loudly called upon him 
 to do, he declined doing it, answering their appeals, 
 in the following terms : " What do you ask of me, 
 gentlemen ? 1 can assure you that the corps of Gen- 
 eral Rohland, on whom the whole force of the enemy 
 has fallen, is destroyed. The baggage of his officers 
 have passed through Retow.* All is lost, and, sur- 
 rounded as we are on all sides by the enemy, it 
 only remains for us to seek at once the frontiers 
 of Prussia, and to throw ourselves upon the protec- 
 tion of that power." 
 
 Generals Rohland and Szymanowski, on receiving 
 the unwelcome intelligence of the course which Gen- 
 eral Chlapowski had adopted, concluded to change 
 
 * It might have been the case, that a few wagons with some of the 
 baggage of the corps, were sent in advance in the direction of Po- 
 longa, merely as a precautionary arrangement. 
 
 45 
 
354 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 their plan of operations, and instead of going to Po- 
 longa, to follow the march of General Chlapowski, to 
 endeavor to join him as soon as possible, and by ex- 
 hibiting to him the unimpaired strength of our corps, 
 which he had believed to be annihilated, to induce 
 him to abandon the project of crossing the Prussian 
 frontier, and to make some further attempts injunc- 
 tion with us. 
 
 With this view, after resting a few hours at Re- 
 tow, we left, bj a forced march, for Gorzdy, a smalt 
 town near the Prussian frontier, at which we hoped 
 to overtake the corps of General Chlapowski, and 
 at which we arrived on the next day (13th,) at noon. 
 But it was already too late. The greater part of 
 the corps of Chlapowski and Gielgud had passed 
 the frontier at the village of Czarna, about a half 
 league from the former place, and an inconsiderable 
 part only of the corps, which had not yet passed over, 
 could unite with us. The other part were already 
 advanced a considerable distance within the Prussian 
 territory, and having been disarmed, were placed un- 
 der a guard of Prussian sentinels. 
 
 Such was the end of the corps of Generals Chla- 
 powski and Gielgud, composed of our best troops, 
 and which had performed such feats of valor in so 
 many battles. Those brave soldiers were led, against 
 their will, into the territory of a foreign nation, to 
 seek a protection of which they themselves had not 
 even thought. 
 
 This step, which every historian of our revolution 
 will record with horror, when it was seen how total- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 355 
 
 \y without justification it was, awakened the disgust 
 and indignation of all. The part of the corps of Gen- 
 eral Chlapowski which was already in the Prussian 
 territory, when they saw the corps of General Roh- 
 land, which they had been made to believe was de- 
 stroyed, continuing its march in an entire state, 
 and even with nearly 200 Russian prisoners in its 
 train, and hearing too the animating shouts which 
 naturally burst from their comrades, as they came in 
 view of them, and who called on them to rejoin them, 
 were in a state of the utmost exasperation. A great 
 number rushed forward, and, breaking through the 
 Prussian guard, unarmed as they were, reached our 
 side of the frontier. The brave commander of the 
 light artillery, who was already on the Prussian terri- 
 tory with his battery, profiting by the circumstance 
 that his horses were not yet unharnessed, returned, 
 and joined our corps, with five pieces of cannon. 
 Both officers and soldiers surrounded General Giel- 
 gud, and loudly demanded some explanation of this 
 state of things. That general betrayed the utmost 
 confusion, and seemed wholly at a loss to satisfy 
 these demands ; his manner, indeed, was such as to 
 encourage the suspicions of treason, which his pre- 
 vious conduct had but too well justified. At this 
 moment, one of our officers, in a frenzy of patriotic 
 indignation, advanced towards him, drew a pistol 
 from his side, and exclaiming, " This is the reward of 
 a traitor," shot him through the heart. After this sad 
 event, General Chlapowski was sought after, and the 
 same fate would have probably aw r aited him, had he 
 
356 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 not succeeded in concealing himself. A scene of great 
 confusion then took place throughout the corps. 
 General Rohland and the other officers exerted them- 
 selves to tranquillize the soldiers, reminding them 
 that our situation was critical, and that the Russians 
 were pressing upon us. These appeals had the effect 
 of restoring quiet ; and at about 4 o'clock the corps 
 of General Rohland, joined by a part of that of Chla- 
 powski, took up the march in the direction of Yur- 
 burg, in order to pass the Niemen there, and attempt 
 to reach Poland. At night, we arrived at Wierzbna. 
 After having marched four miles from the spot 
 where the Prussian frontier was passed by General 
 Chlapowski, we were met by an aid-de-camp of Gen- 
 eral Kreutz, sent with a flag of truce, and bearing a 
 letter to General Rohland, which was read aloud, 
 containing propositions to surrender, and setting forth 
 the circumstances under which we were placed. In 
 declining the proposition, General Rohland, among 
 other expressions, used the following : "The strength 
 of your forces is well known to us ; we have seen 
 them at Powenduny and Worna. If Providence 
 protected us there, it will still protect us ; " and 
 turning towards the officers of his suite, he added, 
 " Gentlemen, look on rny grey hairs ! they have be- 
 come blanched in a service of thirty years under the 
 Polish eagles, and during that whole period I have 
 endeavored to keep the path of honor and duty. 
 Permit me in my old age to continue in that path." 
 The answer having been communicated' to the corps, 
 the cry of " Long life to Rohland," burst forth o^ 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 357 
 
 every side. The aid-de-camp departed, and we con- 
 tinued our route. 
 
 Having passed the night at Wierzbna, we arrived 
 on the noon of the next day (the 14th,) at Nowe- 
 Miasto, at which place we put to flight a squadron 
 of Russian cavalry posted there. Before reaching 
 that town, and at the distance of about a half league 
 from it, our cavalry had a small skirmish with four 
 squadrons of the Russian light cavalry. This caval- 
 ry fell upon a small detachment of our sappers, 
 which had been detailed for the object of destroy- 
 ing a bridge upon a branch of the main road, at the 
 distance of about a mile from it. The sappers, in 
 withdrawing, kept up a fire, and thus drew the enemy 
 on, till our cavalry falling upon them, dispersed them, 
 causing a considerable loss, and taking several pris- 
 
 oners.* 
 
 On arriving at Nowe-Miasto, our commander sent 
 a reconnoitering party in the direction of Yurburg, in 
 order to ascertain if any of the enemy's forces were 
 there, and considering the strong position of Nowe- 
 Miasto, he decided to remain there, and to await the 
 result of this reconnoissance. Our forces were 
 placed in order of battle, to await the enemy, if he 
 should choose to make an attack. Remaining for 
 two hours in this position, we were astonished that 
 the enemy did not show himself; and a platoon of cav- 
 alry, sent in the direction of the enemy to observe 
 
 * In this affair Major the Prince Giedroyc distinguished himself with 
 his regiment, the 6th Chasseurs, and killed with his own hand the 
 commander of the enemy's cavalry, an officer of the rank of General. 
 
358 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 him, returned with the intelligence that he was en- 
 camped at the distance of two miles from us. 
 
 Four hours had thus passed, when the arrival of a 
 Prussian officer upon the frontier, was announced, 
 who requested an interview with our general. Gen- 
 eral Rohland, accompanied with a party of officers, 
 went to receive him. The Prussian officer was an 
 aid-de-camp of the commandant general of the forces 
 on this part of the frontier, (General Kraft, we be- 
 lieve). The officer, after some complimentary lan- 
 guage, presented a letter from his commander, which 
 was filled with expressions of respect and good will, 
 and in which it was proposed that, in consideration 
 of our situation, surrounded as we were by a force 
 so much superior to our own, and in a state of desti- 
 tution in respect to arms and ammunition, we should 
 accept the offer which the Prussian government had 
 authorized him to make, in order to save the use- 
 less effusion of the blood of so many brave men, 
 and throw ourselves upon the protection of its 
 territory, where we would be convinced of the cor- 
 dial disposition of that government towards us, 
 adding, that our sojourn there would be short, and 
 that we should soon be allowed to return to our fire- 
 sides, as was the case with the Russian soldiers who 
 had sought the same protection. We have already 
 mentioned that several detachments of Russian sol- 
 diers, who had before sought the protection of Prus- 
 sia, had been allowed to return with their arms and 
 ammunition. Our generals, on being thus apprized 
 of the liberal intentions of the Prussian govern- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 359 
 
 ment, which were confirmed by the personal repre- 
 sentations of the officer who brought the letter, and 
 reflecting on the deplorable state of our soldiers, 
 fatigued and weakened by so many forced marches ; 
 the greater part of the infantry being without covering 
 to their feet, which were lacerated with wounds ; the 
 greater part of the cavalry, almost without horses, 
 (for their animals were so broken down, and chafed 
 by unremitted use, as to be unfit for service) ; 
 both artillery and infantry nearly destitute of am- 
 munition, a great quantity of which had been thrown 
 into the river by the orders of Generals Gielgud 
 and Chlapowski, on passing the frontier ; con- 
 sidering also the assurance which had been made 
 that we could return to our country, and thus hoping 
 to be able to renew their services to that country 
 at some more favorable period, presented these cir- 
 cumstances to the whole corps, and solicited the 
 opinion of the soldiers upon the question of acced- 
 ing to the propositions of the Prussian government. 
 The soldiers manifesting their entire confidence in 
 the judgment and the honor of their officers, signified 
 their assent to the acceptance of the propositions, influ- 
 enced strongly by the assurance of being allowed to 
 return to their country. In consequence of this as- 
 sent, a protocol was prepared that night, and signed 
 by our generals, and by several Prussian officers on 
 the other part, who came over for that object. On the 
 morning of the next day, we passed the frontier and 
 marched into the Prussian territory, and by that act 
 the operations of this corps were ended. 
 
360 THE POLISH REVOLUTION 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Effect of the news of the Lithuanian disasters on the minds of the peo" 
 pie. Distrust of the National Government. The Russian army re- 
 sumes the offensive under General Paskewicz. He decides to pass 
 the Vistula. Examination of the merits of this plan. Plan of Gen- 
 eral Skrzynecki to act on the different detached corps of the ene- 
 my. Advantages of General Chrzanowski over the corps of Rudi- 
 ger. The Russian forces execute the passage of the Vistula. Gen- 
 eral Skrzynecki crosses the Vistula at Warsaw to operate against the 
 enemy on the left bank. An inquiry into the conduct of General Skrzy- 
 necki, and the appointment of a Council of War is demanded by the 
 nation. Arrival of the corps of General Dembinski at Warsaw. 
 
 WHILE the nation was afflicted by the treasons at 
 Warsaw, their hopes were still kept alive by look- 
 ing towards Lithuania. What, then, can express 
 the disheartening effect produced by the intelli- 
 gence that the Lithuanian corps existed no longer ; 
 that that pillar, so essential to the support of the 
 fabric we had been rearing, had fallen ; and that 
 this disaster had been brought on by the gross neg- 
 ligence, if not the treason, of those to whom 
 that all-important expedition had been entrusted. 
 They felt that this was an almost mortal blow* 
 They saw a horrible future opening upon them,, 
 prepared by parricidal hands. After such renewed 
 outrages, the people fell into the greatest exaspera- 
 tion. That people, whose confidence had been so 
 basely abused, whose holiest purposes had been so 
 shamelessly sported with, seemed at last to have 
 changed their nature. So often betrayed, they lost 
 confidence in all, and seemed to see in every one a 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 361 
 
 traitor. If, in the frenzy of indignation, which 
 such an experience had justified, they allowed them- 
 selves to be carried away by their feelings, and to be 
 guilty of acts of severity, it is scarcely to be wonder- 
 ed at. 
 
 From the moment of the arrival of the sad news 
 from Lithuania, the nation demanded explanations 
 of the generalissimo. They demanded to know how 
 he could have given the command of so important 
 an expedition to a man like Gielgud, one who had 
 never been esteemed by the nation or the army, 
 and who had not even the reputation of a general of 
 talent. How then, could an expedition which de- 
 manded the very highest talents, and the most un- 
 doubted patriotism, have been confided to a man like 
 him ? With him had been associated General Chla- 
 powski, who was the brother-in-law of the Grand 
 Duke. That circumstance alone, they justly con- 
 sidered, should have been enough to suggest suspicion, 
 and at least to have indicated the expediency of keep- 
 ing him near the eye of the commander in chief, and 
 subject to his constant observation. Such were the 
 just complaints of the people, and they went to the 
 heart of the commander in chief, and the President of 
 the National Government ; for they were conscious, 
 but too late, of their justice.* 
 
 * A few details of the history of those generals who were the 
 cause of these fatal disasters, may gratify the curiosity of the reader. 
 General Gielgud was born in Lithuania, at Gielgudiski, (the place at , 
 which he crossed the Niemen in J831). Passing over his early life, 
 which presents nothing noticeable, he commenced his military ca- 
 r|?r in 1812, when Napoleon entered Lithuania. 'In a moment of 
 
 46 
 
362 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 The Russian army, the command of which, on 
 the death of General Diebitsch, was taken by Gen- 
 patriotic fervour, he formed a small detachment, at his own ex- 
 pense, and joined the ranks of the supposed deliverer of Poland ; 
 and this perhaps was the most praise-worthy act of his life. Dur- 
 ing the campaign of 1812, 13, and 14, he was in no way distinguish- 
 ed either for good or bad conduct. At the end of the Russian 
 campaign, in 1815, he was made Colonel. As during that year, Po- 
 land came under the Russian government, our army was subjected to 
 a change of organization, and as many officers of high rank, who were 
 in independent circumstances, gave up their commands, Gielgud then 
 obtained the rank of general, at about the age of thirty. This rapid 
 advancement, as was natural to a man of weak character, inspired him 
 with an extreme of arrogance and pretension; qualities which were 
 encouraged in his intercourse with the Russian generals, with whom 
 he was much associated. It was this arrogance which uniformly lost 
 him the esteem of those under his command. 
 
 When the revolution broke out, General Gielgud was at the 
 town of Radom, and his life was in great danger from the suspicions 
 of which he was naturally the object, but he was protected by some 
 of the patriots, on the. assurances which he gave of his patriotic dis- 
 positions. Still, however, the military demanded his removal from 
 his post, and, in fact, for some weeks he was without command. The 
 Dictator Chlopicki, whose modes of action were, as the reader knows, 
 too often inexplicable, restored him to his command, persuading 
 himself that he was one of the best of patriots, and that if his exterior 
 was offensive, he was right at heart. In the war, having first com- 
 manded a brigade, and afterwards a division, while he was attached 
 to the grand army, his conduct was not marked by any very great 
 faults ; indeed, in the battle of Minsk he performed his part well. 
 It was those occasional exhibitions of good conduct which kept him in 
 some consideration. 
 
 After having taken command of the corps of Lithuania, and when 
 he was removed from the observation of the army, he exhibited him- 
 self in his true character. He looked upon himself as our generalissi- 
 mo, and he was giddy with the distinction. Feeling himself the ab- 
 solute master of his own conduct, he gave himself up to all the sugges- 
 tions of his vanity. 
 
 His first act of folly was to surround himself with a numerous suite, 
 (it was in number four times that of the commander in chief), in which 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 363 
 
 eral Count Paskewicz, and the main body of which 
 remained in a state of inaction at Ostrolenka, having 
 
 suite those individuals were held in greatest esteem, who were most 
 fertile in resources for amusement. It was to this love of personal 
 gratification that we can attribute those delays which were sacrificing 
 the cause of the country. At Gielgudiski the general gave a fete to 
 his officers ; and it is not impossible that it was a motive of mere per- 
 sonal ostentation which induced him to make the passage of the Nie- 
 men at that place, by which two days' march were given to the re- 
 treating enemy, time was allowed him to concentrate his forces in 
 Wilna, and that capital was lost to- us ! This general was never seen 
 lo share the privations, fatigues, and exposure of his subalterns. In 
 his personal deportment he neglected the true means of gaining the 
 confidence and attachment of his troops. On the eve of a battle, in 
 moments of danger .and anxiety, it is cheering to the soldier to see 
 the face of his commander, and to hear from him a few words of en- 
 couragement. These are apparent trifles, but they are in reality of 
 most serious consequence. They are the secret keys, by which every 
 thing can be obtained from the soldier. The personal attachment of 
 the soldier to his commander, is worth more than the finest combina- 
 tions in strategy and tactics. The commander, who succeeds in 
 gaining the affection of the soldier, inspires him with a new impulse 
 for exertion. To his other motives for the performance of his duty, 
 is added the dread of forfeiting the confidence and esteem of a friend ; 
 and perhaps, with the mass of an army, such a -motive Would yield to no 
 other in efficiency. To the modes of conduct which would have this 
 result, General Gielgud was an entire stranger. Instead of freely 
 approaching the soldier and endeavouring to gain his attachment, he 
 treated him with uniform coldness and reserve. It is on the whole 
 a matter of just surprise, that a man with such glaring faults of charac- 
 ter should have been appointed to so responsible a trust. 
 
 General Chlapowski commenced his military career also in 1812. 
 In the Russian war he advanced to the rank of officer, and was made 
 aid-de-camp of Prince Poniatowski. While in this situation he ad- 
 vanced to the rank of a staff officer! in which rank he left the army 
 in 1815, and retired to his estates in the Grand Duchy of Pozen, 
 where he married the sister of the Princess of Lowicz, the wife of the 
 Grand Duke Constantine. The entrance of this general into the-re- 
 volutionary ranks excited considerable surprise. But as he joined 
 himself to the * squadrons of Pozen, which were formed of the 
 
364 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 no longer any apprehensions from Lithuania, could 
 now act with freedom, and the offensive was re- 
 commenced under the command of its new chief, 
 who decided to pass the Vistula, and to act upon the 
 left bank. 
 
 I may be allowed to detain the attention of the read- 
 er a moment upon this passage of the Vistula by Pas- 
 kewicz, a manoeuvre of which so much boast has been 
 made, and to consider whether it is really to be re- 
 garded as a great and bold step, or one of necessity. 
 What was the state of the Russian army after the 
 battle of -Ostrolenka? A month had passed, and 
 
 bravest and most patriotic materials, there was no distrust felt of him. 
 His successes in traversing the department of Bialostok, entitled him 
 to the highest praise. It was this fine expedition which gained him the 
 confidence of the Lithuanian corps, and, after the battle of Wilna, they 
 were unanimous in inviting him to take the chief command. The 
 nominal command, as we have related, he declined, but took a post 
 which gave him the superintendence of all the operations. While he 
 was thus in the direction of affairs, the greatest faults, as we iiave 
 seen, were committed, for which no adequate explanation can be 
 given. To enumerate some of them. They were, 1. The sending 
 of the sappers to build the bridge over the Niemen. 2. The ill-ar- 
 ranged attack on Schavla. 3. His not succoring General Rohland 
 in the combat of Powenduny. 4. The inexplicable secresy which 
 he kept upon his intention of passing the Prussian frontier ; having 
 left Kurszany for that object, whilst all his officers were given to 
 understand that the separation uf the corps at that place was with 
 the view of marching to act in the environs of Kowno. Chla- 
 powski was a more dangerous person even than Gielgud, for Gielgud 
 was a man of such undisguised arrogance, that he repelled the con- 
 fidence of others ; but Chlapowski had, with all the faults of Gielgud, 
 an exterior of dissimulation which won - insensibly upon those who 
 had not thoroughly studied his character. But none who had ob- 
 served and known him well, could ever yield him their esteem. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 365 
 
 that army had not made a single movement, but 
 was kept there merely to be fed by Prussia. Was 
 not this inactivity an infallible evidence of weak- 
 ness ? Does it not show, that alarmed by the 
 prospects in Lithuania it was in a state of hesitation, 
 not daring to advance into the kingdom, and holding 
 itself in readiness to evacuate it on an occasion of 
 necessity, which indeed seemed near at hand ? In 
 this period of hesitation, the new general arrives from 
 the regions of the Caucasus. He must do some- 
 thing. The question presents itself to him, what 
 course is best to be taken ? His army, now reinforced 
 by the corps which had been in Lithuania, amounted 
 to perhaps near one hundred and fifty thousand men. 
 Although this force was considerable, yet to attack 
 the fortifications of Praga, which, as is known to the 
 reader, had been augmented, and which, the Rus- 
 sian army in their primitive and unimpaired strength, 
 had never had the temerity to attack, was out of the 
 question. What other course could he take, unless 
 he could submit to continue in this state of inactivity, 
 but to pass the Vistula, and under the assistance of 
 Prussia, to make his attempts against Warsaw on 
 the other side, a step, however, which he never would 
 have dared to have taken without that assistance. 
 This is the natural explanation of that boasted plan, 
 in which we can see nothing but an almost necessary 
 movement, encouraged by a reliance on Prussia. 
 
 In the first days of the month of June the Russian 
 army began to approach the Vistula, in. order to exe- 
 cute the passage. Their march was in three prin- 
 
366 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 cipal columns, and was arranged in the following man- 
 ner : General Witt, commanding the columns of the 
 left wing> took the direction of Sochoczjn. The cen- 
 tre, under Marshal Paskewicz, left for Sonk and 
 Luberacz, passing the river Wkra at Maluszyn. The 
 column of the right, consisting of the Imperial Guard, 
 under the command of the Grand Duke Michel, 
 marched from Makow, by Ciechanow and Racionz. 
 General Pahlen commanded the advanced guard. 
 A considerable train of ammunition, with provisions 
 for twenty days, and a park of artillery of reserve, 
 formed the fourth colurfin, and followed the Imperial 
 Guard. ? Detached posts towards Modlin and Serock, 
 covered this march on the left. One regiment of 
 dragoons remained at Pultusk. This combined force 
 consisted of 80,000 men and three hundred pieces of 
 cannon. Besides these forces, there were in the 
 kingdom, the cjorps of General Rudiger at Kaluszyn 
 and that of General Rott at .Zamosc. Those two 
 corps might now number about 20,000 men, and 
 some thirty pieces of cannon. Opposed to these 
 forces, we had an army of 40,000 men, a hundred 
 and twenty pieces of cannon, not counting the Na- 
 tional Guard of Warsaw, and . the garrisons of the 
 two fortresses of Modlin and Zamosc. 
 
 The plan of pur generalissimo was to throw him- 
 self upon the detached corps of the enemy, under 
 Rott and Rudiger, and afterwards to act upon his 
 main body. For this end an attack was ordered 
 upon the corps of Rudiger, which was beaten in the 
 environs of Minsk by the corps of General Chrza- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 367 
 
 ftowski, in successive actions, on the 14th, 15th, and 
 1 6th of J uly. A third part of his corps being destroy- 
 ed, a thousand prisoners, four pieces of cannon and 
 all his baggage taken, he was forced to retire behind 
 Kaluszyn. After these new advantages, the general 
 in chief prepared to act upon the rear of the Russian 
 main army, and to attack them while engaged in the 
 passage of the Vistula, which he supposed they would 
 attempt either at Plock, or between Plock and Mod- 
 lin. But as he was afterwards apprized that the 
 Russians were to attempt the passage at a much 
 more distant point from Warsaw and beyond his 
 reach while on the right bank, he thought it most 
 expedient to pass the Vistula at Warsaw, and 
 to operate against the enemy on the other side. 
 The Russian army thus passed the Vistula without 
 being intercepted, between the 12th and the 20th 
 of July. Having reached the left bank, the enemy 
 took the direction of Lowicz, where, on the 27th, the 
 head -quarters of General Paskewicz were establish- 
 ed, and whither our army marched to meet him. 
 
 At this important moment, when the operations 
 of the enemy had taken a new face, and seemed, 
 in the eyes of the people, by his near approach to 
 Warsaw, to menace the utmost danger made more 
 threatening in their imaginations by the recent dis- 
 covery of the conspiracy of Jankowski and the news 
 of the misfortunes in Lithuania ;.- at this anxious mo- 
 ment, the nation demanded a council of war, and called 
 on the National Government to make an inquisition 
 
368 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 into the conduct of the general in chief, to demand of 
 him full explanations of his purposes, and a submis- 
 sion of all his plans of operation to the examination of 
 such a council. Such a council of war was institu- 
 ted by the Government and directed to be attached 
 to the person of the general, and to be initiated into 
 all his designs, in order to be enabled to tranquillize 
 and re-assure the minds of the nation, which had so 
 naturally become distrustful and suspicious, after the 
 events which had taken place. 
 
 The council having been organized, General Skrzy- 
 necki laid before them all the plans of operation that 
 he had hitherto followed, as well as those which he had 
 in contemplation, and gave a full exposition of the rea- 
 sons for each. This council having given him the 
 oath of secresy, published to the nation an address, 
 announcing their entire confidence in the patriotic in- 
 tentions of the general in chief, and assuring them that 
 the crisis was by no means as dangerous as they ap- 
 prehended. By these proceedings the minds of the 
 people were much tranquillized, and this tranquillity 
 was increased by the arrival of the corps of General 
 Dembinski from Lithuania after its glorious retreat ; 
 which arrival not only pheered them by the addition 
 which it brought to our forces, but by the more en- 
 couraging accounts than had before been received, 
 which it gave of the state of Lithuania, authorizing 
 some hope of a renewal of the insurrection in that 
 province at a more propitious hour. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 369 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 Operations of General Dembinski's corps. He traverses the country be- 
 tween Schavla and the Nieraen without being observed by the enemy. 
 Attacks and disperses a brigade of Russian infantry. Passes the 
 Niemen and throws himself into the forest of Bialostok. After leaving 
 that forest, is joined by the eorps of General Rozychi. Reaches War- 
 saw. His reception at Warsaw. View of the exposed situation of 
 Paskewicz after his passage of the Vistula. Examination of the plan 
 of operations of the Polish commander. Morbid state of the public 
 mind at Warsaw. Skrzynecki and Czartoriski deprived of their trust. 
 Capture of the city. Documents showing the influence exercised 
 by the cabinets in discouraging active operations. Conclusion. 
 
 THE corps of General Dembinski was more for- 
 tunate than those of Chlapowski and Rohland. That 
 general, quitting Kurszany on the 9th of July, return- 
 ed, in obedience to the orders which we have de- 
 tailed, by means of the forests, to the environs of 
 Schavla, leaving the enemy upon the right, and with- 
 out being observed by him; he having advanced with 
 his whole force in the direction of Worna, under the 
 belief that our undivided forces were in that position. 
 This corps traversed the country between Schavla 
 and Rosseyny, and arrived during the night of the 
 15th at Janow, where they dispersed a squadron of 
 the enemy's cavalry and took fifty prisoners, and 
 passed there the river Wilyia without interruption. 
 From thence they left for the environs of Kowno, 
 where, not far from Rumszyski, on the 16th, they 
 met a brigade of Russian infantry, which was on the 
 march from Wilna to the frontier of Poland. 
 47 
 
370 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 General Dembinski attacked this brigade with such 
 impetuosity, -that they were thrown into the greatest 
 consternation. Two cannons and several prisoners 
 were taken. The great forests, by which the Rus- 
 sians were able to effect their escape, alone saved 
 this brigade from entire destruction. Having thus 
 opened their road, they took the direction of the town 
 of Lida, passing the Niemen not far from this place. 
 Afterwards they threw themselves into the forests 
 of Bialostok, and in these forests the corps was re- 
 inforced by a considerable number of Lithuanian in- 
 surgent cavalry, which had been acting with great ad- 
 vantages over the enemy, by cutting off his transports 
 of ammunition and other modes of harassing him, 
 during the .whole of our campaign. This force was 
 under the command of Colonel B***. General Dem- 
 binski quitted the forests in the environs of Orla, and 
 leaving the town of Bielsk on his right, passed through 
 the town of Bocki, near w r hich he surprised and dis- 
 persed a regiment of cossacks, and took several pris- 
 oners, and among them a number of officers. In the 
 environs of Siemiatycze, where the corps arrived on 
 the 20th of June, they were arrested by the sudden 
 appearance of a large body of troops. General Dem- 
 binski halted and placed his forces in order of bat- 
 tle, sending his flankers in advance. On the other 
 side the same movement was made. The flanking 
 parties of the opposite forces approached each other, 
 but what was the astonishment of the two corps 
 at seeing the tirailleurs, in place of firing upon each 
 other, rushing into each other's arms, and rending the 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 371 
 
 air with patriotic exclamations. The corps which 
 was thus met by that of General Dembinski, was the 
 corps of General Rozychi, which had been sent from 
 our grand army to reinforce the corps of General 
 Gielgud. The reader will now call to mind the plan 
 of operations proposed by Colonel Valentin after the 
 battle of Wilna ; and the arrival of this reinforcement 
 at the very spot which was to have been the point 
 of concentration aggravates the regret that his plans 
 were not adopted. Nothing <;ould exceed the satis- 
 faction of the 'two corps at thus meeting. General 
 Rozychi learning the disastrous circumstances which 
 had occurred, changed his plan of operation, and de- 
 cided to unite himself with the corps of General 
 Dembinski, and to return with it to the grand army. 
 The junction of these two corps had scarcely taken 
 place, when a cloud of dust, in the direction of 
 Bielsk, announced the march of another body of 
 troops. A small reconnoissance, sent in that direc- 
 tion, returned with the intelligence that it was the 
 Russian corps under Golowkin. Our generals, con- 
 sidering all circumstances, determined not to engage 
 with them, and continued their march towards Po- 
 land, passing at night the river Bug. They then 
 took the direction of Wengrow and Kaluszyn, and 
 by that route arrived at Warsaw, toward the end 
 of the* month of July. 
 
 The corps of General Dembinski, which had trav- 
 ersed more than four hundred miles in about 
 twenty days from its departure from Kurszany, in the 
 midst of detachments of the enemy, was received 
 
372 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 by the nation with the greatest enthusiasm. The 
 President of the Senate, Prince Adam Czartoriski, 
 the generalissimo Skrzynecki, with all the officers of 
 government, followed by an immense body of citi- 
 zens, met him at the distance of a half league from 
 the city; and he w r as greeted with an address ex- 
 pressive of the thanks of the nation for his courageous 
 and persevering exertions. It ended in the following 
 terms :< " Dear general, and brethren in arms, you 
 will be a living reproach to those, who, forgetting 
 their sacj-ed duties, have, by their misconduct, forced 
 their countrymen to lay down their arms, and seek 
 the protection of another nation." 
 
 To commemorate the brave exertions of this corps 
 and to transmit these events to posterity, the address 
 above referred to was ordered to be enregistered in 
 the volumes of the public laws. A printed copy was 
 also given to each soldier of the corps. At the same 
 time a commission was appointed to inquire into the 
 conduct of Generals Gielgud and Chlapowski. 
 
 When we consider the manner in which the Rus- 
 sian army, after their passage of the Vistula, passed 
 the interval between the 27th of July, (the day of 
 their arrival at Lowicz) and the 15th of August, we 
 shall be at a loss to account for their inaction, or 
 the physical inefficiency of his force. 
 
 If General Paskewicz was in a condition to take 
 Warsaw, he could gain nothing by this repose. 
 Nay, every moment of delay might increase the diffi- 
 culties he would have to overcome. Why then all this 
 delay ? What could have prevented us from rein- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 373 
 
 forcing our ranks, strengthening the fortifications of 
 Warsaw, and even sending another corps, however 
 small, into Lithuania, to support a new insurrection? 
 Such a corps could have easily made its way even in 
 the midst of the Russian detached corps remaining 
 on the other side of the Vistula, and indeed those 
 corps, so imprudently left there, could have been 
 beaten in detail by our forces. If these circum- 
 stances are well considered, the reader will be satis- 
 fied that this manoeuvre of passing the Vistula, though 
 in appearance so threatening to us, was in reality a 
 most imprudent step on the enemy's part, and exposed 
 him to the most imminent danger. Many detailed 
 considerations might be given upon this point, but 
 as they would occupy much space, and would with- 
 draw us too far from the simple purpose of this nar- 
 rative, we must leave them to abler pens. The gen- 
 eral view, however, which we have taken of the po- 
 sition of the enemy, will be enough to awaken the 
 astonishment of the reader that the event of the 
 contest should have arrived so suddenly and so fa- 
 tally to us. We are, therefore, led to present 
 some reflections upon what seems to us to have 
 been the true causes of the disastrous issue of the 
 struggle. 
 
 We may, in the first place, be permitted to remark 
 that the removal of our army from Warsaw to 
 Lowicz to meet the enemy there, does not appear 
 to have been a fortunate disposition. By it, some 
 twenty days were spent in indecisive manoeuvres 
 against a superior force. If, during that interval, in 
 
374 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 place of marching to meet the enemy, the army had 
 been concentrated in the environs of Warsaw, and 
 employed in constructing fortifications upon the great 
 roads leading to Warsaw, from Blonia, Nadarzyn, 
 Piaseczna, and Kalwaryia, as a first line of defence, 
 and in strengthening the great fortifications of War- 
 saw : then, leaving half of our force to defend these 
 fortifications, we might have crossed the Vistula 
 with the other half, and acted upon all the detached 
 corps of the enemy, on the right bank, and thus have, 
 besides, intercepted all the reinforcements for the 
 main army of Paskewicz. Our communications, 
 also, with the provinces being thus opened, and their 
 territory freed from the presence of the enemy, we 
 should have again been enabled to avail ourselves of 
 their co-operation. I cannot but think that if such 
 a plan of operation had been adopted, for which, in 
 fact, there was ample time in. the interval above 
 named, an altogether different turn would have been 
 given to our affair. 
 
 If the objection should be made that the delay 
 which actually occurred could not have been reason- 
 ably anticipated, and that Paskewicz might have im- 
 mediately advanced to the attack of Warsaw, still, 
 without entering for the present into detailed consid- 
 erations in support of my opinion, it will be enough to 
 answer that if twenty-four hours merely, were to be 
 had, those twenty-four hours should have been em- 
 ployed in fortification rather than manoeuvring, for it 
 was not at Lowicz, but under the walls of Warsaw 
 that the enemy were to be fought. As it was at 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 375 
 
 Warsaw, then, that the decisive encounter must inevi- 
 tably have taken place, would it not have been the 
 most judicious course, to have confined our opera- 
 tions, on the left bank of the Vistula, to the strength- 
 ening of the defences of Warsaw ; to have in fact 
 adopted in regard to the enemy, who had now trans- 
 ferred his strength to the left bank of the Vistula, 
 the same course of operations which we had hitherto 
 pursued against him while he was in occupation of 
 the right ; in short, to have made of Warsaw another 
 Praga. Our course of operations should in fact have 
 been just reversed, to correspond with the change 
 which the enemy's passage of the Vistula had made 
 in our relative positions. While he was on the 
 right bank, the region on the left of the river was 
 open to us, and there were our resources ; but now 
 that he was acting with his main army on the left 
 bank, it should have been our aim, by annihilating his 
 detached corps, to have opened to our operations the 
 whole region of the right, which was far more ex- 
 tensive than the other, and which, besides, had the 
 advantage to us, of being contiguous to the insurrec- 
 tionary provinces. In case of an attack on Warsaw, 
 which of course could not be an affair of a few days 
 only, that part of our forces operating on the right 
 bank could be withdrawn in ample season to pre- 
 sent our whole strength to the enemy in its de- 
 fence. 
 
 Since I have allowed myself to make the above 
 remarks in regard to the plans of the general in 
 
376 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 chief, I must also be permitted to add that, at that 
 period of inquietude and distrust, the presence of the 
 commander in chief and of the President of the Na- 
 tional Government, at Warsaw, was of the utmost 
 importance. That presence was continually needed 
 to act on the minds of the people, to preserve union 
 and tranquillity, and to discover and bring to exem- 
 plary punishment the traitors who had been plotting 
 the ruin of their country ; in short, to encourage the 
 patriotic and to alarm the treacherous. If those 
 two individuals so deservedly beloved and honored 
 by the nation had been present, we doubt whether 
 those melancholy scenes at Warsaw, on the 14th, 
 15th and 16th of August, when some forty persons 
 who were under conviction of treason, perished by 
 the hands of the people, would ever have taken 
 place. Revolting as those scenes were, we must yet 
 consider whether the circumstances of the moment 
 will not afford some palliation for them. Deserted 
 by those who had been the objects of their profound - 
 est attachment and confidence, haunted by the 
 recollections of the terrible disasters which had been 
 incurred, and which they could attribute to nothing 
 short of treason, seeing twenty days again sacrificed, 
 during which the Russian corps from Lithuania were 
 permitted topass the Vistula, (that of Kreutz at Plock, 
 and that of Rudiger at Pulawa,) and join their main 
 army ; in fine, seeing this immense Russian force ap- 
 proaching the capital, from which perhaps they were 
 expecting a repetition of all the atrocities of Suwa- 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 377 
 
 row, remembering the thousands of victims which 
 these traitors had already sacrificed, and reflecting 
 on the thousands whom they had plotted to sacrifice; 
 can it wondered that, in those moments of despair, 
 that people should have yielded to their impulses 
 of indignation and have chosen rather to sacrifice 
 those convicted traitors, than to permit them to live, 
 and perhaps be the instruments of the vengeance 
 of the conqueror. 
 
 Abandoned thus by those who should have been 
 near to tranquillize them, they took that justice into 
 their own hands which the government had neglect- 
 ed to execute, and with their suspicions operated 
 upon by this accumulation of disasters, they went to 
 the degree of demanding the removal from their posts, 
 of Prince Czartoriski and the general in chief. Such 
 are, I think, the true explanations of those acts so se- 
 rious in their consequences, and which have created 
 so much surprise. The removal of Skrzynecki from 
 the chief command was certainly one of the most de- 
 plorable results of this disordered state of the minds 
 of the people ; for who could so well meet the exi- 
 gencies of the time as he, familiar with every detail, 
 engaged in the midst of events, and possessing the 
 entire confidence of the army ? It was in this pe- 
 riod of distrust arid suspicion that the Russian army, 
 which seemed to have been waiting only for such a 
 moment, received the intelligence from some traitors, 
 yet undiscovered, within the walls of Warsaw, that 
 the time had arrived for their attack. It was un- 
 48 
 
378 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 doubtedly directed by such intelligence, that they 
 made their attack on Warsaw, at the moment when 
 the greater part of our army had been sent by its 
 new commander, Prondzynski, to act on the right 
 bank of the Vistula against the corps of Golowkin, 
 which was menacing Praga. The city thus defended 
 by the National Guard and a small part of the army 
 alone, and distracted by the divisions which Russian 
 intrigues had fomented, fell, after a bloody defence,* 
 and the fate of Poland was decided. 
 
 We have stated our belief that the fatal events 
 which hastened the catastrophe might have been pre- 
 vented by the mere presence, at the capital, of the 
 heads of the army and the National Government, at 
 those trying moments which brought on that disor- 
 dered state of the public mind. Of this error we 
 cannot readily acquit them, upright and patriotic as 
 we know their intentions to have been. But upon the 
 other point that mysterious inaction of our forces, 
 for so considerable a period, there is an important 
 light thrown, in the following extracts from the cor- 
 respondence of the Prince Czartoriski with the 
 French Minister of the Exterior, read in the Chamber 
 of Deputies, on the 19th of September, by the ven- 
 erable General Lafayette, and in the extracts from 
 
 * As the author was attached to the Lithuanian corps, (under Gen- 
 eral Rohland,) and rf he was actually in a Prussian prison it the 
 time of the capture of Warsaw, he cannot undertake to give any 
 details upon so important an event, with the limited information at 
 present at his command. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 379 
 
 his remarks, and those of General Lamarque, made 
 on that occasion, arid which have probably before 
 met the eye of the reader. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM THE LETTER OF PRINCE CZARTORlSKl. 
 
 "But we relied upon the magnanimity and the wis- 
 dom of the cabinets ; trusting to them, we have not 
 availed ourselves of all the resources which were at 
 our command, both exterior and interior. To secure 
 the approbation of the cabinets, to deserve their con- 
 fidence, and to obtain their support, we have never 
 departed from the strictest moderation ; by which 
 moderation, indeed, we have paralyzed many of the 
 efforts which might have saved us in those latter 
 days. But for the promises of the cabinets, we 
 should have been able to strike a blow, which per- 
 haps would have been decisive. We thought that it 
 \vas necessary to temporize, to leave nothing to 
 chance and we have at last seen the certainty, at the 
 present day, that there is nothing but chance that 
 
 can save us." 
 
 General Lafayette : "If it be said that the promises 
 here referred to might have been only an affair of 
 the gazettes, I answer, that I have demanded ex- 
 planations of the Polish Legation, and here is the 
 reply which I have obtained* 
 
 " i In answer to the letter which we have receiv- 
 ed from you, General, we hasten to assure you, 
 
380 THE POLISH REVOLUTION* 
 
 " ' 1. That it was the Minister of Foreign Affairs 
 who engaged us on the 7th of July, to send a mes- 
 senger to Warsaw, whose travelling expenses were 
 advanced by the Minister : that the object of this 
 messenger was, as his Excellency the Count Sebas- 
 tiani told us, to induce our government to wait two 
 months longer, for that was the time necessary for 
 the negociations. 
 
 " ' 2. That the circular of our Minister of Foreign 
 Affairs, dated the 15th of August, signed by the Min- 
 ister ad interim, Audne Horodyski, and also another 
 circular of the 24th of the same month, signed by 
 the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Teodore Mor- 
 awski, came to our hands by the post of the 14th 
 current ; that they are the same circulars, which we 
 at first officially communicated to the Count Sebas- 
 tiani, on the 15th of September, and which we im- 
 mediately after addressed to the journals, where they 
 appeared on the 17th and 18th, and that those two 
 circulars in fact explain the effect which the mission 
 of the above envoy produced at Warsaw. 
 
 " ' LE GEN. KNIAZEWIECZ L : PLATER.' " 
 
 Paris, the 20th November, 1831. 
 
 Gen. Lamarque : " Poland ! Can it be true that 
 this heroic nation, who offered her bosom to the lance 
 of the Tartars only to serve as a buckler for us, is to 
 fall because she has followed the counsels which 
 France and England have given her ! Thus then is to 
 be explained the inaction of her army at the moment 
 when it ought to have taken a decisive step. Thus 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 381 
 
 rs to be explained the irresolution of the generalis- 
 simo, who from the first moment had showed so much 
 audacity and skill. We may now know why he did 
 not profit by the passage of the Vistula, which di- 
 vided the army of the enemy, to give him battle either 
 on one bank or the other. The minister rejects with 
 indignation this imputation of complicity. He de- 
 clares formally that he had made no promise, that 
 he had given no hope, that he had fixed no date. 
 Honorable Poles, whom I have seen this morning af- 
 firm the contrary. Our colleague M. Lafayette will 
 give you details, almost official, on this subject.'* 
 
 SESSION OF 13TH SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Gen. Lafayette : "I will ask this, without the least 
 idea of receiving a reply, but only to render a just 
 homage to the conduct of the Poles, and of their gov- 
 ernment, I will ask, if it is true that the Poles were 
 urged by the French government, by the English 
 ministers, and by the*French ambassador at London, 
 to use moderation, and not to risk a battle, because 
 the measures which those powers were to take in 
 behalf of Poland would not be delayed but for two 
 months, and that in two months Poland would enter 
 into the great family of nations. Those two months 
 have expired ; and I state this here to render justice 
 to the conduct of the Polish government, the Polish 
 army, and its chief, who may have thought that on 
 his giving a general battle, to prevent the passage 
 
382 THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 
 
 of the Vistula, they could thwart the good intentions 
 of the French and English government in this respect. 
 I think that this will be considered a fair procedure 
 towards Messieurs the Ministers, to whom the ques- 
 tions shall be addressed on Monday, to apprize them 
 that this is one of those which will be then submitted 
 to them.' ? 
 
 These documents will be for the present age and 
 for posterity an explanation of the true causes of the 
 ruin of Poland. She fell not by the enormous forces 
 of her enemy, but by his perfidious intrigues. We 
 cannot accuse France or England, and indeed no Pole 
 does accuse them ; for, although we may have some 
 enemies in those countries, yet we cannot conceive 
 of the existence of any causes of hostility towards us, 
 by which those nations can be actuated.* They were 
 blinded by the promises of Russia, by the solemn 
 assurancesf which slie gave, that she would soon ar- 
 range every thing in the most favorable manner for 
 Poland. In this web of intrigue were those cabi- 
 nets entangled, who would else have followed the 
 common dictates of humanity in succoring Poland. 
 While she was thus deceiving the cabinets, Russia was 
 doing her utmost to sow distrust and disunion among 
 our people. It was her intrigues, through the in- 
 strumentality of the traitors whom she had gained 
 for her accomplices, that caused the estrangement 
 of the nation from Skrzynecki, who, having a true 
 
 * Appendix No. III. IV. f Appendix No. IV. 
 
THE POLISH REVOLUTION. 383 
 
 Polish heart, had repelled all her vile attempts to 
 shake his integrity, and who, by his talent and energy, 
 had so often defeated and might still defeat the enor- 
 mous masses which she had sent against us. Those 
 intrigues succeeded, and Russia gained her end in 
 overwhelming Poland with misery ; not reflecting 
 that by so doing she was bringing misfortunes upon 
 her own head. Russia, by a liberal concession to 
 Poland of her national rights, could have been truly 
 great. Not to speak of the influence of the Polish 
 institutions upon the happiness of her own people ; 
 her true stability and strength could in no way be so 
 well secured as by the independent existence of 
 Poland. Those who have labored for our destruction 
 were not true Russians ; they were the enemies of 
 their country and of humanity ; heartless calcula- 
 tors, acting with a single view to their own personal 
 aggrandizement ; men, in fact, who have no coun- 
 try but self. Equally the enemies of the monarch 
 and of the people, they make the one a tyrant, 
 and sport with the misery of the other. 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 49 
 
I U 
 

 APPEND! X. 
 
 No. I. 
 HISTORICAL VIEW OF LITHUANIA. 
 
 IF, notwithstanding the many good works recently published 
 -upon Poland, the history of that country is still but imperfectly 
 known to the rest of the world ; it may be said that the history 
 of Lithuania is almost absolutely unknown to the people of the 
 West. It is generally thought that it has always composed an 
 integral part of the Russian empire, and that it was only occa- 
 sionally that it has held relations with ancient Poland ; a false 
 impression, and one which the public journals have but too fre- 
 quently assisted in propagating. The truth is, that for five 
 hundred years, Lithuania has voluntarily associated herself with 
 the destinies of ancient Poland, and it is only with shame and 
 reluctance that she has borne the Russian yoke. But that which 
 is of great importance at present to consider, is, the ancient sym- 
 pathy which has constantly united the two people. There is a 
 common spirit of nationality, which, notwithstanding the studious- 
 ly contrived disintegration of their territory, has always animated 
 the Lithuanians and the Poles ; a most important fact, for it is on 
 this fraternity of feeling and community of opinion between the 
 ancient Polish provinces, that the salvation of modern Poland es- 
 sentially depends. We will endeavor, by presenting to the read- 
 er the following extracts from the work of Leonard Chodzko, 
 to throw some light upon the political history of this interesting 
 portion of the Slavian race. 
 
388 APPENDIX. 
 
 " For a long time a distinct power, and governed by its Grand 
 Dukes, united for the first time with Poland in the year 1386, and 
 making, in 1569, an integral part of the republic of Poland, Li- 
 thuania, from that epoch, to that of 1795, formed, in the polit- 
 ical state, the third province of Poland ; being composed of the 
 palatinates of Wilna, of Troki, the duchies of Starostia, and Sa- 
 mogitia, of Nowogrodek, of Brzsclitewski, of Minsk, of Polock, 
 of Witepsk, Mscislaw and of Smolensk. This Grand Duchy 
 was bounded on the north by Courland, Semigallia, Polish Li- 
 vonia and the province of Great Nowogorod ; on the east by 
 Moscovy ; on the south by the Ukraine, Volhynia and the coun- 
 try of Chelme ; on the west, by the Baltic Sea, the duchy of 
 Prussia, and the palatinates of Podlasia and Lublin. Its arms 
 were a cavalier at full speed, with a sabre raised over his head. 
 This cavalier of Lithuania, joined with the white eagle of Po- 
 land, figured inseparably upon the arms of the republic, upon 
 the national standards, the public edifices and the coins, up to 
 the moment when foreign force and domestic treason struck a 
 liberticide blow at that union which ages had consecrated. In 
 1812, for a moment, those fraternal arms were united; but sep- 
 arated again, they once more floated upon every banner after the 
 memorable date of the 29th of November. According to ancient 
 traditions, towards the year 900, there landed on the coast of 
 Samogitia, between Memel, Polouga, and Libau, a colony of Ital- 
 ians who introduced into that country a certain degree of civ- 
 ilization, and from thence came that multitude of Latin words 
 which are to be remarked in the Lithuanian language. From 
 these Italian families, arose several sovereign dynasties, which 
 governed Lithuania and Samogitia. Of this origin were, with- 
 out doubt, the Gerules or Herules, who formerly governed Li- 
 thuania. This people is the same which in the fifth century 
 invaded Italy, with Odacre, and returning on their steps, spread 
 themselves upon the shores of the Baltic, which embrace, at the 
 present day, Oriental Prussia, Lithuania, Samogitia and Cour- 
 land. 
 
 " The Lithuanians, though subjugated first by the Russians, 
 did not foil to make their strength soon felt by their invaders. 
 In the 13th century, when the Tartars ravaged on one side the 
 
APPENDIX. 389 
 
 % 
 Russian States, the Lithuanians on the other side took possession 
 
 of Grodno, Brzesc and Drohyczyn, and did not stop till they 
 Reached the banks of the Prypec and the town of Mozyr. In 
 the north their victorious amis were pushed as far as the Dwina 
 and the city of Polock. In the year 1220, the Russians, under 
 Mscislaw-Romanowicz, declared war upon Lithuania, but they 
 were beaten near the river Tasiolda, and the Lithuanians aug- 
 mented their possessions by the occupation of Pinsk and Turow. 
 Ringold was the first who took the title of Grand Duke of Li- 
 thuania, in 1235. Mindowe or Mendog, having promised the 
 Pope to embrace the Christian religion, was crowned king of 
 Lithuania in 1252, at Nowogrodek ; but this -clid not continue 
 3ong, for Mindowe finding himself deceived, returned to Pagan- 
 ism, and died in 1263. From 1280 to 1315, the dukes Latuwer 
 and Witenes reigned over this country ; but the greatest power 
 of Lithuania dates from the fourteenth century, when Gedymin 
 seized the reins of government. Impatient to crush the Rus- 
 sian power, which had distressed Lithuania, this prince defeated 
 the enemy in 1320, upon the river Pirna, made himself master 
 of Volhynia, of Kuovie, of Sewerie, of Czerniechovia, and ex- 
 tended his boundaries as far as Putiwel upon the Diesna. In 
 1340, when Gedymin perished upon the field of battle by the 
 hands of the Teutonic knights, the Tartaro- Russian power com- 
 menced ravaging Polodia, but Olgerd, successor of Gedymin, 
 came to the succor of his nephews, Koryatowicz, who were in 
 possession of that province, defeated the Tzars of the Tartars in 
 a pitched battle, and extended the territory of Lithuania as far 
 as the banks of the Don and the Black Sea. To form an idea 
 of the extent of the Lithuanian provinces, it is sufficient to point 
 out here the partition between the sons of Gedymin : Monwid 
 possessed Kiernow and Slonim ; Narymond Pinsk, Mozyr and 
 a part of Volhynia : Olgerd Krewo, the ancient capital of the 
 duchy, and all the country as far as the Berezina : Kieystat 
 Samogitia, Troki, and Podlachia : Koryat Nowogrodek and 
 Wolkowysk ; Lubar Wlodgimierz, with the rest of Volhynia : 
 Jawnat Wilna, Osmiana, Wilkomierz, Braslaw, The last suc- 
 ceeded first to his father, but after his death it was Olgerd who 
 took the reins of government. 
 
390 APPENDIX* 
 
 " Olgerd was the most powerful of the sovereigns of Lithuania* 
 The republic of Pskow, in 1346, and that of Nowogorod, in 1349, 
 acknowledged him for their master. In 1363, the Tartars of 
 Perekop (Krimea), became his vassals. On the east, embracing 
 the cause of the Duke of Twer, he came three times, in 1368 
 1370, 1373, to break his lance against the ramparts of the city 
 of Moscow ; of that city where at a later day the great generals 
 of Poland and of Lithuania, and at last, in 1812, the Gallo-Polo- 
 no-Lithuanian lances were crossed in front of the superb Krem- 
 lin ! Kiegstut powerfully seconded his brother in his conquests. 
 It was under such auspices that Olgord, descending to the tomb, 
 left his brilliant inheritance to Jagellon, one of his thirteen 
 sons. Jagellon, who ascended the Grand-Ducal throne in 1381, 
 ceded it to his cousin Witold, in 1386, when he went to place 
 upon his head the crown of the Piasts, to unite his hand to that 
 of Hedwige, and to cement fojever the glorious junction of Li- 
 thuania and Poland. In 1389, he gave the government of the 
 duchy of Severie-Nowogorodien and the republic of Nowogorod- 
 the-Great to his two brothers ; while on the other side, his cousin 
 Witold, being attacked in his new conquests by the Tartars, beat 
 them, chased a part of them beyond the Don, and transported 
 those who fell into his hands into the different countries of Li- 
 thuania, where, instead of reducing them to slavery, he gave 
 them possessions, with the liberty of freely exercising their re- 
 ilgious rights. It was the descendants of those Tartars who 
 showed themselves such worthy children of their adopted coun- 
 try, at the epoch of the war of independence, in 1794, and in 
 the campaign of 1812. In this manner Witold acquired the 
 possession, not only of the Russian territories, delivered from 
 the yoke of the Tartars by his grandfather and his uncle, but 
 those which were held by the other small Trans-Borysthenian 
 Tzars. Turning then his victorious army to the north, he forced 
 the northern republics, whose fidelity he suspected, to humble 
 themselves before him, and recognize his unqualified supremacy. 
 In fine, Poland and Lithuania arrived, at that epoch, to such a 
 degree of power, that the Dukes of Mazovia and Russia, the 
 Tzars of Moscow, Basile, that of Twer Borys, that of Riezan, 
 Olegh, the little Tzars of Perekop and Volga, the Teutonic mas- 
 
APPENDIX. 391 
 
 ters, the Prussians and Livonians, in fine, the Emperor of Ger- 
 many, Sigismond himself, accompanied by his wife, and several 
 princes, Erik, King of Denmark and Sweden, as well as the am- 
 bassadors of the Emperor of the East, Paleogogus, presented 
 themselves to Wladislas-Jagellon at Luck, in Volhynia, and held 
 there a general congress in 1428, in which they deliberated up- 
 on the war against the Ottomans ; and at which the Emperor of 
 Germany attempted in vain, by means of intrigues, to throw some 
 seeds of dissension between Jagellon and Witold. Witold died 
 in 1430. Kasimir le Jagellon, successor of Wladislay , was reign- 
 ing still with eclat; when the moment approached, at which from 
 one side the Ottomans began to take possession of the Tauride, 
 while a new Muscovite power, subjugating the Russians from 
 the north and east, were soon to contract the frontiers of Li- 
 thuania. 
 
 " All this, however, could have no effect upon the union of the 
 two nations, which daily acquired new strength : for, subse- 
 quently to the first union of 1386, a Diet, in 1413, held in the 
 bourg of Horoido, having declared the Lithuanians to be on an 
 equal footing with the Poles in regard to taxes and laws, many 
 Lithuanian families allied themselves with Polish families ; in 
 fine, the arms of the two nations were united. It was then de- 
 termined that the Lithuanians should receive their Grand Duke 
 from the hands of the King of Poland, and that, when the latter 
 should die without children or descendants worthy to succeed him, 
 the Poles should elect their new king conjointly with the Lithu- 
 anians. The alliance concluded in 1413, was renewed in 1499 ; 
 and it was added, explicitly, that the Lithuanians should not 
 elect their Grand Duke, without the concurrence of the Poles, 
 nor the Poles their king, without that of the Lithuanians. In 
 1561, the Knights Militant submitted themselves, and the part 
 of Livonia which remained with them, to the domination of 
 the King of Poland, as Grand Duke of Lithuania; the new duke 
 ofCourland became also his feudatory. In fine, in 1569, under 
 Sigismond-Augustus, the Poles and Lithuanians held a Diet at 
 Lublin, in which the Grand Duchy was limited to the kingdom 
 of Poland, so that they thereafter formed but one body, subject 
 to one prince, who was conjointly elected by the two nations^ 
 
392 APPENDIX. 
 
 under the double title of King of Poland and Grand Duke of 
 Lithuania. It was agreed, also, that the Diet should be always 
 held at Warsaw, that the two people should have the same Sen- 
 ate, the same Chamber of Deputies ; that their coins should be 
 of the same designation; that, in fine, their alliances, their aux- 
 iliary troops, and every thing, should be in common. The cam- 
 paigns of Moskow under Sigismond III., Wladislaz IV., and 
 Etienne B'atory, amply proved that the Lithuanians were worthy 
 of calling the Poles brethren ; for they were found ready for ev- 
 ery sacrifice, when the general, good of the country was in ques- 
 tion. In the laws of 1673, 1677, aad 1685, it was ruled that 
 each third Diet should be held in Lithuania at Grodno ; the Diets 
 of convocation, and of election and coronation were excepted* 
 however, from this rule. In 1697, the Polish and Lithuanian 
 laws received an equal force and authority. 
 
 "At the epoch of the regeneration of Poland, the Lithuanians 
 gave the most convincing proofs of their devotedness to the Po- 
 lish cause, in the last years of the existence of Poland. In ef- 
 fect, when they became satisfied that, for the common interest, 
 and to give more consistency to the new form of government 
 which it was proposed to establish, at the Diet of 1788, it was 
 necessary to strengthen still more the relations between Lithu- 
 ania and the crown ; that is to say, between Little and Great 
 Poland, so as 1x> form from out of the three provinces a single 
 powerful state, and to obliterate totally all the distinctions which 
 had before existed between the Poles and the Lithuanians, they 
 made a voluntary sacrifice of the privileges which they had held 
 with great pertinacity, and renounced, without hesitation, that of 
 having a separate army and treasury, consenting to unite them- 
 selves under a single administration with the two other pro- 
 vinces. 
 
 u The whole world was witness to the heroism which the Lith- 
 uanians displayed in the glorious confederation of Bar, from 
 1768 to 1772; in the campaigns of 1792 and 1794, against for- 
 eign rapacity, when Kosciuszko, a Lithuanian by birth, covered 
 with imperishable laurels the chains of Poland. The Lithua- 
 nians fell, but they fell with the whole of Poland,, and were 
 buried in the common ruin. How nobly have not the Lithu- 
 
APPENDIX. 393 
 
 anians been seen to figure among the brave Polish patriots, 
 who sought in France, in Italy, and in Turkey, some chances 
 of restoration for a country which had been the victim of for- 
 eign ambition ! And how many of them have not been found 
 under the banners of Dombrowski, in Italy, and under those 
 of Kniaziewiez, upon the Danube ? Have wo not seen, in 
 the years 1806 and 1809, twelve thousand Lithuanians, uni- 
 ted with their brethren, the Volhynians, the Podolians and 
 the Ukranians, hastening to range themsehes under the ban- 
 ners of the army of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw? In 1812, 
 their joy was extreme, when they thought that their political ex- 
 istence was, at last, about to be renewed. Then was seen the 
 Cavalier of Lithuania, united with the White Eagle, decorating 
 the flags planted on the walls of Wilna. But the disastrous re- 
 treat of the French army struck a mortal blow to the destinies 
 of those countries. The kingdom of Poland was proclaimed 
 in 1815; the Diets of Warsaw, of 1818, 1820 and 1825, preserv- 
 ed silence respecting the lot of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. 
 A look full of hope from all Lithuania was turned once more 
 towards Warsaw, upon the 24th of May, 1829, the day of coro- 
 nation of Nicholas the 1st, but the re-union of Lithuania was 
 not even made a question of." 
 
 [Tableau de la Polognc, ancicnne ct moderne, par Malic Brun, edition 
 refonduc et augmentee par Leonard Chodzko. Paris, 1831. pp. 
 288295. Tom. I.] 
 
 No. II. 
 
 ADDRESS OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF POLAND TO THE IN- 
 HABITANTS OF LITHUANIA, VOLHYNIA, PODOLIA, AND UKRAINE.* 
 
 Brethren, and Fellow Citizens ! 
 
 The National Government of regenerated Poland, happy on 
 being able at last to address you in the name of the bond of 
 
 * Not having a copy of this address in the original, we make use of a 
 rather unsatisfactory translation, which we find in the journals of the 
 day. 
 
 50 
 

 394 APPENDIX. 
 
 brotherhood and liberty, is anxious to lay before you the present 
 state of our country, and to show you our wants, our dangers, and 
 our hopes. 
 
 The wall which separated us is broken, down your wishes 
 and ours realised. The Polish eagle flies over our territory. 
 United as we are, hand and heart, we will henceforth proceed 
 in concert to accomplish the difficult, perilous, but just and sa- 
 cred work the restoration of our country. 
 
 The Manifesto of the Diet, in explaining the cause of our 
 rising, gave an account of our sentiments as well as yours. 
 Scarcely had we risen in arms, provided with but few means, 
 and uncertain what course to pursue, before we showed to the 
 world and to the Emperor Nicholas that the same spirit anima- 
 ted us, and that we were desirous to become, as we had former- 
 ly been, but one and the same nation. The Emperor Nicholas 
 did not wish to consecrate the tomb of his brother by a monu- 
 ment, which, during the life time of Alexander, would have sealed 
 the glory of his reign. 
 
 He did not wish to regard us as Poles, bowed down with in- 
 juries as citizens of a free and independent country ; and 
 would treat with us only as slaves who had rebelled against Rus- 
 sia. We have arrested we have driven back the threatening 
 phalanxes of his different corps. Of the forces of which our army 
 was composed, some fought here against the main body of the 
 enemy ; others penetrated into your provinces to call forth our 
 brethren to range themselves under the national banner. You 
 did not wait for this appeal. 
 
 At the very commencement of the insurrection, many of your 
 citizens explained their sentiments and their wishes in the Na- 
 tional Assembly, and some raised regiments, dignified by the 
 names of your provinces ; in fine, whole districts of Lithuania 
 and Volhynia rose m masse. 
 
 The partition of Poland has been denominated a crime by the 
 unanimous voice of Europe, and who at this day will revoke 
 such a decision ? Who will venture to come forward as the 
 champion against it 1 Undoubtedly none ! And we have the 
 well-grounded hope that Europe will hasten to recognise our in- 
 dependence, as soon as we have proved by our courage, our per- 
 
APPENDIX. 395 
 
 severance, our union, our moderate and noble conduct, that we 
 deserve to be a free nation. This revolution is only a conse- 
 quence of our oppression and our misfortunes. It was the wish 
 of our hearts, and arises from the nature of our history, which 
 displays our determination from the very beginning, and proves 
 that our rising was not of foreign prompting. It is not civil war 
 it is not tainted with the blood of our brethren we have not 
 overturned social institutions in order to raise up new ones at 
 hazard ; it is a war of independence, the most just of wars. 
 This is the character of our revolution, which is at once mild, 
 but firm which with one arm conquers the enemy, and with the 
 other raises and ennobles the needy peasant. 
 
 We admire England and France we wish to be, like them, a 
 civilized nation, but without ceasing to be Poles ! Nations 
 cannot and ought not to change the elements of their existence. 
 Each has ks climate, industry, religion, manners, character, 
 education, and history. From these different elements spring 
 the feelings or passions which display themselves in revolu- 
 tions, and the circumstances proper to be adopted in their future 
 conduct. 
 
 Individuality strongly expressed, forms the power of a people. 
 We have preserved ours in the midst of slavery. Love of coun- 
 try, prepared to make every sacrifice courage piety noble- 
 mindedness, and gentleness, formed the character of our fore- 
 fathers. These qualities also are ours. 
 
 The patriots of Warsaw triumphed without chiefs and with- 
 out law ; yet with what crime can they be charged ? An army 
 of 30,000 men, and in short, the whole kingdom, rose as if by en- 
 chantment; and how did they conduct themselves towards the 
 Grand Duke Constantine 1 That Prince, who for fifteen years 
 had shown himself destitute of regard or pity for our feelings 
 and liberties, was in our power ; but he knew the nation, and, 
 just to it for once only, he intrusted his person and his army to 
 our honor 1 At the moment of alarm, we did not listen to the 
 voice of public vengeance, but respected the Prince and his troops, 
 without taking advantage of our superiority. Our battalions 
 who had awaited with a firm determination all the forces of Rus- 
 sia, allowed to pass through their ranks the fallen enemy, whose 
 safety was guaranteed by the national honor. 
 
396 APPENDIX. 
 
 The generosity of the nation has been proved by many iso- 
 lated facts, and Europe admires our moderation as much as our 
 valor. Brethren, fellow-citizens, equal admiration still awaits 
 us. Without delay, then, come forward with the whole of your 
 force simultaneously, and act as one man in peace and in 
 war ; it is the people who are the source of all power. To the 
 people, then, direct your views and your affections. Children, 
 worthy of your fathers, you will act like them. You will break 
 the odious bonds, and you will cement a holy alliance by recip- 
 rocal benefits and by gratitude. In other countries it is by force, 
 and force alone, that the people recover their liberties here those 
 liberties are received as the gift of their brethren. A generous, 
 just, and necessary deed will become the act only of your own 
 choice, and you will proclaim to the people their independence, 
 and the return of the Polish eagles to their native soil. Our fields 
 will lose- nothing in cultivation and value when they are tilled by 
 the industry of brave men. You will be ennobled in the eyes 
 of civilized Europe, and your country will gain millions of fellow- 
 citizens, who, like our brave peasants, will fly to the defence of 
 their liberty, and drive back a power whose character is that 
 only of slavery. Do not forget, brethren and fellow-citizens, 
 that the Greek religion is professed by a great .part of the people. 
 Toleration is one of the qualities of civilization. The clergy, 
 the churches, and religion, shall be placed under the protection 
 of the Government, and will lend you their assistance in carrying 
 this measure of justice into effect. 
 
 [The address goes on to enlarge upon the respect paid by 
 Polish Noblemen to religious rites and feelings, and calls on the 
 people on this occasion to follow their example ; also to send 
 Deputies from the different provinces to the National Congress. 
 It then goes on to describe the vast power of Russia, and the 
 difficulties to be encountered, much in the same manner as the 
 proclamation of Skrzynecki, and concludes thus; ] 
 
 God hath already wrought prodigies for us. God, and not 
 the Emperor of Russia, will be our judge ! He will decide. 
 
 He will decide who hath committed perjury, who has been 
 the victim of oppression, and who ought to obtain the victory. 
 We have already fought with success, in the name of the God of 
 
APPENDIX. 397 
 
 our fathers ; and we will fight, till at length we have accomplish- 
 ed the ends of justice. All the nations of Europe possessed of 
 the feelings of humanity tremble for our fate, and exult with 
 joy at our successes. They only wait your general rising to 
 hail you as members of the free and independent nations of 
 Europe. 
 
 Brethren and fellow-citizens ! when we shall have finished 
 this terrible and unequal contest, we will invite the Powers of 
 Europe to form themselves into a tribunal of justice ; we will 
 appear before them covered with our blood, lay open the book 
 of our annals, unrol the chart of Europe, and say " Behold 
 our cause and yours ! The injustice done to Poland is known 
 to you : you behold her despair ; for her courage and generosi- 
 ty appears to her enemies ! " 
 
 Brethren ! let us hope in God. He will inspire the breast 
 of our judges, who, obeying the dictates of eternal justice, will 
 say a Long live Poland ! free and independent ! " 
 
 The President of the National Government, 
 
 (Signed) THE PRINCE CZARTORISKI. 
 
 Warsaw, May 13, 1831. 
 
 No. III. 
 
 There is a rich consolation for the sufferings of a just cause, 
 in the demonstrations of sympathy which my countrymen have 
 uniformly met with on the part of the people among whom they 
 have been thrown in their exile. I cannot refuse myself the sat- 
 isfaction of inserting here one among the many notices which 
 have appeared in the journals of the day, exhibitingthe warm inter- 
 est with which they have been regarded by the people of France. 
 
 [From the N. Y. Courier des Etats Unis, 7th April.] 
 
 " The Journal of the Saone and Loire publishes full details of 
 the arrival of the Poles at Ma^on. The reception given to the 
 third detachment, which has passed through that city, was even 
 still more marked, affectionate, and touching than that of the pre- 
 ceding. All the inhabitants of the country quitted their labors, to 
 
398 APPENDIX. 
 
 go out to meet the exiles. The national guard and the troops of 
 the line payed them the honors of the place. Salvoes of artillery 
 announced their arrival and their departure. It was a triumphal 
 march. The director of the packet boats gratuitously transport- 
 ed the Poles from Chalons to Lyons. At Mac,on, just as the 
 packet-boat pushed off, a Polish captain threw his sword upon 
 the bank, exclaiming ( Brave Mac_onnois, I give you the dear- 
 est possession I have in the world ; preserve it as a token of our 
 gratitude.' The sword was carried in triumph to the Hotel de 
 Villc, of Macron, where it was deposited, and a subscription was 
 opened to make a present to the brave stranger of a sword of 
 honor. 
 
 " The arrival of this column at Lyons was celebrated with great 
 solemnity. An idea of it may be formed from the recital which 
 is given in the Prccurseur de Lyon. 
 
 " * Since the triumphal passage of the Veteran of Liberty, Ly- 
 ons has seen nothing so magnificent as the great movement of 
 which the arrival of the Poles was the signal. From eighty to a 
 hundred thousand souls marched before the column, upon the 
 road of Bresse, and from far beyond the faubourgs. Having 
 reached the entrance of the city, escorted by the elite of its in- 
 habitants, the Poles found themselves in the midst of an immense 
 rowd, who made the air ring with their cries of enthusiasm and 
 sympathy. From thence to the Place de Terreaux, the column 
 experienced extreme difficulty in advancing through the throngs 
 of the delirious -multitude. Words would fail to give the bril- 
 liant colors of this truly sublime picture. 
 
 " ' Maledictions against the infamous policy of the Cabinets, 
 mingled with the cries of ' Vive la Polognef The accents of 
 generous indigation were united with those of a deep and heart- 
 felt pity fof those 1 remnants of an exiled people. 
 
 " ' A banquet was prepared at the Brotteaux. One of the com- 
 mittee ascended a carriage to conduct thither that young heroine 
 [the Countess Plater, we presume,] who follows to a land of ex- 
 ile her noble companions in arms, as she had followed them upon 
 the field of battle. The people had scarcely recognized her, 
 when they precipitated themselves towards her, unharnessed the 
 horses, arid dragged the carriage in triumph to the place of the 
 assemblage. 
 
APPENDIX. 399 
 
 " ' The banquet was attended by more than five hundred per- 
 sons, and the committee had been forced to refuse a great num- 
 ber of subscribers, on account of the smallness of the accom- 
 modations. 
 
 " ' The first toast, given by the president, M. Galibert> was, 
 ' To immortal Poland! ' This toast, enlarged upon with an elo- 
 quence full of warmth and pathos, excited an universal enthu- 
 siasm. The French embraced their noble guests, and it was a 
 touching spectacle this assembly, electrified by the most pure 
 emotions of the soul, and in which tears flowed from every eye. 
 
 " ' It was affecting to see the physiognomies of the brave Poles 
 during this solemnity. Many of them understood the French 
 language, and tears flowed down their cheeks at each of the al- 
 lusions which the orators made to their absent country, their 
 crushed revolution. The young heroine, seated by the side of 
 the president, and who excited a profound and general interest, 
 could hardly suppress the sobs which oppressed her. 
 
 " ' The most perfect order reigned through the whole fete. 
 Not a gendarme was present, and no excess of the slightest kind 
 occurred. This countless multitude was calm, notwithstanding 
 the violence of its emotions. The people proved how little their 
 masters understand them.' " 
 
 No. IV. 
 
 The following extract from the London Courier of April 9th, 
 1832, in reference to the recent Imperial Manifesto which con- 
 verts Poland into a province of Russia, may serve to confirm the 
 remarks which we have made in the text, on the system of decep- 
 tion practised by the Emperor Nicholas towards the cabinets 
 both of England and France, on the subject of Poland. 
 
 " We perceive that the Manifesto of the Emperor of Russia, 
 relative to Poland, which we gave on Saturday, has excited gen- 
 eral indignation in France, as well as in this country. Perhaps, 
 as the Poles are not of a character to be awed into submission 
 by the power of their oppressors, whilst the slightest chance of 
 
400 APPENDIX. 
 
 emancipation is open to them, it is better for the cause of hu^ 
 manity that they should be tied hand and foot in the bonds of 
 slavery, than that any opportunity should be afforded them of 
 again saturating the soil of Poland with the blood of its best and 
 bravest patriots. If life with disgrace be better than death with- 
 out dishonor, the destruction of the nationality of Poland may 
 not be so great an evil as the world at large imagine. If the 
 utter impossibility of successful revolt be clearly shown, the Poles 
 may at length wear their fetters without resorting to vain attempts 
 to shake them off; and the Monarch who has enslaved them, may 
 gradually witness the extinctio-n of mind, in proportion as he co-- 
 erces and binds the body. But what a sad disgrace it is upon 
 the Government and people of this country to have neglected, 
 in proper season, the means of securing tathe brave and unfor- 
 tunate people of Poland a n-ationality which wouM have given to- 
 them the form and substance of liberty, without involving the 
 necessity of a rupture with the Power which has conquered them. 
 Is it not true, that, at a time when the warm-hearted and gen- 
 erous portion of the people of this country were calling upon the 
 Government to exercise the influence and power of the British 
 Crown on behalf of the Poles, the reply was, 'We cannot go to- 
 war with the Emperor of Russia for foreign interests we cannot 
 insist upon his evacuating Poland, and leaving the country in a 
 state of complete independence ; but we will use our good offi- 
 ces towards obtaining favorable terms for the insurgents ; and 
 we have already the ratisfaction of knowing that the Emperor 
 Nicholas has declared that the nationality of Poland shall in no 
 case be forfeited, and that in all other respects the world shall 
 be astonished at the extent of his generosity towards the van- 
 quished.' 
 
 " Is there a member of the Government, or any other persbn, 
 who will tell us that such language as this was not made pub- 
 licly and privately, in Parliament and out of Parliament, in the 
 newspapers and out of the newspapers, and that the sole excuse 
 for non-intervention was not the real or pretended belief that 
 the nationality of Poland would be respected:,, and the conduct 
 of the Emperor Nicholas be full of generosity and magnanimity? 
 Gracious God ! and are we come to such a pass that the Sove- 
 
APPENDIX. 401 
 
 reign of a semi-barbarous country can laugh at the honor and 
 dignity of the British name? Is all the respect that he can show 
 to the good offices of the British Government, in behalf of a great- 
 minded people, to be found in empty professions and unmeaning 
 declarations ; and are we to put up tamely with one of the great- 
 est insults that ever was inflicted upon the Government of the 
 country ? Was it for this that we conciliated the Autocrat of 
 the North on the Belgian question? And is all the return of 
 our concessions a bold and naked defiance of our power, and a 
 determination to convince the world that the days of British in- 
 fluence are passed forever ? Perhaps we shall be told, even now, 
 of the magnanimous intentions of the Emperor of Russia ; but 
 the cheat is too stale. Every body knows not only that we have 
 truckled to Russia in vain, but that to deception she has added 
 insult, and that at this moment there is a Russian Ambassador 
 in town, with instructions to cajole the Government on the Bel- 
 gian question, and to withhold the ratification of the treaty until 
 after the passing or rejecting of the Reform Bill, when the Em- 
 peror may be enabled by a change of government to dispense 
 with it altogether. But we are tired of the subject ; the more 
 we look at it, the more we feel disgraced. We blame not this 
 or that Minister ; for the intentions of the Government towards 
 Poland, we firmly believe, were kind in the extreme ; but we 
 blush for the country at large in having purchased the chance 
 of peace at the sacrifice of honor." 
 
 No. V. 
 
 The following is the Imperial Manifesto referred to in the 
 preceding article, as it appears in the Berlin State Gazette, 
 under the head of Warsaw, March 25, 1832. 
 
 " By the grace of God, Nicholas I., Emperor of Russia, King 
 
 of Poland, etc. When, by our Manifesto of Jan. 2, last year, we 
 
 announced to our faithful subjects the march of our troops into the 
 
 kingdom of Poland, which was momentarily snatched from the 
 
 51 
 
402 APPENDIX. 
 
 lawful authority, we at the same time informed them of our in- 
 tention to fix the future fate of this country on a durable basis, 
 suited to its wants, and palculated to promote the welfare of our 
 whole empire. Now that an end has been put by force of arms 
 to the rebellion in Poland, and that the nation, led away by agi- 
 tators, has returned to its duty, and is restored to tranquillity, we 
 deem it right to carry into execution our plan with regard to the 
 introduction of the new order of things, whereby the tranquillity 
 and union of the two nations, which Providence has entrusted 
 to our care, may be forever guarded against new attempts. 
 Poland, conquered in the year 1815 by the victorious arms of 
 Russia, obtained by the magnanimity of our illustrious prede- 
 cessor, the Emperor Alexander, not only its national existence, 
 but also special laws sanctioned by a Constitutional Charter. 
 These favors, however, would not satisfy the eternal enemies 
 of order and lawful power. Obstinately persevering in their 
 culpable projects, they ceased not one moment to dream of a 
 separation between the two nations subject to our sceptre, and 
 in their presumption they dared to abuse the favors of the re- 
 storer of their country, by employing for the destruction of his 
 noble work the very laws and liberties which his mighty 
 arm had generously granted them. Bloodshed was the conse- 
 quence of this crime. The tranquillity and happiness which the 
 kingdom of Poland had enjoyed to a degree till then unknown, 
 vanished in the midst of civil war and a general devastation. 
 All these evils are now passed. The kingdom of Poland, again 
 subject to our sceptre, will regain tranquillity, and again flourish 
 in the bosom of peace, restored to it under the auspices of a vigi- 
 lant government. Hence we consider it one of our most sacred 
 duties to watch with paternal care over the welfare of our faith- 
 ' ful subjects, and to use every means in our power to prevent the 
 recurrence of similar catastrophes, by 'taking from the ill-dis- 
 posed the power of disturbing public tranquillity. As it is, more- 
 over, our wish to secure to the inhabitants of Poland the con- 
 tinuance of all the essential requisites for the happiness of indi- 
 viduals, and of the country in general, namely, security of per- 
 sons and property, liberty of conscience, and all the laws and 
 
APPENDIX. 403 
 
 privileges of towns and communes, so that the kingdom of Po- 
 land, with a separate administration adapted to its wants, may 
 not cease to form an integral part of our empire, and that the 
 inhabitants of this country may henceforward constitute a nation 
 united with the Russias by sympathy and fraternal sentiments, 
 we have, according to these principles, ordained and resolved 
 this day, by a new organic Statute, to introduce a new form and 
 order in the administration of our kingdom of Poland. 
 
 " St. Petersburgh, February 26, 1832. 
 
 " NICHOLAS. 
 
 " The Secretary of State, COUNT STEPHEN GRABOWSKI." 
 
 After this Manifesto, the organic statutes of Poland are given, 
 the principal of which are as follows : 
 
 " By the grace of God, we, Nicholas I., Emperor and Auto- 
 crat of all the Russias, King of Poland, &>c. &c. 
 
 "In our constant solicitude for the happiness of the nations 
 which Providence has confided to our government, we are occu- 
 pied in fixing the basis for the future organization of the King- 
 dom of Poland, having regard to the true interests and positions 
 of the country, and to the local wants and manners of the in- 
 habitants. 
 
 " GENERAL DISPOSITIONS. 
 
 " Art. 1. The kingdom of Poland is forever to be re-united to 
 the Russian empire, and form an inseparable part of that empire. 
 It shall have a particular administration conformably to its local 
 necessities, as well as a civil and military code. The statutes 
 and the laws of cities and towns remain in full vigor. 
 
 " Art, 2. The Crown of the kingdom of Poland is hereditary 
 in our person and in our heirs and successors, agreeably to the 
 order of succession to the throne prescribed by all the Russias. 
 
 "Art. 3. The Coronation of the Emperors of all the Russias 
 and Kings of Poland shall be one and the same ceremonial, which 
 shall take place at Moscow, in the presence of a deputation from 
 the kingdom of Poland, which shall assist at that solemnity with 
 the deputies from the other parts of the empire. 
 
404 APPENDIX. 
 
 " Art. 4. In the possible event of a regency in Russia, the 
 power of the regent or regentess of the empire will extend over 
 the kingdom of Poland. 
 
 "Art. 5. The freedom of worship is guaranteed; everyone 
 is at liberty to exercise his religion openly, under the protection 
 of Government ; and the difference of Christian faiths shall never 
 prove a pretext for the violation of the rights and privileges which 
 are allowed to all the inhabitants. The Roman Catholic relig- 
 ion, being that of the majority of our Polish subjects, shall be 
 the object of especial protection of the Government. 
 
 " Art. 6. The funds which the Roman Catholic clergy pos- 
 sess, and those of the Greek church united, shall be considered 
 as the common and inviolable property of the hierarchy of each 
 of those creeds. 
 
 " Art. 7. The protection of the laws is assured to all the in* 
 habitants without distinction of rank or class. Each shall be 
 empowered to assume. dignities or to exercise public functions, 
 according to his personal merits or talents. 
 
 " Art. 8. Individual liberty is guaranteed and protected by 
 the existing laws. No one shall be deprived of his liberty, or 
 called to justice, if he be not a transgressor of the law in all the 
 forms prescribed. Every one detained shall be apprised of the 
 motive of arrest. 
 
 " Art. 9. Each person arrested must submit to a delay of three 
 days to be heard and judged of, according to the forms of law, 
 before competent tribunals: if he be found innocent, he will in- 
 stantly obtain his liberty. He will be equally restored to liberty 
 who shall furnish a sufficient surety. 
 
 "Art. 10. The form of judicial inquests directed against the 
 superior functionaries of the kingdom, and against persons ac- 
 cused of high treason, shall be determined by a particular law, 
 the foundation of which shall be accordant with the other laws 
 of our empire. 
 
 " Art. 1 1. The right of property of individuals, and of corpora- 
 tions, is declared sacred and inviolable, inasmuch as it will be 
 conformable to the existing laws. All the subjects of the king- 
 dom of Poland are perfectly free to quit the country, and to carry 
 
APPENDIX. 405 
 
 nway their goods, provided they conform to the regulations pul> 
 iished to that effect. 
 
 " Art. 12. The penalty of confiscation shall not be enforced 
 but against state crimes of the first class, as may be hereafter 
 determined by particular laws. 
 
 " Art. 13. Publication of sentiments, by means of the press, 
 shall be subjected to restrictions which will protect religion, the 
 inviolability of superior authority, the interests of morals, and 
 personal considerations. Particular regulations, to this effect, 
 will be published according to the principles which serve as a 
 basis to this object in the other parts of our empire. 
 
 " Art. 14. The kingdom of Poland shall proportionably con- 
 tribute to the general expenditure and to the wants of the empire. 
 The proportion of taxes will be stated hereafter. 
 
 " Art. 15. All contributions and all taxes which existed in 
 November, 1830, shall be levied after the manner formerly settled 
 till the new fixing of taxes. 
 
 " Art. 16. The treasury of the kingdom of Poland, and all the 
 other branches of the administration, shall be separated from the 
 administration of the other parts 6f the kingdom. 
 
 " Art. 17. The public debt of Poland, acknowledged by us, 
 shall be guaranteed as formerly, by the government, and indem- 
 nified by the receipts of the kingdom. 
 
 " Art. 18. The bank of the kingdom of Poland, and the laws 
 respecting credit, shall continue under the protection of Gov- 
 ernment. 
 
 " Art. 19. The mode of commercial transactions between the 
 Russian empire and the kingdom of Poland shall be regulated 
 according to the respective interests of the two countries. 
 
 " Art. 20. Our army in the empire and in the kingdom shall 
 compose one in common, without distinction of Russian or Polish 
 troops. We shall reserve to ourselves a future decision of this, 
 by an especial law, by what arrangement, and upon what basis, 
 the kingdom of Poland shall participate with our army. The 
 .number of troops which shall serve as the military defence of the 
 kingdom will be also ultimately determined upon by a law. 
 
 " Art. 21, Those of our subjects of the empire of Russia, who 
 
406 APPENDIX. 
 
 are established in the kingdom of Poland, who possess or shall 
 possess, real property in that country, shall enjoy all the rights 
 of natives. It shall be the same with those of our subjects of the 
 kingdom of Poland, who shall establish themselves, and shall pos- 
 sess property, in the other provinces of the empire. We reserve 
 to ourselves to grant hereafter letters of naturalization to other 
 persons, as well to strangers as to Russians, who are not yet es- 
 tablished there. Those of our subjects of the Russian empire 
 who may reside for a certain time in Poland, and those of our 
 subjects of the kingdom of Poland who may sojourn in the other 
 parts of the empire, are subject to the laws of the country where 
 they reside. 
 
 " Art. 22. The superior administration of the kingdom of Po- 
 land is confided to a council of administration, which shall govern 
 the kingdom in our name, under the presidency of the governor 
 of the kingdom. 
 
 "Art. 23. The council of administration is composed of the 
 governor of the kingdom, of superior directors, who superintend 
 the commissions, and among whom are divided the interests of 
 the administration, of comptroller, presiding over the supreme 
 Chamber of Finance, and of other members, whom we shall ap- 
 point by special orders," 
 
 THE END, 
 


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