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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d46d11c --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #60867 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60867) diff --git a/old/60867-8.txt b/old/60867-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 40798f8..0000000 --- a/old/60867-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,12872 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of History of the Late Polish Revolution and -the Events of the Campaign, by Joseph Hordynski - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: History of the Late Polish Revolution and the Events of the Campaign - -Author: Joseph Hordynski - -Release Date: December 7, 2019 [EBook #60867] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF LATE POLISH REVOLUTION *** - - - - -Produced by Brian Coe,Graeme Mackreth, The illustrations -were generously made available by Hathi Trust Digital -Library, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive/American -Libraries.) - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: KOSCIUSZKO. - - _Born in Poland A.D. 1756. Died the 15th. October 1817 near Solothurn - in Switzerland. He and G'al. Lafayette were the only two Europeans who - wore the Cross of the Order of Cincinnatus._ - - _Dedicated to the American people._ - -_Entered according to Act Congress by Paulin Miedzielsky, N.-York, -1833._] - - - - - HISTORY - - OF THE - - LATE POLISH REVOLUTION, - - AND THE - - EVENTS OF THE CAMPAIGN. - - BY JOSEPH HORDYNSKI, - MAJOR OF THE LATE TENTH REGIMENT OF LITHUANIAN LANCERS. - - Fourth Edition. - - BOSTON: - - PRINTED FOR SUBSCRIBERS. - - 1833. - - - - - Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1833, - - By Joseph Hordynski, - - In the Clerk's Office of the District of Massachusetts. - - - - -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 granted 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 -arrival 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, I cannot better employ the moments allowed me during my stay -among you, than by giving you a faithful account of our revolution, and -of its true causes and motives, as well as of the events of the 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 solemnly -guarantied 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 became victorious over a colossal -power, as well as of the causes of the final catastrophe to which -Poland has been doomed. - -I am convinced that in many respects my narrative will be entirely -opposed to the representations given in the public papers; for our -land, like most countries struggling for liberty, was surrounded by -enemies rather than friends. The sources from which these accounts have -been drawn, are, first, my own recollections of events of which I was -an eye-witness; secondly, the reports of my friends and comrades who -were present; and lastly, (particularly as to the operations of the -detached corps) the official reports of the army, which have not yet -escaped my memory. 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, assisted by my -personal knowledge of localities. - -Americans! I am neither an author nor a scholar by profession, but a -simple republican and soldier. In such a 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 presents to your sympathies the picture -of the fatal disasters of his unfortunate country, and of the manner -in which it strove to regain 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, by the translation, the execution -of the plates, and the publication of the work, 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 acknowledgment, -all my comrades will participate. - - J.H. - - PRONUNCIATION.--_To the Reader._ There are difficulties in the way - of accurate rules for the pronunciation of Polish words arising from - the circumstance that some letters have varieties of sound which - are indicated by signs in the Polish alphabet, and which cannot be - represented in the English. Thus, the letter _Z_ has, in addition - to that of the English _Z_ the sounds of _jet_ and _zet_; the first - indicated by a short line and the second by a dot placed over the - letter. It has therefore been thought more for the convenience of - readers, who may wish to know the English pronunciation of the names - which occur in this work, to subjoin an alphabetical list of them and - their pronunciation, than to give rules which must necessarily be - imperfect. This list will be found at the end of the Volume. - -[Illustration: CASIMIR PULASKI, - -_the undaunted Chief of the Poles during the Confederacy of Bar from -1768 to 1772. Born in 1746 & killed before Savannah in 1779 while -fighting for the Liberty & Independence of these U.S._ - - _Dedicated to the American people._ - -_Entered according to Act of Congress by Paulin Miedzielsky, N.-York, -1833._] - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER I. - - Geographical extent, population, and political importance of Poland, - as anciently 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 - Petersburgh.--Punishment of the Patriots.--Coronation of - Nicholas.--Constantine appointed Viceroy of Poland.--Oppressions - 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 5 - - - CHAPTER II. - - Principles of the Revolution.--THE FIRST NIGHT.--Attack on the - Barracks 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 bodies of Russian - cavalry.--Two companies of Polish light-infantry join the - patriots.--Death of Potocki and Trembicki.--The Russian infantry - attacked and dispersed.--Armament and assembling of - the people.--Detachments sent to Praga. 30 - - - CHAPTER III. - - THE FIRST DAY.--Expulsion of the Russians from Warsaw.--Choice - of Chlopicki as Commander in Chief.--Provisional Government, - under the Presidency of prince Adam Czartoryski.--Deputation - sent to the Grand Duke.--Propositions and answer.--Abolition - of the Bureau of Police.--Establishment of the National - Guard.--Proclamations addressed 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 consents to leave the kingdom, and - addresses a proclamation to the Poles. 47 - - - CHAPTER IV. - - 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 Warsaw.--Their reception.--Krasynski and - Kornatowski.--Deputation to St Petersburgh.--Demands to be - laid before the Emperor.--Sierawski made Governor of Warsaw, - and Wasowiez chief of the staff.--Order respecting the army.--Arrival - of volunteers from the interior.--Opening of the theatre.--Religious - solemnities at Praga.--Chlopicki nominated and proclaimed - Dictator. Page 59 - - - CHAPTER V. - - The Dictator enters upon his duties.--Plans for the enrollment of - new forces.--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 proclamation.--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 Radziwil, each subordinate to the Diet. 71 - - - CHAPTER VI. - - 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. 87 - - - CHAPTER VII. - - Entrance of the Russian forces into the Kingdom.--Proclamations - of Marshal Diebitsch.--Their effect.--Disposition of the Russian - and Polish forces.--Plan of operations of the Poles. 98 - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - The opening fire.--Affairs of the 10th and 11th 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. 109 - - - CHAPTER IX. - - Retrograde movement of the 18th of February.--Details of this - movement, and of the actions which took place.--The army - reaches the field of Praga.--Its reception at Warsaw.--Position - of the army.--Battle of Wawr and Bialolenka.--Operations of - general Dwernicki against the corps of Prince Wirtemberg.--Defeat - of that corps by general Dwernicki at Swierza.--Renewal - of the enemy's attack on the main army on the 20th.--Its - successful resistance.--Review of the events of the preceding - days.--Examination of the plan of operations of the Polish - army. Page 126 - - - CHAPTER X. - - Proceedings of the National Government.--Marshal Diebitsch continues - in a state of inactivity.--Negotiations are opened by him.--His - propositions are declined.--Position of the army on the - 24th, and battle of Bialolenka.--Position on the 25th.--Great - battle of Grochow.--Details.--State of the Russian army after - its defeat.--Examination of the plan of the battle of Grochow.--Remarks - upon the course adopted by prince Radziwil after that - victory.--The Polish army crosses the Vistula to Warsaw.--Its - reception by the national government and the citizens.--Resignation - of prince Radziwil. 148 - - - 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 is given - to the re-organization of the army, the arsenals and manufactories - of arms, the fortifications, &c.--Deportment of the commander - in chief towards the army.--General enthusiasm 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 detached corps.--Russian position. 175 - - - 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 Pulawy, and defeat of Wirtemberg.--Atrocities of that - prince at Pulawy.--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 at Serock.--General - Skrzynecki makes an offer of pacification on the basis of - the concessions originally demanded by the Poles.--This proposition - is rejected and hostilities are recommenced.--Reconnoissance - upon the right bank of the Vistula under Jankowski and - Gielgud.--A Russian corps under 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. 195 - - - CHAPTER XIII. - - Plan of general Skrzynecki to act upon the isolated corps of Rosen - and Gaismer.--Battle of Wawr.--Various detachments of the enemy - are taken after that battle, and a great number of prisoners.--Battle - of Dembe-Wielkie.--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 Gaismer, 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 Uscilog.--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. 213 - - - CHAPTER XIV. - - The insurrection in Lithuania.--Dispositions of the Lithuanians at - the breaking out of our revolution.--Their offers of co-operation - were rejected 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 numerous towns by the insurgents, - and dispersion of their garrisons.--Storm of Wilno, and delivery - of prisoners.--Several partizan corps are formed.--Their destination - and successes. 229 - - - CHAPTER XV. - - Plan of operation against the two corps of Rosen and Kreutz.--Battle - of Iganie.--Reflections on the state of the Polish cause after - the victory of Iganie.--Review of the course of the campaign.--Condition - of the Russian army.--Discontents in Russia.--Representations - of the Senate at St Petersburgh to the Emperor.--Comparative - view of the forces of the two armies at the - present stage of the conflict. 238 - - - CHAPTER XVI. - - Position of the two armies after the battle of Iganie.--Plan of a - simultaneous 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 disadvantageously 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 prisoners - 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. 254 - - - CHAPTER XVII. - - The Russian commander resumes offensive operations.--Object of - the attack of the 25th of April.--Combat of Kuflew.--General - Dembinski evacuates the position of Kuflew and awaits the enemy - at Bady.--Battle of Minsk.--The enemy suddenly evacuates - his position.--Reflections on this stage of the conflict.--Positions - of the two armies. 271 - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - - General Skrzynecki resumes the offensive.--He decides to adopt an - enlarged plan of operations, and to make the revolutionized provinces - supply 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.--Forced 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. 283 - - - CHAPTER XIX. - - The Lithuanians compel two Russian corps to evacuate - Samogitia.--Operations of general Chlapowski in the department of - Bialystok.--Capture 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 advanced guard at Czyzew.--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. 298 - - - CHAPTER XX. - - Operations of the Lithuanian corps.--Battle of Raygrod and defeat - of the Russian corps of Saken.--Importance of this first success - in Lithuania.--General Gielgud neglects to follow up his advantages.--He - loses time by passing the Niemen at Gielgudyszki, - and enables the enemy to concentrate his forces in Wilno.--Entrance - into Lithuania and reception by the inhabitants.--Position - of the two main armies.--The Russian forces remain inactive and - receive supplies from Prussia.--Death of marshal Diebitsch. 313 - - - CHAPTER XXI. - - General Gielgud advances into Lithuania.--Allows a Russian corps - to pass within a league of him unperceived.--Operations on - Wilno.--Enumeration of our present force.--Plan of a simultaneous - attack upon Wilno on opposite sides by the corps in two - divisions.--General Dembinski engages the enemy with the - smaller part of the corps.--Being unsupported by Gielgud, is - forced to retreat.--General Gielgud attacks Wilno.--Battle of - Wilno.--A retreat is commenced.--Prodigious efforts of the Polish - cavalry in protecting this retreat.--Consequences of the repulse - from Wilno.--The removal of general Gielgud is called for.--General - Chlapowski consents to take the virtual command of - the corps, in the post of chef d'etat major.--Consideration on - the state of things consequent to the battle of Wilno.--Details - of the admirable plan of operations proposed by colonel Valentin. 328 - - - CHAPTER XXII. - - Operations of the main army.--Expedition under Jankowski.--General - Chrzanowski having driven Rudiger from his position, crosses - the Vistula, 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 advantages that were sacrificed - by this misconduct.--Discovery of a plot to liberate and arm the - Russian prisoners at Warsaw, and to deliver the city to the enemy. - --State of the public mind induced by these events. 342 - - - CHAPTER XXIII. - - General Chlapowski arrives at Keydany, having ordered general - Dembinski to withdraw to Wilkomierz.--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 mismanagement of our leaders.--Advantages - offered to the enemy by the delay at Keydany.--Brave - defence of Kowno, by the small force left there.--Skirmish at - Wilkomierz.--The opportunity of concentrating all the forces at - Keydany, and repassing the Niemen, is neglected.--The enemy - presses his pursuit.--Battle of Rosseyny.--Attack on Szawla.--Loss - of the ammunition and baggage of the corps.--The corps - retreats in order to Kurzany, protected by a rear guard of cavalry - and light artillery.--At Kurzany the corps is subdivided into - three parts.--Destination and strength of each.--Examination of - this plan. 350 - - - CHAPTER XXIV. - - The three subdivisions of the Lithuanian 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 Worna.--General Rohland, on his way - to Polonga, learns that general Chlapowski 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 pursuit, 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. 367 - - - CHAPTER XXV. - - Effect of the news of the Lithuanian disasters on the minds of the - people.--Distrust of the National Government.--The Russian - army resumes the offensive under general Paszkiewicz.--He decides - to pass the Vistula.--Examination of the merits of this plan.--Plan - of general Skrzynecki to act on the different detached - corps of the enemy.--Advantages of general Chrzanowski over - the corps of Rudiger.--The Russian forces execute the passage - of the Vistula.--General Skrzynecki crosses the Vistula at Warsaw - to operate against the enemy on the left bank.--An inquiry - into the conduct of general Skrzynecki, and the appointment of - a Council of War is demanded by the nation.--Arrival of the - corps of general Dembinski at Warsaw. 384 - - - CHAPTER XXVI. - - Operation of general Dembinski's corps.--He traverses the country - between Szawla 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 Bialystok.--After - leaving that forest, is joined by the corps of general - Rozycki.--Reaches Warsaw.--His reception at Warsaw.--View - of the exposed situation of Paszkiewicz 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. 394 - - - APPENDIX. 409 - - - - -POLISH REVOLUTION. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - - Geographical extent, population, and political importance of Poland, - as anciently 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 Petersburgh.--Punishment of the - Patriots.--Coronation of Nicholas.--Constantine appointed Viceroy of - Poland.--Oppressions 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. - - -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 its 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 the -security and peace of Europe. - -Poland, as is well known to the reader, viewed in regard to its -geographical situation and extent, as formerly constituted, forms a -strong outwork against the Russian Colossus. Its territories extend to -the eastward as far as the Dneiper, and westward as far as the Oder. -Toward the north, they reach the Baltic and the government of Skoff, -and their 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 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 regard 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 convince him of its necessity. They -concluded with the following words;--'Dites, Sire, que le royaume de -Pologne existe, et ce décret sera pour le monde l'equivalent de la -réalité.' To this he answered;--'Dans ma situation, j'ai beaucoup -d'interêts à concilier, beaucoup de devoirs à remplir. Si j'avais -regné pendant le premier, le second, ou le troisiême partage de la -Pologne, j'aurais armé mes peuples pour la defendre. J'aime votre -nation, j'autorise les efforts que vous voulez faire. C'est entièrment -dans l'unanimité de sa population, que vous pourez trouver l'éspoir -de succes. Je dois ajouter que j'ai guaranti a l'empereur d'Autriche -l'intégrité de ses domaines.'[1] - -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 Poland were not -sincere, and that, through his marriage with Maria Louisa, he had come -under Austrian influence. Thus the hope of territorial enlargement and -national existence vanished 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, -became the turning point of his fate. The Poles, who had contributed -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 Vienna, the Grand-duchy of Warsaw was made -into a kingdom, and subjected to the iron sceptre of Russia. - -At the first moment of entering upon the government of the kingdom, -the Emperor Alexander seemed disposed to load Poland with benefits. -On his return from Paris he was received by the inhabitants of Warsaw -with the most unfeigned good will, and his stay in that city was -marked 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 -on my part, in which all Europe partakes, you are entitled by your -continual and disinterested sacrifices for the prosperity of other -nations. I swear to maintain your constitution with all the privileges -guarantied by it; and this same constitution I promise to grant to -your brethren in the provinces, which are to be united with you in one -kingdom.' The nation believed in these promises the more readily as the -affectionate deportment of the monarch seemed to confirm them. During -his stay in Warsaw, he 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 Polish nation. - -This show of benevolence, and the dreams of happiness with which it -inspired the people, were not, however of long duration. Before his -departure from Warsaw, the Emperor named as viceroy of Poland, the -old general Zajaczek,[2] raising him to the dignity of a prince, and -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 an instrument in Russian hands; -while in Constantine, the commander in chief of their army, the Poles -received a tyrant. - -Not long after the departure of Alexander, the encroachments of the -Russian cabinet began to be felt. Removals of officers took place -in all the branches of government, in particular of those known as -patriots, who were supplanted by minions 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 of the three continents, and which was held in such -high estimation by 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, those who wore military decorations -for their merits. No past services were valued; they only exposed those -who were distinguished by them to greater persecution. In the first six -months, many officers, among whom was the renowned general Sokolnicki, -committed suicide; and nearly one half the officers and generals asked -their dismission, among whom was General, the late Dictator, Chlopicki, -who preferred poverty and want to such an ignominious service. The -Polish army, those soldiers animated by feelings of honor and the love -of distinction, were to be transformed into the machines of despotism. -They who had faced death in so many battles, who were covered with -wounds, and who had been called 'brethren' by the greatest leader 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 control them. Soon the liberty of the press was prohibited, -freemasonry was interdicted, and a bureau of spies was established. The -chief in 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 upon Schlee and Macrot, it was ascertained -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 -children, was forced to pay the mercenaries hired to distress them. -Soon Warsaw and the whole kingdom became 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 however innocent an intention, in regard to -the policy and administration of the country. In order to extort -money, they accused some of the most respected and honest persons, who -were thrown into prison, and many of whom were never again seen by -their families, from the midst of whom 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 draw 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 fair and hopeful youths, the flower of our nation. In -Warsaw, besides the public gaols, there were, beneath almost all of -the barracks, prisons, where the victims of tyranny were tortured. The -very orangery of the Grand Duke was transformed into a prison, from -which some persons were liberated during the revolution, who had been -confined there for years. It was in this prison that Lukasinski had -been kept for a long time, though subsequently bound to a cannon and -carried into Russia. In the gaols below the barracks of the artillery -many dead bodies were found. - -At the first meeting of the Diet, when the Grand Duke Constantine was -among the deputies from the city of Praga, and debates commenced on -various subjects which concerned the welfare of the country,--such as, -the liberty of the press, the abolition of the central police and the -spies, and the deposition of several of the higher officers, for which -petitions had been sent to the monarch,--a decision was promulgated -that the Diet should act in subordination to the will of the Grand -Duke, and, in order to add force to this decision, 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 admission. These tickets were distributed among Russian -generals, officers of government and their families, and creatures of -the court. Before such an auditory, discussions 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, Zamoiski, Chodkiewicz, and Kosciusko, sitting with sad and -drooping countenances, exposed to the scoffing and laughter of those -minions 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 were trampled under foot, and the constitution itself -was derided. They used to express themselves in the following and -similar terms:--'What is the constitution? It is an impediment to the -administration of the government, and the course of justice. The Grand -Duke is the best constitution.' - -A few years had passed away in this wretched state of the nation, when, -towards 1821, our noble patriots, Krzyzanowski, Jablonowski, Plichta, -Debek, and Soltyk, conceived the idea of emancipating their country by -a revolution. Whilst occupied with their noble scheme, they were most -agreeably surprised 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 acquainted 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 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 the 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 Dneiper, to celebrate the anniversary of the coronation. This -occasion was to be 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 moment -of the breaking out of the revolution, they should take the life of -the Grand Duke Constantine. To this proposition, however, Prince -Jablonowski answered in these well known words: 'Russians, brother -Sarmatians, you have summoned us to co-operate in the holy work of -breaking the bonds of slavery under which our Sarmatic race has so long -pined. We come to you with sincere hearts, willing to sacrifice our -fortunes and lives. Rely, my dear friends, on this our promise. 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 endeavored to increase -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 plans for the -approaching revolution were arranged with the utmost circumspection, -and every circumstance seemed to promise success, when the sudden death -of the Emperor Alexander, at Taganrog, in the early part of December, -1825, darkened our bright hopes. - -The news of his death had, at first, a stunning effect upon the -patriotic club in Petersburgh. Nevertheless, they resolved to act. They -hoped to profit by the troubles between Constantine and Nicholas, 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 -on the side of the patriots, 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, acknowledged 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 1825, was obliged to renounce the throne -of Russia, the imperial 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 new inmates. Petersburgh, Moscow, -Wilna, Kiow, Bialystok, and Warsaw, were appointed for the places -of trial. Over the whole of Poland and Russia the sword of cruel -revenge was suspended. 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 immense 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,[3] -Jgelstrom, and Wigelin, were exiled to Siberia for life. - -In Warsaw, the Grand Duke himself undertook the business of -establishing an inquisition over the 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 Poland, 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 -virtuous old man, whose powerful eloquence was a mirror of his noble -heart. President Bilinski, fearless of the threats of the 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 mitigation of the sentence was signed by all -the senators, with one exception.[4] - -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 do -it, and took the oath, like his predecessor and brother, Alexander, to -maintain the constitution and the privileges guarantied by it. - -Poland may have suffered under Alexander; yet he loved the nation -like a friend, as every one of my countrymen will allow. When he was -mistaken in his measures, it 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. Poland 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 predecessor, he exhibited none of his virtues. Alexander, -with a benignant countenance, permitted every one to approach him -freely, and his features were never distorted by passion. Nicholas, -on the contrary, seemed to terrify by his very look. His lowering -and overbearing eye was the true mirror of Asiatic despotism. Every -movement was that of command; and his imperious air was in true -harmony with the ruling passion of his mind. Such a sovereign, acting -through the instrumentality of a brother like himself, the Grand -Duke Constantine, must needs bring distress upon our country. Whole -volumes might be filled with the relation of the atrocities of this -government. 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 lavished away millions of the public -funds. Everything was permitted 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,[5] 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, mourning over -the martyrdom of Krzyzanowoski, Soltyk, Dembek, 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 patriots, and thus was formed the Patriotic Club. -This association, nourishing in their secret breasts the holy spark -of liberty, increased it soon to a flaming light, by which the whole -nation was led to honor and glory. These heroic men fearlessly -persevered in their endeavors, during five years, exposed to the -greatest dangers and amidst thousands of spies. Witnesses of the -continually aggravated oppression of their country, they became more -and more animated to risk every thing for their holy object. - -While this tyrannical government was exulting in the success of its -measures, and the honor and morals of our country 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 to every -patriotic heart in Poland. How much were they enraptured, who hitherto -in secret had been labouring for the redemption of their country! The -happy result of those glorious days was a peal of terror to the Grand -Duke Constantine, and to the whole swarm of agents in his tyrannical -sway. It gave them a presage of their approaching retribution. Yet, -instead of adopting milder measures, and endeavouring 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 of the 4th regiment of the line and of the -sappers were initiated. 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 destined 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 following 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 accommodate the officers,--by an understanding with the -inhabitants, it was determined, that instead of furnishing quarters, a -quartering 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 compensation, and it was satisfactory to -the inhabitants. This regulation, however, was executed in an entirely -different manner. In many cases the heavier taxes were paid by the -poorer inhabitants, and indeed they had sometimes 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.[7] - -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 confidence of the citizens. Among others, the -deposition of the president of the city, Woyda, was demanded; and when -the government 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 endeavouring 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 tyrants! Away -with the barbarians to Asia!' A great concourse of citizens assembled -one evening before the city hall, and demanded the punishment of the -quartering commissioner, Czarnecki, who, in his desperation, committed -suicide. - -The holy moment was now fast approaching, and Warsaw was in anxious -expectation. Fear and terror was painted in the faces of the spies, -while, on the other hand, all true patriots 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 with the consciousness of so -many crimes, had no rest, and surrounded himself with large bodies -of guards. A hundred gens d'armes were on horseback for many nights, -constantly bringing in their victims. Strong patroles of Russian -soldiers traversed the streets. All was in vain. His mercenaries could -not protect the tyrant. 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 private 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 Suwarrow, in 1796, when none -were spared, and Praga swam with blood, and was strewed with the -corpses of 30,000 of its 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 abovementioned students, with some priests, -were in the act of worship, 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 -retribution 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 revolution, on which day the 4th Polish regiment, -many of the officers of which were among the initiated, were to mount -guard in Warsaw. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 1: '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 answered;--'In my situation, I have many interests -to conciliate, 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; I authorize the efforts -which you wish to make. It is alone in the unanimity of your population -that you will find the hope of success. I ought to add that I have -guarantied to the Emperor of Austria the integrity of his dominions.'] - -[Footnote 2: Zajaczek commenced his military career in the time of -Kosciusko, continued it among the Polish legions, and accompanied -Napoleon to Egypt, where he served with distinction. He was present in -all the later campaigns of Napoleon, till 1809, when he returned, on -account of his advanced age and the loss of one of his legs.] - -[Footnote 3: This nobleman (Rukiewicz) had two beautiful sisters, -Cornelia and Theresa, 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 -village, in order to take possession of his papers. His sisters, who -were ignorant of the event, were quietly at home when they beheld the -officer with 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 on -fire, and more than two hundred persons, whose names were contained in -the register, were thus saved by the presence of mind of that heroic -lady. She returned to the parlor with the noblest and most delighted -mien, and, on the officer's enquiring as to the cause of the fire, -she answered with a smile, 'Gentlemen, I only wanted to save you the -trouble of some farther 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 gone. They -could not endure the thought of leaving him to pine away so far from -them in chains, and they resolved to partake and thus to relieve his -sufferings. Regardless of the remonstrances of their friends, they left -everything, and, travelling in the humblest manner, mostly on foot -or upon the wagons of the peasantry, they undertook the journey to -Siberia. It is not known whether Providence granted them to reach their -beloved brother or not.] - -[Footnote 4: 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 general Count Vincenti 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 soldiers, indeed, regarded him -as a father. Yet this man could so far forget himself 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 -narrative as the 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.] - -[Footnote 5: 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 state a few facts.--In our country, the distilling and brewing -of spirituous liquors, and the planting of tobacco, as well as the -sale of these articles, was a privilege of the landed proprietors. -Warsaw, as the capital and the most populous city, was the best -market for these productions, and all the noblemen endeavoured 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 forbidden 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 1/3) -for which he more than doubly indemnified himself by the 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 upon the prohibition 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, some brandy and -tobacco, carried 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 -disturbance, he censured them for their inhumanity about such a trifle. -In order, however, to save the man from farther insults, he retained -him, with the intention of sending him the next day with a note to -Nowachowiez for his exculpation. 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 protected a -defrauder. Thus, surrounded by four soldiers, this man was publicly -carried through Warsaw to the prison of the Carmelites. Not satisfied -with this, Nowachowiez succeeded in obtaining from the Grand Duke, who -hated Biernacki as a patriotic Pole, a squadron of Russian Hulans, -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 apartments which they used -for barracks, they broke all the furniture, lustres, pianos, &c, and -carried in their straw for sleeping. In the court-yard 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 for -a whole year was in danger of her life from the consequences of her -terror. This barbarous order of the Grand Duke ruined the fortune of -that unhappy man, and the amount of his property destroyed may be -estimated at least at from 70,000 to 80,000 gilders. 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 offender -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 superintend the services of the secret -police. Among them was a Jew, named Birnbaum, 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, Lubowiecki, Macrot, and Schlee, with some Russian -generals, and the servants of the Grand Duke, Kochanowski and Trize, -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 understanding with -his superiors, found out the way of drawing to himself the greatest -advantages from this decree. He persuaded two other Jews, by the -promise 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 warehouses of the noblemen, found -the contraband goods, and forced them to the alternative 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 imprisoned. -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,[6] or Council of the Jews, and by means of money contrived to -have him arrested. He was poisoned in his prison, as many persons of -consequence were found to be implicated in his impositions.] - -[Footnote 6: 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.] - -[Footnote 7: One man of the name of Czarnecki, a commissioner of the -quartering bureau, in a short time made by these means two millions of -gilders; and this robber of the poor carried his luxury so far as to -make use of bathing tubs lined with silver.] - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - Principles of the Revolution.--THE FIRST NIGHT.--Attack on the - Barracks 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 bodies of Russian cavalry.--Two - companies of Polish light-infantry join the patriots.--Death - of Potocki and Trembicki.--The Russian infantry attacked and - dispersed.--Armament 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, Jagelo, Augustus of Warna, and Sobieski; or the deeds of -our renowned generals Czarnecki, Chodkiewicz, Tarnowski, Sapieha, -Kosciusko, and Poniatowski? Yet, in our whole history, nothing -transcends this last revolution; and indeed few more memorable 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 impulse--that of vengeance for the ignominy 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 numbers 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 resolution to shake off a yoke so disgraceful, -and by the wish to preserve our civilization, and 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, Morawiew, Kachowski, and Releiew, who -suffered an ignominious 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 themselves 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?' Unworthy nation--soothed by the momentary blandishments of -the autocrat, who scattered his decorations with a lavish hand, they -forgot their own past sufferings and the future that awaits them. They -suffered 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 -celebrated in Warsaw and all the provinces, they burned our villages, -and murdered our fathers and brothers. Russians! You have covered -yourselves with eternal shame, in the eyes of the whole world. Even the -nations 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 revolution. 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! brethren! 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, brethren; to arms! Our country forever!' - -The excitement spread through this part of the city with incredible -rapidity. The citizens flocked together from all quarters, shouting -'Down with the 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 situated in the royal gardens of Lazienki) under their -gallant leaders, Wysocki and Schlegel, and marched to the quarters of -the Russian cavalry, cuirasseurs, hulans and hussars. It was resolved -to take immediate possession of all the chief gates. The issuing out -of the Russian troops was thereby rendered very difficult and bloody, -as the barracks were surrounded 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 magazines, -&c. In short, panic and disorder pervaded officers 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 -gates. 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. Cuirasseurs, hulans -and hussars mingled together, joined in the cry of terror, and began to -seek concealment in garrets, 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 Russians 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.[8] Some of -them guarded the passages on 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 Lubowicki, 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 his knees and begged for his life. They -took him with them, intending to extract from him all the information -he was able to give. In the court-yard they met the Russian general, -Gendre,[9] 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. The party meeting with no farther 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 Ujasdow 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. It was in fact a company of Russian cuirasseurs, 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 them. The -cadets, forming in a line, concealed themselves in the Park near the -street. The cuirasseurs 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, suffered 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 hussars returning from a patrol. At the same time they heard -the Russian cavalry 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!' discharged 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 precipitaion, -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 infantry, and with them the -two Polish generals, Stanislaus Potocki and Trembicki, who were giving -commands for restoring order by force, and for arresting the assembled -inhabitants. The company of cadets arrived, and hailed the light -infantry with the following words:--'Brothers! Are you here to shed -the blood of your brethren? Have you forgotten the Russian tyranny? -Come 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.[10] 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 -both march to the street of Szulec, on the left bank of the Vistula, -endeavor there to assemble the citizens, 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 answered their shouts with the greatest enthusiasm, and joined -the ranks of those brave youths. Both old and young men, and even -women, left their dwellings in order 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 advancing as far as the palace of the Viceroy -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.[11] - -In the same manner general Siemiontkowski, with some gens d'armes and -soldiers, endeavored to disperse and arrest the citizens assembled in -the Saxon-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 -active 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 infantry 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 officers and spies were taken in their flight, in the street of -the Little Theatre, and the street of Napoleon. - -As soon as the numbers assembled would admit of it, divisions were -detached to liberate the prisoners, especially those in the Franciscan -and Carmelite prisons. These prisons, always guarded by Russian troops, -were stormed. The Russian soldiers were driven in, and a massacre -commenced in the corridors, where a great number of them fell by -the bayonet, together with many police officers and turnkeys. The -doors were broken down--and an indescribable scene took place, when -the victims, already sentenced, 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 a father. Many of the emaciated captives could only creep to meet -the embraces of their brethren. But what was most shocking, 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 Russian infantry in the barracks of Alexander and -Stanislaus. On their arrival there, they found some companies under -arms, and summoned them to surrender. Instead of complying, they began -to fire, and our soldiers fell instantly upon them, with the 'hurrah.' -They were dispersed in a moment, and many officers and soldiers were -made prisoners. So panic struck 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,[12] -in his flight. As he did not stop at their challenge, he was shot. - -When the city had been nearly freed of the Russians, 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 -murderous intentions. All the apartments were immediately opened, and -more than 80,000 muskets, pistols, 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 various parts of the city. Parties were -appointed to patrol the streets and arrest all spies[13] and Russian -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 Ulica Dluga, (or Long Street,) to -consult on the measures 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 people to aid in this -holy cause, yet at the same time besought them never to violate the -dictates of humanity. 'Dear brethren,' they said, 'let no one have a -right to accuse us of cruelty. May the sanctity of our cause never be -polluted by barbarious passions. Having a single end in view, national -freedom, and justice, may we prove lions in battle, mild and indulgent -to defenceless foes, and repentant apostates. Brethren, let unity, -love and friendship be ours! Let us forget private rancor and selfish -interest; 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 'Poland 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 -with so little bloodshed, and to implore a continuation of his mercies. -It was a scene which no description can equal. In the depth of the -night the immense crowds of people 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 garrison -at the bridge. Wagons were also sent to Praga for ammunition. - -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 cavalry 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 compelled them -to retire with severe loss. Some companies formed by the populace, -had already taken possession of Praga, and all was quiet. Many wagon -loads of cartridges, balls, and barrels of powder, were taken from the -magazine to Warsaw before morning. - -These are the details of the first night of our revolution. The -order which prevailed in all these tumults and during the fight, was -truly admirable. The foreigners then in Warsaw declared that they -could not 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 without -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 -order, shouting songs of joy. These were moments in which the heart of -every good patriot rejoiced, and traitors alone hid their heads. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 8: 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 infamous 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 farther 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 nothing; the guilty conscience anticipates danger. The Grand -Duke injured himself as well as our cause by his flight. His melancholy -end is well known.] - -[Footnote 9: Gendre was one of the Russian generals, who was among -the chief spies. He was dismissed by the deceased emperor, 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 Constantine to associate and surround himself with the outcasts of -society; and he made him his master of horse, and afterwards general -and aid-de-camp. The swindling of this general and his wife, in Warsaw, -surpassed all imagination. They cheated and robbed the noblemen, 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.] - -[Footnote 10: 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 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 -Trembizki, he had always been a creature of the Russians, and a proud -and mischievous man.] - -[Footnote 11: 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 rapidly in the revolutionary war under Kosciusko, in which he -distinguished 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.] - -[Footnote 12: This bad man was one of the principal instruments of our -oppressors. He was one of the chiefs of the spies, and his particular -business 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 foreigners 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 which Russia -steals deeper and deeper into the heart of Europe.] - -[Footnote 13: 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 Napoleon he commanded a brigade, and subsequently a division -of cavalry. 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 -atrocious 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 -throughout 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 -received 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 the very spies! In the room where he received their -denunciations he had a chest of drawers 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 record. 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 accused of murder by poison, and other enormous crimes, but the -proceedings 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 whither he pleased. He made his escape in the coachman's cloak. -His effigy was exhibited on the gallows seven days, decorated with a -dozen Russian orders.] - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - 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 addressed - 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 consents 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 country! 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 -assembled, 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 Kosciusko. 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 -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 the cry to cease firing -and attack with the bayonet was heard on all sides. 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.[14] - -Towards eleven, General Chlopicki was led by the people, with -acclamations, to the hotel of the Minister of Finance, where many -senators and other persons were assembled to take measures respecting -a provisional government, the security of public order, &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 Professor Lelewell, one of the -patriots, who, after drawing 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 predecessors, Czarnecki, Dombrowski, and Kosciusko. -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 received him -with shouts of 'Our country and our liberator 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 abuse it, -and swore that he would defend the liberty of Poland to the last moment. - -The patriots now proceeded to choose members of the provisional -government. Prince Adam Czartoriski,[15] Radzivil,[16] Niemcewicz, and -Lelewell were elected, and one of the old ministers, Lubecki, was -retained to assist them. This arrangement was made public about noon, -in order to tranquilize the people. - -The first step taken by the new government was 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 deputies were Lubecki and -Lelewell. They found the Grand Duke encamped, with his army, in the -fields of Mokotow. - -The deputies represented to Constantine the consequences 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 depart unmolested, on a -prescribed route. They promised that he should find every possible -accommodation 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 Emperor 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 answer, at three o'clock. -It was immediately published, but did not satisfy the people. They -demanded to know the day and hour of the Grand Duke's departure. If -he should refuse to obey, they declared that they would attack him. -It was finally concluded to allow him two days for his necessary -arrangements, and then to send a second deputation to insist on his -instant departure.[17] - -The provisional government immediately set about restoring order to -every department of the administration. 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 office, by certain persecutions, which -he brought upon himself by not being sufficiently in the spirit of -the Russian government. At the same time the national 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 -punctuality. 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 following beautifully figurative expression: 'Poles! The eagle -of Poland has broken his chains, and will soon have burst through the -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 Warsaw. 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 proper provision for the -care of the Russian prisoners, of whatever rank, as well as of the -ladies of the Russian civil and military officers who had left Warsaw. -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 national -struggle was marked with the greatest atrocities, and that more -than forty field officers, many subalterns, and large parties of -privates were butchered for declining to engage in the cause. These -impeachments of the Polish nation are unjust and false. As has been -said before, the foreigners in Warsaw could not sufficiently praise -the admirable order with which our first movements were conducted. Our -enemies accuse the people of having 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 -heart-stirring to see these noble youths assembled in arms to defend -their country. Many of them had just been rescued from prison, and -could not walk without difficulty. This did not damp their ardor; the -hope of fighting successfully for the liberty of Poland renewed their -strength. The Academical Legions requested to be sent to the posts -nighest the enemy. These two days passed in entire quietness. - -In the afternoon of the second of December, general Schenbek arrived -from Plock with the first regiment of chasseurs. At the same time came -colonel Sierawski from Serock, with his regiment. Both were received -with great enthusiasm. New detachments from the provinces marched into -Warsaw every 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 description. They were escorted by the shouting populace 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, 'he had always loved.' He adduced -his marriage with a young Polish lady as a proof of his affection -for the nation. At the 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.[18] - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 14: General Chlopicki, a man of rare merit, began his -career in the struggle for liberty under Kosciusko. In 1807, he was -colonel commandant of the first regiment of the legion of the Vistula, -under Napoleon. He had the command of a brigade, and afterwards of -a division, of the same legion in Spain. This general distinguished -himself at the storming of Saragossa, where the Poles performed -prodigies of valor, as well as at the battle of Saginta. Under the -Russian government of Constantine, Chlopicki left the army, not being -able to endure his commander's brutal deportment. The Grand Duke -censured the general on parade, in an unbecoming manner, saying that -his division was not in order. Chlopicki replied, 'I did not gain my -rank on the parade ground, nor did I receive my decorations there.' He -asked 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.] - -[Footnote 15: 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 family 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 Czartoriski and his brother Constantine were sent to St -Petersburgh as hostages. 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 important 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 scorned 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 of -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 character, in these classes. - -The events of 1812 showed but too plainly that the misfortunes which -then befell 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 -of Europe, now entirely lost, would have been preserved. It was, -then, a true and necessary policy to bring forward the question of -the independence of Poland again. This was the object Prince Adam -Czartoriski 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 Alexander -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 -constitution 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 of the Holy Alliance. Russian policy -made these restrictions more and more sensibly felt, and unfortunate -Poland beheld, one after another, the institutions so solemnly -guarantied 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, -particularly in the cause of patriotism and liberty; and in order to -free himself from all connection 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, on the main road to Lemberg in Gallicia, on the right bank -of the Vistula. 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. This declivity is laid -out as a garden in the purest taste, terminating, toward the river, -in extensive meadows, planted with groves of oaks and poplars, and -enlivened by herds of Tyrolese cattle, cottages, shepherds' cabins, &c, -in various styles of building. This garden surrounds Pulawa, and is -itself surrounded by great parks, which extend several leagues beyond -it in every direction. These are intersected by beautiful avenues of -linden trees. Among the many 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 masterpiece of sculpture. The palace, consisting of a main building -with two wings, is a noble piece of architecture. Its apartments are -rich and splendid. Prince Czartoriski 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 the 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 characterised 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 accompanied Skrzynecki, to whom he was much attached, in his -marches, and was at his side in many battles. His whole character was -essentially noble.] - -[Footnote 16: Prince Michael Radzivil was born in Lithuania, on his -family estate called Nieswiez. He is nephew of Prince Anthony Radzivil, -governor-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 retired -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.] - -[Footnote 17: The Grand Duke's army at Mokatow, consisted of the -following regiments. - - |Infantry.|Cavalry.|Artillery. - 1. Infantry grenadiers, two battalions | 2000 | | - 2. Light Infantry | 2000 | | - 3. Battalion for instruction | 1000 | | - 4. Cuirasseurs of Podolia 4 squadrons | | 800 | - 5. Hulan, Cesarowicz 4 ' | | 800 | - 6. Hussars of Grodno 4 ' | | 800 | - 7. Battery of Horse Artillery | | |12 pieces. - 8. Battery of Foot Artillery | | |12 " - +---------+--------+---------- - Total, | 5000 | 2400 |24 " - +---------+--------+---------- - -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.] - -[Footnote 18: These proclamations, which were immediately published -in the Warsaw papers, contain clear proof that the Grand Duke had no -injuries on the part of the Polish nation to complain of, and that he -himself felt that the Poles were constrained to revolt.] - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - 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 Moscow.--Their reception.--Krazynski and - Kornatowski.--Deputation to St Petersburgh.--Demands to be laid before - the Emperor.--Sierawski made Governor of Warsaw, and Wasowiez chief - of the staff.--Order respecting 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 began 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 revolution; and to promote fraternity and union -throughout the nation. They desired to repress all manifestations 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 interests of the nation with unwearied zeal. If this club was, -at times, led by the fervor of patriotic feeling 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 Pulawa, according to agreement,[19] and the Polish -regiments which had remained with Constantine up to this time, now -returned to Warsaw. These troops were at first regarded by the people -with feelings of indignation. Such feelings were, however, soon -dissipated by the explanations which were given. They had been misled -by their generals, Krasynski and Kornatowski. As to general Zimyrski, -who commanded the grenadiers, he was entirely blameless. He had -intended 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 movements 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 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. -'Soldiers,' 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 exclaimed, 'We will remain--we will join our brethren 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 feelings toward them, were disarmed of -their resentment at the very sight of them, and rushed into their -embraces. They were surrounded by the multitude, and taken, with -joyful acclamations, to the Place of the Bank. But though the people -forgave the soldiers, their indignation remained unabated against -their generals, and the greatest efforts of the leading patriots were -required to save Krasynski and Kornatowski 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. Mothers held up their children, and, pointing at the -two 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 excited 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 unworthy -of a shot from a Polish hand. Live--to be everlastingly tortured by -your consciences!' The unfortunate men entreated that they might be -permitted to serve in the ranks, as privates. They were immediately -deprived of their commissions, and from that time they lived in -retirement during the war.[20] - -The people were this day informed that prince Adam Czartoriski had been -nominated president of the national government; that the eighteenth -of December was appointed for the opening of the Diet; that till that -day the rights of the Emperor Nicholas would be acknowledged; and that -Lubecki, Osvowski, and Jezierski would be sent to St Petersburgh, as a -deputation, to inform the emperor of all that had happened. They were -also to lay before him the following 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 incorporated 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 Sierawski governor of the -city of Warsaw, and colonel count Wonsowicz chief of the staff. These -officers were both beloved by the people, and proved themselves 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 wayewodeship (principality) was to -furnish 9,000 infantry and 11,000 horse. There are eight wayewodeships -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 expected from the Polish provinces under other foreign -governments. - -The fourth, fifth, and sixth of December were remarkable days in the -history of our revolution. Soldiers 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 united 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 remarkable for the -opening of the theatre.[21] Religious solemnities took place in Praga -on the fifth, and on the sixth a Dictator was nominated.[22] - -When, on the sixth of December, the national government notified -Chlopicki of his nomination as generalissimo, 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. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 19: 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 Pulawa. -Agents had been sent in advance in this direction, to procure for him -every convenience, which he found uniformly prepared. In a village -between Kosienice 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 intendant general in the -parlor, where the Grand Duchess Lowicz was present. Wolicki requested -his orders with regard to the accommodation of the troops. Constantine -coldly thanked him, and immediately 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 greater exasperation and fury, exclaimed, 'They have -chased me out of the country--but I shall soon return.' In his rage -he again seized Wolicki's hand, saying, 'You shall stay with me, as -a hostage for my generals 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 -inhabitants 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 adventure, -which was published as an illustration of the Grand Duke's perfidy and -inconsistency. This conduct, together with his threats, would have -justified the Poles in pursuing and taking him, with his whole 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 -Czartoriska in the most friendly manner, as he also was in Lubartow -by the princess Lubomirska. In the latter place, general Rosniecki, -who accompanied the Grand Duke, demanded an apartment in a pavilion -adjoining the palace, which was designed for the suite of Constantine. -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 Duke, 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. Indignant at -his proposals, the lancers 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 reward than the privilege -of fighting 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 fourteen 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 -heartfelt 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 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 highest and weightiest -duty--the duty a man owes to his country. Your Highness, I have -done all that honor and duty commanded as your aid-de-camp--I have -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. _Now_ 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 now my -sacred duty as a Pole to return at the summons of my country.' - -The Grand Duke marched with his corps towards 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 the -contrary notwithstanding.] - -[Footnote 20: 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. Prussians! you know little of the Poles, or of their -feelings. The time may come when we shall know one another better.] - -[Footnote 21: This was the first time the theatre was opened during -the revolution. A patriotic piece was performed, viz. 'The Krakovians -and Guralians,' 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 brethren 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 -joyfully received, the orchestra played Kosciusko's march, 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 Kosciusko! -France, and Lafayette the friend of Kosciusko, forever!' After this, -the Marseilles hymn was played, and then the Mazur of Dombrowski. -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 of -the audience surpassed 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 -distinguished 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 unite the whole nation. Persons who -had shunned each other for years, each fearing a spy in the other, -explained themselves and embraced. These scenes will live eternally in -the memory of every Pole. Beholding his countrymen in this ecstasy of -joy, there was none who did not weep--none who did not feel ready to -die on the morrow, having seen them thus happy. The prisoner condemned -to death, when unexpectedly rescued, and permitted to breathe the free -air, laughs, weeps, endeavors to express his gratitude, and cannot. -Such was the feeling of Poland in these blessed moments.] - -[Footnote 22: 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 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 -perpetrated by Suwarrow, 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, under -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;--the union of the supreme civil and military powers -in his person. The authority of the provisional government was thus at -an end; every thing was referred to the Dictator. 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 operations -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 farther 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 -resign it on the meeting of the Diet. Rely on my experience, which -is the fruit of long service, and on my age, which has taught me the -knowledge of mankind. Be assured that no selfish feeling has impelled -me to this step, and that I have consented to take it only to promote -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!'] - - - - -CHAPTER V. - - The Dictator enters upon his duties.--Plans for the enrollment of - new forces.--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 proclamation.--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 Radziwil, each subordinate to - the Diet. - - -On the seventh of December, the new Dictator took possession of the -residence which had been prepared 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 composed mounted guard in -succession. - -The nation had conceived the highest hopes of Chlopicki; they expected, -above all, the most energetic measures in regard to the armament and -organization 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 advanced age or the original inadequacy of his -talents to the demands of such a situation, would fail to satisfy 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 compass. As might have been expected, the evident incapacity of -Chlopicki early became the occasion of dissension in the patriotic -association already referred to, accusations being preferred, as a -matter of course, against those who had been active in procuring his -investment with such high powers. The succeeding events will enable the -reader to decide for himself of the justice of such accusations. - -On assuming his post, the Dictator adopted the following arrangements -in regard to the enrollments 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 regiments, 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 -8000, 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. - -In this estimate the Dictator did not include the aid that might be -calculated upon from the provinces of Prussian, Austrian, and Russian -Poland, the volunteers 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 furnished by -each palatinate. These officers were subordinate to two others, who -had the supervision of four palatinates each, and bore the title of -_Regimentarz_. These last had the power of appointing all the officers -of the new forces.[23] - -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 was in an especial manner -liberally furnished by the people. A similar state of things existed -with regard to the fortifications; and here again the energy of the -people atoned for the negligence of the administration. This was -especially the case at Warsaw and Praga, where all the citizens labored -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 Dictator, however, instead of occupying his attention -with these warlike preparations, devoted it to diplomatic negociations, -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 -weakness and indecision. - -Such was the state of affairs when an event occurred that seemed -to augur well for our prospects. This was the discovery of the -correspondence between the ministers Grabowski and Lubecki, the -former being Secretary of State for Poland and a member of the cabinet -at St Petersburgh, the latter Minister of Finance at Warsaw. This -correspondence afforded the clearest evidence that Russia had intended -to declare war against France, and that she was prepared to commence -that war in December following.[24] - -These letters were sent to Paris in the early part of December, by an -express, and ought to have convinced the French government of the -hostile intentions 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 Emperor was coming to Warsaw in person. All -this 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 admitting the severity of the oppression under which we had -suffered fifteen years,--far from giving a paternal audience to the -deputies which the nation had sent to him, and who, in its name, -had presented the most moderate demands, (limited, in fact, to the -ratification 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 deputies 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, discarding all paternal feelings, he applied -the term 'infamous' to the sacred effort we had been forced to make by -the oppression under which we had so long suffered.[25] - -The Russian generals Benkendorf and Diebitsch, in a conversation, of -which our revolution was the subject, and which took place in an -interview with colonel Wielezynski who was one of the deputies sent to -the emperor, spoke of a general war as impending after Poland should -be crushed.[26] 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, being published, was -received by the people with the utmost indignation. It was an insult -to the honor and character of the nation, which demanded vengeance. -The day of the promulgation of this document was a day of terrible -agitation. The cry of 'To battle! To battle!' was heard in every -quarter. The nation demanded to be led against the enemy at once. -The word had gone forth 'there is no hope of peace.'[27] 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 Emperor's proclamation, no other -course could be taken consistently with the national honor. It was in -consequence of this proclamation, of so criminatory, so unjust, so -insulting a character, that Nicholas Romanoff and his successors were -declared to have forfeited 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 -guarantying the 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 bloodiest 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.[28] - -The Dictator, it was seen, had been equally neglectful of the different -fortifications. Except at the principal points, Praga, Zamosc, and -Modlin, no works of defence 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, -upon which, or in its vicinity, our principal operations were to be -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 was one of that deputation, propositions deemed -inconsistent with the national honor,--the Diet deprived him of his -trust. - -The affairs of the civil administration were confided, as before -the dictatorship, to the senate, under the presidency of prince -Czartoriski, and the command in chief of the army was given to the -prince Michael Radzivil. All these powers were subordinate to the Diet. -In this manner ended the dictatorship of Chlopicki, who afterwards took -a place in the suite of prince Radzivil, and was admitted into the -counsels of the administration of military affairs. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 23: A very important circumstance, which either escaped the -notice of the Dictator, or was wilfully neglected by him, respected the -nomination and rank of officers. As the army was to be considerably -augmented, a proportionally greater number of officers was requisite. -All arrangements upon this subject were confided to the Regimentarz, -with whom the important power of making these appointments was -entirely left. This course soon led to trouble. The Regimentarz, not -having 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 -recently commissioned officers placed above them in rank. Instead, -then, of studying to preserve the utmost harmony between those who were -going 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. - -Arrangements for officering the army might have been made in such a -manner as the following, to the satisfaction of all parties. After -dividing the officers into three classes, the first, consisting of -those actually 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 -officers in the grades in which they stood at the time of their -retirement. The new regiments should have been officered from the two -first classes, 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 arrangement would have done to the officers of older standing, -it would have 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.] - -[Footnote 24: _Letter to Prince Lubecki, Minister of Finance at Warsaw, -dated St Petersburgh, the 18th of August, 1830._ 'My Prince,--His -Majesty the Emperor and King directs me to inform you that the Polish -troops being now in marching condition, you are requested to provide -the necessary 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 preparations.' - -_Extract of a letter addressed to Prince Lubecki by Count Grabowski, -Secretary of State for Poland, at St Petersburgh._ 'The official -correspondence which, by the order of his Majesty, I have the honor -to communicate to you, my Prince, and which directs the placing of -the Polish army on the war establishment, was, undoubtedly, even -more unwelcome 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 geographical position places us in the front line.' - -'Dated St Petersburgh, 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 Cæsarowicz, to place on the war establishment all the -troops under his command, without excepting those of the Polish -kingdom, and that these orders are to be carried into effect by the -22d of December, I have the honor, my Prince, to communicate this -information to you, by his Majesty's order, so that the necessary -funds may be furnished without delay to the Minister of War. And I -farther request you, my Prince, by the order of his Majesty, to have -the goodness to assign to his imperial highness the Cæsarowicz all the -funds for which he may have occasion in the execution of his orders. - - (Signed) 'Grabowski.' - -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 connected 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 the arrangements which may be determined upon by Marshal -Diebitsch and the Grand Duke, without waiting for farther 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 declared, 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 other so rapidly that God only knows what may -happen before that time. The rapidity of their succession has made it -impossible to receive intelligence 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 entirely new state of things.'] - -[Footnote 25: The proclamations of the Emperor on the 17th and 24th of -December 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 Autocrat - 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 Cæsarowicz Grand Duke Constantine Paulowicz. Profiting by the - obscurity of the night, a furious populace, excited by these men, - precipitated themselves upon the palace of the Cæsarowicz; while, - spreading throughout the city of Warsaw the false report that the - Russian troops were massacring the peaceable inhabitants, they - collected the people about them and filled the city with all the - horrors of anarchy. The Cæsarowicz, 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 manner 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 misled, and to restrain - the discontented. This hope 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 themselves, 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 - Cæsarowicz 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 - revolt 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 Cæsarowicz considered 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 security - of persons and property. He himself quitted the kingdom with the - Russian troops, and entered on the 13th 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 least - 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 them, dare to think, for a moment, of victory; and propose - to us the condition of being 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 - movement in the whole extent of our vast empire. But one sentiment - animates 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, answer 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 innocent 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 ourselves to them by a proclamation on - the 17th of this month, in which, manifesting our just indignation - against the perjured men who have commenced this rebellion, we gave - orders to put an end to all illegal armaments, and to restore every - thing to its former footing. They have yet time, then, to repair - the fault of their compatriots, and to save the Polish kingdom from - the pernicious consequences of a blind criminality. In pointing out - the only means of safety, we make known this manifestation of our - benevolence toward our faithful subjects. They will see in it our - wish to protect the inviolability of the throne and of the country, - as well as the firm resolution to spare misguided and penitent men. - Russians! the example of your Emperor will guide you, the example 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 - sacredness of his duties, and who knows how to keep inviolable the - dignity of his empire, and the honor of the Russian people. - - 'Given at St Petersburgh the twenty-fourth of the month of December, - 1830. - - (Signed) 'Nicholas.'] - -[Footnote 26: The following is part of a conversation, in presence of -the Emperor, between generals field marshal Diebitsch and Benkendorf, -and colonel 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 revolution -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 toward your -frontiers, to bring the revolutionary spirits of France and Belgium to -order.' - -When the colonel observed that Poland thought herself capable of -arresting the torrent long enough to give Europe the alarm, and to -prepare 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.'] - -[Footnote 27: According to the testimony of colonel Wielezynski, -the proclamation 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 -distinguish all the circumstances of the case, in regard to which a -manifesto 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!] - -[Footnote 28: Some letters of the Emperor Nicholas were found among the -papers of Chlopicki, in which the Emperor expressed his thanks to him -for having taken the Dictatorship, and for the service which he had -done to him, by the preservation of public tranquillity. The emperor -exhorted 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 -necessary? 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 -contrary to the honor of the nation, is to be willing, for selfish -ends, to induce him to do that which would render him infamous in -history. - -Is this a course becoming a King? A conduct so insincere, Machiavelian, -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 nations -who have been under her power. Such a system, however, is far from -being ultimately favorable to the interests of Russia herself, for it -can never lead to a sure result. Sooner or later duplicity will be -discovered, and the more a nation has been deceived, the deeper will be -its determination 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 -justification of our revolution.] - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - 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.[29] Every movement had been retarded, and the most invaluable -time was lost. Instead of offensive operations, the defensive was now -necessarily taken. We awaited the enemy on 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 concentrated 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 presenting 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 different 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 -regiments of newly raised light cavalry, occupied, as a corps of -observation, all the country between Wlodawa 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.[30] - - -STATEMENT OF THE EXISTING ARMY, AND OF THE NEW FORCES PROPOSED TO BE -LEVIED. - -The whole Polish force under the Russian government, 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; _Artillery_, six -batteries of eight pieces each, and two batteries 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 regiments -of infantry to twenty-four. Each one of the new regiments was to be -composed 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 exempts (their term of service[31] 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 furnished 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 was 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 divided -between Warsaw and each of the eight palatinates. - -The artillery was to be augmented by four batteries, of eight pieces -each, making a total of thirty-two pieces. - -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, foreigners, - 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 disproportionate to the -resources of the kingdom, it was certainly possible to have raised; -for the energy and spirit of the people were at the highest point, and -every one felt the importance of improving the favorable 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 expected from twice -that number, which we should certainly have brought to the field, had -the energy of the government 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 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 moment 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 especially the former, had began to take an -attitude of hostility towards us, and thus all hope of sympathy from -her neighbors was lost to Poland, the perilous nature of the crisis -to which the delay of the dictatorial government had brought us, thus -unprepared, may be imagined. But Poland did not suffer herself to be -discouraged by all these unpropitious circumstances. 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 precise number of the detachments of -volunteers, occasionally joining the army, serving in a particular -locality 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, 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 Michael 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 attached. The divisions were commanded as follows; 1st division -by general Krukowiecki; 2d division, general 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 - 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 -Stryinski, 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 combat 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 detailed -statements confidently made in the Berlin Gazette, the Russian forces -amounted to 300,000; but we reject one third on the supposition that -the regiments had not been entirely completed. If the very thought -of commencing a war with such disproportionate 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, besides twice that number of small skirmishes, in -which, as we shall see, that enemy was uniformly defeated, and a full -third part of his forces annihilated. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 29: The dictatorship may be said to have been the first of -our misfortunes. The Dictator, acting in contradiction to the spirit -of the revolution, did not take advantage of that enthusiasm with -which the revolution 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 a 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 -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 magnanimity, 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 immediately the -offensive, passed the Bug, and entered the brother provinces which had -been incorporated with Russia. The Russian troops, especially those in -Lithuania, were not in a state to resist the first impetuosity of our -national forces. The Russian soldiers, as the reader probably knows, -are not, except in the large cities, concentrated in barracks, as in -other states of Europe, but are dispersed in quarters throughout the -country, in small bodies; so that sometimes a single regiment may -be spread to a circumference which may embrace eighty to a hundred -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 fallen 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 hundred 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 -conceived to have really felt that this would have been the case. Even -if such apprehensions were well founded, are 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 brethren from the despotism under which they were suffering? -But, in fact, the true interests of those cabinets were to be found -in, what every sagacious observer of European history has pointed out -as the great safeguard 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 entering those provinces, would have been still on -the soil of their ancient country; and, in fact, the revolution was -equally justifiable at Wilna, Kiow, and Smolensk, as at Warsaw. The -patriots, indeed, who began the latter, did not think of their own -sufferings 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 condemned, and is still condemning, the best -spirits of Poland.] - -[Footnote 30: 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 conviction that this 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 neighboring country left their homes to witness the departure, -and all the plains about Warsaw and the road sides between Warsaw and -Siedlce were covered with people. The soldiers, in marching through -the streets of the city, passed between lines of people composed of -senators, officers of the government, the clergy, children from the -schools, the members of the national guard, and in short an immense -assembly of both 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. Exclamations such as these were constantly 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, (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 division, and to -use them wherever a decisive blow was required. 'Forget, dear general,' -said they, 'that we have no powder; but trust to our bayonets!' - -It was truly affecting to witness the parting of the soldiers from -their friends and relatives,--fathers taking leave of children, -children of fathers, 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 country is the most powerful of all sentiments, and that men will -sacrifice every thing under its impulses.] - -[Footnote 31: A service of ten years in the army, in person, or by -substitute, was required by law of every citizen.] - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - Entrance of the Russian forces into the Kingdom.--Proclamations of - Marshal 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. -1_) particularly at Bialystok (11) 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, published a proclamation to -the Poles, a copy of which is given in the note.[32] - -[Illustration: _I_] - -Those proclamations were published in the latter part of January. -The people were disgusted with their promises and their menaces, -and rejecting all idea of reconciliation on such terms as these -proclamations set forth, they entreated to be led to the struggle in -which they had once decided to engage, preferring every sacrifice to -so degrading a submission. They demanded that an answer should be -sent to Diebitsch, informing him that they were ready to meet him, and -called upon the government to commence hostilities without a moment's -delay.[33] - -The Russian forces, [_See plan No. 1_, (_a_)] consisting, 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 different commanders, -besides the marshal Diebitsch, were, the Grand Duke Constantine, -generals Rosen, Pablen, Geismer, Kreutz, prince Wirtemberg, and -Witt. The chief d'etat major was general Toll, the most skilful of -the Russian generals. The space designated for the entrance of the -different detachments of the Russian corps embraced an extent of -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 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 by -our general officers, and to resist them, it was determined to contract -our forces (_b_) into a line of operations, narrow, but concentrated -and strong; a course which our inferiority of force seemed to require. -This line was posted as follows. Our left wing, consisting of 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 Ostrolenka (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 2nd division of -infantry under general Zymirski, and the 2nd division of cavalry under -general Stryinski. 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 infantry, 800 horse, and three pieces of cannon. -Different patrols of cavalry were employed in observing the enemy along -the whole space between Sokolow, Miendzyrzec, and Parczewo. The rivers -Narew (N), Bug (B), and Liewiec (L), covered the whole line of our -operations, and made it sufficiently strong. Our centre, especially, -was well posted between Jadow (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 purposes. Fortifications of positions should always be the more -freely combined with tactics, in proportion to the inferiority of a -force. - -In the above mentioned position we were to await the first shock of the -enemy, after which the army was to retire slowly towards the environs -of Praga, and 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, having -weakened him during such a retreat, to give him a decisive battle -there. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 32: _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 apprised -you that the Emperor has wished, in his generosity, to distinguish -his faithful subjects who have respected their oaths, from the guilty -instigators 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. - -1. At the moment of entering with the troops which I command into the -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 -peaceful inhabitants who shall receive us as friends and brothers, will -find their friendly dispositions reciprocated by the troops placed -under my orders. The soldiers will pay a fair price for every thing -which 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 requisitions (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 payment 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 -Emperor 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 rigor of the law. Those -who shall attempt to defend themselves against the troops, shall be -delivered 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 extraordinary contribution, more or less heavy. This contribution -will be principally levied upon those who shall have taken part in a -criminal defence, 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. -Such deputations will bring with them as a sign of submission to their -legitimate sovereign, a white flag. They will be expected to announce -that the inhabitants submit themselves to the benevolence of his -majesty the Emperor and King, and that their arms have been deposited -in some place which shall be designated. The Russian commanders will -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 -manifest 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 require, -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, -arrondissements, 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 character, and who shall have given proofs of their fidelity to -their legitimate 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 opposition against legal order. The proprietors of land -and houses who may remain tranquil in their habitations, and shall -submit to the conditions above announced, will be protected in 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 sequestered, as well as that of those who -shall have continued to exercise 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 magnanimous sovereign assures to you, and the evils which -will be brought upon 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 implicated -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 Alexander, -of immortal memory, obeying only the impulse of his magnanimous 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 Polish -army a new life. All the elements of national welfare, of tranquillity, -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 conduct -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 country has been made -for a 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 every thing, and -kept his promise in nothing. Shall it also say that, paying with -ingratitude and perjury, the sovereign who has generously granted you -every thing 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 characterizes 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, 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 moment. 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 Poland. 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 ever manifested, the -resistance which evil-minded men may attempt 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 responsibility which you will take upon -your heads by a criminal obstinacy. Join yourselves to your brothers -in arms. Show that you are still worthy to be the commanders of the -troops which your sovereign has entrusted 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 country, 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, 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 fraternity between -you and them be broken; the all-powerful 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.] - -[Footnote 33: To the proclamations of general Diebitsch, one of our -countrymen made a reply, in the form of a letter, which was published -in the gazettes, and which, as far as my memory serves me, was in -nearly the following terms: 'General, your proclamations, which breathe -the spirit of injustice, arrogance, and cruelty--the menacing tone of -which is backed 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 deliver -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 return 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 harmony with -those which you yourself then entertained. All those recollections you -have turned away from. Dazzled by false ideas of greatness, arrogance -has driven from your heart those noble sentiments which would have made -you truly great. Diebitsch! Poland once 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 -set before that monarch 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 happiness 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 acquired. 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, Diebitsch, 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.'] - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - The opening fire.--Affairs of the 10th and 11th 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 of 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 regiments -of krakus, or light cavalry, and the 4th regiment 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 reserve, 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 enemy's -ranks. After this skirmish, our cavalry, in obedience to previous -instructions, retired to the environs of Siedlce (2). In this town -was a little garrison consisting of a regiment of light infantry and -a detachment of riflemen, formed and commanded by Michael Kuszel. On -the 11th, at about mid-day, the whole of the advanced guard of the -Russian centre, which was commanded by Diebitsch in person, reached -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 advanced 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 Kuszel's 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 marched to rejoin the divisionary camp, -which was about a mile in the rear. - -[Illustration: - -_II Steizel._ ] - -At 8 o'clock, general Zymirski, supposing that the enemy had taken -possession of the town, determined to make an attack, with two -regiments, upon the town and the Russian camp, at the point of the -bayonet. The 7th regiment of the line and the 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 little 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 under 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 superiority of the -enemy's force, yet, trusting in the strength of his own position, -determined to meet his attack, and give him battle. The position -of Stoczek (_a_) was strong in several respects; first, from its -commanding elevation; secondly, from the circumstance that the town -is protected by the river Swider (_b_), which forms marshes that are -not passable but by a dyke (_m_) at a short distance from the city, -in the direction 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 companies 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 extent to his line, and thus mask his -inferiority of force. Leaving a battalion of infantry (_d_) to protect -the artillery and prevent the passage of the dyke,--which passage, he -was sure that the enemy could not possibly execute rapidly, and that -this small force was sufficient, 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 passage was open to the enemy, he -there awaited the enemy's movements. The first step of the Russians -(_g_, _h_) was to place all their artillery (_f_) at the nearest -possible 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 -columns should make their appearance on the dyke, and then to open a -fire of grape upon them. In this manner some hours passed, during which -the Russian artillery kept up an ineffectual fire, and the Russian -corps executed various manoeuvres in attempting to force the passage -of the dyke, and in pushing their attack in the direction of the -forest. General Kreutz, seeing that his attempts to force 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 divided his corps, leaving one part before the dyke, -and with the remainder advanced to the attack of our right (A). Strong -columns of Russian infantry and cavalry marched against it. As soon -as this manoeuvre was observed by Dwernicki, the idea was conceived -by him of preventing 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 concealed in the forest, he threw himself -upon the Russian 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 -disorder 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 the -forces composing 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 -ammunition, baggage, &c., among which were several voitures containing -the chapels of the camp.[34] - -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 an -important object also with general Dwernicki not to permit the enemy to -discover that inferiority. He contented himself 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 might 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 at the other points where the approach was -easy, and, in order to keep a close observation upon the enemy, he sent -patrols in the direction of Kock and Zelechow. While thus occupied, he -received orders to leave his position immediately by a rapid march in -the direction of Zelechow 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 these orders, general Dwernicki left Stoczek on the same -night. - -In consequence of the enemy's attack upon Dwernicki's corps, which -covered our right wing, that wing was inclined and withdrawn towards -Kaluszyn, in order not to be exposed to the enemy's demonstrations upon -its flank or rear. The town of Minsk was also occupied by a detachment. -On the 15th the Russians 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 importance for us to defeat; for, if he should -have succeeded in forcing our right wing, he would have cut off our -communications with the corps of general Skrzynecki, and Krukowiecki, -which were in a more advanced position. 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 effort on the part of -the enemy to force the passage of a dyke (_k_), 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 made as follows. On the night of the 14th, we destroyed the -bridges (_m_) over the small river of Kostrzyn, which traverses the -dyke or main road in two places. Not far from the nearest bridge, a -defence of branches of trees (_n_) was thrown together, which having -been 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-construct 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 enemy's artillery. On the left of our -position, at the distance 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 -reconstruction and its passage by the enemy. - -[Illustration: - - _Boimie_ III] - -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 position. In a short time the -field was covered with the enemy's masses. His force consisted of -twelve regiments of infantry (_f_), 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 engaged in the repair of the -bridge, and the rest attempted to make the passage. Every approach -of the enemy was met with a warm fire from behind the defence of -trees above mentioned, and our artillery at the same time opened a -destructive fire of grape upon the bridge. The attempts of the enemy -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 regiments, -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 renewed and bloody -attempts, the day passed away, and as the night approached, our troops -quietly evacuated their position, and took another a few miles in the -rear. - -As to the affair at Wengrow, it was only an engagement with the rear -guard of the corps of general Skrzynecki. That general, knowing his -position 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 -battalions, the displaying and closing of the columns, the change of -front, &c, were executed with such precision that it impressed the -enemy with a certain degree 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 -outposts, 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 -operation of our army was as follows:--Our left 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 preceding, 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 different positions, and with two different -plans of operation, I have given the name of the two general positions, -in speaking of the battle. General Skrzynecki 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 demonstration on Stanislawow, and thus have acted -on the rear of Skrzynecki, which was nearest to him, that general -had two objects to effect. First to make the attack 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 first development of the remarkable talents of this commander. -It was then that he first awakened the high expectations and 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 -triangular space embraced between the two roads (_f_) which lead from -Wengrow and Kaluszyn and meet behind Makowiec (_h_). This space, over -which small elevations covered with brush-wood were scattered, afforded -good positions for artillery as well as infantry: but the principal -advantage of this peculiarity of the ground was, that it concealed the -inferiority of our forces. In this position, the village of Makowiec -was made a _point d'appui_ 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. - -[Illustration: - -_IV Makowiec 104._ ] - -[Illustration: - -V. _Dobre p. 104._ ] - -The enemy commenced by an attack upon the two roads from Wengrow and -Kaluszyn; and as the attack 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 fifty 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, -directed 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 infantry in that position, formed -themselves into detached columns (_k_) of half battalions, and the -Russian columns 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 themselves upon the enemy. The 4th regiment immortalized -itself in that attack. One of its columns 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 cessation 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 (_e_), left as a -rear guard, protected the passage of the river by the light troops. In -this manner the position was slowly evacuated, 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.] - -The position of Dobre was more advantageous for us than the former. -It was protected in front by 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, inclining towards the marshy ponds above -mentioned. - -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 artillery. 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, Boguslawski, 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 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 general -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 expose themselves, that the lateness of the day permitted. -General Skrzynecki passed down the front of our line, and addressed the -soldiers in a few animating words, to prepare them to make a general -attack 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 the larger threw itself upon the enemy's right wing, which was at -some distance from the rest of his forces, and was apparently intending -to act on our right wing and to turn it. In a moment this body of the -enemy's force was completely 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 destruction; -for his entire 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 and the Grand Duke Constantine were with the Russian 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 -led to 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 attacked our right wing, satisfied themselves with -keeping 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. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 34: 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 held in great veneration by 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 army, 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.] - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - - Retrograde movement of the 18th of February.--Details of this - movement, 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 Wirtemburg.--Defeat of that - corps by general Dwernicki at Swierza.--Renewal of the enemy's attack - on the main army on the 20th.--Its successful resistance.--Review - of the events of the preceding days.--Examination of the plan of - operations of the Polish army. - - -On the 18th, our whole line was ordered to make a retrograde movement. -[_See Plan_ VI.] The utmost order and tranquillity was to be observed -in this movement. 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 -advantage 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, (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. - -[Illustration: _VI. p. 100_] - -The centre (B), which was commanded by generals Skrzynecki and -Krukowiecki, was to retire upon the road which leads from -Stanislawow (9) to Okuniew (11). Upon this winding road, which -traverses thick forests, the means of defence was easy. - -The left wing (C), commanded by Szembek and Uminski, which was in -the environs of Zegrz (4), received orders to gain Jablonna (16), -and Zombke (15), on the same night. The great bridge over the Narew -at Zegrz was to be destroyed, and a small detachment to be left at -Zagroby, for the purpose of observing the enemy. - -Conformably to the above orders, our entire line commenced the -evacuation of its position, and an incessant fire was kept up -throughout the line, during the whole day. In the morning, two -squadrons of light cavalry, which were sent from Minsk to Stanislawow, -met a regiment of cossacks, who were making a reconnoisance, after -having traversed the forest of Jakubow. The cavalry threw themselves -upon them, dispersed them, and took two hundred prisoners with their -horses. Upon the position of Dembe, our cavalry 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, throwing -themselves continually upon superior masses of the enemy. The division -of general Zimirski repelled two successive attacks from a superior -force of the enemy at Konik, upon the road between Dembe-Wielkie and -Janowek. Twelve pieces of artillery, 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 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 them; and, although the enemy -constantly renewed his attacking columns, he was not able to force our -position, which indeed 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 attacks of the enemy were repeatedly -repulsed. Our artillery distinguished themselves by acts of daring -valor. They drew their pieces into the midst of blazing streets, in -order to pour a more effective 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 destroyed the different -parties of the enemy. The enemy, on quitting the place, were exposed -to continual attacks from our cavalry, under the command of general -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, every 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. -General Skrzynecki awaited them at a point not far distant on the -opposite side. The advanced guard of the enemy, imprudently composed of -several regiments of cossack cavalry, had already passed the dyke, when -the 4th regiment threw themselves in columns upon them. - -These forces of the enemy were thrown into the utmost consternation. -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.[35] - -On the night of the 18th our army took the following position. [_See -Plan_ VII.] Our left wing was between Jablonna (16) and Zombki (15), -and sent out its reconnoisances as far as Zagroby (4), upon the Narew -(N), the bridge over which at that place they destroyed. Our centre was -between Okuniew (11) 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 -confidence in numbers, or the headlong 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 he is said to have made, that he would finish the war -in twenty-four hours. But he sacrificed 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._ VI], forty miles from Warsaw, -where general Dwernicki beat prince Wirtemberg, who, as we have already -mentioned, had passed the Vistula at Pulawa [(6) _Pl._ VI], and was -approaching Warsaw [(1) _Pl._ VI]. - - -BATTLE OF WAVRE AND BIALOLENKA. [_Pl._ VIII _and_ IX.] - -At the break of day, upon every point, the right wing, the centre, and -the left wing, our line was attacked. We might remark in regard to the -positions 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 centre (B) -was better posted at Kawenzyn. It occupied this village, (which was in -a commanding position,) and the declivity descending from it to the -plain of Zombki. Our left wing at Bialolenka was also advantageously -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 weakest 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. Our position was defended by a division of about ten -battalions of infantry and fifteen squadrons of artillery, supported by -twenty-four pieces of artillery. This enormous disproportion did not -discourage our soldiers. Their energy supplied the place of numbers. -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, in displaying his front, contracting -it, dividing it into small parties, and withdrawing or advancing, as -the direction of the enemy's artillery required, and thus avoiding -the effect of his fire, prevented the loss which it would else have -occasioned. In this way several hours were occupied, when the enemy, -trusting to the impression which he supposed 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, withdrew, 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 Kawenzyn, was also warmly engaged with a brigade of the -enemy, and had already observed this imprudent 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 both upon the enemy's -cavalry (F) and infantry (D). The columns 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 Kawenzyn 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 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] received orders to push a strong attack against the -enemy'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 Kawenzyn (_b_) to Zombki (_k_). By this manoeuvre -the enemy was menaced with being taken in the rear. - -The left wing, as we have said, was warmly engaged with the superior -force of the Russians; who, by placing some fifty pieces of cannon -(_f_) behind the two dykes (_e_) above named, 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 the hither side of the dykes, when general -Uminski, with a brigade of cavalry (D), advanced to the charge, and -at the same time communicated the orders to the two divisions to -commence 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 penetrated the -enemy's masses. The 2nd and 3rd regiments of chasseurs distinguished -themselves by their feats of bravery. The enemy was repulsed, and began -to fall back and crowd upon the dykes, and at this moment their rout -was effected. A brigade (B) from general Skrzynecki's division arrived, -and commenced 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 perhaps 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. - -[Illustration: _VII. p. 114._] - -[Illustration: _VIII. p. 116._] - -[Illustration: _IX. p. 119._] - -[Illustration: _X. p. 122._] - -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.] - -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 general, having gained a victory over the corps of -general 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 operations of the enemy there, and to obstruct -his demonstrations upon Warsaw. - -On receiving this order, general Dwernicki, on the night of the same -day, quitted Stoczek, traversed Zelechow (19) and Macieiowice, and on -the 17th passed the Vistula near Ryczywol (7). On the 18th he commenced -his operations against the corps of prince Wirtemberg, which was on its -way from Radom, and the advanced guard of which begun to show itself -upon the plain of Ryczywol.[36] - -General Dwernicki harassed the enemy on that day [_See Plan_ X,] by -continual charges of cavalry, in which the krakus of Krakowie were -particularly distinguished. His only plan upon that day was to keep -the enemy upon the plain of Ryczywol. During the night he intended to -pass, with the chief part of his force, the river Radomierza above -Ryczywol (_f_), 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 (_f_) about half a league -above. Colonel Russyian, 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 constantly, and to allow the enemy an -easy passage over the bridge. On the 19th, the enemy (D), who had no -suspicions of the manoeuvre, commenced in the morning his debouchment -upon the bridge, having the expectation of engaging with our whole -force in a decisive battle upon the field of Ryczywol. His astonishment -may be imagined, when, as the day commenced, 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 impetuosity upon that part of his forces which were attempting -to place themselves in position; and our artillery, which was boldly -brought near the enemy's columns, 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 Nowawies (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 his 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 retreated by forced marches to the small town of Granica, where -he repassed the Vistula and reached Pulawa. Thus, by a single battle, -the whole country on this side of the Vistula was cleared of the -presence of the enemy. - -General Dwernicki permitted to his corps, who were really much -exhausted by fighting and marching, to repose by a slow march as far -as Kozienice, where he remained stationary, sending out, however, his -reconnoisances as far as Pulawa. - -On the 20th of February our main army was engaged with the enemy the -whole day upon the same position 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 sensibly the loss of a part -of the great forest opposite Kawenzyn, as well as that of the small -forest of elders, the enemy commenced his attack upon those points. -Some twenty battalions were incessantly pushed forward 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 even waiting -for orders, this brave regiment was seen constantly pushing itself -towards the points of the greatest danger; and its companies were often -fighting singly 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 its close, after the loss of thousands of men, he had -not gained a foot of ground. - -Thus ten days had passed in continual and bloody actions upon the same -position, during 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 he had suffered -on all points, during that period, amounting, in fact, in killed, -wounded and prisoners, to full 30,000 men. In this space of ten days, -the whole Russian army had been engaged, and that army amounted, as -we have already said, and as will be confirmed by all the official -reports, 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 -cannon; 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 fighting in defence of its liberty and to throw -off an oppressive yoke. Those bloody combats, and that enthusiasm, -to which my feeble pen cannot render justice, but which some better -historian will present to the world in their true colors, should -convince men that the immense mercenary forces which a despot may lead -on, and by which he trusts to enforce his will, may avail him little. -His enormous masses are like a heap of sand, which a little stone can -pierce. Without animating motives, and 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 with farther 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 general plan of operation differently -arranged,--for the different operations in detail were, generally -speaking, perfectly 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 commanded, if he -had in the early part of his life exhibited 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 intellect, and -the most absolute devotedness of mind and body to the cause. We cannot -too strongly express our astonishment that general Chlopicki, who had -formed the plan, and a very judicious one it was, of drawing the enemy -on to the walls of Warsaw, to give him there a decisive battle, should -have neglected 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_ VI], situated upon points of the greatest -importance, especially the first, were evacuated by our forces, for -the want of proper 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 fortifications would have presented the most important -obstructions to the enemy's passage. No concealed passages or by-roads -through those forests were constructed, 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 the inhabitants. The Jews, indeed, with -some very few exceptions, did not in the least aid in the war, but -often frustrated our exertions by their espionage; and there are in -fact instances of their having fought against us,--against those who -had given them an asylum upon their soil. In the towns of Nasielsk and -Makow this occurred. This part of our population, who had an equal -interest with us in the protection of the country, as far as property -was concerned, 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, with such troops to command, the reader will admit that the -Russian forces could have been soon driven back to the frontiers. - -The succession of victories which we have described were not the -results of any general system:--they were victories of detail, executed -with energy and rapidity, and for which we were indebted to the -generals of divisions and brigades, the colonels of 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 Skrzynecki, -would have caused the total ruin of the corps opposed to him, if the -11th 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 remained 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 this -effect, continued its retrograde march, although within the sound of -the cannon of that action. - -On the 18th 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_ VI.] The -manoeuvres of general Zimirski, when the enemy made his rapid attack -on the morning of the 19th, were executed at hazard, no general order -having been given in anticipation of such an attack. These manoeuvres -were well executed by general Zimirski: but if the case had been thus -anticipated by the commander in chief, and, at the commencement of the -action, our right wing had been withdrawn to Grochow, [_See_ (A) _Plan_ -VIII,] an obstinate defence of the commanding position of Kawenzyn -(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 annihilation 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 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 it had experienced, and the immense losses to which it had -been subjected. It was of the utmost importance to profit by this -consternation; but the vast advantages which might have been gained -under such circumstances, by some general plan of offensive operations -of bold and decisive character, were let pass. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 35: 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 there before the eyes of the nation. Those were moments rare in -history, and should be handed down to posterity, to demonstrate 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 nightfall, when our first detachments began to show themselves from -the forests of Milosna and Jablonna, and to 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 covered with an exulting -multitude. When the army took its position, and all was quiet under the -protection of night, the people drew near and entered the camp. What -a touching scene was there presented! Here a father and mother seek -their son, who meeting them, presses them to his bosom. There a wife, -leading her children, finds her husband and their father, and throws -herself into his arms, while the children cling around the knees of -their delighted parents. A melancholy contrast was presented by those -who sought in vain for son--husband--parent. But no complaint was -heard. The tears falling for 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, and 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 continued with the army, furnishing them with every comfort, -and regardless of the fire which was commenced the next day from the -enemy's artillery. 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 inhabitants made it a duty to be at hand, to bear off and succor -the wounded; and among those who engaged in these offices were some of -the most distinguished ladies of Warsaw. The strangers who were then -there, and who witnessed the enthusiasm which animated the people, and -seemed to unite them into one family, exclaimed that such a nation -could never, and ought never be conquered. - -The following days, the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd of February, in which no -action took place, were devoted to 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 army -employed this 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 army were -engaged in these devotional exercises. At each assemblage of troops, -the ministers of religion administered patriotic oaths, and animated -the soldiers to perseverance in the holy struggle. Those sacred -ceremonies were followed by hymns, which were sung along the whole -line, and which, mingling with the solemn sounds of the bells of Warsaw -tolling for the assembly of the people in the churches, produced an -indescribably impressive effect. 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 for that cause of civilization and -happiness which was of equal moment 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 welfare as well as -our own.' 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 at 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 from the territory of another -nation, for their ancient boundaries are wide enough for them. They -fought for that liberty which they had for ages possessed; and that -ancient liberty and those ancient limits they will sooner or later -regain.] - -[Footnote 36: The prince Wirtemberg, who commanded the corps against -which general Dwernicki was sent, had served in the Polish army as -brigadier-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 -themselves 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 -arrival 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 open 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 spared him, merely ordering him to quit the country. -He exhibited his gratitude for this delicate treatment, by departing -for Russia and the Polish provinces, 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 -proprietors had treated him with the greatest kindness and delicacy. -Arriving there with his corps, he left at every step the traces of his -tyranny. On reaching Pulawa, the estate of the beloved Czartoriski, the -president of the national government, the residence of that family from -which he had himself received so many kindnesses, and in which every -virtue reigned, he did not scruple to give orders to burn the town;--he -did not scruple to take the name in history of 'the devastator of -Pulawa'--of that beautiful spot 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 -height, 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 Czartoriski, 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, directed a fire of artillery 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 talents, they were of the lowest order. General Dwernicki -promised that in a few weeks he would despatch him; and he in fact kept -this promise to the letter.] - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - Proceedings of the National Government.--Marshal Diebitsch - continues in a state of inactivity.--Negotiations are opened by - him.--His propositions are declined.--Position of the army on the - 24th, and battle of Bialolenka.--Position on the 25th.--Great - battle of Grochow.--Details.--State of the Russian army after its - defeat.--Examination of the plan of the battle of Grochow.--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. - - -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 Corvee, -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, &c, received also the attention of the -government. - -When, after so many battles, the Russian commander 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 concentrate all his small -detachments and all his reserves, 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 regiments 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 cannon.--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 operations, 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 at our advanced post, whither general Krukowiecki was sent by -the commander in chief, with full powers, to meet him. General Witt -commenced with expressions of the greatest sensibility, and enlarged -much upon the friendship which ought to exist between the Poles and the -Russians as brother nations. He then spoke in very flattering terms -of the heroism of the Poles, lamenting that it was not displayed in a -better cause. After much complimentary language, he insensibly passed -to the ideas of duty and obedience to the monarch. 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 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 into 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 -Grochow. - - -POSITION ON 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, Kawenzyn, and Wavre composed the line of combat, there was -this difference, that, while before, the centre was at Kawenzyn, and -the left wing at Bialolenka, 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 space between the great road and the marshes of the -Vistula, called the marshes of Goclaw. This arrangement made our line -more concentrated. The first division under Krukowiecki, which was at -Bialolenka, with the division of cavalry under Uminski, was directed 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 extensive 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 recently joined -the main army, and for which marshal 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 observed 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 -twenty pieces of cannon. This small force repulsed the enemy in three -successive attacks upon the dykes. At about 5, P.M. another Russian -corps, under general Pahlen, came to the succor of Sczachowski, 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 at both points under the cover of a terrible fire -of artillery. If the reader will consider that our small force, -consisting of only 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 may be appreciated. -Our plan of action consisted chiefly in allowing a part of the enemy's -forces to pass the dykes, and then falling upon and cutting them up by -successive charges of cavalry and infantry, supported by an effective -fire of artillery. By such efforts this handful of brave men repulsed -the attacks of the enemy until night, when his attacks ceased. At -the approach of night, general Krukowiecki sent small reconnoitering -parties upon the roads from Radzimin and Zombki. These patrols, pushing -as far as, and even beyond Zombki, saw nothing of the enemy, and in -fact learnt, to their astonishment, from the marauders whom they took, -that the two Russian corps had quitted their position, and were on -their march across the forest of Kawenzyn, to join the main army. This -sudden withdrawal of the enemy's corps was an indication that they had -received orders to join the grand army, and that a general attack was -in contemplation for the next day. In expectation of this attack, a -body of men was 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 Bialolenka quitted -their position, to reinforce the larger corps upon the plain of Wavre. - -The following was the position of the two armies on the 25th, the day -of the memorable battle of Grochow. [_See Plans_ XI _and_ XII]. The -Russian army was distributed into eight divisions of combatants, and -three divisions of reserves. Those eight divisions consisted of 126,000 -infantry (_a_), 42,000 cavalry (_b_), and 280 pieces of cannon (_c_). -The three divisions of reserve (E) were composed of 16,000 infantry, -4,000 cavalry, and 32 pieces of cannon. This enormous force, which -occupied the space between Kawenzyn (A) and the marshes Goclaw (B), -a distance 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 between Wavre (_r_) and the above marshes -of the Vistula, 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 forest of elders, consisted also of -four divisions of infantry of 57,000 men, three of cavalry of 10,500 -men, and 108 pieces of cannon. The right wing, opposite the village of -Kawenzyn consisted of 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 forest opposite the forest of elders, was -placed the reserve, 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 (_d_) and 24 pieces of cannon (_f_), -occupied the space between the road and the marshes above mentioned. -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 (_f_). The left wing (T) occupied Kawenzyn, consisting of -the first division, commanded by Krakowiecki, composed of 6,500 men -(_d_) and 12 pieces of cannon (_f_). Four divisions of cavalry (_g_), -consisting of 9,500 men, commanded by Uminski, Lubinski, Skarzynski, -and Jankowski, were not posted on any fixed point, but stood in -readiness to act wherever 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 general Pac. - -[Illustration: - -XI. _Grochow p.139_ ] - - -BATTLE OF GROCHOW. - -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 collected on his right wing, and commenced a terrible -fire of artillery and musquetry, with the apparent determination to -carry our wing by a single overpowering effort. Nearly fifty pieces -of artillery opened their fire upon Kawenzyn, and numerous columns of -infantry, under the protection of this fire, pressed forward to carry -the position. But our forces prepared 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 Russians, but directed its -fire of grape wholly upon the 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 positions, awaiting the expected attack. -It was near ten o'clock when the fields of Wavre became, as it were, -in one moment, covered with the forces of the enemy, which issued out -of the cover of the forests overhanging the plain. Looking over that -plain, between the forest of elders and the Vistula, one would have -thought it was an undivided mass of troops which was in motion; for in -that comparatively 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 artillery, 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 his efforts were as fruitless here, as they had been against our -left. - -Having been unsuccessful in these two attacks on the wings, and hoping -that he had weakened our line by the terrible fire of artillery, which -he constantly kept up, the Russian commander collected the greater -part of his forces opposite the forest of elders, and it was there -that an attack was commenced 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 effect this, they would have divided our army -into two parts, and thus could not but have ensured its destruction. -It was the consideration of this important fact which prompted the -horrible attack, and the desperate resistance which it met. The brave -Skrzynecki, Zimirski, Boguslawski, Czyzewski, and Rohland, defended -this forest with fourteen battalions, whose admirably executed -manoeuvres, the change of front, the arrangement of the attack 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, order and coolness never surpassed. It was -only by such conduct that the tremendous attack of the enemy could have -been sustained for four hours, and that, after having nine times gained -possession of the forest, he was as often repulsed with an immense loss. - -Like the infantry, our artillery performed prodigies. All the -batteries, protected by cavalry which never abandoned them, pushed -themselves in advance 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 different operations indeed, of our artillery in this battle -were truly admirable. Batteries, now concentrated upon one point, -were in a moment hurried to another and distant one, where the enemy -was wholly unprepared for them, and was thrown into disorder by their -sudden attack. In the early part of the afternoon, when the enemy, -after having been several times repulsed, renewed his attack with the -greatest determination, and our 2d division began to give way, the four -batteries of artillery of the brave Adamski, Maslowski, Hilderbrand, -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 their -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 -occasioned 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, in which every commander 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 opposed 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. - -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 continued through -the whole line, (the most powerful being in the centre), and the -destruction of life was immense. 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, 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 suffered most, 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 (_k_), at which there was a position more commanding. -This plan had the following objects:--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 continue the defence of the forest. - -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, which were in escalon, and -prepared for a general attack. The manoeuvre was as admirably executed -as it was conceived. The enemy had no suspicion of its object, but, -presuming it to be a flight, undertook to profit by it. It was at this -moment that marshal Diebitsch, as if sure of victory, saw himself -already at Warsaw, and, on the field of battle, 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 about three P.M. that our 2nd 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, retiring -in succession, on reaching a considerable distance 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 general -Zimirski, who had lost several horses under him, and had just placed -himself upon a fresh horse, to superintend 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 melancholy 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 orderly 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 debouchement 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, and the enemy pressed on. The Russian columns -had already advanced beyond the position of colonel Pientka, but that -brave officer still kept up the defence.[37] By this time, however, the -2nd division had already reached their destined position, and their -battalions had commenced forming. Such was the state of things, when, -between Kawenzyn and the forest, a cloud of Russian cavalry was 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 infantry and artillery of the enemy followed -their cavalry. 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. - -The Russian cavalry advanced upon the trot, and came in a direction -perpendicular to the line of our battery of rockets, which was posted -between the 2d and 3d divisions (A). Suddenly a discharge from this -battery was poured into their ranks, and enveloped them with flame and -noise. Their horses, galled to madness by the flakes of fire which -were showered over 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, sweeping -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 designation of the 'Invincible' inscribed upon their helmets, -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 -whirled 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, carried along in their flight the columns of -infantry which were following 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 Warsaw, to -cheer the hearts of its anxious inhabitants. Nothing was wanting but a -skilful commander in chief to our forces, to have insured the entire -destruction of the Russian army. - -Two thousand prisoners, among them twenty officers of different grades, -five pieces of cannon, and upwards of a thousand horses, were the -trophies of that immortal 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 morning. It is to be regretted that the order to -follow up the pursuit was wanting. Szembek alone threw himself, 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 -considerably 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; -seeing too that the army was much exhausted by the fighting of that -day and the preceding; and fearing also that the Vistula might 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 farther details, and remarks upon this important 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 farther 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 Grochow, would have been then in a commanding position, and safe -from the tremendous fire of the enemy. The enemy would probably have -then occupied the plain, and thus been 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 was -above all unpardonable, was that, with a full knowledge of the enemy's -intention to attack us, together with a consciousness of our own -inferiority of force, and the nature of our position, which was wanting -in strength, 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 employed -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 repulse -cost us too great sacrifices. But besides the sacrifices which the -support of such a position required, our troops were so incessantly -occupied with repulse of the successive attacks of the enemy, that -it was impossible to attempt any decisive manoeuvre. 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 Grochow, and in such a manner as to profit by all -the commanding positions between Targowek and Grochow, 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 concentrated, and supported on the outermost -circumvallations of Praga (B). It could thus have profited by the -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 succession, 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 favorable 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 entire destruction, was the -neglect to follow up the enemy in his retreat, and by a judicious -manoeuvre to cut off his right wing, as was perfectly practicable;--by -such a manoeuvre, as it will be seen was, in fact, afterwards -successfully practised by Skrzynecki at Wavre, where a great part of -that same force were taken prisoners. - -The battle of Grochow cost the enemy in killed, wounded, and prisoners, -according to the reports published 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 general or staff officer, who had not his horse killed -or 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 would not desire to present a revolting -picture of the horrors of a battle-field, yet to impress upon the -reader how great a scourge tyranny 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 this forest that it received from that day -the name of _the forest of the dead_.[38] - -With the twilight, our whole army began to evacuate their position, -and to cross the Vistula to Warsaw. The passage of the river occupied -the whole night. On the morning of the next day, all that remained 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 Russians were well satisfied with our passage of the Vistula, 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 Crosser 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 escaped 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 despotism, and who fight for liberty with the -energy of despair.[39] - -The nation and the army occupied this interval of repose in giving -thanks to Providence for the successes of the preceding day. In all -the churches Te Deums were sung, as well as in the chapels of the camp -near Warsaw. The army was received by the people with solemnities. The -senate, accompanied by the inhabitants, repaired to the camp, where -patriotic addresses were delivered, and a public fete given to the -army. For three successive 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 heart of every Pole, and -will satisfy him that a nation so united will be always capable of -great efforts. - -On the day after the religious ceremonies, the provisional government -met in the National (formerly the Royal) Palace, where all the general -officers of the army were also assembled to deliberate upon the -measures to be adopted both in regard to military and civil affairs. It -was on that occasion that the prince Michael Radziwil, actuated 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 given to prince Radziwil a name in -history. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 37: 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 saying, that the fire, chiefly of -grape, which Pientka kept up for five hours, 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, 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.] - -[Footnote 38: 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 confusion 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 -deserted cannons, and several hundred carbines, sabres, and pistols, -knapsacks, 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 interment -of the dead, which was in fact done. - -Contemplating these masses of Russian dead, the victims of a horrible -despotism, what reflections were awakened! Those unfortunate men -were dragged to the combat to be sacrificed. Not one of that mass of -victims could see the justice of the cause for which they were thus -sacrificed. What consolation could there be in the last agonies of -suffering incurred in such a cause? There could be none. How different -must have been the death of the Polish soldier, who felt 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 different, their lives are not less so. What -reward awaits the Russian soldier? 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 Russian 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 wretched men, who are thus led to the sacrifice of -their lives for the self-will of a despot, who, while the soldier, -covered with wounds, is groaning under his sufferings, spends his time -in luxurious enjoyment, and perhaps mocks 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 the title of 'Staryk' or 'old soldier,' -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 was an agreeable duty, in -which, besides gaining an honorable subsistence, he received each day -some new mark of friendship and esteem.] - -[Footnote 39: 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 equipages 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 -defenders, fail to be answered by an enthusiasm in her defence which -knew no bounds. The wounded soldiers, in order not to draw upon this -sympathy, conquered their sufferings, and stifled 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 upon 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 Czaykowski, 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, regardless 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 his 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 position. -The bombardier Kozieradzki was sent to give orders to this effect. He -was on his way to execute this commission, when a ball carried 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 engage 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 benevolent and -patriotic females who had devoted themselves to these holy duties. On -leaving those hospitals, the Russian soldiers swore never to forget the -kindness they had experienced.] - - - - -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 is given to the - re-organization of the army, the arsenals and manufactories of arms, - the fortifications, &c.--Deportment of the commander in chief towards - the army.--General enthusiasm 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 detached corps.--Russian - position. - - -After the memorable battle of Grochow, fought on the 25th of February, -before the walls of Warsaw, a day on which we had defeated a force -three times superior to our own, the prince Radziwil made the passage -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 -infantry, with thirty-six pieces of artillery, were left to defend 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. The -cavalry were posted in positions a few miles above and below Warsaw. -The infantry and the artillery were either concentrated in Warsaw, -or were encamped near the city. Upon receiving the resignation of -prince Radziwil, 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 command 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 uncommon military talent. He was, -above all, eminently possessed of that rapidity of _coup d'oeil_, -that capacity of seizing conjunctures, which enabled him, in the -midst of the most complicated movements, to perceive, 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 infantry 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 -a 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. - -On the 27th, at mid-day, proclamation was made of the abdication of -the prince Radzivil, and the appointment of general Skrzynecki, as -commander in chief of the army. The nation to whom the great merit of -this officer was already so well known, received this annunciation -with the greatest satisfaction. No dissentient voice was heard. Even -the oldest generals 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, through 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 - successes, of his strength in numbers, and of the influence which he - exercises in Europe. But if, in one point of view, his power appears - formidable, 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 - sacredness 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 country," - and we shall surely serve as an example, in the annals of the world, - of encouragement to the defenders 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 violated 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 instructions were issued, to form new forces, to complete those -which were already in a state of formation, and to fill up the ranks -of the regiments which had suffered in the late engagements. During -the dictatorship of Chlopicki, and under the command of the prince -Radziwil, all the arrangements of the military administration were -sluggishly attended to, as the reader is well aware. At the time of -the battle of Grochow there had been only ten thousand new infantry -levied, and even this infantry was 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. This department of -the military administration had been made great account of on paper, -but was in reality 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. General 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 familiarly -acquainted,) and infusing a new vigor and promptitude into this -essential department of the military administration. In fact in the -several manufactories 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 -established a new 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 expressed 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 influence of the generals, and added much to the -value of those honors as a motive for exertion.[40] - -The time at which Skrzynecki received the chief command, was indeed -a happy period with us, and 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.[41] - -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 constructed, -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 subsistence and -shelter, situated as they were in the environs of Praga which had been -sacked and burnt by themselves. - -Marshal Diebitsch and his army began to be convinced, by the victories -which had been gained over them, and the firm resistance which they had -uniformly 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 long protracted, and presented to him as yet no hope -of a fortunate issue. A certain degree of disorder also began to take -place in the Russian army, caused by the physical wants and the severe -treatment to which the soldiers were subjected. Their wounded and sick -were left neglected, and were accumulated in great numbers in the -ruined buildings of the half-burnt villages, exposed to the open air in -the severe month of February. Desertions too began to take place. Every -day, indeed, 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 represented 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 unfortunate 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 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 deserters 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 Russian army was strong in numbers, morally speaking, it -was weak. Our own army began soon to conceive high hopes, and to dream -of victory under its brave chief.[42] - -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 correspondence of the two ministers, Lubecki and -Grabowski, found among the papers of Constantine, which has been -presented to the reader, (giving satisfactory evidence that Russia was -in preparation for a campaign against her, and showing that our cause -was the cause of France,) we had certainly the right to cherish the -strongest hopes. But more important still than all these circumstances, -was the intelligence received of a revolution which had broken out in -the Russian department of Orenburg, under the famous Yermolow, and the -point of concentration of which was to have 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 our knowledge 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 distinction 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 -Grochow, were full of energy, and breathed the sentiments of a true -republican--of one who calmly and dispassionately aims at the good of -his country. These proclamations were published in all the gazettes of -Warsaw on the first of March.[43] - -This general was for a long while governor of the provinces beyond the -Caucasus, Abassia, Migretia, Imiretia, and Georgia, provinces which -were conquered 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 excited his -abhorrence. Out of the reach of its influence, 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 -commissions were sent to make inquiries into his administration in -various departments. Yermolow, to avoid these persecutions, sent in -his resignation. General, now marshal Paszkewiczh, filled his place. -Yermolow, 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 regretted, 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 SKRZYNECKI'S -APPOINTMENT TO THE CHIEF COMMAND. - -After the battle of Grochow, the Polish grand army was composed, as -at the commencement of the war, of nine regiments of infantry, each -consisting of three battalions. They amounted, after deducting the -losses sustained during the campaign, to about 25,000. The newly formed -infantry, which was in the battle of Grochow, 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-formed cavalry, consisting of eighteen squadrons, can also -be estimated, after the losses at Grochow, 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 consisted, at the beginning -of the campaign, of one regiment of infantry, composed of three -battalions, numbering, 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 Pultusk, consisted of 600 infantry and 100 -cavalry. - -The garrison of Zamosc consisted of 3,000 infantry and eighty-four -pieces of cannon. That of Modlin, of 3,500 infantry and seventy-two -pieces of cannon; and that of Praga, of 2,000 infantry and thirty-six -pieces of cannon. - -The total amount then, of disposable forces, (excluding, 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 Chlopicki, -in regard to the organization of new forces. These were, that each -department 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 Vistula, were occupied by the enemy; viz. Augustow, -Podlasia, Lublin, and Plock. Besides the forces which these departments -should furnish, general Skrzynecki proposed to the nation, that in -the other departments, 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 battalions 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 service. 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 army received a reinforcement of 12,000 infantry, among -which were 2,000 volunteer chasseurs, and 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 Skrzynecki ordered the -formation of eight regiments of infantry 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 afterwards, (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, consisted of four regiments. -The 2d division, under general Gielgud, three regiments. The 3d -division, under general Malachowski, four regiments. The 4th division, -under general Muhlberg, four regiments. 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 general Pac. The whole force of cavalry amounted to about 14,000. - -The construction and completion of the fortifications 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 environs, general -Skrzynecki placed on the left bank twelve pieces of cannon of 24 pound -calibre, on the heights of Dynasow and Zoliborz. This battery covered -with its fire the neighboring plain, to the extent 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 two 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 Grochow, 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 governor 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 defensible against artillery. The ditch was considerably widened -and deepened. Beyond the ramparts, the 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 independent defence. The -barricades in the streets were constructed with openings for the fire -of the artillery, above which platforms were raised for the infantry. -Mines were also prepared in different parts of the city.[44] - -The positions of the army, and of the different detached 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 divisions -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 -communications 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 Pulawy. The plan of operations -which had been assigned to him, and which, indeed, he had already put -in execution, was to transfer the seat of hostilities to the right bank -of the Vistula, to hang over and harass the left 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 manoeuvres -upon Plock. This concave line of operations, of which the extremities -were at Zamosc and Modlin, and the centre at Warsaw and Praga, was -strengthened 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 Modlin. At Jablonna, which is situated half way -from Praga to Nowy-dwor, was placed a strong detachment. 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 Wawr and Milosna; and with them -was the head-quarters of Diebitsch and Constantine. Their left wing -occupied Karczew, and their patrols extended themselves along the right -bank of the river, as far as Macieowice. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 40: This regulation led to an occasion for the exhibition -of the firmness of general Skrzynecki's character. On the very day of -the issuing 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, thinking himself injured by this refusal, addressed a letter -to the general in chief, renewing his application, and adding that -if it should not be granted, he would feel obliged to surrender -his commission. General Skrzynecki, far from being moved from the -resolution which he had adopted, again promptly refused the request. -Szembek surrendered his commission. 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 influence 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 comrade, 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, exclaimed, 'With such soldiers to command, I need have -no fear that I shall fail to support the honor of my country.'] - -[Footnote 41: 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 -action 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 -company 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 general in chief were willing to accept, considering that the -fatigues of a campaign would be too trying to the female constitution. -But to satisfy in some degree the noble impulses of these ladies, the -three companies were distributed among the hospitals, to take care of -the sick and wounded there.] - -[Footnote 42: To satisfy the reader that marshal Diebitsch had began -to be conscious of his weakness, the following 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 -themselves to the general in chief. One of them, who was a Galician -volunteer, on the question being asked in what way they escaped, -answered, 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 maintenance; and that moreover they should not be forced to -enter the service 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 officers. 'Dear general,' the Galician added, 'we have sought -your presence, 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 respect and affection by their comrades, and the -circumstance was published in an order of the day, to the whole army. -This adoption of such 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 passage. -'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 sacrifice 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!'] - -[Footnote 43: _Extract from the proclamation of Yermolow._ 'Brave sons -of Russia! 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 battle, 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 celebrated, 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. Respect -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 enterprize -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 -liberty, that they can and will be free. - - Yermolow. - - _Samara, 29th of January, 1831.'_] - -[Footnote 44: 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.] - - - - -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 Pulawy, and defeat of Wirtemberg.--Atrocities - of that prince at Pulawy.--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 at Serock.--General Skrzynecki makes an - offer of pacification on the basis of the concessions originally - demanded by the Poles.--This proposition is rejected and hostilities - are recommenced.--Reconnoissance upon the right bank of the Vistula - under Jankowski and Gielgud.--A Russian corps under 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 Grochow, colonel Lagowski fought with -success at Pulawy, at the head of a detachment from the corps of -general Dwernicki. 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 Swierza and Nowawies, was forced to retreat -rapidly in the direction of Pulawy, and to repass the Vistula, opposite -that place. The ice of the river was, fortunately for him, still strong -enough to admit of a passage upon its surface; but notwithstanding -this advantage, he had been pursued by Dwernicki so 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 Pulawy 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 Pulawy, and of making -an attack upon the Russian right wing. On the evening of the 26th, -the brave colonel Lagowski, with 500 infantry and two squadrons of -cavalry, passed the Vistula (_p_). On reaching the opposite side of -the river, he threw himself into the forests which surround Pulawy. -The position of Lagowski would have been critical, if the Russians had -obtained intelligence of this manoeuvre; but they had no suspicions of -it. Colonel Lagowski, expecting that general Dwernicki would soon make -a demonstration 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 -(_f_) and infantry (_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 (_b_) 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 Russians became general, the greatest disorder -soon 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. Pulawy, 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 Russians, 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. - -[Illustration: - - XIV. _p.180_.] - -[Illustration: - - _Pulawy_ XIII. _p.178_.] - -[Illustration: - - _Kurow_ XV] - -The Russians had gained already a considerable distance from Pulawy, -before the corps of general Dwernicki approached it, and, of course, -the whole glory of that defeat is due to colonel Lagowski.[45] - -The corps of general Dwernicki, after a short repose at Pulawy, renewed -the pursuit of the enemy on that night. In every part of their route -the enemy'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 accomplish this object, he took advantage of the two roads -(_g_, _g_) which lead from Pulawy to Lublin (1). Remaining himself with -the greater part of his forces (_a_) upon the causeway which leads to -Lublin by Konskawola (2), Kurow (3), and Markuszew (4), he sent a small -detachment (_b_) with two pieces of cannon by the other and smaller -road, which, traversing the forest between Belzyc and Pulawy, presents -a shorter and more direct route to Lublin. This road had not been -occupied by the enemy. Colonel Lagowski, who commanded this detachment, -had instructions to follow out this road, and to keep up a constant -communication 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 battle, took a position upon -the heights of the town of Kurow, in doing which, his consternation or -his inconsiderateness was such, that he neglected the ordinary 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 Pulawy; in fact, he had even neglected -to send out reconnoissances on any side, supposing that our entire -force was before 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 enemy's position, which -was commanding, and strengthened in its front by sixteen pieces of -cannon [(_f_), _Pl._ XV,] thought it expedient to commence with a -fire of skirmishers only (_a_), under cover of which he manoeuvred -his cavalry (_b_) upon the Russian wings, with the sole purpose of -occupying the attention of the enemy 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 formed 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 Lagowski upon the enemy's rear. The disorder and -consternation of the Russian forces was indescribable. In a moment ten -pieces of cannon, a thousand prisoners, 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 retreated. 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 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 against 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 separate times, viz. at Swierza, Nowawies, -Pulawy, 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, baggage, &c. In all these -actions the corps of general Dwernicki lost but 500 men, in killed and -wounded. The panic which had began to prevail in the Russian forces, in -consequence of these disasters, reached such a degree that, at times, -the mere sight of 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 in that place, and the region about. He made the necessary -arrangements for reinforcing his corps, and left for Krasny-taw, in the -environs of Zamosc. - -While these successful operations of general Dwernicki, in the southern -part of the kingdom, were in progress, and by this series of victories, -he was approaching the frontiers of Wolhynia and Podolia, our arms were -not less successful in the North. - -The brave colonel Valentin, with a small detachment of partizans, -fought the enemy with success between Modlin and Pultusk. This -detachment was thrown into that region, (acting, however, more -particularly between the rivers Wkra and Orsyca,) in order to hold in -check the operations of the enemy upon Plock. This detachment was to -obtain succor, in case of necessity, from the garrisons of Modlin. 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 detachment 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 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 disembarrasing himself of -them, to hasten his march and reach the environs of Pultusk, in time to -intercept the transport. On the 5th, he took this transport, consisting -of eighty vehicles loaded with various kinds of provision, together -with twelve loads of equipage, &c, for the Russian generals, which -he sent to Warsaw. The detachment of colonel Valentin 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 skirmishes 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 chasseurs of colonel Grotus, posted in the environs of the -villages Siekierki, and Wilanow, brought in, almost every day, parties -of Russian prisoners, by surprising the different detachments of the -enemy placed upon the island of Saxe, opposite to the above mentioned -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, 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 demanded the capitulation -of the fortress of Modlin, for which object he despatched colonel Kil. -This officer was entrusted with a letter to the count Leduchowski, -written by the marshal's own hand. His proposition was rejected.[46] - -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 arrangement, the batteaux of the enemy were taken -by our troops; and his forces, suddenly attacked and defeated, were -compelled to evacuate their position, leaving a thousand prisoners in -our hands, which were immediately 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 communication to marshal Diebitsch, with propositions of -that purport. But as these offers of conciliation were rejected by the -marshal, the contest was recommenced.[47] - -On the 10th of March, the operations of the campaign were recommenced. -The 2d division, the command of which, after the death of general -Zimirski, was given to general Gielgud, and a division of cavalry, -under the command of general Jankowski, received orders to make a -strong reconnoissance upon the right bank of the Vistula. This division -was ordered to pass the bridge in the night, and at break of day to -commence the attack upon whatever force of the enemy they might find -on the plains of Grochow or Kawenczyn, 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 tirailleurs, and the enemy -began to retire. As it was designed to act upon Kawenczyn, 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 Wawr. 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 upon that artillery, when, at the moment of the charge, two -regiments of Attaman Cossacks, which were 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 with 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 -regiments which had advanced towards Praga, at a considerable distance -from their main forces, might have been taken. A reprimand was publicly -given to the two generals, Gielgud and Jankowski, for their remissness -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.[48] - -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 -dispersed 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 11th at -Lublin, in which town was a small detachment of Dwernicki's corps, -commanded by the colonel Russyian. This small detachment, having only -barricaded a few streets, defended with much firmness the passage of -the small river Bystrzyca, and left the city at nightfall to rejoin its -corps, which was in the environs of Zamosc. - -Again the corps of the Russian guard, which had recently arrived, under -the command of prince Michael, 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 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 -moment to try their strength with them. Two young regiments, one a -regiment of Krakus of Podlasia, and the other the 5th Hulans, entreated -their general to be permitted to make the charge. General Uminski -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 cavalry, which were in full rout, were pursued -as far as the environs of Magnuszewo. 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 -Orsyca, but were followed even to the environs of Rozany, where they -reached the position of their main body. General Uminski, in order -not to expose his 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 enemy in check. In fact, by harassing -and wearying 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 Narew, 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 manner, it was -ascertained that the Russian guard, after destroying the bridge, had -completely evacuated Ostrolenka. It was evident that the design of -prince Michael, in this sudden evacuation of Ostrolenka, was to join -himself to the grand army. General Uminski immediately sent an officer -to inform the commander in chief of this movement, continuing in the -mean time in the position which he had taken before Ostrolenka. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 45: General Dwernicki, on arriving at Pulawy, 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 princess 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 has allowed me to greet my brave countrymen once more, before -my death.' Then giving her hand to general Dwernicki, and presenting -to him and his officers the ladies who were her attendants during 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 attire,'--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 to be, with mothers and sisters such as -these!' He then urged upon the princess the expediency of leaving -Pulawa, which might still be the scene of distressing events, and upon -this suggestion she departed under an escort furnished by general -Dwernicki, for her estates in Galicia.] - -[Footnote 46: The reader will perhaps be gratified with a short -topographical description of this fortress, and some details of this -affair. The fortress 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 river 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 success. 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 attempt -negotiation. The letter sent by the marshal, was full of flattering -language in regard to the heroism of the Polish army. He permitted -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 opinionated -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 assurance -that the fortress should be garrisoned by equal bodies of Russian and -Polish troops. Colonel Leduchowski made a reply to this complimentary -communication in nearly the following terms:--'Marshal, to your letter, -in which you have chosen to flatter the valor of my countrymen, and in -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 brave Pole -dictates to him.'] - -[Footnote 47: 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 generalissimo sought to convince marshal Diebitsch, that -this was not a war undertaken on our part at the instigation of a few -individuals, but 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 consider the amount of blood which had been already shed, and -the indefinite 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 attempted every amicable means, to -establish upon an equal basis their own happiness and civilization, and -that of the whole north, and that all the responsibility of the bloody -struggle which was continued, rests on the side of despotism.] - -[Footnote 48: 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 colonel Blendowski, who had fallen in his wounded state into the -enemy's hands, sent a flag to general Giesmar, the commander of 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, arrived at the Russian quarters, he saw a body of Russians -with general Giesmar, and his suite at their side, bearing a wounded -officer, and advancing towards them. Our officer, as they approached, -recognized colonel Blendowski in the wounded officer, and announced -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.] - - - - -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 - Uscilog.--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. - - -The news of this prompt and sudden evacuation of Ostrolenka by the -Russian guard, and the evident intention of the Grand Duke Michael to -discontinue his operations in the palatinate of Plock, 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 Russian corps, and to -crush them before marshal Diebitsch 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 troops received him with expressions of the -greatest enthusiasm. He could not but be delighted at the sight of -that fine and energetic force, and be confident 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 order 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. - -[Illustration: - - _XVI. p. 264._] - -[Illustration: - - _XVII. p. 266._] - -Whilst the division of Gielgud and the cavalry of Kicki were to occupy -the great road (_g_) leading to Grochow, the 1st division under -Rybinski was to march upon the right wing of the enemy at Kawenczyn -(K). This last division was to drive the enemy from his position in -as short a time as possible. If the enemy's forces at Kawenczyn 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 so fortunate as to take -Kawenczyn, general Rybinski was to send, by a small road (_l_) leading -from this place, through the forest, to Milosna, a few battalions (_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 -arrangements, the position of Kawenczyn 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 -instructions given were that it should not commence its fire until -apprised of general Rybinski's having gained possession of Kawenczyn. -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 occupy 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 -quitted Praga at midnight, arrived as far as the environs of Kawenczyn, -without being in the least disturbed by the enemy. This skilful -general had the precaution not to attack the enemy until an hour before -day-break; in the interval, while resting in the woody ground near -Kawenczyn, 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 another patrol in -the direction of the forest of elders to reconnoitre the enemy there. -Those patrols returned with the intelligence that the enemy's force -could not be great, as they could perceive no large detachments placed -as advanced posts. It was between five and six in the morning, when -the first fire of general Rybinski, at Kawenczyn, gave notice to the -2d division of Gielgud, at Praga, that it was the time to advance. The -brigade of cavalry under Kicki, (_b_), with the 2d and 7th regiments -of lancers, having with them three pieces of cannon, spread out their -flankers, and advanced slowly, directed continually 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 Kawenczyn. The enemy -were instantly routed by this impetuous attack, and lost three pieces -of cannon. The division passed through Kawenczyn, sent two battalions -(_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 general and -rapid advance was commenced under cover of the thick fog. Two regiments -of cossack cavalry, (_h_), who were posted in columns near the Obelisk -of Iron, were borne down before them. A great 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 advanced post -of Russian artillery of three pieces (_f_) near Grochow, 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 or sixteen battalions of infantry (_a_), -eight squadrons of cavalry (_h_), and twenty-four pieces of cannon -(_f_). 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, amounting to 5,000 men, with all their officers and colors, -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 Karczew, 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 Milosna, which 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 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 -cossacks of Czarno-morskie, posted at Janowek, met the same fate, and -prisoners were taken in every direction. 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 Rosen, -composed of about 30,000 men and 40 pieces of cannon. - - -BATTLE OF DEMBE-WIELKE. [_See Plate_ XVIII.] - -As the enemy occupied the heights (D) of Dembe-Wielke, on the side of -the marsh opposite to our forces, which, to attack him, would have had -to traverse the dyke (_k_) constructed over this marsh,--the commanders -of the two divisions considered it expedient 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 (_b_) to be brought together, -and formed in columns of attack, with the two squadrons of carbiniers, -under the brave colonel Sznayder, 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 artillery (_c_) was to open -a general fire, ceasing, however, 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 consternation that he was not -in a state to make a defence, 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 different kinds, as caissons of ammunition, -baggage-wagons, &c, and a great number of horses.[49] 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 being taken. All -his equipage, consisting of three voitures, fell into our hands. Thus -ended the glorious 30th of March. The generalissimo, who was always -in the advance, and who had personally arranged all the details of -that day's operations, particularly 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 -and 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 government the -order of the great Cross of Military Merit. The general in chief was -accompanied, during the actions, by prince Adam Czartoriski, and the -members of the National Government, Berzykowski, and Malachowski. - -[Illustration: - - _XVIII. p. 200_] - -[Illustration: - - _XIX. p. 202_] - -To follow up the pursuit [_See Plan_ XIX] of the fragments of the two -Russian corps, general Skrzynecki designated the division of cavalry -(A) under general Lubinski, with a battery of light artillery. This -detachment set out during the night, sending reconnoissances to the -right and left, to see that the enemy did not prepare ambuscades. -The army followed this advanced guard, which soon overtook the enemy -(B), who was still in great disorder. Infantry, cavalry, artillery, -and vehicles, were mingled together, 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 before 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 regiment 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 standards, four pieces of cannon, and a hundred vehicles of -baggage, ammunition, &c,--in fact, the whole baggage of the corps. But -the most agreeable success of our army, on that day, was the taking -possession 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 Milosna, 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 prisoners; 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 Pulawy 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, together -with the guard, had led him to return in the direction of the town of -Kock, to afford them succor. - -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, was at Boimie; detachments being also -placed in the environs of Wengrow. The main body, under Diebitsch, -was at Kock. His advanced posts extended to Wodynie, Seroczyn, 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 consequence of the successes of our -army, to abandon that plan, and to retire again to the environs of -Ostrolenka, where they now were posted. In the palatinate of Lublin was -the Russian corps under general Witt. - -The position of our army was as follows. Our left wing was opposite -Boimie. It sent out its reconnoissances 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 manner, the marshy rivers, Kostrzyn and Swider, covered our -front. [_Refer to Plan_ VI.] General Uminski, with his detached corps, -was at Rozany, in the palatinate of Plock, opposed to the Russian -guard. In the environs of the fortress of Zamosc in the palatinate of -Lublin, opposed to the Russian corps of general Witt, was the corps -of general Dwernicki. 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 Sierawski. - -While the main forces were acting with such success, the two detached -corps, under generals Uminski and Dwernicki, had also fought -gloriously, and gained important advantages. The corps of general -Dwernicki 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, reinforced every day by volunteers -coming from Galicia 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 Uscilug, at which place a new Russian corps, coming -from Turkey, 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 commander -of this force was the brave colonel Russyian. The detachment arrived -at the above place, and received intelligence of the approach of -an advanced guard of the corps of general Rudiger, composed of two -regiments or six battalions of infantry, one regiment of cossacks, and -eight pieces of cannon. Colonel Russyian did not stay for the approach -of this guard. He took possession of the different batteaux which were -prepared for, and were waiting the arrival 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 report from him, and had no expectation of such results. The -rumor of the continual successes of this corps of general Dwernicki, -spread along the borders of the Dnieper, reached the distant regions of -our brethren in the Ukraine, and awakened 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 3,000 infantry, 800 cavalry, and three -pieces of cannon, and had nearly destroyed two Russian corps, those of -Kreutz and Wirtemberg, taking 10,000 prisoners, and thirty pieces of -cannon, the national government promoted its brave commander to the -rank of full general of cavalry, and honored him with the surname of -the famous Czarnecki, the ancient polish chief.[50] - -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 manoeuvre, and from thence he was to push -himself, as circumstances might allow, into the environs of Lublin 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 contemplated: 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 manner his corps would be gradually increased -by such aid from those provinces, without attracting the attention -of the enemy. As the provinces of Volhynia and Podolia, from their -geographical character, having 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 Dwernicki, 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 endeavor to strengthen them by different -fortifications. General Dwernicki, in receiving 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 kingdom in general, and to bring them into a -state to act with effect in concert with the rest of the kingdom. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 49: The horses taken on that day, and at the battle of Wawr, -were employed to mount the entire new regiment of the Lancers of -Augustow.] - -[Footnote 50: 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 the enemy began -its fire, and the charge was not ordered, our cavalry were always -disappointed. 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 detachments 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 -dissatisfaction. On noticing this, he was astonished, and demanded an -explanation. 'What does this mean, my dear comrades?' said he; 'you are -sad at a moment when, after so many victories, you ought to be joyful.' -The lancers replied--'Dear general, it is an hour since the enemy's -artillery commenced their fire, and you do not allow us to charge upon -them.' The general, smiling, answered, 'Make yourselves content; 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 position, -sabred, and ten pieces of their cannon taken. The Russians, 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!'] - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - - The insurrection in Lithuania.--Dispositions of the Lithuanians at the - breaking out of our revolution.--Their offers of co-operation were - rejected 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 numerous - towns by the insurgents, and dispersion of their garrisons.--Storm - of Wilno, and delivery of prisoners.--Several partizan corps are - formed.--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 for 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 revolution. -The certain confirmation of this happy intelligence was brought to the -kingdom by one of the students of the University of Wilno. 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.[51] - -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 joining 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 country and a view of its connection with Poland, -which is, in general, so imperfectly understood. - -The Lithuanians of Wilno 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 Chlopicki, -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 Lithuanians, however, not -despairing, waited for a more propitious moment; and scarcely was the -dictatorship 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 an -appointed time, 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, had they been protected by free laws, would have -been, as they formerly were, the granary of Europe, presented every -where traces of misery, being exposed to the abuses of the Russian -administration and its agents, who wrung them to the last drop, to -enrich themselves. Justice was unknown. Sometimes the governors, or -sprawnaks, men of most depraved 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 were 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 -inhabitants the means of their support. But the cause of the greatest -suffering in Lithuania, was, that, in order to prevent all sympathy -between the soldiers and peasantry, and all national feeling in the -Lithuanian 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 -deportment towards them, and merciless in their exactions. It was not -so under Alexander,--the arrangement 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 supply the demands of the -military tyrant who was quartered 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 endeavor to destroy all -national sympathy with Poland. 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 Lithuania 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 -of our revolution, afford a sufficient evidence of this attachment. -What deserves especially to be noticed, is, that in Lithuania, it was -the peasants and the priests, joined by the youths of the academies, -who first began the revolt, and who were the most zealous defenders 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 abandoned all to unite in -our aid, and fought with courage and success for nearly two months, -against the different Russian corps, before the corps of Gielgud 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 departments 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. Wounded as they were, those who survived the attack were -thrown into wagons to be carried to Wilno. But in this the barbarians -did not succeed. A few escaped 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. From that moment the flame spread to the -departments of Wilno, 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, Wilkomierz, Kowno, Troki, Swienciany, Rosienice, -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 several pieces of cannon were also taken. The most -bloody affair was the storm of Wilno, 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, and proprietors, who had -been confined in prison there for years. The battle of Keydany and -Szerwinty was also severe, and the valor of the brave Lithuanians was -equally displayed there. At Keydany, 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 garrison, 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 garrisons to the amount of eight or ten thousand Russian regular -troops, spreading consternation throughout 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 into several small detached partizan corps, -which received the following destination. 1st, the corps under 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 communication between the ports of the Baltic Sea, -Lipawa and Polonga, so as to secure a correspondence 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 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 country from -St Petersburgh to Warsaw, and to surprise and attack all the Russian -detachments which might pass that road, on their way to Poland. - -To act in communication with this corps, and against the garrison of -Wilno, 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, under the command of -V***. This detachment was constantly in movement, and kept open the -communications between the other corps, and acted as occasion required. -It was especially to attempt to surprise 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 -sudden and vigorously the Russian corps under the command of general -Szyrman, that they were forced to take refuge upon the Prussian -territory at Memel. The Prussians received them, and afterwards -permitted them to leave with their arms and ammunition. This was not -the first nor the last example of such relief afforded to our enemy by -Prussia. - -The insurrections of Lithuania and Samogitia, which had begun so -successfully and promised to extend even 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 the situation of the enemy became in a high degree -critical, as every military judge will perceive. The danger of their -position was still more to be augmented by our success in the battle of -Iganie, on the 9th of April. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 51: 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 generalissimo, at Jendrzeiow, where he was received with great -enthusiasm. He was immediately sent to Warsaw, to announce the happy -intelligence to the people.] - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - - Plan of operation against the two corps of Rosen and Kreutz.--Battle - of Iganie.--Reflections on the state of the Polish cause after the - victory of Iganie.--Review of the course of the campaign.--Condition - of the Russian army.--Discontents in Russia.--Representations of the - Senate 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 -plan of passing the Vistula opposite to Kozienice, and to think of -nothing farther 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 general in chief thought to anticipate this movement, and -to throw himself upon the combined corps of Giesmar and Rosen, before -Diebitsch should reach them.[52] - -[Illustration: - - _XX. p 220_] - -[Illustration: - - _XXI. p. 224_] - - -BATTLE OF IGANIE. [_See Plans_ XX _and_ XXI.] - -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 (_b_), -at Boimie. Our army also had not changed its position. - -The following were the dispositions for the attack. The reader, on -examining the plan, will see that the two corps opposed to our forces, -which were at Latowicz (_c_), were too far advanced, which exposed -them to be turned on their left wing, and even taken in the rear, if -our forces there should succeed in driving back the forces (_e_) of -the enemy on the road (_d_) from Latowicz by Wodynie to Siedlce. To -execute this movement the order was given that when the first division -of infantry (_f_), 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 take the -direction of Wodynie, 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 (_h_). If it should -succeed in driving back the enemy's forces, it was to take the road on -the left, leading from Wodynie through Iganie (_i_) to Siedlce. Every -effort was to be directed to the point of arriving as soon as possible -upon the dyke (_k_) at Iganie, which leads over the marshes of the -river Sucha (_l_). By a prompt manoeuvre of this kind, the enemy could -not, as we have said, escape being turned. For the better execution -of this plan, the enemy was to be harassed on the main road, in order -that general Prondzynski, who was to command the expedition to Wodynie, -might have time to manoeuvre upon the enemy's flank. - -A division of cavalry (_m_), under the command of general Stryinski, -was to leave Boimie, and take a direction on the left, towards the -village of Gruszki, 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, and confided the command of the -little corps which was to act upon the enemy's left wing at Wodynie, -to general Prondzynski, the general in chief 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 enemy by the marshes of the river Kostrzyn. The two ruined -bridges upon the dyke not permitting either ourselves or the enemy -to pass, general Skrzynecki contented himself with opening a fire of -artillery upon the Russian position, in order to occupy the attention -of the enemy, while preparations were making to repair the bridges -sufficiently to admit a passage. - -The moment that the work of reconstructing the bridges was to be put -in execution, was to be decided by the time and the direction in -which the fire of general Prondzynski should be heard. If the latter -general should succeed 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 by this fire of artillery, and slight manoeuvres of the -light troops, when at last, between eight and nine o'clock, the fire -of general Prondzynski was heard, who had evidently passed Wodynie, -and had begun acting on the enemy's flank. This was the signal to -commence repairing the bridges. General Skrzynecki, with his suite, -superintended the work, and 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 flank, and -his columns began a movement; but his artillery continued in their -position, and commenced a terrible fire upon our men who were 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 labors under this destructive -fire of artillery.[53] 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 before they -could be brought to such a state as to admit 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, leaving 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 [_Plan_ XXI, (A),] -who, according to his instructions, advanced to Wodynie, found there -a division of sixteen squadrons of Russian cavalry, whom he drove -from their position: he pursued them in the direction of Siedlce, and -reached the environs of Iganie, 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 Iganie, 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 Iganie, (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 Prondzynski 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_), being obstructed by their artillery. Generals Prondzynski 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 raised the hurrah, -rushed forward, and as they approached near the brigade of Romarino, -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 simultaneously upon them, the enemy were terribly cut up, and -the battle was gained. Nearly five Russian battalions, amounting to -4,000 men, with their officers, amounting to near one hundred, 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 remarked that the 2d division of -cavalry of general Stryinski, 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 wounded. 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 Iganie, without being in the least disturbed by them. - -The reader will permit me to fix his attention upon the epoch of -the battle of Iganie, which was indeed the brightest moment of our -war, the moment of the highest success of the Polish arms, the -moment of the most confident hopes, when every Pole in imagination -saw his country already restored to her ancient glory. Let us then, -from this point, cast a look backwards to the commencement of this -terrible contest. Two months before, an enormous Russian 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 expectation, in fact, all -Europe looked on, and at every moment the world expected to hear of -the terrible catastrophe,--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 promises 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 Siedlce, 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 expected 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 was given, in which the -enemy were uniformly subjected 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 collecting 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 enormous 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 general blushed at the menaces which they had uttered. Poland -believed that the former would reflect upon those bloody struggles -and the immense losses which he had suffered, and would be unwilling -to continue such sacrifices. Nearly 50,000 Russians were already -sacrificed. How many more lives might he not still lose? The Poles, -although conquerors, held out the hand of reconciliation, as the -letters that Skrzynecki addressed 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 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 conduct, 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 -capital, 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 Lithuania and Samogitia, and the recent battle of -Iganie, seemed to threaten the ruin of his army. - -The Russian army was now in a state of the greatest disaffection, -being posted in a devastated country, and having their resources for -subsistence entirely cut off by the state of Lithuania and Samogitia. -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 impaired their strength, arising from a conviction which they -could not avoid feeling, 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 persons 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 manifested, and notices of such must have -met the eye of the reader in the journals of the day. The senate of -St Petersburgh presented to the consideration of the monarch the -continual severe losses of the preceding 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 -measures, 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 Russian patriots in -general, not only thought it a favorable 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 authorize 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 decisive contest. One victory more, and the Russians would -not be in a state to push their attempts farther. 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 dispersed. 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 immense 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 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 between -us, and of eternal warning to tyranny.' - - -A COMPARATIVE VIEW OF THE FORCE OF THE TWO ARMIES AFTER THE BATTLE OF -IGANIE. - -The Russian forces, which commenced the contest 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 reinforcements, viz. the -corps of general prince Szachowski, consisting of 20,000 men, and 36 -pieces of 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 Grochow, had in service -about 50,000 men, and about 100 pieces of cannon. Up to the battle -of Iganie, fifteen principal battles had been given, viz. those of -Stoczek, Dobre, Milosna, Swierza and Nowawies, Bialolenka (on the 20th -and 24th), Grochow (on the 20th and 25th), Nasielsk, Pulawy, Kurow, -Wawr (on the 18th and 31st), Dembe-Wielkie and Iganie. 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 Grochow, more than fifty -thousand Russians were _hors du combat_. It will not, then, be an -exaggeration to say, that their whole loss, taking into the account -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.[54] From the enormous park of artillery which -the Russians 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 impossible to do, the number -of cannon which might have been dismounted. Our army, which was -reorganized at Warsaw, after its losses, was brought to about the same -state as at the commencement of the war, that is, about 40,000 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 our favor, 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 been victorious, animated too, as we now were, by the -inspiriting influence of our past success, and aided by the terror with -which our arms had inspired the enemy. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 52: Every military reader, who shall follow, with strict -attention, the plans of our general in strategy and tactics, will be -astonished, perhaps, that after such victories as those of the 31st of -March and 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 Plan_], have been attacked on both sides, and thrown into -confusion. Although I cannot give a satisfactory explanation of this -apparent fault, it must be considered, that those subsequent events -which give a color 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, occurring to his mind, which -are not now apparent to the observer.] - -[Footnote 53: No terms can express the admirable conduct of our -commander and his suite, who directed the work of reconstructing these -bridges, in person. The general and his officers all labored 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 were placing some trunks of trees, a shell fell among them. To -have left their labor 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 mingled the shout of 'Poland forever!' Providence -granted that in that exposed labor our loss was very inconsiderable.] - -[Footnote 54: I cannot pretend to give the reader an accurate idea -of the number of prisoners which were taken during the first days of -April. From the battle of Wawr to that of Iganie, 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 referred to, as 'the -Period of the Prisoners.' The inhabitants of Warsaw 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 ordinary 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 national -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 for his -labor. The second part being also employed upon wages, labored on the -great roads leading from Warsaw, in a 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 labor. 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 instructed in the true nature of -their political rights, the real causes of the contest were exhibited -to them, and they were made to be convinced that it was for their -advantage as well as our own that we were fighting. - -The greatest harmony reigned between the Poles and their prisoners; -and I am sure that those Russians will remember the days they passed -as prisoners, as the happiest in their lives. With us their prison 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 whom obedience was enforced by the -knout.] - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - - Position of the two armies after the battle of Iganie.--Plan - of a simultaneous 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 disadvantageously 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 prisoners 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. - - -The positions of the two armies, [_See Plan_ XXII,] were now as -follows:--The Russian army was divided into four principal bodies, -having no communication with each other. First, their main body (_a_), -consisting of about 60,000 men and 130 pieces of cannon, were between -Lukow (1) and Cock (2). Secondly, the remains of the corps of Rosen -and Giesmar (_b_) were at Siedlce (3). They could be counted at about -20,000 men and perhaps 50 pieces of cannon. 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 combined corps of Witt -and Kreutz (_d_), consisting of 30,000 men and 60 pieces of cannon. -Their different 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. - -[Illustration: - - _XXII. p. 234_] - -[Illustration: - - _XXIII. p. 243._] - -Our main body (_e_), composed of four divisions of infantry, -and three of cavalry, making in all about 30,000 men and 80 pieces -of cannon, was placed between Iganie (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 (_f_) upon the right bank of -the Narew, at Nasielsk (8), amounting to 3,200 horse and 24 pieces of -artillery, placed there to observe the Russian guard. In the environs -of Pulawy (9) was a small partizan corps, under the command of general -Sierawski (_g_), with 3,000 men and four pieces of cannon. The corps -of general Dwernicki (_h_) was in the environs of Zamosc, (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 d'appui_. 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 (11). In a word, the -moment approached at which our commander had determined to give the -enemy a last decisive blow, by attacking him at the same time on every -side; and for this object, 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 Grochow. From the first day of April, as many as 5000 Russian -prisoners were continually employed upon those fortifications. -Warsaw, which was already, as the reader is informed, defended by -a girdle of lunettes and redoubts, communicating with each other, -received the additional defence in some places of block-houses. To -strengthen the fortifications 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 -farther, at a distance of two miles beyond, or nearly upon the field of -Grochow, was constructed a third line of lunettes and redoubts, which -occupied the whole distance from Kawenczyn to the marshes of Goclaw, -or the entire field of battle of Grochow, 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 -fortification. 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 honor to -be entrusted with this duty, and were unwilling that a single soldier -of the regular army should be detailed for the service. How admirably -they executed their noble resolutions, when the occasion came, is -probably well known 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 intended to support all his operations, and, relying on -which, he could at any time hazard the boldest attempts. 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 general Dwernicki (_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 constant communication with each other. For that object general -Sierawski was to pass the Vistula at Kazimierz (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 Kazimierz. General -Dwernicki was also informed that a third small corps would be sent in -the direction of Zelechow (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 -Pulawy (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 their main body. Leaving the corps -of general Sierawski to continue to observe them, and to push his -advantages over them, Dwernicki himself was to pass the Wieprz at Kock, -and from thence by forced marches to leave in the direction of Radzyn -(11) for Lukow (1) 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 (_e_), in which attack he -was to act on the enemy's left wing. The main body of the enemy, thus -taken in front and in flank, simultaneously, could not but have been -broken up. For all these operations the general in chief had destined -fourteen days only. - -On the night of the battle of Iganie, 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 observation 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 Siennica, received orders -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, Wodynie, and Plomieniece, and -always with advantage. In one of those attacks, at Jedlina, a small -detachment of sixteen Krakus attacked a squadron of Russian hussars, -coming from Wodynie, 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 towards 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 Dwernicki, and the approach of the -moment for his attack upon Diebitsch. Almost sure of the successful -execution of his admirable arrangements, what can express his -disappointment on hearing of the unfortunate operations of the corps -of general Sierawski, and of the defeat of that corps at Kazimierz in -the palatinate of Lublin, _the first defeat in the whole war_. That -general, in neglecting the instructions of the commander in chief, not -to engage with the enemy, on account of the inferiority of his own -forces, (with which forces in fact he could not expect to act but in -partizan warfare,) approached Lublin, 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 Dwernicki at Zamosc. He therefore probably -took the direction 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 Kazimierz, arrived on the 16th of April at -Belzyca. To his great astonishment he found there a strong advanced -guard of the above mentioned corps. To avoid compromitting himself, he -engaged 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, 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, it being covered by woods with patches of -open ground intervening. Some squadrons of young Kaliszian cavalry, -led by the general himself, advanced to the attack of the enemy's -artillery, which being disadvantageously posted, was exposed to be -captured. That cavalry, however, by a false direction 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 evacuate its position, and along its whole -retrograde march continual attacks of the enemy were pressed upon -it. The peculiar nature of the ground, and the extreme brevity of -general Sierawski, a veteran 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 Kazimierz, the point -which it had left; and here again, instead of passing the Vistula, -Sierawski awaited another attack from the overwhelming 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 -excited much remark in the army. On the 18th, the Russians reached -Kazimierz. The town was vigorously attacked by them, and their assaults -were repeatedly repulsed by the new Kazimierz infantry, under colonel -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 Kazimierz, 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 Dwernicki. The -latter general, who, as is known to the reader, commenced his career -so gloriously; whose very name, indeed, was a terror to the Russians, -and who, by his successive victories over the three corps of Kreutz, -Wirtemberg, and Rudiger, had established the strongest claims upon the -gratitude of his country,--this general, I must repeat it with pain, -finished his great career in the most unfortunate manner. His case -should serve as a strong example, that it is not bravery alone which is -required 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 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 operations -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 of 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 disperse the insurgents. At the moment when Dwernicki -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 insurgents 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 Uscilog (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 supposed to be awaiting -him. On the road to that town he received information that the corps of -Rudiger 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 Boromel (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 position. 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 attack; and as he saw that the enemy could -not be safely assailed in front, on account of his strong position -between two small lakes, but found that this position was open towards -the frontier of Austria,--there it was that the unhappy idea occurred -to him, of marching to the environs of Kolodno (8), on the frontier -of Austria, and attacking the enemy on that side, feeling 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 manoeuvring upon the frontiers of -Austria, general Rudiger repassed the Styr, avoided the attack by this -manoeuvre, and was in a situation to join himself with all the Russian -detachments which might come into the province from the heart of -Russia, by the different directions of Krzemieniece, 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 await 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 (_b_) -made its appearance, having come in the direction of Krzemienic (11). -The battle commenced, and in the midst of the action another Russian -corps (_c_) was seen approaching in the direction of Proskirow (12) -and Stary-Konstantynow (13) under the command of general Rott, acting -thus upon the right wing and even the rear of general Dwernicki's -corps. To avoid being turned, general Dwernicki 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 attack upon his flank. This obliged general Dwernicki 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, calling -on them to respect the neutrality of the territory. In this manner -the combat ceased. General Dwernicki gave his parole to discontinue -hostilities, and consented to advance farther into the interior, and, -placing himself in camp, waited the result of the decision of the -Austrian government upon what had occurred. The Russian corps, which -had just passed 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 what had occurred to the National -Government and the general in chief, which he was permitted to do. He -also sent a letter to the commander in chief of the Austrian forces -in Gallicia, explaining 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 permitted 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 permission, -collected a strong corps in the environs of Tarnopol, and the Austrian -commander in chief demanded of general Dwernicki to surrender both his -own arms and those taken from the enemy. General Dwernicki, although -this Austrian corps was not formidable to him, yet being anxious to -avoid the serious political consequences which might possibly follow -resistance, submitted to this unjust demand, which will be an eternal -reproach to the Austrian government. The Austrians returned their arms -to the Russian prisoners, whom they liberated, and retained the arms of -the Polish troops. The whole corps was conducted into the interior, and -thus ended the career of that important body of our forces.[55] - -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 frontier; and that cannot -be regarded as an intentional invasion of the frontiers which was done -without design, and was a mere transition over an indistinct line, -made necessary by the position which the enemy had taken. Such a case -certainly should have formed an exception to a general rule. To the -Russian corps all the prisoners were returned, without any consent -obtained from our government, to whom they, in fact, belonged, and -should have been considered as belonging, until the end of the war. - -It was in this manner that those intriguing cabinets 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 owe their very existence to Poland. - -At present, regardless of all obligations of justice, they concert -with our enemy for our ruin. But if by this unjust treatment of their -benefactors, the Austrians may have gained some temporary advantages, -the reader will acknowledge that in reference to their ultimate good, -they have acted with a most short-sighted and mistaken policy. The -aggrandizement 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, Rudiger and Rott, could -now rejoin their main army without 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 horrible malady, the cholera, which after the battle of Iganie -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 sufferers were left exposed -to the open air, and died upon the field. The Poles took even more -care of them than of their own sick. They were brought together, and -transported to Menie, where there was a large convent, which was turned -into an hospital for their use. The total number of those sufferers -may be imagined, when it is stated, that, in that hospital and village -alone, two thousand Russian sick were reported. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 55: 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, the departing from orders which are given upon a general plan, -the absolute control of which should belong to the general in chief. -Had general Dwernicki, conforming to his instructions, 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 -Kazimierz, and both of those two corps could have joined in the attack, -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 advantages 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.] - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - - The Russian commander resumes offensive operations.--Object of the - attack of the 25th of April.--Combat of Kuflew.--General Dembinski - evacuates the position of Kuflew and awaits the enemy at Bady.--Battle - of Minsk.--The enemy suddenly evacuates his position.--Reflections 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 we may suppose, of the disasters of Sierawski, and -also of the passage 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, without any decisive result. Those -small attacks by the enemy served, however, as an indication of the -intention of general Diebitsch to take the offensive on a larger scale. -To meet this intention, all our detachments received orders to hold -themselves in readiness. Firstly, these detachments were to concentrate -themselves 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 retrograde -movement, upon the same plan as heretofore, as far as the field of -Wawr. General Pac, in particular, who was the farthest removed from -Zelechow, was to use the utmost vigilance, and to make this retrograde -movement in the promptest manner, when occasion required. - -On the 25th of April, in fact, marshal Diebitsch commenced his attack -at two principal points, Boimie and Kuflew. Upon the last of these -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, commanded the -inconsiderable forces that met the attack of the masses of Diebitsch, -well merited the rank of general, to which he was then advanced. Our -position was covered by the river Swider (S) and its marshes, which -secured it from being taken in flank. The enemy had one debouchment -(_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 (_b_) of our infantry. Upon the plain -between Kuflew and the river Swider, ten squadrons of our cavalry -(_c_) manoeuvred. Near the village (II) 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 sunrise, on the 25th, -several regiments 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 brush-wood. It was -mid-day when strong columns of infantry (_f_) began to show themselves -in the direction of Lukowiec and Plomieniec. 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 (_h_) which remained upon 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 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 at -Latowicz, &c, above referred to, had evacuated 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 -artillery 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 debouched -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 enemy attempted nothing more, our forces, during -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 Diebitsch in -person, were opposed to general Dembinski, who had not quite 4,000 men -and four pieces of artillery, with which force he stood against the -enemy for that whole day. The loss of the Russians was about a thousand -men, and on our own side it was not fifty. - -[Illustration: - - _XXIV._] - -[Illustration: - - _XXV._] - -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 arranged 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, surrounded by an impenetrable forest, and traversed by a small -river, which falls into the Swider. Upon 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 Ceglow, 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 (_b_). - -It was mid-day when the Russians (_c_) (_d_) debouched 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 infantry (_f_) 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 hesitated whether to advance or retire, and remained in the -utmost disorder, falling under the fire of our artillery 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 suspense, 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 themselves 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 -Stoiadly, two English miles distant, took a second position there. -This new position was advantageous, on account of the elevation 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 passage of the -great road. As the enemy was so imprudent, after our evacuation, as to -commence his debouchment through the town, with his cavalry in advance, -he exposed himself to a severe loss; for our artillery, consisting -of six pieces, poured a destructive fire upon the main street of the -city, which led to the only passage over the river; and again, after -deploying under this fire upon the plain, he was subjected to vigorous -charges from our cavalry under Skarzynski, which cost him a severe -loss, and delayed his advance for more than half an hour. As the space -between Stoiadly and Minsk was a plain gently 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 successive 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, on their light animals, assaulted them in the -very midst of their ranks. Many staff and other officers of the enemy -were left dead upon the field. Our advanced guard having, in this way, -fought with such advantages, against the whole Russian army, at Minsk -and Stoiadly, from mid-day until 5, P.M.; the general in chief ordered -them to evacuate their position as promptly as possible, and retire to -Dembe-Wielke, where he awaited the enemy in order of battle, and where -he was desirous of meeting his attack before night. This movement was -executed without molestation from the Russians. Our advanced guard -passed the forests between Dembe-Wielke and Stoiadly, and arrived at -the position of Dembe-Wielke, where fifty pieces of our artillery -were posted to receive the enemy, and our whole force took the order -of battle. The enemy, however, did not debouch 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 attacks of -the enemy proved how much he had suffered. He had two generals mortally -wounded, general Pahlen and the prince Galiczyn, 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 Government and the -general in chief presented their thanks to the 2d division under -Gielgud and the division of cavalry under Skarzynski. General Gielgud -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 all important -expedition to Lithuania. - -On the 27th and 28th, no events took place. During the night of the -28th, the enemy, to our astonishment, evacuated his position and -retired as far as Kaluszyn, twenty-four English miles distant. We -cannot give the true cause of this sudden and unexpected 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 -importance, of the revolutions in Lithuania and Samogitia. - -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 military 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 general 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 reinforced -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 -result 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 questions -will arise. First, what was the object of commencing the attack? -Secondly, what was, in regard to tactics, the cause of its cessation, -and of that sudden retreat? It will be very difficult to find a -satisfactory answer to either of those questions.[56] - -Our army, after this retreat of the enemy, commenced anew its advance, -and, on the 30th, it occupied again its former position at Boimie, on -the river Kostrzyn. 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 detachment at Zagroby, where the generalissimo ordered 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 again concentrated between Wengrow and -Ceglow, and indeed Wengrow was occupied by a small detachment. 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 Karczew and Ceglow. The Russian army was concentrated -in the environs of Mordy and Sucha, where marshal Diebitsch entrenched -himself in a fortified camp, and took again a defensive attitude. -The corps of Kreutz and Witt were in the environs of Pulawy, and the -Russian imperial guard advanced to the environs of Pultusk. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 56: 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 this circumstance reported to him, the general in chief did -not take advantage of any attack, but 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 under 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 Russians 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 tyranny and the privations to which they were -subjected, and our lancers gave them all the relief which their own -means could furnish.] - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - - General Skrzynecki resumes the offensive.--He decides to adopt an - enlarged plan of operations, and to make the revolutionized provinces - supply 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.--Forced - 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 having been attempted -on the part of the enemy, our general in chief decided to re-commence -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 very 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 circumstances, 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 Iganie. The misfortunes of the corps of Dwernicki -and Sierawski, had made a vast change in the relative strength of the -two parties. The fate of those two corps gave a great advantage to the -enemy, 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 character to the revolution in Lithuania, and in fact to -make that revolution supply the place of a _corps d'armee_, to 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 Wilno and Warsaw. This line of operations would embrace also the -towns of Grodno 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 predecessor, that of -general Dwernicki, which were, in general, to act in the environs of -Zamosc. - -To facilitate the execution of these plans, the general 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 above mentioned, consisting of -4,000 men and eight pieces of cannon, under general Chrzanowski, -left 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 examining the plan, and looking at the space which this -corps (_a_) was to pass over, in the midst of the enemy's detached -corps (_b_), and in which it was exposed every moment to be surrounded -and cut off, will acknowledge that this expedition, which was most -successfully executed, is to be ranked among the finest operations -in the campaign. It demanded a general of talent, and a soldier of -determination. - -[Illustration: - - _XXVI. p 265_] - -[Illustration: - - _XXVII. p 267_] - -[Illustration: - - _XXVIII. p. 266_] - -When I 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 ambition 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-estimated. - -General Chrzanowski, quitting, as we have mentioned, the main body, -took the direction of Ceglow, and threw himself into the great forest -of Plomieniec. Leaving that forest, he met, near Wodynie, a strong -detachment of the enemy, composed of infantry, cavalry, and several -pieces of artillery, belonging to their main body, and probably -detached to make a reconnoissance. By a sudden attack 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, 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_ XXVII.] - -At the moment of the arrival of the corps of general 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 (1) -on each side of the river, to defend the passage of the bridge (2), and -without taking those fortifications it would be impossible for us to -pass the bridge. In such circumstances there was no alternative, and it -was necessary to attempt to take the town by storm. General Chrzanowski -announced 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 possession of -the garden (4) which surrounded the palace, and bordered on the river. -If all this could be rapidly 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 -(_b_), 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 Russian 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 -11th the environs 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_ XXVIII.] - -The corps of general Rudiger, after the unfortunate 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 some twenty pieces of cannon, was in camp (E) -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 -Chrzanowski divided his corps into two parties, and giving 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, -general 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 enemy, without being perceived, as even to be on a line -with him. Not long before evening, Romarino having 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 assaulted 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 artillery 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 furnished himself with ammunition from the magazines, and, -remaining there but a short time, left for the environs of Zamosc, in -which fortress he deposited his prisoners. - -Conformably to his instructions, he remained in camp, near this -fortress, at Labunia.[57] - -The general in chief having thus accomplished his object of supplying -the place of general Dwernicki'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 -Russian imperial guard, which was somewhat detached from the Russian -grand army. To carry this bold purpose into effect, the following -instructions were given to the different commanders. - -[Illustration: - - _XXIX._] - - -[Illustration: - - _XXX._] - - -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 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 reconnoissance. The object of this change of position -was, that in the new position he might mask the movements of the main -body. This important disposition 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 movement. 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 detachments left there for the -defence of those fortifications. If, on the contrary, the Russian army -should make a retrograde movement, general Uminski was to endeavor, -by following them, to keep them constantly in view. If circumstances -permitted, the rear guard of the Russians might be harassed during -the night. Above all, general Uminski was to endeavor to keep up his -communications with the neighboring corps, that of general Lubinski, -and the detachments left at Siennica and Karczew. In this moderate -pursuit of the enemy, the general was to ascertain whether their -retrograde movement was a retreat or a manoeuvre, in order to avoid -every hazard. - -General Lubinski (_b_), with his division of cavalry, was to pass the -right bank of the Bug (B), and leaving small detachments at Wyszkow (1) -and Brok (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 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 Uminski. - -Having given these orders to the above mentioned corps, general -Skrzynecki, with the main force (_d_), 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 -(_e_), under general Dembinski, upon the right bank, with orders to -advance to Ostrolenka (10), through the towns of Pultusk, Magnuszewo -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 detain him as near as possible to Serock. If the enemy should -commence the retreat, this corps was to pursue him with the greatest -activity, in order that at Ostrolenka, where the general in chief had -determined to attack him, he might be exposed between two fires. - -On the 17th, this corps met the first advanced post (_f_) of the -Russian imperial guard at Modzele, which, after a slight engagement, -evacuated its position, and retired. Being pursued by the brigade of -cavalry under general Dembinski, they, on the 18th, commenced the -passage of the Narew, at Ostrolenka. 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 palatinate 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 artillery 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 many 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 having despatched a -detachment, under the command of colonel Sierawski, for the pursuit of -the corps of Saken, 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 Dlugie-Siodlo (13), this village was found occupied -by two regiments of infantry and two of 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 cavalry 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 simultaneously 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. - -I cannot give the reader a 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 incurred by the forced -march which the distance passed over supposes. Another reason, perhaps, -was, that 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 Mniszew, -and passed the frontier of the kingdom at the village of Mien, between -Ciechanowiec and Suraz, opposite Brainsk. - -Our army, having halted one day at Xienzopol, on the evening of the -20th, quitted this position to continue the pursuit of the guard, and -overtook them in the forest of Menzynin (15). 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 advance 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 continually pursued, and subject to severe -losses along the whole route, the guard (_l_) was again pressed at the -passage of the Narew at Tykocin (16). The consternation and disorder of -the enemy was such, that he did not take time to destroy the bridge. -Our lancers, 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,) general Skrzynecki commenced a retrograde -movement, to meet the demonstration which general Diebitsch might make -upon his rear. On the night of the 22d, our army (_m_) began this -movement, having destroyed 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 stratago-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 military 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 movement -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. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 57: 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, as officer of 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 Emperor Nicholas was -desirous of obtaining the aid of Polish officers of engineers, and -Chrzanowski was among the number 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 disregard the merits of the officers from among 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 officer was advanced to the rank of lieutenant -colonel, and was placed in the post of chef d'etat major. While in this -post he was advanced to the rank of general. The generalissimo, who in -all his plans observed the greatest secrecy, and his example ought to -be followed by every good general, initiated, however, Chrzanowski, -and Prondzynski, who succeeded 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 greatest sangfroid imaginable. The -generalissimo could not enough regret that he had not given him the -command of the expedition 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.] - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - - The Lithuanians compel two Russian corps to evacuate - Samogitia.--Operations of general Chlapowski in the department of - Bialystok.--Capture 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 advanced guard at Czyzew.--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 successfully executed the -important operation of driving the Russian imperial guard from the -kingdom, and sending 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 encounters 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 Bialystok, the little corps recently sent under -the command of general Chlapowski, began its operations with great -success. In the environs of Bielsk, that small detachment, composed -of four squadrons of the 1st regiment of lancers, consisting of four -hundred and eighty horsemen, a hundred and ninety light infantry -volunteers mounted,[58] 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 Michael, and on his way with despatches from him to the -Grand Duke Constantine, was taken prisoner.[59] - -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 Narewka. A considerable Russian detachment, under the -command of general Rengardt, composed of 6,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, -and five pieces of cannon--in all, nearly 9,000 men--was posted near -Nasielsk. 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 advantage 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 Bialystok was entirely cleared of the -Russians, and nothing interrupted the formation and organization of -the insurgent 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 examples, 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 Bialystok, wore this favorable aspect, a new corps was -approaching to aid this propitious state of things, to protect the -insurrections, 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 -quitted Lomza on the 27th for Lithuania. - -Before returning to the operations of the grand army, we will give a -short recapitulation 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 this destination;--to enter the -department of Bialystok, to occupy 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 might allow it, to make an -approach upon Wilno. 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 18th 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 Graiewo, where he took a strong position, and awaited -the arrival of the corps of general Gielgud. - -The third corps, under the command of general Gielgud, being 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. _Cavalry_, 1,300. - -Besides these forces, which were detached from 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 commence -active service until the battle of Wilno. - -To return to the main army. Such was the rapidity 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 having -driven that guard beyond the frontiers, before marshal Diebitsch -received intelligence of his operations. 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 (_o_), -passed by Sokolow, crossed the river Bug at Granne (16), entered into -the Russian province of Bialystok, passed through a corner of this -department on the 24th of May, and crossing the little 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 truce to summon him to surrender.[60] This summons was -rejected. - -After the departure of the aid-de-camp, general Lubinski commenced his -march, and, though it was practicable for him to reach Ostrolenka by -a direct route, yet thinking it possible that Czyzew was not occupied -by a very strong force, and that he might profit by the approach of -night, he determined to march at once upon the latter place, and to -attack the Russian 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 hundred -prisoners. It was to be regretted that the necessity under which -general Lubinski was placed of reaching Ostrolenka as soon as possible, -did not permit him to profit farther by these advantages. - -On the next day, (the 25th) the rear-guard of our main army, consisting -of the brigade of general Wengierski, 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 another 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 -commander, 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 learning that our army had already passed the town, and -that it was only the rear-guard which was before him.[61] 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 profiting by the fine position of that place, which -commanded the marshy plain on the side of the enemy, passable only -by a dyke, the bridge over which had been demolished by our troops, -ordered general Wengierski to sustain himself in that position until -night. In vain the Russian cavalry and infantry 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 affected by them. - -The brigade of general Wengierski having held out in this position, -with the greatest determination 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 Ostrolenka, passed the river Narew, and took, upon the -right bank of that river, opposite to Ostrolenka, a new position,[62] -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 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 the river. We may presume that the intention of general -Diebitsch was, by passing the Narew at this point, to send at the same -time a corps to Serock, in order to cut off our army, and place it -between two fires. At 11 o'clock, the Russian infantry (_a_) under the -protection of a most terrible fire from fifty-four pieces of artillery, -(_b_) placed in a very strong position on the left bank of the -Narew, commenced, as we have said, the passage of the river. General -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 -consequent 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 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 evacuate their position, -and the skirmishers (_e_) were ordered 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 already passed the bridge. -The enemy, profiting by the withdrawal of our artillery, commenced -repairing the bridge, to afford a passage for large masses of infantry, -and artillery. A strong Russian column (_f_), after passing the bridge, -took a direction to the left, to throw itself into the forest which -borders 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 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 division 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, on receiving his charge, fell back upon -the bridge, or concealed themselves under the banks of the river. These -two attacks cost us the lives of the two generals, Kaminski and Kicki, -who threw themselves upon the enemy, at the head of their respective -columns. Their loss was deeply regretted by the army and the nation. - -Although the result of these attacks was favorable to us, yet, the -general in chief, considering the terribly 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 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 [_Plan_ XXXI, (_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 profit by the obscurity -of the night, in order to subject the enemy to still greater losses, -conceived the bold idea of advancing our artillery (_a_) so near the -Russian columns (_b_), as to pour upon them a fire of grape-shot. -General Skrzynecki himself approached colonel Boehm, and taking the -command of the twelve pieces of light artillery under him, led them -in person to the distance 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 behind small elevations of ground, he commanded -colonel Boehm to commence firing. The Russian columns were thrown -into confusion by this unexpected and terrible fire; and it may be -imagined that their loss was immense, enclosed as they were within 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 estimating -those who left the field wounded, and those who fell into the river. -On our side, this attack cost us only the loss of two officers of the -artillery, although this detachment was exposed to the fire of the -whole Russian artillery.[63] Our battery fired but three rounds, when -the general gave the order to withdraw, and follow the main army (A) to -Warsaw.[64] - -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 general officers above mentioned, with about 4,000 men. - -On the afternoon of the day of the battle of Ostrolenka, the division -of general Gielgud received orders to depart from the town of Lomza. -General Dembinski, on the night of the same day was ordered to join him -with two squadrons of lancers of Poznan. The latter general left the -field of battle with these squadrons, and on the next day joined the -division of general Gielgud.[65] - -[Illustration: - - _XXXI._] - -[Illustration: - - _XXXII._] - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 58: We found, on experiment, that this species of force -acting in conjunction 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 -former dismounted, and leaving their horses in the care of a party -detailed for the purpose, dispersed themselves as sharp-shooters, and -commenced a fire upon the enemy, who, thrown into confusion by this -unexpected attack, were open to a destructive charge from the cavalry.] - -[Footnote 59: 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, approached 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 Russians mechanically obeyed these orders, in a state of -amazement. General Chlapowski fearing that he might be surrounded by -the cossacks, left his infantry volunteers to disperse any detachments -of the enemy in the town that might rally to oppose him, and led -all the artillery 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 cavalry, 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 who volunteered their services.] - -[Footnote 60: The officer announced to general Lubinski that the -whole Russian army had occupied Ciechanowiec, that the advanced guard -was already at Czyzew, and that those circumstances ought to satisfy -him that his communications with his friends were entirely cut off, -and that therefore he would do well to lay down his arms and throw -himself upon the magnanimity of the Emperor. 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 -personally 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. This -division was composed of two regiments of old light infantry, and two -recently formed regiments of Mazurs.] - -[Footnote 61: 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 -Skrzynecki, in contriving this plan (with the valuable assistance of -general Prondzynski,) of surprising and defeating the Russian guard, -had satisfied himself of the practicability of returning to Ostrolenka -without being intercepted.] - -[Footnote 62: 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.)] - -[Footnote 63: This fire of the Russian artillery might almost be -compared to the terrible fire of the 25th of February, at Grochow, in -the attack on the forest of elders.] - -[Footnote 64: 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 object of reducing the immense superiority of the -enemy's force. The personal 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 enemy. Neither the fear of the enemy, -nor the entreaties of his officers, who begged him, on their knees, -to withdraw and to reserve his valuable life for his country, could -induce him to move from his place, until he had seen the successful -termination of this effort.] - -[Footnote 65: For those who have asserted that general Gielgud was cut -off 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.] - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - - Operations of the Lithuanian corps.--Battle of Raygrod and defeat - of the Russian corps of Saken.--Importance of this first success in - Lithuania.--General Gielgud neglects to follow up his advantages.--He - loses time by passing the Niemen at Gielgudyszki, and enables the - enemy to concentrate his forces in Wilno.--Entrance into Lithuania - and reception by the inhabitants.--Position of the two main - armies.--The Russian forces remain inactive and receive supplies from - Prussia.--Death of marshal Diebitsch. - - -On the 27th of May, the corps of general Gielgud, attached to which -were generals Rohland, Szymanowski, Dembinski, and colonel Pientka, -left Lomza, and commenced their march into Lithuania. 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 observing general Saken, and was here occupying an -advantageous position. The force of this corps has been already stated. - - -BATTLE OF RAYGROD. [_Plan_ XXXII.] - -I have divided this battle into two different periods, marked by the -two different positions which the enemy successively took. - -On examining the plan of the first position of the Russians, it will be -at once seen that they had no knowledge of the arrival of our corps. -They supposed 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,[66] and we thus arrived at the lake of Raygrod, -the advanced guard meeting only small detachments of the Russian -cavalry, which retired as we approached. On reaching the lake, our -advanced guard were fired upon by the Russian skirmishers, 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 -surround them, by sending detachments (_a_, _b_) to the right and left, -as will be seen on the plan. In a short time our larger force, under -general Gielgud, 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 enemy, 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 -(_f_), commenced 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), -suffering from the fire of our artillery, and taken by surprise at the -unexpected strength of our forces, began 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 enemy. 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 squadron of the lancers of Poznan received the order -to throw themselves forward, and fall upon the breaking columns of -the enemy. The greatest consternation 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 Mycielski, performed -prodigies of valor. They entered the town simultaneously with the -Russian columns, cutting down immense numbers of the enemy, 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 infantry. In this exposed -situation they lost their commander.[67] - -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 elevated ground, on the opposite side of a small -stream, near the town. This position was strong, and commanded the town -and the whole of the other side of the stream. General Saken would -certainly have remained long in this position, if our right wing under -colonel Koss had not, as we shall see, succeeded in passing the stream -at a higher point (_i_), and acted on his flank. The Russian general, -as soon as he had established himself in his new position, commenced -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 battle 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 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 Iganie, 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, suffering under all the -disadvantages which we have before 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 situation. The communications between -the Russian provinces and the army were entirely cut off by the Polish -Lithuanian corps. They received their provisions exclusively from -Prussia; and, but for this assistance of Prussia, no one can doubt -that Diebitsch would have been, before this, under the necessity of -withdrawing from the country. The reader will also remember that at -this time, the brave and skilful general Chrzanowski, had obtained -repeated advantages over Rudiger, in the environs of Zamosc, and that -the little corps of general Chlapowski which had entered, on the 20th -of May, the Russian department of Bialystok, was acting with great -advantages. From the Baltic to the Black Sea, the provinces of Podolia, -Volhynia, Ukraine, as well as Lithuania and Samogitia, containing -a population of twelve millions of inhabitants, were in a state of -excitement, 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 energy, the most -happy results would have been achieved. It is, therefore, with the -deepest chagrin, that I have to record that from the moment of the -termination of the fortunate battle of Raygrod, all the operations -of general Gielgud were not only deficient in energy, but altogether -wrongly planned. The first fault which he committed, was not continuing -to press the attack upon general Saken, after he had retired from -Raygrod. Under the pretext that the soldiers were fatigued, the corps -was encamped. This pretext was groundless, for the soldiers themselves -demanded to be led in pursuit of the enemy. In this camp we passed -the whole night, and left it [_Plan_ XXXIII.] 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 (1) its capital, and remained -there a day and a night, without any conceivable reason. The enemy, -profiting by the slowness of our movements, escaped the certain -destruction 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 Gielgudyszki (3), on the Niemen,[68] to pass the river at -that point. General Dembinski, with the remainder of the corps (_b_), -continued on the main road, and on the 3d of June arrived at Alexota -(4). - -This separation of our forces into two bodies, to pass the Niemen at -Gielgudyszki, was not recommended by any conceivable advantage, and, -indeed, operated much to our injury. This plan of operations was also -in opposition to the instructions, not only of the general in chief, -but of the National Government, and obstructed the rapid execution 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 concentrated both the moral and physical -resources of the country. Of Lithuania, the town of Wilno (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 should -have unquestionably reaped the greatest advantages. As Wilno was the -residence of the principal 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, Wilno was the place that presented the greatest facilities. - -Taking all these circumstances into view, 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 Wilno with the utmost -promptness. With this view, his course should have been, after masking -his movement at Kowno, to have passed the Niemen (N) at Rumszyski (6), -a village which was about sixteen English miles above Kowno (7) and -in the direction of Wilno, while Gielgudyszki, on the other hand, was -thirty-two miles below Kowno, and forty-eight from Rumszyski, and out -of the direction of Wilno. With the exception of that of general Saken, -no other Russian force was interposed between us and Wilno. Indeed the -corps of general Chlapowski (_c_), with which he had traversed the -department of Bialystok, was at that moment between Kowno and Wilno, -and had we passed at Rumszyski, we should have been within but one -day's march of him. It is evident, then, that Wilno would have fallen -into our hands without a blow. All these advantages were sacrificed -by making the passage at Gielgudyszki. General Saken, meeting with -no interruption, thus escaped a second time, and marched from Kowno -to Wilno. At the same time several other Russian corps began to -concentrate themselves at Wilno. - -The corps of general Dembinski, having maintained a moderate fire upon -Kowno for two days, in order to mask our movements from the enemy, -marched for Gielgudyszki, 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, expressive of the warmest satisfaction, showed that they -regarded 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 misfortunes. - - * * * * * - -Leaving the corps of general Gielgud upon the Niemen, we will return -again to the operations of the grand army, and of 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 Zamosc, the corps of general Chrzanowski, in which -the brave general Romarino 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, commenced its operations upon the right bank of that river. -A considerable corps, amounting to 20,000 men, passed that river in -the neighborhood of Prasnysz. The principal object of this corps was -not to re-ommence hostilities, but to protect the large transports -of provisions which were sent daily from Prussia. In the environs of -Brzesc was the corps of general Kreutz. The Russian army thus fed by -Prussia, remained inactive in their position at Ostrolenka, during -which interval, and while he was perhaps contriving new plans for our -subjugation, occurred the sudden death of marshal Diebitsch. He died at -Kleczkowo, not far from Ostrolenka, on the 9th of June.[69] - -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 -inactivity 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 Liwiec, where he would not be able -to support himself; and in this manner to force him either 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 Lithuania 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 of men, and the -other would be attended with too much hazard. If, then, the Russian -forces undertook nothing, it was a consequence of their critical -situation. 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 succor the enemy in his perilous position, by sending -enormous transports 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 government, 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 unintentionally 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 only -say,--Przyidzie kryska na malyska,'--'Every one has his turn.' - -If the two main armies were at rest, it was not so with the corps in -the palatinate of Lublin, where general Chrzanowski beat, on the 10th -of June, general Rudiger, between Zamosc and Uchania, and took from -him numerous prisoners. General Rudiger was forced, by this action, -to retire to Lublin, and to cease offensive operations. General -Chrzanowski then prepared to surprise this corps, with the aid of the -garrison of Zamosc. - -It was on the 12th of June, that after being apprized of the continual -victories of general Chrzanowski, the general in chief concluded to -re-commence 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 afterwards have to do only with the Russian main army, which -had commenced passing the Narew and entering into the palatinate of -Plock, to keep its communications open with Prussia, and where it would -have been in a manner cooped up between the Narew and the Vistula, -with insurrectionized Lithuania in its rear, and our army in its front -or flank, according as that army should operate, at Stanislawow, at -Wyskow, or at Ostrolenka. - -It was here again that our commander in chief felt his hopes renewed, -confiding always in the fortunate 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. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 66: This disposition was made, expressly with the view of -confirming the Russian general in the idea, that he was opposed by -colonel Sierakowski alone.] - -[Footnote 67: 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 -intermission, on the sides of the great road. With this force was the -1st squadron of the lancers of Poznan, 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 enemy's infantry. -Far from being discouraged by this overwhelming force, the brave -Poznanians penetrated the different streets, and continued 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, so that it would have been thought that not a man would -have escaped. It was impossible for our lancers either to advance or -retire, for the streets before them were commanded 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 Mycielski fell. The -brave Poznanians, 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 Russians the impression that the city 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.] - -[Footnote 68: Gielgudyszki was the paternal estate of the Polish -general.] - -[Footnote 69: 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 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 Alexander, to which he was soon -advanced, he was known to have intrigued in opposition to the interest -of Poland. These intrigues, as well as those which he afterwards -practised, to supersede Wittgenstein, 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. Arrested by -Providence, amid the persecutions which they had inflicted, and were -designing to inflict upon our country, they perished in disgrace. 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.] - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - - General Gielgud advances into Lithuania.--Allows a Russian corps - to pass within a league of him unperceived.--Operations on - Wilno.--Enumeration of our present force.--Plan of a simultaneous - attack upon Wilno on opposite sides by the corps in two - divisions.--General Dembinski engages the enemy with the smaller - part of the corps.--Being unsupported by Gielgud, is forced to - retreat.--General Gielgud attacks Wilno.--Battle of Wilno.--A retreat - is commenced.--Prodigious efforts of the Polish cavalry in protecting - this retreat.--Consequences of the repulse from Wilno.--The removal - of general Gielgud is called for.--General Chlapowski consents to - take the virtual command of the corps, in the post of chef d'etat - major.--Consideration on the state of things consequent to the battle - of Wilno.--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 -Czaykiszki (1), in the direction of Keydany. We cannot understand why -general Gielgud did not attack Malinowski (_b_), who passed at the -distance of half a league from us, at the head of 6,000 men, on his -march to Wilno. 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 occupation of the -enemy, without sending out even the ordinary reconnoissances. General -Malinowski,[70] 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. - -[Illustration: - -_XXXIV._ ] - -On the 10th of June, the corps arrived at Keydany (2), in which place -it was joined by general Chlapowski with his corps, which had so -successfully traversed the departments of Bialystok and Grodno. - -This force, which, on quitting Xienzopol, amounted to scarce 1,000 men, -received reinforcements of cavalry and infantry, from the insurgents -of the provinces, through which it had passed.[71] From the new -forces, ten squadrons of cavalry, counting nearly 1,200 horse, and two -battalions of infantry, amounting to nearly 1,800 men, were formed. - -On the 11th of June, the 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, consisting of the 1st regiment -of lancers and five pieces of light artillery, to make reconnoissances -in the direction of Wilno. The new forces of which we have just spoken, -were attached to the main body, under general Gielgud. A few hundred of -insurgent cavalry of Lithuania also arrived at Zeymy, which were joined -to the lancers of Poznan and the 3d regiment of lancers. - -On the day of our departure, general Szymanowski received orders to -leave for Polonga with a small corps of insurgents (_c_) from the -department of Szawla. 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 Wilno, -after having organized the new forces; and as from this point begins -an era in the history of the expedition, it may be well to give a new -enumeration of our forces. Our infantry consisted of 13 battalions of -infantry, amounting 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 -of partizans, under colonel Zaliwski. This corps of colonel Zaliwski -was formed in the duchy of Augustow, with the destination to operate -there upon all the demonstrations of the enemy, on his communications, -his magazines, his baggage, his transportations of provisions, &c; and -when it is considered that this officer remained for four months thus -successfully 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 enumeration 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, general Gielgud left Zeymy on -the 14th of June. The operations on Wilno were planned for an attack -on two sides, and with that view general Dembinski was detached with -a small corps (_d_) of 1,200 infantry, 900 cavalry, and 4 pieces of -cannon. This general was to attack Wilno on the road from Wilkomierz 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 Wiliia. This plan -demanded 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 Szerwinty (5). From thence, after resting for a few -hours, the corps marched to Myszogola (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.[72] 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 Wilno, taking a -position at Karczma-biskupia (7), or The Tavern of the Bishop, a large -public house, surrounded by small dwellings, and which was in rather a -commanding situation. - -On the 17th, general Dembinski sent parties of cavalry to the right as -far as the river Wiliia (W), and to the left as far as Kalwaria (8), -to make reconnoissances, and advanced with the body of the corps in -the centre, for the same object. In these reconnoissances 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 situation 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 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 cavalry made their -appearance, and commenced attacks upon our flanks, endeavoring to -turn them. Several columns of Russian infantry then approached, -and manoeuvred 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 -amounted 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 commenced under a terrible fire from the enemy's artillery, -and from his flankers, who harassed us on every side. The retreat was -executed in the greatest order, as far as Myszogola, a distance of 12 -miles from our position, with the loss only of some fifty cavalry. On -arriving at Myszogola, general Dembinski, concerned 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 passage of the Wiliia, at that -place. The report of general Dembinski, as we can assert from personal -knowledge, gave a faithful description of the occurrences of the -preceding days, and contained a request, that, in case he (Dembinski) -was expected to maintain the position in which he then was, general -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 Podbrzeze (9), eight miles to the left of the -road which leads from Wilkomierz to Wilno. The pretext of this order -was to attack Wilno on the side of Kalwaryi, and to pass the river -Wiliia 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 conceive no possible motive. On the 19th of June, the day on -which general Gielgud commenced his attack on Wilno, general Dembinski -was thus employed on his march, without an object, to Podbrzeze. - - -BATTLE OF WILNO. [_Plan_ XXXV.] - -The battle of Wilno was, in point of tactics, simply a strong attack -upon the Russian centre (A), with the view, by forcing it, to pass on -to the occupation 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.[73] Indeed any plan of attacking this city -on its strongest side, that toward Kowno, was almost impossible of -execution. - -[Illustration: - - _XXXV. p. 312_] - -[Illustration: - - _XXXIII. p. 296_] - -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 -infantry in the centre. The enemy, on quitting this position, took -another of great strength on the heights called Gory-Konarskie (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 Wiliia; the centre, (A), embracing all their -artillery, which consisted of 50 pieces of cannon (_b_), occupied the -heights above mentioned; the declivity of those heights was covered -with sharp-shooters (_d_), concealed behind small heaps of earth, -thrown up for this purpose. The left wing of the enemy (D) was entirely -composed 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 regarded as a great fault. At the same time that our -artillery was thus disposed, our left wing received orders to attack -the right wing of the enemy. The columns of our infantry (_g_), -composed in part from the new Lithuanian levies,[74] threw themselves -with such 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 sustain themselves -under the overpowering fire of the enemy from his commanding position, -began to fall back; and 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, began to give way also, and upon that a -retreat commenced along our whole line, under the protection of the -cavalry (_h_). The cavalry, both old and new, performed prodigies of -valor, in executing this duty. Single squadrons were obliged 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 this determined bravery. The -Russians themselves have borne testimony to the unparalleled efforts of -our cavalry on that occasion. Our lancers seemed to feel the imminent -danger of permitting the Russian cavalry to fall upon our ranks, and -they fought with the energy of desperation. They repelled the attacks -of a cavalry three times superior in force, and which was in part -composed of regiments of the imperial guard. - -The enemy having been thus foiled in his attacks, our forces repassed -in safety the bridge of Oyrany, leaving it destroyed. - -The battle of Wilno, 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 consequences of this battle did not rest with ourselves; they -fell heavily upon the inhabitants of Wilno, whose hopes of acting in -concert with us were disappointed. At the sound of our cannon, a revolt -of the inhabitants was 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 effect upon the spirits both of the army and the nation. -An attack upon Wilno, 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 attack -on Wilno would have been a difficult achievement, even by a force -equal to that of the enemy, when the strong positions of the place are -considered. What then shall we say of an attack, with a force amounting -to but one third of that of the enemy, 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 compromitted at Myszggola, instead of being enabled -to aid in this attack, was, by the orders of general Gielgud, at the -very moment of the attack, marching in the direction of Podbrzeze, -[(9) _Plan_ XXXIV,] 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 Wilno to Wilkomierz. - -This succession of inconceivable faults arrested the attention of the -corps, and created a 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 -Bialystok and Grodno, was loudly called for. General Chlapowski was -unwilling 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 Gielgud readily consented. -It took effect on the evening of the 20th. From that day general -Chlapowski was the director of all our operations. - -After all these disasters, which had both morally and physically -weakened us, and with 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 on the offensive, and that -our whole plan of operations on Samogitia ought to be abandoned. We -will give the reader an exposition of the views of a great majority -of the officers of the corps, upon this point, formed even during the -battle of Wilno. - -It was near mid-day on the 19th, and when our line was commencing -their retreat, that colonel Valentin, with several other officers, -addressed themselves to 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 circumstances. 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 Wiliia. The -space enclosed between these rivers, the Baltic Sea and the Prussian -territory, was a dangerous position for us, as it contracted our -movements, 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 Wilno. He -proposed to occupy Kowno, and to fortify that 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 Wilno; -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 Bialowiez. It is situated at the meeting of three great -roads, viz. those from Poland, from Volhynia, and from the province of -Black Russia, a circumstance in its position which made it a place of -great importance. The communications of the town with the neighboring -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 extends -northwards to the environs of Wilno. - -By means of prompt operations, according as circumstances might direct, -our forces could act upon each of these roads, and could obstruct -all the communications 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 Chrzanowski 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 insurrections 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 been justified -in counting upon, had not been attained, we should, at least, have -compelled the enemy to retain a great body of forces in Lithuania, and -thus have hindered him from reinforcing his main army.[75] - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 70: This general Malinowski, as was generally understood, -was a native of Mohilew, or Little Russia, a province of ancient -Poland, and had been long in the Russian service. The Lithuanians -and Samogitians had much reason to complain of his conduct in those -provinces.] - -[Footnote 71: Among the Lithuanians who hastened to join our ranks, and -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, Matusiewicz, Zawadzka, -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 prove the sacred -nature of our cause! What claims must not their country have presented -to the minds of these females of the most exalted character, to have -induced them thus to go out of their natural position in society, and -to sacrifice domestic happiness, wealth, life itself, in the effort to -rescue that country from her degradation!] - -[Footnote 72: This was a formidable force from the province of -Circassia, consisting of two regiments, amounting to about 3,000 men, -which had recently arrived at Wilno. 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.] - -[Footnote 73: As we have been informed, Wilno was defended by five -corps, consisting in all, of about 30,000 men, under generals Kuruta, -Tolstoy, Saken, Malinowski, and Szyrman.] - -[Footnote 74: This Lithuanian force consisted of the regiment of the -countess Plater, who accompanied them in the charge.] - -[Footnote 75: This valuable officer, colonel Valentin, unfortunately -lost his life on the day after the battle of Wilno, while bathing in -the Wiliia. 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.] - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - - Operations of the main army.--Expedition under Jankowski.--General - Chrzanowski having driven Rudiger from his position, crosses the - Vistula, 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 - advantages that were sacrificed by this misconduct.--Discovery of - a plot to liberate 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 occurrences in Lithuania, let us turn to follow -the operations of the grand army. - -On the 13th and 14th of June, a division of infantry, 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 enemy 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 divisions combined, were to endeavor to act upon -the different corps of the enemy which were pressed by the corps of -general Chrzanowski. - -The latter general had commenced the offensive on the 16th, and had -driven the corps of general Rudiger from its position at Krasny-taw, -and compelled 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, wounded, and prisoners, -and to take the direction of Kock. The corps of Rudiger would have been -inevitably destroyed, if another Russian corps of 15,000 strong had 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 Pulawy. 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, above mentioned, was hastening -to join him. In order, therefore, to take between 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 Jankowski delayed his movement, and allowed the corps of -Kiesarow to join Rudiger. - -The following are the details of this expedition, as they were -related by an officer of the division of Muhlberg, and which exhibit -satisfactory evidence of treason on the part of general Jankowski. - -'The issue of this expedition, which could have had the most brilliant -results, 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 joined by the division -of cavalry under general Jankowski, who then took the command. We -ought to have passed the Wieprz, to meet Rudiger, and cut him off. -Suddenly news was brought to us that the enemy had passed the Wieprz, -at Lysobyki, with 6,000 infantry, sixteen squadrons of cavalry, and -ten pieces of cannon. General Jankowski then called a council of war, -at which the following plans were adopted. General Turno was 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 Bialobrzegi. This plan, which in the conviction of all our -officers would have exterminated the corps of general Rudiger, and the -execution of which was reserved to general Jankowski, came to nothing. - -'General Turno, trusting in the faithful execution of the plan, -attacked the enemy with courage and 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. Nay 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 brother-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 infallible calculations, had promised the -very surest success. The event was of the most disastrous consequence -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 detail, by a -prompt action on our part. I leave to the reader to decide, whether, -after we should have obtained 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 escaped its fate, left for the -environs of Lukow, whither it was followed by general Chrzanowski. The -corps of general Jankowski returned in the direction of Macieiowiec -and Laskarzew, and the division 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 confidence, 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 -prisoners. Several generals, of whom distrust had been felt, and 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 National 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 Russian chamberlain Fenshawe, -a Mr Lessel, and a Russian lady, named Bazanow. Generals Jankowski -and Bukowski were also implicated in the conspiracy. This band of -traitors intended to get possession of the arsenal, to arm the Russian -prisoners, and to destroy the bridges; (in order to cut off all -communication with the army, which was then on the right bank of the -Vistula;) and the Russian army, advertised of this movement, was then -to pass to the left bank of the Vistula, at Plock or Dobzyn, and take -possession of Warsaw. Those traitors succeeded in setting at large a -great number of Russian prisoners at Czenstochowa. - -What a terror must poor Poland have been to the Russian cabinet, which -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 employment 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 war! They had good cause for -these desperate attempts. From the earliest stage of the conflict, they -had seen that the Poles, nerved by the consciousness 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 their intrigues that -the dictatorship was prolonged. It was by such intrigues, that the -apple 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 -accomplices 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 and was sending her sons, and even -her daughters, to the field of death;--when she was sacrificing every -thing to achieve her deliverance, and was awaiting the fruits of such -sacrifices, 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 already entertained, had been more than -once demanded; and that from an early period it was urged upon -the government, that the Russian prisoners, particularly those of -distinction, should be carefully watched, and prevented from holding -free communication together, or with others. So far, however, -from such care having been taken, 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 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 -suspicion? It was, in fact, from this moment, that the nation began -first to look with dissatisfaction and distrust upon that government, -upon prince Czartoriski 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 bitter anticipations; they naturally -foreboded, that if such treasons could be perpetrated in the grand -army, under 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, the -intelligence of which was soon received at Warsaw. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - - General Chlapowski arrives at Keydany, having ordered general - Dembinski to Wilkomierz.--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 - mismanagement of our leaders.--Advantages offered to the enemy by the - delay at Keydany.--Brave defence of Kowno, by the small force left - there.--Skirmish at Wilkomierz.--The opportunity of concentrating all - the forces at Keydany, and repassing the Niemen, is neglected.--The - enemy presses his pursuit.--Battle of Rosseyny.--Attack on - Szawla.--Loss of the ammunition and baggage of the corps.--The corps - retreats in order to Kurzany, protected by a rear guard of cavalry - 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 Keydany, having sent orders to general Dembinski to withdraw -with his corps, and to march to Wilkomierz. (10) [_Plan_ XXXIV.] The -corps of general Dembinski arrived, on the 21st, at Szerwinty, and on -the 22d, at Wilkomierz. On quitting Podbrzeze, general Dembinski left a -small detachment in the environs of Myszogola, to act as partizans. - -The position of our corps was then as follows;--The larger force -was at Keydany (2). The corps of Dembinski was at Wilkomierz, and a -small corps (_c_) under the command of general Szymanowski was in the -environs of Szawla. Our line of operations was on the river Swienta (S) -and along the Wiliia (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 (11) was -occupied by two battalions of Lithuanian infantry, recently levied, -under the command of colonel Kikiernicki, and a squadron of the 11th -regiment of lancers, also Lithuanian, and recently formed. - -At Janow (12) was a battalion of infantry and a squadron of the 11th -lancers, under the command of colonel Piwecki. At Wieprz were three -squadrons of the 10th lancers. - -This separation of our forces in Lithuania, and, above all, this -designation of the most recently organized troops for the defence of -the passage of the two rivers, with a full knowledge of the great -strength of the enemy, was a gross error. To leave the defence of -Kowno, a place of so much importance, to three battalions of infantry -and a squadron of cavalry, all of them newly formed troops, and that, -too, without ammunition, (for they had barely three rounds each,) was -a course 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 fortune that all these detachments were not cut -off. - -On the arrival of the two corps at Keydany and Wilkomierz, the -organization of a provisional government for the province, was -commenced. Diets were convoked at these two places, to organize -an administration, and to procure levies of forces. Although these -arrangements were all proper in themselves, yet it was a late hour to -undertake them, and no place could have been so well adapted for them -as Wilno. Had the corps of Saken been pursued and broken up, Wilno -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 appeal to be made to them. But at present, -a new crisis had arrived. We had fought the battle of Wilno with a -disastrous result. The enemy had become acquainted with the inferiority -of our forces, and had begun to understand the errors of our commander, -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 Wilno 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 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 some hope of useful -results. - -The six or seven days which we passed thus at Keydany and Wilkomierz, -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 opportunity which we presented -him, but remained inactive. This inactivity, whether it arose from the -imbecility of his commanders, or whatever other cause, afforded us an -opportunity of changing our plans, and of extricating ourselves from -the dangerous 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 Wilkomierz, Wieprz, Janow, and Kowno, with his whole -force. - -A corps of 4,000 Russians, with 16 cannon, commenced 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 disputing the passage of the bridge over the -Wiliia. 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, almost without ammunition. At nightfall, 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 company, 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. The Russian cavalry, having succeeded 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. -Colonel 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.[76] In this -effort, colonel Kikiernicki fell wounded, and was made prisoner by the -enemy. - -The detachment, having lost one half of their numbers in the sanguinary -attack to which the mismanagement of our general had exposed them, -took the road to Janow. In this manner ended the attack on Kowno, and -the Russians took possession of that important 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 thousand inhabitants, of which one -half, perhaps, were Jews, but they could have been employed in the -construction 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 Wilkomierz. The two first towns were abandoned. In the attack on -Wilkomierz, which was successfully repelled, an action took place, in -which the lancers of Poznan and Plock threw themselves upon the flank -of Russian cavalry, and, after causing severe loss, took about eighty -prisoners, consisting of Circassians. General Dembinski, on the night -of the 29th, learning that our positions of Janow and Wieprz were -abandoned, quitted Wilkomierz on the next day, and took the road to -Szawla. [_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 Wiliia, made our situation very perilous; yet it was -still possible to avoid the disasters 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 Gielgudyszki, 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 passage. 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 -irreparable. - -From this time, the enemy did not for a moment lose sight of us; -and throwing his superior forces upon the great road which leads -from Keydany, through Rosseyny (14), to Szawla, 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. - - -COMBAT OF ROSSEYNY. - -The cause of this action, which it would have been most desirable to -have avoided, was a strong attack by the enemy upon the rear-guard of -general Chlapowski which was marching on the road to Szawla. 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 scarcely -four hours, was very sanguinary, and highly honorable to the Polish -arms. The object of the enemy on this occasion was to surround our -left wing. As soon as he perceived that our corps had taken position -and was arranged in order of battle, the enemy 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 Russian 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 collected. This -wing 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 preceding, in which they had -acted as rear-guard. The brave lancers, however, at the first sight of -the enemy, demanded of the general to be permitted to make a charge. -This permission being given, at the first discharge of the Russian -artillery, our soldiers 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 -position, and to resume the march for Szawla. - -On the same night, the corps arrived at Cytowiany. There our forces -were joined by the corps of general Rohland, which had had a bloody -skirmish at Beysagola, [_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 Szawla, which was -occupied by a Russian garrison. The corps of general Dembinski, which -as we have already stated, was marching by another route upon Szawla, -arrived there at mid-day on the 7th. That general, considering the -smallness of the Russian garrison in this town, consisting only of -four battalions of infantry, and six pieces of cannon, after waiting -a short time for the arrival of the corps of general Chlapowski, -concluded to send a summons, by colonel Miroszewski, 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 Szawla, -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 Szawla. - - -ATTACK ON SZAWLA. - -On examining the plan of this battle, and considering the smallness -of the Russian garrison in Szawla, we cannot but be satisfied that -the town ought to have been taken at the first assault, and it will -seem almost incredible that after having occupied four hours in an -unsuccessful attack, we should have at last quitted our position. - -On arriving on the plain before Szawla, 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, -behind 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 musquetry and -artillery was commenced, under the cover of which our light troops -endeavored to take possession of the ramparts. - -General Szymanowski and colonel Pientka, who were the only general -officers who were actively engaged 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 assault, protected by two pieces of cannon and a squadron of -the 3d regiment of lancers. This order was executed with the greatest -determination. Our artillery 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 of the houses, they reached the -market-place of the town.[77] The enemy was in consternation, and the -taking of a hundred prisoners by us, showed the disorder 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 remaining in their -dangerous situation, while the rest of our forces were uselessly -engaged, and received no orders. The bold idea of the brave colonel -Pientka, of forcing the attack, was no where seconded. 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.[78] With the retreat of these brave battalions, all our forces -commenced evacuating 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. - -These are the details of the battle, or rather the attack, of Szawla, -which town we quitted, after investing it for nearly five hours, and -after having sustained a severe loss in men and officers, a sacrifice -which was owing 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 Circassian -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 employed in the attack. The true -course should have been to have set fire to the place, which would -have required only the agency of a few bold men. This town, indeed, -deserved no better fate; for it was inhabited almost exclusively by -hostile Jews. When the general welfare is at risk, there should be no -hesitation in sacrificing the convenience of individuals. 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 garrison 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 town was a great fault; -for neither the fire of the artillery nor of the light troops could -be effective, as the Russian artillery was in a dominant position, -and was concealed within the city, as their infantry was behind their -entrenchments. The skirmishers, in approaching 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 ten o'clock the flanking parties of the Russian cavalry began -to show themselves on each side of us, upon the road to Wilkomierz, 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 attack from the Russian advanced -guard; thus protecting the march of our main body, which was executed -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. General Chlapowski proposed -to divide our forces into three corps, each to act independently. -This arrangement 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 -enemy 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 Poland would be re-opened; and -to protect this communication was to be the principal employment of -that corps. - -The 2d corps, under the command of generals Rohland and Szymanowski, -was composed of eight battalions of infantry, amounting to about 3,000 -men; all the cavalry which was recently formed in Lithuania, consisting -of nearly 1,000 horse; and an artillery, 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 rumored that two French vessels with arms, funds, and -ammunition, together with a small body of volunteers, were cruising -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 -communications between the forces of the enemy in Lithuania, and the -province of Courland. - -The 3d corps, under general Dembinski, was composed of three battalions -of infantry of the 18th regiment, recently formed, consisting of about -1,000 men; two squadrons of the lancers of Poznan, two squadrons of -the lancers of Plock, and one squadron 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 Szawla, traversing the -forests, and leaving the enemy on the right; from thence to take a -direction to Wilkomierz, and thence to the environs of Wilno, 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 Bialystok, -acting there in support 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 general Chlapowski. This plan, the -reader will observe, 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 advantage was to be anticipated from them. -This subdivision 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 superior to our own, we ought not to form any new projects, -but, profiting by the concentration of our forces, 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 project -was highly colored, and the most brilliant successes were promised to -follow it. The separation of the corps was accordingly ordered, and our -fate was sealed. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 76: With this company was the countess Plater, and her -aid-de-camp M'lle Rasynowiecz.] - -[Footnote 77: The Jewish inhabitants of the city even fired upon our -soldiers. Many of them were taken with pistols in their hands, and -afterwards executed.] - -[Footnote 78: In this affair we ought to make particular mention of the -estimable 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.] - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - - The three subdivisions of the Lithuanian 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 Worna.--General Rohland, on his - way to Polonga, learns that general Chlapowski 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 pursuit, 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 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 reader full -details of the events of that day, for they were of an extremely -interesting character. The manoeuvres 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 disorder, and almost without ammunition, against a -cavalry 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 already 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 brush-wood. 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 were forced to retire. In -this retreat, our own cavalry, which was at Powenduny, and which had -debouched by a covered road, and taken position, entirely surrounded -these two squadrons, and, attacking them on all sides, causing a severe -loss and taking forty prisoners. An hour after, the Russians renewed -the attack. Strong columns of infantry and cavalry passed through a -little village which is on the road from Kurszany to Powenduny. The -Russian artillery took positions upon the declivity of the heights -adjoining that village, and commenced a fire upon our cavalry. At the -same time, several columns of the Russian infantry threw themselves -into the brush-wood on the right of our position, while a strong -detachment, composed of infantry, artillery, and cavalry, was pushed -forward upon our right wing, with the design to turn 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 obstacles 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 evacuate the wood, and -concentrating themselves upon the road to Powenduny, retired also, -after having 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 -borne by this flag was, 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 remained to us. This proposition was -followed by the usual considerations,--the wish to prevent the needless -effusion of blood, &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 artillery and infantry to re-commence their fire. At the -same time, arrangements were made for the continuation of our march to -Worna. At about mid-day, our columns of infantry, and a part of the -cavalry and artillery, quitted their position, and took up the march -for Worna. After a short time, there remained but one battalion of -infantry, and three squadrons of cavalry. The cavalry was employed to -mask the withdrawing of the remaining artillery. After our corps had, -by a march, arranged in the manner we have described, reached a point -sufficiently distant from our first position, the battalion of light -infantry which remained in that position was ordered 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 to rejoin -the corps, and to occupy the adjoining forests, while the cavalry -were ordered to take post at the mills, to cover this movement, and -afterwards to retire 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, consisting 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 enemy exposed in a mass, to the fire -of our tirailleurs. The 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. General 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 infantry or artillery, to advance thus -upon a plain surrounded 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 wheeling -about, laid open the Russian cavalry to the fire of our artillery, -which was posted on a little elevation and concealed by brush-wood. -This fire of our artillery was effective. The enemy's cavalry began -to waver. General Szymanowski observing this, 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 infantry, 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 encounter the whole body of -the Russian forces in Lithuania, 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 extremities 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 reached 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. - -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 battalions began to debouch from -the forest, and to deploy 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 immediately opened a fire upon our centre. -At the same time, a warm fire of skirmishers was commenced on each -side. Our artillery, which was very advantageously placed, without -replying to that of the enemy, opened 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 astonished 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 prodigies of valor in this charge, and bore down all before -them. Colonel Koss at the same time taking the command of the cavalry, -and addressing a few exciting words to them, led them upon the centre -of the enemy at the charge. The consternation of the Russians was -extreme. A great part of their cavalry was found dismounted, for they -had not the least expectation of an attack; their artillery fled, -and abandoned their cannon; the utmost disorder followed, and a vast -number of the enemy fell upon the field. According to the testimony of -prisoners, the consternation 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 seaport 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 Chlapowski, 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 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 enemy 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 Powenduny, therefore, 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? I can assure -you that the corps of general Rohland, on whom the whole force of the -enemy has fallen, is destroyed. The baggage of his officers have passed -through Retow.[79] All is lost, and, surrounded 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 protection of that power." - -Generals Rohland and Szymanowski, on receiving the unwelcome -intelligence of the course which general Chlapowski had adopted, -concluded to change their plan of operations, and instead of going to -Polonga, to follow the march of general Chlapowski, to endeavor to -join him as soon as possible, and by exhibiting 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 farther attempts in junction with us. - -With this view, after resting a few hours at Retow, we left, by a -forced march, for Gorzdy, a small 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 under a guard of Prussian -sentinels. - -Such was the end of the corps of generals Chlapowski 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 dreamed. - -This step, which every historian of our revolution will record with -horror, when it was seen how totally without justification it was, -awakened the disgust and indignation of all. The part of the corps of -general Chlapowski which was already in the Prussian territory, when -they saw the corps of general Rohland, which they had been made to -believe was destroyed, 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, fell into -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 territory 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 Gielgud, 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 previous conduct had but too well justified. At this moment, -one of his 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 awaited him, had he not succeeded in concealing himself. A -scene of great confusion then took place throughout the corps. General -Rohland and the other officers exerted themselves 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 Chlapowski, took up the march in the -direction of Yurburg, 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 general 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 my grey hairs! they have become 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 on every side. The aid-de-camp departed, and we continued -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 cavalry fell upon a small detachment of our sappers, which had -been detailed for the object of destroying 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 prisoners.[80] - -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, in case 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 cavalry, sent in the direction of -the enemy to observe him, returned with the intelligence that he was -_encamped_ 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. General 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 -believe). The officer, after some complimentary language, 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 position, surrounded as we were by a force so much superior to our -own, and in a state of destitution in respect to arms and ammunition, -we should accept the offer which the Prussian government had authorised -him to make, in order to save the useless 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 cordial 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 firesides, -as was the case with the Russian soldiers who had sought the same -protection. We have already mentioned that several detachments of -Russian soldiers, who had before sought the protection of Prussia, had -been allowed to return with their arms and ammunition. Our generals, -on being thus apprised of the liberal intentions of the Prussian -government, which were confirmed by the personal representations of the -officer who brought the letter,--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 ammunition, a great quantity of which -had been thrown into the river by the orders of generals Gielgud and -Chlapowski, on passing the frontier;--considering also the assurance -which had been made that we could return to our country, and hoping -therefore to be able to renew their services to that country at some -more favorable period,--presented these circumstances to the whole -corps, and solicited the opinion of the soldiers upon the question of -acceding 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, influenced strongly by the assurance of being allowed -to return to their country. In consequence of this assent, 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 the -Lithuanian corps were ended. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 79: 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 -Polonga, merely as a precautionary arrangement.] - -[Footnote 80: In this affair major the prince Giedroyc distinguished -himself at the head of 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.] - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - - Effect of the news of the Lithuanian disasters on the minds of the - people.--Distrust of the National Government.--The Russian army - resumes the offensive under general Paszkewicz.--He decides to - pass the Vistula.--Examination of the merits of this plan.--Plan - of general Skrzynecki to act on the different detached corps of - the enemy.--Advantages of general Chrzanowski over the corps - of Rudiger.--The Russian forces execute the passage of the - Vistula.--General Skrzynecki crosses the Vistula at Warsaw to operate - against the enemy on the left bank.--An inquiry into the conduct - of general Skrzynecki, 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 -had been still kept alive by looking towards Lithuania. What, then, can -express the disheartening effect produced by the intelligence 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 negligence, 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 exasperation. -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 traitor. If, in the frenzy -of indignation, which such an experience had justified, they allowed -themselves to be carried away by their feelings, and to be guilty of -acts of severity, it can scarcely be wondered at. - -Immediately after 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 could an expedition which demanded the very highest talents, -and the most undoubted patriotism, have been confided to a man like -him? With him had been associated general Chlapowski, who was the -brother-in-law of the Grand Duke Constantine. That circumstance alone, -they justly considered, should have been enough to suggest suspicion, -and to have at least indicated the expediency of keeping him near the -eye of the commander in chief, and subject to his constant observation. -Such were the 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.[81] - -The Russian army, the command of which, on the death of general -Diebitsch, was taken by general count Paszkewicz, and the main body of -which remained in a state of inaction at Ostrolenka, having no longer -any apprehensions from Lithuania, could now act with freedom, and the -offensive was recommenced 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 reader a moment upon -this passage of the Vistula by Paszkewicz, a manoeuvre of which so -much boast has been made, and to consider whether it is really to be -regarded 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 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 weakness? 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 something. 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 Russian 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 execute the passage. Their march -was in three principal columns, and was arranged in the following -manner:--general Witt, commanding the columns of the left wing, took -the direction of Sochoczyn. The centre, under marshal Paszkewicz, 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 Michael, marched from Makow, by Ciechanow and Racionz. -General Pablen commanded the advanced guard. A considerable train of -ammunition, with provisions for twenty days, and a park of artillery -of reserve, formed the fourth column, 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 corps 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 national guard of Warsaw, and the -garrisons of the two fortresses of Modlin and Zamosc. - -The plan of our generalissimo was to throw himself 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 Chrzanowski, in successive actions, on the 14th, 15th, and -16th of July. A third part of his corps being destroyed, 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 Modlin. 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 Paszkewicz were established, 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 discovery of the conspiracy of Jankowski and -the news of the misfortunes in Lithuania;--at this anxious moment, the -nation demanded a council of war, and called on the National Government -to make an inquisition into the conduct of the general in chief, to -demand of him full explanations of his purposes, and a submission of -all his plans of operation to the examination of such a council. Such -a council of war was instituted 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, and having taken an oath of secrecy, -general Skrzynecki 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 reasons for each. This council then -published to the nation an address, announcing their entire confidence -in the patriotic intentions of the general in chief, and assuring them -that the crisis was by no means as dangerous as they apprehended. 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 cheered them by the addition which it brought to our forces, but -by the more encouraging 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. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 81: A few details of the history of the two generals who -were the cause of these fatal disasters, may gratify the curiosity of -the reader. General Gielgud was born in Lithuania, at Gielgudyszki, -(the place at which he crossed the Niemen in 1831). Passing over -his early life, which presents nothing noticeable, he commenced his -military career in 1812, when Napoleon entered Lithuania. In a moment -of patriotic fervor, he formed a small detachment at his own expense, -and joined the ranks of the supposed deliverer of Poland; and this -perhaps was the most praise-worthy act of his life. During the campaign -of 1812, 13, and 14, he was in no way distinguished either for good or -bad conduct. At the end of the Russian campaign, in 1815, he was made -colonel. As during that year, Poland 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 dispositions. 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 commanded 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 such 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 himself in his -true character. He was giddy with the distinction, and feeling himself -the absolute master of his own conduct, he gave himself up to all the -suggestions 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 -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 Gielgudyszki the general gave a _fête_ -to his officers; and it is not impossible that it was a motive of -mere personal ostentation which induced him to make the passage of -the Niemen, at that place, by which two days' march were given to the -retreating enemy, time was allowed him to concentrate his forces in -Wilno, and that capital was lost to us! - -This general was never seen to 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 encouragement. 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 -combinations 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 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 secured this result, general Gielgud -was an entire stranger. Instead of freely approaching the soldier -and endeavoring 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 character 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 advanced 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 revolutionary -ranks excited considerable surprise. But as he joined himself to -the squadrons of Pozen, which were formed of the bravest and most -patriotic materials, there was no distrust felt of him. His successes -in traversing the department of Bialystok, 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 Wilno, 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 have seen, were -committed, for which no adequate explanation can be given. We will -recapitulate some of them.--They were, 1. The sending of the sappers to -build the bridge over the Niemen. 2. The ill-arranged attack on Szawla. -3. His not succoring general Rohland in the combat of Powenduny. 4. The -inexplicable secrecy 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 of the corps -at that place was with the view of marching to act in the environs of -Kowno. These are points upon which this officer has yet to answer at -the bar of his country. Chlapowski was a more dangerous person even -than Gielgud, for Gielgud was a man of such undisguised arrogance, -that he repelled the confidence of others; but Chlapowski, with all -the faults of Gielgud, had an exterior of dissimulation which won -insensibly upon those who had not thoroughly studied his character. But -none who had observed and known him well, could ever yield him their -esteem.] - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - - Operations of general Dembinski's corps.--He traverses the - country between Szawla 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 - Bialystok.--After leaving that forest, is joined by the corps of - general Rozycki.--Reaches Warsaw.--His reception at Warsaw.--View - of the exposed situation of Paszkewicz 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 had been more fortunate than those of -Chlapowski and Rohland. That general, quitting Kurszany on the 9th of -July, returned, in obedience to the orders which we have detailed, by -means of the forests, to the environs of Szawla, leaving the enemy -upon the right, and without 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 Szawla 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 Wiliia -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 Wilno to the frontier of -Poland. - -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 Russians -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 that place. -Afterwards they threw themselves into the forests of Bialystok, and -in these forests the corps was reinforced by a considerable number -of Lithuanian insurgent cavalry, which had been acting with great -advantages 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 Dembinski -quitted the forests in the environs of Orla, and leaving the town of -Bielsk on his right, passed through the town of Bocki, near which -he surprised and dispersed a regiment of cossacks, and took several -prisoners, 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 -Dembinski halted and placed his forces in order of battle, 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 air with patriotic exclamations. The corps which -was thus met by that of general Dembinski, was the corps of general -Rozycki, 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 Wilno; -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 could exceed the satisfaction of the -two corps at thus meeting. General Rozycki, learning the disastrous -circumstances which had occurred, changed his plan of operation, and -decided 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 direction, returned with the intelligence that it was -the Russian corps under Golowkin. Our generals, considering all -circumstances, determined not to engage with them, and continued their -march towards Poland, 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 traversed more than four -hundred miles in about twenty days from its departure from Kurszany, -in the midst of detachments of the enemy, was received 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 citizens, met him at the -distance of a half league from the city; and he was greeted with an -address expressive 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 sacred 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 Russian 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. - -If general Paszkewicz was in a condition to take Warsaw, he could gain -nothing by this repose. Nay, every moment of delay might increase the -difficulties he would have to overcome. Why then all this delay? What -could have prevented us from reinforcing 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 circumstances are well considered, -the reader will be satisfied 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 withdraw us too -far from the purpose of this narrative, we must leave them to abler -pens. The general view, however, which we have taken of the position 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 fatally -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 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 Blonie, Nadarzyn, Piaseczno, and Kalwaryia, as a -first line of defence, and in strengthening the great fortifications -of Warsaw:--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 have, besides, intercepted all the reinforcements for the main -army of Paszkewicz. 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 -affairs. - -If the objection should be made that the delay which actually occurred -could not have been reasonably anticipated, and that Paszkewicz might -have immediately advanced to the attack of Warsaw, still, without -entering for the present into more detailed considerations 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 employed 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 Warsaw, then, that the decisive encounter -must inevitably have taken place, would it not have been the most -judicious course, to have confined our operations on the left bank of -the Vistula, to the strengthening of the defences of Warsaw; to have -in fact adopted in regard to the enemy, who had now transferred 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 extensive than the other, and which, besides, had the advantage -to us of being contiguous to the insurrectionary 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 present our whole strength to the enemy in -its defence. - -Since I have allowed myself to make the above remarks in regard to the -plans of the general in 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 National 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 exemplary 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 profoundest -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 to pass the -Vistula, (that of Kreutz at Plock, and that of Rudiger at Pulawy,) -and join their main army; in fine, seeing this immense Russian force -approaching the capital, from which perhaps they were expecting a -repetition of all the atrocities of Suwarow,--remembering the thousands -of victims which these traitors had already sacrificed, and reflecting -on the thousands whom they had plotted to sacrifice; can it be wondered -that, in those moments of despair, that people should have yielded to -their impulses of indignation and have chosen rather to sacrifice at -once those convicted traitors, than 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, the people took -that justice into their own hands which the government had neglected 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 serious -in their consequences, and which have created so much surprise. The -removal of Skrzynecki from the chief command was certainly one of the -most deplorable results of this disordered state of the minds of the -people;--for who could so well meet the exigencies 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 period -of distrust and 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 undoubtedly 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,[82] and the fate of Poland was decided. - -We have stated our belief that the fatal events which hastened the -catastrophe might have been prevented 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 disordered 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 correspondence of the prince Czartoriski with the French -minister of the Exterior, read in the chamber of deputies, on the 19th -of September, by the venerable general Lafayette, and in the extracts -from his remarks, and those of general Lamarque, made on that occasion, -and which have probably before met the eye of the reader. - - -EXTRACT FROM THE LETTER OF PRINCE CZARTORISKI. - -'But we relied upon the magnanimity and the wisdom 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 confidence, 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 -perhaps would have been decisive_. We thought that it was necessary to -temporize, to leave nothing to chance--and we have at last seen the -certainty, at the present moment, 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 explanations of the Polish legation, and here is the reply -which I have obtained. - -'"In answer to the letter which we have received from you, general, we -hasten to assure you-- - -'"1. That it was the Minister of Foreign Affairs who engaged us on the -7th of July, to send a messenger to Warsaw, whose travelling expenses -were advanced by the Minister: that the object of this messenger -was, as his Excellency the Count Sebastiani 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 Minister ad interim, Audne Horodyski, and -also another circular of the 24th of the same month, signed by the new -Minister of Foreign Affairs, Theodore Morawski, 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 Sebastiani, on the -15th of September, and which we immediately 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 is to be explained the irresolution of the -generalissimo, 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 divided 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 declares 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, affirm the -contrary. Our colleague, M. Lafayette, will give you details, almost -official, on this subject.' - - -SESSION OF THE 13th SEPTEMBER. - -_Gen. Lafayette_: 'I will ask this, without the least expectation of -receiving a reply, but only to render a just homage to the conduct of -the Poles, and of their government,--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 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 questions 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.[83] They were blinded by -the promises of Russia,--by the solemn assurances[84] which she gave, -that she would soon arrange every thing in the most favorable manner -for Poland. In this web of intrigue were those cabinets 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 instrumentality of the traitors whom she -had gained for her accomplices, that caused the estrangement of the -nation from Skrzynecki, who, having a true 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 enormous -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. They who have labored for our -destruction were not then true Russians; they were the enemies of their -country and of humanity;--heartless calculators, acting with a single -view to their own personal aggrandizement;--men, in fact, who have no -country 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. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 82: As the author was attached to the Lithuanian corps, and -as he was actually in a Prussian prison at 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.] - -[Footnote 83: Appendix No. III, IV.] - -[Footnote 84: Appendix No. IV.] - - - - -APPENDIX. - -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 occasionally that it has held relations -with ancient Poland;--a false impression, and one which the public -journals have but too frequently 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 -sympathy which has constantly united the two people. There is a common -spirit of nationality, which, notwithstanding the studiously 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 essentially depends. We will -endeavor, by presenting to the reader 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. - -'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, Lithuania, from -that epoch, to that of 1795, formed, in the political state, the -third province of Poland; being composed of the palatinates of Wilno, -of Troki, the duchies of Starostia, and Samogitia, of Nowogrodek, -of Brzsclitewski, of Minsk, of Polock, of Witepsk, Mscislaw and of -Smolensk. The Grand Duchy was bounded on the north by Courland, -Semigallia, Polish Livonia, and the province of Great Nowogorod; -on the east by Moscovy; on the south by the Ukraine, Volhynia, and -the country 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 Poland, 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 has consecrated. In 1812, for a moment, those fraternal arms -were united; but separated 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, Polonga, and Libau, a colony of Italians -who introduced into that country a certain degree of civilization, -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, without doubt, the Gerules or Herules, who formerly -governed Lithuania. 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 Courland. - -'The Lithuanians, though subjugated first by the Russians, did not -fail to make their strength soon felt by their invaders. In the 13th -century, when the Tartars ravaged on one side the 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 arms 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 augmented -their possessions by the occupation of Pinsk and Turow. Ringold was -the first who took the title of Grand Duke of Lithuania, 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 did not continue long, for Mindowe, finding himself deceived, -returned to Paganism, and died in 1263. From 1280 to 1315, the dukes -Latuwer and Witènes reigned over this country; but the greatest power -of Lithuania dates from the fourteenth century, when Gédymin seized the -reins of government. Impatient to crush the Russian power, which had -distressed Lithuania, this prince defeated the enemy in 1320, upon the -river Pirna, made himself master of Volhynia, of Küovie, of Sewerie, -of Czerniechovia, and extended his boundaries as far as Putiwel upon -the Diésna. In 1340, when Gédymin perished upon the field of battle by -the hands of the Teutonic knights, the Tartaro-Russian power commenced -ravaging Polodia, but Olgerd, successor of Gédymin, came to the succor -of his nephews, Koryatowicz, who were in possession of that province, -defeated the Czars 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 Gédymin: -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--Wilno, Osmiana, Wilkomierz, Braslaw. The -last succeeded first to his father, but after his death it was Olgerd -who took the reins of government. - -'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 Pérékop -(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-Polono-Lithuanian lances were crossed in -front of the superb Kremlin! Kiegstut powerfully seconded his brother -in his conquests. It was under such auspices that Olgerd, 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 forever the glorious junction of Lithuania and Poland. -In 1389, he gave the government of the duchy of Sévérie-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 Lithuania, where, instead of reducing them to slavery, he gave them -possessions, with the liberty of freely exercising their religious -rights. It was the descendants of those Tartars who showed themselves -such worthy children of their adopted country, 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 -Czars. 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 Czars of Moscow, Basile, that of -Twer Borys, that of Riezan, Olegh, the little Czars of Pérékop and -Volga, the Teutonic masters, the Prussians and Livonians, in fine, -the emperor of Germany, Sigismond himself, accompanied by his wife, -and several princes, Erik, king of Denmark and Sweden, as well as -the ambassadors 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 upon 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 reigning 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 Lithuania. - -'All this, however, could have no effect upon the union of the two -nations, which daily acquired new strength; for, subsequently to the -first union of 1386, a Diet, in 1413, held in the bourg of Horoldo, -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 determined 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 -Lithuanians. 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 of Courland 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, 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 senate, the same chamber of deputies; that their coins -should be of the same designation; that, in fine, their alliances, -their auxiliary troops, and every thing, should be in common. The -campaigns of Moskow under Sigismond III, Wladislaz IV, and Etienne -Batory, amply proved that the Lithuanians were worthy of calling the -Poles brethren; for they were found ready for every sacrifice, when -the general good of the country was in question. In the laws of 1673, -1677, and 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 Polish cause, in -the last years of the existence of Poland. In effect, 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 Lithuania and the crown; that is to say, between -Little and Great Poland, so as to form 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 themselves under a -single administration with the two other provinces. - -'The whole world was witness to the heroism which the Lithuanians -displayed in the glorious confederation of Bar, from 1768 to 1772; -in the campaigns of 1792 and 1794, against foreign rapacity, when -Kosciuszko, a Lithuanian by birth, covered with imperishable laurels -the chains of Poland. The Lithuanians fell, but they fell with the -whole of Poland, and were buried in the common ruin. How nobly have -not the Lithuanians 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 foreign -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 we not seen, in the years 1806 and 1809, twelve thousand -Lithuanians, united with their brethren, the Volhynians, the Podolians, -and the Ukranians, hastening to range themselves under the banners of -the army of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw? In 1812, their joy was extreme, -when they thought that their political existence 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 Wilno. But -the disastrous retreat 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, preserved 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 coronation of Nicholas the 1st, but the -reunion of Lithuania was not even made a question of.' - - [_Tableau de la Pologne, ancienne et moderne, par Malte Brun, edition - refondue et augmentee par Leonard Chodzko. Paris, 1831._ pp. 288-295. - Tom. I.] - - -No. II. - -ADDRESS OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF POLAND TO THE INHABITANTS OF -LITHUANIA, VOLHYNIA, PODOLIA, AND UKRAINE.[85] - - -_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 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 -realized. 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 sacred 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 animated us, and that we were desirous to become, as we had -formerly been, but one and the same nation. The Emperor Nicholas did -not wish to consecrate the tomb of his brother by a monument, 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 injuries--as -citizens of a free and independent country;--and would treat with us -only as slaves who had rebelled against Russia. 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 National Assembly, -and some raised regiments, dignified by the names of your provinces; in -fine, whole districts of Lithuania and Volhynia rose _en 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? Undoubtedly -none! And we have the well-grounded hope that Europe will hasten to -recognize our independence, as soon as we have proved by our courage, -our perseverance, our union, our moderate and noble conduct, that we -deserve to be a free nation. This revolution is only a consequence 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 its climate, -industry, religion, manners, character, education, and history. From -these different elements spring the feelings or passions which display -themselves in revolutions, 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 country, prepared to -make every sacrifice--courage--piety--noble-mindedness, and gentleness, -formed the character of our forefathers. These qualities also are ours. - -The patriots of Warsaw triumphed without chiefs and without 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 enchantment; and how did they -conduct themselves towards the Grand Duke Constantine? 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! 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 Russia, allowed to pass -through their ranks the fallen enemy, whose safety was guaranteed by -the national honor. - -The generosity of the nation has been proved by many isolated 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 reciprocal 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 our fathers; and we will -fight till at length we have accomplished 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, unroll 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 generosity 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--'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 satisfaction of inserting here one -among the many notices which have appeared in the journals of the day, -exhibiting the warm interest with which they have been regarded by the -people of France. - - -[From the N.Y. Courier des Etats Unis, 7th April.] - -'The _Journal of Saoine and Loire_ publishes full details of the -arrival of the Poles at Maçon. 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 preceding. All the -inhabitants of the country quitted their labors, to go out to meet -the exiles. The national guard and the troops of the line paid them -the honors of the place. Salvos of artillery announced their arrival -and their departure. It was a triumphal march. The director of the -packet boats gratuitously transported the Poles from Chalons to Lyons. -At Maçon, just as the packet boat pushed off, a Polish captain threw -his sword upon the bank, exclaiming--'Brave Maçonnois, I give you the -dearest possession I have in the world; preserve it as a token of our -gratitude.' The sword was carried in triumph to the _Hotel de Ville_, -of Maçon, 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 _Precurseur de Lyon_. - -'"Since the triumphal passage of the veteran of Liberty, Lyons 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 inhabitants, the Poles found themselves in the midst of an -immense crowd, 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 brilliant colors of this truly -sublime picture. - -'"Maledictions against the infamous policy of the Cabinets, mingled -with the cries of 'Vive la Pologne!' The accents of generous -indignation were united with those of a deep and heartfelt pity for -those remnants of an exiled people. - -'"A banquet was prepared at the Brotteaux. One of the committee -ascended a carriage to conduct hither that young heroine [the -countess Plater, we presume,] who follows to a land of exile 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, and dragged the -carriage in triumph to the place of the assemblage. - -'"The banquet was attended by more than five hundred persons, and the -committee had been forced to refuse a great number of subscribers on -account of the smallness of the accommodations. - -'"The first toast, given by the president, M. Galibert, was, 'To -immortal Poland!' This toast, enlarged upon with an eloquence full of -warmth and pathos, excited a universal enthusiasm. 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 allusions 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 converts Poland into -a province of Russia, may serve to confirm the remarks which we have -made in the text, on the system of deception 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 general 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 emancipation is open to them, it is -better for the cause of humanity 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 -without 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 extinction of mind, in proportion as he coerces 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 to -the brave and unfortunate people of Poland a nationality which would -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 generous 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 offices towards obtaining favorable terms for the -insurgents; and we have already the satisfaction 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 vanquished.' - -'Is there a member of the Government, or any other person, who will -tell us that such language as this was not made publicly 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 sovereign 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 greatest -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 influence 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 Belgian question, -and to withhold the ratification of the treaty until after the passing -or rejecting of the Reform Bill, when the Emperor 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 25th, 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 lawful authority, we at the -same time informed them of our intention to fix the future fate of -this country on a durable basis, suited to its wants, and calculated -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 agitators, 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 predecessor, 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 restorer 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 consequence 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 vigilant government. Hence we consider it one of our -most sacred duties to watch with paternal care over the welfare of our -faithful subjects, and to use every means in our power to prevent the -recurrence of similar catastrophes, by taking from the ill-disposed -the power of disturbing public tranquillity. As it is, moreover, our -wish to secure to the inhabitants of Poland the continuance of all -the essential requisites for the happiness of individuals, and of the -country in general, namely, security of persons and property, liberty -of conscience, and all the laws and privileges of towns and communes, -so that the kingdom of Poland, 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 Russians 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 Autocrat 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 occupied in fixing -the basis for the future organization of the kingdom of Poland, having -regard to the true interests and positions of the country, and to the -local wants and manners of the inhabitants. - - -'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. - -'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 guarantied; every one 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 religion, 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 possess, 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 inhabitants -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 guarantied 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 instantly 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 accused 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. 11. The right of property of individuals, and of corporations, -is declared sacred and inviolable, inasmuch as it will be conformable -to the existing laws. All the subjects of the kingdom of Poland are -perfectly free to quit the country, and to carry away their goods, -provided they conform to the regulations published 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 contribute 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 of the kingdom. - -'Art. 17. The public debt of Poland, acknowledged by us, shall be -guarantied as formerly, by the government, and indemnified 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 Government. - -'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 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 possess 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 established 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 Poland 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 appoint by special orders.' - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 85: 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.] - - - - -LIST OF POLISH NAMES, - -_With their Pronunciation in English_. - - -POLISH ALPHABET. - - a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q - - ah bey tsey dey ey ef ghey hah ye ee kah el em en o pey koo - - r s t u w x y z. - - err es tey oo voo ix ee zed. - -_Note._ In every Polish name, or word, the letters are all sounded and -pronounced, as their names indicate. - -Names as spelled in Their pronunciation. Polish. - - A - - Adamski Ahdamsky - Augustow Owgoostov - Alexota Ahlexotah - - B - - Bestuzew Bestoozhev - Boleslaw-Chrobry Boleslav-Khrobry - Biala-Cerkiew Beahlah-Tseyrkyev - Bilinski Belinsky - Biernacki Byernatsky - Bialystok Beahlistok - Brzesc Brzhests - Boimie Boimea - Boguslawski Bogooslavsky - Bialolenka Beahlolenkah - Bug Boog - Bielak Bieylak - Berowski Beyrovsky - Blendowsky Blendovsky - Bystrzyca Bistrzhitsa - Berzykowski Berzhyhkovsky - Beysogola Beysogolah - Bialowiez Beahlovyezh - Belzyca Belzheetsah - Borowa Borovah - Beresteczko Beyrestechko - Bady Bahdy - Brainsk Brainsk - Bielsk Byelsk - Bukowski Bookovsky - Bialobrzegi Byahlobrzheygy - Bocki Botsky - Blonie Blony - - C - - Chlopicki Khlopitsky - Chodkiewicz Khodkyavitch - Czarnecki Tcharnetsky - Czartoryski Tchartorisky - Ciechanowiec Tsyakhanovyets - Czyzewski Tcheejevski - Czaykowski Tshahovski - Czarno-morskie Tcharna-morskyey - Chlapowski Khlaposvky - Ceglow Tseyglov - Chrzanowski Khrzhahnovsky - Czyzew Tcheejev - Czaykiszki Tchaikishki - Czenstochowa Tchenstokhovah - Cytowiany Tsetoviahny - Czarna Tcharnah - Ciechanow Tsyeykhhanov - Chodzko Khodzko - - D - - Dembek Dembek - Downarowicz Dovnarovich - Dombrowski Dombrovsky - Diebitsch Deebich - Dwernicki Dvernitsky - Dobre Dobrey - Dembe-Wielkie Dembey-Vielkye - Dnieper Dneeper - Dembinski Dembinsky - Dawgeliszki Davgalishky - Dubno Doobno - Dlugie-Siodlo Dloogya-Syodlo - Dobzyn Dobzhin. - - G - - Grabowski Grahbovsky - Grodno Grodno - Grochow Grokhov - Granica Grahnitsah - Goclaw Gotslav - Gotembiewski Gotembyevsky - Gielgud Gyelgood - Grombkow Grombkov - Gruszki Grooshky - Galiczyn Gahlichyn - Graiewo Grahyeyvo - Gielgudyszki Gyelgoodishky - Gury-Konarskie Goory-Konarskya - Gorzdy Gorsdy - Giedroyc Gyedroits - - H - - Hauke Houka - Hildebrand Hildeybrand - Hurtig Hoortig - - J - - Jablonowski Yablonovsky - Jgelstrom Eegelstrom - Jurgaszko Yoorgashko - Jezierski Yazhyersky - Jadow Yahdov - Jablonna Yablonnah - Jakubow Yahkoobov - Januwek Yahnoovek - Jankowski Yankovsky - Jendrzeiow Yendrzhagov - Jarburg Yarboorg - Jagiellow Yahgyellov - Jedlina Yedlenah - Janow Yahnov - Jeroma Yaroma - - K - - Kosciuszko Kostchioushko - Krzyzanowski Krzhezhanovsky - Kichelbeker Keekhelbaker - Kachowski Kakhovsky - Krasinski Krahsinsky - Kornatowski Kornahtovsky - Kozienice Kozhyanetsey - Krukowiecki Krookovyetsky - Kock Kotsk - Kaluszyn Kahlooshyn - Kostrzyn Kostrzhyn - Konik Konyik - Kawenczyn Kahvenchyn - Kicki Keetsky - Krasny-taw Krasneestav - Kozieradzki Kozhyaradzky - Karczew Karchev - Kurow Koorov - Konskawola Konskahvolah - Keydany Kaydahny - Kowno Kovno - Kazimierz Kahzheemyerzh - Kolodno Kolodno - Krzemieniece Krzheymyeynyets - Knielce Knyeltsa - Kuflew Kooflev - Kolacze Kolachey - Kamionka Kahmyonkah - Kleczkowo Klechkovo - Kaminski Kaminsky - Koss Koss - Kalwaryia Kalvahreya - Karwowska Kavovskah - Kurzany Koorzhahny - Kikiernicki Kekyornitsky - Kniaziewicz Knyahzyavich - - L - - Lubowidzki Looboveedzky - Lazienki Lahzhyenky - Lelewel Leyleyvel - Lubecki Loobetsky - Lubinski Loobinsky - Lowicz Lovich - Lubomirska Loobomeerskah - Lenczna Lenchnah - Lukow Lookov - Lublin Looblin - Liwiec Levyets - Leduchowski Leydookhovsky - Lagowski Lahgovsky - Lewandowski Leyvandovsky - Latowicz Lahtovich - Lipawa Lepahvah - Lukowiec Lookovyets - Lomza Lomzah - Lubartow Loobartov - Lubania Loobahnyah - Lipinska Lepinskah - Lida Ledah - Lysobyki Lysobyky - Laskarzew Laskarzhev - Laga Lahgah - Luberacz Loobeyrach - - M - - Murawiew Mooravyev - Mieciszewski Myatsishevsky - Mokotow Mokotov - Miendzyrzyc Myenjeerzhyts - Makowiec Mahkovyets - Minsk Minsk - Macieiowice Matsyaovcetsa - Mingosy Mingosy - Milosna Melosna - Makow Mahkov - Malachowski Mahlahkhovsky - Maslowski Maslovsky - Markuszew Markushev - Magnuszewo Magnooshavo - Memel Mamel - Mycielski Meetsyelsky - Modlin Modlin - Milatyn Meelahtyn - Mordy Mordy - Modzele Modzala - Mniszew Mneshev - Menzynin Menzhenin - Malinowski Mahlenovsky - Mlawa Mlahvah - Matusiewicz Mahtoosyavich - Myszogola Meshogolah - Michalowski Mekhahlovsky - Maluszyn Mahlooshyn - Morawski Moravsky - - N - - Niemcewicz Nyemtseyvich - Nasielsk Nahsyelsk - Narew Nahrev - Nowawies Novah-vies - Nowy-dwor Novy-dvor - Niewiaza Nyavyahzhah - Narewska Nahrevkah - Nurzec Noorzhets - Neydenburg Nidenboorg - Nowe-miasto Nova-myasto - Nadarzyn Nahdarzhyn - - O - - Ostrowski Ostrovsky - Ostrolenka Ostrolenkah - Orsyca Orseetsah - Okuniew Okoonyev - Osmiany Osmyahny - Ostrog Ostrog - Orla Orlah - Oyrany Oyrahny - - P - - Plichta Plikhtah - Pestel Pestel - Potocki Pototsky - Poniatowski Ponyahtovsky - Powonzki Povonsky - Pac Pats - Pultusk Pooltoosk - Parczewo Parchavo - Praga Prahgah - Pientka Pyentkah - Paszkiewicz Pashkyavich - Pulawy Poolahoy - Polonga Polongah - Prondzynski Proodzynsky - Piast Pyast - Plomieniec Plomyanyets - Proskirow Proskerov - Piaski Pyasky - Poznan Pornan - Prasynsz Prasnysh - Plater Plahter - Podbrzeze Podbrzhazha - Piwecki Pevetsky - Pawenduny Pahvendoony - Piaseczno Pyasechno - - R - - Rozniecki Rozhnyetsky - 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: History of the Late Polish Revolution and the Events of the Campaign - -Author: Joseph Hordynski - -Release Date: December 7, 2019 [EBook #60867] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF LATE POLISH REVOLUTION *** - - - - -Produced by Brian Coe,Graeme Mackreth, The illustrations -were generously made available by Hathi Trust Digital -Library, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive/American -Libraries.) - - - - - - -</pre> - - - - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> - -<p class="caption"> - KOSCIUSZKO.<br /> -<i>Born in Poland A.D. 1756. Died the 15<sup>th</sup>. October 1817 near -Solothurn in Switzerland. He and G<sup>al</sup>. Lafayette were the only two -Europeans who wore the Cross of the Order of Cincinnatus.</i> -<br /> - -<small><i>Dedicated to the American people.</i></small> -<br /> - -<small><i>Entered according to Act Congress by Paulin Miedzielsky, N.-York, -1833.</i></small></p> - - - - - -<p class="ph3" style="margin-top: 10em;">HISTORY</p> - -<p class="ph5">OF THE</p> - -<p class="ph1">LATE POLISH REVOLUTION,</p> - -<p class="ph5">AND THE</p> - -<p class="ph4">EVENTS OF THE CAMPAIGN.</p> - -<p class="ph4" style="margin-top: 5em;">BY JOSEPH HORDYNSKI,</p> -<p class="ph5">MAJOR OF THE LATE TENTH REGIMENT OF LITHUANIAN LANCERS.</p> - -<p class="ph5" style="margin-top: 5em;">Fourth Edition.</p> - -<p class="ph3" style="margin-top: 10em;">BOSTON:</p> - -<p class="ph4">PRINTED FOR SUBSCRIBERS.</p> - -<p class="ph4">1833.</p> - - - - - - -<p class="ph6" style="margin-top: 10em;">Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1833,<br /> - -<span class="smcap">By Joseph Hordynski</span>,<br /> - -In the Clerk's Office of the District of Massachusetts.</p> - - - - - -<p class="ph5" style="margin-top: 10em;">TO</p> - -<p class="ph3">THE GREAT AND FREE NATION</p> - -<p class="ph5">OF THE</p> - -<p class="ph2">UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>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 granted 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 -arrival 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, I cannot better employ the moments allowed me during my stay -among you, than by giving you a faithful account of our revolution, and -of its true causes and motives, as well as of the events of the 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 solemnly -guarantied 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 became victorious over a colossal -power, as well as of the causes of the final catastrophe to which -Poland has been doomed.</p> - -<p>I am convinced that in many respects my narrative will be entirely -opposed to the representations given in the public papers; for our -land, like most countries struggling for liberty, was surrounded by -enemies rather than friends. The sources from which these accounts have -been drawn, are, first, my own recollections of events of which I was -an eye-witness; secondly, the reports of my friends and comrades who -were present; and lastly, (particularly as to the operations of the -detached corps) the official reports of the army, which have not yet -escaped my memory. 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, assisted by my -personal knowledge of localities.</p> - -<p>Americans! I am neither an author nor a scholar by profession, but a -simple republican and soldier. In such a 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 presents to your sympathies the picture -of the fatal disasters of his unfortunate country, and of the manner -in which it strove to regain 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,</p> - -<p style="margin-left: 30%;"> -Americans, your devoted servant,<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 10%;">JOSEPH HORDYNSKI.</span> -</p> - -<p>To the gentlemen who have aided me, by the translation, the execution -of the plates, and the publication of the work, 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 acknowledgment, -all my comrades will participate.</p> - -<p style="margin-left: 30%;"> -J.H. -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="smcap">Pronunciation.</span>—<i>To the Reader.</i> There are difficulties -in the way of accurate rules for the pronunciation of Polish words -arising from the circumstance that some letters have varieties of -sound which are indicated by signs in the Polish alphabet, and which -cannot be represented in the English. Thus, the letter <i>Z</i> has, in -addition to that of the English <i>Z</i> the sounds of <i>jet</i> and <i>zet</i>; the -first indicated by a short line and the second by a dot placed over -the letter. It has therefore been thought more for the convenience of -readers, who may wish to know the English pronunciation of the names -which occur in this work, to subjoin an alphabetical list of them and -their pronunciation, than to give rules which must necessarily be -imperfect. This list will be found at the end of the Volume.</p></blockquote> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> CASIMIR PULASKI,<br /> - -<i>the undaunted Chief of the Poles during the Confederacy of Bar from -1768 to 1772. Born in 1746 & killed before Savannah in 1779 while -fighting for the Liberty & Independence of these U.S.</i><br /> - - -<small><i>Dedicated to the American people.</i></small> -<br /> - -<small><i>Entered according to Act of Congress by Paulin Miedzielsky, N.-York, -1833.</i></small></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2">CONTENTS.</p> - -<table summary="toc" width="90%"> - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">Geographical extent, population, and political importance of Poland, -as anciently 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 -Petersburgh.—Punishment of the Patriots.—Coronation of -Nicholas.—Constantine appointed Viceroy of Poland.—Oppressions -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.</p></td> <td class="tdr"> <a href="#Page_5">5</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">Principles of the Revolution.—<span class="smcap">The First Night.</span>—Attack on the -Barracks 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 bodies of Russian -cavalry.—Two companies of Polish light-infantry join the -patriots.—Death of Potocki and Trembicki.—The Russian infantry -attacked and dispersed.—Armament and assembling of -the people.—Detachments sent to Praga.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_30">30</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang"><span class="smcap">The First Day.</span>—Expulsion of the Russians from Warsaw.—Choice -of Chlopicki as Commander in Chief.—Provisional Government, -under the Presidency of prince Adam Czartoryski.—Deputation -sent to the Grand Duke.—Propositions and answer.—Abolition -of the Bureau of Police.—Establishment of the National -Guard.—Proclamations addressed 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 consents to leave the kingdom, and -addresses a proclamation to the Poles.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_47">47</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">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 Warsaw.—Their reception.—Krasynski and -Kornatowski.—Deputation to St Petersburgh.—Demands to be -laid before the Emperor.—Sierawski made Governor of Warsaw, -and Wasowiez chief of the staff.—Order respecting the army.—Arrival -of volunteers from the interior.—Opening of the theatre.—Religious -solemnities at Praga.—Chlopicki nominated and proclaimed -Dictator.</p></td> <td class="tdr"> <a href="#Page_59">59</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">The Dictator enters upon his duties.—Plans for the enrollment of -new forces.—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 proclamation.—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 Radziwil, each subordinate to the Diet.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_71">71</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">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.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">Entrance of the Russian forces into the Kingdom.—Proclamations -of Marshal Diebitsch.—Their effect.—Disposition of the Russian -and Polish forces.—Plan of operations of the Poles.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_98">98</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">The opening fire.—Affairs of the 10th and 11th 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.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">Retrograde movement of the 18th of February.—Details of this -movement, and of the actions which took place.—The army -reaches the field of Praga.—Its reception at Warsaw.—Position -of the army.—Battle of Wawr and Bialolenka.—Operations of -general Dwernicki against the corps of Prince Wirtemberg.—Defeat -of that corps by general Dwernicki at Swierza.—Renewal -of the enemy's attack on the main army on the 20th.—Its -successful resistance.—Review of the events of the preceding -days.—Examination of the plan of operations of the Polish -army.</p></td> <td class="tdr"> <a href="#Page_126">126</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">Proceedings of the National Government.—Marshal Diebitsch continues -in a state of inactivity.—Negotiations are opened by him.—His -propositions are declined.—Position of the army on the -24th, and battle of Bialolenka.—Position on the 25th.—Great -battle of Grochow.—Details.—State of the Russian army after -its defeat.—Examination of the plan of the battle of Grochow.—Remarks -upon the course adopted by prince Radziwil after that -victory.—The Polish army crosses the Vistula to Warsaw.—Its -reception by the national government and the citizens.—Resignation -of prince Radziwil.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_148">148</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">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 is given -to the re-organization of the army, the arsenals and manufactories -of arms, the fortifications, &c.—Deportment of the commander -in chief towards the army.—General enthusiasm 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 detached corps.—Russian position.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_175">175</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">Operations of the corps of general Dwernicki against the Russian -corps under the prince of Wirtemberg, in the Palatinate of Lublin.—Battle -of Pulawy, and defeat of Wirtemberg.—Atrocities of that -prince at Pulawy.—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 at Serock.—General -Skrzynecki makes an offer of pacification on the basis of -the concessions originally demanded by the Poles.—This proposition -is rejected and hostilities are recommenced.—Reconnoissance -upon the right bank of the Vistula under Jankowski and -Gielgud.—A Russian corps under 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.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_195">195</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">Plan of general Skrzynecki to act upon the isolated corps of Rosen -and Gaismer.—Battle of Wawr.—Various detachments of the enemy -are taken after that battle, and a great number of prisoners.—Battle -of Dembe-Wielkie.—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 Gaismer, 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 Uscilog.—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.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_213">213</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">The insurrection in Lithuania.—Dispositions of the Lithuanians at -the breaking out of our revolution.—Their offers of co-operation -were rejected 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 numerous towns by the insurgents, -and dispersion of their garrisons.—Storm of Wilno, and delivery -of prisoners.—Several partizan corps are formed.—Their destination -and successes.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_229">229</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">Plan of operation against the two corps of Rosen and Kreutz.—Battle -of Iganie.—Reflections on the state of the Polish cause after -the victory of Iganie.—Review of the course of the campaign.—Condition -of the Russian army.—Discontents in Russia.—Representations -of the Senate at St Petersburgh to the Emperor.—Comparative -view of the forces of the two armies at the -present stage of the conflict.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_238">238</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">Position of the two armies after the battle of Iganie.—Plan of a -simultaneous 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 -<i>first defeat</i>.—Details of those operations.—Operations of general -Dwernicki.—He defeats Rudiger; but by a false operation exposes -himself to be attacked disadvantageously 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 prisoners -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.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_254">254</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">The Russian commander resumes offensive operations.—Object of -the attack of the 25th of April.—Combat of Kuflew.—General -Dembinski evacuates the position of Kuflew and awaits the enemy -at Bady.—Battle of Minsk.—The enemy suddenly evacuates -his position.—Reflections on this stage of the conflict.—Positions -of the two armies.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_271">271</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">General Skrzynecki resumes the offensive.—He decides to adopt an -enlarged plan of operations, and to make the revolutionized provinces -supply 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.—Forced 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.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_283">283</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">The Lithuanians compel two Russian corps to evacuate -Samogitia.—Operations of general Chlapowski in the department of -Bialystok.—Capture 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 advanced guard at Czyzew.—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.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_298">298</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">Operations of the Lithuanian corps.—Battle of Raygrod and defeat -of the Russian corps of Saken.—Importance of this first success -in Lithuania.—General Gielgud neglects to follow up his advantages.—He -loses time by passing the Niemen at Gielgudyszki, -and enables the enemy to concentrate his forces in Wilno.—Entrance -into Lithuania and reception by the inhabitants.—Position -of the two main armies.—The Russian forces remain inactive and -receive supplies from Prussia.—Death of marshal Diebitsch.</p></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_313">313</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">General Gielgud advances into Lithuania.—Allows a Russian corps -to pass within a league of him unperceived.—Operations on -Wilno.—Enumeration of our present force.—Plan of a simultaneous -attack upon Wilno on opposite sides by the corps in two -divisions.—General Dembinski engages the enemy with the -smaller part of the corps.—Being unsupported by Gielgud, is -forced to retreat.—General Gielgud attacks Wilno.—Battle of -Wilno.—A retreat is commenced.—Prodigious efforts of the Polish -cavalry in protecting this retreat.—Consequences of the repulse -from Wilno.—The removal of general Gielgud is called for.—General -Chlapowski consents to take the virtual command of -the corps, in the post of chef d'etat major.—Consideration on -the state of things consequent to the battle of Wilno.—Details -of the admirable plan of operations proposed by colonel Valentin.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_328">328</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">Operations of the main army.—Expedition under Jankowski.—General -Chrzanowski having driven Rudiger from his position, crosses -the Vistula, 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 advantages that were sacrificed -by this misconduct.—Discovery of a plot to liberate and arm the -Russian prisoners at Warsaw, and to deliver the city to the enemy.—State -of the public mind induced by these events.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_342">342</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">General Chlapowski arrives at Keydany, having ordered general -Dembinski to withdraw to Wilkomierz.—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 mismanagement of our leaders.—Advantages -offered to the enemy by the delay at Keydany.—Brave -defence of Kowno, by the small force left there.—Skirmish at -Wilkomierz.—The opportunity of concentrating all the forces at -Keydany, and repassing the Niemen, is neglected.—The enemy -presses his pursuit.—Battle of Rosseyny.—Attack on Szawla.—Loss -of the ammunition and baggage of the corps.—The corps -retreats in order to Kurzany, protected by a rear guard of cavalry -and light artillery.—At Kurzany the corps is subdivided into -three parts.—Destination and strength of each.—Examination of -this plan.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_350">350</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">The three subdivisions of the Lithuanian 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 Worna.—General Rohland, on his way -to Polonga, learns that general Chlapowski 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 pursuit, 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.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_367">367</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">Effect of the news of the Lithuanian disasters on the minds of the -people.—Distrust of the National Government.—The Russian -army resumes the offensive under general Paszkiewicz.—He decides -to pass the Vistula.—Examination of the merits of this plan.—Plan -of general Skrzynecki to act on the different detached -corps of the enemy.—Advantages of general Chrzanowski over -the corps of Rudiger.—The Russian forces execute the passage -of the Vistula.—General Skrzynecki crosses the Vistula at Warsaw -to operate against the enemy on the left bank.—An inquiry -into the conduct of general Skrzynecki, and the appointment of -a Council of War is demanded by the nation.—Arrival of the -corps of general Dembinski at Warsaw.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_384">384</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI.</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><p class="hang">Operation of general Dembinski's corps.—He traverses the country -between Szawla 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 Bialystok.—After -leaving that forest, is joined by the corps of general -Rozycki.—Reaches Warsaw.—His reception at Warsaw.—View -of the exposed situation of Paszkiewicz 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.</p></td> <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_394">394</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td><a href="#APPENDIX">APPENDIX.</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_409">409</a></td></tr> -</table> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2">POLISH REVOLUTION.</p> - - - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">Geographical extent, population, and political importance of Poland, -as anciently 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 Petersburgh.—Punishment of the -Patriots.—Coronation of Nicholas.—Constantine appointed Viceroy of -Poland.—Oppressions 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.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">In</span> 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 its 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 the -security and peace of Europe.</p> - -<p>Poland, as is well known to the reader, viewed in regard to its -geographical situation and extent, as formerly constituted, forms a -strong outwork against the Russian Colossus. Its territories extend to -the eastward as far as the Dneiper, and westward as far as the Oder. -Toward the north, they reach the Baltic and the government of Skoff, -and their southern frontiers are the Carpathian Mountains and the Black -Sea. This vast region,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> 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 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 regard to population and geographical extent.</p> - -<p>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 convince him of its necessity. They -concluded with the following words;—'Dites, Sire, que le royaume de -Pologne existe, et ce décret sera pour le monde l'equivalent de la -réalité.' To this he answered;—'Dans ma situation, j'ai beaucoup -d'interêts à concilier, beaucoup de devoirs à remplir. Si j'avais -regné pendant le premier, le second, ou le troisiême partage de la -Pologne, j'aurais armé mes peuples pour la defendre. J'aime votre -nation, j'autorise les efforts que vous voulez faire. C'est entièrment -dans l'unanimité de sa population, que vous pourez trouver l'éspoir -de succes. Je dois ajouter que j'ai guaranti a l'empereur d'Autriche -l'intégrité de ses domaines.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> - -<p>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 Poland were not -sincere, and that, through his marriage with Maria Louisa, he had come -under Austrian influence. Thus the hope of territorial enlargement and -national existence vanished 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, -became the turning point of his fate. The Poles, who had contributed -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 Vienna,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> the Grand-duchy of Warsaw was made -into a kingdom, and subjected to the iron sceptre of Russia.</p> - -<p>At the first moment of entering upon the government of the kingdom, -the Emperor Alexander seemed disposed to load Poland with benefits. -On his return from Paris he was received by the inhabitants of Warsaw -with the most unfeigned good will, and his stay in that city was -marked 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 -on my part, in which all Europe partakes, you are entitled by your -continual and disinterested sacrifices for the prosperity of other -nations. I swear to maintain your constitution with all the privileges -guarantied by it; and this same constitution I promise to grant to -your brethren in the provinces, which are to be united with you in one -kingdom.' The nation believed in these promises the more readily as the -affectionate deportment of the monarch seemed to confirm them. During -his stay in Warsaw, he 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 Polish nation.</p> - -<p>This show of benevolence, and the dreams of happiness with which it -inspired the people, were not, however of long duration. Before his -departure from Warsaw, the Emperor named as vice<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>roy of Poland, the -old general Zajaczek,<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> raising him to the dignity of a prince, and -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 an instrument in Russian hands; -while in Constantine, the commander in chief of their army, the Poles -received a tyrant.</p> - -<p>Not long after the departure of Alexander, the encroachments of the -Russian cabinet began to be felt. Removals of officers took place -in all the branches of government, in particular of those known as -patriots, who were supplanted by minions 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 of the three continents, and which was held in such -high estimation by 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> grossly offended by -the Grand Duke, and more than all, those who wore military decorations -for their merits. No past services were valued; they only exposed those -who were distinguished by them to greater persecution. In the first six -months, many officers, among whom was the renowned general Sokolnicki, -committed suicide; and nearly one half the officers and generals asked -their dismission, among whom was General, the late Dictator, Chlopicki, -who preferred poverty and want to such an ignominious service. The -Polish army, those soldiers animated by feelings of honor and the love -of distinction, were to be transformed into the machines of despotism. -They who had faced death in so many battles, who were covered with -wounds, and who had been called 'brethren' by the greatest leader 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.</p> - -<p>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 control them. Soon the liberty of the press was prohibited, -freemasonry was interdicted, and a bureau of spies was established. The -chief in 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 upon Schlee and Macrot, it was ascertained -that there were in Warsaw alone 900<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> 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 -children, was forced to pay the mercenaries hired to distress them. -Soon Warsaw and the whole kingdom became 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 however innocent an intention, in regard to -the policy and administration of the country. In order to extort -money, they accused some of the most respected and honest persons, who -were thrown into prison, and many of whom were never again seen by -their families, from the midst of whom 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 draw 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 fair and hopeful youths, the flower of our nation. In -Warsaw, besides the public gaols, there were, beneath<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> almost all of -the barracks, prisons, where the victims of tyranny were tortured. The -very orangery of the Grand Duke was transformed into a prison, from -which some persons were liberated during the revolution, who had been -confined there for years. It was in this prison that Lukasinski had -been kept for a long time, though subsequently bound to a cannon and -carried into Russia. In the gaols below the barracks of the artillery -many dead bodies were found.</p> - -<p>At the first meeting of the Diet, when the Grand Duke Constantine was -among the deputies from the city of Praga, and debates commenced on -various subjects which concerned the welfare of the country,—such as, -the liberty of the press, the abolition of the central police and the -spies, and the deposition of several of the higher officers, for which -petitions had been sent to the monarch,—a decision was promulgated -that the Diet should act in subordination to the will of the Grand -Duke, and, in order to add force to this decision, 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 admission. These tickets were distributed among Russian -generals, officers of government and their families, and creatures of -the court. Before such an auditory, discussions of the most sacred -interest to the nation were to take place. No patriot could behold, -without tears, the senators and fathers of the na<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>tions, descendants of -Tarnowski, Zamoiski, Chodkiewicz, and Kosciusko, sitting with sad and -drooping countenances, exposed to the scoffing and laughter of those -minions of the court. The sacred halls were transformed into a theatre -for Russian spectators.</p> - -<p>In all the different bureaus, spies held important offices, and -thus those bureaus became scenes of the most detestable intrigues. -Law and right were trampled under foot, and the constitution itself -was derided. They used to express themselves in the following and -similar terms:—'What is the constitution? It is an impediment to the -administration of the government, and the course of justice. The Grand -Duke is the best constitution.'</p> - -<p>A few years had passed away in this wretched state of the nation, when, -towards 1821, our noble patriots, Krzyzanowski, Jablonowski, Plichta, -Debek, and Soltyk, conceived the idea of emancipating their country by -a revolution. Whilst occupied with their noble scheme, they were most -agreeably surprised 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 Jablonow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>ski became acquainted 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.</p> - -<p>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 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 the 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 Dneiper, to celebrate the anniversary of the coronation. This -occasion was to be 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> moment -of the breaking out of the revolution, they should take the life of -the Grand Duke Constantine. To this proposition, however, Prince -Jablonowski answered in these well known words: 'Russians, brother -Sarmatians, you have summoned us to co-operate in the holy work of -breaking the bonds of slavery under which our Sarmatic race has so long -pined. We come to you with sincere hearts, willing to sacrifice our -fortunes and lives. Rely, my dear friends, on this our promise. 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.'</p> - -<p>The patriotic associations on both sides endeavored to increase -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 plans for the -approaching revolution were arranged with the utmost circumspection, -and every circumstance seemed to promise success, when the sudden death -of the Emperor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> Alexander, at Taganrog, in the early part of December, -1825, darkened our bright hopes.</p> - -<p>The news of his death had, at first, a stunning effect upon the -patriotic club in Petersburgh. Nevertheless, they resolved to act. They -hoped to profit by the troubles between Constantine and Nicholas, 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 -on the side of the patriots, 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, acknowledged 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.</p> - -<p>As the Grand Duke Constantine, on account of his marriage with a noble -Polish lady, Grudzinska, in 1825, was obliged to renounce the throne -of Russia, the imperial power was, by a written document, given to the -Grand Duke Nicholas, as the eldest in succession after him.</p> - -<p>Some days after the proclamation of Nicholas, all the prisons of the -realm were prepared to receive their new inmates. Petersburgh, Moscow, -Wilna, Kiow, Bialystok, and Warsaw, were appointed for the places -of trial. Over the whole of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> Poland and Russia the sword of cruel -revenge was suspended. 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 immense 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,<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> -Jgelstrom, and Wigelin, were exiled to Siberia for life.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> - -<p>In Warsaw, the Grand Duke himself undertook the business of -establishing an inquisition over the 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 Poland, 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 -virtuous old man, whose powerful eloquence was a mirror of his noble<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> -heart. President Bilinski, fearless of the threats of the 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 mitigation of the sentence was signed by all -the senators, with one exception.<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> - -<p>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 do -it, and took the oath, like his predecessor and brother, Alexander, to -maintain the constitution and the privileges guarantied by it.</p> - -<p>Poland may have suffered under Alexander; yet he loved the nation -like a friend, as every one of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> my countrymen will allow. When he was -mistaken in his measures, it 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. Poland 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 predecessor, he exhibited none of his virtues. Alexander, -with a benignant countenance, permitted every one to approach him -freely, and his features were never distorted by passion. Nicholas, -on the contrary, seemed to terrify by his very look. His lowering -and overbearing eye was the true mirror of Asiatic despotism. Every -movement was that of command; and his imperious air was in true -harmony with the ruling passion of his mind. Such a sovereign, acting -through the instrumentality of a brother like himself, the Grand -Duke Constantine, must needs bring distress upon our country. Whole -volumes might be filled with the relation of the atrocities of this -government. 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 lavished away millions of the public -funds. Everything was permitted to them. In short, the intention of -this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> 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,<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> the more its -energy of character was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> steeled, and the more the love of country -developed itself.</p> - -<p>Two worthy sons of Poland, Wysocki and Schlegel, mourning over -the martyrdom of Krzy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>zanowoski, Soltyk, Dembek, 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> revolution was conceived. They communicated their hopes -to several other patriots, and thus was formed the Patriotic Club. -This association, nourishing in their secret breasts the holy spark -of liberty, increased it soon to a flaming light, by which the whole -nation was led to honor and glory. These heroic men fearlessly -persevered in their endeavors, during five years, exposed to the -greatest dangers and amidst thousands of spies. Witnesses of the -continually aggravated oppression of their country, they became more -and more animated to risk every thing for their holy object.</p> - -<p>While this tyrannical government was exulting in the success of its -measures, and the honor and morals of our country 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 to every -patriotic heart in Poland.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> How much were they enraptured, who hitherto -in secret had been labouring for the redemption of their country! The -happy result of those glorious days was a peal of terror to the Grand -Duke Constantine, and to the whole swarm of agents in his tyrannical -sway. It gave them a presage of their approaching retribution. Yet, -instead of adopting milder measures, and endeavouring 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.</p> - -<p>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 of the 4th regiment of the line and of the -sappers were initiated. 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 destined to serve as the -vanguard of this expedition, and Modlin and Warsaw were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> stored with -large quantities of arms and ammunition from Russia. All the regiments -were completed, and the order for marching was momentarily expected.</p> - -<p>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 following 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 accommodate the officers,—by an understanding with the -inhabitants, it was determined, that instead of furnishing quarters, a -quartering 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 compensation, and it was satisfactory to -the inhabitants. This regulation, however, was executed in an entirely -different manner. In many cases the heavier taxes were paid by the -poorer inhabitants, and indeed they had sometimes 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 commis<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>sioners for quartering, who thus amassed -millions of gilders.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></p> - -<p>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 confidence of the citizens. Among others, the -deposition of the president of the city, Woyda, was demanded; and when -the government 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 endeavouring 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 tyrants! Away -with the barbarians to Asia!' A great concourse of citizens assembled -one evening before the city hall, and demanded the punishment of the -quartering commissioner, Czarnecki, who, in his desperation, committed -suicide.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> - -<p>The holy moment was now fast approaching, and Warsaw was in anxious -expectation. Fear and terror was painted in the faces of the spies, -while, on the other hand, all true patriots 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 with the consciousness of so -many crimes, had no rest, and surrounded himself with large bodies -of guards. A hundred gens d'armes were on horseback for many nights, -constantly bringing in their victims. Strong patroles of Russian -soldiers traversed the streets. All was in vain. His mercenaries could -not protect the tyrant. The word was given, the oath was sworn, to -fight for our sacred rights and the freedom of our country.</p> - -<p>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 private 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 Suwarrow, in 1796, when none -were spared, and Praga swam with blood, and was strewed with the -corpses of 30,000 of its 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> Grand Duke. The abovementioned students, with some priests, -were in the act of worship, 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 -retribution 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 revolution, on which day the 4th Polish regiment, -many of the officers of which were among the initiated, were to mount -guard in Warsaw.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> '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 answered;—'In my situation, I have many interests -to conciliate, 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; I authorize the efforts -which you wish to make. It is alone in the unanimity of your population -that you will find the hope of success. I ought to add that I have -guarantied to the Emperor of Austria the integrity of his dominions.'</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Zajaczek commenced his military career in the time of -Kosciusko, continued it among the Polish legions, and accompanied -Napoleon to Egypt, where he served with distinction. He was present in -all the later campaigns of Napoleon, till 1809, when he returned, on -account of his advanced age and the loss of one of his legs.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> This nobleman (Rukiewicz) had two beautiful sisters, -Cornelia and Theresa, 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 -village, in order to take possession of his papers. His sisters, who -were ignorant of the event, were quietly at home when they beheld the -officer with 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 on -fire, and more than two hundred persons, whose names were contained in -the register, were thus saved by the presence of mind of that heroic -lady. She returned to the parlor with the noblest and most delighted -mien, and, on the officer's enquiring as to the cause of the fire, -she answered with a smile, 'Gentlemen, I only wanted to save you the -trouble of some farther 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 gone. They -could not endure the thought of leaving him to pine away so far from -them in chains, and they resolved to partake and thus to relieve his -sufferings. Regardless of the remonstrances of their friends, they left -everything, and, travelling in the humblest manner, mostly on foot -or upon the wagons of the peasantry, they undertook the journey to -Siberia. It is not known whether Providence granted them to reach their -beloved brother or not.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> 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 general Count Vincenti 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 soldiers, indeed, regarded him -as a father. Yet this man could so far forget himself 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 -narrative as the 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.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> 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 state a few facts.—In our country, the distilling and brewing -of spirituous liquors, and the planting of tobacco, as well as the -sale of these articles, was a privilege of the landed proprietors. -Warsaw, as the capital and the most populous city, was the best -market for these productions, and all the noblemen endeavoured 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 forbidden 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 1/3) -for which he more than doubly indemnified himself by the 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 upon the prohibition 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, some brandy and -tobacco, carried 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 -disturbance, he censured them for their inhumanity about such a trifle. -In order, however, to save the man from farther insults, he retained -him, with the intention of sending him the next day with a note to -Nowachowiez for his exculpation. 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 protected a -defrauder. Thus, surrounded by four soldiers, this man was publicly -carried through Warsaw to the prison of the Carmelites. Not satisfied -with this, Nowachowiez succeeded in obtaining from the Grand Duke, who -hated Biernacki as a patriotic Pole, a squadron of Russian Hulans, -consisting of 200 horse, to quarter for a whole week on his estate, -<i>in execution</i>, as it is termed. The Russian soldiers took possession -of all the buildings on the estate. In the apartments which they used -for barracks, they broke all the furniture, lustres, pianos, &c., and -carried in their straw for sleeping. In the court-yard 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 for -a whole year was in danger of her life from the consequences of her -terror. This barbarous order of the Grand Duke ruined the fortune of -that unhappy man, and the amount of his property destroyed may be -estimated at least at from 70,000 to 80,000 gilders. 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 offender -was punished with 800 blows of the knout, of which he died in a few -days. -</p> -<p> -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 superintend the services of the secret -police. Among them was a Jew, named Birnbaum, 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, Lubowiecki, Macrot, and Schlee, with some Russian -generals, and the servants of the Grand Duke, Kochanowski and Trize, -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 understanding with -his superiors, found out the way of drawing to himself the greatest -advantages from this decree. He persuaded two other Jews, by the -promise 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 warehouses of the noblemen, found -the contraband goods, and forced them to the alternative 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 imprisoned. -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,<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> or Council of the Jews, and by means of money contrived to -have him arrested. He was poisoned in his prison, as many persons of -consequence were found to be implicated in his impositions.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> 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.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> One man of the name of Czarnecki, a commissioner of the -quartering bureau, in a short time made by these means two millions of -gilders; and this robber of the poor carried his luxury so far as to -make use of bathing tubs lined with silver.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">Principles of the Revolution.—<span class="smcap">The First Night.</span>—Attack on -the Barracks 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 bodies of -Russian cavalry.—Two companies of Polish light-infantry join -the patriots.—Death of Potocki and Trembicki.—The Russian -infantry attacked and dispersed.—Armament and assembling of the -people.—Detachments sent to Praga.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">It</span> is undeniable that the history of our nation abounds in heroic -acts and glorious passages. Need we instance the times of Boleslaw, -Casimir, Jagelo, Augustus of Warna, and Sobieski; or the deeds of -our renowned generals Czarnecki, Chodkiewicz, Tarnowski, Sapieha, -Kosciusko, and Poniatowski? Yet, in our whole history, nothing -transcends this last revolution; and indeed few more memorable 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 impulse—that of vengeance for the ignominy 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 numbers were, to meet that colos<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>sal power dreaded by all Europe. -We were not animated to this unequal struggle by any vain desire of -conquest, but by a resolution to shake off a yoke so disgraceful, -and by the wish to preserve our civilization, and 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, Morawiew, Kachowski, and Releiew, who -suffered an ignominious 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 themselves 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?' Unworthy nation—soothed by the momentary blandishments of -the autocrat, who scattered his decorations with a lavish hand, they -forgot their own past sufferings and the future that awaits them. They -suffered 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 -celebrated in Warsaw and all the provinces, they burned our villages, -and murdered our fathers and brothers. Russians! You have covered -yourselves with eternal shame, in the eyes of the whole world. Even the -nations you consider your friends and allies contemn you!</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="center">THE FIRST NIGHT.</p> - -<p>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 revolution. 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! brethren! 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, brethren; to arms! Our country forever!'</p> - -<p>The excitement spread through this part of the city with incredible -rapidity. The citizens flocked together from all quarters, shouting -'Down with the 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 situated in the royal gardens of Lazienki) under their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> -gallant leaders, Wysocki and Schlegel, and marched to the quarters of -the Russian cavalry, cuirasseurs, hulans and hussars. It was resolved -to take immediate possession of all the chief gates. The issuing out -of the Russian troops was thereby rendered very difficult and bloody, -as the barracks were surrounded 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 magazines, -&c. In short, panic and disorder pervaded officers 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 <i>hurrah</i> through the -gates. 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. Cuirasseurs, hulans -and hussars mingled together, joined in the cry of terror, and began to -seek concealment in garrets, 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 Russians might all have been made prisoners; -for so great was their panic that they were not ashamed to beg for -quarter on their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> 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.</p> - -<p>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.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> Some of -them guarded the passages on the side of the gardens, while others -penetrated to the tyrant's apartment. But he had escaped through a -secret door.</p> - -<p>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 Lubowicki, 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 his knees and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> begged for his life. They -took him with them, intending to extract from him all the information -he was able to give. In the court-yard they met the Russian general, -Gendre,<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> 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. The party meeting with no farther obstacles, -returned to their friends, whom they found at the bridge of Sobieski.</p> - -<p>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 Ujasdow 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. It was in fact a company of Russian cuirasseurs, who were -on guard in this part of the park, and who were now hastening to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> -save the barracks. Immediately a plan was formed to receive them. The -cadets, forming in a line, concealed themselves in the Park near the -street. The cuirasseurs 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, suffered 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 hussars returning from a patrol. At the same time they heard -the Russian cavalry 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!' discharged 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 precipitaion, -leaving many dead behind them.</p> - -<p>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 infantry, and with them the -two Polish generals, Stanislaus Potocki and Trembicki, who were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> giving -commands for restoring order by force, and for arresting the assembled -inhabitants. The company of cadets arrived, and hailed the light -infantry with the following words:—'Brothers! Are you here to shed -the blood of your brethren? Have you forgotten the Russian tyranny? -Come 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.<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> In this place some gens<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> 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 -both march to the street of Szulec, on the left bank of the Vistula, -endeavor there to assemble the citizens, 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.</p> - -<p>The cadets marched directly into the city through the Nowy-Swiat, -singing patriotic songs and shouting 'Poland forever!' Every where the -citizens answered their shouts with the greatest enthusiasm, and joined -the ranks of those brave youths. Both old and young men, and even -women, left their dwellings in order 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 advancing as far as the palace of the Viceroy -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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> 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.<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a></p> - -<p>In the same manner general Siemiontkowski, with some gens d'armes and -soldiers, endeavored to disperse and arrest the citizens assembled in -the Saxon-platz. He likewise was a Russian instrument, and was hated by -the nation.</p> - -<p>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 -active 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 infantry in their barracks called the barracks of Sapieha. The -shouts of the soldiers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> and citizens advancing to the attack mingled -with the noise of the drums on every side. A great number of Russian -general officers and spies were taken in their flight, in the street of -the Little Theatre, and the street of Napoleon.</p> - -<p>As soon as the numbers assembled would admit of it, divisions were -detached to liberate the prisoners, especially those in the Franciscan -and Carmelite prisons. These prisons, always guarded by Russian troops, -were stormed. The Russian soldiers were driven in, and a massacre -commenced in the corridors, where a great number of them fell by -the bayonet, together with many police officers and turnkeys. The -doors were broken down—and an indescribable scene took place, when -the victims, already sentenced, 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 a father. Many of the emaciated captives could only creep to meet -the embraces of their brethren. But what was most shocking, 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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> - -<p>The above mentioned battalions of the 4th and the battalion of sappers -marched to attack the Russian infantry in the barracks of Alexander and -Stanislaus. On their arrival there, they found some companies under -arms, and summoned them to surrender. Instead of complying, they began -to fire, and our soldiers fell instantly upon them, with the 'hurrah.' -They were dispersed in a moment, and many officers and soldiers were -made prisoners. So panic struck 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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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,<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> -in his flight. As he did not stop at their challenge, he was shot.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> - -<p>When the city had been nearly freed of the Russians, 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 -murderous intentions. All the apartments were immediately opened, and -more than 80,000 muskets, pistols, sabres, and carbines were obtained. -They were distributed with admirable good order.</p> - -<p>The people, being now armed, were arrayed in divisions, under different -commanders, and sent to various parts of the city. Parties were -appointed to patrol the streets and arrest all spies<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> and Rus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>sian -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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> 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.</p> - -<p>Toward two in the morning, the quiet of the city was restored. Most -of the patriots assembled in the Ulica Dluga, (or Long Street,) to -consult on the measures 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 people to aid in this -holy cause, yet at the same time besought them never to violate the -dictates of humanity. 'Dear brethren,' they said, 'let no one have a -right to accuse us of cruelty. May the sanctity of our cause never be -polluted by barbarious passions. Having a single end in view, national -freedom, and justice, may we prove lions in battle, mild and indulgent -to defenceless foes, and repentant apostates. Brethren, let unity, -love and friendship be ours! Let us forget private rancor and selfish -interest; Children of one mother, our dear Poland—let us save her from -ruin!'</p> - -<p>These addresses were received by the people with the most fervent -enthusiasm, and with cries of 'Poland 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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> The assembled multitude then knelt -down before the Almighty, to thank him for a deliverance accomplished -with so little bloodshed, and to implore a continuation of his mercies. -It was a scene which no description can equal. In the depth of the -night the immense crowds of people 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.</p> - -<p>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 garrison -at the bridge. Wagons were also sent to Praga for ammunition.</p> - -<p>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 cavalry 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 compelled them -to retire with severe loss. Some companies formed by the populace, -had already taken possession of Praga, and all was quiet. Many wagon -loads of cartridges, balls, and barrels of powder, were taken from the -magazine to Warsaw before morning.</p> - -<p>These are the details of the first night of our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> revolution. The -order which prevailed in all these tumults and during the fight, was -truly admirable. The foreigners then in Warsaw declared that they -could not 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 without -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 -order, shouting songs of joy. These were moments in which the heart of -every good patriot rejoiced, and traitors alone hid their heads.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> 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 infamous 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 farther 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 nothing; the guilty conscience anticipates danger. The Grand -Duke injured himself as well as our cause by his flight. His melancholy -end is well known.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Gendre was one of the Russian generals, who was among -the chief spies. He was dismissed by the deceased emperor, 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 Constantine to associate and surround himself with the outcasts of -society; and he made him his master of horse, and afterwards general -and aid-de-camp. The swindling of this general and his wife, in Warsaw, -surpassed all imagination. They cheated and robbed the noblemen, 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.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> 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 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 -Trembizki, he had always been a creature of the Russians, and a proud -and mischievous man.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> 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 rapidly in the revolutionary war under Kosciusko, in which he -distinguished 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.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> This bad man was one of the principal instruments of our -oppressors. He was one of the chiefs of the spies, and his particular -business 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 foreigners 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 which Russia -steals deeper and deeper into the heart of Europe.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> 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 Napoleon he commanded a brigade, and subsequently a division -of cavalry. 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 -atrocious 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 -throughout 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. -</p> -<p> -It was a part of Rozniecki's business to pay the spies, and they -received 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 the very spies! In the room where he received their -denunciations he had a chest of drawers 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 record. 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 accused of murder by poison, and other enormous crimes, but the -proceedings 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 whither he pleased. He made his escape in the coachman's cloak. -His effigy was exhibited on the gallows seven days, decorated with a -dozen Russian orders.</p></div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang"><span class="smcap">The First Day.</span>—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 addressed 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 consents to leave the kingdom, and -addresses a proclamation to the Poles.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> first day of freedom, after so many years of oppression, was -hailed with shouts of 'Our country! 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 -assembled, 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 Kosciusko. Clergymen, civil officers, foreigners, -Jews, even women and children armed with pistols, mingled in the ranks.</p> - -<p>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 <i>Champ de Mars</i> -and the whole district thence to the barrier of Powazko. This division -had with them two small pieces of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> 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.</p> - -<p>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 the cry to cease firing -and attack with the bayonet was heard on all sides. 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.</p> - -<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a></p> - -<p>Towards eleven, General Chlopicki was led by the people, with -acclamations, to the hotel of the Minister of Finance, where many -senators and other persons were assembled to take measures respecting -a provisional government, the security of public order, &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 Professor Lelewell, one of the -patriots, who, after drawing 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 predecessors, Czarnecki, Dombrowski, and Kosciusko. -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 received him -with shouts of 'Our country and our liberator Chlopicki forever!' Many -cried, 'Chlopicki,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> rely on us, and lead us to Lithuania!' The general -thanked them for their confidence in him, promised never to abuse it, -and swore that he would defend the liberty of Poland to the last moment.</p> - -<p>The patriots now proceeded to choose members of the provisional -government. Prince Adam Czartoriski,<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> Radzivil,<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> Niemcewicz, and -Lelewell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> were elected, and one of the old ministers, Lubecki, was -retained to assist them. This arrangement was made public about noon, -in order to tranquilize the people.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a><br /><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> - -<p>The first step taken by the new government was 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 deputies were Lubecki and -Lelewell. They found the Grand Duke encamped, with his army, in the -fields of Mokotow.</p> - -<p>The deputies represented to Constantine the consequences 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 depart unmolested, on a -prescribed route. They promised that he should find every possible -accommodation 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.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Art. I.</span> The Grand Duke declares that it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> 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.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Art. II.</span> The Grand Duke will entreat the Emperor to grant an -amnesty for the past.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Art. III.</span> The Grand Duke declares that he has sent no orders -to the Russian forces in Lithuania to pass the frontier of the kingdom.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Art. IV.</span> Prisoners will be exchanged.</p> - -<p>The deputies returned to Warsaw with this answer, at three o'clock. -It was immediately published, but did not satisfy the people. They -demanded to know the day and hour of the Grand Duke's departure. If -he should refuse to obey, they declared that they would attack him. -It was finally concluded to allow him two days for his necessary -arrangements, and then to send a second deputation to insist on his -instant departure.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a></p> - -<p>The provisional government immediately set about restoring order to -every department of the administration. 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 office, by certain persecutions, which -he brought upon himself by not being sufficiently in the spirit of -the Russian government. At the same time the national 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 -punctuality. All the shops were opened, and the city wore as peaceful -an aspect as if there had been no army before it.</p> - -<p>At the same time the provisional government sent proclamations into all -the provinces, to inform the nation of these events. They began with -the following beautifully figurative expression: 'Poles!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> The eagle -of Poland has broken his chains, and will soon have burst through the -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 Warsaw. 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 proper provision for the -care of the Russian prisoners, of whatever rank, as well as of the -ladies of the Russian civil and military officers who had left Warsaw. -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.</p> - -<p>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 national -struggle was marked with the greatest atrocities, and that more -than forty field officers, many subalterns, and large parties of -privates were butchered for declining to engage in the cause.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> These -impeachments of the Polish nation are unjust and false. As has been -said before, the foreigners in Warsaw could not sufficiently praise -the admirable order with which our first movements were conducted. Our -enemies accuse the people of having robbed the public treasuries.—I -affirm that not a gilder was lost—neither public nor private property -was pillaged.</p> - -<p>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 -heart-stirring to see these noble youths assembled in arms to defend -their country. Many of them had just been rescued from prison, and -could not walk without difficulty. This did not damp their ardor; the -hope of fighting successfully for the liberty of Poland renewed their -strength. The Academical Legions requested to be sent to the posts -nighest the enemy. These two days passed in entire quietness.</p> - -<p>In the afternoon of the second of December, general Schenbek arrived -from Plock with the first regiment of chasseurs. At the same time came -colonel Sierawski from Serock, with his regiment. Both were received -with great enthusiasm. New detachments from the provinces marched into -Warsaw every day. A truly affect<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>ing 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 description. They were escorted by the shouting populace 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, 'he had always loved.' He adduced -his marriage with a young Polish lady as a proof of his affection -for the nation. At the 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.<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a></p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> General Chlopicki, a man of rare merit, began his -career in the struggle for liberty under Kosciusko. In 1807, he was -colonel commandant of the first regiment of the legion of the Vistula, -under Napoleon. He had the command of a brigade, and afterwards of -a division, of the same legion in Spain. This general distinguished -himself at the storming of Saragossa, where the Poles performed -prodigies of valor, as well as at the battle of Saginta. Under the -Russian government of Constantine, Chlopicki left the army, not being -able to endure his commander's brutal deportment. The Grand Duke -censured the general on parade, in an unbecoming manner, saying that -his division was not in order. Chlopicki replied, 'I did not gain my -rank on the parade ground, nor did I receive my decorations there.' He -asked 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.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> 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 family 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 Czartoriski and his brother Constantine were sent to St -Petersburgh as hostages. 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 important 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 scorned the idea of receiving rewards from government. He would -not even accept a salary. -</p> -<p> -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 of -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 character, in these classes. -</p> -<p> -The events of 1812 showed but too plainly that the misfortunes which -then befell 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 -of Europe, now entirely lost, would have been preserved. It was, -then, a true and necessary policy to bring forward the question of -the independence of Poland again. This was the object Prince Adam -Czartoriski 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 Alexander -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 -constitution 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 of the Holy Alliance. Russian policy -made these restrictions more and more sensibly felt, and unfortunate -Poland beheld, one after another, the institutions so solemnly -guarantied to her, vanishing away. -</p> -<p> -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, -particularly in the cause of patriotism and liberty; and in order to -free himself from all connection with the intriguing cabinet of Russia, -he went, with his whole family, on a journey to foreign countries. -</p> -<p> -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, on the main road to Lemberg in Gallicia, on the right bank -of the Vistula. 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. This declivity is laid -out as a garden in the purest taste, terminating, toward the river, -in extensive meadows, planted with groves of oaks and poplars, and -enlivened by herds of Tyrolese cattle, cottages, shepherds' cabins, &c., -in various styles of building. This garden surrounds Pulawa, and is -itself surrounded by great parks, which extend several leagues beyond -it in every direction. These are intersected by beautiful avenues of -linden trees. Among the many 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 masterpiece of sculpture. The palace, consisting of a main building -with two wings, is a noble piece of architecture. Its apartments are -rich and splendid. Prince Czartoriski has the largest library in -Poland, and the greatest private library in Europe, which is open to -the public. -</p> -<p> -Czartoriski happened to be in Pulawa when the revolution broke out. -Summoned to the helm of the 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 <i>beau ideal</i> 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 characterised 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 accompanied Skrzynecki, to whom he was much attached, in his -marches, and was at his side in many battles. His whole character was -essentially noble.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> Prince Michael Radzivil was born in Lithuania, on his -family estate called Nieswiez. He is nephew of Prince Anthony Radzivil, -governor-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 retired -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.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> The Grand Duke's army at Mokatow, consisted of the -following regiments. -</p> - -<table summary="forces" width="70%"> -<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td>Infantry.</td><td>Cavalry.</td><td>Artillery.</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">1.</td> <td>Infantry grenadiers, two battalions</td> <td align="right">2000</td><td></td><td> </td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">2.</td> <td>Light Infantry</td> <td align="right">2000</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">3.</td> <td>Battalion for instruction</td> <td align="right">1000</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">4.</td> <td>Cuirasseurs of Podolia 4 squadrons</td><td> </td> <td align="right">800</td><td></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">5.</td><td> Hulan, Cesarowicz 4 '</td><td> </td> <td align="right">800</td><td></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">6.</td> <td>Hussars of Grodno 4 '</td><td></td> <td align="right">800</td><td> </td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">7.</td> <td>Battery of Horse Artillery</td><td> </td><td> </td> <td align="right">12 pieces.</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">8.</td> <td>Battery of Foot Artillery</td><td> </td><td> </td> <td align="right">12 "</td></tr> - -<tr><td></td><td>Total,</td> <td align="right"> 5000</td> <td align="right">2400</td> <td align="right">24 "</td></tr> -</table> - -<p> -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.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> These proclamations, which were immediately published -in the Warsaw papers, contain clear proof that the Grand Duke had no -injuries on the part of the Polish nation to complain of, and that he -himself felt that the Poles were constrained to revolt.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">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 Moscow.—Their reception.—Krazynski and -Kornatowski.—Deputation to St Petersburgh.—Demands to be laid before -the Emperor.—Sierawski made Governor of Warsaw, and Wasowiez chief -of the staff.—Order respecting the army.—Arrival of volunteers from -the interior.—Opening of the theatre.—Religious solemnities at -Praga.—Chlopicki nominated and proclaimed Dictator.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">On</span> the third of December the Patriotic Club began 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 revolution; and to promote fraternity and union -throughout the nation. They desired to repress all manifestations 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 interests of the nation with unwearied zeal. If this club was, -at times, led by the fervor of patriotic feeling 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.</p> - -<p>On the morning of the third of December, the Grand Duke commenced his -march towards Pula<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>wa, according to agreement,<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> and the Polish -regiments which had remained with Constantine up to this time, now -returned to Warsaw. These troops were at first regarded by the people -with feelings<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> of indignation. Such feelings were, however, soon -dissipated by the explanations which were given. They had been misled -by their generals, Krasynski and Kornatowski. As to general Zimyrski,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> -who commanded the grenadiers, he was entirely blameless. He had -intended 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 movements 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 impos<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>sible afterwards for these regiments to learn the truth, -as they were closely surrounded by the Russians, and cut off from all -communication with others.</p> - -<p>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. -'Soldiers,' 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 exclaimed, 'We will remain—we will join our brethren and fight -for the liberty of our country. We are sorry that we could not do so -from the beginning, but we were deceived.'</p> - -<p>The people who had assembled to gaze at these unfortunate men, -with unfavorable and unjust feelings toward them, were disarmed of -their resentment at the very sight of them, and rushed into their -embraces. They were surrounded by the multitude, and taken, with -joyful acclamations, to the Place of the Bank. But though the people -forgave the soldiers, their indignation remained unabated against -their generals, and the greatest efforts of the leading patriots were -required to save Krasynski and Kornatowski from their rage. It was -dreadful to behold these generals riding with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> 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. Mothers held up their children, and, pointing at the -two 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 excited 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 unworthy -of a shot from a Polish hand. Live—to be everlastingly tortured by -your consciences!' The unfortunate men entreated that they might be -permitted to serve in the ranks, as privates. They were immediately -deprived of their commissions, and from that time they lived in -retirement during the war.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a></p> - -<p>The people were this day informed that prince Adam Czartoriski had been -nominated president of the national government; that the eighteenth -of December was appointed for the opening of the Diet; that till that -day the rights of the Emperor Nicholas would be acknowledged; and that -Lubecki, Osvowski, and Jezierski would be sent to St Petersburgh, as a -deputation, to inform the emperor of all that had happened. They were -also to lay before him the following demands:</p> - -<p>1st. That all Russian troops should be withdrawn from the kingdom -forever, that a perpetual conflict between the two nations might be -avoided.</p> - -<p>2d. That the privileges of the constitution should be again confirmed -in their fullest extent.</p> - -<p>3d. That all the ancient Polish provinces incorporated with Russia -should partake in the privileges of the constitution, as Alexander had -promised.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>The deputies left Warsaw that very evening.</p> - -<p>The commander in chief appointed general Sierawski governor of the -city of Warsaw, and colonel count Wonsowicz chief of the staff. These -officers were both beloved by the people, and proved themselves able -and zealous defenders of their country through the whole campaign. -The commander in chief also published an order, that the army should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> -consist of 200,000 men. Each wayewodeship (principality) was to -furnish 9,000 infantry and 11,000 horse. There are eight wayewodeships -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 expected from the Polish provinces under other foreign -governments.</p> - -<p>The fourth, fifth, and sixth of December were remarkable days in the -history of our revolution. Soldiers 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 united 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 remarkable for the -opening of the theatre.<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> Reli<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>gious solemnities took place in Praga -on the fifth, and on the sixth a Dictator was nominated.<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a></p> - -<p>When, on the sixth of December, the national government notified -Chlopicki of his nomination as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> generalissimo, he replied, that they -had no power to place him in that station; that in such critical<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> times -the civil and military power ought to be vested in one person, and that -he felt himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> 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.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> 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. -</p> -<p> -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 Pulawa. -Agents had been sent in advance in this direction, to procure for him -every convenience, which he found uniformly prepared. In a village -between Kosienice 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 intendant general in the -parlor, where the Grand Duchess Lowicz was present. Wolicki requested -his orders with regard to the accommodation of the troops. Constantine -coldly thanked him, and immediately 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 greater exasperation and fury, exclaimed, 'They have -chased me out of the country—but I shall soon return.' In his rage -he again seized Wolicki's hand, saying, 'You shall stay with me, as -a hostage for my generals 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 -inhabitants 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. -</p> -<p> -He arrived at Warsaw on the following day, and related his adventure, -which was published as an illustration of the Grand Duke's perfidy and -inconsistency. This conduct, together with his threats, would have -justified the Poles in pursuing and taking him, with his whole army, -prisoners. But the nation generously suffered this opportunity for -revenge to pass by, and adhered to the promise of a free passage. -</p> -<p> -On his arrival in Pulawa, Constantine was received by the princess -Czartoriska in the most friendly manner, as he also was in Lubartow -by the princess Lubomirska. In the latter place, general Rosniecki, -who accompanied the Grand Duke, demanded an apartment in a pavilion -adjoining the palace, which was designed for the suite of Constantine. -The princess answered, in the presence of the Grand Duke, 'There is no -room for traitors to their country in my house.' -</p> -<p> -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 Duke, 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. Indignant at -his proposals, the lancers 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 reward than the privilege -of fighting in her cause!' With this, they wheeled, and continued their -march past the Russian troops, singing patriotic songs. -</p> -<p> -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. -</p> -<p> -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 fourteen 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 -heartfelt 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 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 highest and weightiest -duty—the duty a man owes to his country. Your Highness, I have -done all that honor and duty commanded as your aid-de-camp—I have -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. <i>Now</i> 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 now my -sacred duty as a Pole to return at the summons of my country.' -</p> -<p> -The Grand Duke marched with his corps towards 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 the -contrary notwithstanding.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> 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. Prussians! you know little of the Poles, or of their -feelings. The time may come when we shall know one another better.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> This was the first time the theatre was opened during -the revolution. A patriotic piece was performed, viz. 'The Krakovians -and Guralians,' 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 brethren 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 -joyfully received, the orchestra played Kosciusko's march, 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 Kosciusko! -France, and Lafayette the friend of Kosciusko, forever!' After this, -the Marseilles hymn was played, and then the Mazur of Dombrowski. -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 of -the audience surpassed 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.' -</p> -<p> -After this, those of the patriots who had been most actively -distinguished 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. -</p> -<p> -These scenes surpass description—they can only be felt by hearts -truly free. These were moments to unite the whole nation. Persons who -had shunned each other for years, each fearing a spy in the other, -explained themselves and embraced. These scenes will live eternally in -the memory of every Pole. Beholding his countrymen in this ecstasy of -joy, there was none who did not weep—none who did not feel ready to -die on the morrow, having seen them thus happy. The prisoner condemned -to death, when unexpectedly rescued, and permitted to breathe the free -air, laughs, weeps, endeavors to express his gratitude, and cannot. -Such was the feeling of Poland in these blessed moments.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> 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 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 -perpetrated by Suwarrow, 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, under -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. -</p> -<p> -The sixth of December was remarkable for the nomination of Chlopicki to -the dictatorship;—the union of the supreme civil and military powers -in his person. The authority of the provisional government was thus at -an end; every thing was referred to the Dictator. 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. -</p> -<p> -The people were informed by one of the senators that all the powers of -government had been delegated to Chlopicki, in order that operations -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 farther 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 -resign it on the meeting of the Diet. Rely on my experience, which -is the fruit of long service, and on my age, which has taught me the -knowledge of mankind. Be assured that no selfish feeling has impelled -me to this step, and that I have consented to take it only to promote -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!'</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">The Dictator enters upon his duties.—Plans for the enrollment of -new forces.—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 proclamation.—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 Radziwil, each subordinate to -the Diet.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">On</span> the seventh of December, the new Dictator took possession of the -residence which had been prepared 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 composed mounted guard in -succession.</p> - -<p>The nation had conceived the highest hopes of Chlopicki; they expected, -above all, the most energetic measures in regard to the armament and -organization 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 advanced age or the original inadequacy of his -talents to the demands of such a situation, would fail to satisfy 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 compass. As might have been expected, the evident incapacity of -Chlopicki early became the occasion of dissension in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> patriotic -association already referred to, accusations being preferred, as a -matter of course, against those who had been active in procuring his -investment with such high powers. The succeeding events will enable the -reader to decide for himself of the justice of such accusations.</p> - -<p>On assuming his post, the Dictator adopted the following arrangements -in regard to the enrollments 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 regiments, 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.</p> - -<p>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 -8000, making a total of 15,200. To the artillery were to be added<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> -twenty-four pieces of cannon, making a total of ninety-six pieces.</p> - -<p>In this estimate the Dictator did not include the aid that might be -calculated upon from the provinces of Prussian, Austrian, and Russian -Poland, the volunteers of every kind, and the regiments raised and -equipped by the large landed proprietors.</p> - -<p>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 furnished by -each palatinate. These officers were subordinate to two others, who -had the supervision of four palatinates each, and bore the title of -<i>Regimentarz</i>. These last had the power of appointing all the officers -of the new forces.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a></p> - -<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> 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 was in an especial manner -liberally furnished by the people. A similar state of things existed -with regard to the fortifications; and here again the energy of the -people atoned for the negligence of the administration. This was -especially the case at Warsaw and Praga, where all the citizens labored -on the works of defence, without distinction of age or sex.</p> - -<p>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 Dictator, however, instead of occupying his attention -with these warlike preparations, devoted it to diplomatic negociations, -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 -weakness and indecision.</p> - -<p>Such was the state of affairs when an event occurred that seemed -to augur well for our prospects. This was the discovery of the -correspondence between the ministers Grabowski and Lu<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>becki, the -former being Secretary of State for Poland and a member of the cabinet -at St Petersburgh, the latter Minister of Finance at Warsaw. This -correspondence afforded the clearest evidence that Russia had intended -to declare war against France, and that she was prepared to commence -that war in December following.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a></p> - -<p>These letters were sent to Paris in the early part of December, by an -express, and ought to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> have convinced the French government of the hostile -intentions 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.</p> - -<p>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 Emperor was coming to Warsaw in person. All -this 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 admitting the severity of the oppression under which we had -suffered fifteen years,—far from giving a paternal audience to the -deputies which the nation had sent to him, and who, in its name, -had presented the most moderate demands, (limited, in fact, to the -ratification 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 deputies 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, discarding all paternal feelings, he applied -the term 'infamous' to the sacred effort we had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> been forced to make by -the oppression under which we had so long suffered.<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a></p> - - - -<p>The Russian generals Benkendorf and Diebitsch, in a conversation, of -which our revolution was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> subject, and which took place in an -interview with colonel Wielezynski who was one of the deputies sent to -the emperor, spoke of a general war as im<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>pending after Poland should -be crushed.<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> 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, being published, was -received by the people with the utmost indignation. It was an insult -to the honor and character of the nation, which demanded vengeance. -The day of the promulgation of this document was a day of terrible -agitation. The cry of 'To battle! To battle!' was heard in every -quarter. The nation demanded to be led against the enemy at once. -The word had gone forth 'there is no hope of peace.'<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> It was with -difficulty that the people<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> 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 Emperor's proclamation, no other -course could be taken consistently with the national honor. It was in -consequence of this proclamation, of so criminatory, so unjust, so -insulting a character, that Nicholas Romanoff and his successors were -declared to have forfeited 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 -guarantying the 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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> -Better were it to risk the bloodiest 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.</p> - -<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a></p> - -<p>The Dictator, it was seen, had been equally neglectful of the different -fortifications. Except at the principal points, Praga, Zamosc, and -Modlin, no works of defence 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> which leads from Warsaw to Brzese, -upon which, or in its vicinity, our principal operations were to be -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 was one of that deputation, propositions deemed -inconsistent with the national honor,—the Diet deprived him of his -trust.</p> - -<p>The affairs of the civil administration were confided, as before -the dictatorship, to the senate, under the presidency of prince -Czartoriski, and the command in chief of the army was given to the -prince Michael Radzivil. All these powers were subordinate to the Diet. -In this manner ended the dictatorship of Chlopicki, who afterwards took -a place in the suite of prince Radzivil, and was admitted into the -counsels of the administration of military affairs.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> A very important circumstance, which either escaped the -notice of the Dictator, or was wilfully neglected by him, respected the -nomination and rank of officers. As the army was to be considerably -augmented, a proportionally greater number of officers was requisite. -All arrangements upon this subject were confided to the Regimentarz, -with whom the important power of making these appointments was -entirely left. This course soon led to trouble. The Regimentarz, not -having 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 -recently commissioned officers placed above them in rank. Instead, -then, of studying to preserve the utmost harmony between those who were -going 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. -</p> -<p> -Arrangements for officering the army might have been made in such a -manner as the following, to the satisfaction of all parties. After -dividing the officers into three classes, the first, consisting of -those actually 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 -officers in the grades in which they stood at the time of their -retirement. The new regiments should have been officered from the two -first classes, 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 arrangement would have done to the officers of older standing, -it would have 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.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> <i>Letter to Prince Lubecki, Minister of Finance at Warsaw, -dated St Petersburgh, the 18th of August, 1830.</i> 'My Prince,—His -Majesty the Emperor and King directs me to inform you that the Polish -troops being now in marching condition, you are requested to provide -the necessary 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.' -</p> - -<p><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">(Signed) '<span class="smcap">Turkul</span>, <i>Secretary of State</i>.'</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -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 preparations.' -</p> -<p> -<i>Extract of a letter addressed to Prince Lubecki by Count Grabowski, -Secretary of State for Poland, at St Petersburgh.</i> 'The official -correspondence which, by the order of his Majesty, I have the honor -to communicate to you, my Prince, and which directs the placing of -the Polish army on the war establishment, was, undoubtedly, even -more unwelcome 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 geographical position places us in the front line.' -</p> -<p> -'Dated St Petersburgh, 15th October, 1830. -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">(Signed) 'Grabowski.'</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span class="smcap">From the same to the same.</span> <i>Dated October 18th, 1830.</i> -</p> -<p> -'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 Cæsarowicz, to place on the war establishment all the -troops under his command, without excepting those of the Polish -kingdom, and that these orders are to be carried into effect by the -22d of December, I have the honor, my Prince, to communicate this -information to you, by his Majesty's order, so that the necessary -funds may be furnished without delay to the Minister of War. And I -farther request you, my Prince, by the order of his Majesty, to have -the goodness to assign to his imperial highness the Cæsarowicz all the -funds for which he may have occasion in the execution of his orders. -</p> -<p> - -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">(Signed) '<span class="smcap">Grabowski.</span>'</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span class="smcap">From the same to the same.</span> <i>Dated 20th November, 1830.</i> -</p> -<p> -'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 connected 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 the arrangements which may be determined upon by Marshal -Diebitsch and the Grand Duke, without waiting for farther 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 declared, 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 other so rapidly that God only knows what may -happen before that time. The rapidity of their succession has made it -impossible to receive intelligence 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 entirely new state of things.'</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> The proclamations of the Emperor on the 17th and 24th of -December were in effect the same. There was a perfect correspondence -between them in severity of language and spirit. We will give the last. -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>'By the grace of God, we, Nicholas the First, Emperor and Autocrat -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 Cæsarowicz Grand Duke Constantine Paulowicz. Profiting by the -obscurity of the night, a furious populace, excited by these men, -precipitated themselves upon the palace of the Cæsarowicz; while, -spreading throughout the city of Warsaw the false report that the -Russian troops were massacring the peaceable inhabitants, they -collected the people about them and filled the city with all the -horrors of anarchy. The Cæsarowicz, 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 manner 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 misled, and to restrain -the discontented. This hope 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 themselves, 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 -Cæsarowicz 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 -revolt 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 Cæsarowicz considered 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 security -of persons and property. He himself quitted the kingdom with the -Russian troops, and entered on the 13th December the town of Wlodawa, -in the government of Volhynia. -</p> -<p> -'Thus was executed a crime which had been resolved upon, probably, -for a long time before. After so many misfortunes, and when at least -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 them, dare to think, for a moment, of victory; and propose -to us the condition of being 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 -movement in the whole extent of our vast empire. But one sentiment -animates 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, answer 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 innocent 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 ourselves to them by a proclamation on -the 17th of this month, in which, manifesting our just indignation -against the perjured men who have commenced this rebellion, we gave -orders to put an end to all illegal armaments, and to restore every -thing to its former footing. They have yet time, then, to repair -the fault of their compatriots, and to save the Polish kingdom from -the pernicious consequences of a blind criminality. In pointing out -the only means of safety, we make known this manifestation of our -benevolence toward our faithful subjects. They will see in it our -wish to protect the inviolability of the throne and of the country, -as well as the firm resolution to spare misguided and penitent men. -Russians! the example of your Emperor will guide you, the example 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 -sacredness of his duties, and who knows how to keep inviolable the -dignity of his empire, and the honor of the Russian people. -</p> -<p> -'Given at St Petersburgh the twenty-fourth of the month of December, -1830. -</p> -<p> - -(Signed) '<span class="smcap">Nicholas.</span>'<br /> -</p></blockquote> -</div> -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> The following is part of a conversation, in presence of -the Emperor, between generals field marshal Diebitsch and Benkendorf, -and colonel 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. -</p> -<p> -'Well, gentlemen of Poland,' said marshal Diebitsch, 'your revolution -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 toward your -frontiers, to bring the revolutionary spirits of France and Belgium to -order.' -</p> -<p> -When the colonel observed that Poland thought herself capable of -arresting the torrent long enough to give Europe the alarm, and to -prepare her for the struggle, marshal Diebitsch answered, -</p> -<p> -'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.'</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> According to the testimony of colonel Wielezynski, -the proclamation 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 -distinguish all the circumstances of the case, in regard to which a -manifesto 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!</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> Some letters of the Emperor Nicholas were found among the -papers of Chlopicki, in which the Emperor expressed his thanks to him -for having taken the Dictatorship, and for the service which he had -done to him, by the preservation of public tranquillity. The emperor -exhorted 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. -</p> -<p> -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 -necessary? 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 -contrary to the honor of the nation, is to be willing, for selfish -ends, to induce him to do that which would render him infamous in -history. -</p> -<p> -Is this a course becoming a King? A conduct so insincere, Machiavelian, -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 nations -who have been under her power. Such a system, however, is far from -being ultimately favorable to the interests of Russia herself, for it -can never lead to a sure result. Sooner or later duplicity will be -discovered, and the more a nation has been deceived, the deeper will be -its determination of vengeance. -</p> -<p> -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 -justification of our revolution.</p> -</div> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">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.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> dictatorship had exercised a most unpropitious influence upon our -affairs.<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> Every movement had been retarded, and the most invaluable -time was lost. Instead of offensive operations,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a><br /><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> the defensive was now -necessarily taken. We awaited the enemy on 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 concentrated 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 presenting 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> different 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 -regiments of newly raised light cavalry, occupied, as a corps of -observation, all the country between Wlodawa 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.<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="center">STATEMENT OF THE EXISTING ARMY, AND OF THE NEW FORCES PROPOSED TO BE -LEVIED.</p> - -<p>The whole Polish force under the Russian government, consisted, of -<i>Infantry</i>, nine regiments of two battalions each, 19,000 men, and -a battalion of sappers of 1,000 men, in all 20,000; <i>Cavalry</i>, nine -regiments of four squadrons each; in all, 7,200; <i>Artillery</i>, six -batteries of eight pieces each, and two batteries 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 regiments -of infantry to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> twenty-four. Each one of the new regiments was to be -composed 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 exempts (their term of service<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> having expired) -who were yet under the age of forty, and from all others under that -age, and above that of sixteen.</p> - -<p>Of this force, six thousand men was to be furnished 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 was also to enroll a -national guard of a thousand men. Thus the whole national guard was to -consist of 18,000 men.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> 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 divided -between Warsaw and each of the eight palatinates.</p> - -<p>The artillery was to be augmented by four batteries, of eight pieces -each, making a total of thirty-two pieces.</p> - -<table summary="forces" width="85%"> -<tr><td colspan="4" align="center">RECAPITULATION.</td></tr> - -<tr><td></td><td>Infantry.</td> <td>Cavalry.</td><td>Artillery.</td> </tr> -<tr><td>New forces,</td> <td align="right">54,000</td> <td align="right">9,200</td> <td> 32 pieces.</td></tr> -<tr><td>Existing forces,</td> <td align="right">19,000</td> <td align="right">7,200</td><td> 64</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Total,</td> <td class="td1">73,000</td> <td class="td1">16,400</td> <td class="td2"> 96</td></tr> - -<tr><td>If we should add to this -number the regiments -formed by the land<br /> -proprietors at their own -expense, detachments of -volunteers, foreigners,<br /> -and detachments of -partizans, amounting -perhaps to</td> <td class="tdr">6,000</td> <td class="tdr">2,000</td><td></td></tr> -<tr><td>The total might be -increased to</td> <td class="td1">79,000</td> <td class="td1">18,400</td> <td class="td2"> 96</td></tr> -</table> - -<p>This force, although it would seem to be disproportionate to the -resources of the kingdom, it was certainly possible to have raised; -for the energy and spirit of the people were at the highest point, and -every one felt the importance of improving the favorable 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> -sustained by the 40,000 only which we actually brought into the field, -he may conjecture what advantages might have been expected from twice -that number, which we should certainly have brought to the field, had -the energy of the government 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 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 moment 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 especially the former, had began to take an -attitude of hostility towards us, and thus all hope of sympathy from -her neighbors was lost to Poland, the perilous nature of the crisis -to which the delay of the dictatorial government had brought us, thus -unprepared, may be imagined. But Poland did not suffer herself to be -discouraged by all these unpropitious circumstances. Trusting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> to the -righteousness of her cause, she went forth to the contest, determined -to fall or to be free.</p> - - -<p class="center">STATEMENT OF THE FORCES WITH WHICH THE WAR WAS ACTUALLY COMMENCED.</p> - -<p>A great exactitude in the computation of these forces would be -obviously impracticable, as the precise number of the detachments of -volunteers, occasionally joining the army, serving in a particular -locality 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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<table summary="infantry" width="85%"> -<tr><td>The whole infantry consisted of:</td><td></td></tr> - -<tr><td>The nine existing regiments, enlarged -by one battalion to each regiment, -making in all,</td> <td align="right">27,000</td></tr> -<tr><td>One battalion of sappers,</td> <td align="right">1,000</td></tr> -<tr><td>A tenth regiment, of two battalions, -called 'The Children of Warsaw,'</td> <td align="right">2,000</td></tr> -<tr><td>A battalion of volunteers, added to -the 4th regiment,</td> <td align="right">1,000</td></tr> -<tr><td>Different detachments of volunteers, as -the detachments of Michael Kuszel, -and the Kurpie or Foresters, &c.,</td> <td align="right">1,600</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Total of infantry,</td> <td class="td1">32,600</td></tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> - -<p>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 attached. The divisions were commanded as follows; 1st division -by general Krukowiecki; 2d division, general Zymirski; 3d division, -general Skrzynecki; 4th division, general Szembek.</p> - -<table summary="cavalry" width="85%"> -<tr><td>The cavalry consisted of the nine existing -regiments,</td> <td align="right">7,200</td></tr> -<tr><td>Four squadrons, added to these as a reserve,</td> <td align="right">800</td></tr> -<tr><td>Two squadrons of carabiniers,</td> <td align="right">400</td></tr> -<tr><td>Two regiments of krakus or light cavalry, -of Podlasia and Lublin,</td> <td align="right">1,600</td></tr> -<tr><td>Two regiments of Mazurs,</td> <td align="right">1,600</td></tr> -<tr><td>Six squadrons of Kaliszian cavalry,</td> <td align="right">1,200</td></tr> -<tr><td>Two squadrons of lancers of Zamoyski,</td> <td align="right">400</td></tr> -<tr><td>Total of cavalry,</td> <td class="td1">13,200</td></tr> -</table> - -<p>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 -Stryinski, 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.</p> - -<p>The artillery was divided into 12 batteries of eight pieces each, -making in all 96 pieces.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> - -<p>The general statement of the forces with which the campaign was -commenced is then as follows:</p> - -<p><i>Infantry</i>, 32,600. <i>Cavalry</i>, 13,200. <i>Artillery</i>, 96 pieces.</p> - -<p>This incredibly small number marched to the combat 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 detailed -statements confidently made in the Berlin Gazette, the Russian forces -amounted to 300,000; but we reject one third on the supposition that -the regiments had not been entirely completed. If the very thought -of commencing a war with such disproportionate 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 <i>twenty days</i>, from the 10th of -February to the 2d of March, <i>thirteen</i> sanguinary battles were fought -with the enemy, besides twice that number of small skirmishes, in -which, as we shall see, that enemy was uniformly defeated, and a full -third part of his forces annihilated.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> The dictatorship may be said to have been the first of -our misfortunes. The Dictator, acting in contradiction to the spirit -of the revolution, did not take advantage of that enthusiasm with -which the revolution 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 a 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 -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 magnanimity, 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 immediately the -offensive, passed the Bug, and entered the brother provinces which had -been incorporated with Russia. The Russian troops, especially those in -Lithuania, were not in a state to resist the first impetuosity of our -national forces. The Russian soldiers, as the reader probably knows, -are not, except in the large cities, concentrated in barracks, as in -other states of Europe, but are dispersed in quarters throughout the -country, in small bodies; so that sometimes a single regiment may -be spread to a circumference which may embrace eighty to a hundred -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 fallen 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 hundred Polish officers in the Russian service were sent to take -commands in regiments posted in the regions about the Caucasus, in Asia. -</p> -<p> -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 -conceived to have really felt that this would have been the case. Even -if such apprehensions were well founded, are 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 brethren from the despotism under which they were suffering? -But, in fact, the true interests of those cabinets were to be found -in, what every sagacious observer of European history has pointed out -as the great safeguard 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 entering those provinces, would have been still on -the soil of their ancient country; and, in fact, the revolution was -equally justifiable at Wilna, Kiow, and Smolensk, as at Warsaw. The -patriots, indeed, who began the latter, did not think of their own -sufferings 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 condemned, and is still condemning, the best -spirits of Poland.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> 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 conviction that this 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 neighboring country left their homes to witness the departure, -and all the plains about Warsaw and the road sides between Warsaw and -Siedlce were covered with people. The soldiers, in marching through -the streets of the city, passed between lines of people composed of -senators, officers of the government, the clergy, children from the -schools, the members of the national guard, and in short an immense -assembly of both 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. Exclamations such as these were constantly 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, (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 division, and to -use them wherever a decisive blow was required. 'Forget, dear general,' -said they, 'that we have no powder; but trust to our bayonets!' -</p> -<p> -It was truly affecting to witness the parting of the soldiers from -their friends and relatives,—fathers taking leave of children, -children of fathers, 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 country is the most powerful of all sentiments, and that men will -sacrifice every thing under its impulses.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> A service of ten years in the army, in person, or by -substitute, was required by law of every citizen.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">Entrance of the Russian forces into the Kingdom.—Proclamations of -Marshal Diebitsch.—Their effect.—Disposition of the Russian and -Polish forces.—Plan of operations of the Poles.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Russian forces, simultaneously with the Polish, began to -concentrate themselves on the frontiers of the kingdom, (<i>See Plan No. -1</i>) particularly at Bialystok (11) 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).</p> - -<p>Marshal Diebitsch, on entering the kingdom, published a proclamation to -the Poles, a copy of which is given in the note.<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a></p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus3.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> - -<p class="caption"> <i>I</i></p> - - - -<p>Those proclamations were published in the latter part of January. -The people were disgusted with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> their promises and their menaces, -and rejecting all idea of reconciliation on such terms as these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> -proclamations set forth, they entreated to be led to the struggle in -which they had once decided to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> engage, preferring every sacrifice to -so degrading a submission. They demanded that an answer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> should be -sent to Diebitsch, informing him that they were ready to meet him, and -called upon the government to commence hostilities without a moment's -delay.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a><br /><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a></p> - -<p>The Russian forces, [<i>See plan No. 1</i>, (<i>a</i>)] consisting, 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> frontier at the four -general points above named (7, 8, 9, 12). Their different commanders, -besides the marshal Diebitsch, were, the Grand Duke Constantine, -generals Rosen, Pablen, Geismer, Kreutz, prince Wirtemberg, and -Witt. The chief d'etat major was general Toll, the most skilful of -the Russian generals. The space designated for the entrance of the -different detachments of the Russian corps embraced an extent of -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 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 by -our general officers, and to resist them, it was determined to contract -our forces (<i>b</i>) into a line of operations, narrow, but concentrated -and strong; a course which our inferiority of force seemed to require. -This line was posted as follows. Our left wing, consisting of the -fourth division of gen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>eral Szembek and a division of cavalry under -general Uminski, was in the environs of Pultusk (14). This wing sent -its reconnoissances towards Ostrolenka (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 2nd division of -infantry under general Zymirski, and the 2nd division of cavalry under -general Stryinski. 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 infantry, 800 horse, and three pieces of cannon. -Different patrols of cavalry were employed in observing the enemy along -the whole space between Sokolow, Miendzyrzec, and Parczewo. The rivers -Narew (N), Bug (B), and Liewiec (L), covered the whole line of our -operations, and made it sufficiently strong. Our centre, especially, -was well posted between Jadow (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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> enemy, such -fortifications would have enabled us to spare one whole division for -other purposes. Fortifications of positions should always be the more -freely combined with tactics, in proportion to the inferiority of a -force.</p> - -<p>In the above mentioned position we were to await the first shock of the -enemy, after which the army was to retire slowly towards the environs -of Praga, and 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, having -weakened him during such a retreat, to give him a decisive battle -there.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> <i>Proclamation of the Field Marshal Count Diebitsch -Zabalkansky to the Poles.</i> -</p> -<p> -<span class="smcap">Poles!</span> 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 apprised -you that the Emperor has wished, in his generosity, to distinguish -his faithful subjects who have respected their oaths, from the guilty -instigators 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. -</p> -<p> -1. At the moment of entering with the troops which I command into the -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 -peaceful inhabitants who shall receive us as friends and brothers, will -find their friendly dispositions reciprocated by the troops placed -under my orders. The soldiers will pay a fair price for every thing -which 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 requisitions (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 payment of imposts. Prices will be established for the provisions -furnished according to the current value of the articles in the -different districts. -</p> -<p> -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 -Emperor and King. -</p> -<p> -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 rigor of the law. Those -who shall attempt to defend themselves against the troops, shall be -delivered 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 extraordinary contribution, more or less heavy. This contribution -will be principally levied upon those who shall have taken part in a -criminal defence, 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. -</p> -<p> -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. -Such deputations will bring with them as a sign of submission to their -legitimate sovereign, a white flag. They will be expected to announce -that the inhabitants submit themselves to the benevolence of his -majesty the Emperor and King, and that their arms have been deposited -in some place which shall be designated. The Russian commanders will -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 -manifest 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. -</p> -<p> -5. The Russian commanders shall organize, as circumstances may require, -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. -</p> -<p> -6. The organization of the administration of the palatinates, -arrondissements, 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 character, and who shall have given proofs of their fidelity to -their legitimate 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 opposition against legal order. The proprietors of land -and houses who may remain tranquil in their habitations, and shall -submit to the conditions above announced, will be protected in 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 sequestered, as well as that of those who -shall have continued to exercise 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 magnanimous sovereign assures to you, and the evils which -will be brought upon 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. -</p> -<p> - -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">(Signed) <span class="smcap">The Marshal Count Diebitsch Zabalkansky.</span></span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<i>Proclamation of the Count Diebitsch Zabalkansky to the Polish troops.</i> -</p> -<p> -<span class="smcap">Generous Poles!</span> Twenty-five years since, your country was -implicated 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 Alexander, of immortal memory, obeying only the impulse -of his magnanimous 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 Polish army a new life. All the elements of national -welfare, of tranquillity, 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. -</p> -<p> -<span class="smcap">Polish Warriors!</span> 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 conduct -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 country has been made -for a 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. -</p> -<p> -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 every thing, and -kept his promise in nothing. Shall it also say that, paying with -ingratitude and perjury, the sovereign who has generously granted you -every thing 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 characterizes 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, 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 moment. 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 Poland. 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 ever manifested, the -resistance which evil-minded men may attempt 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 responsibility which you will take upon -your heads by a criminal obstinacy. Join yourselves to your brothers -in arms. Show that you are still worthy to be the commanders of the -troops which your sovereign has entrusted 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 country, 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, 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 fraternity between -you and them be broken; the all-powerful hand of God, the protector of -the good cause, will bring down upon their heads the punishment due to -their crimes. -</p> -<p> - -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">(Signed) <span class="smcap">The Marshal Diebitsch Zabalkansky.</span></span><br /> -</p> -</div> -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> To the proclamations of general Diebitsch, one of our -countrymen made a reply, in the form of a letter, which was published -in the gazettes, and which, as far as my memory serves me, was in -nearly the following terms: 'General, your proclamations, which breathe -the spirit of injustice, arrogance, and cruelty—the menacing tone of -which is backed 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? -</p> -<p> -'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 deliver -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 return 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 harmony with -those which you yourself then entertained. All those recollections you -have turned away from. Dazzled by false ideas of greatness, arrogance -has driven from your heart those noble sentiments which would have made -you truly great. Diebitsch! Poland once 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 -set before that monarch 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 happiness 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 acquired. 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, Diebitsch, 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.'</p></div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">The opening fire.—Affairs of the 10th and 11th 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.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> 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 of 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 regiments -of krakus, or light cavalry, and the 4th regiment 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 reserve, 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 con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>sternation in the enemy's -ranks. After this skirmish, our cavalry, in obedience to previous -instructions, retired to the environs of Siedlce (2). In this town -was a little garrison consisting of a regiment of light infantry and -a detachment of riflemen, formed and commanded by Michael Kuszel. On -the 11th, at about mid-day, the whole of the advanced guard of the -Russian centre, which was commanded by Diebitsch in person, reached -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 advanced 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 Kuszel's 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 marched to rejoin the divisionary camp, -which was about a mile in the rear.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus4.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> - - -<p class="caption"><i>II Steizel.</i> </p> - -<p>At 8 o'clock, general Zymirski, supposing that the enemy had taken -possession of the town, de<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>termined to make an attack, with two -regiments, upon the town and the Russian camp, at the point of the -bayonet. The 7th regiment of the line and the 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 little 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 under 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.</p> - - -<p class="center">COMBAT OF STOCZEK. [<i>See Plan</i> II.]</p> - -<p>General Dwernicki, although aware of the vast superiority of the -enemy's force, yet, trusting in the strength of his own position, -determined to meet his attack, and give him battle. The position -of Stoczek (<i>a</i>) was strong in several respects; first, from its -commanding elevation; secondly, from the circumstance that the town -is protected by the river Swider (<i>b</i>), which forms marshes that are -not passable but by a dyke (<i>m</i>) at a short distance from the city, -in the direction in which the Russian army was approaching. That -dyke was defended by the whole artillery of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> our corps, consisting -of three pieces (<i>e</i>); and the declivity descending toward the dyke -was occupied by two companies 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 extent to his line, and thus mask his -inferiority of force. Leaving a battalion of infantry (<i>d</i>) to protect -the artillery and prevent the passage of the dyke,—which passage, he -was sure that the enemy could not possibly execute rapidly, and that -this small force was sufficient, if not to prevent at least to retard -it,—he took the two battalions (<i>d</i>) 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 passage was open to the enemy, he -there awaited the enemy's movements. The first step of the Russians -(<i>g</i>, <i>h</i>) was to place all their artillery (<i>f</i>) at the nearest -possible 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 -columns should make their appearance on the dyke, and then to open a -fire of grape upon them. In this manner some hours passed, during which -the Russian artillery kept up an ineffectual fire, and the Russian -corps executed various manœuvres in attempting to force the passage -of the dyke, and in pushing their attack in the direction<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> of the -forest. General Kreutz, seeing that his attempts to force 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 divided his corps, leaving one part before the dyke, -and with the remainder advanced to the attack of our right (A). Strong -columns of Russian infantry and cavalry marched against it. As soon -as this manœuvre was observed by Dwernicki, the idea was conceived -by him of preventing 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 concealed in the forest, he threw himself -upon the Russian 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 -disorder 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 the -forces composing their right, who, not knowing what had happened, -ceased their fire, quitted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> 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 -ammunition, baggage, &c., among which were several voitures containing -the chapels of the camp.<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a></p> - -<p>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 an -important object also with general Dwernicki not to permit the enemy to -discover that inferiority. He contented himself 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.</p> - -<p>General Dwernicki resumed his former position at Stoczek, where -he awaited the orders which the commander in chief might issue on -receiving the report of what had taken place. To make this position -more strong, he ordered a barricade of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> trees to be made at the -termination of the dyke and at the other points where the approach was -easy, and, in order to keep a close observation upon the enemy, he sent -patrols in the direction of Kock and Zelechow. While thus occupied, he -received orders to leave his position immediately by a rapid march in -the direction of Zelechow 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.</p> - -<p>On receiving these orders, general Dwernicki left Stoczek on the same -night.</p> - -<p>In consequence of the enemy's attack upon Dwernicki's corps, which -covered our right wing, that wing was inclined and withdrawn towards -Kaluszyn, in order not to be exposed to the enemy's demonstrations upon -its flank or rear. The town of Minsk was also occupied by a detachment. -On the 15th the Russians 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 importance for us to defeat; for, if he should -have succeeded in forcing our right wing, he would have cut off our -communications with the corps of general Skrzy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>necki, and Krukowiecki, -which were in a more advanced position. Our generals saw the necessity -of the most determined defence of the position, and general Zymirski -resolved to resist to the last extremity.</p> - - -<p class="center">BATTLE OF BOIMIE. (<i>See Plan</i> III.)</p> - -<p>The battle of Boimie consisted of a persevering effort on the part of -the enemy to force the passage of a dyke (<i>k</i>), under the protection -of the fire of a strong battery of artillery (<i>e</i>). 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 made as follows. On the night of the 14th, we destroyed the -bridges (<i>m</i>) over the small river of Kostrzyn, which traverses the -dyke or main road in two places. Not far from the nearest bridge, a -defence of branches of trees (<i>n</i>) was thrown together, which having -been well placed, made a good cover for our marksmen, and for a -battalion of infantry (<i>o</i>), 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 (<i>a</i>), the fire -of which was concentrated upon the dyke. By this means every attempt of -the enemy to re-construct the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> 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 enemy's artillery. On the left of our -position, at the distance of about half a mile, a small road (<i>p</i>) -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 -reconstruction and its passage by the enemy.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus5.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> - - -<p class="caption"> -<i>Boimie</i> III -</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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 position. In a short time the -field was covered with the enemy's masses. His force consisted of -twelve regiments of infantry (<i>f</i>), six of cavalry (<i>g</i>), 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> engaged in the repair of the -bridge, and the rest attempted to make the passage. Every approach -of the enemy was met with a warm fire from behind the defence of -trees above mentioned, and our artillery at the same time opened a -destructive fire of grape upon the bridge. The attempts of the enemy -were renewed for some hours, in vain.</p> - -<p>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 regiments, -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 renewed and bloody -attempts, the day passed away, and as the night approached, our troops -quietly evacuated their position, and took another a few miles in the -rear.</p> - -<p>As to the affair at Wengrow, it was only an engagement with the rear -guard of the corps of general Skrzynecki. That general, knowing his -position 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 -battalions, the displaying and closing of the columns, the change of -front, &c., were executed with such precision that it im<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>pressed the -enemy with a certain degree 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 -outposts, 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 -operation of our army was as follows:—Our left wing was at Zegrz, the -centre in the environs of Dobre, and the right wing at Minsk.</p> - -<p>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 preceding, highly honorable to our arms.</p> - - -<p class="center">BATTLE OF MAKOWIEC AND DOBRE. (<i>See Plan</i> IV.)</p> - -<p>This battle is generally known by the name of the battle of Dobre; but -as it was fought in two different positions, and with two different -plans of operation, I have given the name of the two general positions, -in speaking of the battle. General Skrzynecki 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> -seen by the plan, a demonstration on Stanislawow, and thus have acted -on the rear of Skrzynecki, which was nearest to him, that general -had two objects to effect. First to make the attack 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 first development of the remarkable talents of this commander. -It was then that he first awakened the high expectations and 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 -triangular space embraced between the two roads (<i>f</i>) which lead from -Wengrow and Kaluszyn and meet behind Makowiec (<i>h</i>). This space, over -which small elevations covered with brush-wood were scattered, afforded -good positions for artillery as well as infantry: but the principal -advantage of this peculiarity of the ground was, that it concealed the -inferiority of our forces. In this position, the village of Makowiec -was made a <i>point d'appui</i> upon our left wing, and it was defended -by five companies (<i>d</i>), under the command of colonel Dombrowski. -Six pieces of artillery (<i>e</i>)<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> 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.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus6.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> - -<i>IV Makowiec</i> </p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus7.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -<i>V. Dobre</i> </p> - -<p>The enemy commenced by an attack upon the two roads from Wengrow and -Kaluszyn; and as the attack 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 fifty or sixty pieces of cannon -(<i>c</i>), in a short time were seen upon that plain, and commenced a -terrible fire of artillery and musquetry along their whole line, -directed principally against the village and the wooded ground. Several -battalions (<i>a</i>), 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 infantry in that position, formed -themselves into detached columns (<i>k</i>) of half battalions, and the -Russian columns 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 themselves upon the enemy. The 4th regiment immortalized -itself in that attack. One of its columns 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>-day, -having suffered so much from loss and exhaustion, he discontinued the -attack. General Skrzynecki, profiting by the cessation 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 (<i>e</i>), left as a -rear guard, protected the passage of the river by the light troops. In -this manner the position was slowly evacuated, 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 (<i>m</i>), 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.</p> - - -<p class="center">BATTLE OF DOBRE. [<i>See Plan</i> V.]</p> - -<p>The position of Dobre was more advantageous for us than the former. -It was protected in front by two ponds of considerable size, which -lost themselves at their extremities in marshy ground. The only -passage which led between those two ponds<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> was easy of defence, and -general Skrzynecki posted upon it twelve pieces of artillery of large -calibre (<i>a</i>). 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, inclining towards the marshy ponds above -mentioned.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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 artillery. Every -manœuvre, 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, Boguslawski, 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 hand at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> head of -his regiment,) were severely wounded. At last, after these ineffectual -attempts on our right, the enemy fell into the plans of general -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 expose themselves, that the lateness of the day permitted. -General Skrzynecki passed down the front of our line, and addressed the -soldiers in a few animating words, to prepare them to make a general -attack 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 the larger threw itself upon the enemy's right wing, which was at -some distance from the rest of his forces, and was apparently intending -to act on our right wing and to turn it. In a moment this body of the -enemy's force was completely 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 destruction; -for his entire 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.</p> - -<p>Thus ended the memorable battle of Dobre. General Skrzynecki left -his position, and arrived<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> on the same night at Stanislawow. Marshal -Diebitsch and the Grand Duke Constantine were with the Russian 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 -led to a state of the greatest exasperation, often led the columns in -person to the fire—but all in vain.</p> - -<p>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 attacked our right wing, satisfied themselves with -keeping 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.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> 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 held in great veneration by 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 army, 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.</p></div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">Retrograde movement of the 18th of February.—Details of this -movement, 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 Wirtemburg.—Defeat of that -corps by general Dwernicki at Swierza.—Renewal of the enemy's attack -on the main army on the 20th.—Its successful resistance.—Review -of the events of the preceding days.—Examination of the plan of -operations of the Polish army.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">On</span> the 18th, our whole line was ordered to make a retrograde movement. -[<i>See Plan</i> VI.] The utmost order and tranquillity was to be observed -in this movement. 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 -advantage 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, (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.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus8.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"><i>VI.</i></p> - -<p>The centre (B), which was commanded by generals Skrzynecki and -Krukowiecki, was to re<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>tire upon the road which leads from -Stanislawow (9) to Okuniew (11). Upon this winding road, which -traverses thick forests, the means of defence was easy.</p> - -<p>The left wing (C), commanded by Szembek and Uminski, which was in -the environs of Zegrz (4), received orders to gain Jablonna (16), -and Zombke (15), on the same night. The great bridge over the Narew -at Zegrz was to be destroyed, and a small detachment to be left at -Zagroby, for the purpose of observing the enemy.</p> - -<p>Conformably to the above orders, our entire line commenced the -evacuation of its position, and an incessant fire was kept up -throughout the line, during the whole day. In the morning, two -squadrons of light cavalry, which were sent from Minsk to Stanislawow, -met a regiment of cossacks, who were making a reconnoisance, after -having traversed the forest of Jakubow. The cavalry threw themselves -upon them, dispersed them, and took two hundred prisoners with their -horses. Upon the position of Dembe, our cavalry 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, throwing -themselves continually upon superior masses of the enemy. The division -of general Zimirski repelled two successive attacks from a superior -force of the enemy at Konik, upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> the road between Dembe-Wielkie and -Janowek. Twelve pieces of artillery, 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 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 them; and, although the enemy -constantly renewed his attacking columns, he was not able to force our -position, which indeed was not evacuated, until the movement of the -general line required a corresponding withdrawal of this division.</p> - -<p>Our left wing fought with equal advantages at Nasielsk. From this town, -which was entirely in flames, the attacks of the enemy were repeatedly -repulsed. Our artillery distinguished themselves by acts of daring -valor. They drew their pieces into the midst of blazing streets, in -order to pour a more effective fire upon the masses of the enemy, who -had entered at the opposite extremities.</p> - -<p>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 destroyed the different -parties of the enemy. The enemy, on quitting the place, were exposed -to continual attacks from our cavalry, under the command of general -Uminski, who took<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> on that day some hundred prisoners, and among them -several officers.</p> - -<p>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, every 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.</p> - -<p>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. -General Skrzynecki awaited them at a point not far distant on the -opposite side. The advanced guard of the enemy, imprudently composed of -several regiments of cossack cavalry, had already passed the dyke, when -the 4th regiment threw themselves in columns upon them.</p> - -<p>These forces of the enemy were thrown into the utmost consternation. -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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> the best choice of -their positions, and had profited by them to the utmost.</p> - -<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a></p> - -<p>On the night of the 18th our army took the following position. [<i>See -Plan</i> VII.] Our left<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> wing was between Jablonna (16) and Zombki (15), -and sent out its reconnoisances as far as Zagroby (4), upon the Narew -(N), the bridge over which at that place they destroyed. Our centre was -between Okuniew (11) and Zombki (15). Our right wing was at Wavre (17).</p> - -<p>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 -confidence in numbers, or the headlong 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 he is said to have made, that he would finish the war<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> -in twenty-four hours. But he sacrificed his thousands in vain.</p> - -<p>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) <i>Pl.</i> VI], forty miles from Warsaw, -where general Dwernicki beat prince Wirtemberg, who, as we have already -mentioned, had passed the Vistula at Pulawa [(6) <i>Pl.</i> VI], and was -approaching Warsaw [(1) <i>Pl.</i> VI].</p> - - -<p class="center">BATTLE OF WAVRE AND BIALOLENKA. [<i>Pl.</i> VIII <i>and</i> IX.]</p> - -<p>At the break of day, upon every point, the right wing, the centre, and -the left wing, our line was attacked. We might remark in regard to the -positions 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 centre (B) -was better posted at Kawenzyn. It occupied this village, (which was in -a commanding position,) and the declivity descending from it to the -plain of Zombki. Our left wing at Bialolenka was also advantageously -covered by little wooded hills, having two dykes in front leading -toward them.</p> - -<p>The Russians on that day directed their strongest attack upon our right -wing, which occupied the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> weakest 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. Our position was defended by a division of about ten -battalions of infantry and fifteen squadrons of artillery, supported by -twenty-four pieces of artillery. This enormous disproportion did not -discourage our soldiers. Their energy supplied the place of numbers. -The enemy commenced his attack by a warm fire of light troops and -a fire from his artillery, which commanded the plain. The skilful -man[oe]uvres of general Zimirski, in displaying his front, contracting -it, dividing it into small parties, and withdrawing or advancing, as -the direction of the enemy's artillery required, and thus avoiding -the effect of his fire, prevented the loss which it would else have -occasioned. In this way several hours were occupied, when the enemy, -trusting to the impression which he supposed 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, withdrew, 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 manœuvre, -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 Kawenzyn, was also warmly engaged with a brigade of the -enemy, and had already ob<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>served this imprudent 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 both upon the enemy's -cavalry (F) and infantry (D). The columns 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 Kawenzyn to Milosna. That manœuvre -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 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, -[<i>See Plan</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> IX] received orders to push a strong attack against the -enemy's front, at the same moment that a brigade (B) of Skrzynecki's -division, supported by some pieces of cannon, operated upon the road -(<i>a</i>) leading from Kawenzyn (<i>b</i>) to Zombki (<i>k</i>). By this manœuvre -the enemy was menaced with being taken in the rear.</p> - -<p>The left wing, as we have said, was warmly engaged with the superior -force of the Russians; who, by placing some fifty pieces of cannon -(<i>f</i>) behind the two dykes (<i>e</i>) above named, kept up a sweeping -fire of grape upon our artillery (<i>d</i>) and infantry (<i>c</i>), which -were defending the passage of the dykes. A considerable body of the -enemy had already reached the hither side of the dykes, when general -Uminski, with a brigade of cavalry (D), advanced to the charge, and -at the same time communicated the orders to the two divisions to -commence 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 penetrated the -enemy's masses. The 2nd and 3rd regiments of chasseurs distinguished -themselves by their feats of bravery. The enemy was repulsed, and began -to fall back and crowd upon the dykes, and at this moment their rout -was effected. A brigade (B) from general Skrzynecki's division arrived, -and commenced a fire of grape upon the dykes, over which the enemy was -flying in the greatest disorder. Their ranks were in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> 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 perhaps 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.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus9.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> <i>VII.</i></p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus10.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> <i>VIII. </i></p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus11.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> <i>IX.</i></p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus12.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> <i>X.</i></p> - -<p>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.</p> - - -<p class="center">BATTLE AT SWIERZA. [<i>See Plan</i> X.]</p> - -<p>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 general, having gained a victory over the corps of -general Kreutz at Stoczek [<i>Plan</i> VI, (18)], on the 14th of February, -received orders to pass the Vistula, in order to defend the palatinate -of Mazovie, to check the operations of the enemy there, and to obstruct -his demonstrations upon Warsaw.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> - -<p>On receiving this order, general Dwernicki, on the night of the same -day, quitted Stoczek, traversed Zelechow (19) and Macieiowice, and on -the 17th passed the Vistula near Ryczywol (7). On the 18th he commenced -his operations against the corps of prince Wirtemberg, which was on its -way from Radom, and the advanced guard of which begun to show itself -upon the plain of Ryczywol.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a></p> - -<p>General Dwernicki harassed the enemy on that day [<i>See Plan</i> X,] by -continual charges of cavalry, in which the krakus of Krakowie were -particularly distinguished. His only plan upon that day was to keep -the enemy upon the plain of Ryczywol. During the night he intended to -pass, with the chief part of his force, the river Radomierza above -Ryczywol (<i>f</i>), and by this course to present him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>self 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 (<i>f</i>) about half a league -above. Colonel Russyian, 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 constantly, and to allow the enemy an -easy passage over the bridge. On the 19th, the enemy (D), who had no -suspicions of the manœuvre, commenced in the morning his debouchment -upon the bridge, having the expectation of engaging with our whole -force in a decisive battle upon the field of Ryczywol. His astonishment -may be imagined, when, as the day commenced, 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 impetuosity upon that part of his forces which were attempting -to place themselves in position; and our artillery, which was boldly -brought near the enemy's columns, poured a terribly destructive fire of -grape<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> upon them. The utmost consternation ensued, and a general and -disorderly flight was commenced in the direction of Nowawies (N), to -which place our corps continued the pursuit of the enemy (R).</p> - -<p>This day, which may be called one of the most brilliant in our war, -cost the enemy, besides his 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 retreated by forced marches to the small town of Granica, where -he repassed the Vistula and reached Pulawa. Thus, by a single battle, -the whole country on this side of the Vistula was cleared of the -presence of the enemy.</p> - -<p>General Dwernicki permitted to his corps, who were really much -exhausted by fighting and marching, to repose by a slow march as far -as Kozienice, where he remained stationary, sending out, however, his -reconnoisances as far as Pulawa.</p> - -<p>On the 20th of February our main army was engaged with the enemy the -whole day upon the same position 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 sensibly the loss of a part -of the great forest opposite Kawenzyn, as well as that of the small -forest of elders, the enemy commenced his attack upon those points. -Some twenty battalions were incessantly pushed forward to the attack,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> -against which eight battalions on our part kept an effectual stand -for several hours. This day, although uninteresting and indecisive -in manœuvres, 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 even waiting -for orders, this brave regiment was seen constantly pushing itself -towards the points of the greatest danger; and its companies were often -fighting singly in the very midst of the thickest masses of the enemy.</p> - -<p>By the unsuccessful and costly attacks of the enemy the whole day was -occupied, and at its close, after the loss of thousands of men, he had -not gained a foot of ground.</p> - -<p>Thus ten days had passed in continual and bloody actions upon the same -position, during 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 he had suffered -on all points, during that period, amounting, in fact, in killed, -wounded and prisoners, to full 30,000 men. In this space of ten days, -the whole Russian army had been engaged, and that army amounted, as -we have already said, and as will be confirmed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> by all the official -reports, 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 -cannon; a sixth part, in fact, of the Russian force.</p> - -<p>This memorable commencement of our war will show to the world what can -be effected by a nation fighting in defence of its liberty and to throw -off an oppressive yoke. Those bloody combats, and that enthusiasm, -to which my feeble pen cannot render justice, but which some better -historian will present to the world in their true colors, should -convince men that the immense mercenary forces which a despot may lead -on, and by which he trusts to enforce his will, may avail him little. -His enormous masses are like a heap of sand, which a little stone can -pierce. Without animating motives, and 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.</p> - -<p>The reader will pardon me, if I fatigue him with farther 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 general plan of operation differently -arranged,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>—for the different operations in detail were, generally -speaking, perfectly 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 commanded, if he -had in the early part of his life exhibited 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 intellect, and -the most absolute devotedness of mind and body to the cause. We cannot -too strongly express our astonishment that general Chlopicki, who had -formed the plan, and a very judicious one it was, of drawing the enemy -on to the walls of Warsaw, to give him there a decisive battle, should -have neglected 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), [<i>See Plan</i> VI], situated upon points of the greatest -importance, especially the first, were evacuated by our forces, for -the want of proper 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 fortifications would have presented the most important -obstructions to the enemy's passage. No concealed passages or by-roads<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> -through those forests were constructed, 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 the inhabitants. The Jews, indeed, with -some very few exceptions, did not in the least aid in the war, but -often frustrated our exertions by their espionage; and there are in -fact instances of their having fought against us,—against those who -had given them an asylum upon their soil. In the towns of Nasielsk and -Makow this occurred. This part of our population, who had an equal -interest with us in the protection of the country, as far as property -was concerned, 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, with such troops to command, the reader will admit that the -Russian forces could have been soon driven back to the frontiers.</p> - -<p>The succession of victories which we have de<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span>scribed were not the -results of any general system:—they were victories of detail, executed -with energy and rapidity, and for which we were indebted to the -generals of divisions and brigades, the colonels of 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 Skrzynecki, -would have caused the total ruin of the corps opposed to him, if the -11th 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 remained 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 this -effect, continued its retrograde march, although within the sound of -the cannon of that action.</p> - -<p>On the 18th 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. [<i>See Plan</i> VI.] The -manœuvres of general Zimirski, when the enemy made his rapid attack -on the morning of the 19th, were executed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> at hazard, no general order -having been given in anticipation of such an attack. These manœuvres -were well executed by general Zimirski: but if the case had been thus -anticipated by the commander in chief, and, at the commencement of the -action, our right wing had been withdrawn to Grochow, [<i>See</i> (A) <i>Plan</i> -VIII,] an obstinate defence of the commanding position of Kawenzyn -(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 annihilation 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 difficulty of changing position, and the greater the disorder and -consternation which follows.</p> - -<p>The Russian army was thus early inspired with terror at the resistance -which it had experienced, and the immense losses to which it had -been subjected. It was of the utmost importance to profit by this -consternation; but the vast advantages which might have been gained -under such circumstances, by some general plan of offensive operations -of bold and decisive character, were let pass.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> 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 there before the eyes of the nation. Those were moments rare in -history, and should be handed down to posterity, to demonstrate 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 nightfall, when our first detachments began to show themselves from -the forests of Milosna and Jablonna, and to 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 covered with an exulting -multitude. When the army took its position, and all was quiet under the -protection of night, the people drew near and entered the camp. What -a touching scene was there presented! Here a father and mother seek -their son, who meeting them, presses them to his bosom. There a wife, -leading her children, finds her husband and their father, and throws -herself into his arms, while the children cling around the knees of -their delighted parents. A melancholy contrast was presented by those -who sought in vain for son—husband—parent. But no complaint was -heard. The tears falling for those who were no more, were checked by -the thought that they had died for their country. -</p> -<p> -The senate, in the name of the nation, and 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 continued with the army, furnishing them with every comfort, -and regardless of the fire which was commenced the next day from the -enemy's artillery. 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 inhabitants made it a duty to be at hand, to bear off and succor -the wounded; and among those who engaged in these offices were some of -the most distinguished ladies of Warsaw. The strangers who were then -there, and who witnessed the enthusiasm which animated the people, and -seemed to unite them into one family, exclaimed that such a nation -could never, and ought never be conquered. -</p> -<p> -The following days, the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd of February, in which no -action took place, were devoted to 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 army -employed this 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 army were -engaged in these devotional exercises. At each assemblage of troops, -the ministers of religion administered patriotic oaths, and animated -the soldiers to perseverance in the holy struggle. Those sacred -ceremonies were followed by hymns, which were sung along the whole -line, and which, mingling with the solemn sounds of the bells of Warsaw -tolling for the assembly of the people in the churches, produced an -indescribably impressive effect. These exercises ended in the general -shout of 'Poland forever!' -</p> -<p> -To convince the Russians that the Poles were not blindly fighting -against them as Russians, but for that cause of civilization and -happiness which was of equal moment 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 welfare as well as -our own.' 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 at 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 from the territory of another -nation, for their ancient boundaries are wide enough for them. They -fought for that liberty which they had for ages possessed; and that -ancient liberty and those ancient limits they will sooner or later -regain.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> The prince Wirtemberg, who commanded the corps against -which general Dwernicki was sent, had served in the Polish army as -brigadier-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 -themselves 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 -arrival 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 open 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 spared him, merely ordering him to quit the country. -He exhibited his gratitude for this delicate treatment, by departing -for Russia and the Polish provinces, 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. -</p> -<p> -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 -proprietors had treated him with the greatest kindness and delicacy. -Arriving there with his corps, he left at every step the traces of his -tyranny. On reaching Pulawa, the estate of the beloved Czartoriski, the -president of the national government, the residence of that family from -which he had himself received so many kindnesses, and in which every -virtue reigned, he did not scruple to give orders to burn the town;—he -did not scruple to take the name in history of 'the devastator of -Pulawa'—of that beautiful spot 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 -height, 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 Czartoriski, 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, directed a fire of artillery 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 talents, they were of the lowest order. General Dwernicki -promised that in a few weeks he would despatch him; and he in fact kept -this promise to the letter.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">Proceedings of the National Government.—Marshal Diebitsch -continues in a state of inactivity.—Negotiations are opened by -him.—His propositions are declined.—Position of the army on the -24th, and battle of Bialolenka.—Position on the 25th.—Great -battle of Grochow.—Details.—State of the Russian army after its -defeat.—Examination of the plan of the battle of Grochow.—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.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Whilst</span> 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 Corvee, -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, &c., received also the attention of the -government.</p> - -<p>When, after so many battles, the Russian commander 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 Sczachow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>ski. He evidently wished to concentrate all his small -detachments and all his reserves, in order to strike, with his whole -force, a decisive blow; and the attempt was, in fact, soon made.</p> - -<p>Our army, which in the ten preceding days had lost about six thousand -men, was reinforced by three regiments 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 cannon.—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.</p> - -<p>Marshal Diebitsch, before commencing hostile operations, 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 at our advanced post, whither general Krukowiecki was sent by -the commander in chief, with full powers, to meet him. General Witt -commenced with expressions of the greatest sensibility, and enlarged -much upon the friendship which ought to exist between the Poles and the -Russians as brother nations. He then spoke in very flattering terms -of the heroism of the Poles, lamenting that it was not displayed in a -better cause. After much complimentary language, he insensibly passed -to the ideas of duty and obedience to the monarch. General Krukowiecki, -who understood perfectly well all these professions, which he knew -to be in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>sidious, answered nearly in the following laconic terms: -'General, after the sad 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 into negotiations.'</p> - -<p>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 -Grochow.</p> - - -<p class="center">POSITION ON THE 24th, AND BATTLE OF BIALOLENKA</p> - -<p>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, Kawenzyn, and Wavre composed the line of combat, there was -this difference, that, while before, the centre was at Kawenzyn, and -the left wing at Bialolenka, at present the left wing was at Kawenzyn; -the forces which were at Bialo<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>lenka were posted as a detached corps, -and the centre of the army was at the forest of elders. The right -wing occupied the space between the great road and the marshes of the -Vistula, called the marshes of Goclaw. This arrangement made our line -more concentrated. The first division under Krukowiecki, which was at -Bialolenka, with the division of cavalry under Uminski, was directed 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 extensive marshes.</p> - -<p>The Russian army was upon the same points as on the 20th. Their -greatest force was opposed to our right wing at Wavre.</p> - -<p>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 recently joined -the main army, and for which marshal 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 observed by our -forces. It was the false direction which they took that brought on the -engagement at Bialolenka.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> - -<p>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 -twenty pieces of cannon. This small force repulsed the enemy in three -successive attacks upon the dykes. At about 5, P.M. another Russian -corps, under general Pahlen, came to the succor of Sczachowski, 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 at both points under the cover of a terrible fire -of artillery. If the reader will consider that our small force, -consisting of only 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 may be appreciated. -Our plan of action consisted chiefly in allowing a part of the enemy's -forces to pass the dykes, and then falling upon and cutting them up by -successive charges of cavalry and infantry, supported by an effective -fire of artillery. By such efforts this handful of brave men repulsed -the attacks of the enemy until night, when his attacks ceased. At -the approach of night, general Krukowiecki sent small reconnoitering -parties upon the roads from Radzimin and Zombki. These patrols, pushing -as far as, and even beyond Zombki, saw nothing of the enemy, and in -fact learnt, to their astonishment, from the marauders whom they took, -that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> the two Russian corps had quitted their position, and were on -their march across the forest of Kawenzyn, to join the main army. This -sudden withdrawal of the enemy's corps was an indication that they had -received orders to join the grand army, and that a general attack was -in contemplation for the next day. In expectation of this attack, a -body of men was 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 Bialolenka quitted -their position, to reinforce the larger corps upon the plain of Wavre.</p> - -<p>The following was the position of the two armies on the 25th, the day -of the memorable battle of Grochow. [<i>See Plans</i> XI <i>and</i> XII]. The -Russian army was distributed into eight divisions of combatants, and -three divisions of reserves. Those eight divisions consisted of 126,000 -infantry (<i>a</i>), 42,000 cavalry (<i>b</i>), and 280 pieces of cannon (<i>c</i>). -The three divisions of reserve (E) were composed of 16,000 infantry, -4,000 cavalry, and 32 pieces of cannon. This enormous force, which -occupied the space between Kawenzyn (A) and the marshes Goclaw (B), -a distance 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 between Wavre (<i>r</i>) and the above marshes -of the Vistula, and was composed of four divisions of infantry, of -47,000 men, four divisions of cavalry, 15,700, and 120<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> pieces of -cannon. The centre, opposite the forest of elders, consisted also of -four divisions of infantry of 57,000 men, three of cavalry of 10,500 -men, and 108 pieces of cannon. The right wing, opposite the village of -Kawenzyn consisted of 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 forest opposite the forest of elders, was -placed the reserve, commanded by the Grand Duke Constantine.</p> - -<p>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 (<i>d</i>) and 24 pieces of cannon (<i>f</i>), -occupied the space between the road and the marshes above mentioned. -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 (<i>d</i>) and 60 pieces -of cannon (<i>f</i>). The left wing (T) occupied Kawenzyn, consisting of -the first division, commanded by Krakowiecki, composed of 6,500 men -(<i>d</i>) and 12 pieces of cannon (<i>f</i>). Four divisions of cavalry (<i>g</i>), -consisting of 9,500 men, commanded by Uminski, Lubinski, Skarzynski, -and Jankowski, were not posted on any fixed point, but stood in -readiness to act wherever 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 general Pac.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus13.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -XI. <i>Grochow </i> </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="center">BATTLE OF GROCHOW.</p> - -<p>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 collected on his right wing, and commenced a terrible -fire of artillery and musquetry, with the apparent determination to -carry our wing by a single overpowering effort. Nearly fifty pieces -of artillery opened their fire upon Kawenzyn, and numerous columns of -infantry, under the protection of this fire, pressed forward to carry -the position. But our forces prepared 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.</p> - -<p>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 Russians, but directed its -fire of grape wholly upon the 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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> - -<p>During the whole of this attack upon our left wing, the centre and the -right remained still in their positions, awaiting the expected attack. -It was near ten o'clock when the fields of Wavre became, as it were, -in one moment, covered with the forces of the enemy, which issued out -of the cover of the forests overhanging the plain. Looking over that -plain, between the forest of elders and the Vistula, one would have -thought it was an undivided mass of troops which was in motion; for in -that comparatively limited space, the eye could not distinguish the -different divisions from each other.</p> - -<p>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 artillery, 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 his efforts were as fruitless here, as they had been against our -left.</p> - -<p>Having been unsuccessful in these two attacks on the wings, and hoping -that he had weakened our line by the terrible fire of artillery, which -he constantly kept up, the Russian commander collected the greater -part of his forces opposite the forest of elders, and it was there -that an attack was commenced which presented a scene unheard of in -the annals of war. It could with more propriety be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> 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 effect this, they would have divided our army -into two parts, and thus could not but have ensured its destruction. -It was the consideration of this important fact which prompted the -horrible attack, and the desperate resistance which it met. The brave -Skrzynecki, Zimirski, Boguslawski, Czyzewski, and Rohland, defended -this forest with fourteen battalions, whose admirably executed -manœuvres, the change of front, the arrangement of the attack 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, order and coolness never surpassed. It was -only by such conduct that the tremendous attack of the enemy could have -been sustained for four hours, and that, after having nine times gained -possession of the forest, he was as often repulsed with an immense loss.</p> - -<p>Like the infantry, our artillery performed prodigies. All the -batteries, protected by cavalry which never abandoned them, pushed -themselves in advance even of the line of the skirmishers, and -ap<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>proached 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 different operations indeed, of our artillery in this battle -were truly admirable. Batteries, now concentrated upon one point, -were in a moment hurried to another and distant one, where the enemy -was wholly unprepared for them, and was thrown into disorder by their -sudden attack. In the early part of the afternoon, when the enemy, -after having been several times repulsed, renewed his attack with the -greatest determination, and our 2d division began to give way, the four -batteries of artillery of the brave Adamski, Maslowski, Hilderbrand, -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 their -ranks. Our infantry, thus animated to the contest, rallied, and threw -themselves again upon the enemy, who then yielded before them.</p> - -<p>Like the artillery and infantry, our cavalry, besides the different -charges which they executed with so much bravery, was manœuvred -with the utmost skill by our generals, and was made to fill the voids -occasioned by the inferiority of our forces,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> so as always to present -to the enemy an unbroken line.</p> - -<p>By such manœuvres of the three arms, executed with the greatest -determination, in which every commander 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 opposed 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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>From eleven o'clock until three, these attacks continued through -the whole line, (the most powerful being in the centre), and the -destruction of life was immense. 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, 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 suffered most, and to make a general -retrograde movement in such a form as to have the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> wings considerably -in advance of the centre, which was to be drawn back as far as the -Obelisk of Iron (<i>k</i>), at which there was a position more commanding. -This plan had the following objects:—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 continue the defence of the forest.</p> - -<p>To execute this manœuvre, 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, which were in escalon, -and prepared for a general attack. The manœuvre was as admirably -executed as it was conceived. The enemy had no suspicion of its object, -but, presuming it to be a flight, undertook to profit by it. It was at -this moment that marshal Diebitsch, as if sure of victory, saw himself -already at Warsaw, and, on the field of battle, he allowed these words -to escape him: 'Well, then, it appears that after this bloody day, I -shall take tea in the Belvidere palace.'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> - -<p>It was about three P.M. that our 2nd 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, retiring -in succession, on reaching a considerable distance 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 general -Zimirski, who had lost several horses under him, and had just placed -himself upon a fresh horse, to superintend 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 melancholy 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 orderly 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, -[<i>See Plan</i> 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 debouchement from the forest -near him. Seated with the most perfect sangfroid upon a disabled -piece of artillery, this brave officer directed an un<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>remitting 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, and the enemy pressed on. The Russian columns -had already advanced beyond the position of colonel Pientka, but that -brave officer still kept up the defence.<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> By this time, however, the -2nd division had already reached their destined position, and their -battalions had commenced forming. Such was the state of things, when, -between Kawenzyn and the forest, a cloud of Russian cavalry was seen -advancing to the attack, having at their head five regiments of heavy -cuirassiers; a force in fact of some forty squadrons, or between<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> -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 infantry and artillery of the enemy followed -their cavalry. 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.</p> - -<p>The Russian cavalry advanced upon the trot, and came in a direction -perpendicular to the line of our battery of rockets, which was posted -between the 2d and 3d divisions (A). Suddenly a discharge from this -battery was poured into their ranks, and enveloped them with flame and -noise. Their horses, galled to madness by the flakes of fire which -were showered over 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, sweeping<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> -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 designation of the 'Invincible' inscribed upon their helmets, -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 -whirled 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, carried along in their flight the columns of -infantry which were following 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 Warsaw, to -cheer the hearts of its anxious inhabitants. Nothing was wanting but a -skilful commander in chief to our forces, to have insured the entire -destruction of the Russian army.</p> - -<p>Two thousand prisoners, among them twenty officers of different grades, -five pieces of cannon, and upwards of a thousand horses, were the -trophies of that immortal day, the memory of which will be forever -terrible to tyrants.</p> - -<p>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 morning. It is to be regretted that the order to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> -follow up the pursuit was wanting. Szembek alone threw himself, 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 -considerably 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.</p> - -<p>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 manœuvre; -seeing too that the army was much exhausted by the fighting of that -day and the preceding; and fearing also that the Vistula might 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.</p> - -<p>Some farther details, and remarks upon this important battle may -not be unacceptable to the reader. 1st. In regard to position: On -examining critically the position of the Polish army, we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> 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 farther 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 Grochow, would have been then in a commanding position, and safe -from the tremendous fire of the enemy. The enemy would probably have -then occupied the plain, and thus been 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 was -above all unpardonable, was that, with a full knowledge of the enemy's -intention to attack us, together with a consciousness of our own -inferiority of force, and the nature of our position, which was wanting -in strength, 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 employed -in the construction of works to any desired extent.</p> - -<p>In regard to the centre, we may remark, that it was indeed covered by -the forest of elders, of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> which it occupied a part, but the attack of -this forest by the enemy was thus made necessary, and their repulse -cost us too great sacrifices. But besides the sacrifices which the -support of such a position required, our troops were so incessantly -occupied with repulse of the successive attacks of the enemy, that -it was impossible to attempt any decisive manœuvre. 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 Grochow, and in such a manner as to profit by all -the commanding positions between Targowek and Grochow, 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 concentrated, and supported on the outermost -circumvallations of Praga (B). It could thus have profited by the -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 succession, in most dangerous exposure.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> 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 favorable 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 entire -destruction, was the neglect to follow up the enemy in his retreat, and -by a judicious manœuvre to cut off his right wing, as was perfectly -practicable;—by such a manœuvre, as it will be seen was, in fact, -afterwards successfully practised by Skrzynecki at Wavre, where a great -part of that same force were taken prisoners.</p> - -<p>The battle of Grochow cost the enemy in killed, wounded, and prisoners, -according to the reports published 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 general or staff officer, who had not his horse killed -or 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> -infantry suffered the most, and twenty of their officers were mortally -wounded with grape-shot. I would not desire to present a revolting -picture of the horrors of a battle-field, yet to impress upon the -reader how great a scourge tyranny 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 this forest that it received from that day -the name of <i>the forest of the dead</i>.<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a></p> - -<p>With the twilight, our whole army began to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> evacuate their position, -and to cross the Vistula to Warsaw. The passage of the river occupied -the whole night. On the morning of the next day, all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> that remained 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 Russians were well satisfied with our passage of the Vistula, 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.</p> - -<p>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 Crosser 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 escaped 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 despotism, and who fight for liberty with the -energy of despair.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a></p> - -<p>The nation and the army occupied this interval of repose in giving -thanks to Providence for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> successes of the preceding day. In all -the churches Te Deums were sung, as well as in the chapels of the camp -near Warsaw. The army was received by the people with solemnities. The -senate, accompanied by the inhabitants, repaired to the camp, where -patriotic addresses were delivered, and a public fete given to the -army. For three successive 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 heart of every Pole, and -will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> satisfy him that a nation so united will be always capable of -great efforts.</p> - -<p>On the day after the religious ceremonies, the provisional government -met in the National (formerly the Royal) Palace, where all the general -officers of the army were also assembled to deliberate upon the -measures to be adopted both in regard to military and civil affairs. It -was on that occasion that the prince Michael Radziwil, actuated 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 given to prince Radziwil a name in -history.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> 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 saying, that the fire, chiefly of -grape, which Pientka kept up for five hours, 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, 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.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> 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 confusion 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 -deserted cannons, and several hundred carbines, sabres, and pistols, -knapsacks, 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 interment -of the dead, which was in fact done. -</p> -<p> -Contemplating these masses of Russian dead, the victims of a horrible -despotism, what reflections were awakened! Those unfortunate men -were dragged to the combat to be sacrificed. Not one of that mass of -victims could see the justice of the cause for which they were thus -sacrificed. What consolation could there be in the last agonies of -suffering incurred in such a cause? There could be none. How different -must have been the death of the Polish soldier, who felt 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 different, their lives are not less so. What -reward awaits the Russian soldier? 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 Russian 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 wretched men, who are thus led to the sacrifice of -their lives for the self-will of a despot, who, while the soldier, -covered with wounds, is groaning under his sufferings, spends his time -in luxurious enjoyment, and perhaps mocks 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 the title of 'Staryk' or 'old soldier,' -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 was an agreeable duty, in -which, besides gaining an honorable subsistence, he received each day -some new mark of friendship and esteem.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> 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 equipages 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 -defenders, fail to be answered by an enthusiasm in her defence which -knew no bounds. The wounded soldiers, in order not to draw upon this -sympathy, conquered their sufferings, and stifled 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. -</p> -<p> -To the details illustrating the courage which was displayed upon that -field, I may add the following:—In one of the attacks upon 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 Czaykowski, 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, regardless 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 his position. -</p> -<p> -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 position. -The bombardier Kozieradzki was sent to give orders to this effect. He -was on his way to execute this commission, when a ball carried 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. -</p> -<p> -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 engage 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 benevolent and -patriotic females who had devoted themselves to these holy duties. On -leaving those hospitals, the Russian soldiers swore never to forget the -kindness they had experienced.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">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 is given to the -re-organization of the army, the arsenals and manufactories of arms, -the fortifications, &c.—Deportment of the commander in chief towards -the army.—General enthusiasm 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 detached corps.—Russian -position.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">After</span> the memorable battle of Grochow, fought on the 25th of February, -before the walls of Warsaw, a day on which we had defeated a force -three times superior to our own, the prince Radziwil made the passage -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 -infantry, with thirty-six pieces of artillery, were left to defend 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.</p> - -<p>The army was disposed in the following manner upon the left bank. The -cavalry were posted in positions a few miles above and below Warsaw. -The infantry and the artillery were either concentrated in Warsaw, -or were encamped near the city.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> Upon receiving the resignation of -prince Radziwil, 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 command 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 uncommon military talent. He was, -above all, eminently possessed of that rapidity of <i>coup d'œil</i>, -that capacity of seizing conjunctures, which enabled him, in the -midst of the most complicated movements, to perceive, 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 infantry 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 -a 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.</p> - -<p>On the 27th, at mid-day, proclamation was made of the abdication of -the prince Radzivil, and the appointment of general Skrzynecki, as -commander in chief of the army. The nation to whom the great merit of -this officer was already<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> so well known, received this annunciation -with the greatest satisfaction. No dissentient voice was heard. Even -the oldest generals 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:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>'Soldiers and brethren! God has willed that, through 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 -successes, of his strength in numbers, and of the influence which he -exercises in Europe. But if, in one point of view, his power appears -formidable, 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 -sacredness 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 country," -and we shall surely serve as an example, in the annals of the world, -of encouragement to the defenders of the sacred rights of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> the people. -If we do not succeed in conquering our powerful enemy, we will not -live to submit to him—to him who has violated 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.'</p></blockquote> - -<p>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 instructions were issued, to form new forces, to complete those -which were already in a state of formation, and to fill up the ranks -of the regiments which had suffered in the late engagements. During -the dictatorship of Chlopicki, and under the command of the prince -Radziwil, all the arrangements of the military administration were -sluggishly attended to, as the reader is well aware. At the time of -the battle of Grochow there had been only ten thousand new infantry -levied, and even this infantry was 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> 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. This department of -the military administration had been made great account of on paper, -but was in reality 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. General 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 familiarly -acquainted,) and infusing a new vigor and promptitude into this -essential department of the military administration. In fact in the -several manufactories of arms, six hundred musquets per day were soon -made.</p> - -<p>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 -established a new 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 expressed consent and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> 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 influence of the generals, and added much to the -value of those honors as a motive for exertion.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a></p> - -<p>The time at which Skrzynecki received the chief command, was indeed -a happy period with us, and 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.<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a></p> - -<p>Our army was victorious and full of energy, and being then at Warsaw, -it enjoyed all the conven<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>iences which could be required by an army -in a state of war. Their arms of every kind were well constructed, -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 subsistence and -shelter, situated as they were in the environs of Praga which had been -sacked and burnt by themselves.</p> - -<p>Marshal Diebitsch and his army began to be convinced, by the victories -which had been gained over them, and the firm resistance which they had -uniformly 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 long protracted, and presented to him as yet no hope -of a fortunate issue. A certain degree of disorder also began to take -place in the Russian army, caused by the physical wants and the severe -treatment to which the soldiers were subjected. Their wounded and sick -were left neglected, and were accumulated in great numbers in the -ruined buildings of the half-burnt villages, exposed to the open air in -the severe month of February. Desertions too began to take place. Every -day, indeed, 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> to act against the French and Belgians, -and not against the Poles, whose revolution had been represented 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 unfortunate 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 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 deserters 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 Russian army was strong in numbers, morally speaking, it -was weak. Our own army began soon to conceive high hopes, and to dream -of victory under its brave chief.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a></p> - -<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> especially, after the intelligence -derived from the correspondence of the two ministers, Lubecki and -Grabowski, found among the papers of Constantine, which has been -presented to the reader, (giving satisfactory evidence that Russia was -in preparation for a campaign against her, and showing that our cause -was the cause of France,) we had certainly the right to cherish the -strongest hopes. But more important still than all these circumstances, -was the intelligence received of a revolution which had broken out in -the Russian department of Orenburg, under the famous Yermolow, and the -point of concentration of which was to have 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 our knowledge 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 distinction which he had acquired as a bold and -firm leader, in a service of many years.</p> - -<p>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 -Grochow, were full of energy, and breathed the sentiments of a true -republican—of one who calmly and dispassionately aims at the good of -his country.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> These proclamations were published in all the gazettes of -Warsaw on the first of March.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a></p> - -<p>This general was for a long while governor of the provinces beyond the -Caucasus, Abassia, Migretia, Imiretia, and Georgia, provinces which -were conquered 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 excited his -abhorrence. Out of the reach of its influence, 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 -commissions were sent to make inquiries into his administration in -various departments. Yermolow, to avoid these persecutions, sent in -his resignation. General, now marshal Paszkewiczh, filled his place. -Yermolow, 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> 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 regretted, that he did not commence this -movement in the provinces which border upon Poland.</p> - - -<p class="center">A VIEW OF THE STATE OF THE POLISH FORCES AT THE PERIOD OF SKRZYNECKI'S -APPOINTMENT TO THE CHIEF COMMAND.</p> - -<p>After the battle of Grochow, the Polish grand army was composed, as -at the commencement of the war, of nine regiments of infantry, each -consisting of three battalions. They amounted, after deducting the -losses sustained during the campaign, to about 25,000. The newly formed -infantry, which was in the battle of Grochow, 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-formed cavalry, consisting of eighteen squadrons, can also -be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> estimated, after the losses at Grochow, at about 3,000; making, in -all, 9,000 cavalry. The artillery was composed of ninety-six pieces of -cannon.</p> - -<p>Total of the grand army:—<i>Infantry</i>, 30,500. <i>Cavalry</i>, 9,000. -<i>Artillery</i>, 96 pieces.</p> - -<p>The detached corps of general Dwernicki consisted, at the beginning -of the campaign, of one regiment of infantry, composed of three -battalions, numbering, 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.</p> - -<p>The small partizan corps under the command of colonel Valentin, -operating in the environs of Pultusk, consisted of 600 infantry and 100 -cavalry.</p> - -<p>The garrison of Zamosc consisted of 3,000 infantry and eighty-four -pieces of cannon. That of Modlin, of 3,500 infantry and seventy-two -pieces of cannon; and that of Praga, of 2,000 infantry and thirty-six -pieces of cannon.</p> - -<p>The total amount then, of disposable forces, (excluding, of course, the -garrisons,) on the 1st of March, the day on which Skrzynecki took the -command, was,—<i>Infantry</i>, 33,900. <i>Cavalry</i>, 10,100. <i>Artillery</i>, 106 -pieces.</p> - -<p>General Skrzynecki renewed the arrangements of the dictator Chlopicki, -in regard to the organization of new forces. These were, that each -department should furnish from 6 to 8,000 infantry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> and 1,000 cavalry. -When this arrangement was first made, four departments on the right -bank of the Vistula, were occupied by the enemy; viz. Augustow, -Podlasia, Lublin, and Plock. Besides the forces which these departments -should furnish, general Skrzynecki proposed to the nation, that in -the other departments, 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 battalions 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 service. 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 army received a reinforcement of 12,000 infantry, among -which were 2,000 volunteer chasseurs, and 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.</p> - -<p>In addition to the above forces, general Skrzynecki ordered the -formation of eight regiments of infantry 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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> was afterwards, (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:—</p> - -<p>The 1st division, under general Rybinski, consisted of four regiments. -The 2d division, under general Gielgud, three regiments. The 3d -division, under general Malachowski, four regiments. The 4th division, -under general Muhlberg, four regiments. The total of the four divisions -was about 45,000 men.</p> - -<p>In this number are included the different small detachments of -volunteers, who acted with the army.</p> - -<p>Besides this infantry, was the National Guard of Warsaw, amounting to -10,000 men.</p> - -<p>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 general Pac. The whole force of cavalry amounted to about 14,000.</p> - -<p>The construction and completion of the fortifications 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 environs, general -Skrzynecki placed on the left<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> bank twelve pieces of cannon of 24 pound -calibre, on the heights of Dynasow and Zoliborz. This battery covered -with its fire the neighboring plain, to the extent 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 two 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 Grochow, 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.</p> - -<p>General Krukowiecki, who was appointed governor 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 defensible against artillery. The ditch was considerably widened -and deepened. Beyond the ramparts, the city was surrounded by a chain -of <i>lunettes</i>, 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 independent defence. The -barricades in the streets were constructed with openings for the fire -of the artillery, above which plat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>forms were raised for the infantry. -Mines were also prepared in different parts of the city.<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a></p> - -<p>The positions of the army, and of the different detached 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 divisions -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 -communications 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.</p> - -<p>The corps of general Dwernicki was at Pulawy. The plan of operations -which had been assigned to him, and which, indeed, he had already put -in execution, was to transfer the seat of hostilities to the right bank -of the Vistula, to hang over and harass the left 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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> - -<p>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 manœuvres -upon Plock. This concave line of operations, of which the extremities -were at Zamosc and Modlin, and the centre at Warsaw and Praga, was -strengthened 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.</p> - -<p>The position of the Russian army was as follows. The right wing was at -Nowy-dwor, opposite to Modlin. At Jablonna, which is situated half way -from Praga to Nowy-dwor, was placed a strong detachment. 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 Wawr and Milosna; and with them -was the head-quarters of Diebitsch and Constantine. Their left wing -occupied Karczew, and their patrols extended themselves along the right -bank of the river, as far as Macieowice.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> This regulation led to an occasion for the exhibition -of the firmness of general Skrzynecki's character. On the very day of -the issuing 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, thinking himself injured by this refusal, addressed a letter -to the general in chief, renewing his application, and adding that -if it should not be granted, he would feel obliged to surrender -his commission. General Skrzynecki, far from being moved from the -resolution which he had adopted, again promptly refused the request. -Szembek surrendered his commission. 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 influence 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 comrade, 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, exclaimed, 'With such soldiers to command, I need have -no fear that I shall fail to support the honor of my country.'</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> 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 -action 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 -company 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 general in chief were willing to accept, considering that the -fatigues of a campaign would be too trying to the female constitution. -But to satisfy in some degree the noble impulses of these ladies, the -three companies were distributed among the hospitals, to take care of -the sick and wounded there.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> To satisfy the reader that marshal Diebitsch had began -to be conscious of his weakness, the following 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 -themselves to the general in chief. One of them, who was a Galician -volunteer, on the question being asked in what way they escaped, -answered, 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 maintenance; and that moreover they should not be forced to -enter the service 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 officers. 'Dear general,' the Galician added, 'we have sought -your presence, 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 respect and affection by their comrades, and the -circumstance was published in an order of the day, to the whole army. -This adoption of such 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. -</p> -<p> -One of our generals published in the Gazette some remarks upon this -conduct of general Diebitsch, from which the following is a passage. -'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 sacrifice 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!'</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> <i>Extract from the proclamation of Yermolow.</i> 'Brave sons -of Russia! 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 battle, 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 celebrated, 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. Respect -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 enterprize -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 -liberty, that they can and will be free. -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 45%;"><span class="smcap">Yermolow.</span></span><br /> -</p> -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 10%;"><i>Samara, 29th of January, 1831.'</i></span><br /> -</p> -</div> -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> 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 '<i>lunette</i> of the women,' -having been constructed wholly by the hands of the fair sex.</p></div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">Operations of the corps of general Dwernicki against the Russian -corps under the prince of Wirtemberg, in the Palatinate of -Lublin.—Battle of Pulawy, and defeat of Wirtemberg.—Atrocities -of that prince at Pulawy.—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 at Serock.—General Skrzynecki makes an -offer of pacification on the basis of the concessions originally -demanded by the Poles.—This proposition is rejected and hostilities -are recommenced.—Reconnoissance upon the right bank of the Vistula -under Jankowski and Gielgud.—A Russian corps under 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.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">On</span> the day after the battle of Grochow, colonel Lagowski fought with -success at Pulawy, at the head of a detachment from the corps of -general Dwernicki. The details of that combat are as follows:</p> - - -<p class="center">COMBAT OF PULAWA. [<i>See Plan</i> XIII.]</p> - -<p>The prince of Wirtemberg, having been beaten, as the reader has seen, -by general Dwernicki at Swierza and Nowawies, was forced to retreat -rapidly in the direction of Pulawy, and to repass the Vistula, opposite -that place. The ice of the river was, fortunately for him, still strong -enough to admit of a passage upon its surface; but notwithstanding -this advantage, he had been pursued by Dwernicki so closely, through -the whole of his line<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> 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 Pulawy 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 Pulawy, and of making -an attack upon the Russian right wing. On the evening of the 26th, the -brave colonel Lagowski, with 500 infantry and two squadrons of cavalry, -passed the Vistula (<i>p</i>). On reaching the opposite side of the river, -he threw himself into the forests which surround Pulawy. The position -of Lagowski would have been critical, if the Russians had obtained -intelligence of this manœuvre; but they had no suspicions of it. -Colonel Lagowski, expecting that general Dwernicki would soon make -a demonstration in front, left the forest, and approached the town, -keeping up a brisk fire of skirmishers (<i>a</i>). The Russians, surprised -by this attack, directed against it as strong a fire of artillery -(<i>f</i>) and infantry (<i>d</i>) 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 (<i>b</i>) 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 Russians<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> became general, the greatest disorder -soon 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. Pulawy, 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 Russians, 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.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus14.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -<i>XIII. </i>. -</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus15.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -<i>Pulawy</i> XIV. -</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus16.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -<i>Kurow</i> XV. -</p> - -<p>The Russians had gained already a considerable distance from Pulawy, -before the corps of general Dwernicki approached it, and, of course, -the whole glory of that defeat is due to colonel Lagowski.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a></p> - -<p>The corps of general Dwernicki, after a short repose at Pulawy, renewed -the pursuit of the enemy on that night. In every part of their route -the enemy'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.</p> - - -<p class="center">BATTLE OF KUROW. (<i>See Plans</i> XIV <i>and</i> XV.)</p> - -<p>General Dwernicki, in his pursuit of Wirtemberg, had the intention -of effecting the destruction<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> of this corps before they could reach -Lublin. To accomplish this object, he took advantage of the two roads -(<i>g</i>, <i>g</i>) which lead from Pulawy to Lublin (1). Remaining himself with -the greater part of his forces (<i>a</i>) upon the causeway which leads to -Lublin by Konskawola (2), Kurow (3), and Markuszew (4), he sent a small -detachment (<i>b</i>) with two pieces of cannon by the other and smaller -road, which, traversing the forest between Belzyc and Pulawy, presents -a shorter and more direct route to Lublin. This road had not been -occupied by the enemy. Colonel Lagowski, who commanded this detachment, -had instructions to follow out this road, and to keep up a constant -communication with the superior force under general Dwernicki. He was -ordered to keep himself constantly abreast of the enemy (<i>d</i>). 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 manœuvre was executed with the -utmost punctuality. The enemy pressed in upon the causeway by the -larger body under Dwernicki, and thus forced to give battle, took a -position upon the heights of the town of Kurow, in doing which, his -consternation or his inconsiderateness was such, that he neglected the -ordinary 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 Pulawy;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> in fact, he -had even neglected to send out reconnoissances on any side, supposing -that our entire force was before him on the causeway. This battle -commenced on the afternoon of the 2d of March, and continued only a few -hours.</p> - -<p>General Dwernicki, after reconnoitering the enemy's position, which -was commanding, and strengthened in its front by sixteen pieces of -cannon [(<i>f</i>), <i>Pl.</i> XV,] thought it expedient to commence with a -fire of skirmishers only (<i>a</i>), under cover of which he manœuvred -his cavalry (<i>b</i>) upon the Russian wings, with the sole purpose of -occupying the attention of the enemy 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 (<i>d</i>) 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 formed 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 Lagowski upon the enemy's rear. The disorder and -consternation of the Russian forces was indescribable. In a moment ten -pieces<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> of cannon, a thousand prisoners, 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 retreated. 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 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 against 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 separate times, viz. at Swierza, Nowawies, -Pulawy, 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, baggage, &c. In all these -actions the corps of general Dwernicki<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> lost but 500 men, in killed and -wounded. The panic which had began to prevail in the Russian forces, in -consequence of these disasters, reached such a degree that, at times, -the mere sight of 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.</p> - -<p>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 in that place, and the region about. He made the necessary -arrangements for reinforcing his corps, and left for Krasny-taw, in the -environs of Zamosc.</p> - -<p>While these successful operations of general Dwernicki, in the southern -part of the kingdom, were in progress, and by this series of victories, -he was approaching the frontiers of Wolhynia and Podolia, our arms were -not less successful in the North.</p> - -<p>The brave colonel Valentin, with a small detachment of partizans, -fought the enemy with success between Modlin and Pultusk. This -detachment was thrown into that region, (acting, however, more -particularly between the rivers Wkra and Orsyca,) in order to hold in -check the operations of the enemy upon Plock. This detachment was to -obtain succor, in case of necessity, from the garrisons of Modlin. It -was especially destined<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> to intercept the transports which were to come -from Prussia upon the road to Mlara, for the relief of the Russian army.</p> - -<p>Colonel Valentin was occupying with his detachment 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 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 disembarrasing himself of -them, to hasten his march and reach the environs of Pultusk, in time to -intercept the transport. On the 5th, he took this transport, consisting -of eighty vehicles loaded with various kinds of provision, together -with twelve loads of equipage, &c., for the Russian generals, which -he sent to Warsaw. The detachment of colonel Valentin continued to -manœuvre for a long while in those environs without any support.</p> - -<p>In the vicinity of Warsaw, along the banks of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> the Vistula, both above -and below the city, small skirmishes 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 chasseurs of colonel Grotus, posted in the environs of the -villages Siekierki, and Wilanow, brought in, almost every day, parties -of Russian prisoners, by surprising the different detachments of the -enemy placed upon the island of Saxe, opposite to the above mentioned -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, 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.</p> - -<p>At about the 8th of March, marshal Diebitsch demanded the capitulation -of the fortress of Modlin, for which object he despatched colonel Kil. -This officer was entrusted with a letter to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> count Leduchowski, -written by the marshal's own hand. His proposition was rejected.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a></p> - -<p>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 arrangement, the batteaux of the enemy were taken -by our troops; and his forces, suddenly attacked and defeated, were -compelled to evacuate their position, leaving a thousand prisoners in -our hands, which were immediately carried to Modlin, and thence to -Warsaw.</p> - -<p>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 communication to marshal Diebitsch, with propositions of -that purport. But as these offers of conciliation were rejected by the -marshal, the contest was recommenced.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a></p> - -<p>On the 10th of March, the operations of the campaign were recommenced. -The 2d division, the command of which, after the death of general -Zimirski, was given to general Gielgud, and a division of cavalry, -under the command of general Jankowski, received orders to make a -strong reconnoissance upon the right bank of the Vistula. This division -was ordered to pass the bridge in the night, and at break of day to -commence the attack upon whatever force of the enemy they might find -on the plains of Grochow or Kawenczyn, and, by this manœuvre, 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 move<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>ment, had time to prepare -themselves to counteract it. Our forces having advanced a mile or two -upon the main road, commenced a fire of tirailleurs, and the enemy -began to retire. As it was designed to act upon Kawenczyn, 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 Wawr. 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 upon that artillery, when, at the moment of the charge, two -regiments of Attaman Cossacks, which were 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> with 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 -regiments which had advanced towards Praga, at a considerable distance -from their main forces, might have been taken. A reprimand was publicly -given to the two generals, Gielgud and Jankowski, for their remissness -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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a></p> - -<p>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 -dispersed 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 11th at -Lublin, in which town was a small detachment of Dwernicki's corps, -commanded by the colonel Russyian. This small detachment, having only -barricaded a few streets, defended with much firmness the passage of -the small river Bystrzyca, and left the city at nightfall to rejoin its -corps, which was in the environs of Zamosc.</p> - -<p>Again the corps of the Russian guard, which had recently arrived, under -the command of prince Michael, 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 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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> 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 -moment to try their strength with them. Two young regiments, one a -regiment of Krakus of Podlasia, and the other the 5th Hulans, entreated -their general to be permitted to make the charge. General Uminski -observing that there was no stronger force near, ordered an immediate -attack.</p> - -<p>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 cavalry, which were in full rout, were pursued -as far as the environs of Magnuszewo. 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 -Orsyca, but were followed even to the environs of Rozany, where they -reached the position of their main body. General Uminski, in order -not to expose his 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 enemy in check. In fact, by harassing -and wearying the enemy with continual attacks, he at length forced the -prince Michael to quit Rozany, taking the direction of Ostrolenka.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> -General Uminski sent in pursuit of the enemy the brigade of cavalry -under the command of colonel Dembinski. This brigade, opposite -Ostrolenka upon the Narew, 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 manner, it was -ascertained that the Russian guard, after destroying the bridge, had -completely evacuated Ostrolenka. It was evident that the design of -prince Michael, in this sudden evacuation of Ostrolenka, was to join -himself to the grand army. General Uminski immediately sent an officer -to inform the commander in chief of this movement, continuing in the -mean time in the position which he had taken before Ostrolenka.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> General Dwernicki, on arriving at Pulawy, 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 princess 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 has allowed me to greet my brave countrymen once more, before -my death.' Then giving her hand to general Dwernicki, and presenting -to him and his officers the ladies who were her attendants during 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 attire,'—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 to be, with mothers and sisters such as -these!' He then urged upon the princess the expediency of leaving -Pulawa, which might still be the scene of distressing events, and upon -this suggestion she departed under an escort furnished by general -Dwernicki, for her estates in Galicia.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> The reader will perhaps be gratified with a short -topographical description of this fortress, and some details of this -affair. The fortress 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 river 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 success. 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 attempt -negotiation. The letter sent by the marshal, was full of flattering -language in regard to the heroism of the Polish army. He permitted -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 opinionated -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 assurance -that the fortress should be garrisoned by equal bodies of Russian and -Polish troops. Colonel Leduchowski made a reply to this complimentary -communication in nearly the following terms:—'Marshal, to your letter, -in which you have chosen to flatter the valor of my countrymen, and in -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 brave Pole -dictates to him.'</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> 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 generalissimo sought to convince marshal Diebitsch, that -this was not a war undertaken on our part at the instigation of a few -individuals, but 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 consider the amount of blood which had been already shed, and -the indefinite 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 attempted every amicable means, to -establish upon an equal basis their own happiness and civilization, and -that of the whole north, and that all the responsibility of the bloody -struggle which was continued, rests on the side of despotism.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> 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 colonel Blendowski, who had fallen in his wounded state into the -enemy's hands, sent a flag to general Giesmar, the commander of 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, arrived at the Russian quarters, he saw a body of Russians -with general Giesmar, and his suite at their side, bearing a wounded -officer, and advancing towards them. Our officer, as they approached, -recognized colonel Blendowski in the wounded officer, and announced -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.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">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 -Uscilog.—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.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> news of this prompt and sudden evacuation of Ostrolenka by the -Russian guard, and the evident intention of the Grand Duke Michael to -discontinue his operations in the palatinate of Plock, 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, -[<i>See</i> (A) <i>Plan</i> 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 Russian corps, and to -crush them before marshal Diebitsch could come to their succor.</p> - -<p>On the 29th and 30th, our general in chief made a review of the greater -part of the army. All the troops received him with expressions of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> -greatest enthusiasm. He could not but be delighted at the sight of -that fine and energetic force, and be confident 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 order to hold -themselves in readiness to march at a moment's warning.</p> - - -<p class="center">BATTLE OF WAWR. [<i>See Plan</i> XVII.]</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus17.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -<i>XVI. </i> -</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus18.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> - -<i>XVII. </i> -</p> - -<p>Whilst the division of Gielgud and the cavalry of Kicki were to occupy -the great road (<i>g</i>) leading to Grochow, the 1st division under -Rybinski was to march upon the right wing of the enemy at Kawenczyn -(K). This last division was to drive the enemy from his position in -as short a time as possible. If the enemy's forces at Kawenczyn were -found to be greatly superior to his own, general Rybinski was directed -to continue his fire, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> await a reinforcement, which should be -immediately sent to him. If he should be so fortunate as to take -Kawenczyn, general Rybinski was to send, by a small road (<i>l</i>) leading -from this place, through the forest, to Milosna, a few battalions (<i>m</i>) -to that village. Other battalions (<i>d</i>) were to be dispersed in the -forest, between that small road and the main road. Having made those -arrangements, the position of Kawenczyn 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 -instructions given were that it should not commence its fire until -apprised of general Rybinski's having gained possession of Kawenczyn. -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 occupy 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.</p> - -<p>All these dispositions were executed with the greatest exactitude under -the protection of a thick fog. The division of general Rybinski having -quitted Praga at midnight, arrived as far as the environs of Kawenczyn, -without being in the least<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> disturbed by the enemy. This skilful -general had the precaution not to attack the enemy until an hour before -day-break; in the interval, while resting in the woody ground near -Kawenczyn, 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 another patrol in -the direction of the forest of elders to reconnoitre the enemy there. -Those patrols returned with the intelligence that the enemy's force -could not be great, as they could perceive no large detachments placed -as advanced posts. It was between five and six in the morning, when -the first fire of general Rybinski, at Kawenczyn, gave notice to the -2d division of Gielgud, at Praga, that it was the time to advance. The -brigade of cavalry under Kicki, (<i>b</i>), with the 2d and 7th regiments -of lancers, having with them three pieces of cannon, spread out their -flankers, and advanced slowly, directed continually 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 Kawenczyn. The enemy -were instantly routed by this impetuous attack, and lost three pieces -of cannon. The division passed through Kawenczyn, sent two battalions -(<i>m</i>) 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> the main road, they pushed forward, and a general and -rapid advance was commenced under cover of the thick fog. Two regiments -of cossack cavalry, (<i>h</i>), who were posted in columns near the Obelisk -of Iron, were borne down before them. A great 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 advanced post -of Russian artillery of three pieces (<i>f</i>) near Grochow, 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 or sixteen battalions of infantry (<i>a</i>), -eight squadrons of cavalry (<i>h</i>), and twenty-four pieces of cannon -(<i>f</i>). 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, amounting to 5,000 men, with all their officers and colors, -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 Karczew, the whole of this advanced guard would -have been taken; for what remained of them saved themselves only by -flying along that road.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p> - -<p>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 Milosna, which 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 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 -cossacks of Czarno-morskie, posted at Janowek, met the same fate, and -prisoners were taken in every direction. 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 Rosen, -composed of about 30,000 men and 40 pieces of cannon.</p> - - -<p class="center">BATTLE OF DEMBE-WIELKE. [<i>See Plate</i> XVIII.]</p> - -<p>As the enemy occupied the heights (D) of Dembe-Wielke, on the side of -the marsh opposite to our forces, which, to attack him, would have had -to traverse the dyke (<i>k</i>) constructed over this marsh,—the commanders -of the two divisions considered it expedient 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> 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 (<i>a</i>), 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 (<i>b</i>) to be brought together, -and formed in columns of attack, with the two squadrons of carbiniers, -under the brave colonel Sznayder, 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.</p> - -<p>While the cavalry was passing the dyke, the artillery (<i>c</i>) was to open -a general fire, ceasing, however, when the passage of the dyke should -be effected.</p> - -<p>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 consternation that he was not -in a state to make a defence, 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 different kinds, as caissons of ammunition, -baggage-wagons, &c., and a great number of horses.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> 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 being taken. All -his equipage, consisting of three voitures, fell into our hands. Thus -ended the glorious 30th of March. The generalissimo, who was always -in the advance, and who had personally arranged all the details of -that day's operations, particularly 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 -and 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 government the -order of the great Cross of Military Merit. The general in chief was -accompanied, during the actions, by prince Adam Czartoriski, and the -members of the National Government, Berzykowski, and Malachowski.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus19.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> - -<p class="caption"> -<i>XVIII. </i> -</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus20.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -<i>XIX.</i> -</p> - -<p>To follow up the pursuit [<i>See Plan</i> XIX] of the fragments of the two -Russian corps, general Skrzynecki designated the division of cavalry -(A) under general Lubinski, with a battery of light artillery. This -detachment set out during the night, sending reconnoissances to the -right and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> left, to see that the enemy did not prepare ambuscades. -The army followed this advanced guard, which soon overtook the enemy -(B), who was still in great disorder. Infantry, cavalry, artillery, -and vehicles, were mingled together, 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 before 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 regiment 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.</p> - -<p>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 standards, four pieces of cannon, and a hundred vehicles of -baggage, ammunition, &c.,—in fact, the whole baggage of the corps. But -the most agreeable success of our army, on that day, was the taking -possession of the hospitals of Minsk and Jendrzeiow, in which as many -as two hundred of our comrades were lying wounded. To wit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>ness 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 Milosna, 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 prisoners; 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.</p> - -<p>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 Pulawy 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. [<i>See Plan</i> XVI.] The fear of losing those two corps, together -with the guard, had led him to return in the direction of the town of -Kock, to afford them succor.</p> - -<p>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, was at Boimie; detachments being also -placed in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> environs of Wengrow. The main body, under Diebitsch, -was at Kock. His advanced posts extended to Wodynie, Seroczyn, 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 consequence of the successes of our -army, to abandon that plan, and to retire again to the environs of -Ostrolenka, where they now were posted. In the palatinate of Lublin was -the Russian corps under general Witt.</p> - -<p>The position of our army was as follows. Our left wing was opposite -Boimie. It sent out its reconnoissances 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 manner, the marshy rivers, Kostrzyn and Swider, covered our -front. [<i>Refer to Plan</i> VI.] General Uminski, with his detached corps, -was at Rozany, in the palatinate of Plock, opposed to the Russian -guard. In the environs of the fortress of Zamosc in the palatinate of -Lublin, opposed to the Russian corps of general Witt, was the corps -of general Dwernicki. 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 Sierawski.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p> - -<p>While the main forces were acting with such success, the two detached -corps, under generals Uminski and Dwernicki, had also fought -gloriously, and gained important advantages. The corps of general -Dwernicki 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, reinforced every day by volunteers -coming from Galicia 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.</p> - -<p>On the 25th of March, general Dwernicki sent a reconnoissance as far -as the environs of Uscilug, at which place a new Russian corps, coming -from Turkey, 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 commander -of this force was the brave colonel Russyian. The detachment arrived -at the above place, and received intelligence of the approach of -an advanced guard of the corps of general Rudiger, composed of two -regiments or six battalions of infantry, one regiment of cossacks, and -eight pieces of cannon. Colonel Russyian did not stay for the approach -of this guard. He took possession of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> different batteaux which were -prepared for, and were waiting the arrival 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 report from him, and had no expectation of such results. The -rumor of the continual successes of this corps of general Dwernicki, -spread along the borders of the Dnieper, reached the distant regions of -our brethren in the Ukraine, and awakened in them an ardent desire to -unite themselves to our cause.</p> - -<p>For the continued and glorious advantages of this corps, which -commenced its operations with 3,000 infantry, 800 cavalry, and three -pieces of cannon, and had nearly destroyed two Russian corps, those of -Kreutz and Wirtemberg, taking 10,000 prisoners, and thirty pieces of -cannon, the national government promoted its brave commander to the -rank of full general of cavalry, and honored him with the surname of -the famous Czarnecki, the ancient polish chief.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a></p> - -<p>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 -manœuvre 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 <i>point d'appui</i> in every case of sudden danger. About -this point<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> he was to manœuvre, and from thence he was to push -himself, as circumstances might allow, into the environs of Lublin 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 contemplated: 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 manner his corps would be gradually increased -by such aid from those provinces, without attracting the attention -of the enemy. As the provinces of Volhynia and Podolia, from their -geographical character, having 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 Dwernicki, 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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> he would find many strong natural positions. Of such -he would take advantage, and endeavor to strengthen them by different -fortifications. General Dwernicki, in receiving 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 kingdom in general, and to bring them into a -state to act with effect in concert with the rest of the kingdom.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> The horses taken on that day, and at the battle of Wawr, -were employed to mount the entire new regiment of the Lancers of -Augustow.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> 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 the enemy began -its fire, and the charge was not ordered, our cavalry were always -disappointed. 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 detachments 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 manœuvres of his cavalry. Passing -down the front of his lancers, he observed that they wore a look of -dissatisfaction. On noticing this, he was astonished, and demanded an -explanation. 'What does this mean, my dear comrades?' said he; 'you -are sad at a moment when, after so many victories, you ought to be -joyful.' The lancers replied—'Dear general, it is an hour since the -enemy's artillery commenced their fire, and you do not allow us to -charge upon them.' The general, smiling, answered, 'Make yourselves -content; 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 -position, sabred, and ten pieces of their cannon taken. The Russians, -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 -manœuvres, and never permits our artillery to fire. His generalship -appears to lie only in taking possession at once of our cannon!'</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">The insurrection in Lithuania.—Dispositions of the Lithuanians at the -breaking out of our revolution.—Their offers of co-operation were -rejected 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 numerous -towns by the insurgents, and dispersion of their garrisons.—Storm -of Wilno, and delivery of prisoners.—Several partizan corps are -formed.—Their destination and successes.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">It</span> 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 for 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 revolution. -The certain confirmation of this happy intelligence was brought to the -kingdom by one of the students of the University of Wilno. 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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a></p> - -<p>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 joining in the struggle, and acting side by side with -us, for our common Poland.</p> - -<p>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 country and a view of its connection with Poland, -which is, in general, so imperfectly understood.</p> - -<p>The Lithuanians of Wilno 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 Chlopicki, -announcing to him <i>that all Lithuania, and particularly the Lithuanian -corps d'armee, of 60,000 strong, was ready to pass to the side of the -Poles</i>. But that inexplicable and lamentable dictatorship <i>rejected -this offer</i>, so great and so generous. The Lithuanians, however, not -despairing, waited for a more propitious moment; and scarcely was the -dictatorship abolished, when the national<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> government,—thanks to the -thoughtful care of Joachim Lelewell,—addressed itself officially to -the Lithuanian committee. Every disposition was made for a rising at an -appointed time, which at length arrived.</p> - -<p>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, had they been protected by free laws, would have -been, as they formerly were, the granary of Europe, presented every -where traces of misery, being exposed to the abuses of the Russian -administration and its agents, who wrung them to the last drop, to -enrich themselves. Justice was unknown. Sometimes the governors, or -sprawnaks, men of most depraved 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 were 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 -inhabitants the means of their support. But the cause of the greatest -suffering in Lithuania, was, that, in order to prevent all sympathy -between the soldiers and peasantry, and all na<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span>tional feeling in the -Lithuanian 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 -deportment towards them, and merciless in their exactions. It was not -so under Alexander,—the arrangement 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 supply the demands of the -military tyrant who was quartered 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.</p> - -<p>One of the greatest evils was the systematic endeavor to destroy all -national sympathy with Poland. 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 Lithuania and -Samo<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span>gitia, which have been so long under the Russian government, and -the inhabitants of which hastened to take up their arms, at the signal -of our revolution, afford a sufficient evidence of this attachment. -What deserves especially to be noticed, is, that in Lithuania, it was -the peasants and the priests, joined by the youths of the academies, -who first began the revolt, and who were the most zealous defenders 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 abandoned all to unite in -our aid, and fought with courage and success for nearly two months, -against the different Russian corps, before the corps of Gielgud 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.</p> - -<p>The insurrection of Lithuania and Samogitia, was propagated with -rapidity through all the departments of those provinces. The -commencement was made in the departments of Osmiany and Troki, -accelerated by the following circumstance.</p> - -<p>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 man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span>ner, 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. Wounded as they were, those who survived the attack were -thrown into wagons to be carried to Wilno. But in this the barbarians -did not succeed. A few escaped 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. From that moment the flame spread to the -departments of Wilno, 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, Wilkomierz, Kowno, Troki, Swienciany, Rosienice, -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 several pieces of cannon were also taken. The most -bloody affair was the storm of Wilno, on the night of the 4th of April. -Two hundred Lithuanians attacked this town, and fought with 4,000<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> -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, and proprietors, who had -been confined in prison there for years. The battle of Keydany and -Szerwinty was also severe, and the valor of the brave Lithuanians was -equally displayed there. At Keydany, 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 garrison, 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 garrisons to the amount of eight or ten thousand Russian regular -troops, spreading consternation throughout 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 into several small detached partizan corps, -which received the following destination. 1st, the corps under 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> far as the frontier of Courland. This corps was -to interrupt the transport of provisions, from the Russian territory, -and also to keep a communication between the ports of the Baltic Sea, -Lipawa and Polonga, so as to secure a correspondence 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 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 country from -St Petersburgh to Warsaw, and to surprise and attack all the Russian -detachments which might pass that road, on their way to Poland.</p> - -<p>To act in communication with this corps, and against the garrison of -Wilno, 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.</p> - -<p>Besides these, was a detachment of 400 horse, under the command of -V***. This detachment was constantly in movement, and kept open the -communications between the other corps, and acted as occasion required. -It was especially to attempt to surprise the enemy's artillery, which -was often<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> sent in an unprotected state. This detachment of cavalry, -with the first named corps under the command of B***, attacked so -sudden and vigorously the Russian corps under the command of general -Szyrman, that they were forced to take refuge upon the Prussian -territory at Memel. The Prussians received them, and afterwards -permitted them to leave with their arms and ammunition. This was not -the first nor the last example of such relief afforded to our enemy by -Prussia.</p> - -<p>The insurrections of Lithuania and Samogitia, which had begun so -successfully and promised to extend even 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 the situation of the enemy became in a high degree -critical, as every military judge will perceive. The danger of their -position was still more to be augmented by our success in the battle of -Iganie, on the 9th of April.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> 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 generalissimo, at Jendrzeiow, where he was received with great -enthusiasm. He was immediately sent to Warsaw, to announce the happy -intelligence to the people.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">Plan of operation against the two corps of Rosen and Kreutz.—Battle -of Iganie.—Reflections on the state of the Polish cause after the -victory of Iganie.—Review of the course of the campaign.—Condition -of the Russian army.—Discontents in Russia.—Representations of the -Senate at St Petersburgh to the Emperor.—Comparative view of the -forces of the two armies at the present stage of the conflict.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Marshal Diebitsch</span>, as is known to the reader, was forced, by our -victories of the 31st of March and the 1st of April, to abandon his -plan of passing the Vistula opposite to Kozienice, and to think of -nothing farther 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 general in chief thought to anticipate this movement, and -to throw himself upon the combined corps of Giesmar and Rosen, before -Diebitsch should reach them.<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a></p> - - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus21.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> - - -<i>XX. </i> -</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus22.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -<i>XXI.</i> -</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="center">BATTLE OF IGANIE. [<i>See Plans</i> XX <i>and</i> XXI.]</p> - -<p>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 [<i>Plan</i> XX, (<i>a</i>)], were upon the small river Kostrzyn (<i>b</i>), -at Boimie. Our army also had not changed its position.</p> - -<p>The following were the dispositions for the attack. The reader, on -examining the plan, will see that the two corps opposed to our forces, -which were at Latowicz (<i>c</i>), were too far advanced, which exposed -them to be turned on their left wing, and even taken in the rear, if -our forces there should succeed in driving back the forces (<i>e</i>) of -the enemy on the road (<i>d</i>) from Latowicz by Wodynie to Siedlce. To -execute this movement the order was given that when the first division -of infantry (<i>f</i>), supported by twenty-four pieces of cannon, should -commence the attack upon the great road opposite Boimie, the third -division (<i>g</i>), having with them the brigade of cavalry of Kicki, -should leave the position at Latowicz<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> before day-break, and take the -direction of Wodynie, 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 (<i>h</i>). If it should -succeed in driving back the enemy's forces, it was to take the road -on the left, leading from Wodynie through Iganie (<i>i</i>) to Siedlce. -Every effort was to be directed to the point of arriving as soon as -possible upon the dyke (<i>k</i>) at Iganie, which leads over the marshes -of the river Sucha (<i>l</i>). By a prompt manœuvre of this kind, the -enemy could not, as we have said, escape being turned. For the better -execution of this plan, the enemy was to be harassed on the main road, -in order that general Prondzynski, who was to command the expedition to -Wodynie, might have time to manœuvre upon the enemy's flank.</p> - -<p>A division of cavalry (<i>m</i>), under the command of general Stryinski, -was to leave Boimie, and take a direction on the left, towards the -village of Gruszki, to pass there the fords of the river Kostrzyn, and -in case of the retreat of the enemy, to fall upon his right wing.</p> - -<p>Having issued these instructions, and confided the command of the -little corps which was to act upon the enemy's left wing at Wodynie, -to general Prondzynski, the general in chief left himself for Boimie, -to lead the attack in person upon the main road. As was the case -in the position at Boimie, [<i>Refer to Plan</i> II,] we were separated -from the enemy by the marshes of the river Kostrzyn. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> two ruined -bridges upon the dyke not permitting either ourselves or the enemy -to pass, general Skrzynecki contented himself with opening a fire of -artillery upon the Russian position, in order to occupy the attention -of the enemy, while preparations were making to repair the bridges -sufficiently to admit a passage.</p> - -<p>The moment that the work of reconstructing the bridges was to be put -in execution, was to be decided by the time and the direction in -which the fire of general Prondzynski should be heard. If the latter -general should succeed 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 by this fire of artillery, and slight manœuvres of the -light troops, when at last, between eight and nine o'clock, the fire -of general Prondzynski was heard, who had evidently passed Wodynie, -and had begun acting on the enemy's flank. This was the signal to -commence repairing the bridges. General Skrzynecki, with his suite, -superintended the work, and 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 flank, and -his columns began a movement; but his artillery continued in their -position, and commenced a terrible fire upon our men who were engaged -in reconstructing the bridges. The presence of mind, however, of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> -general in chief, who exposed himself at the most dangerous points, -encouraged the men to persevere in their labors under this destructive -fire of artillery.<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> 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 before they -could be brought to such a state as to admit 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, leaving 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> [<i>Plan</i> XXI, (A),] -who, according to his instructions, advanced to Wodynie, found there -a division of sixteen squadrons of Russian cavalry, whom he drove -from their position: he pursued them in the direction of Siedlce, and -reached the environs of Iganie, 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 (<i>a</i>) at Iganie, 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 Iganie, (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.</p> - -<p>It was between four and five o'clock that Prondzynski 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 -(<i>a</i>), being obstructed by their artillery. Generals Prondzynski and -Romarino, dismounting from their horses, with carbines in their hands,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> -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 raised the hurrah, -rushed forward, and as they approached near the brigade of Romarino, -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 simultaneously upon them, the enemy were terribly cut up, and -the battle was gained. Nearly five Russian battalions, amounting to -4,000 men, with their officers, amounting to near one hundred, 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 remarked that the 2d division of -cavalry of general Stryinski, 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 wounded. Before night the two armies<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> 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 Iganie, without being in the least disturbed by them.</p> - -<p>The reader will permit me to fix his attention upon the epoch of -the battle of Iganie, which was indeed the brightest moment of our -war, the moment of the highest success of the Polish arms, the -moment of the most confident hopes, when every Pole in imagination -saw his country already restored to her ancient glory. Let us then, -from this point, cast a look backwards to the commencement of this -terrible contest. Two months before, an enormous Russian 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 expectation, in fact, all -Europe looked on, and at every moment the world expected to hear of -the terrible catastrophe,—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 promises 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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> -The fields of Siedlce, 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 expected 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 was given, in which the -enemy were uniformly subjected 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 collecting 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 enormous 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 general blushed at the menaces which they had uttered. Poland -believed that the former would reflect upon those bloody struggles -and the immense losses which he had suffered, and would be unwilling -to continue such sacrifices. Nearly 50,000 Russians were already -sacrificed. How many more lives might he not still lose? The Poles, -although conquerors, held out the hand of reconciliation, as the -letters that Skrzynecki<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> addressed 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 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.</p> - -<p>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 conduct, 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 -capital, the residence of the successors of Piast and Jagellow, and -where he himself could have reigned in tranquillity, by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> 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 Lithuania and Samogitia, and the recent battle of -Iganie, seemed to threaten the ruin of his army.</p> - -<p>The Russian army was now in a state of the greatest disaffection, -being posted in a devastated country, and having their resources for -subsistence entirely cut off by the state of Lithuania and Samogitia. -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 impaired their strength, arising from a conviction which they -could not avoid feeling, 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 persons 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 manifested, and notices of such must have -met the eye of the reader in the journals of the day. The senate of -St Petersburgh presented to the consideration of the monarch the -continual<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> severe losses of the preceding 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 -measures, 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 Russian patriots in -general, not only thought it a favorable 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 authorize a claim for -equal privileges to the people of the whole Russian empire.</p> - -<p>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 decisive contest. One victory more, and the Russians would -not be in a state to push their attempts farther. Nothing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> 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 dispersed. 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 immense 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 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 between -us, and of eternal warning to tyranny.'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="center">A COMPARATIVE VIEW OF THE FORCE OF THE TWO ARMIES AFTER THE BATTLE OF -IGANIE.</p> - -<p>The Russian forces, which commenced the contest 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 reinforcements, viz. the -corps of general prince Szachowski, consisting of 20,000 men, and 36 -pieces of 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.</p> - -<p>To act against this force, our army, counting the reinforcements of -6000 men which it received before the battle of Grochow, had in service -about 50,000 men, and about 100 pieces of cannon. Up to the battle -of Iganie, fifteen principal battles had been given, viz. those of -Stoczek, Dobre, Milosna, Swierza and Nowawies, Bialolenka (on the 20th -and 24th), Grochow (on the 20th and 25th), Nasielsk, Pulawy, Kurow, -Wawr (on the 18th and 31st), Dembe-Wielkie and Iganie. 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 Grochow, more than fifty -thousand Russians were <i>hors du combat</i>. It will not, then, be an -exaggeration to say, that their whole loss, taking into the account<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> -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.<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> From the enormous park of artillery which -the Russians had brought against<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> 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 impossible to do, the number -of cannon which might have been dismounted. Our army, which was -reorganized at Warsaw, after its losses, was brought to about the same -state as at the commencement of the war, that is, about 40,000 strong. -The artillery was now augmented to 140 pieces.</p> - -<p>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 our favor, 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 been victorious, animated too, as we now were, by the -inspiriting influence of our past success, and aided by the terror with -which our arms had inspired the enemy.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> Every military reader, who shall follow, with strict -attention, the plans of our general in strategy and tactics, will be -astonished, perhaps, that after such victories as those of the 31st of -March and 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, [<i>See Plan</i>], have been attacked on both sides, and thrown into -confusion. Although I cannot give a satisfactory explanation of this -apparent fault, it must be considered, that those subsequent events -which give a color 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, occurring to his mind, which -are not now apparent to the observer.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> No terms can express the admirable conduct of our -commander and his suite, who directed the work of reconstructing these -bridges, in person. The general and his officers all labored 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 were placing some trunks of trees, a shell fell among them. To -have left their labor 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 mingled the shout of 'Poland forever!' Providence -granted that in that exposed labor our loss was very inconsiderable.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> I cannot pretend to give the reader an accurate idea -of the number of prisoners which were taken during the first days of -April. From the battle of Wawr to that of Iganie, 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 referred to, as 'the -Period of the Prisoners.' The inhabitants of Warsaw 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 ordinary 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?' -</p> -<p> -The great number of the prisoners engaged the attention of the national -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 for his -labor. The second part being also employed upon wages, labored on the -great roads leading from Warsaw, in a 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 labor. 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 instructed in the true nature of -their political rights, the real causes of the contest were exhibited -to them, and they were made to be convinced that it was for their -advantage as well as our own that we were fighting. -</p> -<p> -The greatest harmony reigned between the Poles and their prisoners; -and I am sure that those Russians will remember the days they passed -as prisoners, as the happiest in their lives. With us their prison 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 whom obedience was enforced by the -knout.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">Position of the two armies after the battle of Iganie.—Plan -of a simultaneous 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 <i>first defeat</i>.—Details of those operations.—Operations of -general Dwernicki.—He defeats Rudiger; but by a false operation -exposes himself to be attacked disadvantageously 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 prisoners 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.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> positions of the two armies, [<i>See Plan</i> XXII,] were now as -follows:—The Russian army was divided into four principal bodies, -having no communication with each other. First, their main body (<i>a</i>), -consisting of about 60,000 men and 130 pieces of cannon, were between -Lukow (1) and Cock (2). Secondly, the remains of the corps of Rosen -and Giesmar (<i>b</i>) were at Siedlce (3). They could be counted at about -20,000 men and perhaps 50 pieces of cannon. Thirdly, at Ostrolenka (4) -was the Imperial guard (<i>c</i>), consisting of 18,000 men and 36 cannon. -Fourthly, in the palatinate of Lublin, were the combined corps of Witt -and Kreutz (<i>d</i>), consisting of 30,000 men and 60 pieces of cannon. -Their different 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.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus23.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -<i>XXII. </i> -</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus24.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -<i>XXIII. </i> -</p> - -<p>Our main body (<i>e</i>), composed of four divisions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> of infantry, -and three of cavalry, making in all about 30,000 men and 80 pieces -of cannon, was placed between Iganie (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 (<i>f</i>) upon the right bank of -the Narew, at Nasielsk (8), amounting to 3,200 horse and 24 pieces of -artillery, placed there to observe the Russian guard. In the environs -of Pulawy (9) was a small partizan corps, under the command of general -Sierawski (<i>g</i>), with 3,000 men and four pieces of cannon. The corps -of general Dwernicki (<i>h</i>) was in the environs of Zamosc, (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 <i>point d'appui</i>. If the reader will examine -a map of the country, or even the small plan in the preceding pages -[<i>No.</i> VI, <i>or</i> 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 (11). In a word, the -moment approached at which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> our commander had determined to give the -enemy a last decisive blow, by attacking him at the same time on every -side; and for this object, the following instructions and orders were -given.</p> - -<p>First. The generalissimo renewed the order for strengthening the -fortifications of Warsaw and Praga, as well as those on the whole -plain of Grochow. From the first day of April, as many as 5000 Russian -prisoners were continually employed upon those fortifications. -Warsaw, which was already, as the reader is informed, defended by -a girdle of lunettes and redoubts, communicating with each other, -received the additional defence in some places of block-houses. To -strengthen the fortifications 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 -farther, at a distance of two miles beyond, or nearly upon the field of -Grochow, was constructed a third line of lunettes and redoubts, which -occupied the whole distance from Kawenczyn to the marshes of Goclaw, -or the entire field of battle of Grochow, 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 -fortification. 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 honor to -be entrusted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> with this duty, and were unwilling that a single soldier -of the regular army should be detailed for the service. How admirably -they executed their noble resolutions, when the occasion came, is -probably well known to every reader.</p> - -<p>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 intended to support all his operations, and, relying on -which, he could at any time hazard the boldest attempts. 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 general Dwernicki (<i>h</i>) to attack immediately the combined corps -of generals Witt and Kreutz (<i>d</i>). In this attack the small corps of -general Sierawski (<i>g</i>) was to aid, and the two corps were to preserve -a constant communication with each other. For that object general -Sierawski was to pass the Vistula at Kazimierz (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 Kazimierz. General -Dwernicki was also informed that a third small corps would be sent in -the direction of Zelechow (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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> force the enemy to take the direction of -Pulawy (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 their main body. Leaving the corps -of general Sierawski to continue to observe them, and to push his -advantages over them, Dwernicki himself was to pass the Wieprz at Kock, -and from thence by forced marches to leave in the direction of Radzyn -(11) for Lukow (1) 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 (<i>e</i>), in which attack he -was to act on the enemy's left wing. The main body of the enemy, thus -taken in front and in flank, simultaneously, could not but have been -broken up. For all these operations the general in chief had destined -fourteen days only.</p> - -<p>On the night of the battle of Iganie, 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.</p> - -<p>The generalissimo, while making his preparations for this last blow, -continued an unremitting observation upon all the movements of the -enemy,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> 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 Siennica, received orders -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, Wodynie, and Plomieniece, and -always with advantage. In one of those attacks, at Jedlina, a small -detachment of sixteen Krakus attacked a squadron of Russian hussars, -coming from Wodynie, 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 towards 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.</p> - -<p>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 Dwernicki, and the approach of the -moment for his attack<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> upon Diebitsch. Almost sure of the successful -execution of his admirable arrangements, what can express his -disappointment on hearing of the unfortunate operations of the corps -of general Sierawski, and of the defeat of that corps at Kazimierz in -the palatinate of Lublin, <i>the first defeat in the whole war</i>. That -general, in neglecting the instructions of the commander in chief, not -to engage with the enemy, on account of the inferiority of his own -forces, (with which forces in fact he could not expect to act but in -partizan warfare,) approached Lublin, 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 Dwernicki at Zamosc. He therefore probably -took the direction 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 Kazimierz, arrived on the 16th of April at -Belzyca. To his great astonishment he found there a strong advanced -guard of the above mentioned corps. To avoid compromitting himself, he -engaged 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 exe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span>cuted 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, 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, it being covered by woods with patches of -open ground intervening. Some squadrons of young Kaliszian cavalry, -led by the general himself, advanced to the attack of the enemy's -artillery, which being disadvantageously posted, was exposed to be -captured. That cavalry, however, by a false direction of their charge, -fell among the concealed masses of the enemy's infantry, and their -attack failed.</p> - -<p>This unsuccessful attack had unfortunate results. The corps of general -Sierawski was obliged to evacuate its position, and along its whole -retrograde march continual attacks of the enemy were pressed upon -it. The peculiar nature of the ground, and the extreme brevity of -general Sierawski, a veteran 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 destruc<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span>tion. At length the corps reached Kazimierz, the point -which it had left; and here again, instead of passing the Vistula, -Sierawski awaited another attack from the overwhelming 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 -excited much remark in the army. On the 18th, the Russians reached -Kazimierz. The town was vigorously attacked by them, and their assaults -were repeatedly repulsed by the new Kazimierz infantry, under colonel -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 Kazimierz, without being molested in the attempt. He then took a -position on the left bank.</p> - -<p>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 Dwernicki. The -latter general, who, as is known to the reader, commenced his career -so gloriously; whose very name, indeed, was a terror to the Russians, -and who, by his suc<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span>cessive victories over the three corps of Kreutz, -Wirtemberg, and Rudiger, had established the strongest claims upon the -gratitude of his country,—this general, I must repeat it with pain, -finished his great career in the most unfortunate manner. His case -should serve as a strong example, that it is not bravery alone which is -required 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.</p> - -<p>The following are the details of the operations of general Dwernicki. -[<i>See Plan No.</i> XXIII.] We cannot well imagine the cause which -induced that general to quit Zamosc (1), and the important operations -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 of 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 disperse the insurgents. At the moment when Dwernicki -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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> attack, in his -way, and crush them, and then attaching the insurgents 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 Uscilog (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 supposed to be awaiting -him. On the road to that town he received information that the corps of -Rudiger 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 Boromel (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 position. In regard to -tactics, the corps of general Rudiger could not have chosen a worse -direction than that of the angle formed by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> 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 attack; and as he saw that the enemy could -not be safely assailed in front, on account of his strong position -between two small lakes, but found that this position was open towards -the frontier of Austria,—there it was that the unhappy idea occurred -to him, of marching to the environs of Kolodno (8), on the frontier -of Austria, and attacking the enemy on that side, feeling 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 manœuvring upon the frontiers -of Austria, general Rudiger repassed the Styr, avoided the attack by -this manœuvre, and was in a situation to join himself with all the -Russian detachments which might come into the province from the heart -of Russia, by the different directions of Krzemieniece, 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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span></p> - -<p>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 await 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 (<i>b</i>) -made its appearance, having come in the direction of Krzemienic (11). -The battle commenced, and in the midst of the action another Russian -corps (<i>c</i>) was seen approaching in the direction of Proskirow (12) -and Stary-Konstantynow (13) under the command of general Rott, acting -thus upon the right wing and even the rear of general Dwernicki's -corps. To avoid being turned, general Dwernicki 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 attack upon his flank. This obliged general Dwernicki 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, ap<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span>proached and threw themselves between the combatants, calling -on them to respect the neutrality of the territory. In this manner -the combat ceased. General Dwernicki gave his parole to discontinue -hostilities, and consented to advance farther into the interior, and, -placing himself in camp, waited the result of the decision of the -Austrian government upon what had occurred. The Russian corps, which -had just passed 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 what had occurred to the National -Government and the general in chief, which he was permitted to do. He -also sent a letter to the commander in chief of the Austrian forces -in Gallicia, explaining how it was that, in a necessary manœuvre -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 permitted 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 permission, -collected a strong corps in the environs of Tarnopol, and the Austrian -commander in chief demanded of general Dwernicki to surrender both his -own arms and those taken from the enemy. General Dwer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span>nicki, although -this Austrian corps was not formidable to him, yet being anxious to -avoid the serious political consequences which might possibly follow -resistance, submitted to this unjust demand, which will be an eternal -reproach to the Austrian government. The Austrians returned their arms -to the Russian prisoners, whom they liberated, and retained the arms of -the Polish troops. The whole corps was conducted into the interior, and -thus ended the career of that important body of our forces.<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a></p> - -<p>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 frontier; and that cannot -be regarded as an intentional invasion of the frontiers which was done -without design, and was a mere transition<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> over an indistinct line, -made necessary by the position which the enemy had taken. Such a case -certainly should have formed an exception to a general rule. To the -Russian corps all the prisoners were returned, without any consent -obtained from our government, to whom they, in fact, belonged, and -should have been considered as belonging, until the end of the war.</p> - -<p>It was in this manner that those intriguing cabinets 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 owe their very existence to Poland.</p> - -<p>At present, regardless of all obligations of justice, they concert -with our enemy for our ruin. But if by this unjust treatment of their -benefactors, the Austrians may have gained some temporary advantages, -the reader will acknowledge that in reference to their ultimate good, -they have acted with a most short-sighted and mistaken policy. The -aggrandizement of Russia can never be an advantage to Austria.</p> - -<p>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, Rudiger and Rott, could -now rejoin their main army without obstruction.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span></p> - -<p>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 horrible malady, the cholera, which after the battle of Iganie -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 sufferers were left exposed -to the open air, and died upon the field. The Poles took even more -care of them than of their own sick. They were brought together, and -transported to Menie, where there was a large convent, which was turned -into an hospital for their use. The total number of those sufferers -may be imagined, when it is stated, that, in that hospital and village -alone, two thousand Russian sick were reported.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> 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, the departing from orders which are given upon a general plan, -the absolute control of which should belong to the general in chief. -Had general Dwernicki, conforming to his instructions, 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 -Kazimierz, and both of those two corps could have joined in the attack, -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 advantages 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.</p></div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">The Russian commander resumes offensive operations.—Object of the -attack of the 25th of April.—Combat of Kuflew.—General Dembinski -evacuates the position of Kuflew and awaits the enemy at Bady.—Battle -of Minsk.—The enemy suddenly evacuates his position.—Reflections on -this stage of the conflict.—Positions of the two armies.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> 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 we may suppose, of the disasters of Sierawski, and -also of the passage 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, without any decisive result. Those -small attacks by the enemy served, however, as an indication of the -intention of general Diebitsch to take the offensive on a larger scale. -To meet this intention, all our detachments received orders to hold -themselves in readiness. Firstly, these detachments were to concentrate -themselves upon a line of operations, between Kaluszyn, Siennica, and -Zelechow. [<i>The reader can refer to Plan</i> VI.] The whole line, in case -of attack, on whatever quarter it might be, was to make a retrograde -movement, upon the same plan as heretofore, as far as the field<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> of -Wawr. General Pac, in particular, who was the farthest removed from -Zelechow, was to use the utmost vigilance, and to make this retrograde -movement in the promptest manner, when occasion required.</p> - -<p>On the 25th of April, in fact, marshal Diebitsch commenced his attack -at two principal points, Boimie and Kuflew. Upon the last of these -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.</p> - - -<p class="center">COMBAT OF KUFLEW. [<i>See Plan</i> XXIV.]</p> - -<p>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, commanded the -inconsiderable forces that met the attack of the masses of Diebitsch, -well merited the rank of general, to which he was then advanced. Our -position was covered by the river Swider (S) and its marshes, which -secured it from being taken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> in flank. The enemy had one debouchment -(<i>a</i>), 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 (<i>b</i>) of our infantry. Upon the plain -between Kuflew and the river Swider, ten squadrons of our cavalry -(<i>c</i>) manœuvred. Near the village (II) upon a little hill, on which -was a wind-mill, our artillery (<i>d</i>), 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 sunrise, on the 25th, -several regiments of cossacks (<i>e</i>) 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 brush-wood. It was -mid-day when strong columns of infantry (<i>f</i>) began to show themselves -in the direction of Lukowiec and Plomieniec. 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 (<i>g</i>) 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 (<i>h</i>) which remained upon the heights on the other -side, consisting of twenty and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> more pieces of large calibre, poured -for several hours a heavy fire upon Kuflew, where they supposed 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 at -Latowicz, &c., above referred to, had evacuated 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 -artillery 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 debouched -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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> 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 enemy attempted nothing more, our forces, during -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 Diebitsch in -person, were opposed to general Dembinski, who had not quite 4,000 men -and four pieces of artillery, with which force he stood against the -enemy for that whole day. The loss of the Russians was about a thousand -men, and on our own side it was not fifty.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus25.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -<i>XXIV.</i> -</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus26.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -<i>XXV.</i> -</p> - -<p>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 arranged 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.</p> - - -<p class="center">BATTLE OF MINSK. [<i>See Plan</i> XXV.]</p> - -<p>The position of Minsk may be considered as one of the strongest upon -the great road from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> Siedlce to Warsaw. That town is situated in a -plain, surrounded by an impenetrable forest, and traversed by a small -river, which falls into the Swider. Upon 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 (<i>a</i>). Upon the side of Siedlce and Ceglow, 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 (<i>b</i>).</p> - -<p>It was mid-day when the Russians (<i>c</i>) (<i>d</i>) debouched 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, (<i>e</i>) 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 infantry (<i>f</i>) advanced to -the assault. Our light troops evacuated the part of the town beyond -the river, to enable our artillery to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> 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 hesitated whether to advance or retire, and remained in the -utmost disorder, falling under the fire of our artillery 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 suspense, 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 (<i>g</i>), 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 themselves 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 -Stoiadly, two English miles distant, took a second position there. -This new position was advantageous, on account of the elevation of -the ground. Our right wing, in particular, was well supported upon a -thick marshy forest, and was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> pushed forward far enough to give a cross -fire to the enemy, in case he should try to force the passage of the -great road. As the enemy was so imprudent, after our evacuation, as to -commence his debouchment through the town, with his cavalry in advance, -he exposed himself to a severe loss; for our artillery, consisting -of six pieces, poured a destructive fire upon the main street of the -city, which led to the only passage over the river; and again, after -deploying under this fire upon the plain, he was subjected to vigorous -charges from our cavalry under Skarzynski, which cost him a severe -loss, and delayed his advance for more than half an hour. As the space -between Stoiadly and Minsk was a plain gently 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 successive 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, on their light animals, assaulted them in the -very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> midst of their ranks. Many staff and other officers of the enemy -were left dead upon the field. Our advanced guard having, in this way, -fought with such advantages, against the whole Russian army, at Minsk -and Stoiadly, from mid-day until 5, P.M.; the general in chief ordered -them to evacuate their position as promptly as possible, and retire to -Dembe-Wielke, where he awaited the enemy in order of battle, and where -he was desirous of meeting his attack before night. This movement was -executed without molestation from the Russians. Our advanced guard -passed the forests between Dembe-Wielke and Stoiadly, and arrived at -the position of Dembe-Wielke, where fifty pieces of our artillery -were posted to receive the enemy, and our whole force took the order -of battle. The enemy, however, did not debouch 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 attacks of -the enemy proved how much he had suffered. He had two generals mortally -wounded, general Pahlen and the prince Galiczyn, and lost nearly 4,000 -men. On our side the loss was four or five hundred only.</p> - -<p>For their conduct in this battle, the National Government and the -general in chief presented their thanks to the 2d division under -Gielgud and the division of cavalry under Skarzynski. General Gielgud -was advanced to the rank of general of division, and it was perhaps -owing to his skilful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> dispositions and brave conduct on that day, that -it was not feared to entrust him with the command of the all important -expedition to Lithuania.</p> - -<p>On the 27th and 28th, no events took place. During the night of the -28th, the enemy, to our astonishment, evacuated his position and -retired as far as Kaluszyn, twenty-four English miles distant. We -cannot give the true cause of this sudden and unexpected 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 -importance, of the revolutions in Lithuania and Samogitia.</p> - -<p>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 military 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.</p> - -<p>Our commander in chief felt sure that when general Diebitsch attacked, -on the 25th, and 26th, it was with the view, having no longer any fear -of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> the corps of generals Dwernicki and Sierawski, and being reinforced -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 -result 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 questions -will arise. First, what was the object of commencing the attack? -Secondly, what was, in regard to tactics, the cause of its cessation, -and of that sudden retreat? It will be very difficult to find a -satisfactory answer to either of those questions.<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a></p> - -<p>Our army, after this retreat of the enemy, com<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span>menced anew its advance, -and, on the 30th, it occupied again its former position at Boimie, on -the river Kostrzyn. 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 detachment at Zagroby, where the generalissimo ordered a strong -bridge-head to be erected.</p> - -<p>The position of the two armies on the 30th was as follows. [<i>Plans</i> -VI <i>and</i> XXIX.] Our army was again concentrated between Wengrow and -Ceglow, and indeed Wengrow was occupied by a small detachment. 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 Karczew and Ceglow. The Russian army was concentrated -in the environs of Mordy and Sucha, where marshal Diebitsch entrenched -himself in a fortified camp, and took again a defensive attitude. -The corps of Kreutz and Witt were in the environs of Pulawy, and the -Russian imperial guard advanced to the environs of Pultusk.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> 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 this circumstance reported to him, the general in chief did -not take advantage of any attack, but 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 under 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 Russians 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 tyranny and the privations to which they were -subjected, and our lancers gave them all the relief which their own -means could furnish.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">General Skrzynecki resumes the offensive.—He decides to adopt an -enlarged plan of operations, and to make the revolutionized provinces -supply 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.—Forced -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.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">As</span> several days passed away, without any thing having been attempted -on the part of the enemy, our general in chief decided to re-commence -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 very 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.</p> - -<p>General Skrzynecki, regarding all the existing circumstances, 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 Iganie. The misfortunes of the corps of Dwernicki -and Sierawski, had made a vast change in the relative strength of the -two parties. The fate of those two corps gave a great advantage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> to the -enemy, 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 character to the revolution in Lithuania, and in fact to -make that revolution supply the place of a <i>corps d'armee</i>, to 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 Wilno and Warsaw. This line of operations would embrace also the -towns of Grodno 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 predecessor, that of -general Dwernicki, which were, in general, to act in the environs of -Zamosc.</p> - -<p>To facilitate the execution of these plans, the general 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 above mentioned, consisting of -4,000 men and eight pieces of cannon, under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> general Chrzanowski, -left the main body [<i>See Plan</i> XXVI], took the direction of Stoczek -(1), Zelechow (2), and Kock (3), to reach the environs of Zamosc (4). -The reader, on examining the plan, and looking at the space which this -corps (<i>a</i>) was to pass over, in the midst of the enemy's detached -corps (<i>b</i>), and in which it was exposed every moment to be surrounded -and cut off, will acknowledge that this expedition, which was most -successfully executed, is to be ranked among the finest operations -in the campaign. It demanded a general of talent, and a soldier of -determination.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus27.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> - - -<i>XXVI. </i> -</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus28.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -<i>XXVII. </i> -</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus29.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -<i>XXVIII. </i> -</p> - -<p>When I 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 ambition 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-estimated.</p> - -<p>General Chrzanowski, quitting, as we have mentioned, the main body, -took the direction of Ceglow, and threw himself into the great forest -of Plomieniec. Leaving that forest, he met, near Wodynie, a strong -detachment of the enemy, composed of infantry, cavalry, and several -pieces of artillery, belonging to their main body, and proba<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span>bly -detached to make a reconnoissance. By a sudden attack 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, and arrived, on -the night of the 9th, at the environs of Kock, where he had to pass the -river Wieprz.</p> - - -<p class="center">ATTACK OF KOCK. [<i>See Plan</i> XXVII.]</p> - -<p>At the moment of the arrival of the corps of general 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 (1) -on each side of the river, to defend the passage of the bridge (2), and -without taking those fortifications it would be impossible for us to -pass the bridge. In such circumstances there was no alternative, and it -was necessary to attempt to take the town by storm. General Chrzanowski -announced his intention to the corps, and addressed a few animating -words to them. Having divided his corps into small parties (<i>a, a</i>), -he surrounded the town. He placed especial importance upon the forcing -of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> the avenue (3) leading to the palace, and getting possession of -the garden (4) which surrounded the palace, and bordered on the river. -If all this could be rapidly executed, the enemy would be taken in the -rear.</p> - -<p>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 -(<i>b</i>), divided into detachments, threw themselves continually upon -the Russian infantry (<i>c</i>), 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 Russian columns in the square (<i>d</i>). 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 -11th the environs of Piaski. In the latter place he was apprized that a -Russian corps under Rudiger was at Krasny-staw. Chrzanowski decided to -attack them.</p> - - -<p class="center">ATTACK OF RUDIGER'S CAMP. [<i>See Plan</i> XXVIII.]</p> - -<p>The corps of general Rudiger, after the unfortunate disaster of general -Dwernicki, having traversed Volhynia, entered the frontiers of the -king<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span>dom, 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 some twenty pieces of cannon, was in camp (E) -near the town of Krasny-staw, having that town and the river Wieprz in -its rear.</p> - -<p>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 -Chrzanowski divided his corps into two parties, and giving 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, -general 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 enemy, without being perceived, as even to be on a line<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> -with him. Not long before evening, Romarino having 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 assaulted 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 artillery 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 furnished himself with ammunition from the magazines, and, -remaining there but a short time, left for the environs of Zamosc, in -which fortress he deposited his prisoners.</p> - -<p>Conformably to his instructions, he remained in camp, near this -fortress, at Labunia.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a></p> - -<p>The general in chief having thus accomplished his object of supplying -the place of general Dwernicki'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 -Russian imperial guard, which was somewhat detached from the Russian -grand army. To carry this bold purpose into effect, the following -instructions were given to the different commanders.</p> - - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus30.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> - -<i>XXIX.</i> -</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus31.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> - - -<i>XXX.</i> -</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="center">OPERATIONS AGAINST THE RUSSIAN GUARD. [<i>Plan</i> XXIX.]</p> - -<p>On the 12th of May, general Uminski with his division of cavalry (<i>a</i>) -was ordered to quit the left wing and the position of Zimna-Woda, -and to move to 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 -manœuvre the aspect of a reconnoissance. The object of this change -of position was, that in the new position he might mask the movements -of the main body. This important disposition 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 movement. 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 detachments left -there for the defence of those fortifications. If, on the contrary, -the Russian army should make a retrograde movement, general Uminski -was to endeavor, by following them, to keep them constantly in view. -If circumstances permitted, the rear guard of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> Russians might be -harassed during the night. Above all, general Uminski was to endeavor -to keep up his communications with the neighboring corps, that of -general Lubinski, and the detachments left at Siennica and Karczew. -In this moderate pursuit of the enemy, the general was to ascertain -whether their retrograde movement was a retreat or a manœuvre, in -order to avoid every hazard.</p> - -<p>General Lubinski (<i>b</i>), with his division of cavalry, was to pass the -right bank of the Bug (B), and leaving small detachments at Wyszkow (1) -and Brok (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 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 Uminski.</p> - -<p>Having given these orders to the above mentioned corps, general -Skrzynecki, with the main force (<i>d</i>), 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 -(<i>e</i>), under general Dembinski, upon the right bank, with orders to -advance to Ostrolenka (10), through the towns of Pultusk, Magnuszewo -and Rozany (11). This detach<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span>ment was not to commence the attack on -meeting the enemy, but was only to harass him and keep him in check, -and detain him as near as possible to Serock. If the enemy should -commence the retreat, this corps was to pursue him with the greatest -activity, in order that at Ostrolenka, where the general in chief had -determined to attack him, he might be exposed between two fires.</p> - -<p>On the 17th, this corps met the first advanced post (<i>f</i>) of the -Russian imperial guard at Modzele, which, after a slight engagement, -evacuated its position, and retired. Being pursued by the brigade of -cavalry under general Dembinski, they, on the 18th, commenced the -passage of the Narew, at Ostrolenka. 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 palatinate of Augustow. It is much to be -regretted that our main force (<i>d</i>) could not reach Ostrolenka; having -to pass narrow roads, through forests, in which the artillery met with -much obstruction. Otherwise, the whole of that imperial guard would -have been surrounded.</p> - -<p>With the arrival of our main body, on the night of the 18th, the -Russians passed the Narew, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> many 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 having despatched a -detachment, under the command of colonel Sierawski, for the pursuit of -the corps of Saken, 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 Dlugie-Siodlo (13), this village was found occupied -by two regiments of infantry and two of 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 cavalry 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.</p> - -<p>The 1st lancers, and the battery of light artil<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span>lery, who did not -quit the enemy a moment, arrived simultaneously 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.</p> - -<p>I cannot give the reader a 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 incurred by the forced -march which the distance passed over supposes. Another reason, perhaps, -was, that he had sent from this place the first detachment (<i>i</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 Mniszew, -and passed the frontier of the kingdom at the village of Mien, between -Ciechanowiec and Suraz, opposite Brainsk.</p> - -<p>Our army, having halted one day at Xienzopol, on the evening of the -20th, quitted this position to continue the pursuit of the guard, and -overtook them in the forest of Menzynin (15). 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> forest, and the -cavalry was to advance 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 continually pursued, and subject to severe -losses along the whole route, the guard (<i>l</i>) was again pressed at the -passage of the Narew at Tykocin (16). The consternation and disorder of -the enemy was such, that he did not take time to destroy the bridge. -Our lancers, 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.</p> - -<p>Having thus driven the Russian guard from the kingdom, (of which the -Narew was the boundary,) general Skrzynecki commenced a retrograde -movement, to meet the demonstration which general Diebitsch might make -upon his rear. On the night of the 22d, our army (<i>m</i>) began this -movement, having destroyed the several bridges of the Narew.</p> - -<p>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 stratago-tactics, but I do not think that a -finer and bolder plan of operations can<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> be found even there. In both -cases, success was owing, not more to the great military genius of the -leaders, than to those high moral impulses which must animate armies in -every contest for national existence.</p> - -<p>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 movement -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.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> 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, as officer of 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 Emperor Nicholas was -desirous of obtaining the aid of Polish officers of engineers, and -Chrzanowski was among the number 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 disregard the merits of the officers from among 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 officer was advanced to the rank of lieutenant -colonel, and was placed in the post of chef d'etat major. While in this -post he was advanced to the rank of general. The generalissimo, who in -all his plans observed the greatest secrecy, and his example ought to -be followed by every good general, initiated, however, Chrzanowski, -and Prondzynski, who succeeded 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 greatest sangfroid imaginable. The -generalissimo could not enough regret that he had not given him the -command of the expedition 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.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">The Lithuanians compel two Russian corps to evacuate -Samogitia.—Operations of general Chlapowski in the department of -Bialystok.—Capture 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 advanced guard at Czyzew.—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.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Quitting</span> the main army, which had thus successfully executed the -important operation of driving the Russian imperial guard from the -kingdom, and sending a corps into Lithuania,—we will now turn to take -a view of the state of affairs in that province.</p> - -<p>The brave Lithuanians in a series of bloody encounters 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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span></p> - -<p>In the department of Bialystok, the little corps recently sent under -the command of general Chlapowski, began its operations with great -success. In the environs of Bielsk, that small detachment, composed -of four squadrons of the 1st regiment of lancers, consisting of four -hundred and eighty horsemen, a hundred and ninety light infantry -volunteers mounted,<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> 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 Michael, and on his way with despatches from him to the -Grand Duke Constantine, was taken prisoner.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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 Narewka. A considerable Russian detachment, under the -command of general Rengardt, composed of 6,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, -and five pieces of cannon—in all, nearly 9,000 men—was posted near -Nasielsk. 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> thousand prisoners were taken, and -all their artillery. An important advantage 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 Bialystok was entirely cleared of the -Russians, and nothing interrupted the formation and organization of -the insurgent 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 examples, with many -others, in this war, of how much can be effected by that prompt and -energetic action which no ordinary motives will sustain.</p> - -<p>While the affairs of Lithuania and Samogitia, and those in the -department of Bialystok, wore this favorable aspect, a new corps was -approaching to aid this propitious state of things, to protect the -insurrections, 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 -quitted Lomza on the 27th for Lithuania.</p> - -<p>Before returning to the operations of the grand army, we will give a -short recapitulation of the forces which had been sent into Lithuania -and Samogitia, at successive periods, to support the insurrections in -those provinces.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span></p> - -<p>The first corps under general Chlapowski, left, on the 20th of May, -the village of Xienzopol, with this destination;—to enter the -department of Bialystok, to occupy 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 might allow it, to make an -approach upon Wilno. 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.</p> - -<p>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 18th 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 Graiewo, where he took a strong position, and awaited -the arrival of the corps of general Gielgud.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span></p> - -<p>The third corps, under the command of general Gielgud, being 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:</p> - -<p><i>Artillery</i>, 28 pieces. <i>Infantry</i>, 6,350 men. <i>Cavalry</i>, 1,300.</p> - -<p>Besides these forces, which were detached from 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 commence -active service until the battle of Wilno.</p> - -<p>To return to the main army. Such was the rapidity 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 having -driven that guard beyond the frontiers, before marshal Diebitsch -received intelligence of his operations. 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. [<i>See Plan</i> XXIX.]</p> - -<p>With this view he evacuated his position at Sucha and Mordy (<i>o</i>), -passed by Sokolow, crossed the river Bug at Granne (16), entered into -the Russian province of Bialystok, passed through a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> corner of this -department on the 24th of May, and crossing the little 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.</p> - -<p>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 truce to summon him to surrender.<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a> This summons was -rejected.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span></p> - -<p>After the departure of the aid-de-camp, general Lubinski commenced his -march, and, though it was practicable for him to reach Ostrolenka by -a direct route, yet thinking it possible that Czyzew was not occupied -by a very strong force, and that he might profit by the approach of -night, he determined to march at once upon the latter place, and to -attack the Russian 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 hundred -prisoners. It was to be regretted that the necessity under which -general Lubinski was placed of reaching Ostrolenka as soon as possible, -did not permit him to profit farther by these advantages.</p> - -<p>On the next day, (the 25th) the rear-guard of our main army, consisting -of the brigade of general Wengierski, 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 another corps to advance in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> 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 -commander, 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 learning that our army had already passed the town, and -that it was only the rear-guard which was before him.<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> 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 profiting by the fine position of that place, which -commanded the marshy plain on the side of the enemy, passable only -by a dyke, the bridge over which had been demolished by our troops, -ordered general Wengierski to sustain himself in that position until -night. In vain the Russian cavalry and infantry 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 affected by them.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span></p> - -<p>The brigade of general Wengierski having held out in this position, -with the greatest determination 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 -(<i>h</i>) evacuated Ostrolenka, passed the river Narew, and took, upon the -right bank of that river, opposite to Ostrolenka, a new position,<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a> -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 commenced debouching over this bridge.</p> - - -<p class="center">BATTLE OF OSTROLENKA. [<i>See Plan</i> XXX.]</p> - -<p>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 the river. We may presume that the intention of general -Diebitsch was, by passing the Narew at this point, to send at the same -time a corps to Serock, in order to cut off our army, and place it -between two fires. At 11 o'clock, the Russian infantry (<i>a</i>)<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> under the -protection of a most terrible fire from fifty-four pieces of artillery, -(<i>b</i>) placed in a very strong position on the left bank of the -Narew, commenced, as we have said, the passage of the river. General -Skrzynecki, not wishing absolutely to prevent this passage, placed -but sixteen cannon in advantageous positions, on slight elevations of -ground, (<i>d</i>) designed to prevent the repairing of the bridge, and the -consequent 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 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.</p> - -<p>At 3 o'clock, our artillery received orders to evacuate their position, -and the skirmishers (<i>e</i>) were ordered 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 already passed the bridge. -The enemy, profiting by the withdrawal of our artillery, commenced -repairing the bridge, to afford a passage for large masses of infantry, -and artillery. A strong Russian column (<i>f</i>), after passing the bridge, -took a direction to the left, to throw itself into the forest which -borders on the Narew, at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> 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 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 (<i>g</i>), to charge upon this column, on its march, and -at the same time ordered general Kaminski, with a division 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, on receiving his charge, fell back upon -the bridge, or concealed themselves under the banks of the river. These -two attacks cost us the lives of the two generals, Kaminski and Kicki, -who threw themselves upon the enemy, at the head of their respective -columns. Their loss was deeply regretted by the army and the nation.</p> - -<p>Although the result of these attacks was favorable to us, yet, the -general in chief, considering the terribly destructive fire of the -Russian artillery, which commanded the whole plain near the bridge,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> -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.</p> - -<p>At 6 o'clock, the firing on both sides had entirely ceased. Profiting -by this interval, the Polish army 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 [<i>Plan</i> XXXI, (<i>d</i>)] 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 profit by the obscurity -of the night, in order to subject the enemy to still greater losses, -conceived the bold idea of advancing our artillery (<i>a</i>) so near the -Russian columns (<i>b</i>), as to pour upon them a fire of grape-shot. -General Skrzynecki himself approached colonel Boehm, and taking the -command of the twelve pieces of light artillery under him, led them -in person to the distance 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 behind small elevations of ground, he commanded -colonel Boehm to commence firing. The Russian columns were thrown -into confusion by this unexpected and terrible fire; and it may be -imagined that their loss was immense, enclosed as they were within a -narrow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> 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 estimating -those who left the field wounded, and those who fell into the river. -On our side, this attack cost us only the loss of two officers of the -artillery, although this detachment was exposed to the fire of the -whole Russian artillery.<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a> Our battery fired but three rounds, when -the general gave the order to withdraw, and follow the main army (A) to -Warsaw.<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a></p> - -<p>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 general officers above mentioned, with about 4,000 men.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span></p> - -<p>On the afternoon of the day of the battle of Ostrolenka, the division -of general Gielgud received orders to depart from the town of Lomza. -General Dembinski, on the night of the same day was ordered to join him -with two squadrons of lancers of Poznan. The latter general left the -field of battle with these squadrons, and on the next day joined the -division of general Gielgud.<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a></p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus32.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -<i>XXXI.</i> -</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus33.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -<i>XXXII.</i> -</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> We found, on experiment, that this species of force -acting in conjunction 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 -former dismounted, and leaving their horses in the care of a party -detailed for the purpose, dispersed themselves as sharp-shooters, and -commenced a fire upon the enemy, who, thrown into confusion by this -unexpected attack, were open to a destructive charge from the cavalry.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> 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, approached 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 Russians mechanically obeyed these orders, in a state of -amazement. General Chlapowski fearing that he might be surrounded by -the cossacks, left his infantry volunteers to disperse any detachments -of the enemy in the town that might rally to oppose him, and led -all the artillery 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 cavalry, 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 who volunteered their services.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> The officer announced to general Lubinski that the -whole Russian army had occupied Ciechanowiec, that the advanced guard -was already at Czyzew, and that those circumstances ought to satisfy -him that his communications with his friends were entirely cut off, -and that therefore he would do well to lay down his arms and throw -himself upon the magnanimity of the Emperor. 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 -personally 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. This -division was composed of two regiments of old light infantry, and two -recently formed regiments of Mazurs.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> 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 -Skrzynecki, in contriving this plan (with the valuable assistance of -general Prondzynski,) of surprising and defeating the Russian guard, -had satisfied himself of the practicability of returning to Ostrolenka -without being intercepted.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> 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. (<i>See Plan</i> -XXIX.)</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> This fire of the Russian artillery might almost be -compared to the terrible fire of the 25th of February, at Grochow, in -the attack on the forest of elders.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> This manœuvre, 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 object of reducing the immense superiority of the -enemy's force. The personal 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 enemy. Neither the fear of the enemy, -nor the entreaties of his officers, who begged him, on their knees, -to withdraw and to reserve his valuable life for his country, could -induce him to move from his place, until he had seen the successful -termination of this effort.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> For those who have asserted that general Gielgud was cut -off 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.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">Operations of the Lithuanian corps.—Battle of Raygrod and defeat -of the Russian corps of Saken.—Importance of this first success in -Lithuania.—General Gielgud neglects to follow up his advantages.—He -loses time by passing the Niemen at Gielgudyszki, and enables the -enemy to concentrate his forces in Wilno.—Entrance into Lithuania -and reception by the inhabitants.—Position of the two main -armies.—The Russian forces remain inactive and receive supplies from -Prussia.—Death of marshal Diebitsch.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">On</span> the 27th of May, the corps of general Gielgud, attached to which -were generals Rohland, Szymanowski, Dembinski, and colonel Pientka, -left Lomza, and commenced their march into Lithuania. 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 observing general Saken, and was here occupying an -advantageous position. The force of this corps has been already stated.</p> - - -<p class="center">BATTLE OF RAYGROD. [<i>Plan</i> XXXII.]</p> - -<p>I have divided this battle into two different periods, marked by the -two different positions which the enemy successively took.</p> - -<p>On examining the plan of the first position of the Russians, it will be -at once seen that they had no knowledge of the arrival of our corps. -They supposed that they were acting against the corps<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> 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,<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> and we thus arrived at the lake of Raygrod, -the advanced guard meeting only small detachments of the Russian -cavalry, which retired as we approached. On reaching the lake, our -advanced guard were fired upon by the Russian skirmishers, 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 manœuvre, the Russians intended to lead on -our forces with the view to attack them on their flank, and even to -surround them, by sending detachments (<i>a</i>, <i>b</i>) to the right and left, -as will be seen on the plan. In a short time our larger force, under -general Gielgud, commenced debouch<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span>ing between the two lakes. A strong -column (<i>c</i>) of our infantry took a direction towards the forest, to -the left, and another column (<i>d</i>) to that on the right, to dislodge -the enemy, if he should be found to have occupied either. At the same -time our artillery (<i>e</i>), to the number of fourteen pieces, taking a -position at the side of the causeway, opposite to that of the enemy -(<i>f</i>), commenced firing. The whole of our cavalry, and the greater part -of our infantry remained in the centre, and constituted a formidable -front.</p> - -<p>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), -suffering from the fire of our artillery, and taken by surprise at the -unexpected strength of our forces, began 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 enemy. At the same time, general Dembinski gave the order to -our cavalry (<i>g</i>) to charge upon that of the enemy on the right and -left. The first squadron of the lancers of Poznan received the order -to throw themselves forward, and fall upon the breaking columns of -the enemy. The greatest consternation 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 Mycielski, per<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span>formed -prodigies of valor. They entered the town simultaneously with the -Russian columns, cutting down immense numbers of the enemy, 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 infantry. In this exposed -situation they lost their commander.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a></p> - -<p>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 elevated ground, on the opposite side of a small -stream, near the town. This position was strong, and commanded the town -and the whole of the other side of the stream. General Saken would -certainly have remained long in this position, if our right wing under -colonel Koss had not, as we shall see, succeeded in passing the stream -at a higher point (<i>i</i>), and acted on his flank. The Russian general, -as soon as he had established himself in his new position, commenced -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.</p> - -<p>At 3 o'clock the Russians commenced their retreat upon the road to -Kowno, and thus terminated a battle of the most advantageous character -for us, and with which begins an important era in our affairs.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span></p> - -<p>By this battle the Polish forces had made the acquisition of great -advantages, both in respect to strategy and tactics, and the highest -hopes might reasonably be cherished in regard to the future.</p> - -<p>It was, as it were, a return of the state of things brought about by -the victory of Iganie, 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.</p> - -<p>The Russian army was, in the mean while, suffering under all the -disadvantages which we have before 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 situation. The communications between -the Russian provinces and the army were entirely cut off by the Polish -Lithuanian corps. They received their provisions exclusively from -Prussia; and, but for this assistance of Prussia, no one can doubt -that Diebitsch would have been, before this, under the necessity of -withdrawing from the country. The reader will also remember that at -this time,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span> the brave and skilful general Chrzanowski, had obtained -repeated advantages over Rudiger, in the environs of Zamosc, and that -the little corps of general Chlapowski which had entered, on the 20th -of May, the Russian department of Bialystok, was acting with great -advantages. From the Baltic to the Black Sea, the provinces of Podolia, -Volhynia, Ukraine, as well as Lithuania and Samogitia, containing -a population of twelve millions of inhabitants, were in a state of -excitement, 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 energy, the most -happy results would have been achieved. It is, therefore, with the -deepest chagrin, that I have to record that from the moment of the -termination of the fortunate battle of Raygrod, all the operations -of general Gielgud were not only deficient in energy, but altogether -wrongly planned. The first fault which he committed, was not continuing -to press the attack upon general Saken, after he had retired from -Raygrod. Under the pretext that the soldiers were fatigued, the corps -was encamped. This pretext was groundless, for the soldiers themselves -demanded to be led in pursuit of the enemy. In this camp we passed -the whole night, and left it [<i>Plan</i> XXXIII.] at the hour of nine the -following morning; having given fifteen hours to the retreating enemy. -We continued our march to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span> Kowno, through the duchy of Augustow. On -the 30th of May, we arrived at Suwalki (1) its capital, and remained -there a day and a night, without any conceivable reason. The enemy, -profiting by the slowness of our movements, escaped the certain -destruction 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 (<i>a</i>), under general Gielgud, took -the road to Gielgudyszki (3), on the Niemen,<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> to pass the river at -that point. General Dembinski, with the remainder of the corps (<i>b</i>), -continued on the main road, and on the 3d of June arrived at Alexota -(4).</p> - -<p>This separation of our forces into two bodies, to pass the Niemen at -Gielgudyszki, was not recommended by any conceivable advantage, and, -indeed, operated much to our injury. This plan of operations was also -in opposition to the instructions, not only of the general in chief, -but of the National Government, and obstructed the rapid execution of -the great designs of the campaign.</p> - -<p>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 concentrated both the moral and physical -resources of the country. Of Lithuania, the town of Wilno (5) is the -capital. Against it all our plans should have been directed; and, in -fact, the instructions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> of the government to general Gielgud were -all to this effect. By a prompt occupation of that city, we should -have unquestionably reaped the greatest advantages. As Wilno was the -residence of the principal 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, Wilno was the place that presented the greatest facilities.</p> - -<p>Taking all these circumstances into view, 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 Wilno with the utmost -promptness. With this view, his course should have been, after masking -his movement at Kowno, to have passed the Niemen (N) at Rumszyski (6), -a village which was about sixteen English miles above Kowno (7) and -in the direction of Wilno, while Gielgudyszki, on the other hand, was -thirty-two miles below Kowno, and forty-eight from Rumszyski, and out -of the direction of Wilno. With the exception of that of general Saken, -no other Russian force was interposed between us and Wilno. Indeed the -corps of general Chlapowski (<i>c</i>), with which he had traversed the -department of Bialystok, was at that moment between Kowno and Wilno, -and had we passed at Rumszyski, we should have been within but one -day's march of him. It is evident, then, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span> Wilno would have fallen -into our hands without a blow. All these advantages were sacrificed -by making the passage at Gielgudyszki. General Saken, meeting with -no interruption, thus escaped a second time, and marched from Kowno -to Wilno. At the same time several other Russian corps began to -concentrate themselves at Wilno.</p> - -<p>The corps of general Dembinski, having maintained a moderate fire upon -Kowno for two days, in order to mask our movements from the enemy, -marched for Gielgudyszki, 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, expressive of the warmest satisfaction, showed that they -regarded 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 misfortunes.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Leaving the corps of general Gielgud upon the Niemen, we will return -again to the operations of the grand army, and of the different -detached corps. Our main body, which, after the battle of Ostrolenka, -retired towards Warsaw, was now at Praga,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span> 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.</p> - -<p>In the environs of Zamosc, the corps of general Chrzanowski, in which -the brave general Romarino commanded a brigade, was sufficient to keep -the different Russian corps in check.</p> - -<p>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, commenced its operations upon the right bank of that river. -A considerable corps, amounting to 20,000 men, passed that river in -the neighborhood of Prasnysz. The principal object of this corps was -not to re-ommence hostilities, but to protect the large transports -of provisions which were sent daily from Prussia. In the environs of -Brzesc was the corps of general Kreutz. The Russian army thus fed by -Prussia, remained inactive in their position at Ostrolenka, during -which interval, and while he was perhaps contriving new plans for our -subjugation, occurred the sudden death of marshal Diebitsch. He died at -Kleczkowo, not far from Ostrolenka, on the 9th of June.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a></p> - -<p>The provisional command of the Russian army was taken by general Toll.</p> - -<p>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 -inactivity 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 Liwiec, where he would not be able -to support himself; and in this manner to force him either to attack -the fortifications of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span> 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 Lithuania 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 of men, and the -other would be attended with too much hazard. If, then, the Russian -forces undertook nothing, it was a consequence of their critical -situation. 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 succor the enemy in his perilous position, by sending -enormous transports 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 government, 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 unintentionally aided that -cause by rais<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span>ing 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 only -say,—Przyidzie kryska na malyska,'—'Every one has his turn.'</p> - -<p>If the two main armies were at rest, it was not so with the corps in -the palatinate of Lublin, where general Chrzanowski beat, on the 10th -of June, general Rudiger, between Zamosc and Uchania, and took from -him numerous prisoners. General Rudiger was forced, by this action, -to retire to Lublin, and to cease offensive operations. General -Chrzanowski then prepared to surprise this corps, with the aid of the -garrison of Zamosc.</p> - -<p>It was on the 12th of June, that after being apprized of the continual -victories of general Chrzanowski, the general in chief concluded to -re-commence 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 afterwards have to do only with the Russian main army, which -had commenced passing the Narew and entering into the palatinate of -Plock, to keep its communications open with Prussia, and where it would -have been in a manner cooped up between the Narew and the Vistula, -with insurrectionized Lithuania in its rear, and our army in its front -or flank, according as that army should operate, at Stanislawow, at -Wyskow, or at Ostrolenka.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span></p> - -<p>It was here again that our commander in chief felt his hopes renewed, -confiding always in the fortunate 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.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> This disposition was made, expressly with the view of -confirming the Russian general in the idea, that he was opposed by -colonel Sierakowski alone.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> 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 -intermission, on the sides of the great road. With this force was the -1st squadron of the lancers of Poznan, 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 enemy's infantry. -Far from being discouraged by this overwhelming force, the brave -Poznanians penetrated the different streets, and continued 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, so that it would have been thought that not a man would -have escaped. It was impossible for our lancers either to advance or -retire, for the streets before them were commanded 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 Mycielski fell. The -brave Poznanians, 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 Russians the impression that the city 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.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> Gielgudyszki was the paternal estate of the Polish -general.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> 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 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 Alexander, to which he was soon -advanced, he was known to have intrigued in opposition to the interest -of Poland. These intrigues, as well as those which he afterwards -practised, to supersede Wittgenstein, 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. -</p> -<p> -One cannot but be impressed with the fate which has awaited the two -greatest enemies of Poland, Diebitsch and Constantine. Arrested by -Providence, amid the persecutions which they had inflicted, and were -designing to inflict upon our country, they perished in disgrace. 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.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">General Gielgud advances into Lithuania.—Allows a Russian corps -to pass within a league of him unperceived.—Operations on -Wilno.—Enumeration of our present force.—Plan of a simultaneous -attack upon Wilno on opposite sides by the corps in two -divisions.—General Dembinski engages the enemy with the smaller -part of the corps.—Being unsupported by Gielgud, is forced to -retreat.—General Gielgud attacks Wilno.—Battle of Wilno.—A retreat -is commenced.—Prodigious efforts of the Polish cavalry in protecting -this retreat.—Consequences of the repulse from Wilno.—The removal -of general Gielgud is called for.—General Chlapowski consents to -take the virtual command of the corps, in the post of chef d'etat -major.—Consideration on the state of things consequent to the battle -of Wilno.—Details of the admirable plan of operations proposed by -colonel Valentin.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> forces of general Gielgud having thus crossed the Niemen, passed -a night at Rewdany, and the next day [<i>Plan</i> XXXIV.] marched on to -Czaykiszki (1), in the direction of Keydany. We cannot understand why -general Gielgud did not attack Malinowski (<i>b</i>), who passed at the -distance of half a league from us, at the head of 6,000 men, on his -march to Wilno. 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 occupation of the -enemy, without sending out even the ordinary reconnoissances. General -Malinowski,<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> with his corps, which ought to have fallen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span> 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.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus34.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -<i>XXXIV.</i> </p> - -<p>On the 10th of June, the corps arrived at Keydany (2), in which place -it was joined by general Chlapowski with his corps, which had so -successfully traversed the departments of Bialystok and Grodno.</p> - -<p>This force, which, on quitting Xienzopol, amounted to scarce 1,000 men, -received reinforcements of cavalry and infantry, from the insurgents -of the provinces, through which it had passed.<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a> From the new -forces, ten squadrons of cavalry, counting nearly 1,200 horse, and two -battalions of infantry, amounting to nearly 1,800 men, were formed.</p> - -<p>On the 11th of June, the united corps quitted Keydany, to march to -Zeymy (3), where we ar<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span>rived 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, consisting of the 1st regiment -of lancers and five pieces of light artillery, to make reconnoissances -in the direction of Wilno. The new forces of which we have just spoken, -were attached to the main body, under general Gielgud. A few hundred of -insurgent cavalry of Lithuania also arrived at Zeymy, which were joined -to the lancers of Poznan and the 3d regiment of lancers.</p> - -<p>On the day of our departure, general Szymanowski received orders to -leave for Polonga with a small corps of insurgents (<i>c</i>) from the -department of Szawla. This corps consisted of 1,500 infantry, 400 light -cavalry, and two pieces of cannon.</p> - -<p>As it was from Zeymy that we commenced our operations upon Wilno, -after having organized the new forces; and as from this point begins -an era in the history of the expedition, it may be well to give a new -enumeration of our forces. Our infantry consisted of 13 battalions of -infantry, amounting 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 -of partizans, under colonel Zaliwski. This corps of colonel Zaliwski -was formed in the duchy of Augustow, with the destination to operate -there upon all the demonstrations of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span> enemy, on his communications, -his magazines, his baggage, his transportations of provisions, ect; and -when it is considered that this officer remained for four months thus -successfully 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 enumeration we have, of course, excluded the force of -general Szymanowski, which, as we have stated, received another -destination.</p> - -<p>With the forces which we have enumerated, general Gielgud left Zeymy on -the 14th of June. The operations on Wilno were planned for an attack -on two sides, and with that view general Dembinski was detached with -a small corps (<i>d</i>) of 1,200 infantry, 900 cavalry, and 4 pieces of -cannon. This general was to attack Wilno on the road from Wilkomierz to -that city, at the same time that the larger force (<i>e</i>) made the attack -on the road from Kowno, on the left bank of the river Wiliia. This plan -demanded 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.</p> - -<p>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 Szerwinty (5). From thence, after resting for a few -hours, the corps marched to Myszogola (6), where it passed the night. -On the 16th, leaving this village, after a march of two leagues, the -corps<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span> began to meet with small detachments of the enemy's Circassian -cavalry.<a name="FNanchor_72_72" id="FNanchor_72_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a> 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 Wilno, taking a -position at Karczma-biskupia (7), or The Tavern of the Bishop, a large -public house, surrounded by small dwellings, and which was in rather a -commanding situation.</p> - -<p>On the 17th, general Dembinski sent parties of cavalry to the right as -far as the river Wiliia (W), and to the left as far as Kalwaria (8), -to make reconnoissances, and advanced with the body of the corps in -the centre, for the same object. In these reconnoissances 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 situation 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 was at the distance of thirty-six English -miles from him. By these imprudent recon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span>noissances, general Dembinski -laid open all his forces to the knowledge of the enemy. Of this fault -the enemy took advantage on the next day.</p> - -<p>On the 18th, at sunrise, clouds of Circassian cavalry made their -appearance, and commenced attacks upon our flanks, endeavoring to -turn them. Several columns of Russian infantry then approached, and -manœuvred upon our centre, on which also 12 pieces of Russian -artillery of large calibre commenced firing. Other columns of cavalry -manœuvred upon our wings. As far as we could judge, the enemy's -forces amounted 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 commenced under a terrible fire from the enemy's -artillery, and from his flankers, who harassed us on every side. The -retreat was executed in the greatest order, as far as Myszogola, a -distance of 12 miles from our position, with the loss only of some -fifty cavalry. On arriving at Myszogola, general Dembinski, concerned -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 passage of the -Wiliia, at that place. The report of general Dembinski, as we can -assert from personal knowledge, gave a faithful description of the -occurrences of the preceding days, and contained a request, that, in -case he (Dembinski) was expected to maintain the position in which he -then was,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span> general 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 Podbrzeze (9), eight miles to -the left of the road which leads from Wilkomierz to Wilno. The pretext -of this order was to attack Wilno on the side of Kalwaryi, and to -pass the river Wiliia 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 conceive no possible motive. On the -19th of June, the day on which general Gielgud commenced his attack on -Wilno, general Dembinski was thus employed on his march, without an -object, to Podbrzeze.</p> - - -<p class="center">BATTLE OF WILNO. [<i>Plan</i> XXXV.]</p> - -<p>The battle of Wilno was, in point of tactics, simply a strong attack -upon the Russian centre (A), with the view, by forcing it, to pass on -to the occupation 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span> forces.<a name="FNanchor_73_73" id="FNanchor_73_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a> Indeed any plan of attacking this city -on its strongest side, that toward Kowno, was almost impossible of -execution.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus35.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -<i>XXXV.</i> -</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus36.jpg" alt="illus" /> -</p> -<p class="caption"> -<i>XXXIII.</i> -</p> - -<p>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 -infantry in the centre. The enemy, on quitting this position, took -another of great strength on the heights called Gory-Konarskie (B). -This strong position was already covered with fortifications. The -right wing of the enemy (C), composed of strong columns of infantry -(<i>a</i>), rested on the river Wiliia; the centre, (A), embracing all their -artillery, which consisted of 50 pieces of cannon (<i>b</i>), occupied the -heights above mentioned; the declivity of those heights was covered -with sharp-shooters (<i>d</i>), concealed behind small heaps of earth, -thrown up for this purpose. The left wing of the enemy (D) was entirely -composed of cavalry (<i>e</i>).</p> - -<p>After driving the Russians from their first position, our artillery -(<i>f</i>) was brought forward and placed opposite the enemy's centre. -This is to be regarded as a great fault. At the same time that our -artillery was thus disposed, our left wing received orders to attack -the right wing of the ene<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span>my. The columns of our infantry (<i>g</i>), -composed in part from the new Lithuanian levies,<a name="FNanchor_74_74" id="FNanchor_74_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a> threw themselves -with such 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 sustain themselves -under the overpowering fire of the enemy from his commanding position, -began to fall back; and 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, began to give way also, and upon that a -retreat commenced along our whole line, under the protection of the -cavalry (<i>h</i>). The cavalry, both old and new, performed prodigies of -valor, in executing this duty. Single squadrons were obliged 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 this determined bravery. The -Russians themselves have borne testimony to the unparalleled efforts of -our cavalry on that occasion. Our lancers seemed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span> to feel the imminent -danger of permitting the Russian cavalry to fall upon our ranks, and -they fought with the energy of desperation. They repelled the attacks -of a cavalry three times superior in force, and which was in part -composed of regiments of the imperial guard.</p> - -<p>The enemy having been thus foiled in his attacks, our forces repassed -in safety the bridge of Oyrany, leaving it destroyed.</p> - -<p>The battle of Wilno, 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 consequences of this battle did not rest with ourselves; they -fell heavily upon the inhabitants of Wilno, whose hopes of acting in -concert with us were disappointed. At the sound of our cannon, a revolt -of the inhabitants was 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 effect upon the spirits both of the army and the nation. -An attack upon Wilno, 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 attack -on Wilno would have been a difficult achievement, even by a force -equal to that of the enemy, when the strong positions of the place are -considered. What then shall we say of an attack, with a force amounting -to but one third of that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span> of the enemy, and made also, in broad day, -upon the most defensible point of the enemy's position?</p> - -<p>But, as if these disadvantages were not enough, general Dembinski, -after having been compromitted at Myszggola, instead of being enabled -to aid in this attack, was, by the orders of general Gielgud, at the -very moment of the attack, marching in the direction of Podbrzeze, -[(9) <i>Plan</i> XXXIV,] 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 Wilno to Wilkomierz.</p> - -<p>This succession of inconceivable faults arrested the attention of the -corps, and created a 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 -Bialystok and Grodno, was loudly called for. General Chlapowski was -unwilling 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 Gielgud readily consented. -It took effect on the evening of the 20th. From that day general -Chlapowski was the director of all our operations.</p> - -<p>After all these disasters, which had both morally and physically -weakened us, and with a clear knowledge of the amount of the enemy's -strength,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span> our leaders should have been satisfied that it must be out -of the question with us to act any longer on the offensive, and that -our whole plan of operations on Samogitia ought to be abandoned. We -will give the reader an exposition of the views of a great majority -of the officers of the corps, upon this point, formed even during the -battle of Wilno.</p> - -<p>It was near mid-day on the 19th, and when our line was commencing -their retreat, that colonel Valentin, with several other officers, -addressed themselves to 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 circumstances. 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 Wiliia. The -space enclosed between these rivers, the Baltic Sea and the Prussian -territory, was a dangerous position for us, as it contracted our -movements, 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 Wilno. He -proposed to occupy Kowno, and to fortify that 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 Wilno;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span> -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 Bialowiez. It is situated at the meeting of three great -roads, viz. those from Poland, from Volhynia, and from the province of -Black Russia, a circumstance in its position which made it a place of -great importance. The communications of the town with the neighboring -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 extends -northwards to the environs of Wilno.</p> - -<p>By means of prompt operations, according as circumstances might direct, -our forces could act upon each of these roads, and could obstruct -all the communications 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 War<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span>saw, and that general Chrzanowski 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 insurrections 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 been justified -in counting upon, had not been attained, we should, at least, have -compelled the enemy to retain a great body of forces in Lithuania, and -thus have hindered him from reinforcing his main army.<a name="FNanchor_75_75" id="FNanchor_75_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a></p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> This general Malinowski, as was generally understood, -was a native of Mohilew, or Little Russia, a province of ancient -Poland, and had been long in the Russian service. The Lithuanians -and Samogitians had much reason to complain of his conduct in those -provinces.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> Among the Lithuanians who hastened to join our ranks, and -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, Matusiewicz, Zawadzka, -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 prove the sacred -nature of our cause! What claims must not their country have presented -to the minds of these females of the most exalted character, to have -induced them thus to go out of their natural position in society, and -to sacrifice domestic happiness, wealth, life itself, in the effort to -rescue that country from her degradation!</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_72_72" id="Footnote_72_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> This was a formidable force from the province of -Circassia, consisting of two regiments, amounting to about 3,000 men, -which had recently arrived at Wilno. 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.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_73_73" id="Footnote_73_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> As we have been informed, Wilno was defended by five -corps, consisting in all, of about 30,000 men, under generals Kuruta, -Tolstoy, Saken, Malinowski, and Szyrman.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_74_74" id="Footnote_74_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> This Lithuanian force consisted of the regiment of the -countess Plater, who accompanied them in the charge.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_75_75" id="Footnote_75_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> This valuable officer, colonel Valentin, unfortunately -lost his life on the day after the battle of Wilno, while bathing in -the Wiliia. 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.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">Operations of the main army.—Expedition under Jankowski.—General -Chrzanowski having driven Rudiger from his position, crosses the -Vistula, 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 -advantages that were sacrificed by this misconduct.—Discovery of -a plot to liberate and arm the Russian prisoners at Warsaw, and to -deliver the city to the enemy.—State of the public mind induced by -these events.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">From</span> these melancholy occurrences in Lithuania, let us turn to follow -the operations of the grand army.</p> - -<p>On the 13th and 14th of June, a division of infantry, 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 enemy 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 divisions combined, were to endeavor to act upon -the different corps of the enemy which were pressed by the corps of -general Chrzanowski.</p> - -<p>The latter general had commenced the offensive on the 16th, and had -driven the corps of general<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span> Rudiger from its position at Krasny-taw, -and compelled 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, wounded, and prisoners, -and to take the direction of Kock. The corps of Rudiger would have been -inevitably destroyed, if another Russian corps of 15,000 strong had not -marched to its aid.</p> - -<p>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 Pulawy. 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, above mentioned, was hastening -to join him. In order, therefore, to take between 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 Jankowski delayed his movement, and allowed the corps of -Kiesarow to join Rudiger.</p> - -<p>The following are the details of this expedition,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span> as they were -related by an officer of the division of Muhlberg, and which exhibit -satisfactory evidence of treason on the part of general Jankowski.</p> - -<p>'The issue of this expedition, which could have had the most brilliant -results, 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 joined by the division -of cavalry under general Jankowski, who then took the command. We -ought to have passed the Wieprz, to meet Rudiger, and cut him off. -Suddenly news was brought to us that the enemy had passed the Wieprz, -at Lysobyki, with 6,000 infantry, sixteen squadrons of cavalry, and -ten pieces of cannon. General Jankowski then called a council of war, -at which the following plans were adopted. General Turno was 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 Bialobrzegi. This plan, which in the conviction of all our -officers would have exterminated the corps of general Rudiger, and the -execution of which was reserved to general Jankowski, came to nothing.</p> - -<p>'General Turno, trusting in the faithful execu<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span>tion of the plan, -attacked the enemy with courage and 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. Nay 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 brother-in-law, Bukowski, who had evidently acted the part of -traitors.'</p> - -<p>General Skrzynecki was deeply afflicted with the sad result of an -expedition, which, based upon infallible calculations, had promised the -very surest success. The event was of the most disastrous consequence -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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span> in detail, by a -prompt action on our part. I leave to the reader to decide, whether, -after we should have obtained such successes over these detached corps, -we could not have acted with certain success against the Russian main -army.</p> - -<p>The corps of general Rudiger, which thus escaped its fate, left for the -environs of Lukow, whither it was followed by general Chrzanowski. The -corps of general Jankowski returned in the direction of Macieiowiec -and Laskarzew, and the division 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.</p> - -<p>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 confidence, now nourished upon her bosom the monsters who were -plotting her destruction.</p> - -<p>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 -prisoners. Several generals, of whom distrust had been felt, and 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 National Government, who, relying -on his report, caused to be arrested<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span> general Hurtig, former commander -of the fortress of Zamosc, and a base instrument of Constantine, -general Salacki, colonel Slupecki, the Russian chamberlain Fenshawe, -a Mr Lessel, and a Russian lady, named Bazanow. Generals Jankowski -and Bukowski were also implicated in the conspiracy. This band of -traitors intended to get possession of the arsenal, to arm the Russian -prisoners, and to destroy the bridges; (in order to cut off all -communication with the army, which was then on the right bank of the -Vistula;) and the Russian army, advertised of this movement, was then -to pass to the left bank of the Vistula, at Plock or Dobzyn, and take -possession of Warsaw. Those traitors succeeded in setting at large a -great number of Russian prisoners at Czenstochowa.</p> - -<p>What a terror must poor Poland have been to the Russian cabinet, which -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 employment 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 war! They had good cause for -these desperate attempts. From the earliest stage of the conflict, they -had seen that the Poles, nerved by the consciousness 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span> base, to accomplish -their end. It was through the instrumentality of their intrigues that -the dictatorship was prolonged. It was by such intrigues, that the -apple 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 -accomplices to betray us, and they succeeded.</p> - -<p>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 and was sending her sons, and even -her daughters, to the field of death;—when she was sacrificing every -thing to achieve her deliverance, and was awaiting the fruits of such -sacrifices, 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?</p> - -<p>The state of feeling which these events caused was aggravated by -the reflection, that the surveillance of certain individuals, of -whom distrust had been already entertained, had been more than -once demanded; and that from an early period it was urged upon -the government, that the Russian prisoners, particularly those of -distinction, should be carefully watched, and prevented from holding -free communication together, or with others. So far,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span> however, -from such care having been taken, 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 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 -suspicion? It was, in fact, from this moment, that the nation began -first to look with dissatisfaction and distrust upon that government, -upon prince Czartoriski 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 bitter anticipations; they naturally -foreboded, that if such treasons could be perpetrated in the grand -army, under 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, the -intelligence of which was soon received at Warsaw.</p> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">General Chlapowski arrives at Keydany, having ordered general -Dembinski to Wilkomierz.—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 -mismanagement of our leaders.—Advantages offered to the enemy by the -delay at Keydany.—Brave defence of Kowno, by the small force left -there.—Skirmish at Wilkomierz.—The opportunity of concentrating all -the forces at Keydany, and repassing the Niemen, is neglected.—The -enemy presses his pursuit.—Battle of Rosseyny.—Attack on -Szawla.—Loss of the ammunition and baggage of the corps.—The corps -retreats in order to Kurzany, protected by a rear guard of cavalry -and light artillery.—At Kurzany the corps is subdivided into three -parts.—Destination and strength of each.—Examination of this plan.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">General Chlapowski</span>, whom we shall hereafter name as having the chief -command of the Lithuanian force, arrived on the night of the 22d of -June at Keydany, having sent orders to general Dembinski to withdraw -with his corps, and to march to Wilkomierz. (10) [<i>Plan</i> XXXIV.] The -corps of general Dembinski arrived, on the 21st, at Szerwinty, and on -the 22d, at Wilkomierz. On quitting Podbrzeze, general Dembinski left a -small detachment in the environs of Myszogola, to act as partizans.</p> - -<p>The position of our corps was then as follows;—The larger force -was at Keydany (2). The corps of Dembinski was at Wilkomierz, and a -small corps (<i>c</i>) under the command of general Szymanowski was in the -environs of Szawla. Our line of operations was on the river Swienta (S) -and along the Wiliia (W), for a short distance below<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span> the junction of -the former river with it. To defend the passage of those rivers against -the enemy, the following detachments were designated. Kowno (11) was -occupied by two battalions of Lithuanian infantry, recently levied, -under the command of colonel Kikiernicki, and a squadron of the 11th -regiment of lancers, also Lithuanian, and recently formed.</p> - -<p>At Janow (12) was a battalion of infantry and a squadron of the 11th -lancers, under the command of colonel Piwecki. At Wieprz were three -squadrons of the 10th lancers.</p> - -<p>This separation of our forces in Lithuania, and, above all, this -designation of the most recently organized troops for the defence of -the passage of the two rivers, with a full knowledge of the great -strength of the enemy, was a gross error. To leave the defence of -Kowno, a place of so much importance, to three battalions of infantry -and a squadron of cavalry, all of them newly formed troops, and that, -too, without ammunition, (for they had barely three rounds each,) was -a course 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 fortune that all these detachments were not cut -off.</p> - -<p>On the arrival of the two corps at Keydany and Wilkomierz, the -organization of a provisional government for the province, was -commenced. Diets<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</a></span> were convoked at these two places, to organize -an administration, and to procure levies of forces. Although these -arrangements were all proper in themselves, yet it was a late hour to -undertake them, and no place could have been so well adapted for them -as Wilno. Had the corps of Saken been pursued and broken up, Wilno -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 appeal to be made to them. But at present, -a new crisis had arrived. We had fought the battle of Wilno with a -disastrous result. The enemy had become acquainted with the inferiority -of our forces, and had begun to understand the errors of our commander, -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 Wilno 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</a></span> exhibited before -their 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 some hope of useful -results.</p> - -<p>The six or seven days which we passed thus at Keydany and Wilkomierz, -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 opportunity which we presented -him, but remained inactive. This inactivity, whether it arose from the -imbecility of his commanders, or whatever other cause, afforded us an -opportunity of changing our plans, and of extricating ourselves from -the dangerous 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 Wilkomierz, Wieprz, Janow, and Kowno, with his whole -force.</p> - -<p>A corps of 4,000 Russians, with 16 cannon, commenced 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 disputing the passage of the bridge over the -Wiliia. 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</a></span> a -body of infantry, almost without ammunition. At nightfall, 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 company, 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. The Russian cavalry, having succeeded 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. -Colonel 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.<a name="FNanchor_76_76" id="FNanchor_76_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a> In this -effort, colonel Kikiernicki fell wounded, and was made prisoner by the -enemy.</p> - -<p>The detachment, having lost one half of their numbers in the sanguinary -attack to which the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</a></span> mismanagement of our general had exposed them, -took the road to Janow. In this manner ended the attack on Kowno, and -the Russians took possession of that important post, which might be -regarded as the key to all our communications with Poland.</p> - -<p>There can be no excuse for not having fortified Kowno. It is a -town, containing ten or twelve thousand inhabitants, of which one -half, perhaps, were Jews, but they could have been employed in the -construction of the works. It was also most favorably situated for -defence, being surrounded by heights on every side.</p> - -<p>On the same day, sanguinary skirmishes took place at Janow, Wieprz, -and Wilkomierz. The two first towns were abandoned. In the attack on -Wilkomierz, which was successfully repelled, an action took place, in -which the lancers of Poznan and Plock threw themselves upon the flank -of Russian cavalry, and, after causing severe loss, took about eighty -prisoners, consisting of Circassians. General Dembinski, on the night -of the 29th, learning that our positions of Janow and Wieprz were -abandoned, quitted Wilkomierz on the next day, and took the road to -Szawla. [<i>Plan</i> 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 Wiliia, made our situation very perilous; yet it was -still possible to avoid the disasters which followed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</a></span> 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 Gielgudyszki, 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 passage. 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 -irreparable.</p> - -<p>From this time, the enemy did not for a moment lose sight of us; -and throwing his superior forces upon the great road which leads -from Keydany, through Rosseyny (14), to Szawla, 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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="center">COMBAT OF ROSSEYNY.</p> - -<p>The cause of this action, which it would have been most desirable to -have avoided, was a strong attack by the enemy upon the rear-guard of -general Chlapowski which was marching on the road to Szawla. 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 scarcely -four hours, was very sanguinary, and highly honorable to the Polish -arms. The object of the enemy on this occasion was to surround our -left wing. As soon as he perceived that our corps had taken position -and was arranged in order of battle, the enemy 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 Russian 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 collected. This -wing 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</a></span> night preceding, in which they had -acted as rear-guard. The brave lancers, however, at the first sight of -the enemy, demanded of the general to be permitted to make a charge. -This permission being given, at the first discharge of the Russian -artillery, our soldiers 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.</p> - -<p>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 -position, and to resume the march for Szawla.</p> - -<p>On the same night, the corps arrived at Cytowiany. There our forces -were joined by the corps of general Rohland, which had had a bloody -skirmish at Beysagola, [<i>Plan</i> 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 Szawla, which was -occupied by a Russian garrison. The corps of general Dembinski, which -as we have already stated, was marching by another route upon Szawla, -arrived there at mid-day on the 7th. That general, considering the -smallness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</a></span> of the Russian garrison in this town, consisting only of -four battalions of infantry, and six pieces of cannon, after waiting -a short time for the arrival of the corps of general Chlapowski, -concluded to send a summons, by colonel Miroszewski, 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 Szawla, -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 Szawla.</p> - - -<p class="center">ATTACK ON SZAWLA.</p> - -<p>On examining the plan of this battle, and considering the smallness -of the Russian garrison in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</a></span> Szawla, we cannot but be satisfied that -the town ought to have been taken at the first assault, and it will -seem almost incredible that after having occupied four hours in an -unsuccessful attack, we should have at last quitted our position.</p> - -<p>On arriving on the plain before Szawla, 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, -behind 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 musquetry and -artillery was commenced, under the cover of which our light troops -endeavored to take possession of the ramparts.</p> - -<p>General Szymanowski and colonel Pientka, who were the only general -officers who were actively engaged 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 assault, protected by two pieces of cannon and a squadron of -the 3d regiment of lancers. This order was executed with the greatest -determination. Our artillery having fired two rounds of grape, the two -battalions of infantry entered the city at the charge, and regardless -of the terrible fire<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</a></span> from the windows of the houses, they reached the -market-place of the town.<a name="FNanchor_77_77" id="FNanchor_77_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a> The enemy was in consternation, and the -taking of a hundred prisoners by us, showed the disorder 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 remaining in their -dangerous situation, while the rest of our forces were uselessly -engaged, and received no orders. The bold idea of the brave colonel -Pientka, of forcing the attack, was no where seconded. 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.<a name="FNanchor_78_78" id="FNanchor_78_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a> With the retreat of these brave battalions, all our forces -commenced evacuating 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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</a></span></p> - -<p>These are the details of the battle, or rather the attack, of Szawla, -which town we quitted, after investing it for nearly five hours, and -after having sustained a severe loss in men and officers, a sacrifice -which was owing to our most defective and ill-judged arrangements.</p> - -<p>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 Circassian -cavalry of the enemy.</p> - -<p>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 employed in the attack. The true -course should have been to have set fire to the place, which would -have required only the agency of a few bold men. This town, indeed, -deserved no better fate; for it was inhabited almost exclusively by -hostile Jews. When the general welfare is at risk, there should be no -hesitation in sacrificing the convenience of individuals. 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 garrison to surrender, -without any effusion of blood, while, by attacking it, we lost nearly -one thousand men, without any advantage whatever.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</a></span></p> - -<p>In regard to the attack, the surrounding of the town was a great fault; -for neither the fire of the artillery nor of the light troops could -be effective, as the Russian artillery was in a dominant position, -and was concealed within the city, as their infantry was behind their -entrenchments. The skirmishers, in approaching 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.</p> - -<p>At about ten o'clock the flanking parties of the Russian cavalry began -to show themselves on each side of us, upon the road to Wilkomierz, 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 attack from the Russian advanced -guard; thus protecting the march of our main body, which was executed -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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</a></span> council of war. General Chlapowski proposed -to divide our forces into three corps, each to act independently. -This arrangement was carried into effect, and our forces were thus -distributed.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>This corps received the destination, to march for Rosseyny, leaving the -enemy 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 Poland would be re-opened; and -to protect this communication was to be the principal employment of -that corps.</p> - -<p>The 2d corps, under the command of generals Rohland and Szymanowski, -was composed of eight battalions of infantry, amounting to about 3,000 -men; all the cavalry which was recently formed in Lithuania, consisting -of nearly 1,000 horse; and an artillery, commanded by the brave colonel -Pientka, consisting of 12 pieces of cannon.</p> - -<p>This corps was directed to march upon Polonga, a port on the Baltic. -It had been rumored that two French vessels with arms, funds, and -ammunition, together with a small body of volunteers, were cruising -near that port. After they should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</a></span> 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 -communications between the forces of the enemy in Lithuania, and the -province of Courland.</p> - -<p>The 3d corps, under general Dembinski, was composed of three battalions -of infantry of the 18th regiment, recently formed, consisting of about -1,000 men; two squadrons of the lancers of Poznan, two squadrons of -the lancers of Plock, and one squadron 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 Szawla, traversing the -forests, and leaving the enemy on the right; from thence to take a -direction to Wilkomierz, and thence to the environs of Wilno, and -to attack that city, if circumstances might allow of it; and then -to manœuvre in the department of Minsk, and in the forests of -Bialystok, acting there in support 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 general Chlapowski. This -plan, the reader will observe, was, in many of its points, the same -with that suggested by colonel Valentin.</p> - -<p>A proper reflection upon all these arrangements would convince any one -that much more loss than advantage was to be anticipated from them. -This subdivision of the force was, in fact, a visionary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</a></span> 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 superior to our own, we ought not to form any new projects, -but, profiting by the concentration of our forces, 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 project -was highly colored, and the most brilliant successes were promised to -follow it. The separation of the corps was accordingly ordered, and our -fate was sealed.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_76_76" id="Footnote_76_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> With this company was the countess Plater, and her -aid-de-camp M'lle Rasynowiecz.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_77_77" id="Footnote_77_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> The Jewish inhabitants of the city even fired upon our -soldiers. Many of them were taken with pistols in their hands, and -afterwards executed.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_78_78" id="Footnote_78_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> In this affair we ought to make particular mention of the -estimable 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.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">The three subdivisions of the Lithuanian 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 Worna.—General Rohland, on his -way to Polonga, learns that general Chlapowski 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 pursuit, 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.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">On</span> 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 exposed situation in which this -attempt had placed him. As the position was advantageous, and as our -sol<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</a></span>diers 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 -reader full details of the events of that day, for they were of an -extremely interesting character. The manœuvres 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 disorder, and almost without -ammunition, against a cavalry like that of the enemy, well mounted, -with fresh horses, and in every respect in perfect order.</p> - - -<p class="center">COMBAT OF POWENDUNY AND WORNA.</p> - -<p>The battle commenced at sunrise, as we have already 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 brush-wood. 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 were forced to retire. In<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</a></span> -this retreat, our own cavalry, which was at Powenduny, and which had -debouched by a covered road, and taken position, entirely surrounded -these two squadrons, and, attacking them on all sides, causing a severe -loss and taking forty prisoners. An hour after, the Russians renewed -the attack. Strong columns of infantry and cavalry passed through a -little village which is on the road from Kurszany to Powenduny. The -Russian artillery took positions upon the declivity of the heights -adjoining that village, and commenced a fire upon our cavalry. At the -same time, several columns of the Russian infantry threw themselves -into the brush-wood on the right of our position, while a strong -detachment, composed of infantry, artillery, and cavalry, was pushed -forward upon our right wing, with the design to turn 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 obstacles 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 evacuate the wood, and -concentrating themselves upon the road to Powenduny, retired also, -after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</a></span> having 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 -borne by this flag was, 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 remained to us. This proposition was -followed by the usual considerations,—the wish to prevent the needless -effusion of blood, &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 artillery and infantry to re-commence their fire. At the -same time, arrangements were made for the continuation of our march to -Worna. At about mid-day, our columns of infantry, and a part of the -cavalry and artillery, quitted their position, and took up the march -for Worna. After a short time, there re<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</a></span>mained but one battalion of -infantry, and three squadrons of cavalry. The cavalry was employed to -mask the withdrawing of the remaining artillery. After our corps had, -by a march, arranged in the manner we have described, reached a point -sufficiently distant from our first position, the battalion of light -infantry which remained in that position was ordered 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 to rejoin -the corps, and to occupy the adjoining forests, while the cavalry -were ordered to take post at the mills, to cover this movement, and -afterwards to retire 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 manœuvre 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, consisting 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</a></span> which had been designated -for that object, and thus left the enemy exposed in a mass, to the fire -of our tirailleurs. The manœuvre 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.</p> - -<p>A short time after we quitted our second position, the Russian cavalry -showed themselves again. General 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 infantry or artillery, to advance thus -upon a plain surrounded 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 wheeling -about, laid open the Russian cavalry to the fire of our artillery, -which was posted on a little elevation and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</a></span> concealed by brush-wood. -This fire of our artillery was effective. The enemy's cavalry began -to waver. General Szymanowski observing this, 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 infantry, as a -rear-guard, in the forests which border on that road.</p> - -<p>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 encounter the whole body of -the Russian forces in Lithuania, 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 extremities 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 reached one of the lakes. This forest was -occupied by two battalions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</a></span> of infantry. Our right wing leaned upon the -other lake. All our artillery remained in the centre, and occupied the -heights near Worna.</p> - -<p>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 battalions began to debouch from -the forest, and to deploy 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 immediately opened a fire upon our centre. -At the same time, a warm fire of skirmishers was commenced on each -side. Our artillery, which was very advantageously placed, without -replying to that of the enemy, opened 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 astonished 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 prodigies of valor in this charge, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</a></span> bore down all before -them. Colonel Koss at the same time taking the command of the cavalry, -and addressing a few exciting words to them, led them upon the centre -of the enemy at the charge. The consternation of the Russians was -extreme. A great part of their cavalry was found dismounted, for they -had not the least expectation of an attack; their artillery fled, -and abandoned their cannon; the utmost disorder followed, and a vast -number of the enemy fell upon the field. According to the testimony of -prisoners, the consternation 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 seaport 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.</p> - -<p>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 Dem<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</a></span>binski and Chlapowski, 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 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 enemy 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 Powenduny, therefore, the corps of general Chlapowski -was at the distance of only <i>four miles</i> 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? I can assure -you that the corps of general Rohland, on whom the whole force of the -enemy has fallen, is destroyed. The baggage of his officers have passed -through Retow.<a name="FNanchor_79_79" id="FNanchor_79_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a> All is lost,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</a></span> and, surrounded 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 protection of that power."</p> - -<p>Generals Rohland and Szymanowski, on receiving the unwelcome -intelligence of the course which general Chlapowski had adopted, -concluded to change their plan of operations, and instead of going to -Polonga, to follow the march of general Chlapowski, to endeavor to -join him as soon as possible, and by exhibiting 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 farther attempts in junction with us.</p> - -<p>With this view, after resting a few hours at Retow, we left, by a -forced march, for Gorzdy, a small 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 under a guard of Prussian -sentinels.</p> - -<p>Such was the end of the corps of generals Chla<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</a></span>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 dreamed.</p> - -<p>This step, which every historian of our revolution will record with -horror, when it was seen how totally without justification it was, -awakened the disgust and indignation of all. The part of the corps of -general Chlapowski which was already in the Prussian territory, when -they saw the corps of general Rohland, which they had been made to -believe was destroyed, 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, fell into -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 territory 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 Gielgud, 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;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</a></span> his -manner, indeed, was such as to encourage the suspicions of treason, -which his previous conduct had but too well justified. At this moment, -one of his 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 awaited him, had he not succeeded in concealing himself. A -scene of great confusion then took place throughout the corps. General -Rohland and the other officers exerted themselves 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 Chlapowski, took up the march in the -direction of Yurburg, 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 general 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</a></span> 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 my grey hairs! they have become 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 on every side. The aid-de-camp departed, and we continued -our route.</p> - -<p>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 cavalry fell upon a small detachment of our sappers, which had -been detailed for the object of destroying 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 prisoners.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_80_80" id="FNanchor_80_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a></p> - -<p>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, in case 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 cavalry, sent in the direction of -the enemy to observe him, returned with the intelligence that he was -<i>encamped</i> at the distance of two miles from us.</p> - -<p>Four hours had thus passed, when the arrival of a Prussian officer -upon the frontier was announced, who requested an interview with our -general. General 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 -believe). The officer, after some complimentary language, 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 position, surrounded as we were by a force so much superior to our -own, and in a state of destitution in respect to arms and ammunition, -we should accept the offer which the Prussian government had authorised -him to make, in order to save the useless effusion of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</a></span> blood of -so many brave men, and throw ourselves upon the protection of its -territory, where we would be convinced of the cordial 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 firesides, -as was the case with the Russian soldiers who had sought the same -protection. We have already mentioned that several detachments of -Russian soldiers, who had before sought the protection of Prussia, had -been allowed to return with their arms and ammunition. Our generals, -on being thus apprised of the liberal intentions of the Prussian -government, which were confirmed by the personal representations of the -officer who brought the letter,—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 ammunition, a great quantity of which -had been thrown into the river by the orders of generals Gielgud and -Chlapowski, on passing the frontier;—considering also the assurance -which had been made that we could return to our country, and hoping -therefore to be able to renew their services to that country at some -more favorable period,—presented these circumstances to the whole -corps, and solicited the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</a></span> opinion of the soldiers upon the question of -acceding 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, influenced strongly by the assurance of being allowed -to return to their country. In consequence of this assent, 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 the -Lithuanian corps were ended.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_79_79" id="Footnote_79_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> 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 -Polonga, merely as a precautionary arrangement.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_80_80" id="Footnote_80_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> In this affair major the prince Giedroyc distinguished -himself at the head of 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.</p></div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">Effect of the news of the Lithuanian disasters on the minds of the -people.—Distrust of the National Government.—The Russian army -resumes the offensive under general Paszkewicz.—He decides to -pass the Vistula.—Examination of the merits of this plan.—Plan -of general Skrzynecki to act on the different detached corps of -the enemy.—Advantages of general Chrzanowski over the corps -of Rudiger.—The Russian forces execute the passage of the -Vistula.—General Skrzynecki crosses the Vistula at Warsaw to operate -against the enemy on the left bank.—An inquiry into the conduct -of general Skrzynecki, and the appointment of a Council of War is -demanded by the nation.—Arrival of the corps of general Dembinski at -Warsaw.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">While</span> the nation was afflicted by the treasons at Warsaw, their hopes -had been still kept alive by looking towards Lithuania. What, then, can -express the disheartening effect produced by the intelligence 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 negligence, 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 exasperation. -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 traitor. If, in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</a></span> frenzy -of indignation, which such an experience had justified, they allowed -themselves to be carried away by their feelings, and to be guilty of -acts of severity, it can scarcely be wondered at.</p> - -<p>Immediately after 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 could an expedition which demanded the very highest talents, -and the most undoubted patriotism, have been confided to a man like -him? With him had been associated general Chlapowski, who was the -brother-in-law of the Grand Duke Constantine. That circumstance alone, -they justly considered, should have been enough to suggest suspicion, -and to have at least indicated the expediency of keeping him near the -eye of the commander in chief, and subject to his constant observation. -Such were the 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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_81_81" id="FNanchor_81_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a></p> - -<p>The Russian army, the command of which, on the death of general -Diebitsch, was taken by gen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[Pg 387]</a></span>eral count Paszkewicz, and the main body of -which remained in a state of inaction at Ostrolenka,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</a></span> having no longer -any apprehensions from Lithuania, could now act with freedom, and the -offensive was recommenced under the command of its new chief, who -decided to pass the Vistula, and to act upon the left bank.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</a></span></p> - -<p>I may be allowed to detain the attention of the reader a moment upon -this passage of the Vistula by Paszkewicz, a manœuvre of which so -much boast has been made, and to consider whether it is really to be -regarded 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 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 weakness? 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 something. 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 Russian 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</a></span> 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.</p> - -<p>In the first days of the month of June the Russian army began to -approach the Vistula, in order to execute the passage. Their march -was in three principal columns, and was arranged in the following -manner:—general Witt, commanding the columns of the left wing, took -the direction of Sochoczyn. The centre, under marshal Paszkewicz, 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 Michael, marched from Makow, by Ciechanow and Racionz. -General Pablen commanded the advanced guard. A considerable train of -ammunition, with provisions for twenty days, and a park of artillery -of reserve, formed the fourth column, 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 corps 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 can<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</a></span>non. Opposed -to these forces, we had an army of 40,000 men, a hundred and twenty -pieces of cannon, not counting the national guard of Warsaw, and the -garrisons of the two fortresses of Modlin and Zamosc.</p> - -<p>The plan of our generalissimo was to throw himself 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 Chrzanowski, in successive actions, on the 14th, 15th, and -16th of July. A third part of his corps being destroyed, 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 Modlin. 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[Pg 392]</a></span> 27th, -the head-quarters of general Paszkewicz were established, and whither -our army marched to meet him.</p> - -<p>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 discovery of the conspiracy of Jankowski and -the news of the misfortunes in Lithuania;—at this anxious moment, the -nation demanded a council of war, and called on the National Government -to make an inquisition into the conduct of the general in chief, to -demand of him full explanations of his purposes, and a submission of -all his plans of operation to the examination of such a council. Such -a council of war was instituted 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.</p> - -<p>The council having been organized, and having taken an oath of secrecy, -general Skrzynecki 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 reasons for each. This council then -published to the nation an address, announcing their entire confidence -in the patriotic intentions of the general<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[Pg 393]</a></span> in chief, and assuring them -that the crisis was by no means as dangerous as they apprehended. 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 cheered them by the addition which it brought to our forces, but -by the more encouraging 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.</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_81_81" id="Footnote_81_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> A few details of the history of the two generals who -were the cause of these fatal disasters, may gratify the curiosity of -the reader. General Gielgud was born in Lithuania, at Gielgudyszki, -(the place at which he crossed the Niemen in 1831). Passing over -his early life, which presents nothing noticeable, he commenced his -military career in 1812, when Napoleon entered Lithuania. In a moment -of patriotic fervor, he formed a small detachment at his own expense, -and joined the ranks of the supposed deliverer of Poland; and this -perhaps was the most praise-worthy act of his life. During the campaign -of 1812, 13, and 14, he was in no way distinguished either for good or -bad conduct. At the end of the Russian campaign, in 1815, he was made -colonel. As during that year, Poland 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. -</p> -<p> -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 dispositions. 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 commanded 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 such occasional exhibitions of good -conduct which kept him in some consideration. -</p> -<p> -After having taken command of the corps of Lithuania, and when he was -removed from the observation of the army, he exhibited himself in his -true character. He was giddy with the distinction, and feeling himself -the absolute master of his own conduct, he gave himself up to all the -suggestions of his vanity. -</p> -<p> -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 -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 Gielgudyszki the general gave a <i>fête</i> -to his officers; and it is not impossible that it was a motive of -mere personal ostentation which induced him to make the passage of -the Niemen, at that place, by which two days' march were given to the -retreating enemy, time was allowed him to concentrate his forces in -Wilno, and that capital was lost to us! -</p> -<p> -This general was never seen to 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 encouragement. 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 -combinations 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 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 secured this result, general Gielgud -was an entire stranger. Instead of freely approaching the soldier -and endeavoring 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 character should have been -appointed to so responsible a trust. -</p> -<p> -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 advanced 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 revolutionary -ranks excited considerable surprise. But as he joined himself to -the squadrons of Pozen, which were formed of the bravest and most -patriotic materials, there was no distrust felt of him. His successes -in traversing the department of Bialystok, 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 Wilno, 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 have seen, were -committed, for which no adequate explanation can be given. We will -recapitulate some of them.—They were, 1. The sending of the sappers to -build the bridge over the Niemen. 2. The ill-arranged attack on Szawla. -3. His not succoring general Rohland in the combat of Powenduny. 4. The -inexplicable secrecy 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 of the corps -at that place was with the view of marching to act in the environs of -Kowno. These are points upon which this officer has yet to answer at -the bar of his country. Chlapowski was a more dangerous person even -than Gielgud, for Gielgud was a man of such undisguised arrogance, -that he repelled the confidence of others; but Chlapowski, with all -the faults of Gielgud, had an exterior of dissimulation which won -insensibly upon those who had not thoroughly studied his character. But -none who had observed and known him well, could ever yield him their -esteem.</p></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[Pg 394]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI.</a></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="hang">Operations of general Dembinski's corps.—He traverses the -country between Szawla 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 -Bialystok.—After leaving that forest, is joined by the corps of -general Rozycki.—Reaches Warsaw.—His reception at Warsaw.—View -of the exposed situation of Paszkewicz 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.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> corps of general Dembinski had been more fortunate than those of -Chlapowski and Rohland. That general, quitting Kurszany on the 9th of -July, returned, in obedience to the orders which we have detailed, by -means of the forests, to the environs of Szawla, leaving the enemy -upon the right, and without 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 Szawla 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 Wiliia -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 Wilno to the frontier of -Poland.</p> - -<p>General Dembinski attacked this brigade with such impetuosity, that -they were thrown into the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[Pg 395]</a></span> greatest consternation. Two cannons and -several prisoners were taken. The great forests, by which the Russians -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 that place. -Afterwards they threw themselves into the forests of Bialystok, and -in these forests the corps was reinforced by a considerable number -of Lithuanian insurgent cavalry, which had been acting with great -advantages 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 Dembinski -quitted the forests in the environs of Orla, and leaving the town of -Bielsk on his right, passed through the town of Bocki, near which -he surprised and dispersed a regiment of cossacks, and took several -prisoners, 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 -Dembinski halted and placed his forces in order of battle, 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 air with patriotic<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[Pg 396]</a></span> exclamations. The corps which -was thus met by that of general Dembinski, was the corps of general -Rozycki, 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 Wilno; -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 could exceed the satisfaction of the -two corps at thus meeting. General Rozycki, learning the disastrous -circumstances which had occurred, changed his plan of operation, and -decided 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 direction, returned with the intelligence that it was -the Russian corps under Golowkin. Our generals, considering all -circumstances, determined not to engage with them, and continued their -march towards Poland, 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.</p> - -<p>The corps of general Dembinski, which had traversed more than four -hundred miles in about twenty days from its departure from Kurszany, -in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[Pg 397]</a></span> the midst of detachments of the enemy, was received 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 citizens, met him at the -distance of a half league from the city; and he was greeted with an -address expressive 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 sacred duties, have, by their misconduct, forced their -countrymen to lay down their arms, and seek the protection of another -nation.'</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>When we consider the manner in which the Russian 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.</p> - -<p>If general Paszkewicz was in a condition to take Warsaw, he could gain -nothing by this repose. Nay, every moment of delay might increase the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[Pg 398]</a></span> -difficulties he would have to overcome. Why then all this delay? What -could have prevented us from reinforcing 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 circumstances are well considered, -the reader will be satisfied that this manœuvre 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 withdraw us too -far from the purpose of this narrative, we must leave them to abler -pens. The general view, however, which we have taken of the position 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 fatally -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.</p> - -<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[Pg 399]</a></span> some twenty days -were spent in indecisive manœuvres against a superior force. If, -during that interval, in 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 Blonie, Nadarzyn, Piaseczno, and Kalwaryia, as a first -line of defence, and in strengthening the great fortifications -of Warsaw:—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 have, besides, intercepted all the reinforcements for the main -army of Paszkewicz. 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 -affairs.</p> - -<p>If the objection should be made that the delay which actually occurred -could not have been reasonably anticipated, and that Paszkewicz might -have immediately advanced to the attack of Warsaw, still, without -entering for the present into more detailed considerations in support -of my opinion, it will be enough to answer, that if twenty-four hours -merely were to be had, those twenty-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[Pg 400]</a></span>four hours should have been -employed in fortification rather than manœuvring, for it was not -at Lowicz, but under the walls of Warsaw, that the enemy were to -be fought. As it was at Warsaw, then, that the decisive encounter -must inevitably have taken place, would it not have been the most -judicious course, to have confined our operations on the left bank of -the Vistula, to the strengthening of the defences of Warsaw; to have -in fact adopted in regard to the enemy, who had now transferred 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 extensive than the other, and which, besides, had the advantage -to us of being contiguous to the insurrectionary 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 present our whole strength to the enemy in -its defence.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">[Pg 401]</a></span></p> - -<p>Since I have allowed myself to make the above remarks in regard to the -plans of the general in 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 National 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 exemplary 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 profoundest -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 to pass the -Vistula, (that of Kreutz at Plock, and that of Rudiger at Pulawy,) -and join their main army; in fine, seeing this im<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">[Pg 402]</a></span>mense Russian force -approaching the capital, from which perhaps they were expecting a -repetition of all the atrocities of Suwarow,—remembering the thousands -of victims which these traitors had already sacrificed, and reflecting -on the thousands whom they had plotted to sacrifice; can it be wondered -that, in those moments of despair, that people should have yielded to -their impulses of indignation and have chosen rather to sacrifice at -once those convicted traitors, than 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, the people took -that justice into their own hands which the government had neglected 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.</p> - -<p>Such are, I think, the true explanations of those acts, so serious -in their consequences, and which have created so much surprise. The -removal of Skrzynecki from the chief command was certainly one of the -most deplorable results of this disordered state of the minds of the -people;—for who could so well meet the exigencies 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 period -of distrust and suspicion that the Russian army, which seemed to have -been waiting only for such a moment, receiv<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">[Pg 403]</a></span>ed the intelligence from -some traitors, yet undiscovered, within the walls of Warsaw, that the -time had arrived for their attack. It was undoubtedly 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,<a name="FNanchor_82_82" id="FNanchor_82_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> and the fate of Poland was decided.</p> - -<p>We have stated our belief that the fatal events which hastened the -catastrophe might have been prevented 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 disordered 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 correspondence of the prince Czartoriski with the French -minister of the Exterior, read in the chamber of deputies, on the 19th<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">[Pg 404]</a></span> -of September, by the venerable general Lafayette, and in the extracts -from his remarks, and those of general Lamarque, made on that occasion, -and which have probably before met the eye of the reader.</p> - - -<p class="center">EXTRACT FROM THE LETTER OF PRINCE CZARTORISKI.</p> - -<p>'But we relied upon the magnanimity and the wisdom 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 confidence, 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, <i>we should have been able to strike a blow, which -perhaps would have been decisive</i>. We thought that it was necessary to -temporize, to leave nothing to chance—and we have at last seen the -certainty, at the present moment, that there is nothing but chance that -can save us.'</p> - -<p><i>General Lafayette</i>: '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 explanations of the Polish legation, and here is the reply -which I have obtained.</p> - -<p>'"In answer to the letter which we have received from you, general, we -hasten to assure you—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">[Pg 405]</a></span></p> - -<p>'"1. That it was the Minister of Foreign Affairs who engaged us on the -7th of July, to send a messenger to Warsaw, whose travelling expenses -were advanced by the Minister: that the object of this messenger -was, as his Excellency the Count Sebastiani told us, to induce our -government to wait two months longer, for that was the time necessary -for the negociations.</p> - -<p>'"2. That the circular of our Minister of Foreign Affairs, dated the -15th of August, signed by the Minister ad interim, Audne Horodyski, and -also another circular of the 24th of the same month, signed by the new -Minister of Foreign Affairs, Theodore Morawski, 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 Sebastiani, on the -15th of September, and which we immediately 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.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">'"<span class="smcap">Le Gen. Kniazewiecz—L: Plater.</span>"'</span><br /> -<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><i>Paris, the 20th November, 1831</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Gen. Lamarque</i>: '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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">[Pg 406]</a></span> army at the moment when it ought to have taken -a decisive step. Thus is to be explained the irresolution of the -generalissimo, 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 divided 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 declares 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, affirm the -contrary. Our colleague, M. Lafayette, will give you details, almost -official, on this subject.'</p> - - -<p class="center">SESSION OF THE 13th SEPTEMBER.</p> - -<p><i>Gen. Lafayette</i>: 'I will ask this, without the least expectation of -receiving a reply, but only to render a just homage to the conduct of -the Poles, and of their government,—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 -con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">[Pg 407]</a></span>duct 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 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 questions shall be addressed on Monday, to apprize them that this -is one of those which will be then submitted to them.'</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>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.<a name="FNanchor_83_83" id="FNanchor_83_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> They were blinded by -the promises of Russia,—by the solemn assurances<a name="FNanchor_84_84" id="FNanchor_84_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a> which she gave, -that she would soon arrange every thing in the most favorable manner -for Poland. In this web of intrigue were those cabinets 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">[Pg 408]</a></span> people. It was -her intrigues, through the instrumentality of the traitors whom she -had gained for her accomplices, that caused the estrangement of the -nation from Skrzynecki, who, having a true 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 enormous -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. They who have labored for our -destruction were not then true Russians; they were the enemies of their -country and of humanity;—heartless calculators, acting with a single -view to their own personal aggrandizement;—men, in fact, who have no -country 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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">[Pg 409]</a></span></p><div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_82_82" id="Footnote_82_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> As the author was attached to the Lithuanian corps, and -as he was actually in a Prussian prison at 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.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_83_83" id="Footnote_83_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> Appendix No. III, IV.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_84_84" id="Footnote_84_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> Appendix No. IV.</p> - - - -</div></div> - - - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="APPENDIX" id="APPENDIX">APPENDIX.</a></p> - -<p class="center">No. I.</p> - - -<p class="center">HISTORICAL VIEW OF LITHUANIA.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">[Pg 411]</a></span>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 occasionally that it has held relations -with ancient Poland;—a false impression, and one which the public -journals have but too frequently 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 -sympathy which has constantly united the two people. There is a common -spirit of nationality, which, notwithstanding the studiously 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 essentially depends. We will -endeavor, by presenting to the reader 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.</p> - -<p>'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 re<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">[Pg 412]</a></span>public of Poland, Lithuania, from -that epoch, to that of 1795, formed, in the political state, the -third province of Poland; being composed of the palatinates of Wilno, -of Troki, the duchies of Starostia, and Samogitia, of Nowogrodek, -of Brzsclitewski, of Minsk, of Polock, of Witepsk, Mscislaw and of -Smolensk. The Grand Duchy was bounded on the north by Courland, -Semigallia, Polish Livonia, and the province of Great Nowogorod; -on the east by Moscovy; on the south by the Ukraine, Volhynia, and -the country 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 Poland, 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 has consecrated. In 1812, for a moment, those fraternal arms -were united; but separated 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, Polonga, and Libau, a colony of Italians -who introduced into that country a certain degree of civilization, -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, without doubt, the Gerules or Herules, who formerly -governed Lithuania. 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 Courland.</p> - -<p>'The Lithuanians, though subjugated first by the Russians, did not -fail to make their strength soon felt by their invaders. In the 13th -century, when the Tartars ravaged on one side the 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 arms 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 augmented -their possessions by the occupation of Pinsk and Turow. Ringold was -the first who took<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">[Pg 413]</a></span> the title of Grand Duke of Lithuania, 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 did not continue long, for Mindowe, finding himself deceived, -returned to Paganism, and died in 1263. From 1280 to 1315, the dukes -Latuwer and Witènes reigned over this country; but the greatest power -of Lithuania dates from the fourteenth century, when Gédymin seized the -reins of government. Impatient to crush the Russian power, which had -distressed Lithuania, this prince defeated the enemy in 1320, upon the -river Pirna, made himself master of Volhynia, of Küovie, of Sewerie, -of Czerniechovia, and extended his boundaries as far as Putiwel upon -the Diésna. In 1340, when Gédymin perished upon the field of battle by -the hands of the Teutonic knights, the Tartaro-Russian power commenced -ravaging Polodia, but Olgerd, successor of Gédymin, came to the succor -of his nephews, Koryatowicz, who were in possession of that province, -defeated the Czars 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 Gédymin: -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—Wilno, Osmiana, Wilkomierz, Braslaw. The -last succeeded first to his father, but after his death it was Olgerd -who took the reins of government.</p> - -<p>'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 Pérékop -(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-Polono-Lithuanian lances were crossed in -front of the superb Kremlin! Kiegstut powerfully seconded his brother -in his conquests. It was under such auspices that Olgerd, descending -to the tomb, left his brilliant inheritance to Jagellon, one of his -thirteen sons. Jagellon, who ascended the grand-ducal throne in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">[Pg 414]</a></span> 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 forever the glorious junction of Lithuania and Poland. -In 1389, he gave the government of the duchy of Sévérie-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 Lithuania, where, instead of reducing them to slavery, he gave them -possessions, with the liberty of freely exercising their religious -rights. It was the descendants of those Tartars who showed themselves -such worthy children of their adopted country, 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 -Czars. 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 Czars of Moscow, Basile, that of -Twer Borys, that of Riezan, Olegh, the little Czars of Pérékop and -Volga, the Teutonic masters, the Prussians and Livonians, in fine, -the emperor of Germany, Sigismond himself, accompanied by his wife, -and several princes, Erik, king of Denmark and Sweden, as well as -the ambassadors 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 upon 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 reigning 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 Lithuania.</p> - -<p>'All this, however, could have no effect upon the union of the two -nations, which daily acquired new strength; for, subsequently to the -first union of 1386, a Diet, in 1413, held in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415">[Pg 415]</a></span> the bourg of Horoldo, -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 determined 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 -Lithuanians. 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 of Courland 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, 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 senate, the same chamber of deputies; that their coins -should be of the same designation; that, in fine, their alliances, -their auxiliary troops, and every thing, should be in common. The -campaigns of Moskow under Sigismond III, Wladislaz IV, and Etienne -Batory, amply proved that the Lithuanians were worthy of calling the -Poles brethren; for they were found ready for every sacrifice, when -the general good of the country was in question. In the laws of 1673, -1677, and 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.</p> - -<p>'At the epoch of the regeneration of Poland, the Lithuanians gave the -most convincing proofs of their devotedness to the Polish cause, in -the last years of the existence of Poland. In effect, 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 Lithuania and the crown; that is to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416">[Pg 416]</a></span> say, between -Little and Great Poland, so as to form 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 themselves under a -single administration with the two other provinces.</p> - -<p>'The whole world was witness to the heroism which the Lithuanians -displayed in the glorious confederation of Bar, from 1768 to 1772; -in the campaigns of 1792 and 1794, against foreign rapacity, when -Kosciuszko, a Lithuanian by birth, covered with imperishable laurels -the chains of Poland. The Lithuanians fell, but they fell with the -whole of Poland, and were buried in the common ruin. How nobly have -not the Lithuanians 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 foreign -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 we not seen, in the years 1806 and 1809, twelve thousand -Lithuanians, united with their brethren, the Volhynians, the Podolians, -and the Ukranians, hastening to range themselves under the banners of -the army of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw? In 1812, their joy was extreme, -when they thought that their political existence 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 Wilno. But -the disastrous retreat 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, preserved 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 coronation of Nicholas the 1st, but the -reunion of Lithuania was not even made a question of.'</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>[<i>Tableau de la Pologne, ancienne et moderne, par Malte Brun, edition -refondue et augmentee par Leonard Chodzko. Paris, 1831.</i> pp. 288-295. -Tom. I.]</p></blockquote> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_417" id="Page_417">[Pg 417]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="center">No. II.</p> - -<p class="center">ADDRESS OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF POLAND TO THE INHABITANTS OF -LITHUANIA, VOLHYNIA, PODOLIA, AND UKRAINE.<a name="FNanchor_85_85" id="FNanchor_85_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a></p> - - -<p><i>Brethren, and Fellow Citizens!</i></p> - -<p>The National Government of regenerated Poland, happy on being able at -last to address you in the name of the bond of 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.</p> - -<p>The wall which separated us is broken down—your wishes and ours -realized. 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 sacred work—the restoration of our -country.</p> - -<p>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 animated us, and that we were desirous to become, as we had -formerly been, but one and the same nation. The Emperor Nicholas did -not wish to consecrate the tomb of his brother by a monument, which, -during the life time of Alexander, would have sealed the glory of his -reign.</p> - -<p>He did not wish to regard us as Poles, bowed down with injuries—as -citizens of a free and independent country;—and would treat with us -only as slaves who had rebelled against Russia. 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.</p> - -<p>At the very commencement of the insurrection, many of your citizens -explained their sentiments and their wishes in the National Assembly, -and some raised regiments, dignified by the names of your provinces; in -fine, whole districts of Lithuania and Volhynia rose <i>en masse</i>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418">[Pg 418]</a></span></p> - -<p>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? Undoubtedly -none! And we have the well-grounded hope that Europe will hasten to -recognize our independence, as soon as we have proved by our courage, -our perseverance, our union, our moderate and noble conduct, that we -deserve to be a free nation. This revolution is only a consequence 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.</p> - -<p>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 its climate, -industry, religion, manners, character, education, and history. From -these different elements spring the feelings or passions which display -themselves in revolutions, and the circumstances proper to be adopted -in their future conduct.</p> - -<p>Individuality strongly expressed, forms the power of a people. We have -preserved ours in the midst of slavery. Love of country, prepared to -make every sacrifice—courage—piety—noble-mindedness, and gentleness, -formed the character of our forefathers. These qualities also are ours.</p> - -<p>The patriots of Warsaw triumphed without chiefs and without 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 enchantment; and how did they -conduct themselves towards the Grand Duke Constantine? 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! 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 Russia, allowed to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419">[Pg 419]</a></span> pass -through their ranks the fallen enemy, whose safety was guaranteed by -the national honor.</p> - -<p>The generosity of the nation has been proved by many isolated 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 reciprocal 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.</p> - -<p>[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:—]</p> - -<p>God hath already wrought prodigies for us. God, and not the Emperor of -Russia, will be our judge! He will decide.</p> - -<p>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 our fathers; and we will -fight till at length we have accomplished the ends of justice. All -the nations of Europe possessed of the feelings of humanity tremble -for our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420">[Pg 420]</a></span> 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.</p> - -<p>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, unroll 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 generosity appears to her enemies!'</p> - -<p>Brethren! let us hope in God. He will inspire the breast of our judges, -who, obeying the dictates of eternal justice, will say—'Long live -Poland! free and independent!'</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">The President of the National Government,</span><br /> -<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">(Signed) <span class="smcap">The Prince Czartoriski.</span></span><br /> -<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Warsaw, May 13, 1831.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="center">No. III.</p> - -<p>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 satisfaction of inserting here one -among the many notices which have appeared in the journals of the day, -exhibiting the warm interest with which they have been regarded by the -people of France.</p> - - -<p>[From the N.Y. Courier des Etats Unis, 7th April.]</p> - -<p>'The <i>Journal of Saoine and Loire</i> publishes full details of the -arrival of the Poles at Maçon. 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 preceding. All the -inhabitants of the country quitted their labors, to go out to meet -the exiles. The national guard and the troops of the line paid them -the honors of the place. Salvos of artillery announced their arrival -and their departure. It was a triumphal march. The director of the -packet boats gratuitously transported the Poles from Chalons to Lyons. -At Maçon, just as the packet boat pushed off, a Polish captain threw -his sword upon the bank, exclaiming—'Brave Maçonnois, I give you the -dearest possession I have in the world; preserve it as a token of our -gratitude.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_421" id="Page_421">[Pg 421]</a></span> The sword was carried in triumph to the <i>Hotel de Ville</i>, -of Maçon, where it was deposited, and a subscription was opened to make -a present to the brave stranger of a sword of honor.</p> - -<p>'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 <i>Precurseur de Lyon</i>.</p> - -<p>'"Since the triumphal passage of the veteran of Liberty, Lyons 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 inhabitants, the Poles found themselves in the midst of an -immense crowd, 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 brilliant colors of this truly -sublime picture.</p> - -<p>'"Maledictions against the infamous policy of the Cabinets, mingled -with the cries of 'Vive la Pologne!' The accents of generous -indignation were united with those of a deep and heartfelt pity for -those remnants of an exiled people.</p> - -<p>'"A banquet was prepared at the Brotteaux. One of the committee -ascended a carriage to conduct hither that young heroine [the -countess Plater, we presume,] who follows to a land of exile 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, and dragged the -carriage in triumph to the place of the assemblage.</p> - -<p>'"The banquet was attended by more than five hundred persons, and the -committee had been forced to refuse a great number of subscribers on -account of the smallness of the accommodations.</p> - -<p>'"The first toast, given by the president, M. Galibert, was, 'To -immortal Poland!' This toast, enlarged upon with an eloquence full of -warmth and pathos, excited a universal enthusiasm. 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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_422" id="Page_422">[Pg 422]</a></span></p> - -<p>'"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 allusions 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.</p> - -<p>'"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."'</p> - - -<p class="center">No. IV.</p> - -<p>The following extract from the London Courier of April 9th, 1832, in -reference to the recent Imperial Manifesto which converts Poland into -a province of Russia, may serve to confirm the remarks which we have -made in the text, on the system of deception practised by the Emperor -Nicholas towards the Cabinets both of England and France, on the -subject of Poland.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>'We perceive that the Manifesto of the Emperor of Russia, relative to -Poland, which we gave on Saturday, has excited general 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 emancipation is open to them, it is -better for the cause of humanity 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 -without 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 extinction of mind, in proportion as he coerces and binds the body. -But what a sad disgrace it is upon the government and people of this -country to have neglected, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_423" id="Page_423">[Pg 423]</a></span> proper season, the means of securing to -the brave and unfortunate people of Poland a nationality which would -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 generous 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 offices towards obtaining favorable terms for the -insurgents; and we have already the satisfaction 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 vanquished.'</p> - -<p>'Is there a member of the Government, or any other person, who will -tell us that such language as this was not made publicly 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 sovereign 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 greatest -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 influence 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 Belgian question, -and to withhold the ratification of the treaty until after the passing -or rejecting of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_424" id="Page_424">[Pg 424]</a></span> the Reform Bill, when the Emperor 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.'</p> - - -<p class="center">No. V.</p> - -<p>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 25th, 1832.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>'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 lawful authority, we at the -same time informed them of our intention to fix the future fate of -this country on a durable basis, suited to its wants, and calculated -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 agitators, 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 predecessor, 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 restorer 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 consequence of this crime. -The tranquillity and happiness which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_425" id="Page_425">[Pg 425]</a></span> 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 vigilant government. Hence we consider it one of our -most sacred duties to watch with paternal care over the welfare of our -faithful subjects, and to use every means in our power to prevent the -recurrence of similar catastrophes, by taking from the ill-disposed -the power of disturbing public tranquillity. As it is, moreover, our -wish to secure to the inhabitants of Poland the continuance of all -the essential requisites for the happiness of individuals, and of the -country in general, namely, security of persons and property, liberty -of conscience, and all the laws and privileges of towns and communes, -so that the kingdom of Poland, 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 Russians 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.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">'St Petersburgh, February 26, 1832.</span><br /> -<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">'NICHOLAS.</span><br /> -<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">'The Secretary of State, <span class="smcap">Count Stephen Grabowski</span>.'</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>After this Manifesto, the organic statutes of Poland are given, the -principal of which are as follows:</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>'By the grace of God, we, Nicholas I, Emperor and Autocrat of all the -Russias, King of Poland, &c., &c.</p> - -<p>'In our constant solicitude for the happiness of the nations which -Providence has confided to our government, we are occupied in fixing -the basis for the future organization of the kingdom of Poland, having -regard to the true interests and positions of the country, and to the -local wants and manners of the inhabitants.</p> - - -<p class="center">'GENERAL DISPOSITIONS.</p> - -<p>'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 conform<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_426" id="Page_426">[Pg 426]</a></span>ably 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.</p> - -<p>'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.</p> - -<p>'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.</p> - -<p>'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.</p> - -<p>'Art. 5. The freedom of worship is guarantied; every one 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 religion, being that of the majority of -our Polish subjects, shall be the object of especial protection of the -Government.</p> - -<p>'Art. 6. The funds which the Roman Catholic clergy possess, and those -of the Greek church united, shall be considered as the common and -inviolable property of the hierarchy of each of those creeds.</p> - -<p>'Art. 7. The protection of the laws is assured to all the inhabitants -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.</p> - -<p>'Art. 8. Individual liberty is guarantied 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.</p> - -<p>'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 instantly obtain his -liberty. He will be equally restored to liberty who shall furnish a -sufficient surety.</p> - -<p>'Art. 10. The form of judicial inquests directed against the superior -functionaries of the kingdom, and against persons accused of high -treason, shall be determined by a par<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_427" id="Page_427">[Pg 427]</a></span>ticular law, the foundation of -which shall be accordant with the other laws of our empire.</p> - -<p>'Art. 11. The right of property of individuals, and of corporations, -is declared sacred and inviolable, inasmuch as it will be conformable -to the existing laws. All the subjects of the kingdom of Poland are -perfectly free to quit the country, and to carry away their goods, -provided they conform to the regulations published to that effect.</p> - -<p>'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.</p> - -<p>'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.</p> - -<p>'Art. 14. The kingdom of Poland shall proportionably contribute to the -general expenditure and to the wants of the empire. The proportion of -taxes will be stated hereafter.</p> - -<p>'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.</p> - -<p>'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 of the kingdom.</p> - -<p>'Art. 17. The public debt of Poland, acknowledged by us, shall be -guarantied as formerly, by the government, and indemnified by the -receipts of the kingdom.</p> - -<p>'Art. 18. The bank of the kingdom of Poland, and the laws respecting -credit, shall continue under the protection of Government.</p> - -<p>'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.</p> - -<p>'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.</p> - -<p>'Art. 21. Those of our subjects of the empire of Russia, who are -established in the kingdom of Poland, who possess<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_428" id="Page_428">[Pg 428]</a></span> 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 possess 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 established 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.</p> - -<p>'Art. 22. The superior administration of the kingdom of Poland is -confided to a council of administration, which shall govern the kingdom -in our name, under the presidency of the governor of the kingdom.</p> - -<p>'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 appoint by special orders.'</p> - - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_85_85" id="Footnote_85_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> 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.</p></div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_429" id="Page_429">[Pg 429]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="LIST_OF_POLISH_NAMES" id="LIST_OF_POLISH_NAMES">LIST OF POLISH NAMES,</a></p> - -<p class="center"><i>With their Pronunciation in English</i>.</p> - - -<p class="center">POLISH ALPHABET.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q</span><br /> -<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">ah bey tsey dey ey ef ghey hah ye ee kah el em en o pey koo</span><br /> -<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">r s t u w x y z.</span><br /> -<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">err es tey oo voo ix ee zed.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Note.</i> In every Polish name, or word, the letters are all sounded and -pronounced, as their names indicate.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_430" id="Page_430">[Pg 430]</a></span></p> - -<p>Names as spelled in Their pronunciation. Polish.</p> - -<table summary="names" width="60%"> -<tr ><td colspan="2" align="center">A</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Adamski</td> <td>Ahdamsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Augustow</td> <td>Owgoostov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Alexota</td> <td>Ahlexotah</td></tr> - -<tr ><td colspan="2" align="center">B</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Bestuzew</td> <td>Bestoozhev</td></tr> -<tr><td>Boleslaw-Chrobry</td> <td>Boleslav-Khrobry</td></tr> -<tr><td>Biala-Cerkiew</td> <td>Beahlah-Tseyrkyev</td></tr> -<tr><td>Bilinski</td> <td>Belinsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Biernacki</td> <td>Byernatsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Bialystok</td> <td>Beahlistok</td></tr> -<tr><td>Brzesc</td> <td>Brzhests</td></tr> -<tr><td>Boimie</td> <td>Boimea</td></tr> -<tr><td>Boguslawski</td> <td>Bogooslavsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Bialolenka</td> <td>Beahlolenkah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Bug</td> <td>Boog</td></tr> -<tr><td>Bielak</td> <td>Bieylak</td></tr> -<tr><td>Berowski</td> <td>Beyrovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Blendowsky</td> <td>Blendovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Bystrzyca</td> <td>Bistrzhitsa</td></tr> -<tr><td>Berzykowski</td> <td>Berzhyhkovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Beysogola</td> <td>Beysogolah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Bialowiez</td> <td>Beahlovyezh</td></tr> -<tr><td>Belzyca</td> <td>Belzheetsah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Borowa</td> <td>Borovah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Beresteczko</td> <td>Beyrestechko</td></tr> -<tr><td>Bady</td> <td> Bahdy</td></tr> -<tr><td>Brainsk</td> <td>Brainsk</td></tr> -<tr><td>Bielsk</td> <td>Byelsk</td></tr> -<tr><td><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_431" id="Page_431">[Pg 431]</a></span>Bukowski</td> <td>Bookovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Bialobrzegi</td> <td>Byahlobrzheygy</td></tr> -<tr><td>Bocki</td> <td>Botsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Blonie</td> <td>Blony</td></tr> - -<tr > <td colspan="2" align="center">C</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Chlopicki</td> <td>Khlopitsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Chodkiewicz</td> <td>Khodkyavitch</td></tr> -<tr><td>Czarnecki</td> <td>Tcharnetsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Czartoryski</td> <td>Tchartorisky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Ciechanowiec</td> <td>Tsyakhanovyets</td></tr> -<tr><td>Czyzewski</td> <td>Tcheejevski</td></tr> -<tr><td>Czaykowski</td> <td>Tshahovski</td></tr> -<tr><td>Czarno-morskie</td> <td>Tcharna-morskyey</td></tr> -<tr><td>Chlapowski</td> <td>Khlaposvky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Ceglow</td> <td>Tseyglov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Chrzanowski</td> <td>Khrzhahnovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Czyzew</td> <td>Tcheejev</td></tr> -<tr><td>Czaykiszki</td> <td>Tchaikishki</td></tr> -<tr><td>Czenstochowa</td> <td>Tchenstokhovah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Cytowiany</td> <td>Tsetoviahny</td></tr> -<tr><td>Czarna</td> <td>Tcharnah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Ciechanow</td> <td>Tsyeykhhanov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Chodzko</td> <td>Khodzko</td></tr> - -<tr ><td colspan="2" align="center">D</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Dembek</td> <td>Dembek</td></tr> -<tr><td>Downarowicz</td> <td>Dovnarovich</td></tr> -<tr><td>Dombrowski</td> <td>Dombrovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Diebitsch</td> <td>Deebich</td></tr> -<tr><td><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_432" id="Page_432">[Pg 432]</a></span>Dwernicki</td> <td>Dvernitsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Dobre</td> <td>Dobrey</td></tr> -<tr><td>Dembe-Wielkie </td> <td>Dembey-Vielkye</td></tr> -<tr><td>Dnieper</td> <td>Dneeper</td></tr> -<tr><td>Dembinski</td> <td>Dembinsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Dawgeliszki</td> <td>Davgalishky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Dubno</td> <td>Doobno</td></tr> -<tr><td>Dlugie-Siodlo</td> <td>Dloogya-Syodlo</td></tr> -<tr><td>Dobzyn</td> <td>Dobzhin.</td></tr> - -<tr ><td colspan="2" align="center">G</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Grabowski</td> <td>Grahbovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Grodno</td> <td>Grodno</td></tr> -<tr><td>Grochow</td> <td>Grokhov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Granica</td> <td>Grahnitsah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Goclaw</td> <td>Gotslav</td></tr> -<tr><td>Gotembiewski</td> <td>Gotembyevsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Gielgud</td> <td>Gyelgood</td></tr> -<tr><td>Grombkow</td> <td>Grombkov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Gruszki</td> <td>Grooshky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Galiczyn</td> <td>Gahlichyn</td></tr> -<tr><td>Graiewo</td> <td>Grahyeyvo</td></tr> -<tr><td>Gielgudyszki</td> <td>Gyelgoodishky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Gury-Konarskie</td> <td>Goory-Konarskya</td></tr> -<tr><td>Gorzdy</td> <td>Gorsdy</td></tr> -<tr><td>Giedroyc</td> <td>Gyedroits</td></tr> - -<tr ><td colspan="2" align="center">H</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Hauke </td> <td>Houka</td></tr> -<tr><td>Hildebrand</td> <td>Hildeybrand</td></tr> -<tr><td>Hurtig</td> <td>Hoortig</td></tr> - -<tr ><td colspan="2" align="center">J</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Jablonowski</td> <td>Yablonovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Jgelstrom</td> <td>Eegelstrom</td></tr> -<tr><td>Jurgaszko</td> <td>Yoorgashko</td></tr> -<tr><td>Jezierski</td> <td>Yazhyersky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Jadow</td> <td>Yahdov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Jablonna</td> <td>Yablonnah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Jakubow</td> <td>Yahkoobov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Januwek</td> <td>Yahnoovek</td></tr> -<tr><td>Jankowski</td> <td>Yankovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Jendrzeiow</td> <td>Yendrzhagov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Jarburg</td> <td>Yarboorg</td></tr> -<tr><td>Jagiellow</td> <td>Yahgyellov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Jedlina</td> <td>Yedlenah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Janow</td> <td>Yahnov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Jeroma</td> <td>Yaroma</td></tr> - -<tr ><td colspan="2" align="center">K</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Kosciuszko</td> <td>Kostchioushko</td></tr> -<tr><td>Krzyzanowski</td> <td>Krzhezhanovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kichelbeker</td> <td>Keekhelbaker</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kachowski</td> <td>Kakhovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Krasinski</td> <td>Krahsinsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kornatowski</td> <td>Kornahtovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kozienice</td> <td>Kozhyanetsey</td></tr> -<tr><td>Krukowiecki</td> <td>Krookovyetsky</td></tr> -<tr><td><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_433" id="Page_433">[Pg 433]</a></span>Kock</td> <td>Kotsk</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kaluszyn</td> <td>Kahlooshyn</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kostrzyn</td> <td>Kostrzhyn</td></tr> -<tr><td>Konik</td> <td>Konyik</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kawenczyn</td> <td>Kahvenchyn</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kicki</td> <td>Keetsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Krasny-taw</td> <td>Krasneestav</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kozieradzki</td> <td>Kozhyaradzky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Karczew</td> <td>Karchev</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kurow</td> <td>Koorov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Konskawola</td> <td>Konskahvolah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Keydany</td> <td>Kaydahny</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kowno</td> <td>Kovno</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kazimierz</td> <td>Kahzheemyerzh</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kolodno</td> <td>Kolodno</td></tr> -<tr><td>Krzemieniece</td> <td>Krzheymyeynyets</td></tr> -<tr><td>Knielce</td> <td>Knyeltsa</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kuflew</td> <td>Kooflev</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kolacze</td> <td>Kolachey</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kamionka</td> <td>Kahmyonkah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kleczkowo</td> <td>Klechkovo</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kaminski</td> <td>Kaminsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Koss</td> <td>Koss</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kalwaryia</td> <td>Kalvahreya</td></tr> -<tr><td>Karwowska</td> <td>Kavovskah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kurzany</td> <td>Koorzhahny</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kikiernicki</td> <td>Kekyornitsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Kniaziewicz</td> <td>Knyahzyavich</td></tr> - -<tr ><td colspan="2" align="center">L</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Lubowidzki</td> <td>Looboveedzky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lazienki</td> <td>Lahzhyenky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lelewel</td> <td>Leyleyvel</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lubecki</td> <td>Loobetsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lubinski</td> <td>Loobinsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lowicz</td> <td>Lovich</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lubomirska</td> <td>Loobomeerskah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lenczna</td> <td>Lenchnah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lukow</td> <td>Lookov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lublin</td> <td>Looblin</td></tr> -<tr><td>Liwiec</td> <td>Levyets</td></tr> -<tr><td>Leduchowski</td> <td>Leydookhovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lagowski</td> <td>Lahgovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lewandowski</td> <td>Leyvandovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Latowicz</td> <td>Lahtovich</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lipawa</td> <td>Lepahvah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lukowiec</td> <td>Lookovyets</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lomza</td> <td>Lomzah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lubartow</td> <td>Loobartov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lubania</td> <td>Loobahnyah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lipinska</td> <td>Lepinskah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lida</td> <td>Ledah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Lysobyki</td> <td>Lysobyky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Laskarzew</td> <td>Laskarzhev</td></tr> -<tr><td>Laga</td> <td>Lahgah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Luberacz</td> <td>Loobeyrach</td></tr> - -<tr ><td colspan="2" align="center">M</td></tr> - -<tr><td><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_434" id="Page_434">[Pg 434]</a></span>Murawiew</td> <td>Mooravyev</td></tr> -<tr><td>Mieciszewski</td> <td>Myatsishevsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Mokotow</td> <td>Mokotov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Miendzyrzyc</td> <td>Myenjeerzhyts</td></tr> -<tr><td>Makowiec</td> <td>Mahkovyets</td></tr> -<tr><td>Minsk</td> <td>Minsk</td></tr> -<tr><td>Macieiowice</td> <td>Matsyaovcetsa</td></tr> -<tr><td>Mingosy</td> <td>Mingosy</td></tr> -<tr><td>Milosna</td> <td>Melosna</td></tr> -<tr><td>Makow</td> <td>Mahkov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Malachowski</td> <td>Mahlahkhovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Maslowski</td> <td>Maslovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Markuszew</td> <td>Markushev</td></tr> -<tr><td>Magnuszewo</td> <td>Magnooshavo</td></tr> -<tr><td>Memel</td> <td>Mamel</td></tr> -<tr><td>Mycielski</td> <td>Meetsyelsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Modlin</td> <td>Modlin</td></tr> -<tr><td>Milatyn</td> <td>Meelahtyn</td></tr> -<tr><td>Mordy</td> <td>Mordy</td></tr> -<tr><td>Modzele</td> <td>Modzala</td></tr> -<tr><td>Mniszew</td> <td>Mneshev</td></tr> -<tr><td>Menzynin</td> <td>Menzhenin</td></tr> -<tr><td>Malinowski</td> <td>Mahlenovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Mlawa</td> <td>Mlahvah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Matusiewicz</td> <td>Mahtoosyavich</td></tr> -<tr><td>Myszogola</td> <td>Meshogolah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Michalowski</td> <td>Mekhahlovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Maluszyn</td> <td>Mahlooshyn</td></tr> -<tr><td>Morawski</td> <td>Moravsky</td></tr> - -<tr ><td colspan="2" align="center">N</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Niemcewicz</td> <td>Nyemtseyvich</td></tr> -<tr><td>Nasielsk</td> <td>Nahsyelsk</td></tr> -<tr><td>Narew</td> <td>Nahrev</td></tr> -<tr><td>Nowawies</td> <td>Novah-vies</td></tr> -<tr><td>Nowy-dwor</td> <td>Novy-dvor</td></tr> -<tr><td>Niewiaza</td> <td>Nyavyahzhah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Narewska</td> <td>Nahrevkah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Nurzec</td> <td>Noorzhets</td></tr> -<tr><td>Neydenburg</td> <td>Nidenboorg</td></tr> -<tr><td>Nowe-miasto</td> <td>Nova-myasto</td></tr> -<tr><td>Nadarzyn</td> <td>Nahdarzhyn</td></tr> - -<tr ><td colspan="2" align="center">O</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Ostrowski</td> <td>Ostrovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Ostrolenka</td> <td>Ostrolenkah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Orsyca</td> <td>Orseetsah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Okuniew</td> <td>Okoonyev</td></tr> -<tr><td>Osmiany</td> <td>Osmyahny</td></tr> -<tr><td>Ostrog</td> <td>Ostrog</td></tr> -<tr><td>Orla</td> <td>Orlah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Oyrany</td> <td>Oyrahny</td></tr> - -<tr ><td colspan="2" align="center">P</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Plichta</td> <td>Plikhtah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Pestel</td> <td>Pestel</td></tr> -<tr><td>Potocki</td> <td>Pototsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Poniatowski </td> <td>Ponyahtovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_435" id="Page_435">[Pg 435]</a></span>Powonzki</td> <td>Povonsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Pac</td> <td>Pats</td></tr> -<tr><td>Pultusk</td> <td>Pooltoosk</td></tr> -<tr><td>Parczewo</td> <td>Parchavo</td></tr> -<tr><td>Praga</td> <td>Prahgah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Pientka</td> <td>Pyentkah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Paszkiewicz</td> <td>Pashkyavich</td></tr> -<tr><td>Pulawy</td> <td>Poolahoy</td></tr> -<tr><td>Polonga</td> <td>Polongah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Prondzynski</td> <td>Proodzynsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Piast</td> <td>Pyast</td></tr> -<tr><td>Plomieniec</td> <td>Plomyanyets</td></tr> -<tr><td>Proskirow</td> <td>Proskerov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Piaski</td> <td>Pyasky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Poznan</td> <td>Pornan</td></tr> -<tr><td>Prasynsz</td> <td>Prasnysh</td></tr> -<tr><td>Plater</td> <td>Plahter</td></tr> -<tr><td>Podbrzeze</td> <td>Podbrzhazha</td></tr> -<tr><td>Piwecki</td> <td>Pevetsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Pawenduny</td> <td>Pahvendoony</td></tr> -<tr><td>Piaseczno</td> <td>Pyasechno</td></tr> - -<tr ><td colspan="2" align="center">R</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Rozniecki</td> <td>Rozhnyetsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Releiew</td> <td>Reyleyiev</td></tr> -<tr><td>Rukiewicz</td> <td>Rookyavich</td></tr> -<tr><td>Ruda</td> <td>Roodah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Ryczywol</td> <td>Reecheevol</td></tr> -<tr><td>Radom</td> <td>Rahdom</td></tr> -<tr><td>Radomierza</td> <td>Rahdomyerzhah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Radzimin</td> <td>Rahjeemin</td></tr> -<tr><td>Rybinski</td> <td>Reebinsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Rozany</td> <td>Rozhahny</td></tr> -<tr><td>Rosseyny</td> <td>Rosseyny</td></tr> -<tr><td>Radziwil</td> <td>Rahjecvel</td></tr> -<tr><td>Radziwilow</td> <td>Rahjeevelov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Raygrod</td> <td>Raigrod</td></tr> -<tr><td>Rumszyski</td> <td>Roomshysky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Rewdany</td> <td>Revdahny</td></tr> -<tr><td>Rasinowicz</td> <td>Rahsenovich</td></tr> -<tr><td>Retow</td> <td>Retov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Racioncz</td> <td>Rahtsyonzh</td></tr> -<tr><td>Ruzycki</td> <td>Roozhytsky</td></tr> - -<tr ><td colspan="2" align="center">S</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Sokolnicki</td> <td>Sokolnitsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Soltyk</td> <td>Soltyk</td></tr> -<tr><td>Szlegel</td> <td>Shleygel</td></tr> -<tr><td>Suwarow</td> <td>Soovahrov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Sobieski</td> <td>Sobyesky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Sapieha</td> <td>Sahpyahah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Szulec</td> <td>Shoolets</td></tr> -<tr><td>Siemiontkowski</td> <td>Syamyontkovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Skrzynecki</td> <td>Skrzhynetsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Szembek</td> <td>Shembek</td></tr> -<tr><td>Sierawski</td> <td>Syeyravsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Siedlce</td> <td>Syedltsa</td></tr> -<tr><td>Serock</td> <td>Seyrotsk</td></tr> -<tr><td>Stryinski</td> <td>Stryinsky</td></tr> -<tr><td><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_436" id="Page_436">[Pg 436]</a></span>Seroczyn</td> <td>Serochyn</td></tr> -<tr><td>Sokolow</td> <td>Sokolov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Stoczek</td> <td>Stochek</td></tr> -<tr><td>Swider</td> <td>Sveder</td></tr> -<tr><td>Stanislawow</td> <td>Stahneslahvov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Swierza</td> <td>Svyerzhah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Szachowski</td> <td>Shakhovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Skarzynski</td> <td>Skarkhynsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Siekierki</td> <td>Syakerky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Sznayder</td> <td>Shnider</td></tr> -<tr><td>Szuszerin</td> <td>Shoosherin</td></tr> -<tr><td>Siennica</td> <td>Syenneetsah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Szymanski</td> <td>Shymansky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Szawla</td> <td>Shavlah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Swienciany</td> <td>Svyentsyahny</td></tr> -<tr><td>Szerwinty</td> <td>Shervinty</td></tr> -<tr><td>Sucha</td> <td>Sookhah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Styr</td> <td>Styr</td></tr> -<tr><td>Stary-Konstantynow</td> <td>Stahry-Konstantenov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Starygrod</td> <td>Stahregrod</td></tr> -<tr><td>Stoiadly</td> <td>Stoyadly</td></tr> -<tr><td>Strzebucza</td> <td>Strzhaboocha</td></tr> -<tr><td>Suraz</td> <td>Sooraz</td></tr> -<tr><td>Sierakowski</td> <td>Syeyrahkovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Szymanowski</td> <td>Shemahnovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Szczuczyn</td> <td>Shchoochyn</td></tr> -<tr><td>Suwalki</td> <td>Soovalky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Swieta</td> <td>Svieytah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Salacki</td> <td>Sahlatsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Slupecki</td><td> Sloopeytsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Sloboda</td> <td>Slobodah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Sonk</td> <td>Sonk</td></tr> -<tr><td>Siemiatycze</td> <td>Syamyahtecha</td></tr> - -<tr ><td colspan="2" align="center">T</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Tarnowski</td> <td>Tarnovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Trembicki</td> <td>Trembitski</td></tr> -<tr><td>Turno</td> <td>Toorno</td></tr> -<tr><td>Targowek</td> <td>Targovek</td></tr> -<tr><td>Troki</td> <td>Troky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Tarnopol</td> <td>Tarnopol</td></tr> -<tr><td>Tarnogura</td> <td>Tarnogoorah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Troszyn</td> <td>Troshyn</td></tr> -<tr><td>Tykocin</td> <td>Tykotsin</td></tr> - -<tr ><td colspan="2" align="center">U</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Uminski</td> <td>Oominski</td></tr> -<tr><td>Uscilug</td> <td>Oostseloog</td></tr> -<tr><td>Uchania</td> <td>Ookhanyah</td></tr> -<tr ><td colspan="2" align="center"> -W</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Wigielin</td> <td>Vegyalen</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wielkaniee</td> <td>Vyelkahneetsa</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wiliaminow</td> <td>Velyahmeenov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wyzechowski</td> <td>Vezhakhovsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wysocki</td> <td>Vesotsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wengrzecki</td> <td>Vengrzhetsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wonsowicz</td> <td>Vonsovich</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wolicki</td> <td>Volitsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wlodawa</td> <td>Vlodahvah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wielezynski</td> <td>Vealazhynsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wengrow</td> <td>Vengrov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wawr</td> <td>Vavr</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wkra</td> <td>Vkrah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wilanow</td> <td>Velahnov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wodynie</td> <td>Vodenya</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wieprz</td> <td>Vyeyprzh</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wilno</td> <td>Vilno</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wilkomierz</td> <td>Vilkomyerzh</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wereszczaki</td> <td>Vareshchahky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wielkie</td> <td>Vyelkya</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wyszkow</td> <td>Vyshkov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wroclaw</td> <td>Vrotslav</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wiliia</td> <td>Veleyah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Worna</td> <td>Vornah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Wierzbna</td> <td>Vyerzhbnah</td></tr> - -<tr ><td colspan="2" align="center">Z</td></tr> - -<tr><td>Zamoyski</td> <td>Zahmoisky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Zymirski</td> <td>Zymeersky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Zegrz</td> <td>Zeygrzh</td></tr> -<tr><td>Zlotoria</td> <td>Zlotoryah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Zelechow</td> <td>Zheyleykhov</td></tr> -<tr><td>Ziemiecki</td> <td>Zyeymyeytsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Zombky</td> <td>Zombky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Zagroby</td> <td>Zahgroby</td></tr> -<tr><td>Zaluski</td> <td>Zahloosky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Zoliborz</td> <td>Zoleborzh</td></tr> -<tr><td>Zimna-woda</td> <td>Zimna-vodah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Zamosc</td> <td>Zahmosts</td></tr> -<tr><td>Zambrowo</td> <td>Zambrovo</td></tr> -<tr><td>Zeymy</td> <td>Zaymy</td></tr> -<tr><td>Zawadzka</td> <td>Zahvadzkah</td></tr> -<tr><td>Zaliwski</td> <td>Zahlivsky</td></tr> -<tr><td>Zabiello</td> <td>Zabyello</td></tr> -</table> - -<div class="transnote" style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<p >[Transcribers Note: Original spelling of names and place-names has been retained]</p> -</div> - - - 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