saw. 47. Feb. 5-7. taking advantage of their immense numerical superiority, to destroy the Polish power before it had an opportunity of extending the flame of the insurrection into their own dominions. Diebitch broke up from his quarters in Lithuania on the 5th February, and adAdvance of vanced in three columns toward WarDiebitch to- saw. The right wing, under Genward War erals Szachoffskoi and Manderstein, twenty thousand five hundred strong, entered the Polish territory by Kowno and Grodno, so celebrated in the wars of Napoleon. The left, ten thousand strong, consisting almost entirely of cavalry, with forty-eight guns, under General Geismar, debouched by Wlodawa, and moved upon Lukow and Lublin; while the centre, eighty thousand strong, with two hundred and eighty guns, under Diebitch in person, and divided into four corps, under the orders of General Pahlen, Rosen, the Grand Duke Constantine, and General Dewitt, advanced by Tykoczyn, on the direct road to Warsaw. The whole of these troops were admirably organized, and provided with every thing necessary for an active campaign. Unable to contend against forces so immense, Radziwil wisely retired, without attempting any resistance, toward the capital, in the hope that the invaders might be weakened by the waste and fatigues of the march, as Napoleon had been in the advance to Moscow, and that an oppor1 Rom. Solt. tunity might occur near Warsaw i. 269, 272; for engaging the enemy on terms Ann. Hist. more nearly approaching to equal xiv.489,490. ity.1 zisk. The cavalry, with the exception of three regiments which occupied that village, was all in reserve behind the infantry. The Russians had the advantage of the position, for they had the forest in rear, in which their columns would find shelter in case of disaster; while the Poles, with their backs to the Vistula, trav-1 Rom. Solt. ersed by the single bridge of Praga, i. 270, 280; were exposed to total ruin in the Ann. Hist. xiv. 489,490. event of defeat.1 Feb. 19. The battle commenced at ten in the morning, by an attack by Pahlen, who debouch- 49. ed from the forest by the great road, Battle of and, turning to the left, attacked Szem- Grochow. bek's men; but he was received with so warm a fire from the Polish right that his troops fell into confusion, and a charge from the Polish hussars, who were brought up from the rear, drove them back headlong into the wood. Upon this Rosen's corps, which had by this time debouched from the wood, advanced to its aid, and took Szembek's corps, which had advanced considerably in pursuit of Pahlen's men from the ground it had occupied at the commencement of the action, in flank. In consequence Szembek fell back to his original ground; and, as the whole Russian army had by this time got clear of the wood, and deployed in its front, directly opposite to the Poles, the battle became general along the whole line. Diebitch, taking advantage of his immense superiority in men and guns, made the utmost efforts to force the centre, where the great road to Warsaw passed through both armies; but although above a hundred pieces of cannon were brought to bear on that point, to which the Poles could not oppose more than half the number, the Russians were unable to gain any decisive advantage. The Poles fought with the most heroic resolution, and although, toward the evening, after combating all day, 2 Diebitch's they lost a few hundred yards of Dispatch, ground, yet, when the firing ceased, Feb. 21, their ranks were unbroken, their 131 Ann. courage unsubdued, and they had 490; Rom. lost neither prisoners, cannon, nor Solt. i. 280, standards in the fight.2 Hist. XIV. 282. 24 and 25. But the dimensions of the kingdom of Poland 48. were very different from those of Position and the empire of Russia, and the Poles forces on the soon found that they had retreated opposite sides. as far as was possible, and that a stand must be made to defend the capital. No serious resistance was experienced at the passage of the Bug, and the Polish army, gradually retiring, but in perfect order, took post, on the evening of the 18th February, a league in advance of Warsaw, near the village of GROCHOW. The forces on the opposite sides, though still disproportionate, were not so much so as To have maintained so obstinate a conflict might have been anticipated from the great with forces so superior was not 50. difference between them which existed at the less honorable to the Polish arms Battle of Praopening of the campaign. Diebitch had not than advantageous to their cause; ga. February more than seventy-four thousand men, as his but the Russians were numerous, centre and part of the wings alone was in the ably led, and inured to victory; and as they had field; while the army of Radziwil had been driven the enemy a short distance from the field raised, by reinforcements drawn from the na- of battle, they attributed to themselves, not tional guards and depots, to forty-eight thou- without reason, the advantage. The resistance sand men. But the Russians had a great su- of the Poles, however, had been so obstinate periority in artillery, which amounted to two that Diebitch did not venture to renew the of hundred and seventy-six pieces, while the Poles fensive till he had called up his whole right had only one hundred and twenty-six. The wing, which again raised his forces to nearly Russian army was divided into two columns: 80,000 men. Radziwil, on his side, had also rethe right, twenty-seven thousand strong, was paired his losses, though chiefly with new levunder the orders of Rosen; the left, of no less ies, little inured to discipline. In making the than fifty thousand combatants, was under movement from the Russian right to its centre, Count Pahlen and General Dewitt. The Polish where Diebitch was concentrating his forces, army was drawn up in battle array in front of the Russian division Szachoffskoi was attacked the woods which environ the village of Gro- and worsted by the Poles under Krukowieckski, chow; the right, under Szembek, rested on the but they nevertheless continued their march, marshes which adjoin the Vistula; the centre, and by nightfall were in line with Diebitch in under Radziwil in person, occupied in force the front of the Polish army, which maintained its great road to Warsaw; the left, under Skrzy-old position in front of PRAGA. There it was necki, extended as far as the village of GrodVOL. IL--G G attacked on the following day by the Russians either side, which, considering the prolonged and obstinate nature of the battles, sufficiently evinced the courage and resolution which had been displayed on both sides. The Poles might with reason_attribute to themselves, upon the whole, the advantage, since, though driven from the open country, their army in unbroken strength still held the capital; the Vistula had not been passed at any point; Warsaw was not even invested; the tête-de-pont of Praga was still in their hands, which enabled them to debouch at pleasure on the right bank, and the first effort of a hundred thousand Russians had failed in crushing less than half that number of their opponents. On the other hand, though the Poles had inflicted a loss on their adver tained, their own loss was the more sensibly felt, from the inferior strength of 1 Ann. Reg. their army, and less considerable xiv. 490, 491; resources from which it might be re- Rom. Solt. i. cruited.' 53. The battle began at daybreak, and continued 51. with the utmost obstinacy and variDesperate and ous success the whole day. There bloody nature was little generalship or manoeuof the conflict. vring on either side: like Waterloo in former years, it was a regular stand-up fight between two gallant nations; like Inker-saries greater than they themselves had susmann in after days, it was a stand-up fight rather than a battle of manœuvres. The principal efforts of both parties were directed to get possession of the little wood on the Polish 287, 288. left, and it was repeatedly carried and again lost during the strife. At length, after a bloody While these dreadful battles were signalizing conflict of two hours' duration, it was carried the commencement of the war on by Diebitch, who succeeded in bringing eighty the Russian right and centre, a Splendid sucpieces of cannon to bear upon it, and fairly most brilliant success attended the cess of Dwershelled the Poles out. Some of his aids-de- opening of the campaign on the nicki on the Polish righ. camp having come to Chlopicki, who command- Polish right. There Dwernicki, ed there, to ask for orders, he replied, "Go and with not more than two thousand eight hunask Radziwil; for myself, I only seek death." dred foot and horse, and six guns, was left to He did not find it, but was soon after severely make head against Geismar, who had nine wounded, and carried off the field of battle in thousand three hundred horse and forty-eight an insensible state. General Zimirski, who tried pieces of horse-artillery under his orders. It to regain the wood, soon after fell, desperately seemed scarcely possible for the weaker party, wounded; and Szachoffskoi, who had now ef- with such a disproportion, to avoid destrucfected his junction with the general-in-chief, tion; nevertheless, such was the talent of the succeeded in establishing himself in it in a du- Polish general, and the heroism of his followrable manner. The Polish army, disheartened ers, that he achieved the most brilliant success. by the loss of its chiefs, now fell back on all Geismar's great superiority of force induced sides, and took post under the cannon of Praga, him to form the design of surrounding his opstill, however, maintaining an undaunted front, ponent, and with this view he arranged his and without sustaining any loss in prisoners or troops into two columns-the first of which, cannon. Diebitch endeavored to convert the consisting of 4480 horse and twenty-four guns, retreat into a rout by a vigorous attack of cui- met Dwernicki on the 13th February, who had rassiers in the centre, but it led to a signal dis- crossed the Vistula on the ice near Sieroczyn. aster. The Russian horse, by a headlong charge, The second column, which was intended to atsucceeded in forcing their way through the Po- tack the Poles in flank and rear, was sent round lish centre; but, pursuing their advantage, they by a circuit, at such a distance as to be unable came within the range of the batteries of Praga, to lend aid to the first in a sudden fight; but which opened a tremendous fire upon them, as each column was of greater strength than and while recoiling in disorder from the terrific the whole Poles, it was thought there was no cannonade, they were charged in flank by a danger in making the division. But Geismar brigade of Polish cavalry under General Kicki, little knew the quality of the troops with whom and almost totally destroyed. The Polish gen- he had to deal; and Dwernicki, with the eye erals, however, fearful of having the bridge of of a real general, instantly resolved to assume 2 Rom. Solt. boats in their rear cut off by the the offensive, and attack the one division before i. 289, 291; swelling of the Vistula, retreated at the other came up. Forming his horse, which night into Warsaw, leaving Praga consisted only of nine squadrons, about one occupied by a strong rear-guard.2 thousand strong, into two columns, he charged Such were the desperate battles of Grochow Geismar's men with the utmost vigor, who 52. and Praga, which signalized the com-awaited the attack with their twenty-four Results of mencement of this terrible strife; these battles. and though they terminated, upon the whole, to the disadvantage of the Poles, since they were driven back into Warsaw, yet they conferred more honor on the vanquished than the victors, and presaged a frightful contest before the conflict could be terminated. The loss on the opposite sides was nearly equal. The Poles were weakened by eight thousand men, the Russians by ten thousand. Few prisoners, and no guns or colors, were taken on Ann. Hist. xiv. 490, 491. | guns advantageously placed in battery. Such was the vigor of the Polish horse, whose exploits rivaled those of the Paladins of former days, that both attacks proved entirely suc cessful. In a few minutes the first column routed the cavalry opposed to it, and took three guns; while the second, disregarding the showers of grape which fell upon them, threw themselves on the guns, captured eight, and, passing through them, charged twelve Russian squadrons drawn up behind, with such impetu 54. Parallel of osity that they were totally routed, and their | but having pursued their advantage too far, commander slain by a sabre-stroke from Lieu- the Poles fell under the cross-fire of some Rustenant Dunin, one of Dwernicki's aids-de- sian guns, and were driven back with heavy camp. Upon this the whole Russian division loss. After this, Dwernicki took post oppotook to flight, leaving in the hands of the Poles site Karczew, and hindered the Russians from eleven guns and three hundred and eighty crossing the Vistula; and soon after turned prisoners, taken in fair fight, besides against his old antagonist, Kreutz, Rom. Solt. four hundred killed and wound- whom he forced to recross the riv. February 26. i. 295, 300. ed.1 er, with the loss of two entire squadrons, which were made prisoners in the town of Pulawy. Such was the exaltation of the Polish cavalry, and depression of the Russians at these repeated defeats, that Dwernicki, on the 3d March, again crossed the Vistula on the ice, and attacked the Russians in position on the road leading to Kurow, totally defeated them, drove them headlong through that town, taking four guns and three hundred men prisoners. Dwernicki, upon this, got the surname of the "Furnisher of Cannon" in the Polish army; and such was the terror which his hussars inspired in the enemy, that whole squadrons took to flight at the sight of a few Polish uniforms. Kreutz retreated with the utmost Sieroczyn with Inker laklava. March 3. It is a curious circumstance, indicative of the lasting impress which nature has put upon all the families of the Grochow and European race compared with the Asiatic, that these battles of Gromann and Ba- chow and Sieroczyn bear the closest resemblance to those of Inkermann and Balaklava in after times. The Poles resisted the enormous masses of the Russians with the same intrepidity and firmness, in front of Praga, that the English did their assailants, five times their own number, in front of Sebastopol; and if a gallant allied force had come up at the close of the day, to render the balance somewhat more equal, the result would have been the same on both oc-expedition, recrossed the Wieprz, and never casions. The Polish squadrons threw them selves on the Muscovite artillery with the same intrepidity as the English light horse, in after days, on the shores of the Crimea; and, like them, after passing through the guns, charged and routed the enemy's cavalry, three times more numerous than their own, in rear. Dwernicki's leading was the prototype of that of Lord Cardigan. These facts lead to a conclusion of great and lasting importance for the interests of civilization and freedom in future times. This is, that the forces of Europe, animated by the spirit of liberty and the energy of intelligence, are still as superior to the hosts of Asia as they were in the days of Marathon and Platea; and that the ceaseless encroachments and menacing strength of Russia is not owing to any advantage which the Asiatics possess in courage over the Europeans, but to the greater foresight of its government, and anity of purpose in its inhabitants-qualities in which the people of the West, unfortunately, are often as deficient as they are superior in vigor and knowledge. 55. This brilliant success elevated the Poles as much as it depressed the Russians, Operations of and it would have been attended Dwernicki on with the most important consethe left bank of quences had the government of the Vistula. Warsaw possessed any reserve force to support it. But as Radziwil's army had been obliged to seek shelter behind the cannon of Praga, it was justly deemed too hazardous to allow Dwernicki, with his little band of heroes, to maintain an isolated contest with the immense forces of the Muscovites on the right bank of the Vistula. Add to this, the Polish government were alarmed by the progress of General Kreutz with four regiments of cavalry, who had crossed the river, and threatened to cut off the communication between Warsaw and Cracow. Dwernicki, accordingly, received orders immediately to recross the Vistula, which he did on the 17th at Goru. Two days after, he met the adFeb. 17. vanced guard of Kreutz, which he deFeb. 19. feated, and took four pieces of cannon; rested till he got across the Bug; while Dwer- Although the Poles might well congratulate xiv. 492, 493. Born in Gallicia of parents in affluent circum57. stances, SKRZYNECKI received a libHis biography eral education, and he was introand character. duced into the world under the auspices of the Czartoryski family. In 1809, when the war broke out between the French and Austrians, and Gallicia was invaded by the Russian forces, he entered a regiment levied by Prince Constantine Czartoryski, and acquired, during the short campaign which followed, the reputation of a good infantry officer. Afterward, when the kingdom of Poland was re-established, he was promoted to the foot-guards of the Grand Duke Constantine, but having, like many others, fallen under the displeasure of that capricious tyrant, he was transferred to a regiment of the line; and being a sort of martyr, he immediately became popular with the army. After this he was for a time tinged with the mystical ideas on religion which, spreading from the Congregation in France, were, during the Restoration, so widely diffused over the higher classes in Europe. But this did not cause him to abandon his patriotic feelings; and during the trials in 1826 of the persons connected with the secret societies in Poland, he contributed not a little, by his energy and intelligence, to the acquittal of several of the accused. When the revolution broke out at Warsaw on the 29th November, he was in command of a regiment there, and was one of the first who joined the popular side. Though far from sanguine as to the issue of the contest, and by no means led away by the illusions which generally prevailed among the liberal enthusiasts on that subject, he actively contributed his part to the liberation of the country; and his military capacity and courage in danger at the battles of Grochow and Praga were such as clearly pointed him out for the situation of commander-in-chief, when the wound of Chlopicki disqualified him for further service in the field. He was at this time forty-five years of age; his figure was tall and countenance handsome, and his address and talent in conversation had already obtained for him much envied success in society. His ambition, like that of most eminent men, was great; but it was 1 Rom. Solt. ii. 15, 17 ; set on lofty things, and concealed from Biog. Univ. all but his most intimate friends unlxxxii. 234, der the charm of a polished and capti 236, sup. 58. vating manner.1 The first care of Skrzynecki, on being elevated to the supreme command, was to Ineffectual at- endeavor to open a negotiation with tempts at ne- Marshal Diebitch for the restoragotiation, and tion of peace. It was soon found, Vigorous preparations of however, that this attempt was Skrzynecki. hopeless, as every similar one is with Russia when not preceded by defeat. The Russian commander had no power to treat, except on the terms of an unconditional surrender, and to those conditions the Poles could not for a moment be brought to listen. Both parties, therefore, made preparations for a renewal of the struggle; and the roads having become impassable in the two last weeks of March by the sudden thaw, both had a short leisure to complete these preparations. Diebitch spread his army out in extended cantonments, reaching over a breadth of eighty English miles, for the sake of provisions and lodgings for his numer ous followers; and Skrzynecki made the utmost efforts to raise the spirits and increase the number and efficiency of his troops. The recruits were clothed, armed, and disciplined with the utmost diligence; the new intrenchments round Warsaw were pushed forward with the utmost rapidity-the whole inhabitants, male and female, laboring night and day in the trenches; and the greatest efforts were made to provide the necessary supplies of ammunition for the troops. By these means, the chasms in the ranks occasioned by the battles of Grochow and Praga were rapidly filled up by ardent recruits; and the general-in-chief raised the enthusiasm to the highest by a noble proclamation, in 1 Ann. Hist. which he called upon them to con- xiv. 493; quer or die in defense of their coun- Rom. Solt. try." ii. 21. tions. Skrzynecki's plan of operations, which bore the signet-mark of genius, was to 59. take advantage of his central posi- Skrzynecki's tion, protected by the fortifications plan of operaof Warsaw, and fall with his concentrated forces upon Diebitch's men while still dispersed in their cantonments, and inflict upon them, by a sudden irruption when unprepared, as great a loss as possible. The weight of the attack was to be directed toward Ostrolenka, in order to force back the Russian right wing, and reopen the communications with Lithuania, into which it was proposed to throw a division, which was to advance toward Wilna, and lend its aid to the malcontents in that province, with whom a correspondence had already been entered into. At the same time, taking advantage of the consternation produced by the sudden attack in the centre, Dwernicki with his little band of heroes was to move rapidly into Volhynia, and rouse the insurrection in that province and Podolia, where a large body of insurgents, for the most part cavalry, awaited only their approach to join the national cause. Every thing here depended upon the success of the first attack on the Russian centre by Skrzynecki in person; but the straggling positions of the Muscovites, and the vigor and secrecy of the Polish general, joined to the advantages of his central position, 2 Rom. Solt. gave the prospect of decisive suc- ii. 37, 41; An. cess in that quarter.2 Hist. xiv. 493. The forces with which the Polish general had to undertake these various opera- 60. tions, though not considerable, were Forces at his yet nearly adequate to their accom- disposal. plishment. The troops at his disposal amounted to 55,000 men, of whom 16,000 were cavalry, with 125 guns. The first division, 9540 strong, with 18 guns; the third, under Malachowski, 11,096 bayonets, with 20 pieces of Soldats! nous avons devant nous un ennemi fier de son bonheur, de ses forces, et du rang qu'il tient en Europe. Mais, s'il est formidable par sa puissance, les outrages dont il nous a accables ont comble la mesure, et le rend coupable aux yeux de Dieu et des hommes. Pleins de confiance desormais dans la sainteté de notre cause. et dans la Divine Providence, nous pouvons sans crainte nous mesurer avec lui. Jurons en notre âme et conscience que nous resterons fidèles à cette devise, Vaincre ou mourir pour la patrie et nous servirons d'exemple dans l'histoire du monde aux défenseurs des droits sacrés et inviolables des nations. Si la victoire ne doit pas couronner mettre à son joug odieux. C'est à cette gloire que je vous nos efforts, du moins nous ne vivrons pas pour nous souconvie, et je vous assure la couronne du martyr, si ce ne sont des couronnes de lauriers, au bout de cette carriere heroique et semée de dangers. Nous les gagnerons eertainement, si vous me secondez par votre valeur et votre soumission. SKRZYNECKI." -ROM. SOLT, vol. ii. p. 24. cannon; and the fourth, of 7665 combatants, | nine pieces of cannon. Upon this the whole were under the immediate command of Skrzy- of Rosen's corps took to flight, and nothing but necki, with Uminski's cavalry, 5700 sabres. the darkness of the night, and the extreme exThe second division, of 8288 men, with 18 guns, haustion of the Polish troops, who had marched under General Gielgud, was to force its way and fought since the preceding midnight, saved athwart the Russian right into Lithuania, while any part of them from destruction. As it was, the cavalry of Lubienski and Skarzynski, mus- the Poles took six thousand prisoners, besides tering 7000 sabres, were, under Dwernicki, to inflicting an equal loss in killed and wounded diverge into Volhynia. If the insurrection in on the enemy, who dispersed in all directions, these provinces could acquire consistency be- no longer preserving even the appearance of fore the Muscovite legions were upon them, an army. Such of them as could be reached the Poles had every chance of success; but the by the Polish horse surrendered without resistrisk was very great that they would be cut ance; the peasants brought in great numbers to pieces before they were either disciplined or who were straggling in the woods; and so great equipped as real soldiers. Every thing depend- was the consternation of the Muscovites, that ed, in the first instance, on the vigor and secrecy next morning the extraordinary spectacle was of Skrzynecki's blows in the centre, which were exhibited of two peasants, without arms, bringto be struck with not more than 25,000 coming to the Polish head-quarters twelve Russian batants against not less than 70,000; and this 1 Rom. Solt. great inequality could be overcome ii. 32, 33; An. only by the skillful use of a central Hist. xiv. 493, position, and superior rapidity of 494. 61. cess in the centre. March 31. concentration.1 Skrzynecki's measures were taken with equal ability and secrecy. At midnight, Skrzynecki's on the 30th March, he set out from brilliant suc- Warsaw at the head of the divisions Rybinski, Malachowski, and Gielgud, and in the utmost silence crossed the bridge of the Vistula, which, with the roads for a little distance beyond it, had been laid with straw. With such skill was the movement conducted, that the Russians were in total ignorance of what was going forward, and the Polish advanced guard, favored by a thick fog, was upon them before they were aware that it had crossed the Vistula. The surprise was complete, the success beyond all hopes great. Geismar's corps, which was the first to be reached, was suddenly as sailed, when the men were for the most part asleep, and almost entirely destroyed. The few that escaped endeavored to rally on the corps of Rosen, which was in battle array at Dembewielkie, sixteen miles from Warsaw. The position of the Russians was strong, the left being covered by the marshy banks of a stream which flows into the Vistula, their centre protected by thick brushwood, and their right by a wood. The approach to the position was rendered extremely difficult by the xiv. 494,495, spongy nature of the ground, which Rom. Solt. ii. was all but impassable for artil40, 45. lery.2 2 Ann. Hist. Vain, however, were all these advantages of 62. position against the heroic valor of Total defeat of the Poles. Part of Malachowski's the Russians. division advanced on the right of March 31. the chaussée, supported by Skarzynski's horse; while Gielgud's division, and the remainder of Malachowski's, operated on the left. The Russians at first made a stout resistance; the fire, especially of artillery, was soon extremely warm along the whole line; and the contest was prolonged the more that the extreme wetness of the ground almost every where prevented the Polish cavalry from charging, The battle continued, with various success, and great loss on both sides, till the evening; but at seven o'clock a brigade of Skarzynski's horse, by a vigorous charge, carried the village of Dembe, broke the enemy's centre, and took soldiers, whom they allowed to car- 1 Rom. Solt. ry their muskets, to avoid the trou- ii. 45, 46; An. ble of taking them from them.1 Hist. xiv. 494. The extreme fatigue of the troops prevented Skrzynecki from continuing the 63. pursuit far on the 31st; but at day- Great success break on the 1st April it was re- of the Poles in sumed by Lubienski, with his bri- the pursuit. April 1. gade of cavalry, who, having now got on the highway, pushed on with the utmost vigor, and rendered it totally impossible for the Russians to rally at any point. At the head of his lancers he passed in full trot through the towns of Minsk and Kaluckzyn, amidst the loud cheers of the inhabitants, and, without ever drawing bridle, pushed on above twenty miles, collecting prisoners at every step. So great was the consternation of the Russians, that whole battalions threw down their arms, and surrendered at the sight of the Polish advanced squadron. Before he halted for the night he had made six thousand additional prisoners, which was the more important as the greater part of them were Lithuanians, and four thousand of them entered the Polish ranks. Altogether the Poles in these two days made twelve thousand prisoners, besides six thousand of the enemy killed or wounded, and twelve guns taken-a victory about as great as that which, thirty years before, had broken the 2 Rom. Solt. strength of Austria in the forest of ii. 46, 47: An. Hohenlinden. Hist. xiv. 494. After this terrible disaster, Rosen retired with the few remains of his troops to Sied- 64. |