XXVI. 1831. CHAP. This success was the more remarkable that the troops thus defeated were the élite of Pahlen's veterans; and the old soldiers, in shame after their defeat, and indigii. 54, 59; nant at their officers, who gave the first example of flight, tore their eagles from their shakos and trampled them under their feet.1 1 Rom. Solt. Ann. Hist. xiv. 494. 67. Cholera in the Polish in its ad vance. Siedlece was now open, and must, with the park of artillery placed in it, have fallen into Skrzynecki's hands breaks out had he immediately advanced against it; but he was army, which prevented from doing so by the dread of bringing the is arrested cholera into his army, which was raging in the Russian hospitals at that place. Vain precaution! The Poles took the contagion from the Muscovite prisoners taken at the bridge of Iganie, and it soon made as great ravages in their ranks as in those of their opponents. This misfortune for some days arrested Skrzynecki's advance, and the Russians, seeing they were not pursued, remeaApril 14. sured their steps, and advanced a body of twelve thousand men against Uminski, who had only six thousand. Notwithstanding the most heroic efforts on the part of the Poles, they were overwhelmed by numbers, and driven back with the loss of five hundred men, though not before they had inflicted a loss of double that amount upon the enemy. This check, however, terminated Skrzynecki's offensive operations in the centre at this time; and Diebitch, who had shown great indecision in the crisis, and was far from having sustained the reputation of the "Passer of the Balkan," was too happy to let ii. 60, 66. him rest for a short time while he himself reorganised his shattered columns.2 2 Rom. Solt. 68. Bad success of Sierawiki During these brilliant operations in the centre, the right wing of the Poles, under Sierawiki and Pac, fifteen on the right. thousand strong, was ordered to cross the Vistula, and April 17. advance against General Kreutz, who was at Lublin, with twelve thousand, observing Dwernecki, who was at Zamosc, ready to throw himself into Volhynia, and stir up an insurrection in that province. The Polish XXVI. 1831. generals, in two divisions, nine thousand being under CHAP. Sierawiki, and six thousand under Pac, crossed the Vistula, and advanced cautiously against Kreutz, of the amount of whose forces they were ignorant. Unfortunately, Siera wiki, when alone, and with his cavalry in part detached, came upon Kreutz, who lay at Belzyec, in a strong position at the entrance of a forest, with twentyfour guns. The forces on the opposite sides were too unequal to admit of success; but as his orders from Skrzynecki were positive to attack the enemy, the brave Polish general did not hesitate to engage. He had only six thousand men, entirely new levies, and six guns, all of light calibre; but nevertheless they made so vigorous a fight, that, though the Russians repulsed them, they were unable to follow up their advantage, or make any prisoners. Next day he retired to Kazimoiz, on the banks of the April 18. Vistula, and there was attacked by the Russians. Notwithstanding the immense disparity of force, the Poles made a gallant resistance, but at length were driven xiv. 495; across the river with the loss of fifteen hundred men in ii. 79, 83. killed and wounded.1 1 Ann. Hist. Rom. Solt. 69. Dwernicki obliged to in Gallicia. This misfortune drew after it another still more considerable. Dwernicki, who was to have been supported by Defeat of Sierawiki, advanced in the first week of April into Vol- in Volbyhynia with his active and intrepid squadrons, and at first let with signal success. He had only one thousand three take refuge hundred infantry, and two thousand seven hundred horse, with twelve pieces of light horse-artillery. With these inconsiderable forces he crossed the Bug at Krilow on the 10th April, and marched against the Russian general Rudiger, who had thirteen thousand troops under his orders, and was to be supported by Roth, with twelve thousand more. Dwernicki's reliance to combat forces so immense was on the insurrection which was ready to break out in Volhynia, and the aid they would derive from the admirable light horse of the steppes, and the skilful marksmen of the forests, of whom twelve thousand were XXVI. 1831. CHAP. expected to be in arms as soon as the Polish uniforms were seen amongst them. He defeated a Russian detachment which tried to oppose a passage, and addressed an animated proclamation to the Volhynians, in which, referring with just exultation to the victory of Dembe, he called on them" now or never" to combat for their ancient liberties.* Few, however, at first answered the appeal; they knew too well the forces of the Russians, who had been long quartered amongst them. Ignorant of the small number of his opponents, whom he estimated at twelve thousand men, Rudiger retired before the Poles, and several skirmishes ensued entirely to their advanMarch 19. tage; but at length, having learned that they were only two thousand three hundred horse, he stood firm, and a general action ensued. Despite their inferior numbers, Dwernicki's hussars made several successful charges, and took eight pieces of cannon and eight hundred prisoners, and fairly drove the Russians, four times their number, from the field of battle. Next day he advanced towards Podolia, and on the 23d reached Kolodno; but there he was beset by Rudiger on one side, and Krasucki, with part of Roth's corps, on the other. Thus pressed by forces nine times his own, the brave Polish general had no alternaMarch 26. tive but to cross the Austrian frontier, and enter Gallicia, where his men were immediately disarmed, and conducted 1 Rom. Solt. into the interior. But so little zealous was the Austrian ii. 109, 114; Ann. Hist. government at this time in favour of Russia, that they were negligently guarded, and almost all, though without arms, regained the standards of independence.1 xiv. 495, 496. Although it terminated in this manner in disaster, the intelligence of the irruption of Dwernicki and his early * "Nous avons déjà avec l'aide de Dieu battu les ennemis sur votre propre territoire; le régiment de dragons Russes de Kargopol a été presqu' entièrement détruit, et moitié de ses soldats sont nos prisonniers. Confiants dans la sainteté de notre cause, levez-vous simultanément les Polonais et les Lithuaniens combattent en ce moment les Moscovites et remportent des victoires. Je vous apporte la nationalité et vos anciennes libertés. -ROMAN SOLTYK, ii. 105. "A PRÉSENT OU JAMAIS." XXVI. 1831. 70. tion in Ukraine, final dis successes roused a formidable insurrection in Podolia, the CHAP. southern parts of Volhynia, and the Ukraine. The inhabitants of those immense plains, trusting, like the Scythians of old, in the fleetness of their horses, and the Insurrecease with which they could escape in the boundless soli- Podolia tude of the steppes, eagerly hoisted the standard of inde- and the pendence. The insurrection was commenced before it and its was ready in other quarters by the brothers Sobanski, comfiture. who took the field at the head of 250 horse; and their April 25. followers soon swelled to 2000 cavalry and 500 excellent chasseurs under Kolysko. With this small band he advanced against the city of Kiow, containing 80,000 inhabitants, where he would have found ample supplies of all sorts, closely followed by 4000 men of Roth's division. The Polish rearguard faced about, and by a headlong charge routed the Russian horse; but, following up their advantage with the ardour of young troops, they came on the enemy's infantry and artillery, by whom they were repulsed with great slaughter, and forced to retreat. This disaster had a ruinous effect on the insurrection. Tracked by a host of enemies, displaying in many detached actions all the valour of their chivalrous ancestors, and defeated only by forces four times their numbers, their loss was great at every step, and at length, after May 26. performing prodigies of valour, this little band of heroes, Rom. Solt. now reduced to 700 men, was obliged to cross the Aus- Ann. Hist. trian frontier, and take refuge in Gallicia, where they 497. were immediately disarmed.1 May 17. 1 ii. 121, 126 xiv. 496, 71. in the centre. While those calamitous events were extinguishing the last hopes of national existence in the southern provinces, Operations the two grand armies in the centre remained in a state of inaction. Diebitch was awaiting reinforcements to supply the immense chasms made in his ranks; and Skrzynecki, although his forces, including Pac's division, were about 57,000 men, did not deem it expedient to resume the offensive. Poland has since had abundant reason to regret that inaction, for so favourable an opportunity of XXVI. 1831. CHAP. striking a decisive blow never again occurred, the two armies being of nearly equal strength, and the Poles exalted by victory, while the Russians were depressed by defeat. At length, yielding to the solicitations of the patriots in Lithuania, who were eagerly requesting a body of regular troops to enable them to commence their insurrection, he sent two detachments of troops, under Lowinski and Jankowski, to endeavour to penetrate into Russian Poland, but they were both met by superior bodies of Russians, and obliged to retreat. Nevertheless the insurrection, headed by some brave partisans, broke out in that province, and gave the Russians great uneasiness, as it lay directly on their line of operations. At length Diebitch, having been largely reinforced, resumed the offensive, and advanced with 40,000 men to Jerusalem, while 15,000 marched on Kaluckzyn. Skrzynecki, instead of attacking him, retreated on his approach, anticipating what soon happened, that want of supplies, and the wasted state of the country, would soon compel 1 Ann. Hist. him to retreat. On the 28th the Russians were again in 497; Rom. Minsk, but they remained. there only a few days, and then retired to their old position behind Siedlece, while the Poles again resumed the ground on their front.1 April 26. xiv. 496, Solt. ii. 136, 142. 72. of Chrzan owski into and its de- Having been informed of the first successes of DwerExpedition nicki in Volhynia, and not yet apprised of his ultimate disasters, Skrzynecki resolved to support him by a division of his best troops. With this view he detached Chrzanowski with six thousand three hundred men, with orders to march upon Lublin, attack Kreutz, and march by Zamosc into Volhynia. The Polish general, in the first instance, gained several advantages in detached combats, in one of which, near Lubartow, he made eight hundred prisoners. But Kreutz, having collected his forces, attacked him with greatly superior numbers on ii. 147,151; the day following, and after an obstinate conflict, in which the Poles displayed the most heroic valour, they were obliged to retire with considerable loss.2 They made May 9. May 10. 2 Rom. Solt. Ann. Hist. xiv. 496. |