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.
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.—Congressof Vienna.—Grand-duchy of Warsaw erected into a kingdom.—Dispositionsof Alexander.—Zajaczek appointed Viceroy,and Constantine commander of the army.—Constantine encroachesupon the civil administration.—Acts of tyranny.—Meetingof the Diet.—Public debates suppressed.—The Polish Conspiracyof 1821.—The Russian Conspiracy of 1824.—Union of thePatriotic Associations.—Death of Alexander.—The Revolt at StPetersburgh.—Punishment of the Patriots.—Coronation ofNicholas.—Constantine appointed Viceroy of Poland.—Oppressionsof the Government.—Patriotic Club.—Influence of the Frenchand Belgic Revolutions.—The Quartering-tax.—Excitement inWarsaw.—Arrest of the students at Praga.—Day of the Revolutionfixed upon. | [5] |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
Principles of the Revolution.—The First Night.—Attack on theBarracks of the Russian Cavalry.—Their Dispersion.—Attemptto secure the person of the Grand Duke.—Capture of Russiangeneral officers and spies.—Actions with detached bodies of Russiancavalry.—Two companies of Polish light-infantry join thepatriots.—Death of Potocki and Trembicki.—The Russian infantryattacked and dispersed.—Armament and assembling ofthe people.—Detachments sent to Praga. | [30] |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
The First Day.—Expulsion of the Russians from Warsaw.—Choiceof Chlopicki as Commander in Chief.—Provisional Government,under the Presidency of prince Adam Czartoryski.—Deputationsent to the Grand Duke.—Propositions and answer.—Abolitionof the Bureau of Police.—Establishment of the NationalGuard.—Proclamations addressed to the inhabitants of the provincesand the distant troops.—Provision for the Russian prisoners.—TheAcademical Legions formed.—Arrival of detachments from theprovinces.—The Grand Duke consents to leave the kingdom, andaddresses 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.—Particularsof his march.—The Polish regiments which had remainedwith him return to Warsaw.—Their reception.—Krasynski andKornatowski.—Deputation to St Petersburgh.—Demands to belaid before the Emperor.—Sierawski made Governor of Warsaw,and Wasowiez chief of the staff.—Order respecting the army.—Arrivalof volunteers from the interior.—Opening of the theatre.—Religioussolemnities at Praga.—Chlopicki nominated and proclaimedDictator. | [59] |
| [CHAPTER V.] | |
The Dictator enters upon his duties.—Plans for the enrollment ofnew forces.—System of officering them.—Want of energy in theexecution of his plans.—Fortifications neglected.—The peoplesupply the deficiencies of the administration.—Discovery of thecorrespondence between the ministers Grabowski and Lubecki.—Themarch of the army delayed.—Answer of the EmperorNicholas to the deputies.—His proclamation.—Its effect on thenation.—The Diet demand of the Dictator an account of his trust.—Theresult of their investigations.—Chlopicki deprived of theDictatorial power.—The civil administration entrusted to PrinceAdam Czartoryski, and the command of the army to PrinceMichael Radziwil, each subordinate to the Diet. | [71] |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | |
Remarks on the policy of the late Dictator.—System of operationsadopted.—The army leaves Warsaw.—Statement of theexisting forces.—Of the forces proposed to be raised.—Unfortunateconsequences of the delay in the preparation of the forces.—Statementof the force with which the war was actually commenced. | [87] |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | |
Entrance of the Russian forces into the Kingdom.—Proclamationsof Marshal Diebitsch.—Their effect.—Disposition of the Russianand Polish forces.—Plan of operations of the Poles. | [98] |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] | |
The opening fire.—Affairs of the 10th and 11th February.—Combatof Stoczek.—Disposition in consequence of that battle.—Battle ofBoimie.—Retrograde movement to Dobre.—Combat of Makowiec.—Passageof the Orsyca.—Combat of Dobre.—Attack onthe right wing at Minsk. | [109] |
| [CHAPTER IX.] | |
Retrograde movement of the 18th of February.—Details of thismovement, and of the actions which took place.—The armyreaches the field of Praga.—Its reception at Warsaw.—Positionof the army.—Battle of Wawr and Bialolenka.—Operations ofgeneral Dwernicki against the corps of Prince Wirtemberg.—Defeatof that corps by general Dwernicki at Swierza.—Renewalof the enemy's attack on the main army on the 20th.—Itssuccessful resistance.—Review of the events of the precedingdays.—Examination of the plan of operations of the Polisharmy. | [126] |
| [CHAPTER X.] | |
Proceedings of the National Government.—Marshal Diebitsch continuesin a state of inactivity.—Negotiations are opened by him.—Hispropositions are declined.—Position of the army on the24th, and battle of Bialolenka.—Position on the 25th.—Greatbattle of Grochow.—Details.—State of the Russian army afterits defeat.—Examination of the plan of the battle of Grochow.—Remarksupon the course adopted by prince Radziwil after thatvictory.—The Polish army crosses the Vistula to Warsaw.—Itsreception by the national government and the citizens.—Resignationof prince Radziwil. | [148] |
| [CHAPTER XI.] | |
Passage of the Vistula to Warsaw.—Disposition of the Polish forceson its left bank.—Appointment of general John Skrzynecki tothe chief command.—Proclamation.—Prompt attention is givento the re-organization of the army, the arsenals and manufactoriesof arms, the fortifications, &c.—Deportment of the commanderin chief towards the army.—General enthusiasm of the nation.—ThePatriotic offers of the Polish women.—New regulations establishedfor conferring orders of merit.—Disorderly state of theRussian army.—Attempt of Diebitsch to bribe the Polish soldiery.—Generalview of the encouraging circumstances of this epoch.—Theinsurrection in Russia under Yermolow.—View of thestate of the Polish forces when general Skrzynecki took the chiefcommand.—He presses the organization of the new forces.—Theirdistribution and that of the general forces.—Positions ofthe Polish army and the detached corps.—Russian position. | [175] |
| [CHAPTER XII.] | |
Operations of the corps of general Dwernicki against the Russiancorps under the prince of Wirtemberg, in the Palatinate of Lublin.—Battleof Pulawy, and defeat of Wirtemberg.—Atrocities of thatprince at Pulawy.—Pursuit of the enemy.—Battle of Kurow,and annihilation of Wirtemberg's corps.—Operations of colonelValentin, between Modlin and Pultusk.—A detachment of theenemy is surprised at Nasielsk.—Transports of provisions for theenemy from Prussia taken.—Successful skirmishes.—MarshalDiebitsch demands the capitulation of the fortress of Modlin.Reply of colonel Leduchowski.—A detachment from the garrisonof Modlin attacks and defeats a Russian force at Serock.—GeneralSkrzynecki makes an offer of pacification on the basis ofthe concessions originally demanded by the Poles.—This propositionis rejected and hostilities are recommenced.—Reconnoissanceupon the right bank of the Vistula under Jankowski andGielgud.—A Russian corps under general Witt is sent againstDwernicki.—General Uminski is sent against the Russian guard.—Firstencounter.—The Russian guard is compelled to leavetheir position for Ostrolenka.—The guard evacuates Ostrolenka tojoin the grand army. | [195] |
| [CHAPTER XIII.] | |
Plan of general Skrzynecki to act upon the isolated corps of Rosenand Gaismer.—Battle of Wawr.—Various detachments of the enemyare taken after that battle, and a great number of prisoners.—Battleof Dembe-Wielkie.—Destructive pursuit of the enemyby our cavalry.—View of the Russian losses in the precedingdays.—Marshal Diebitsch abandons his plan of crossing the Vistula,and marches to the rescue of the remains of the corps of Rosenand Gaismer, and the Imperial Guard.—View of the position ofthe two armies, after the second repulse of the enemy frombefore Warsaw.—Operations of general Dwernicki.—Successesof a reconnoissance under colonel Russyian at Uscilog.—Effectof Dwernicki's victories on the inhabitants of theprovinces.—Acknowledgment of general Dwernicki's services by the NationalGovernment.—The instructions for his future operations. | [213] |
| [CHAPTER XIV.] | |
The insurrection in Lithuania.—Dispositions of the Lithuanians atthe breaking out of our revolution.—Their offers of co-operationwere rejected by the dictator.—View of the condition of Lithuaniaunder the Russian sway.—Scheme of the Russian governmentto destroy all Polish national feeling in that province.—Theinsurrection is brought about by the massacre of the patriotsat Osmiany.—Capture of numerous towns by the insurgents,and dispersion of their garrisons.—Storm of Wilno, and deliveryof prisoners.—Several partizan corps are formed.—Their destinationand successes. | [229] |
| [CHAPTER XV.] | |
Plan of operation against the two corps of Rosen and Kreutz.—Battleof Iganie.—Reflections on the state of the Polish cause afterthe victory of Iganie.—Review of the course of the campaign.—Conditionof the Russian army.—Discontents in Russia.—Representationsof the Senate at St Petersburgh to the Emperor.—Comparativeview of the forces of the two armies at thepresent stage of the conflict. | [238] |
| [CHAPTER XVI.] | |
Position of the two armies after the battle of Iganie.—Plan of asimultaneous attack upon the Russian forces upon oppositesides.—Instructions to the different corps.—Operations on theenemy's front.—Unfortunate operations of general Sierawski, and thefirst defeat.—Details of those operations.—Operations of generalDwernicki.—He defeats Rudiger; but by a false operation exposeshimself to be attacked disadvantageously by two Russiancorps.—In the course of the action the Austrian frontier is passedby the combatants.—An Austrian force interposes, and generalDwernicki consents to go into camp.—His arms and prisonersare taken from him, while the enemy is permitted to leave theterritory freely.—Reflections on the conduct of Austria.—Consequencesof the loss of Dwernicki's corps.—The cholera makesits appearance in the two armies. | [254] |
| [CHAPTER XVII.] | |
The Russian commander resumes offensive operations.—Object ofthe attack of the 25th of April.—Combat of Kuflew.—GeneralDembinski evacuates the position of Kuflew and awaits the enemyat Bady.—Battle of Minsk.—The enemy suddenly evacuateshis position.—Reflections on this stage of the conflict.—Positionsof the two armies. | [271] |
| [CHAPTER XVIII.] | |
General Skrzynecki resumes the offensive.—He decides to adopt anenlarged plan of operations, and to make the revolutionized provincessupply the place of a corps d'armee.—The corps of Chrzanowskiis sent to occupy the Russian corps of Witt and Kreutz.—Admirableexecution of this enterprise.—Attack on Kock.—Attackof Rudiger's camp.—Plan of operations by the main armyagainst the Russian guard.—Forced march from Kaluszyn byPraga to Serock.—Advanced post of the guard attacked and defeated.—Thecorps of Saken is cut off.—The 2d division underGielgud sent into Lithuania.—The imperial guard are drivenwith great loss beyond the frontier.—Retrograde movement. | [283] |
| [CHAPTER XIX.] | |
The Lithuanians compel two Russian corps to evacuateSamogitia.—Operations of general Chlapowski in the department ofBialystok.—Capture of Bielsk.—Defeat of a Russian force at Narewkaand expulsion of the enemy from the department.—Recapitulationof the forces which had been sent into Lithuania.—Operations ofthe main army.—Attempt of marshal Diebitsch to intercept Skrzyneckion his retrograde march, by a diversion to Ostrolenka.—GeneralLubinski surprises the Russian advanced guard at Czyzew.—MarshalDiebitsch attacks the Polish rear-guard at Kleczkowo.—Therear-guard quits its position at night, and joins themain army at Ostrolenka.—Battle of Ostrolenka. | [298] |
| [CHAPTER XX.] | |
Operations of the Lithuanian corps.—Battle of Raygrod and defeatof the Russian corps of Saken.—Importance of this first successin Lithuania.—General Gielgud neglects to follow up his advantages.—Heloses time by passing the Niemen at Gielgudyszki,and enables the enemy to concentrate his forces in Wilno.—Entranceinto Lithuania and reception by the inhabitants.—Positionof the two main armies.—The Russian forces remain inactive andreceive supplies from Prussia.—Death of marshal Diebitsch. | [313] |
| [CHAPTER XXI.] | |
General Gielgud advances into Lithuania.—Allows a Russian corpsto pass within a league of him unperceived.—Operations onWilno.—Enumeration of our present force.—Plan of a simultaneousattack upon Wilno on opposite sides by the corps in twodivisions.—General Dembinski engages the enemy with thesmaller part of the corps.—Being unsupported by Gielgud, isforced to retreat.—General Gielgud attacks Wilno.—Battle ofWilno.—A retreat is commenced.—Prodigious efforts of the Polishcavalry in protecting this retreat.—Consequences of the repulsefrom Wilno.—The removal of general Gielgud is called for.—GeneralChlapowski consents to take the virtual command ofthe corps, in the post of chef d'etat major.—Consideration onthe state of things consequent to the battle of Wilno.—Detailsof the admirable plan of operations proposed by colonel Valentin. | [328] |
| [CHAPTER XXII.] | |
Operations of the main army.—Expedition under Jankowski.—GeneralChrzanowski having driven Rudiger from his position, crossesthe Vistula, but returns to act in concert with general Jankowskiagainst the enemy near Kock.—Details of general Jankowski'smovement.—He remains inactive within sight of the fire of thecorps with which he was to co-operate.—Other evidences oftreason.—Generals Jankowski and Bukowski are arrested andordered for trial.—View of the advantages that were sacrificedby this misconduct.—Discovery of a plot to liberate and arm theRussian prisoners at Warsaw, and to deliver the city to the enemy.—Stateof the public mind induced by these events. | [342] |
| [CHAPTER XXIII.] | |
General Chlapowski arrives at Keydany, having ordered generalDembinski to withdraw to Wilkomierz.—The position of the twoforces and their line of operations.—Examination of thesearrangements.—Neglect of the important position of Kowno.—GeneralChlapowski, 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.—Advantagesoffered to the enemy by the delay at Keydany.—Bravedefence of Kowno, by the small force left there.—Skirmish atWilkomierz.—The opportunity of concentrating all the forces atKeydany, and repassing the Niemen, is neglected.—The enemypresses his pursuit.—Battle of Rosseyny.—Attack on Szawla.—Lossof the ammunition and baggage of the corps.—The corpsretreats in order to Kurzany, protected by a rear guard of cavalryand light artillery.—At Kurzany the corps is subdivided intothree parts.—Destination and strength of each.—Examination ofthis plan. | [350] |
| [CHAPTER XXIV.] | |
The three subdivisions of the Lithuanian corps take their respectivedestinations.—Details of the operations of that of general Rohland.—Hemeets alone the attack of the whole Russian force.—Battleof Powenduny and Worna.—General Rohland, on his wayto Polonga, learns that general Chlapowski had marched towardsthe Prussian frontier.—He presses his march to overtake and forma junction with him.—The greater part of the corps of Gielgudand Chlapowski were found to have passed the frontier, whenthat of Rohland came in sight.—Indignation of the soldiery.—Deathof general Gielgud.—General Rohland, joined by a portionof the corps of Gielgud which had not yet passed the frontier,continues his march to Nowe-Miasto.—He declines a propositionfrom general Kreutz, to surrender.—Successful skirmishwith the enemy's cavalry.—General Rohland takes a position atNowe-Miasto, and awaits the enemy.—The Russian forces, however,do not continue their pursuit, but go into camp.—Propositionsto pass the frontier are sent to general Rohland by the Prussianauthorities.—They are submitted to the corps and accepted. | [367] |
| [CHAPTER XXV.] | |
Effect of the news of the Lithuanian disasters on the minds of thepeople.—Distrust of the National Government.—The Russianarmy resumes the offensive under general Paszkiewicz.—He decidesto pass the Vistula.—Examination of the merits of this plan.—Planof general Skrzynecki to act on the different detachedcorps of the enemy.—Advantages of general Chrzanowski overthe corps of Rudiger.—The Russian forces execute the passageof the Vistula.—General Skrzynecki crosses the Vistula at Warsawto operate against the enemy on the left bank.—An inquiryinto the conduct of general Skrzynecki, and the appointment ofa Council of War is demanded by the nation.—Arrival of thecorps of general Dembinski at Warsaw. | [384] |
| [CHAPTER XXVI.] | |
Operation of general Dembinski's corps.—He traverses the countrybetween Szawla and the Niemen without being observed by theenemy.—Attacks and disperses a brigade of Russian infantry.—Passesthe Niemen and throws himself into the forest of Bialystok.—Afterleaving that forest, is joined by the corps of generalRozycki.—Reaches Warsaw.—His reception at Warsaw.—Viewof the exposed situation of Paszkiewicz after his passage of theVistula.—Examination of the plan of operations of the Polishcommander.—Morbid state of the public mind at Warsaw.—Skrzyneckiand Czartoriski deprived of their trust.—Capture ofthe city.—Documents showing the influence exercised by thecabinets in discouraging active operations.—Conclusion. | [394] |
| [APPENDIX.] | [409] |