One-Drous Chapters

The Battle of Ostrolenka
and the Russo-Polish War
of 1830-31

by Stuart Penhall



In the meantime the infantry of the 1st and 3rd divisions began to take arms, and four battalions approached the dike, and rushed to the causeway whence the enemy kept up a rolling fire. Three several times the Poles endeavoured to take possession of the causeway, but they were each time repulsed; for the enemy had already placed seventy cannon on the eminences on the other side of the river and swept every thing before then. The Poles, having suffered great losses, were compelled to retreat.

These attacks were ordered and commanded in person by Skrzynecki, the General-in-Chief, who had at last arrived on the field of battle. The General, seeing the failure of those attacks, ordered up the remainder of the 3rd division. But the enemy, already masters of the bridge, which they had repaired, and also of the right bank, under the protection of its powerful artillery stationed on the opposite side, sent over fresh troops, who formed in columns on the left of the bridge, and sent their tirailleurs towards the dike.

General Skrzynecki again took the lead of five battalions, and charged with them, having his right wing close to a marsh. The Polish tirailleurs dislodged the Russians from the dike, and advanced towards the causeway; and their battalions at the same time appeared on the dike. But the Russian artillery fired grape shot on them from the opposite bank, and obliged then to retreat behind the small bridge, The General-in-Chief twice again led his men forward, but being still forced to retire, and seeing his ranks very much thinned, he withdrew to the foot of the hills. In consequence of this failure the General-in-Chief ordered the brigade Langerman which was rather to the right, to advance beyond the hills occupied by the artillery, and sent his tirailleurs beyond a little marsh to stop the Russian tirailleurs, and give Muchowski's Brigade time to come up.

This brigade, having with it eighteen pieces, took up its position still farther to the right and, occupying the hills, formed from that moment the extreme right; it then posted its artillery most advantageously upon a hill; part of which fired upon the enemy's artillery on the other bank; the other part swept away the Russian battalions that had crowded between the dike and causeway. And stopped their progress; for every discharge of case shot killed them by the hundreds.

About two o'clock, Langerman received an order to attack, while Muchowski's brigade was to support him on the right: the General-in-Chief again leading this attack. The Polish tirailleurs advanced rapidly, and drove the Russians off the dike, being followed by the battalions. Then commenced a murderous discharge of musketry. The enemy, protected by the dike, made a firm stand against Langerman's battalions; but Muchowski, proceeding along the dike, repulsed them.

Then the battalions took possession of it and drove the enemy as far as the causeway. The tirailleurs advanced towards the bridge to the place where the two cannons were lying, which had been taken at the commencement of the battle. But the Russians, falling back towards the river, left an opening for their artillery to fire; and the Poles, who were crowded, suffered severely, and were obliged to retire and resume their original positions. In the meantime the Russians, having rallied behind the dike, and being reinforced by fresh battalions that had come from the other bank, passed the causeway and dike; and, preceded by a great number of tirailleurs, boldly advanced along the marsh, and repelled the left wing of the Poles.

The General-in-Chief, perceiving this manoeuvre, ordered Skarzynski's cavalry to pass the Omulow, and hasten to the field of battle. They effected the movement by fording the river. The 2nd, 3rd, and 5th lancers advanced to the centre, followed by the horse battery of Colonel Bem. The second chasseurs remained near the river, drawn out in line; and the 5th division, Kamienski, advanced about a hundred paces, ready to charge.

The 3rd lancers received orders to charge the Russian infantry in front; which they did, and drove back the tirailleurs; but, having arrived at a marsh, they could not proceed farther, and losing some of their men, they returned from the attack. But, while effecting this movement, they rushed to the right, between the enemy and a column formed of the 5th foot, chasseurs, whom General Prondzynski was leading on with fixed bayonets. This unfortunate movement checked the progress of the 5th, who broke their ranks and dispersed among the thickets.

The enemy, who had already thrown away their arms, now resumed them, and fired close at the 3rd who were retreating. The 5th then received orders to advance, drove off the tirailleurs, and compelled their battalions to retreat; but having advanced too far, was itself obliged to retire under a heavy fire. Then the brave 2nd rushed on the enemy's left wing, but found itself stopped by a flat, which, without being large, was very marshy. It then changed its front into a column, by squadrons, filed off, under a murderous discharge, to get round the marsh, and, having gained the heights, again fell into a line and drove the enemy from the right; who lost all their tirailleurs, and could not rejoin the battalions.

Two squadrons then dislodged the enemy, and one, having rushed among the Russian battalions, advanced as far as the little bridge, and returned. This cavalry, besides rapidity in its charges, gave proofs of a rare intrepidity, and uncommon coolness, while manoeuvring in front of the infantry, that shot at it close. By its success in driving back the Russian battalions. notwithstanding the charge was made partially, and its being made upon a ground generally considered as most unfavourable to cavalry, it acquired imperishable fame in this action, which will ever deserve to be recorded in history, as well as the name of the brave General Kicki, who, while leading the 2nd lancers in person, was killed by a shot.

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