Editor's Note: The following are portions of a letter that I received from Richard Jasinski, Treasurer, Polish Military History Society of America. He is a descendant of General Jakub Jasinski who was killed by Russian troops in the defense of Warsaw in 1794. General Jasihski had a brother, Major Ignacy Jasinski, who commanded a battalion of Polish infantry in the service of France. He died in Santo Domingo in 1803 where the Polish losses were very high. Naturally then, Richard became interested in the contribution of Polish troops through studying his family genealogy. His home address for those wishing to either join the P.M.H.S. of A. or just interested in learning more about the Polish troops, is: 39 West 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60629 You asked about the Polish Guard Lancers. I presume you are referring to the 1st Regiment of the Chevau-legers Polonais de la Garde. I also am very interested in this regiment and am fortunate in having some original documents as well as several old contemporary prints of the regiment. Though I have some information ot this regiment, my library is far from complete. I am curious about the figure you mention of 1400 lancers returning to Poland. According to Napoleon's original decree of April 6, 1807, the organization of this regiment was limited to four squadrons. Each squadron was composed of two companies consisting of 125 men each. Thus, originally the regiment consisted of about 1000 persons. (A reproduction of the decree is on page 159 of Z Bojow Polskich W Wojnach Napoleonskich by Marian Kujawski.) Michael Head in his book, French Napoleonic Lancer Regiments, states that a fifth squadron was added in 1812 and the regiment totalled 1500 men. Andrew Zaremba, an internationally respected authority on Polish military history and a member of the Polish Military History Society, states there were six squadrons of the Polish Light Horse of the Guard. (Mr. Zaremba's article entitled, "The 1st and 2nd Regiments of Polish Lancers in the 1814 Campaign" appeared in Adjutant's Call in 1969.) However, Mr. Zaremba goes on to state that only four squadrons were complete after the Battle of Leipzig. The remaining members of the other squadrons were used as cadres for the newly created 3rd Regiment of Eclaireurs, which was attached to Le Regiment de Chevau Legers Polonals de la Garde Imperiale. As the name Implies, the Eclaireurs were used primarily as scouts by the Polish Light Horse of the Guard. It is interesting to note that the first commander of the Eclaireurs was Jan Kozietulski, a Chef d' Escadron of the Polish Light Horse of the Guard. If you recall this is the same Kozietulski who led a squadron of lancers and overcame the Spanish batteries at Somo, Sierra in 1803. (This reorganization discussed by Mr. Zaremba is corroborated by a lineage book of Polish regiments entitled, Rodowody Pulkow Polskich I Oddzialow Rownorzednych'od r. 1717 do r. 1631 and written by Bronislaw Genbarzewski in Warsaw in l925). Article 19 of the Treaty of Paris signed on April 11, 1814, stated "Polish troops of all arms are at liberty to return to the: homelands having terminated their honorable service." It is presumed that most members of the Polish Light Horse of the Guard did return to Poland. However, I have not located a reference suggesting the number of Guard Lancers that actually returned to Poland and were incorporated into the Russian Army. It must be remembered Napoleon was permitted a squadron-of Polish Chevau-Legers of the Guard, (called a squadron although the actual number of men was about 120, the size of a company), to accompany him to Elba. (An English account appears in Otto von Pivka's Napoleon's Polish Troops. Though this book has several errors the above stated facts cm be corroborated from other sources). From the above sources it seems safe to conclude that it is unlikely that 1400 Polish Guard Lancers returned to Poland and Russian service. Even if the Guard regiment', contained six squadrons, as earlier mentioned by Zaremba, this would total only about 1500 persons. From this figure must be subtracted (1) losses of the Guard lancers at Leipzig, which were probably-relatively heavy, (2) troops that were transferred from the Guard Lancers to other units such as the Eclaireurs, (3) troops and officers who chose to remain in the French Army or chose to remain in France-or some other country rather than return to Poland and serve in the Russian forces and (4) Guard Lancers,(at least 120), who accompanied Napoleon to Elba and later formed the nucleus of the 1st Squadron of the Regiment of Chevau Legers Lanciers de la Garde at Waterloo. Though a little ambiguous, Zaremba seems to say that after the reorganization after Leipzig in 1813, the Polish Light Horse of the Guard consisted of four squadrons. This would result in a total of about 1000 men minus (1) troops and officers who chose to remain in France or some other country rather than return to Poland and serve in the Russian forces and (2) the Elba Squadron of Guard Lancers that remained with Napoleon, (at least 120 men). The only reference that I was able to locate which is close to your figure of 1400 men is the Anatomy of Glory. Though I do not have a copy of this book in my librarY, I was told it states that 1384 Polish Guard Lancers returned to Poland. Possibly this is the correct figure, however I do not know the source Mr. Lachouques used in arriving at his figure. It should be noted that many of the members of the Elba Squadron eventually also returned to Poland. Although several officers and probably some of the men chose to remain in France. For example, Chef d'Escadron Jan Jerzmanowski married a French noblewoman and eventually became a French citizen. He was reactivated in 1831 by the French government and was an officer in the French cavalry. However, other Polish officers in the Elba Squadron, like Kajetan Balinski, returned with many of the Guard Lancers to Poland. Balinski was made Chef d' Escadron after Jerzmanowski and is credited with leading the remnants of the Polish Lancers of the Imperial Guard back to Poland after the disaster at Waterloo. (For biographical references to these and other members of the Guard Lancers see Poiscy Donatariusze Napoleona by Stanislaus Kirkow). If possible I would appreciate the source or sources you used in getting the figure of 1400 returning Guard Lancers. Perhaps I could then reconcile your sources with mine and hopefully arrive at a reasonably accurate number. You mentioned in your letter you are interested in determining what happened to the various regiments, legions and organizations what happened to the various regiments, legions and organizations of Polish troops after they returned to Poland. In my estimation it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to answer this question. 'However, if you could-be more specific, (e.g. as to regiment), I could try to obtain any relevant information for you. For a few of the Polish military organizations the tracing of their historical lineage is relatively easy. For example, the Visitula Legion, 7th, 8th and 9th lancers of the line plus some infantry), evolved from Dombrowski's Legions who fought in Italy and Santo Domingo for Napoleon. The 7th, 8th and possibly 9th Lancers were incorporated into the 7th Lancers after the reorganization of the Polish Army in 1813. (See Zaremba's article mentioned above). This regiment can be traced to the Beliny Ulans or lancers which fought for Poland in World War 1. Finally, this regiment evolved into the 7th Regiment of Lublin Ulans (Lancers) named in honor of General Casimir Sosnkowski which distinguished itself in World War II. (see Ksieaa Dziejow 7 Pulku Ulanow Lubelskich Im. Generala Kazimierza Sosnkowski by Josep Smolenski and Mar an Zebrowski). However, most or the other regiments woula be very difficult to trace because they were frequently disbanded and formed into several new organizations. Sometimes it is possible to trace a member of a regiment through his military career in various regiments. For example, the renowned Jan Kozietulski, who led the charge at Somo Sierra, was a member of the original Guard of Honor in Warsaw. Kozietulski then became a member of the Polish Light Horse of the Imperial Guard. From this regiment Kozietulski was transferred to the 3rd Regiment of Eclaireurs, (as mentioned above), as its commander in 1813. After the end of the Duchy of Warsaw and Napoleonic Poland, Kozietulski was placed in command of the 4th Regiment of Ulans (Lancers) which originated in 1815 in Russian Poland. He remained commander of this regiment until his death in 1821. (see the Gembarzewski and Kirkor books cited above). I am not familiar with a "Heavy Foot Guard" at Leipzig as you mention. However, there was a Battalion of Grenadiers of the Guard which originated on October 5, 1812 and became attached to the 3rd Regiment of Eclaireurs of the Guard on January 1, 1814. (See page 103 of the Kirkor book). This regiment" was in existence at the time of Leipzig and probably fought at that battle. Could this be the regiment you seek? Zaremba in his article on "The 1st and 2nd Regiments of Polish Lancers in the 1814 Campaign", (cited above), mentions that after the Battle of Leipzig, the Polish Battalion of the Guard was reduced to a little over a hundred men from its original eight hundred. He further states that what was left of C> the Battalion of the Guard was disbanded, and both officers and men transferred to the Eclaireurs. I believe the Battalion of the Guard Zaremba mentions is the same as the Battalion of Grenadiers of the Guard mentioned by Kirkor. This is the only Polish infantry "guard" unit I was able to locate in the service of France. If this is not the regiment you seek, please try to give more information about the "Heavy Foot Guard" and citations to references. I will then try to secure the information you seek. The Society's past newsletters were produced in a limited quantity and distributed to members only. Few, if any, of the articles in our previous newsletters were concerned with your period of interest. Would you be interested in all back issues or only those within your areas? Please advise. Since many of our members are scattered throughout the country, it is difficult for me to ask anyone to write you. However, I understand a list of members, those not objecting to publication and their respective., interests will appear in our next newsletter. It probably would be easier for you to contact members from this list. I also suggest that you write the President, Matt Sobieszczyk, (7729 North Octavia, Niles, Illinois 60648), and ask that he insert a request in our newsletter that other members write you. If you are seeking information on a certain area, this might be mentioned in your request and hopefully you will get several responses from members and other interested individuals who have access to the Society's newsletter. Please advise if I can be of further assistance and if the above information answered at least some of your questions. Thank you. Richard Jasinski, Treasurer, Polish Military History Society of America P.S. Since drafting this letter, the Society had its monthly meeting at the Pilsudski Museum in Chicago. At the meeting I presented your letter and asked other members for their opinions on the questions presented. A few of the older members, former officers in the Polish Army and quite knowledgeable, told me they agreed with my conclusions. I was told that if 1400 Polish troops returned to Poland, not all of these would have been Guard Lancers. This figure would encompass several other regiments with the Guard Lancers. Mr. Gawron, the Curator of the Pilsudski Museum, allowed me to borrow a book written by a member of the Polish Light Horse of the Guard, Joseph Zaluski. It is entitled Wspomnienia 0 Pulku Lekkokonnym Polskim and was published in Cracow in 1865. It seems to state that the Guard (Lancers), was at its peak between the years 1812 and 1814. In 1812 a 5th squadron was added to the original 4 ordered by Napoleon in 1807. Later a 6th and 7th squadron were added. Finally a company of Lithuanian Tartars of the Guard completed the regiment. With all of these added units, Zaluski states the Guard regiment totaled 1500. Consequently, I believe this book, written by a member of the regiment, supports my conclusions that much less than 1400 Guard Lancers returned to Poland. Matt Sobieszczyk, our President., is also very interested in the Polish Light Horse of the Guard and I discussed this issue with him. He feels that it is possible or probable that at least 1400 Guard Lancers returned to Poland. However, I do not know his sources and if you wish to pursue the matter with him, I suggest you write him. (Matt's address is given above). Thank you. Editor's Note: Documentation of letter is April 16th, 1976. Back to Empire, Eagles, & Lions Table of Contents Vol. 1 No. 24 Back to EEL List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1978 by Jean Lochet This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. 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