History of the Late Polish Revolution and the Events of the CampaignHordynski, Joseph
History
History of the Late Polish Revolution and the Events of the Campaign
Hordynski, Joseph
Poland -- History -- Revolution, 1830-1832
The nation and the army occupied this interval of repose in giving
thanks to Providence for the successes of the preceding day. In all
the churches Te Deums were sung, as well as in the chapels of the camp
near Warsaw. The army was received by the people with solemnities. The
senate, accompanied by the inhabitants, repaired to the camp, where
patriotic addresses were delivered, and a public fete given to the
army. For three successive nights, Warsaw was illuminated, and the
inscription 'To the defenders of their Country,' was every where seen.
Unequal to the description of these moments of exultation of a people
animated with the recovery of their freedom, I can only say that they
were moments which will live forever in the heart of every Pole, and
will satisfy him that a nation so united will be always capable of
great efforts.
On the day after the religious ceremonies, the provisional government
met in the National (formerly the Royal) Palace, where all the general
officers of the army were also assembled to deliberate upon the
measures to be adopted both in regard to military and civil affairs. It
was on that occasion that the prince Michael Radziwil, actuated by the
noblest impulses, and having a single view to the good of his country,
abdicated the chief command, surrendering his trust into the hands of
the national government, with the avowal that he did not feel himself
sufficiently capable to continue to hold so responsible a post. This
step, which showed a great elevation of character, impressed the nation
with feelings of gratitude, and has given to prince Radziwil a name in
history.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 37: Admirable as was the conduct of all our artillery, every
man in which deserved a decoration, yet among this artillery, the
battery of colonel Pientka must be distinguished. Without yielding a
step of ground, that battery held its place for five hours, and it
often happened during the battle, that this single battery was left
exposed alone to the fire of thirty or forty of the enemy's pieces.
It was computed that this battery alone caused a greater loss to the
enemy than the entire loss that his whole artillery caused in our
ranks; and I do not exaggerate in saying, that the fire, chiefly of
grape, which Pientka kept up for five hours, and at the distance often
of a few hundred paces only, must have cost the Russians from one to
two thousand men. What is most remarkable, this battery itself, during
the whole of the fire, did not lose more than one officer and six men
killed, six wounded, and ten or twelve horses, two of which were killed
under colonel Pientka, whose clothes were pierced through and through
with grape, and his casque torn in pieces, while, as if providentially
preserved, his person was not in the slightest degree injured.]
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