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
On the 10th of March, the operations of the campaign were recommenced.
The 2d division, the command of which, after the death of general
Zimirski, was given to general Gielgud, and a division of cavalry,
under the command of general Jankowski, received orders to make a
strong reconnoissance upon the right bank of the Vistula. This division
was ordered to pass the bridge in the night, and at break of day to
commence the attack upon whatever force of the enemy they might find
on the plains of Grochow or Kawenczyn, and, by this manoeuvre, to
harass the right wing of the enemy. But general Jankowski arrived
late. It was near eight o'clock, A.M. before he approached with his
division, at which time the two divisions united left Praga to commence
their attack, but this operation being thus retarded, could not be
made effective. The enemy, seeing our movement, had time to prepare
themselves to counteract it. Our forces having advanced a mile or two
upon the main road, commenced a fire of tirailleurs, and the enemy
began to retire. As it was designed to act upon Kawenczyn, a battalion
was sent to attempt an attack on the forest of elders, well known
to the reader; but as the enemy was quite strong at that point, and
particularly in artillery, a fire from which was immediately opened
upon our force, the attack was not made, and our battalion was ordered
to withdraw. The Russians, at about mid-day, began to show a stronger
force upon the plains of Wawr. Their artillery, also, opened a fire
upon the main road. This fire had continued an hour, when our generals,
not perceiving that the artillery was protected by cavalry, decided
to make a charge upon them with the regiment of Mazurs, and the 3d
regiment of light cavalry. This brigade of cavalry, under the command
of the brave colonels Blendowski and Miller, threw themselves with
courage upon that artillery, when, at the moment of the charge, two
regiments of Attaman Cossacks, which were posted in a wood adjoining,
displayed their front, and advanced to charge our cavalry upon the
flank and rear. Our attack therefore failed, and it was owing to good
fortune alone that by a rapid bending of our flank, this body of
cavalry was saved from total ruin. This unfortunate affair cost us a
heavy loss of men, and of both of the brave colonels who commanded the
attack. At about 2, P.M. as the enemy began to debouch from the great
forest with increased forces, it was decided to return to Warsaw, and
thus ended this reconnoissance, which had it been executed by more
skilful generals, might have had the best success, for all the Russian
regiments which had advanced towards Praga, at a considerable distance
from their main forces, might have been taken. A reprimand was publicly
given to the two generals, Gielgud and Jankowski, for their remissness
in executing their instructions. The only advantage which was gained by
this reconnoissance, was the taking of a great quantity of fascines and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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