Chapter XII

Operations of the corps of general Dwernicki against the Russian
corps under the prince of Wirtemberg, in the Palatinate of Lublin.
--Battle of Pulawy, and defeat of Wirtemberg.--Atrocities of that
prince at Pulawy.--Pursuit of the enemy.--Battle of Kurow,
and annihilation of Wirtemberg's corps.--Operations of colonel
Valentin, between Modlin and Pultusk.--A detachment of the
enemy is surprised at Nasielsk.--Transports of provisions for the
enemy from Prussia taken.--Successful skirmishes.--Marshal
Diebitsch demands the capitulation of the fortress of Modlin.
Reply of colonel Leduchowski.--A detachment from the garrison
of Modlin attacks and defeats a Russian force at Serock.--General
Skrzynecki makes an offer of pacification on the basis of
the concessions originally demanded by the Poles.--This proposition
is rejected and hostilities are recommenced.--Reconnoissance
upon the right bank of the Vistula under Jankowski and
Gielgud.--A Russian corps under general Witt is sent against
Dwernicki.--General Uminski is sent against the Russian guard.--First
encounter.--The Russian guard is compelled to leave
their position for Ostrolenka.--The guard evacuates Ostrolenka to
join the grand army. 195

CHAPTER XIII.

Plan of general Skrzynecki to act upon the isolated corps of Rosen
and Gaismer.--Battle of Wawr.--Various detachments of the enemy
are taken after that battle, and a great number of prisoners.--Battle
of Dembe-Wielkie.--Destructive pursuit of the enemy
by our cavalry.--View of the Russian losses in the preceding
days.--Marshal Diebitsch abandons his plan of crossing the Vistula,
and marches to the rescue of the remains of the corps of Rosen
and Gaismer, and the Imperial Guard.--View of the position of
the two armies, after the second repulse of the enemy from
before Warsaw.--Operations of general Dwernicki.--Successes
of a reconnoissance under colonel Russyian at Uscilog.--Effect
of Dwernicki's victories on the inhabitants of the
provinces.--Acknowledgment of general Dwernicki's services by the
National Government.--The instructions for his future operations. 213

CHAPTER XIV.

The insurrection in Lithuania.--Dispositions of the Lithuanians at
the breaking out of our revolution.--Their offers of co-operation
were rejected by the dictator.--View of the condition of Lithuania
under the Russian sway.--Scheme of the Russian government
to destroy all Polish national feeling in that province.--The
insurrection is brought about by the massacre of the patriots
at Osmiany.--Capture of numerous towns by the insurgents,
and dispersion of their garrisons.--Storm of Wilno, and delivery
of prisoners.--Several partizan corps are formed.--Their destination
and successes. 229

CHAPTER XV.

Plan of operation against the two corps of Rosen and Kreutz.--Battle
of Iganie.--Reflections on the state of the Polish cause after
the victory of Iganie.--Review of the course of the campaign.--Condition
of the Russian army.--Discontents in Russia.--Representations
of the Senate at St Petersburgh to the Emperor.--Comparative
view of the forces of the two armies at the
present stage of the conflict. 238

CHAPTER XVI.

Position of the two armies after the battle of Iganie.--Plan of a
simultaneous attack upon the Russian forces upon opposite
sides.--Instructions to the different corps.--Operations on the
enemy's front.--Unfortunate operations of general Sierawski, and the
_first defeat_.--Details of those operations.--Operations of general
Dwernicki.--He defeats Rudiger; but by a false operation exposes
himself to be attacked disadvantageously by two Russian
corps.--In the course of the action the Austrian frontier is passed
by the combatants.--An Austrian force interposes, and general
Dwernicki consents to go into camp.--His arms and prisoners
are taken from him, while the enemy is permitted to leave the
territory freely.--Reflections on the conduct of Austria.--Consequences
of the loss of Dwernicki's corps.--The cholera makes
its appearance in the two armies. 254

CHAPTER XVII.

The Russian commander resumes offensive operations.--Object of
the attack of the 25th of April.--Combat of Kuflew.--General
Dembinski evacuates the position of Kuflew and awaits the enemy
at Bady.--Battle of Minsk.--The enemy suddenly evacuates
his position.--Reflections on this stage of the conflict.--Positions
of the two armies. 271

CHAPTER XVIII.

General Skrzynecki resumes the offensive.--He decides to adopt an
enlarged plan of operations, and to make the revolutionized provinces
supply the place of a corps d'armee.--The corps of Chrzanowski
is sent to occupy the Russian corps of Witt and Kreutz.--Admirable
execution of this enterprise.--Attack on Kock.--Attack
of Rudiger's camp.--Plan of operations by the main army
against the Russian guard.--Forced march from Kaluszyn by
Praga to Serock.--Advanced post of the guard attacked and defeated.--The
corps of Saken is cut off.--The 2d division under
Gielgud sent into Lithuania.--The imperial guard are driven
with great loss beyond the frontier.--Retrograde movement. 283

CHAPTER XIX.

The Lithuanians compel two Russian corps to evacuate
Samogitia.--Operations of general Chlapowski in the department of
Bialystok.--Capture of Bielsk.--Defeat of a Russian force at Narewka
and expulsion of the enemy from the department.--Recapitulation
of the forces which had been sent into Lithuania.--Operations of
the main army.--Attempt of marshal Diebitsch to intercept Skrzynecki
on his retrograde march, by a diversion to Ostrolenka.--General
Lubinski surprises the Russian advanced guard at Czyzew.--Marshal
Diebitsch attacks the Polish rear-guard at Kleczkowo.--The
rear-guard quits its position at night, and joins the
main army at Ostrolenka.--Battle of Ostrolenka. 298

CHAPTER XX.

Operations of the Lithuanian corps.--Battle of Raygrod and defeat
of the Russian corps of Saken.--Importance of this first success
in Lithuania.--General Gielgud neglects to follow up his advantages.--He
loses time by passing the Niemen at Gielgudyszki,
and enables the enemy to concentrate his forces in Wilno.--Entrance
into Lithuania and reception by the inhabitants.--Position
of the two main armies.--The Russian forces remain inactive and
receive supplies from Prussia.--Death of marshal Diebitsch. 313

CHAPTER XXI.

General Gielgud advances into Lithuania.--Allows a Russian corps
to pass within a league of him unperceived.--Operations on
Wilno.--Enumeration of our present force.--Plan of a simultaneous
attack upon Wilno on opposite sides by the corps in two
divisions.--General Dembinski engages the enemy with the
smaller part of the corps.--Being unsupported by Gielgud, is
forced to retreat.--General Gielgud attacks Wilno.--Battle of
Wilno.--A retreat is commenced.--Prodigious efforts of the Polish
cavalry in protecting this retreat.--Consequences of the repulse
from Wilno.--The removal of general Gielgud is called for.--General
Chlapowski consents to take the virtual command of
the corps, in the post of chef d'etat major.--Consideration on
the state of things consequent to the battle of Wilno.--Details
of the admirable plan of operations proposed by colonel Valentin. 328

CHAPTER XXII.

Operations of the main army.--Expedition under Jankowski.--General
Chrzanowski having driven Rudiger from his position, crosses
the Vistula, but returns to act in concert with general Jankowski
against the enemy near Kock.--Details of general Jankowski's
movement.--He remains inactive within sight of the fire of the
corps with which he was to co-operate.--Other evidences of
treason.--Generals Jankowski and Bukowski are arrested and
ordered for trial.--View of the advantages that were sacrificed
by this misconduct.--Discovery of a plot to liberate and arm the
Russian prisoners at Warsaw, and to deliver the city to the enemy.
--State of the public mind induced by these events. 342