The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 16, 1863

THE POLISH INSURRECTION.

PARIS, Saturday.

The Moniteur of this morning, after alluding in
its bulletin to the contradictory despatches respect-
ing the resignatiors of the Polish Councillors of
State, says :
"Positive information permits us to state, that
the Archbishop of Warsaw is amongst the number
of the members who have tendered their resigna-
tions,"

In to-day's sitting of the Senate, M. Larabit
read the report of the committee upon the petition
in favour of Poland. The committee has arrived
at the following conclusions.
In view of the present position of affairs, and of
the negotiations which have been entered upon, the
committee, convinced by the communications which
it has received, feels persuaded that the Govern-
ment of the Emperor has done, and will continue to
do, all that is just, and possible, and politic, in
favour of Poland. The committee is, therefore, of
opinion that it would be neither necessary nor jus-
tifiable to recommend the Ministry to take the
petitions into consideration, and for this reason
proposes to the Senate by a large majority to leave
the matter to the decision of the wisdom of the
Emperor, and to pass to the order of the day.

The Senate will discuss the conclusions of the
report on Tuesday next.

PARIS, Sunday.

La France of this evening asserts that the Dic-
tator, Langiewicz, has accredited official agents to
dll foreign Governments to protect the interests of
the insurrectionary Government of Poland.
Messages received here from Vienna announce that
Prince Metternich arrived to-day in that capital,
and was to be received immediately in private
audience by the Emperor.

PARIS, Sunday Evening.
Diplomatic documents relating to Poland were
laid before the Senate to-day.
Amongst them is a despatch of M. Drouyn de
Lhuys, dated 26th March, 1855, addressed to
Count Walewski, at that time ambassador of
France in London. The despatch calls to mind
that in 1831 the Emperor Nicholas released him-
self from the obligations towards Europe imposed
upon him by the treaties of 1815 with regard to
Poland. The Great Powers fully understood the
danger which might arise by the aggrandisement
of Russia, and the advantages to be derived from
returning to the treaties prohibiting Russia to pos-
sess the kingdom of Poland otherwise than as a dis-
tinct State. The despatch then continues :—" The

time appears to have arrived for reminding Russia
of the obligations she has contracted towards Europe
in reference to Poland!'

M. Drouyn de Lhuys concludes by requesting
Count Walewski to ascertain the opinion of Lord
Clarendon upon the subject.
Another despatch, addressed by Count Walewski
to Count Persigny on the 15th October, 1865, states
that Lord Clarendon entertained similar views upon
the expediency of taking advantage of passing
events to bring about," as far as possible, some
change in favour of Poland.

His lordship, however, did not think it necessary
to impose such an arrangemett as an absolute con-
ditim for the re-establishment of peace with Russia.
Another despatch communicated is from M.
Drouyn de Lhuys to M. Talleyrand, dated 17th
February, 1863. M. Drouyn de Lhuys regrets
that Prussia had departed from her neutrality, and
enumerates as inconveniences likely to result from
this resolution—that the Polish question has thereby
acquired European importance, that the idea of
unity between the different populations of the
ancient kingdom of Poland had been revived, that
a really national insurrection had been brought
about, that the Prussian Government had by this
means cast itself into serious embarrassments, and
that it had created a political situation already a
cause of grave uneasiness, and likely to prove the
source of future complication for the elbinet.
Another despatch is from M. Drouyn de Lhuys
to the Due de Montebello, dated 18th February.
This document states that the Polish question
possesses above any other the privilege of ex-
citing in France the sympathy of all classes. M.
Drouyn de Lhuys recapitulates a conversation with
Baron de Budberg, from whom he says he had not
concealed that even " despite of us events may grow
embarrassing, and the pressure of public opinion
become greater as the gravity of circumstances in-
creased."

M. Drouyn de Lhuys comments upon the hopes
aroused upon the accession of the Emperor Alexan-
der to the throne, and considers that if they should
not be realised Russia would create embarrassment
for herself, and place France in a disagreeable posi-

M. Drouyn de Lhuys, in conclusion, requests the
Duo de Montebello to lay the question in this shape
before Prince Gortschakoff.

The diplomatic documents communicated to the
Senate also include a circular of M. Drouyn de
Lhuys, dated March 1, addressed to the agents of
France abroad, in reference to the Russo-Prussian
con#ention, and stating the steps taken by France
in the matter.

WARSAW, March 13.

According to reliable information, the insurgents
under Lewandapski defeated the Russians on the
sth inst., near Bresnuka, and captured two guns.
Another body of insurgents, under Lelewel, were
also victorious near Wladowa, on the Bug, on the
7th inst., on which day the Russians sustained a
further defeat near Rataji, although in considerable
force at that place.

CRACOW, March 14.
General Langiewicz's vanguard is within a short
distance of Miechow.

SkirmisLes with the Russians took plaoe yester-
day in the immediate neighbourhood.
The Russian troops near Olkusz, Wolbrom, and
Mieohow have received reinforcements.

Considerable bodies of insurgents are posted at
Konin, under the command of Mielecki, who has
been appointed colonel by Gen. Langiewicz.

March 15.

Twelve only of the 36 members belonging to the
Council of State at Warsaw are independent of
the Government, having neither official posts nor
salaries.

MM. Wenglinski, Kurtz, Garoki, Count Kolet-
zello, General Lewinski, and Michel Lewinski have
tendered ther resignations. Six other councillors
are abroad. The members of the municipality
have resolved upon sending in their resignations,
but have not yet carried out their intention.

LEMBERG, March 14.

The greater part of the forces of Langiewicz are
posted near Miechow, where engagements between
the Russian and Polish vanguards took place yes-
terday.
The inalll rection is gaining ground in the Govern-
ment of Kalisch.
It is asserted that the insurrection has broken out
in Podolia, and that several thousand insurgents are
posted near Bar.
MORN, March 15.

A state of siege has been proclaimed in the cities
and districts of Pinsk, Sluck, and Novogrudek, in
the Government of Minsk.

(From the Correspondent of the Times.)
PosEN, March 12.

Fights abound in every direction, and rebellion
is deepening and extending as time rolls on. This
is hardly a favourable moment for casting a retro-
spective glance at the events of the past ; but if the
Polish tactics have been so far successful a survey
of their achievements may be interesting as a key
to the probabilities of the future. I have selected
for this purpose the mlitary career of Genaral Lan-
giewicz, as being the most prominent instance of
guerilla warfare under the peculiar circumstances
of the case.

The first reunion of the detached bands in the

south was brought about at Wonchock, a little
town 40 miles to the south of Radom, situate in the
midst of wooded hills, and possessed of mines and
ironworks. The place afforded a favourable oppor-
tunity for the organisation of the corps, both in
point of equipment and drill. The General at that
time could .'hardly muster 1,000 muskets in his
camp. As for the rest of his force, consisting of
about 5,000 men, they had to be armed with scythes
and swords, the greater parr of the production of
their own hands in the furnaces of Wonchock. But
there is an end even to Russian sluggishness. On
the Ist of February the General found himself at-
tacked by a column, which had been advanced from
Kielce, about 20 miles to the south-west of Won-
chock, and, although ho had the best of the fight,
the attack of another column on the day after
caused him to remove his quarters to a safer and
less accessible locality. The second Russian force
had been despatched from Radom, and the two
columns were intended to charge the General
simultaneously ; but, as we shall have occasion
to notice in the progress of events, the Russian
commanders find it impossible, as a rule, to keep
their appointments and effect their moves with
the promptness which forms the indispensable re-
quisite of a guerilla war. Slow marching is not
pe-
culiar to RUssian troops, but, hampered by the bad
roads of a Polish spring, Also timid neutrality or the
violent hatred of the inhabitants, they never reach'
their destination in time to catch the bird before it
has flown. The battle of Wonchock was announced
in the official paper as the first destruction of Gene-
ral Langiewicz.
Leaving his old haunt on the 3d of February, the
General moved on to the lion's very den. In a day's
march he reached the Lysa Gora hills, pitched tents
at Slupia and Sventi-krzyz, took up a favourable
position 25 miles south of Wonchock, and a little
less to the east of Kielce. He was now protected
by the cliffs and precipices of a limestone ridge, but
finding himself in the immediate vicinity of Kielce,
a centre of Russian operations, his quarters exposed
him to the inconveni,ence of constant sorties and
skirmishes with the enemy. Again, however, he
was allowed nine days' respite before the Musco-
vites could be brought up to the charge. It was
only on the 11th that the Russians, approaching in
two columns from Kielce and Radom, first as-
saulted the Monastery of Sventi-Krzyz (Holy
Cross), and a few hours later the Camp of Slupia.
Langiewicz, now in possession of eight guns and
1,000 rifles more, all of which had been forwarded
to him from Austria in the interval, repulsed
the attack with considerable success, and thrust-
ing the enemy out of his way, hastened in a
day and night to ,Staszow, 40 miles to the south of
Slupia and 12 miles' distance from the Austrian
frontier. His object in this precipitate march was
to keep his communication open with Austria—the
storehouse and great arsenal of insurrection in the
earlier stages of the movement. Hitherto the Gali-
cian frontier between Cracow and the Vistula had
been entirely evacuated by the Russian troops, but
as the columns which charged him at Slupia retired
towards the south the probability of being shut off
from Austria became as imminent as it would have
been perilous. He had not been mistaken in hisguess.
Hardly had he arrived at Staszow when the enemy,
advancing his columns on the east and west of his
position, endeavoured to occupy the Vistula line,
surrounding the gallant general at the same time
with a whole' cordon of detachments. His friends
were getting anxious for his safety, and the Cracow
papers calculated the consequences of a defeat.
Whatever his talents, Russian indolence, however;
materially contributed to his escape. Arriving at
Staszow on the 13th, the Russian generals did not
grudge him a leisure of several days before return-
ing to the charge. Again the interval was turned
to account by the General for procuring arms and
shoes, and increasing his cavalry to a fine force of
more than 1,000. I.have also reasons for believing
his infantry to have reached the figure of 10,000 or
so while at Staszow, but the feet baffles inves-
tigation, as the force, if it ever existed as a whole
has been immediately broken up into a number of
separate corps. On the night of the 17th Russian
preparations were so far advanced as to allow of the
despatch of a reconnoitring party to Staszow. Of
3,000 men who entered the place, 150 were left
upon the spot. Unless protected by their artillery,
the retreat must have degenerated into a flight and
the loss of the corps. But, with more sithes than
rifles, and in many cases more rifles than cartridges,
the Poles find it hard work to kill the enemy after
beating him.

On the following day the Polish camp was again
broken up. Finding the Russians gathering round
him, the General retraced his steps towards the
north, and suddenly turning to the west, approached
Kielce at a distance of seven miles or thereabouts.
The tactics of the General, as the reader will have
perceived by this time, may be reduced to a simple
formula. In a secure position, he calmly awaits
the arrival of Russian troops advancing from all
points of the compass. The inert masses being at
length drawn up in sufficient numbers to venture
an attack, the Poles, after an indecisive conflict of
an hour or two, march off in perfect order, and,
hastening over 40 miles with the utmost rapidity,
take up another position, where the old galue begins
afresh. In this wise a week or half a week's rest is
always gained for the prey, the hunter dragging
slowly along his wearied limbs and spending all his
time in marching after the game he cannot over-
take. The Poles, on the other hand, persist i❑
avoiding pitched battles. Not only would the danger
of de feat be immense, but their victories must be
always complete, and result in the death or capture
of a number of enemies. How else would it be
possible to procure arms with equal convenience
and economy ?

Passing by Kiolce, at a distance of a few miles the
General, on the 18th, intercepted a party of Rus-
sians returning from Miechow with 130 prisoners,
the proceeds of a raid among the notables of the dis •
trict. The surprise took place at Xionz, about 70
miles to the west of Staszow, and 24 hours after the
fight of the preceding morning. Far the next six
days the nimble guerilla disappears from the scene.
Dividing his force into half a dozen corps, his
manoeuvres must have infested the entire distance
between Kielce and Cracow on the one, and Kielce
and Czenstochow on the other side. In the mean-
time the Russians, who had vainly sought him at
Staszow, were pushing on from the East, while
Czenstochow, the most westerly stronghold of the
Czar, poured forth its thousands to Olkusz, on the
Galician frontier, and Wobrom, Pilice, and Zar-
nowice, in the region between Cracow and the
EtJuthern highway. Once more the net was being
I closed in upon General Langiewicz. From the
south the four towns abovcnamed had been occupied
by the Russians ; from the east his Staszow friends
were approaching as fast as nature permitted; in
the west frowned the Russian frontier, the north
being blocked up by the garrisons of Czenstochow
and Kielce, which, it was to be feared, might suc-
ceed in restoring communication between each
other. To prevent this disaster Jczioranski, one of
his captains, had been stationed at Wloszczowa, mid-
way between the two points d'appui of the Russian
force; and, before he could be overpowered by the
enemy, who was now forcing his way on to the
north, General Langiewiez, on the 23d, succeeded
in (fleeting a
,Junction with his trusty follower be-
tween Wloszczowa and Malrigoe•zez. The day before
another transport of Polish prisoners had been
recaptured by him at Cenciny, about eight miles,
distance from Malagoszcz. Twenty-four hours
after his reunion with Jezioranski the Russians
drew near from Kielce (east), Cenciny (south-east),
and Brzezy (south), either party consisting on this
occasion of 6,000 men or more. As usual Langie-
wicz, retiring to the shelter of the hills and the
woods, fought a part only of the Russians at a time.
After a bloody skirmish of several hours, the drawn
fight having yielded no decisive result, he divided
his troops into two bodies, mt3rching
himself towards

Cenciny-, and despatching Jezioranski in the opposite
direction, towards Wloszczowa and the west. The
Russians, once again disappointed in their hopes, re-
tired from the battlefield towards the east, appa-
rently desirous of placing themselves under the pro-
tection of the Kielce guns_ On this occasion the
destruction of the " band" was " G3zetted" for the
second time in the Warsa w papers. The insurgents,
it was added, were roving the country in scores, and
the peasantry ware delighted that the game was up.
As for Laugiewicz, he was wounded, and had fled
from the country.
Twenty-four hours later (2503) Langicwiez ar-
rived at Slupia, 20 miles to the south of Malo-
goszez. Neither had the Russians pursued him
from the battlefield, nor were the forces disposed on
purpose at Zarnowice and Pilica (a few miles south
of Slupia) brought up to renew the attack. Nor
did anything extraordinary happen to him, although
on the 27th he took up his quarters at Wodzislaw,
a place still nearer to Zarnowice, Pilica, and
Miechow. While staying there Colonel Cingieri,
one of the Russian commanders atWloszczowa found
it possible, however, to molest the van of the
Poles, and, if a Russian bulletin is to be credited,
conquered part of the camp. All this time, it ought
to be repeated, the 2,000 Russians at Miechow,
Pilica, and Zarnowice stirred neither hand nor foot.
The 28th found General Langiewicz at Zarki, 30
miles to the west of Wodzislaw, and in the imme-
diate vicinity of the railway line. He had now
placed himself on the very road between Czensto-
chow and the south,—a line on which the troops of
the enemy passed up and down day after day. It
appears he had been preceded in this direction by
some of his captains, and so when he arrived upon
the spot the game was opened at the same time on
several points. The chief encounter took place at
Mrzyglod (variously given as the fight of Z9mbko-
wice, Miszkow, or Mrzyglod), which, it is almost
superfinous to remark, once more resulted in moon-
shine. There was the customary volley of the Rus-
sian infantry, flip canister shot of the guns, and the
aimless galloping about of the Cossack riders. There
was the same dread of the Polish sithes among the
Russians and the same eagerness to come to close
quarters among the Poles. But if the hill cannot go
to the man, neither can the wood to the field. With
the Poles skulking among the trees and the Russians
keeping in the open, the fight, passing through the
various stages of a skirmish, was prematurely
closed on either side. The Russians, in accord-
ance with their old idiosyncrasy, declined to
charge the Polish steel ; the Poles, who would
be glad enough to come to blows, had a na-
tural aversion to traverse the distance between
the forest and the hostile lines. So, after
blazing away for an hour and sending a few
companies to the front, the contending parties with-
drew in opposite directions. Once upon the spot,
Lingiewicz availed himself of the opportunity to
demolish the railway bridge at Miszkow and tear
up the line for some distance. It is said, but lam
ignorant on what authority, that the Poles captured
four cannons in this fight. As a matter of course
the Russians set fire to Mrzyglod.

This occurred on March 1. On the 2d the Russian
corps proceeded in the direction of Olkusz (to the
south), Langiewicz following close on their heels,
and on the 4th taking up a position in the ravines
between Skala and Ojkow, eight miles distant from
the city of Cracow. Another attack being probable,
he left Jezioranski to ward off the enemy, retreat-
ing himself some little way to the east. You are
aware of what happened on the 4th. Jezioranski
having diverted the attention of the enemy, Langie-
wlicz, owing to the peculiar adroitness of his man-
osuvres, returned at the very nick of time, to take
the Russians by surprise. Skala was burnt, but the
charge of the Kossiniaires (sithemen) mowed the
Russians in swaths. Prince Bragation fled to Slom
niki, and such was the terror among the ltussians
that, Wolbrom, Olkusz, and Pelice being instantly
evacuated, his only hope of escape consists in a re-
treat to Miechow. Once more the Cracow frontier
is in the 'hands of the insurgents, and the P• lish
Eagle planted up in face of the Austrian coat of
arms.

Since then Langiewicz remains unmolested in his
camp near Olkusz, and, according to the latest in-
telligence, has been appointed Dictator. The total
of his forces in the triangle between Kielce, Czens-
tochow, and Cracow is estimated at more than
12,000 men,—an army hardly inferior in point of
numbers to the Russians opposed to him.