The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-11 00:00:00

THE INSURRECTION IN POLAND,

(From ae limes' Special Correspondent.)

BRESLAU, April 7.
The Poles have returned to guerilla tactics, and
military events are comparatively scarce. This is a
remark equally applying to all parts of the country.
From the nature ofl this kind of warfare it is not
only hind work for the pursuer to come up with the
pursued, but even when caught and brought to a
momentary stand the rebel will give him no oppor-
tunity for a decisive and ringing blow. Thus, while
tussles abound, there may be a want of fights and
serious encounters. That this is the state of things
in the present lull will be shown by a survey of last
fortnight's actions.
The National Government is of opinion that to
surrender to Russia would be the worst policy to be
hit upon. They place some reliance upon France,
and are, on the other hand, assured that the crime
of rebellion will be as little forgiven by the Czar now
as atter a few months' continued indulgence. With
the nobility and townspeople continuing at their
disposal they have as yet no lack of ardent patrio's
to fight the desperate fight they have entered upon.
Both the patriotism of the people and the dread of
their terrible messengers keep them in cash and
supply the moderate sinews of war required. In a
country like Poland, where the prevalence of poverty
is in direct ratio to the absence of wants and a relish
for war, it is not very surprising, after all, that a
might flame should have been kindled by the Tartar
Government of a soi-disant European Power. To
calculate its duration is in many respects, however,
a purely psychological task.
But for the want of arms ten times the present
number of insurgents might be sent to the field.
The majority are artisans and journeymen la-
bourers, with a strong ingredient of youngsters from
the educated class. Of peasants, those only along
the Prussian frontier and of Lithuania have been as
yet gained over for the cause. In Cracow, Radom,
and Lublin, more especially, the agricultural popu-
lation is too deeply steeped in ignorance and bru-
tality to take up any cause advocated by the lords
of the soil. The early approach of summer will
necessarily bestow considerable advantages on the
guerilla troops.
When Langiewicz fell the Russians were too ex-
hausted to follow up the pursuit with the extreme
rapidity required. They would have been compe-
tent enough to beat him in battle, but to run after
thn dispersed troops, besides being out of their way,
was no easy job after the incessant marching that
preceded success. Thus we find them requiring a
week to move on to the Austrian frontier, and
occupy the more important places in sufficient
strength. As the reader may recollect, the force
assembled to insure the capture of General Lan-
gicwicz amounted to 15,000 or 20,000 men. The
object being partly obtained, about one-half were
marched off to Kielce and Lublin, the other being
reserved for disposal along the boundary line ; but
it was not before the end of March that the latter
movement had been fully executed, and garrisons
provided for a dozen points admitting of passage
to and from with the greatest ease. Proceeding
from the West, garrisons were, by the Ist of
April, provided at length for Sosnowice, Micha-
lowioe, Macki, Olkusk, Skala, Michow, Pros-
nowice, Ignolomia, Tzyce, Strzmieszyce, Strs-
zow, Stobnica, and a few other places, all situate
within a distance of 20 miles, and intended to seal
up intercourse with the heart of rebellion in the
South. In addition to the 8,000 men thus em-
ployed as many more have been formed into flying
columns of about 1,000 each, and are engaged in
scouring the country, south of Kielce, between the
northward course of the Vistula and the Prussian
frontier. Several thousand more are kept in reserve
at Kielce, Radom, and Czenstochow.
I have repeatedly alluded to the fact that the
concentration of this powerful force has been only
possible at the cost of authority in the North, Plock,
Podlachia, and Augustowo had to be drained of half
their garrisons to allow of more efficient measures
being adopted in Cracow and Sandomir. We sha

soon perceive, however, an apparent discrepancy
existing as yet between effort and effect. The loca-
lity is cleared of Polish forces, but it is chiefly be-
cause they have split up into diminutive bands. So

far from having entirely disappeared, they have
only multiplied, and partly, it is true, shifted the
scene of their activity a short distance inland. It is
evident something more is required to cope with re-
bellion than to adopt a rational system, and do the
several districts individually with an overpowering
force. Over and above the system there is agility
wanted in the men and decision in the leaders. If
it took them a week to dispose themselves along the
border line after the catastrophe of Welce, we can-
not but infer that, though their ultimate victory re-
mains the more probable alternative provided the
right system be persevered in, the bands will yet
give the Russians a deal of trouble even in the
counties of Cracow and Sandomir. By a report re-
cently circulated they have begun forming guerilla
volunteers, drawing better pay and enjoying higher
privileges than the rest of the soldiery ; but the
Russian is too indolent and has too little of indivi-
dual character to achieve any remarkable feats in a
hurry, and when left to his own resources in small
detachments. He fights well enough in a regiment,
bat his courage forsakes him in a patrol.
Having taken this rapid glance at the Russians,
we now turn to the insurgents, and the state of the
cause in the old roving ground of their fugitive
chict Of the 10,000 men remaining with Langie-
wicz on the morning of his flight, about 1,000
Effected their escape to Lysa Gora and the hills of
Swiety Krzyz. There they continue unmolested,
under Czachowski and Dowgiello, having been at-
tacked but once, on venturing from the hills, at
Kozienica, on the 25th and 26th. Their menacing
Kielce, reported the other day, seems to have taken
place only in the fancy of enthusiastic admirers;
yet they have managed to keep the Russians in
constant alarm for a distance of 20 miles, and, in a
particular case, created considerable 1112 t, finess as
far as Miechow, whence a detachment was actually
sent to the assistance of the northern garrisons. Of
the remaining thousands a third part have entirely
disappeared from sight, and, as the Polish papers
hint, are re-forming in some mysterious locality.
Many of them have probably fallen in the heat of
pursuit, and others may be hidden, and passed off
for respectable artisans by the townspeople of the
neighbourhood. An equal number, it is computed,
sought refuge in the woods and hills of the border,
breaking up into small detachments, and clinging
together, if not from fear, from courage. About 3000,
which is the residue to be accounted for, crossed the
frontier, seeking protection in Austrian territory.
1,000 of these—always speaking in round numbers—
never gave themselves up to the authorities ; but,
finding food and shelter among their Galician compa-
triots, disposed of themselves according to pleasure.
Again, those who fell into the hands of the authorities
did not, by any means, intend staying there for good
and all. 2,000 the Kaiser received with open arms,
but about 1.200 he allowed to depart again. En-
couraged by the agents of the Cracow Committee,
and fired by the enthusiasm of the Galician
townspeople, the gallant fugitives seem to have
wended their way back almost upon the day of
their arrival on Austrian ground. Having been
left in convenient vicinity of the frontier, the return
took place along the entire distance from Cracow
to Sitniawa and Opatowice. They went in bands
from 20 to 30, dug out the arms they had concealed
before leaving Poland, and collected in the woods,
ready to begin the old game afresh. They have
been all told, however, by the committees that, if
holding out but a little longer, they will be sup-
ported by the French and avenged upon those horrid
Muscovites they have been taught to fear and learnt
to despise in the course of so many suicidal wars.
With this charming prospect in view, and the giddy
Polish blood boiling in their veins, what else is re-
quired to convert them into eo many ardent war-
riors eager for the fight ?
From the 24th, when the Russians fired upon an
Austrian railway train while passing the frontier,
the returning insurgents ever proved the plague of
the hardly pacified district. The train coming from
Cracow was to be stopped at Macki, the border
town and Customhouse of the locality,
but, in spite
of several discharges, ran on, setting down its insur-
gent load at a short distance from the disappointed
picket. On the 25th and 26th Czachosyski, rein-
forced probably by the tide flowing in a different