Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-08-29

At that epoch. King Stanslaus and the Polish
diet attempted to oppose the donlineerng influence
ot the Empress Catharinc III, and her allies
i>oSciusko was nominated General Major by tho
dict. The Sd OF May 179l tho King. and ali tho
Polish nation, adopted with enthusiasm n free
constitution, but they had neglected to solicit of
tho great Autocrut of all the Russians the pcrn.
sion of being free and happy, and she sent an army
to chastlse this people whom she already treated
rs rebels. The young prince, Joseph Poinatowskv
was intrusted with tho defence of his country
agninst the invasion OF the Russians. Kosciu,ko
held under him the command of division, per-
formed prodigcs of valor throughout all the cam
pagn and excited general enthusiasm in the army
by his brilliant conduct Mt the bloody engagement
of DCbjcnslSi. But his zeal and pure blood split
for his country, could not save her from u foreign
yoke. The weak Stanislaus, Iltindctcd hy the
.mensccs Of her who had not always shown him so
much rigor, FASTENED 10 negotiate. and at last sub
nitted to tic cutiro will Of Catherine. As soon rs
tho shameful treaty of slavery was concluded,
kosciusko, and sixteen other patriot chiefs retired
from their employmens. a short time after, he
was forced 10 exile himself from his country
subugatcd Ivy the Russians, and he retired Icip-
SIC The Legislative Assembly Of France honored
his patriotism by sending him the title of French
citizen.
In the beginning of 1891 he returned By u cir
cultous route to Poland having been informed that
| the patriots of Warsaw ready to begin rcvo-
lutionary movement and that tbero was no time e,
lose, since tho Russians disbaudonng success
siveiy all tho national troops. koscusko entered
LONn IN the month OF EeDTllTV, ut the moment
Aiadlnsky was ordered by the Russian General
Tgestrow liccniato his regiment but instead of
obeyirg. Nadulins1y unfirIed the Banner of Eihcr-
! ", and drove tho Russians FROM Cracow. On tho
S4th OF Darch tho citizens Of thgt town drew un
the act of Polish Independence, and issued their
proclanatlons in every part of the kingdom. Kos
ciusko was declared supreme chief of the nation
III forces. and invested with general dictatorship,
as well for military and civil affairs, as Tor politi-
cal relations with foreign powers. His wisdom
and moderation were well known, ard no other
limits were placed to his power save those of viz
tue He proved himself worthy of that high con
ildenco, and even his enemies could never accesc
him of making bad of!,is authority. The first
use he made OF it was TO quit Cracow, and to put
himself at the head of 1000 Incp the arms of thc
greatest part of whom pixies and scytics. With
this feeble corps, 81 without artillery he did nat hes
tate to march against 10 900 Russians amply pro
vdcd with munitions of all sorts. 7 hero was not
moment to lose; other troops of the enemy were
on the point of forming n junction with these.
koscusko eShorted his soldiers TO follow his exam
| pie, to vanquish die. He attacked tho Rnssiuns
with the grcatest inpc;uosity, near Wraclawcc,
completely defeated them, took IL pieces or can
non and made 5000 prisoners. Ills soldiers were
worthy OF their chiefs; body Of pcasants, armed
| only with sytiles, precipitstng them
selves on the Russian batteries, ana carrying them
off.
After several successful ACTORS no repaired TO
| Warsaw to organize the government, but the mp
proach of new and formidable army forced him
| TO quit it to engage again in fresh con,Sats-Tle
! Kin. Of Prussia entered Poland at the head of an
army of 80, 900 men; hosc;tsko had but about
| $4,000 to oppose him. he was, however, bold
enough to attack the Prussinns near Sczckocny
on the memorable 9Th of June. The battle ,gas
| bloody, ana victory long undecided. After having
two horses killed under him, and lost great num-
Der OF men, koscIusko succeeded, however, in oc-
cupying that town, which the Pr:lssians could not
take. The King OF Prussia having united fresh
forces, with whom several Russisu corps had form.
ed ;.inction, Immediately invested Tie &c, "a But
! I,,,o lille e.,
art to reduce il; the citizens were ncnaced with
total destru cton; the Polish officers were offered
the continuation Of their ranks and now favors if
| they would abandopkosciusko. They all renewed
their oath TO conquer perish with him. During
two months TIE most sangunary engagements
took place every day. general assault was at
length resolved on; but the patriots repulsed the
prussiars with considerable loss Frederick VIII
liam tten himself obliged so raise tho sieme
l and to retire with all haste to Prlssian Poland
| where general instruction had broken forth
osciusSo detached several corps in pursuit OF him
and was preparing to place hnseif at the head of
n tlttlo army to penetrate into Lthuania. Bat tho
Russian General, Suy: arrow become since so ia
nous, had already entered that province, and had
defeated the patriot Sicracowshi near Brzosc. On
the other hand, Gen Fersen advanced rapidly at
the head OF n considerable body TO Join Slwarroy7
! KOscius1o resolved nj all hazards to prevent
| this Junction. no left Warsaw in September, but
fortune, that had till then seconded his valoT soon
! betrayed him. The orders he had sent to Cen Po-
of that chief could not join him. and the important
pass of river forced by the Russians; at last
on the 9th of October, Kosciusko was attacked by
the army of emerson, three times superior to his
own. The battle of Mackowice, the most bloody
the most fatal 10 tho Poles, lasted an entire dav
the Russians twice repulsed, and prodirios of
vaior, rendered The fortune of the day doubtful
when hoscus!lo fell scnsecss pierced with wounds
lie had made his attendants swear not to abandon
him living to the power Of the Russians and it is
asserted some Polish horsemen, not being able to
rescue his body, struck him with their sabres on
tho head and left him for dead on the field Of bat.
tle-Fhe Cosaqnes were already preparing to strip
his body, when he WIS recognized by some officers
As soon as the name of Kosciusko was pronounced,
even the Cosaques themselves testified the respect
due to courage and misfortune all the aid OF art
was avishcd on him, and he was treated with the
greatest regard. But an order arrived to have
him transported to Pctersburgh, where Cathar me-
VINO was sometimes generous, but then too much
Irritatod tn be SO, had him plunged into dungeon
tic would without dozbt, have Terminated his o.
recr IN prison, augmented the number OF wretch
cd Poles who already languishcd in tho deserts of
Siberia, II The death of the Empress had not come
to change his destiny.
One OF she FIRST acts of Paul /. was 20 render
homage 70 the virtues of Kosciuslyo lie not only
Immediately set him at liberty, hit granted him o.
pension, which the noble Pole would not touch
ana the brevet of which he sent back as soon as
nc reached soil beyond the fear of Russian infu-
cnce. When his numerous wounds were healed,
hosciusko repaired to America, where he was re-
ceIvnd as 4 citizen hero should bc, who had been
lavish OF his blood IN the worlds for the sacrod
| cause OF liberty. In 1897 he returned to France
where The Same honors awaited him; at Paris eve
ry faction united in celebrating his arrival and his
I