Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-02-18
BATH MAINE THURSDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 1S 1S41

ca nun win Inc rights OF French citizen.
But his fellow countrymen were still anxious to
make another struggle for independence, and they
unanimously selected Kosciusko as their chief
and generaiissimo. lie obeyed the call, and
found the patriots eager to combat under his or
ders. Even the noble Joseph Ponatowski, who
had previously commanded in chief, returned from
France, whittier he had retired and received from
the hands of kosciusko the charge of por ton OF
his army
The patriots had risen in the north of Poland
to which part Kosciusko first directed his steps
| Anxious to begin his campaign with some bold
action, he marched rapidly to Cracow, which
town he entered trumphantly on the oath of
March, 1874. He forthwith published a mani
testo against the Russians and then, at the head
OF only five thousand men, marched to meet their
army. On the 4th of April he encountered ten
thousand Russians at place called WracIawc.
and entirely defeated them after combat of four
hours. He returned in triumph to Cracow, and
shortly afterward marched along the left bank of
the Vistula to Polanec, where he established his
head quarters.
Meanwhile the inhabitants of Warsaw, animal
/
countrymen, had also raised the standard of in
dependence, and were successful in driving the
Russians from the city, after murderous coe-
flct of three days. In Lithuania and Samogitia
an equally successful revolution was effected be-
fore the end of April; while the Polish troops
stationed at Volhynia and Podolia marched to
the reinforcement of Koscusko
Thus far
cause of Polish freedom; the scene was, howev-
er about to change The undaunted Kosciusko,
having first organized national council to con-
duct the affairs of Government again advanced
against the Russians. On his march he met a
new enemy, in the person of the faithless Fred
eric William of Prussia, who, without even going
through the preliminary of declaring war, had
advanced into Poland at the head of forty thous-
and men.
kosciusko, who had but thirteen thousand men
attacked the Prussian army on the 9Th of June at
Szceociny. The battle was long and bloody; at
length, overwhelmed by numbers he was obliged
to retreat towards Warsaw. This he effected in
so able manner, that his enemies did not dare to
harrass him in his march; and he effectually COW
Cicu lHc dHu MS position Tor
two months against desperate and continued at
tacks. Immediately after this reverse, the Polish
general Zaionczeck lost the battle of Cheln, and
the Governor of Cracow had the baseness to de-
liver the town to the Prussians without attempt
ing defence.
These disasters occasioned disturbances among
the disaffected at Warsaw, which, however, were
do, h,,t
On the 18th of July, the combined forces of Prus-
siq and Russia, amounting to fifty thousand men
assembled under the walls of Warsaw and CON-
menced the seige of that city. After six weeks
spent before the place, and succession of bloody
conflicts, the confederates were obliged to raise
the sege but this respite to the Poles was but
of short duration.
The enemies increased fearfully in number.
while their own resources diminished Austria.
now determined to assist in the humiliation of
Poland, had caused body Of her troops to enter
that kingdom. Nearly at the same moDent the
Russians ravaged Lthuana; and the new corps
of the Russian army, commanded by Suwarofand
Fersen, effected their junction in spite ofthe bat
tie of Krupezyce, which the Poles had ventured
upon with doubtful issue against the first of these
commanders on the 10th of September.
Upon receiving intelligence of these events.
Kosciusko left Warsaw, and placed himself at the
head of the Polish army. He attacked by
the very superior forces of the confederates, Oct.
10th 1884, at place called Macieowice, and for
many hours supported the combat against
whelming odds At length he was severely
wounded and as he fell he uttered the prophetic
words " Finis PoioniG.'" 1t is asserted that be
had exacted from his followers oath not to suf-
fer him to fall alive into the hands of the Rus
slams, and that in consequence, the Polish caval-
ry, being unable to carry him off, inflicted some
severe sabre wounds on him, and left him for
dead on the field; savage fidelity, which we
half admire in condemning it. Be this as it may
he was recognized and delivered from the plum
derers by Cossack chiefs and thus was
saved from death to meet scarcely preferable
ate-imprisonment in a Russian dungeon.
Thomas Wawrzecki became the successor of
Kosciusko in the command of the army: but, with
the loss of the ir heroic leader, all hope had
deserted the breasts of the Poles. They still,
however, fought with all the obstinacy of despair
and defended the suburb of Warsaw, called Praga
with great gallantry. At leagth this post was
wrested from them. Warsaw itself capitulated
on the 9th of November, 1894 and this calamity
was followed by the entire dissolution of the Po-
lish army on the 18th of the same month.