Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-03-18

upon the arsenal, ana having feifeo oSied'eo
and dispiriied beyond the Vistula, under the
influence Of the panic with which they had
been seized. they solicited. by their command
er, the Arch Duke Constantine, safe conduct
beyond the Polish frontier This request was
granted on condition they should not again re-
turn. In the mean time the Polish army was
furnished with General in Chief When the
news of our revolution had reached the coun-
try, il produced the most astonishing results
The gold and jewels Of the wealthy were
poured into the public treasury; the peasants,
armed with scythes. focked to our standard. led
on by troops Of our joyous country gii's, sing
ing our national songs, and with sickles in
their industrious hands. in this way an addi-
tional army of 10000 men was soon IN readi-
ness. Major Tochman then related several
anecdotes, indicative Of the character OF the
Polish people, and the nature OF the revolution,
which we cannot report with accsracy, from
the difficulty we had 10 distinguishing the names
of the persons alluded to. The lecturers ac-
cent was such that we found il impossible 10
do more than give an outline Of his, remarks.
preserving. however. their character and spirit.
Our leaders (coninued the speaker certain
ly committed several blunders, but these are
evils 10 which all revolutions are subject They
cannot be thrown upon our nation as reproach,
and can only be attributed to The natural weak
ness and imperfeclion Of man IN the general.
In the gigantic power of the Russian armies,
they were impressed with the necessity of the
concentration Of power ON their part. and they,
therefore, established a dictatorship, which
proved to be weaker than our provisional gov
eminent. Our chief. by negotiating with Nj
cholas, gave him time TO collect his forces, and
did incaIculable injury to our cause. new
government succeeded the dictatorship. and its
frs, act was TO dehrone the Emperor Nicholas.
This act astonished all Europe, and was no
sooner promulgated than the clang Of DOR arms
resounded from the Carpaihian mountains to
every extremity of our country. The Polish
provinces. under the dominion Of Metternich
and Frederick William. prepared TO follow our
example; but not wishing 10 contend single
handed against the combined powers Of Aus
iria. Russia and Prussia, we persuaded them
10 desis,; and thus, under the principles Of non
Intervention. we succeeded in preventing our
selves from being embroied with a combination
of despois. Bot the impulse given 10 our
people was overwhelming. The whole nation
was aroused. Even the women engaged in
raising forces. and taking command of them.
One was created colonel, another captain,
others lieuienanis, and 10 one instance lady
was the first lieutenant OF troop in which her
husband was second lieutenant. and subject TO
her command. Applause and laughter.)
Every thing valuable belonging to private
persons was thrown into The public Golfers, and
even the antique bells of the nation descended
from their towers and were cast into cannon.
Nicholas. enraged at this, and trembling with |
fear, issued maDlfestoes. and he Immediately |
commenced moving his european and Asiaiie |
hordes even from the confines OF the u raj noun
tains upon the frontiers Of Poland. On the |
18th Of February, 1881, al army OF 100000
men. onder Marshal Diebitch. the hero Of the
Balcan, accompanied by train of 400 pieces
of artillery, ente.ed the country. For one whole
night several thousand of them, with 20 pieces
of cannon. were held in check ut one of the
passes Of the river Liwiec by the heroic Wys-
ocki, at this time advanced TO the rank of Ma
jor. with only 500 men and bu. two pieces OF
artillery. So severe and determined was the
defence, that the Russian commander was CON-
PEELED to ask himself question similar TO that
OF Xerxes at the pass Of Thermopyle, il such
a resistance is made by mere handful at the
start, how shall we encounter the 60 600 infu-
rated Poles who are armed and banded 10 the
in,eriorl The whole Russian army, however,
advanced upon our lines. which was defended
by Gen. Skrzynecki pronounced Shree-nets-ke
with the accent on the second sylable) with a
portion of our army.
The contest was long and bloody, but with !
out results. Marshal Diebilch. finding he could
make no Roadway. demanded a truce. which /
was granted. and the Poles employed the in |
ierval in rejoicings. Preparations were also
made for the attack. which it was known the
Russians madi,aled at the end of the truce.
The moment, the time had elapsed, the expect
ed onse, commenced with the bombardment of
our lines by 400 pieces of artillery, and the adj |
vance Of the whole Muscovite army of 200, 900
men. They were received by our troops with |
an undaunted front: nine times was our strong |
hold taken and re.taksn, and the suburb of
Praya was in flames. Al about 4 o'clock in
the afternoon the commander in chief was des- |
peraiely wounded. and carried from the field. |
Our troops began TO give way; our artillery
ceased firing and commenced retreat. and
every thing beiokened ruin TO our couse. when |
Skrxynecki took command, made a diversion |
which allowed our soldiers time to rally. post /
ed our auillery almost 10 the flames of Paga; |
and when the Russian soldiers were advancing
flushed with victory, he opened npon them a /
deadly fire of grape and canister; threw them /
into confusion, and completed the yieiefy by
determined charge of horse and foo, upon their
astonished columns. Diebiieh commenced
preoiplate retreat, and the nex,day Skryznecki
was raised TO the chief command of the Polish |
army. Major TOchman then proceeded to no
tice the victory at 0strolensa wbere the Grand |
Duke Michael escaped By the skin ofhis teeth. |
and after relating some anecdotes illustrative |
of the terror which the prowess Of the Poles, /
particularly Of the cavalry Of the krakowse's, /
had inspired the MaseOvi,es. he went on to