New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-06-20
RUSSIA AND POLAND.
Adventures of a Polish veteran.


We translate for The Tribune from the
Leipsic Grcn:6oten, the following thrilling
and characteristic sketch Of military lie.
Never before have we seen the utter hatred
a Pole bears the Russian Emperor 50 power
fully illustrated
Although the war with Denmark was a
surely German affair, and hence allowed no foreign
officer IA the army as general rule still few Poles
and Hunqarians were received a volunteers. There
was an old Pole, whom knew as a subaltern infant
nv officer IN the spring OF 1850 He was q singular
phenomenon, TO be sure, exciting lively interest
~ soon as saw him. His appearance was moi a hi-
tie remarkable His long, sl'er-groy beard ana
moustaches hung down from ms thin. sharp-iea-
turcd face, from which flashed pair OF fiery blue
eyes The skin OF his face, as bright and
brown as leather. dried up and wrnkled,
showing that he had got his looks from many an
exposure TO the burning sun, and many bivouac
IN storm and rain. irightiul scar extended from
ms forehead, with dark red stripe over ms nose 10
the corner OF his mouth, dividing his face into two
oblique parts. His forehead was high and broad.
Only few iron grey locks struggled out from be-
meath ms helmet. His figure seemed made entirely
Of muscles and snews, dry withored. yet at the
little with the lef' foot in consequence OF a wound.
and the middle finger was also wanting the left
hand. But ms bearing was always erect and truly
military and however hot might be the July sun. he
carried full knapsack on n twelve hours march,
walking OF with this heavy load as n he had
been born With It on ms back. His dress M
spite of dusty marches and rainy bNouacs,
was always clean and tidy and ms arms
bright as If they had just come ont of the shop.
The picture at An old veteran of NaDolCOnS Imperial
Guard was completed by the cross OF the Legion of
Honor and a Spanish order. As soldier, ne pos
sesscd rare fidelity to duty, thorough knowledge
Of tie service, and the most quiet courage. on
could not but see that he had fought on many a
bloody field Daring the warm work AT id>leut ne
highly distinguished himself. lie was a. quiet n The
midst OF the enemys Ere as II ne was not ma the least
d,,turhcd bv the whstine Of the Danish bUllet>,
the duh growl ofthe cannon balls The men OF his
command asserted that they once heard him say he
would never shoot Danish soldier unless obliged
10 de 81, but would pick GA, only the oihcor," II Is
said among them that the General OF the hostile
army, schcppogrcl was killed. 10y his shot and many
eve witnesses testify that ON the retreat az idSt"d
Two other Danish officers were shot by hmm.
Ills general department Was marked by an a>trln-
gent silence Although hc spoke the German language
iocrably well but with foreign accent, he would
never pronounce "A word. unless necessary nor had
anN one ever seen the slightest smile on his face al
the lokC> around the bNoUac fire. FOR hours long
he would III brOOding over the blaze of the watch
IRE so that If II had not been for the flash OF ms eye
which looked out upon the night, he might have been
taken for dead block of stone. Nor did ne talk any
more freely with his Polish comrades, when hc hap
pencd 10 fall IN with them lie drank no brandy eal
bu, little meat and lived or the most part ON beans
strong coffee which he prepared for himself and
bread.
The soldiers and even the officers had kyld OF
dread of the gloomy Subaltern and although they
ieemod his admirable qualities a soldier they Gd
not cotton 10 him very freely. For myself, was
strongly drawn toward the dark man, whose IRON
strength OF character expressed m ms whole up
pearOnce, and had oflen tired, without much sue
cess, To have a talk With HIM.
One day the company m which he was a corporal
had pretty smart skirm>h the outpos,s with the
Danes, m which they at last began to FIRE With
light field pieces As the enemy was retiring a ran
dom shot fred from distance and the ball took
OF both the corporal'S legs below the knee lie fell
bleeding 10 the ground With tins terrible wound ana
was taken OF by his comrades senseless.
The next morning a soldier came 10 me with rc-
quest that would &c to the wounded man. who Was
lying m neighborlng farmhouse, aS he wished 10
speak 10 me On the way, the surgeon OF the batal.
hon told me that the corporal would die within two
hours Although 1t was barely possible at first thai
he NIGH, have been saved BY amputaiing both legs
he decidedly refused his conse~i declaring that If
the amputation performed he would tear OF: the
bandageS The proposal Was ACCORDINGLY gwen up.
and modification had already set IN. which would
cause ms death IN few hours without pam
The wounded man lay covered With blanket on
the good straw bed IN the CLEAN room OF farmhouse
Speedy death stood written on ms pale features VET
he seemed 70 be Tree from pain. With pretty firm
voice ne thanked me, ma has foreign German, for COM
plying with ms wishes AMI coming to see him. tie
then said, Il have one more favor To ask before
ann buried tomorrow, Viii yoU lay under my head
this little bag with earth nom The grave OF my mother
and sweetheart" showing the same time a 'ii
lie bag of Russia leather. which hung by 4 strong
leather thong to has breast A. promised 90 10 this
a Tear Tell down his cheek, and he pressed my hand
nc 'heh 'ooA a hlile purse. m which were loul>
dor and several dollars IN SILVER handing II 20 me he
SAID Tins Is all my property Will YOU SET that II *
land out in the hospital for the ncu Pole who shall
become patient. Ny ordcrs al OF which ,,on io
the battlefield, shall go With me To my grave and
give my watch 10 the next soldier Of our battalion
who shall Distinguish himself" / promised him TO
attend faithfully 10 his wishes and inquired II hc had
any relations TO whom should announce has death.
No, one in the world, he replied with some bitter
ness then asked hun to give me a short account o.
his hie when he began IN his broken German
." was born not far from Warsaw in hiile village
on the Vistua. My father old officer who
had served under kOSciuSko, DOm0r0wSky. and
Ponio'owsky, and who had received a cross from The
Emperor himself He now hyed on small farm
and my father leased ferry over tie vi>iaa. A