Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-13

The Polish lnsurrection.
The following correspondence of the London
Times gives the latest accounts received of the
military operations in Poland:
PosEN, March l2
The first reunion of the detached bands in the
south was brought about at Wouchock. little
town As miles to the south of Radon, situate in
the midst of wooded hills, and possessed of mines
and ironworks. The place afforded favorable
opportunity for the organization of the corps
both in point Of equipment and drill. The Cen
eral at that time could hardly muster 900 mus
kets in his camp As for the rest Of his force,
consisting of about 5000 men, they had to be
armed with sehythes and swords, the greater part
the production Of their own hands in the furnaces
of Wonchock. But there is an end even to Rus
sian sluggishness.
On the lst of February the General found him
self attacked by column, which had been ad-
vanced from Kielce. about 20 miles to the south
west Of WOnchock, and, although he had the
best of the fight, the attack of another column
on the day after caused him to remove his quar-
tiers to a safer and less accessible locality. The
second Russian force had been dispatched from
Radon, and the two columns were intended to
charge the General simultaneously; but, as we
shall have occasion to notice in the progress of
events, the Russian commanders find il inipossi-
Bile. as u rule. to keep their appointments and
effect their moves with the pr0mDtness which
forms the indispensable requisite of a guerrilla
war. Slow marching is not peculiar to Russian
troops. but, hampered by the bac roads of a Pol
ish spring. the timid neutrality or the violent
hatred of the inhabitants, they never reach their
destination in time to catch the bird before it has
flown. The battle of Wonchock was announced
in the official paper as the first destruction OF
General LangiewicZ.
Leaving his old haunt on the Sd of February,
the General moved on the lions very den In a
DAYS march, he reached the Lvsa Goras hills,
pitched tents at Slupia and Svent krzyz. took up
favorable position twenty-five miles south of
WonchOck, and little less to the east of Kiece.
he was now protected by the cliffs and precipices
of limestone ridge. but finding himself in the
immediate vicinity Of Kiecle. centre of Russian
operations. his quarters. exposed him to the in
convenience of constant sorties and skirmishes
with the enemy Again, however, he was allow
ed nine days respite before the Muscovites could
be brought up To the charge. IL WIS only on the
llth, that the Russians approaching in two col.
umns from Kielce and Radon. first assaulted the
Monastery of Sventi- krzyz. Holy Crossl and a
few hours later. the Camp Of Slupia. Langie
wicz, now in possession of eight guns and 900
rifles more. all Cf which had been forwarded to
him, in the Interval. from Austria. repulsed with
considerable success the attack and thrusting the
enemy out of his way. hastenei in a day and
night TO StasZOw, about forty miles to the south
of Siupia and twelve miles distant from the Aas
trian frontier
His object in this precipisate march was to keep
his communications open with Austria-the store
house and great arsenal of insure etion in the
earlier stages of the movement. Hitherto, the
Galican frontier between Cracow and the Vistula
had been entirely evacuated by the Russian
troops: but as the columns which charged him at
Slupia, retired towards the South the probability
of being shut off from Austria became as immi-
nent as it would have been perilous. He had
not been mistaken in his guess. Hardly had he
arrived at StaszOw, when the enemy advancing
his columns on the east and west Of his position,
endeayored to occupy the Yistula line. surround
ing the gallant General at the same time with a
whole Gordon of detachments. His friends we're
getting anxious for his safety. and the Cracow
papers calculated the consequences Of defeat.
Whatever his talents, Russian Incidence, how
ever. contributed materially TO his escape. AR
irving at Staszow on the 18th. the Russian Gen
erals did not grudge him leisuse of several days
before returning to the charge.
Again the interval was turned to account by
the General for procuring arms and shoes, and
increasing his cavalry to fine force of a thou
sand and more ! have also my reasons for be
leving his infantry 10 have reached the respecta-
BILE figure Of 10000 or so while at Staszow, but
the fact battles investigation. the force, il il
ever existed as a whole, has been Immediately
broken up into a number Of separate corps. On
the night of the l7th Russian preparations were
so far advanced as to allow of the dispatch of a
accommodating party to Staszow. OF 1900 men
who entered this place. $50 were left upon the
spot. Unless protected by their artillery, the re
treat must have degenerated into a fight and the
loss Of the corps. But, with more scythes than
rifles, and in many cases more rifles than cart
ridges, the Poles find 1t hard work TO kill the en-
emy after beating him.
On the following dav the Polish camp was
again broken up Finding the Russians gather
ing sround him. the General retraced his steps
toward the north, and. suddenly turning to the
vest, approached Kielce at distance Of seven
miles or thereab6uts The tactics of the Gener
al as the reader will have perceived by this time
may be reduced to a simple formula. In Sc
cure position be calmly awaits the arrival o
Russian troops advancing from all points of the
compass. The inert masses being at length
brought up in sufficient numbers 10 venture ar
attack, the Poles, after an indecisve conflict 0
an hour or two, march of in perfect order land
Fastening over 40 miles with the utmost rapidty
take up another position, where the old game be
gins afresh In this wise week or half week,
rest is always gained for the prey. the hantel
dragging slowly along his varied limbs anc
spending all his time in marching after the game
he cannot overtake. The Poles, on the ofhel
hand, persist in avoiding pitched battles. No
only would the danger Of defeat be immense, but
their victories must be always complete and re-
sult in the death or capture Of number Of enc
mics. How else would il be possible to procure
arms with equal convenience and economy
Passing by Kielce, at a distance Of few miles
the General. on the 18th. intercepted party o
Russians returning from Miecbow with 100 pris
oners, the proceeds Of raid among the notable'
q tne District The surprise took place a
Aionz' about ~ miles 70 the west of Staszow