Battle of Krzykawka Battle of Krzykawka was a military engagement that took place during the January Uprising on May 5 , 1863 , between Russian forces and Polish insurgents and foreign ( French and Italian ) volunteers allied with them . It took place close to the village of Krzykawka near Olkusz . The Polish forces were led by general Józef Miniewski and included the Italian Garibaldi Legion under the command of Francesco Nullo . The outcome of the engagement was a victory for the Russian forces . Background . Francesco Nullo , a fighter for the Italian reunification , was also a supporter of the Polish cause . Nullo , with a selected cadre of volunteers ( sometimes known as the Garibaldi Legion ) , reached Kraków in April 1863 . They were incorporated into the unit of colonel Józef Miniewski . The Legion crossed the borders of Congress Poland on the night of May the 3rd and the 4th near Ostrężnica and Czyżówka , after organizing in Krzeszowice . Early in the morning of the 4th the unit ' s first battle in Poland occurred at Podłęże where it defeated a Russian force ( the garrison from Olkusz ) . With a Polish unit commanded by colonel Miniewski , he marched on Olkusz . In the night of May the 4th to 5th or in the early morning of May the 5th they reached Krzykawka , where they set up a camp . Battle . Soon after setting a camp on the morning of the 5th the insurgents were attacked by Russian troops coming from Olkusz . Miniewski was the overall Polish commander . Nullo commanded the right wing , and count Czapski , the left . The insurgents numbered about 600 soldiers , divided into four companies ; the unit had only a dozen or so cavalrymen . Polish forces included the twenty or so Italians from the Garibaldi ' s Legion and several French volunteers , remnants of the Zouaves of Death . Russian forces were composed of three companies ( 7th and 9th companies of the Vitebsk Infantry Regiment and the 4th Company of the 7th Riflemen Battalion ) and were commanded by prince Szachowski , commander of the Olkusz garrison . At first , both sides kept at distance , about 250 meters , and exchanged sporadic fire . Nullo , worried that the Russians may be trying to outflank the insurgents , ordered a charge . In the first stage of the battle , the insurgents pushed the Russian troops back in close fighting ; but subsequent Russian reinforcements consisting of three companies turned the tide and the insurgents and their foreign allies suffered heavy casualties and were forced to retreat . The battle lasted until two in the afternoon . Nullo was mortally injured , hit by a Cossack bullet while preparing ( or leading - sources vary ) a charge he ordered ; he had only time to whisper , in Bergamo dialect : " So ' mort ! " ( I ' m dead ) . Polish commander Miniewski also died ; Nullo ' s adjutant , Elia Marchetti was mortally wounded and died two days later . Prisoners including some Italians were deported to Siberia , among them were Nullo ' s friend from Bergamo , Luigi Caroli and Giovanni Rustici from Corniglio . Remembrance . Today , near the village , on the battlefield called " Nullo ' s Field " , a monument commemorates the fallen insurrectionists and their foreign allies .