defensive state, the Dictator entered into negotiation with Nicholas, against the wishes and will of the nation; and that this strange conduct of the Dictator forced the Diet to deprive him of his trust. Prince Michael Radziwil was appointed General-in-chief of the army. Prince Adas Czartoryski remained the President of the newly reorganized government. In the midst of this series of events, the Diet issued a manifesto, proclaiming to the world the causes and purposes of the revolution; and a few days after, passed the famous act, declaring in a formal manner, that Nicholas, and all his imperial family, are for ever rejected from the Polish throne. The clang of arms resounded anew from one end of ancient Poland to the other. The shouts of liberty were heard from the Carpathian Mountains to Riga, on the Baltic-from the shores of the Baltic to those of the Black Sea, and the banks of the Dnieper. All the provinces incorporated with the empires of Austria and Prussia, were ready to shake off the German yoke. But as the principle of neutrality was then in force in Europe, the inhabitants of those provinces were advised to remain quiet, because their revolution would have involved us in a war with the three powers at once-which our government thought to be advisable to avoid. Still, the governments of Austria and Prussia found themselves in such perplexity, that they were obliged to bring more than half of their respective armies into the Polish provinces, incorporated with their empires. We had, however, immense numbers of volunteers from these provinces, who braved all the difficulties of passing the frontiers, literally covered by the Austrian and Prussian soldiery, and rallied under our standards. As to the provinces incorporated with the empire of Russia, these all revolted, and sent their representatives to the Diet, at Warsaw. The whole of ancient Poland became now a camp. Our old men imagined their wrinkles to disappear, under the old republican cap, which the cry of liberty drew from the dust of years of slavery. Their antique sabres shone again in their trembling hands-and the universal alacrity which overtook them, as well as the youth, caused their furrowed cheeks to glow with col

or and mirth. Our ladies, welcoming their lovers, asked scars and glory as tokens of their fidelity. Many of them, assisted by their fathers, husbands, or relatives, were our commanders-even in the field of battle. The Countess Emily Plater was a colonel, which rank she gained for bravery displayed on the field of battle. Miss Kaminska gained the rank of captain. One lady was the first lieutenant, and her husband was the second lieutenant in this same squadron, &c. Our mothers lamented the fate of their children, who were destined to bury their names in inaction. Our peasants, the old companions of Kosciusko, bending under the weight of their age, disinterred their rusted scythes to commit them to their

sons.

The remainder of our jewels, and all the deluge of precious things which ages accumulated in the hands of industry, and in the grasp of avarice, as if by the power of magic, were brought to the common reservoir-to our national treasury. The ancient church bells, which had survived the former wars, descended from the tops of towers, to hurl into the enemy's ranks the balls which the iron of our domestic utensils had furnished. All personal and private occupations were suspended. One single aim-the defence of the state-united all hearts. And when the anvils and hammers were forging only arms, the ministers of the Gospel, the ladies, the old men and children of all classes, with pick-axes and spades in their hands, amidst rejoicing acclamations, were busy erecting the fortifications; and those whose health did not permit them to work hard, prepared bandages, which the martyrs of liberty might soon need. The rolling of wagons, the neighing of horses, the cry of liberty, songs and adieu, mingled with joy and sobbing— all seemed to testify that the heroes of Homer ceased to be demigods; that the Iliad was no more a fiction; and gave omen that the legions of Achilles should be found in Poland. Nicholas trembled; and covering his fear with bombastic manifestos, he moved not only the whole of European Russia, but also all the Asiatic dominions. From the chain of the Ural mountains and the deserts of Siberia to the icy regions and the Pacific ocean, the earth was covered with crowds of his savage

slaves; and in January, 1831, over four hundred thousand of his soldiery, with more than six hundred cannon, were brought into the Polish provinces incorporated with his empire, of which over 300,000, with four hundred and sixty cannon, (in February) entered the kingdom of Poland, where, as we have seen above, the revolution was commenced. Marshal Diebitsch commanded this army. Some writers, and even some of my own countrymen, considerably lessen this number, and relying upon the so called "official reports," which the obvious policy of the Russian government had put into circulation, do not admit that Russia, at the time of our revolution, could bring such a number of soldiers to the field of battle. They do not admit, too, that more than 200,000 Russians, with 400 cannon, entered the kingdom. The writer of this article is satisfied, however, that his information on this subject is pretty correct, and may be relied upon with more certainty than upon the "official reports,” put in circulation by the Russian government, whose policy is to conceal from the world the before unheard of superiority of the Polish army over its own. The above sketch of the enthusiasm, which pervaded all classes of the Polish people, might have, perhaps, given place to a belief, that the whole population of Poland was in the camp-ready to meet the Russians. It was, in fact, ready to do so; but the condition of our finances, want of arms and ammunition-and the impediments which the unhappy misconduct of the Dictator, above alluded to, threw into our way, did not permit us to equip, and oppose to the Russian army, when they invaded the kingdom, more than 60,000 troops. Of these, about 15,000 were in fortresses, and composed separate detachments, whose duty was to divert the enemy from concentrating all his forces upon any one point-and to protect the organization of the new regiments. The remainder, 45,000, with 80 cannon, composed our main field-ariny. This main army, when the Russians were approaching the kingdom, was encamped at a distance of a few miles from the frontier, in such a manner as to be able to concentrate easily at every point of its oblique line. Our vanguards extended to the very frontiers of the kingdom. But

it was decided by our council of war, that the principal battle was to be given under the walls of the city of Warsaw, on the right bank of the Vistula. In execution of this plan, our whole army was retreating for several days; taking, however, advantage of every strong position, it fought many a battle. The most remarkable of these battles, fought in retreat as aforesaid, were; the defence of the passage of the river Liwiec, where a few-about nine hundred Poles, with two cannon, commanded by Major Wysocki, (the same who was lieutenant of the Cadets when the revolution commenced) opposed, during all the day and night, an army of about 20,000 Russians, protected with 20 cannon. It has been said that the Russians lost between two and three thousand men, and they did not cross the river, until Major Wysocki recommenced further retreat. This exploit astonished the Russian Generals as much as the death of the 300 Spartans did Xerxes. One of the Russian Generals, having ascertained what number of Poles defended that passage, is said to have exclaimed, "What can we do with 60,000 Polish troops before us--when 800 have the power to stop us whole days."

A few days after, when our main-army was only a few miles from Warsaw, from 40 to 50 thousand Russians attempted to break its line, and to surprise its rear. Gen. Skrzynecki, with 8,000 men, diverted, however, their plan. He gave them two battles, near Makowiec and Dobre, and kept them back until the whole of our mainarmy concentrated, and reached its position. The manœuvres which Gen. Skrzynecki displayed on this occasion, and the complete defeat of the Russians, gave him the title of the hero of Dobre-and a reputation which soon placed him at the head of the whole army. On the 19th and 20th of February, about 100,000 Russians, with 200 cannon, were disputing the ground against about 30,000 Poles and 72 cannon. The Poles gained the day-and Marshal Diebitsch, who commanded the Russians, had the mortification to learn at this same time, that whilst this battle was fought, the legislature (whose walls were tottering under the discharges of his cannon) passed an act proclaiming, that should Poland be

take on their own shoulders the wounded from the wagons and carriages carry them to safe places, and pulling down all that obstructed the communication with Warsaw, furnish ammunition to our artillery-men, who had taken shelter with their cannon in the flames of Praga. A furious discharge of shells, bombs, and grape, puts in disorder the Moscovites, who are already within the limits of the suburb. Their sudden retreat communicates terror to their other columns. The eagle-eye of Gen. Skrzynecki taking advantage of this circumstance, he throws all his forces upon the rear of the wavering enemy. Some squadrons of our lancers obey his order; and throwing themselves into the midst of the broken squadrons of the enemy, retard their re-organization, whilst an unexpected discharge of rockets drives back their new squadrons, running to secure the former. And this brings our scattered columns and squadrons to a new life, and their muskets, bayonets, lances and scythes, achieve the victory. Diebitsch, who, a moment before, considered himself a conqueror, sees now but a flying skeleton of the imposing array of his Czar. The Russian reporters say that they lost only 5,000 men on that day. For the sake of humanity, I would wish it were true; but more than 25,000 were missing in their ranks.

Our loss was considerable, too-especially in wounded-and so wearied were the whole army, that we could not venture to pursue the Russians in their retreat. And in the night our whole army crossed the Vistula, to take rest and recruit in the city of Warsaw and its environs, on the left bank of the Vistula. Thus ended the famous battle of Grochow, (fought on the 25th of February, 1831,) which astonished the whole civilized world, and gave a new life to our revolution. Next day General Skrzynecki was chosen General-in-chief of our army-which now took the offensive position.* Our first movement was not, however, recommenced till the 30th of April, when Gen. Skrzynecki, with some 20,000 of our troops, falling, with morning's dawn, like a thunder-bolt on a Russian army 60,000 strong, which was encamped on

the field of Warwer, routed it completely in less than two hours, making 16,000 prisoners, and taking a number of cannon and various military stores. Whilst the main army performed these wonders of bravery, the separate detachments, under the command of Generals__ Chrzanowski, Dwernicki, Rozycki, Dembinski, and the volunteers in the provinces incorporated with the empire of Russia, especially in Lithuania, distinguished themselves in a degree that they have no reason to envy the glory to their fellow soldiers who fought under the walls of Warsaw. But as the sketch of their exploits would extend this article far beyond its intended and due limits, I will merely state, that the successes of our arms, gave us, as trophies, 50,000 prisoners, about a hundred cannon, a number of standards, several thousand fire-arms, and a great quantity of various military stores. And they exhausted the forces of Russia so much, that even the privileged corps of the Imperial Guards, about 30,000 strong at that time, was brought against us- the undaunted "rebels." This corps was commanded by the younger brother of the emperor, the Grand Duke Michael. It was defeated, (I believe for the first time in the annals of its existence,) under the walls of the town of Tykocin, on the 20th of May-and its Commander-inchief, the Grand Duke Michael, escaped only by the skin of his teeth." Soon after the succeeding battle of Ostrolenka, fought on the 26th of May, in which the enemy lost 15,000 men, Marshal Diebitsch and the Grand Duke Constantine died suddenly ;-the former, perhaps, of chagrin at seeing his fame and glory vanish on the banks of the Vistula; the latter, it is said, died of the cholera-but the Poles who knew "the good heart of the Emperor," not from his smiles, but from his deeds, are of unanimous opinion, that he died of a diplomatic pestilence which came on him, not from Asia, but from the cabinet of St. Petersburg. Whatever, however may have been the cause of the death of these two men, Diebitsch and the Grand Duke Constantine, it is a fact, that the Emperor of Russia learned that his gigantic army was as powerless, as

In

was Goliah when he met David. about eight months of struggle, his enormous army, which invaded the Polish provinces incorporated with his empire, and the kingdom of Poland, with all its numerous reinforcements which were pouring daily from the interior of European Russia, and its Asiatic dominions, was reduced to about 130,000 men, whilst our army, which numbered only 60,000 men when the revolutionary war commenced, (exclusive of losses.) increased, now, to 80,000—and we numbered from 40,000 to 50,000 in the corps of Gerilas (volunteers.) In this state of things, Czar Nicholas resorted to a diplomatic art-and having found a tool in the person of His Majesty, the Citizen King, (Louis Philippe, of France,) he accomplished what his whole army could not. Whatever apology Louis Philippe may offer for his conduct towards Poland during the revolution, he cannot deny, that promising an armed intervention in favor of Poland, he induced Gen. Skrzynecki to relax the offensive operations. It is not my object to say, whether Gen. Skrzynecki's confidence in Louis Philippe's promises is excusable or not. But I cannot abstain from remarking, what is now known beyond any doubt, that Gen. Skrzynecki acted according to the advice of Louis Philippe, fearing lest the chance of war, in his further offensive advances, should turn against us-because, had we been defeated in a single battle between the two main armies, he had not, like Napoleon, new ready armies at his command; and although Poland had men enough ready to organize a new army to any amount, she was destitute of money, arms, ammunition, and could not obtain them from abroad. With this remark, I leave my readers to form their own opinion, whether Gen. Skrzynecki's acting according to the advice of Louis Philippe, in order to obtain this armed assistance which he promised him, may be excusable or not. I will simply state, that this diplomatic interference of Louis Philippe saved Russia, and lost to Poland the fruits of her revolution. Since Gen. Skrzynecki remained inactive-a mistrust in him, and other leaders, was created amongst our people and the army. And this, after some reverses of our detached corps in Volynia and

Lithuania, and their forced entrance into Austria and Prussia, produced a movement which subverted the government, at the head of which was Prince Czartoryski, and compelled General Skrzynecki to resign his trust, and placed at the head of both, the government and the army, Gen. Krukowiecki, who proved to be a Polish Benedict Arnold. In 20 days after that, the tables turned in favor of Russia. Whether Gen. Krukowiecki was bribed by the Czar of Russia, or not, let the facts answer. No sooner had he taken the command of our army, than he sent Gen. Romarino with 21,000 men on the right bank of the Vistula, at two or three days distance from the city of Warsaw, and disarmed several thousand citizens of Warsaw, whom Gen. Skrzynecki ordered to equip and keep themselves ready to co-operate with the army. This was done at the very moment when the whole Russian army was concentrated under the walls of Warsaw, on the left bank of the Vistula, where Gen. Skrzynecki permitted them to approach and encamp, with the intention of giving them, there, a general battle. Gen. Paszkiewicz, (who commanded the Russians after the death of Marshal Diebitsch,) being apprized that the garrison of Warsaw was thus reduced to 30,000 men only, ordered an attack. A three days battle, in which the Russians lost more than 20,000 men, (some maintain that 29,000,) did not see Gen. Krukowiecki acting as General-in-chief; but he was continually negotiating with the Russian Gen. Paszkiewicz, spreading terror amongst the members of our diet and the authorities of the city, and proposing to them a submission, or, at least, a capitulation of the city. day, towards evening, he sent more than half of the army which defended the city on the left bank of the Vistula. The soldiers passing the bridges were under the impression that it was a manoeuvre, and expected to re-pass the river a few miles below, to take the rear of the enemy by surprise. But to their great astonishment, they and the citizens of Warsaw learned that it was a manœuvre to compel the authorities to capitulate the city. And this is what the Russians call" we have taken Warsaw by storm," and what caused a French minister to say, in Paris

On the third