390 LIVES OF THE POLISH HEROES. 



Russians employ by turns, ruse and violence, promises and threats 

 the sight of gold had no effect upon this faithful boy, who preserved an 

 obstinate silence. When at length the barbarians could obtain nothing 

 from him, enraged at his heroic resistance, they inflicted on him the 

 punishment of the knout. 



Such acts of patriotic devotion were the more honourable, as the 

 Grand Duke Michel and General Sacken had set a price upon the heads 

 of the two envoys, and had offered a reward of a thousand silver roubles 

 (160/.) to whoever should deliver them up. 



Thus succoured and saved in so many instances, Wollowicz and 

 Przeclawski pursued their route, still surrounded with ambuscades and 

 perils, till they at length reached the banks of the Niemen in safety. 

 They saluted with delight their native land, and forgot their fatigues in 

 the embraces of their friends. They communicated immediately to the 

 insurgent chiefs, that the national government of Warsaw waited with 

 impatience the arrival of the Lithuanian deputies, in order to deliberate 

 on the future destinies and organization of the two people. They 

 added, that two vessels, laden with arms and ammunition, would shortly 

 make their appearance off the harbour of Polangen. 



This mission fulfilled, our two courageous patriots did not think that 

 they had done enough; without taking any repose, they joined the 

 commander-in-chief of the insurrection of Telsze, and fought with him 

 at the battle of Dorbiany. After a sanguinary affair, in which the 

 chances of the day were twice turned, the Samogitians remained masters 

 of the town. Two thousand insurgents, with scarcely seven rounds of 

 ball-cartridge a-head, marched upon Polangen, but the superior forces 

 which the Russians had concentrated upon this point, defeated the 

 attempt. In all these actions, as well as that at Tawrogi, which was 

 fought later, Wollowicz and Przeclawski nobly signalized themselves. 

 They were both made captains on the field, and presented as candidates 

 for the military decoration of Poland. 



At this period, the state of affairs in Lithuania rendered it requisite 

 to despatch two men of known devotion into Poland. Wollowicz and 

 Przeclawski again offered themselves, and set out on their mission ; but 

 at Raygrod, having fallen in with the corps of General Gielgud, ad- 

 vancing on Wilna, they thought their object fulfilled, and joined him. 

 Wollowicz, although a captain in the Lithuanian service, entered the 

 ranks of the 19th regiment as a private soldier, which formed a part of 

 Szymanowski's corps. Appointed subsequently aide-de-camp to this 

 general, he was present at the three actions of Szawli ; and at a later 

 period, at those of Uzeventy, Chwaloynie, Powendenie, Wornia, 

 Szweksznia, Gordona, and Nove-Miasto. Przeclawski, on his side, 

 attached to the corps of Gielgud, greatly distinguished himself in the 

 action at Szawle. 



When the cause at last became desperate, our two patriots retired into 

 Prussia, with the wreck of the Polish-Lithuanian army ; but solely 

 occupied with the question of national independence, that was making 

 its expiring effort under the walls of Warsaw, they could not remain 

 inactive while their countrymen were heroically defending the last 

 bulwark of the Polish cause. Wollowicz succeeded in escaping, dis- 

 guised as a Prussian, with two comrades as intrepid as himseif ; but 

 they had not proceeded many leagues, ere they were arrested. The 

 Prussian General Sthilpnagel, formerly in the Russian service, tried 



