

1832.] Wysocki's Narrative of the Polish Insurrection. 51 



die. Follow me ; and may your breasts prove a Thermopylae against 

 the enemies of our freedom \" At the same moment the hall rung with 

 unanimous cries of " To arms ! To arms !" These noble young fel- 

 lows loaded their muskets and rushed after their leader, to the number 

 of about one hundred and sixty ; we took the road to the barracks of 

 the three Russian cavalry regiments. Convinced that the select com- 

 panies were hastening to join us, I gave orders to fire, partly to alarm 

 the Russians, and partly as a signal to the companies that the struggle 

 had already begun. 



After this signal, we forced our way into the middle of the barracks 

 of lancers, where our enemies, thus provoked, immediately assembled, 

 about 300 men strong, and drew themselves up in a column before us. 

 We fired upon them; they at first fell into disorder, but afterwards 

 closed their ranks, and again returned to the attack. We received them 

 with a fresh charge, and redoubled cries of exultation, then rushing on 

 them with the bayonet, broke their column, which dispersed in all direc- 

 tions, leaving us masters of the ground, bestrewed with corpses. At 

 this instant I received news that the cuirassier and hussar regiments 

 were hastening from their barracks to surround us, arid cut off our way 

 to the city. The Polish columns that were to have come to our assist- 

 ance did not make their appearance, and as our cartridges were begin- 

 ning to fail us, we were, involuntarily, compelled to retreat. The regi- 

 ment of lancers which we had first attacked, and wholly dispersed, 

 allowed us a free passage over the bridge of Sobieski, where we formed 

 a junction with the division that came from the Belvedere. 



Under the idea that the select companies were only waiting orders to 

 join us, I dispatched Camilio Mochnacki with instructions to have them 

 march up as speedily as possible ; he, however, soon returned, with 

 notice that the troops were nowhere to be found, and that the cuirassiers 

 were ranging themselves in order of battle, to cut us off at every pos- 

 sible point on our way back to the city. Having advanced a few paces, 

 I came in sight of a file of cuirassiers, whom, without hesitation, I 

 ordered to be attacked. Our intrepid youths instantly rushed upon them, 

 and soon forced the enemy to withdraw towards the Belvedere. 



We now collected our forces, and proceeded towards the rural coffee- 

 house. On reaching the square, between this coffee-house and the 

 Radziwil barracks, we again met the cuirassiers, preparing to attack us 

 anew, and at the same time perceived a group of hussars coming towards 

 us from the alleys of trees. In this imminent danger, our only resource 

 was a rapid march to the left, in order to gain the Radziwil barracks ; 

 we luckily succeeded in reaching this spot, from whence we destroyed 

 a number of the enemy, who seemed 011 the point of besieging us. 

 Shortly afterwards, finding it impossible to restrain the impetuous ardour 

 of the valiant ensigns, we rushed out of the barracks, burst upon the 

 Russians, and having put a considerable number of them hors de combat, 

 forced the rest to retreat. We then proceeded towards the city, the 

 way to which now remained perfectly free. 



Near the church of St. Alexander we met with General Stanislaus 

 Potocki, the ensigns stopped him, and implored him almost on their 

 knees to join the national cause. I united my entreaties to those of the 

 gallant youths (< General," said I, " we conjure you, in the name of 

 your country, of the fetters of Igelstraem, in which you so long lan- 

 guished, place yourself at our head ; do not suppose it is only the mili- 

 tary academy that has risen ; all the troops are for us, and are already 



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