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GEMS FROM THE POLISH CAMPAIGN. 



THE BATTLE OF GROCHOW. 



AFTER the brilliant affair of Wawer, which convinced Diebitsch 

 even with his 100,000 men that the defeat of the Polish army would 

 be something more than the mere (( hurrah/' which the Russian 

 officers so arrogantly prognosticated, the Polish army fell back upon 

 Grochow. The position was strong; our right rested on the Vistula 

 and the marshes our left upon a pine-wood, which was the key of 

 the position; and the front of our line, covered as it was with marshes 

 and ditches, presented obstacles difficult to be overcome, notwith- 

 standing the intense frost had rendered them passable. Again, War- 

 saw at the distance of half a league, as a point d'appui and grand 

 depot, offered immense advantages to a defensive army ; but, on the 

 other hand, when it was recollected that, in the event of defeat, our 

 only line of retreat was across one solitary bridge, defended by a 

 weak tele du pont ; again, that it was every moment expected that 

 this bridge would be destroyed by the ice, and all communication cut 

 off with the capital and the left bank of the Vistula, the most unmi- 

 litary reader must see that nothing could be more perilous than the 

 position of the Polish army. 



The position, on the other hand, of the Russians was extremely 

 strong, resting likewise on the Vistula and the marshes, inclosed by 

 woods, the ground in front of which was most favourable for the play 

 of their artillery. Thus our artillery was opposed to a force not only 

 three times more numerous, but also occupying a position that gave 

 them every advantage. The Polish general was therefore reduced 

 to the necessity of either becoming the assailant, with a very inferior 

 force, or of witnessing a combat of artillery, in which his own must 

 inevitably be destroyed. 



On the morning of the 20th the Russian general commenced an 

 artillery action, which lasted the whole day. Our divisions were de- 

 ployed in two lines ; the 4th rested upon Grochow, and formed the 

 right wing ; the 3d formed the centre, and was posted to the right of 

 the pine-wood the 1st division occupying its left ; the 2d was 

 posted in the second line, and the cavalry in the rear as a reserve : a 

 part of this arm, with a battery of horse artillery, was distributed 

 upon our extreme left, and occupied the hills in front of Kawenczyn. 

 At twelve the Russians attempted to carry the pine- wood ; their 

 efforts were principally directed against the left side, defended by 

 the brave 4th of the line and the 5th. Both sides fought with that 

 fury which national animosity can alone inspire. At last the Russians 

 were driven out of the wood with immense slaughter, many of their 

 regiments being reduced to mere skeletons. Diebitsch saw that, in 

 spite of his formidable artillery, he was not in sufficient -force to carry 

 the Polish position ; he was therefore reduced to the necessity of 

 awaiting the arrival of Szachowski's corps. On the following day a 

 short suspension of arms was concluded to bury the dead. 



