GEMS FROM THE POLISH CAMPAIGN. 531 



In the meantime, Szachowski's division was rapidly approaching ; 

 on the 23d he had reached the bridge of Zegrze upon the Narew, 

 which was only defended by the 4th battalion of the 8th regiment, 

 detached from the garrison of Modlin ; but the ice being sufficiently 

 strong to allow the Russian general to cross the river with his in- 

 fantry, the Poles were obliged to fall back. Thus the entire Russian 

 corps crossed the Narew and advanced upon Nieporent. The Russian 

 field-marshal was so apprehensive that this corps might be cut off by 

 the Polish army, that he sent out to meet it a brigade of lancers and 

 two battalions of infantry. 



Early on the morning of the 24th, the Polish general, Jankowski's 

 division of cavalry, with the 3rd battalion of the 6th of the line, was 

 detached, in order to reconnoitre Szachowski's corps : this detachment 

 fell in with the Russians at Nieporent ; but, too weak to impede their 

 advance, they, in consequence, fell back upon Bealolenka, where they 

 found in line General Malachowski's division, composed of two 

 regiments and six pieces of cannon. Suddenly, Szachowski's corps 

 took the direction of Nieporent, instead of marching upon Kobylka, 

 to effect its junction with the grand army, which, by this latter move- 

 ment, was rendered now extremely difficult. On the other hand, the 

 Polish general, alarmed for Praga, which this movement of the army 

 seemed to menace, immediately covered the route between Bealolenka 

 and Praga. Had he have left it open, and occupied Konty-Grod- 

 dzeskie, a very strong position, the whole of Szachowski's corps 

 would have been cut off and destroyed, had it hazarded even a de- 

 monstration upon Praga. However, Szachowski's Russian corps, 

 15,000 strong, with sixty pieces of artillery, was approaching Bealo- 

 lenka, the remainder of his corps remaining at Pultusk and Lomza. 

 To hold him in check, General Malachowski had only Jankowski's 

 division of cavalry, a brigade of infantry, composed of six battalions, 

 and one battery of horse artillery, and six pieces of foot artillery. 

 One battalion of the 6th of the line occupied Bealolenka ; the cavalry 

 was deployed on the right of that village, and on its left, towards the 

 woods, two battalions of the 2nd of the line were posted ; the skirts 

 of the wood were occupied by another battalion of the same regi- 

 ment ; the left wing was supported by two squadrons of Mazary's, 

 and the right, by two battalions of the 6th. The action commenced 

 about three o'clock, p. M. The enemy's masses were directed upon 

 Bealolenka, which, after three repulses, he carried. Three regiments 

 of Russian hussars then debouched from that village, and made a 

 furious charge upon our battalions posted between it and the woods. 

 The enemy advanced with the greatest impetuosity and intrepidity; but 

 they were steadily received, and gallantly repulsed. Exposed both in 

 front and flank to a tremendous and well-directed fire both of in- 

 fantry and artillery, their loss was immense. Notwithstanding this 

 check, the Russians began to press our battalions very hard ; and 

 Jankowski's cavalry having quitted the field without any adequate 

 reason, the destruction of the Polish division appeared inevitable. 

 With admirable coolness, and in excellent order, did our gallant 

 fellows fall back upon the hills before Praga ; when, suddenly, the 



