532 GEMS F1COM THE POLISH CAMPAIGN. 



arrival of General Krukowrecki, with fresh troops, arrested the ad- 

 vance of the Russians, and saved our shattered battalions. 



On the following day, Diebitsch resolved to recal without delay 

 Szachowski's corps, and in order to facilitate their junction, he de- 

 tached by Zombki a brigade of lancers, and the brigade of Lithuanian 

 grenadiers. The Russian was in motion as the dawn broke, which 

 Krukowreiki perceiving, made an attack along his whole line, which 

 was executed with the most determined gallantry and impetuosity. 

 The village of Bealolenka was recaptured at the point of the bayonet 

 by the 6th of the line ; and the enemy, in the greatest disorder, was 

 flying in the direction of Konty Groddzeskie. Nothing could have 

 saved the Russians from total destruction, had not Krukowreiki im- 

 prudently dispersed his forces instead of following the enemy en 

 masse. To this alone did Szachowski's corps owe its safety ; but, 

 what was worse, it escaped to reinforce the grand army, while the 

 Polish army was deprived of an entire division, which remained in a 

 state of inactivity as if all had been over. Our general, Krukowrecki, 

 at Grochow, played exactly the part of Grouchy at Waterloo. And 

 his conduct had a decisive influence upon the issue of the battle of 

 Grochow consequently upon the destinies of Poland. 



Diebitsch, on receiving the information of our attack upon Szachow- 

 ski's corps, resolved to hasten the battle, although his original inten- 

 tion was not have attacked our position before the 26th of February. 

 He accordingly drew out his army, Pahlen's corps was posted on 

 the left ; the 1st division upon the Chaussee, the 2d and 3d farther to 

 the right ; each division formed in two lines, according to the Musco- 

 vite mode of war. Rozen's corps occupied the left. The 3d corps of 

 cavalry and the guards were held in reserve in the rear of the centre. 

 The 1st brigade of lancers and the Lithuanian grenadiers had been 

 detached, as we have seen, to Zombki, to support Szachowski. Six 

 regiments of cavalry, in columns of squadrons, were posted in the rear 

 of Pahlen's corps. 



On the other side, the Polish army, weakened by the departure of 

 Krukowreiki and Jankowski's division, had its right wing resting 

 upon the Vistula, and occupied Grochow with the 4th division. The 

 The pine wood was held by Zymirski's division ; Skrzynecki's formed 

 the reserve. The cavalry was in part in columns behind Grochow, 

 and the rest en observation in the direction of Zombki, under Uminski. 

 The army was reinforced during the night by the arrival of the 20th 

 regiment, composed of two battalions, and also by a battalion of the 

 19th regiment, but which was armed entirely with scythes. 



Such was the disposition of the two armies on the morning of the 

 battle of Grochow, that battle which dissipated the illusion of Russian 

 invincibility, which, since the memorable campaign of 1812, had hung 

 like a black pall over the military world, and by its influence, was 

 forging chains for Europe. 



The morning was dark and gloomy the sun hid its glory from the 

 scene of coming carnage. A cold north wind, almost intense enough 

 to freeze the red current of life in our veins, blew keenly upon us. 

 But our men felt it not ; they were warmed by the glow of patriotism. 

 Many a veteran grenadier was observed to quiver with rage, as he 



