GEMS FROM THE POLISH CAMPAIGN. 533 



I eheld the dense masses of his country's hated oppressors darkening 

 the opposite line of hills. 



About half-past eight o'clock General Chlopecki rode down our 

 line ; the aspect of the gallant old veteran was calm and dignified. 

 " Remember Suvarof!" said he to the 6th of the line; and pointing 

 towards Praga, " what will be the fate of our wives and sisters if we 

 are beaten by yon Russian barbarians !" And as he rode off after 

 this short but stirring address, the cry of " God for Poland !" ran 

 along our whole line, and the bands of the different regiments struck 

 up the national air. 



Precisely at nine in the morning the Russian field-marshal gave 

 the signal for the attack. He first directed his efforts against the 

 pine wood, which was the key of our position. The whole length of 

 the Polish line did not exceed a mile, and this same wood enclosed its 

 entire left wing, covered all its movements, and rendered it madness 

 in the enemy to think of advancing by the causeway, so long as we 

 continued to be masters of it. Diebitsch accordingly resolved to 

 carry it coute qui coute, and for that purpose he destined Rosen's 

 brigade. The wood was occupied on the right side by General 

 Roland's brigade, the 3d and 7th regiments of the line, and on the 

 left by General Cyzeweski's brigade of light infantry, composed of 

 the 2d and 4th regiments. The enemy directed against this position 

 the entire strength of his 24th division, but observing that the combat 

 was obstinately maintained without any advantage to his troops, the 

 Russian field-marshal despatched fresh reinforcements to their assist- 

 ance, which enabled them, after very hard fighting, to carry the right 

 of the wood. The loss on both sides was tremendous. General 

 Zymiki fell in the thickest of the fight, cheering on his men with 

 his latest breath ; and Roland's brigade, reduced to a mere skeleton, 

 was obliged to fall back upon the second line ; but Cyzeweski's 

 desperately maintained their post, and repelled the enemy with 

 immense loss. Chlopecki, feeling all the importance of that point, 

 resolved to repossess himself of it, cost what it might ; and therefore 

 putting himself at the head of Bogulawske's brigade, composed of 

 the 4th and 8th regiments of the line, he dashed into the wood. 

 The conflict was now terrific j foot to foot, and hand to hand did they 

 fight, neither yielding but with life ; each man thought the cause his 

 own, and fought as though the struggle depended on his single arm. 

 No quarter was given ! A young Russian officer, who lay wounded 

 at the foot of a tall pine, begged hard for life, but in vain. " Dog 

 of a Russian ! never have thy countrymen shown mercy to mine!" 

 said an old grenadier, as he buried his bayonet in the bosom 

 of the Muscovite. The Russians were at length again driven from 

 the wood, after a most desperate defence. Diebitsch, on his side, did 

 not relax in his efforts ; fresh masses were brought forward and 

 hurled against the wood, in which the 25th division succeeded in 

 making a lodgment, in spite of all the efforts of Bugulawski's brigade, 

 while three other regiments were directed against the opposite side. 

 These last were received by such a tremendous and well-directed fire 

 of grape that they almost immediately went to the right-about, while 

 the brave old Chlopecki, at the head of the regiment of grenadiers 

 M.M. No. 107. 3 Z 



