HISTORY OF EUROPE: 
them weit s'ain. The Polish ge- 
neral, emboldened by this success, 
attacked the enemy on the succeed 
ing day. The Russians had been 
reinforced during theright. Avail- 
ing themselves of their superior 
numbers, they extended their line, 
and completely surrounded the 
Poles: these, however, stood their 
ground, with the utmost valour; 
but after a contest of some hours, 
tound it necessary tomake a retreat. 
Those who were present at this 
ation, were Icss astonished at their 
giving way, than at their being 
able to retire from the force that 
almost encompassed them. 
Another confliét tock place on 
the fourteenth. Prince Joseph 
Poniatowski had received intelli. 
gence, that a strong detachment 
from the Russian main army was on 
its march to seize a large magazine 
belonging to the Poles. He dis- 
patched instantly a chosen party of 
hiscavalry, which quickly came up 
withtheenemy. The engagement 
was long and severe, and termi- 
nated wholly to the advantage of 
the Poles. The prince advanced 
immediately with all the troops 
under his command, intending to 
follow up the blow with the cap- 
ture of the whole Russian detach. 
ment; but on reaching the ground, 
and reconnoitering the enemy’s 
position, such numbers were dis- 
covered to have poured in to their 
assistance, that it was judged im- 
practicable to attack them with suc- 
cess. ‘Lheir strength increasing 
hourly, the prince broke up his 
camp, and retired with all expe. 
dition. The Russians followed with 
equal speed, and came up with his 
rear, while it was crossing a bridge, 
which unhappily breaking down 
with the weight of the waggons 
and artillery,a considerable number 
{15 
of those who formed the rear of the 
Polish army were left exposed to the 
Russians, who assailed them with 
both cannon and musketry, They 
made a gallant but ineffeclual de- 
fence, and with difficulty retreated 
from Volionna toward Zielim, after 
losing many of theic bravest offi. 
cers and soldiers. 
During the retreat of the army 
from Vollonna, five hundred Poles, 
like the Greeks at Lhermopylz, in 
order to stop the progress of the 
enemy, devoted their lives and co- 
vered with their dead bodies the 
ground they haddisputed with the'r 
arms. Many were the instances 
that now appeared in the Polish na- 
tion of that generous and undaunt- 
ed spirit of liberty and patriotism 
that raises the human soul aboveail 
low and selfish desires, andeventhe 
love of life. Patriotic contribu- 
tions were made.in every distri 3 
the soldiers displayed a fearlessness 
of death in every action. 
Prince Joseph Poniatowski con. 
tinued"to retreat during two days. 
On the third he met with a con- 
siderable reinforcement. This.de. 
termined him to halt and hazard.a 
general engagement. ‘Lhe Russians 
were seventeen thousand strong, 
and had between twenty and thirty 
field-pieces. Notwithstanding that 
they were much inferior in num- 
ber, the Poles charged this ve- 
teran army with a vigour and 
spirit that supplied every want of 
military skill and experience. In 
order to cope with the Polish ca. 
valry, which consisted almost en- 
tirely of gentlemen, fu!l of thehigh. 
est sentiments of honour and patri. 
Otism, the Russian generals had 
collected a numerous and chosen 
body of horse; it amounted to 
more than eight thousand men; 
but with al] these advantages on 
their 
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