30] 
these considerations, he raised the 
siege of Warsaw, on the fifth of Sep- 
tember, after it had lasted two 
months, and he had sustained severe 
losses. He expressed much dissatis- 
faGion at the dilatoriness of the 
Russians, The fact was probably, 
thar they reserved the capture, of 
Warsaw for themsélyes, and were 
not sorry at his failure. Large 
bodies of them were on their march 
in all directions, and notwithstand. 
‘ing the courageous exertions of the 
Poles, they began to apprehend that 
the immensity of the numbers they 
would soon have to contend with, 
must in the issue overwhelm them, 
as it had done before. 
The celebrated Suwarrow had 
been placed at the head of the ar. 
mies destined to act against Poland, 
‘He was now on his march towards 
Warsaw, and to be joined on the 
way by several Russian bodies, of 
great force. Sensible of the ne- 
cessity of preventing such junctions, 
Kosciusko hastened with all possible 
diligence to obstru&t them. But 
before he could collect a sufficient 
strength, a Polish corps of consider~ 
able force fell in with the main 
body ot the Russians near Brzesk, on 
the borders of Lithuania, on the 
nineteenth of September, and was 
defeated with great loss by Suwar- 
tow, who continued his march to 
the capital. On receiving this in. 
telligence, Kosciusko resolved im- 
mediately to proceed against the 
Russian general, before he should be 
reinforced. The Polish army, under 
Koscuisko, consisted of twenty 
thousand men; but on hearing that 
baron Ferson, a Russian genezal, 
was On the point of joining Suwar- 
ow, he marched with six thousand 
men to intercept him ; leaving the 
remainder with prince Poniatowski, 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 
to force any other divisions of the 
enemy that might endeavour te 
close upon his rear. 
The decisive action that engued, 
was fought upon the tenth of Ofo-. 
ber. The beginning of it was fa- 
vourable to the Poles, who twice 
repulsed the Russians; but incon- 
siderately pursuing them too far,they 
were surrounded by their superior 
numbers, and after a most desperate 
defence of more than five hours, 
were routed with adreadful slaugh- 
ter. One half of them were killed 
or taken, the other, by dint of uns 
common valour, made good their 
retreat. The loss of the victors 
was so great, that instead of moving 
forward, they were obliged to retize 
to a place of safety. This day de. 
cided the fate of Poland, and of 
Kosciusko. His capacity and con. 
rage were eminently displayed in 
this fatal engagement. Three 
horses were killed tnder him: 
when the last fell, he was at the 
same time wounded by a Cossack, 
who was going to repeat his blow, ~ 
when he was prevented by a Russian 
officer, who made Kosciusko a pris 
soner. The loss of this battle was 
attributed to prince Poniatowski. 
Through unskilfulness or treachery, 
he suffered the enemy to cross the 
Vistula, though he had four thou. 
sand men to oppose them; and 
while Kosciusko was engaged, he 
made no movement to his assist. 
ance. 
The defeat and capture of Kosei. 
usko filled Warsaw with consternas 
tion. The heads of the patriotic 
party exerted themselves to keep 
alive the spirit of the people: but 
they succeeded only in part; the 
majority had placed their chief con. 
fidence in Kosciusko, and. did not. 
imagiage that any one xemained to 
replace 
