II 



420 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period IV. 



pieces of cannon being taken, and a number of prisoners. 

 In the pursuit which followed the victory, the cavalry 

 also rendered effectual service. 



Dveruitzky was one of the best Polish cavalry officers. 

 In his expedition into Volhynia, in 183 1, his force consisted 

 of 2,700 cavalry, 1,300 infantry, and a few guns, but 

 after fighting gallantly at Boreml, he was thrown back 

 upon the Austrian frontier, where he was obliged to 

 surrender to the Austrian troops.' 



The most striking and interesting feature of the Polish 

 war to the cavalry officer was the well-executed partisan 

 campaign of the Polish General Dembinski, in July 

 1831, in Lithuania. This affair was very similar in its 

 character to the cavalry raids of the American Civil War, 

 which we shall hereafter have to consider at some length. 

 It is of value to the cavalry officer, as an illustration of 

 what is possible to a commander of horse who is possessed 

 of a brave and indomitable spirit. In the beginning of 

 July 1831, the Polish army was at Kurszany, where it 

 was decided to divide it into three bodies, one of which 

 Dembinski agreed to lead back to Warsaw by a wide 

 detour through the heart of Lithuania, which was swarm- 

 ing with Russian troops. The detachment consisted of 

 3,800 men, with six cannon. Dembinski left Kurszany 

 on the Dth July, marched by Mieszkucie upon Poniewiez, 

 and from there to Owanta, where his rear-guard had a 

 hard fight with the pursuing column of General Sawoiny. 

 When night came on he renewed his march to Podbrodzie, 

 where his infantry-^-cheval galloped up and dismounted, 

 and fought with great gallantry in seizing the position. 

 From there he turned north, and marched for some dis- 

 tance to deceive his opponents, then turning sharp to the 

 east, he moved rapidly upon Daniszew, where he crossed 

 the Wilia.^ Skilfully eluding the various columns 

 endeavouring to intercept him, he moved to Zboiska, 

 when he crossed the Niemen, and then marched by way 

 of Wola, Bielsk, and Nur, to Warsaw, which he reached 

 on the 3rd August.^ In this campaign Dembinski 



' Soltyk, ii. 98. 2 jbid. ii. 330 to 33G. ^ Dembinski's 



Memoireet, 316. 



