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26 are witness that many of your landlords have "been sent to Siberia for merely wishing to make

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you free. At length God has shewn his mercy

upon them and you. The Poles have driven away the Czar who called himself their king, " and they have now a king of their own nation. “You know that your own prince is now king of "Poland*, and you know also that the Czar has sent "all

all his troops against the Poles. You have seen "them pass, but you will not see them return, for

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half have already perished and the rest shall also fall. "The blessing of God is on a righteous cause. He "has commanded to fight for freedom, and who fights not for freedom, never shall be free. You are well aware that we have power to oppress you, we have been made rich by your toil, and might remain so, but we have left our palaces, and renounced our riches, to liberate you from bondage, to restore you to those rights of freemen which God gave and the Czar has taken away. "We are willing, we are prepared to die for our "native land, but alone and unassisted, we cannot

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uphold the freedom which we bring you. You "also must fight, if you would transmit to your "children freedom, wealth, and happiness. Follow "therefore the example of your sons. Join with

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us, and we will lead you to victory, and then

* A report had spread amongst the peasants that Prince Czartoryski was become king of Poland.

"return to render thanks to God for allowing us "to drive away the Czort (the Devil)." During this true portraiture of their wretched condition, the peasants could not refrain from tears, and solemnly promised that their sons should fight. The priests did not weep; but on being assured that their religion would be respected, and particularly when they were told that their ecclesiastical profits would be increased, they did not spare holy water, nor their blessings on the insurgents. The same day some hundred young villagers of Granow, joined the army, and there was no longer any doubt of the peasantry. The first victory was to be the signal for their rising. That victory was not granted to the patriots. The following day they marched towards Daszow, hoping to surprise a detachment of Russians stationed in Biala Cerkiew. But so entirely had they neglected every military precaution, that they did not even conjecture that General Rott was close behind them, until having taken position about four miles beyond Daszow, a sudden firing proclaimed his approach. One squadron repulsed him twice, but on the death of its chief, retired in confusion. Major Orlikowski with two more then advanced, and General Rott stopping short ordered a cannonade, which not proving at first very destructive, the Poles called upon their chief to lead them on. Orlikowski, however, who perceived that Kolyszko was preparing for a general charge, would not run this

risk, and ordered them to retire.

Unused to military phrase, they did not understand the command until it was reiterated a third time in ordinary language; and some few voices from the ranks, then exclaiming, "we are lost, let us escape," the panic spread, and they all fled with ungovernable speed. The rush of the fugitives disordered the first squadron of Kolyszko's column, which fell back on the second, and thus successively all the seventeen were thrown into utter confusion. The venerable general tore his grey locks in despair, and other chiefs endeavoured, but without success, to rally their men. "Shall it be said that Polish. "nobles fled before the enemy" thought the few, (about fifty in number,) who vainly opposed the fatal flight, and drawing themselves up at the entrance of Daszow, they awaited unmoved the advancing foe. They were a noble band. Their names are amongst the most illustrious in the heraldic annals of Poland. Possessed of many thousand miles of territory, lords over many thousand subjects, a single tomb may now contain these willing martyrs for the freedom and welfare of all. "Forward," they shouted, and fell like the thunder-bolt upon the hostile columns. Each was opposed to many, each dealt his deadly blows. They took the enemy's cannon, and killed hundreds of Russians. They were entirely surrounded, but, Decius like, they hewed a passage with their swords, and effected their retreat. Awed

VICTORY OF TYVROW AND OF OBODNE. 299

by such valour, the Russians retired four miles from Daszow, yet General Rott afterwards reported that he had vanquished many thousands, and that, notwithstanding the desperate resistance, he had lost only 200 men. The insurgents lost only their single piece of cannon and six men killed. But their moral defeat was complete. Of the seventeen squadrons 400 only remained; the rest dispersed in the woods, and many were afterwards taken and sent to Siberia.

On the 17th of May, the remaining handfull of insurgents fell in at Tyvrow with two Russian squadrons. General Kolyszko would have avoided a battle, but Edward Yelowiecki, upon the plea that a victory would raise the courage of the soldiers, obtained permission to pass the river Boh, and charge with 200 men. The squadrons were completely destroyed, and the few who escaped the sword, perished in the river. This success, however, rendered no material service to the insurgents, who remained surrounded on all sides. In the moment of perplexity, they intercepted a dispatch from the Russian general Szczucki, by which they learned that he was advancing, with three squadrons and two cannon, to cut off their retreat. The letter was no sooner read, than the sound of artillery gave notice of his attack; but so sudden and vehement was their onset, that, before he could fire a

second time, they had taken his guns, and put his cavalry to flight. This occurred at Obodne, the 19th

of May, and on that day many were the Russian veterans who laid down their arms at sight of lances, waving the flags embroidered in secret by Polish ladies, and yet warm with their sighs and tears. Of the three squadrons only three men escaped, the general himself being amongst the prisoners. Major Orlikowski was deeply affected by these successes, and bitterly reproached himself with having ruined the cause by his retrograde movement at Daszow. The insurgents finding their prisoners an incumbrance, released them next day, accompanying their clemency in this instance, as in many others, with liberal gifts of money, and eloquent discourses on liberty. It would seem that Poland so long martyred, and still a stranger to any vindictive feeling, was not yet destined to recover her independence by the shedding of blood. Christian magnanimity has remained like a flower twined in her wreath of thorns. May its seed not fall upon the rock, but bring forth fruit in its appointed season!

Kolyszko marched his victorious band to the district of Latyczew, not far from Kamieniec Podolski, to join another party of insurgents; but still incautious, although in a country swarming with foes, his rear-guard was surprised at Maydanek on the 23rd of May, by 2000 Russians. After a long struggle the Poles were overpowered by numbers, and many perished. The aged Yelowiecki and his son were found lying side by side amongst the

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