Polish Troops of the Napoleonic Wars

.

When it comes to Poles of the Napoleonic era,
consider how hard a proud people fight when
they have no homeland of their own, and they
feel that following one man, Napoleon, is
their best chance to get one.

.

The Poles were "Napoleon's staunchest allies"
- George Nafziger, US military historian

.

Poland is the only country in the world to invoke
Napoleon Bonaparte in its national anthem.

.

Napoleon and Poniatowski
Napoleon Bonaparte and Prince Poniatowski.
Poniatowski was the only foreigner Napoleon promoted to marshal of France.
He was one of the marshals who was able to conduct a very successful
campaign without the Emperor's supervision.

Introduction.
A Brief Military History of Poland.

Polish Legions 1797-1808.

Vistula Legion 1806-1814.

Army of Duchy of Warsaw.

Generals and officers.

Campaigns.
- - - - - 1806-07 in Eastern Prussia and Poland
- - - - - 1809 against Austria (Raszyn)
- - - - - 1808-12 in Spain (Peninsular Campaign)
- - - - - 1812 Invasion of Russia
- - - - - 1813 Leipzig Campaign
- - - - - 1814 in France
- - - - - 1815

Polish army after the Napoleonic Wars 1815-31.

Introduction: A Brief Military History of Poland.
"... there were plenty of young men determined
to prove their prowess on the battlefield."
- Norman Davies
"Darling war, what a lady you must be
for all the most handsome boys
to follow you like this"
(- from popular Polish song)

.

Mexico USA During the American expansion in 19th century there was a saying in Mexico: "What bad luck for us. We are so far from God and so close to the USA." In 1840s Mexico lost more than 55% of its national territory to the much bigger neighbour. The Poles had not just one such neighbour but two. They were sandwiched between the militaristic Germany and the mighty Russian Empire. Furthermore, from the south and south-east came the Mongol (Tatar) hordes and the vast armies of Ottoman Empire. From the political and military point of view it was one of the worst locations on Earth.
For this reason Poland has in the course of history had little acquaintance with peace, but has again and again been forced to take up arms in the defence of the country. Neal Ascherson, Scottish journalist, writes, "Russia and Prussia, especially, tried to suppress both Polish culture and language and the Catholic faith. In response, the Poles developed one of the most intense and self-sacrificing versions of Romantic nationalism ever seen in Europe."

Uniforms of Polish soldiers 
in 19th and 20th century.
From left to right:
- uhlan of the Napoleonic Wars
- infantryman of the November Uprising
  in 1831 against Russia
- infantryman of the January Uprising
  in 1863 against Russia
- officer in 1939
- cavalryman in 1939
- infantryman in 1939
- tank crew of Polish corps in 1944-45
  in Great Britain and France The Poles have been compelled to fight almost continously. Norman Davies writes, "Few nations in the last 200 years have seen more military action than the Poles. ... Private armies abounded. ... Vast numbers of indigent petty noblemen filled the ranks of a military caste of proportions unequelled in Europe. But their contempt for state service, their preoccupation with private wars and vendettas, ... their obsession with cavalry to the detriment of all other branches of warfare (infantry, artillery and engineers), and their opposition to the idea of raising an 'ignoble army' of peasant conscripts, put them at a marked disadvantage in relation to all their neighbours. ... From 1765 to 1831, constant attempts were made to develop Polish military potential to a level commensurate with that of the neighbouring countries. ... The revival began in 1765 with the founding of the Cadet Corps, a military college designed to raise a new generation of officers in the spirit of patriotism and enlightement. ... The Napoleonic episode initiated three decades of strong French influence." (Davies - "God's Playground. A History of Poland." Vol II, p 268)
The Polish land forces has developed along parallel lines to those of the evolution of western european armies, although local conditions, produced certain deviations and left their own mark on tactics, uniform and weapons. The best part of Polish army was the cavalry. There was a saying that if the sky fell their lances would support it.

Long list of wars involving Poland (ext.link)
including victories, defeats and wars
with indecisive or unclear outcome


Battle of Grunwald (Tannenberg) 1410: Second Phase.
Polish knights vs Teutonic knights and guest crusaders
from western Europe

Reenactment of the Battle of Grunwald (Tannenberg) 1410.
.
.


Battle of Klushino 1610
6.500 Poles routed 35.000 Russians and mercenaries
from western Europe. The battle was decided by unstoppable
charge of Polish cavalry. Casualties: 400 Poles and 5.000
Russians and mercenaries. After the battle, the tsar was
ousted by the boyars. The small Polish army entered Moscow
and occupied Kremlin.

Battle of Kircholm 1605
Approx. 4,000 Poles defeated 12,000 Swedes.
The battle was decided in 20 min. by the devastating
charge of Polish cavalry. The Swedish king fled.
Casualties: 300 killed and wounded Poles and Allies
5.000-9.000 killed, wounded and captured Swedes
11 artillery pieces and 60 banners.


Siege of a Polish fortress of Kamieniec Podolski
by a massive Turkish army. From the movie
"Colonel Wolodyjowski."

In 1672 Ottoman army (80,000 men) invaded Ukraine and
captured the fortress at Kamieniec Podolski. Small Polish
army then dealt several defeats to the Ottomans; of which
the battle of Chocim was the largest.

The Ottoman army at Chocim (or Khotyn) consisted of 35.000
men and 50-120 guns. The Turks held the entrenched camp.
The Polish army of 30.000 men and 65 guns under Jan Sobieski
attacked on arrival. The victory was decisive. The Polish losses
were very light. The Turks suffered 30.000 killed, wounded and
captured. They also lost all artillery. From then on they called
Jan Sobieski "The Lion of the North."

Unable to break into Europe through Poland, the Turkish army
invaded Austria and Hungary. The most important battle of the
1683 campaign was the battle of Vienna. It was the turning point
in the 300-year long struggle between christian Europe and the
Ottoman Empire.
The Christian coalition of 70,000 German, Polish and French
troops under Polish King Jan Sobieski defeated 120,000 Turks.
Four cavalry groups totalling 20,000 men, one of them Austro-
-German, and the other three Polish, charged down the hills.
The enemy was crushed and fled in panic. It was one of the
largest cavalry charges in history.
Pope Innocentius XI regarded the defence of Vienna as his major
achievement. European dignitaries hailed Sobieski as the "Savior
of Vienna and Western European civilization." In a letter to his
wife Sobieski wrote that the freed Austrians "kissed my hands,
my feet, my clothes..."

Ps. On 26 September 1660 at Kutyszcze, 140 Polish winged hussars defeated 1,600-3,500 Russians and Cossacks. (Ratio of 1 to 11 !) The enemy was under Vasyl Sheremetev and consisted of fine regiment of reiter cavalry (armored, mounted on strong horses) and regiment of Cossack infantry. The Russians delivered several salvos. It however made no impression on the Poles. The winged hussars charged and oberthrew everything on their way.

The Fall of Poland.

The XVIII century is considered the most tragic period in Polish history. Poland's neighbours, Russia and Prussia were absolute states and their political systems stood in contradiction to the Polish tradition of self-government, low taxes, and civil freedoms of the gentry. Low taxes also meant numerically weak army.
Additionally it became increasingly common for Polish parliament's sessions to be broken up by liberum veto. It was every nobleman's representative's right to block any legislation, just by uttering his veto. It was tantamount to an extreme expression of political liberty and conceived as a safeguard against tyranny. Poland deteriorated from a European power into a state of anarchy. (Although for two centuries Poland was an European power, it never was a world power, like France, Britain, Spain and Russia.)

In 1791 the Poles attempted to reform their political system. The Polish Constitution of May was Europe's first modern codified national constitution and the world's second after the USA constitution. The changes in Poland were received with hostility by Russia and Prussia, while the situation in Europe was not encouraging for the Poles.
The internal problems of France, the preoccupation of Britain with the American Revolution, gave the opportunity for Russia, Prussia and Austria to proceed with reference to Poland. Between 1772 and 1795 the entire territory of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was divided between Prussia, Austria and Russia. The first partition of Poland took place in 1772, the second in 1793 and the third in 1795. The partitions ended the political existence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The King was forced to abdicate and was taken to Russia.

Many captured Poles were sent to Siberia but thousands more escaped to France, Germany and Italy. For next decades Prussia, Russia and Austria had much of their land forces tied up in Poland and could not field enough troops to suppress the French Revolution, which added to its success.
The Partition of Poland did not for a moment break the resistance of the Poles, who - whenever opportunity offered - rose in arms to fight not only for their own country, but also for the idea which they inscribed on their standards - "Free men are brothers."

Territorial evolution of Poland (ext. link)


Poland in 1018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Poland in 1500s ("Golden-Age of Poland")


Partitions of Poland (1772,1793,1795) . . . Poland in 1809-15 (Napoleonic wars)
by Russia (green), Austria (yellow) and Prussia (black)

~

Polish Legions in 1797-1808.
"The fact France's enemies happened to be Poland's oppressors was
an obvious attraction, and many Polish soldiers volunteered for
service in the French army." (Summerville - "Napoleon's Polish Gamble" p 15)

.

The Polish Legions in the Napoleonic period, were several units that served with the French Army, from 1797 to 1803. "During the Partitions, the Poles came to see France as their truest friend in the outside world. There was some background to this: the French and Polish royal families had intermarried, French had become the polite language of the great Polish aristocrats, and Poland had drawn many ideas from the Enlightenment and the Revolution of 1789 before its fall. Afterwards, Napoleon supported the Polish cause (for his own ends), and for most of the 19th century French governments not only welcomed Polish exiles but loudly endorsed their calls for the restoration of independence." (- Neal Ascherson)

Polish infantryman
in Italy in 1790s There is hardly a more touching chapter in the world's history than the story of the Polish Legions. The Poles hoped that by fighting on the French side against Austria, Russia and Prussia, the contries that had partitioned Poland they could free their country.
In 1797, about two years after the last dismemberment of Poland, Polish troops were formed in northern Italy, in Polish uniforms, under Polish commander General Dabrowski, decorated with French cockades and wearing on the eppaulets the inscription: "Gli uomini liberi sono fratelli." (Free men are brethren.) In the beginning iIts quartermaster was an Italian, Lodovico Gazzari. The Legion was bolstered by the arrival of many new recruits who had deserted from the Austrian army.

General Dabrowski General Jan Henryk Dabrowski was a bear of a man, good natured and rather phlegmatic. He was also known as Jean Henri Dombrowski (french), or Johann Heinrich Dombrowski (german). Dabrowski was an excellent organizer, a well-educated and very capable officer, a brave soldier and caring leader of men. Military historians sometimes blame him for abandoning the bridge at Borisov (1812), not remembering that he put up a stubborn resistance, losing 1,800 (!) of his 2,400 men. Contemporaries also criticized him for his too lenient attitude toward captured German officers.
Dabrowski was a humane man and a great patriot. He is a Polish national hero. Only Prince Poniatowski is more popular general of Duchy of Warsaw.

The Polish Legion (7 officers and 1.110 other raks) under Dabrowski became part of French division under General Kilmaine, and was classified as light infantry. In April the Legion consisted of three infantry battalions, two cavalry squadrons and few guns:
I (Grenadier) Battalion - under Strzalkowski
II (Chasseur) Batalion - under Kosinski
III (Fusilier) Batalion - Dembowski
Artillery: 4 cannons and 2 howitzers
Light Cavalry: two squadrons
Depot in Milan - under Konopka

Joseph Wybicki and
Dabrowski's Mazurek In July 1797 Joseph Wybicki wrote a song titled "Dabrowski's Mazurka" to boost the morale of Dabrowski's soldiers. It was about two years after the Third Partition of Poland erased the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from the map. The song expressing the idea that Poland, despite lack of independence, had not disappeared as long as the Polish people were still alive and fighting in its name, soon became one of the most popular patriotic songs in Poland. It was officially adopted as the national anthem of Poland in 1926. Napoleon is the only non-Polish person mentioned by name in the anthem. Actually Poland is the only country in the world to invoke Napoleon Bonaparte in its national anthem.
Poland has not yet died,
So long as we still live.
What the alien power has seized from us,
We shall recapture with a sabre.
- - - March, march, Dabrowski,
- - - To Poland from the Italian land.
- - - Under your command
- - - We shall rejoin the nation.
Like Czarniecki to Poznan
Returned across the sea
To save his homeland
After the Swedish partition.
- - - March, march...
We'll cross the Vistula and the Warta,
We shall be Polish.
Bonaparte has given us the example
Of how we should prevail.

By the end of April the ranks of the Legion had swelled to 5,000 men. In May 1797 the Legion was reorganized into two legions. Each legion had 3,750 infantrymen and some artillery. The infantrymen were organized into 3 battalions of 10 companies (8 fusilier, 1 grenadier, 1 chasseur). There was also formed battalion of artillery under Aksamitowski. It consisted of three companies.

Organization of Polish Legions in mid-1797:
Commander - General Jan Henryk Dabrowski
Quartermaster - Luigi Gazzari (Italian)
ADCs - Tremo, Zawadzki
- - - - - 1st Legion
- - - - - Commander - General Wielhorski until October 1797, then General Kniaziewicz
- - - - - Second-in-command - Strzalkowski
- - - - - Quartermaster - Antonio Caccianiga (Italian)
- - - - - - - - - - I Battalion - under Strzalkowski until August 1797, then by Bialowiejski
- - - - - - - - - - II Battalion - under Kosinski until August 1797, then by Forestier
- - - - - - - - - - III Battalion - under Zablocki until August, then by Grabinski
- - - - - 2nd Legion
- - - - - Commander - General Rymkiewicz
- - - - - - - - - - I Battalion - under Dembowski
- - - - - - - - - - II Battalion - under Chamand (Frenchman) until August 1797, then by Lipczynski
- - - - - - - - - - III Battalion - under Niemojewski until September 1797, then by Zagorski

By the end of 1798 the Legions were 10.000 men strong and had infantry, artillery and light cavalry.

The Legions fought in March 1797 at Brescia, in April took part in quelling the uprising in Verona, in July suppressed insurrection in Reggio Emilia, in May 1798 helped the French to secure the Papal States, putting down some peasant revolts, and garrisoned Rome. In December 1798 the Legions were fighting against the anti-French forces from the Kingdom of Naples, defeating them at Civita Castellana. At Civita Castellana General Macdonald with 7.000 French and 3.000 Polish troops trashed Mack's 30.000-40.000 Neapolitan troops. The Poles led by Kniaziewicz routed enemy's left wing. The Legions then fought at Magliano, Falari, Calvi and Capua before Naples capitulated on 23 January.

Battle of Novi in 1799.
Suvorov defeated Joubert and Moreau. In mid-1799 the First Legion fought at Trebbia and Novi, and on 26 September at the Second Battle of Zurich.
At Novi (picture -->) General Suvorov (50.000 Austrians and Russians) defeated French Generals Joubert and Moreau (37.500 French and Polish troops). The French suffered extremely heavy casualties. There were 16.000 killed, wounded and captured. General Joubert was killed. He had been marked out as a future great captain by Napoleon himself. After the battle, his remains were brought to France. Alexander Suvorov suffered only 6.000 killed and wounded.

The Second Legion fought on the Adige (26 March – 5 April) and at the Battle of Magnano. The legion suffered extremaly heavy losses in the two engagements. The remainder of the Second Legion became part of the garrison at Mantua, which was soon placed under siege by the Austrians. At the end of the siege, the French commander de Foissac-Latour decided to release Polish soldiers – into Austrian custody as the Austrians claimed them to be deserters. This marked the end of the Second Legion.

Polish legions and Napoleon When Napoleon became the First Consul, the Polish Legions were reorganized in France into the Italian Legion, that would become part of the Army of Italy. The Italian Legion fought at Peschiera and Mantua.

Third Legion (Danube Legion,
Rhine Legion, Légion du Rhine)

In 1799 General Kniaziewicz formed the Third Polish Legion (also called the Danube Legion, Rhine Legion, Légion du Rhine, or Legia Naddunajska) to fight against the Austrians in Bavaria. The men were Polish volunteers, mostly French prisoners of war from the Austrian Army. The Third Legion fought as part of the French Army of the Rhine at Berg, Bernheim and Offenburg. The Poles also fought at Hohenlinden on 3 December 1800.

In December 1801, or in 1802, the three Polish Legions were reorganized by the French government into three demi-brigades.

The size of the Legions decreased after the Treaty of Luneville (February 1801), which to the disappointment of the legionnaires made no mention of Poland. Many legionnaires, including General Kniaziewicz, felt that they had been used by the French and resigned. General Dabrowski remained in command, and reorganized both Legions into two 6,000-strong units in March 1801.

Polish infantry fighting 
with blacks on San Domingo Island. In 1793 British troops invaded Haiti (San Domingo island on Caribbean Sea) to suppress a slave rebellion but were forced to withdraw.
In 1802, France sent two demi-brigades to Haiti (San Domingo) to put down the Haitian Revolution. Napoleon wanted to regain this colony. The French troops burned alive, hanged, drowned, and tortured black prisoners, reviving such practices as burying blacks in piles of insects and boiling them in cauldrons of molasses. After one battle, the French buried 500 prisoners alive. The enemy responded by hanging 500 French prisoners. Combat casualties and tropical diseases, including the yellow fever, reduced the 5,000-strong Polish contingent to a few hundred survivors in the space of less than two years. The Haitian experience cast further doubts among Poles about France's and Napoleon's good intentions toward Poland.

By the way, not all Poles supported Napoleon. General Tadeusz Kosciuszko, said about the Emperor: "He only thinks of himself, not about nationalist ideas, and so he could not care less about any dreams of independence [of Poland]. He is a despot, whose sole ambition is to satisfy his personal ambition. He will create nothing of any permanence, of that I am sure." Kosciuszko is Polish national hero, general and a leader of 1794 uprising (which bears his name) against the Russian Empire. He and Lafayette fought in the American Revolutionary War on the side of Washington.

Legion of the North
(Légion du Nord)

Legion of the North (or Legion du Nord, Legia Polnocna) was formed in 1806 from Polish deserters from Prussian army. On 23 September 1806 Napoleon formed 2nd Legion of the North. Both Legions had the same strength (theoretically 5.000 men each) and organisation. The legion consisted of staff and four battalions. Each battalion was composed of nine companies (1 Carabinier, 1 Voltigeur and 7 Chasseur).
General Zajaczek The legions were under the command of Polish General Zajaczek. In January 1807 the 1st Legion left Magdeburg in Prussia. Many soldiers lacked uniforms and weapons. In March 1807 the 2nd Legion was disbanded and the officers and soldiers were incorporated into the first Legion.

On paper the legion numbered 10.000 men but desertions were a big problem. The soldiers lacked almost everything. Levebvre warned Marshal Berthier, the chief of staff of the French army, that if the men get no shoes, trousers, shakos and jackets, all will desert. The legion became part of French infantry division under General Menard. It fought in several engagements of the campaign in Eastern Prussia and Poland. The legionnaires fought well at Disarchau (today Tczew on Vistula River) and Danzig (today Gdansk).

In September 1807 Napoleon decided that the legion (down to 2.500 men) will be transferred from French to Saxon army. The few French officers left the legion and joined the French army. Because the Duchy of Warsaw was under Saxon King, it was directed to Poland and in 1808 became part of Polish 5th and 6th Infantry Regiments.

~

Vistula Legion 1806-1814.
Napoleon stated that the infantry [of the Vistula Legion]
were to be treated on a par with French line regiments.
- George Nafziger

.

Legion de la Vistule. By 1806 what was left of Dabowski's Polish Legions in Italy and Kniaziewicz's Danube Legion was one infantry regiment and one cavalry regiment. "In February 1807 these remnants became part of the French army and were sent to Silesia. These Polish veterans became the core of a new Polish Legion ... and were initially called the Polish-Italian Legion (Italian since they had fought in Italy, not because the unit had Italians in it).
Napoleon's decree of 1807 stated this Legion should consist of three infantry regiments and one cavalry regiment. ... In June, the formation took part in the siege of Klodzko. From Silesia the Legion moved to service in Westphalia in October 1807 ... On 21 February 1808, Napoleon ordered the Legion to Poitiers in France, where it was formally inducted into the French army.
In a letter to Davout dated 31 March 1808, Napoleon renamed the Polish-Italian Legion (Polacco-Italienne) the "Vistula Legion." He also stated that the infantry were to be treated on a par with French line regiments ... The depot for the Legion appears to have been Sedan. ... It should also be noted that French nationals were not permitted to serve in the Legion, except as the company clerks (fourriers), battalion adjutant non-commissioned officers, and as paymasters. ...
After the battle of Wagram (1809), Napoleon found that he was once again in possession of a large number of ethnic Poles amongst his Austrian prisoners of war. The Decree of 8 July, 1809, directed that these men were to form a 2nd Vistula Legion. ... The 2nd Vistula Legion never was able to form completely, so it was disbanded by the Decrees of 12/15 February, 1810. It was incorporated into the 1st Vistula Legion as a 4th Regiment. The Vistula Legion was sent to Spain where it fought in the sieges of Saragossa and Segunto.
In fact, the Vistula Legion seemed particularly destined to participate in sieges, and it fought in all of the major sieges in eastern Spain during the early years of the Peninsular War. ... In preparation for the invasion of Russia the Vistula Legion was withdrawn from Spain in early 1812. ...
On 2 April, 1812, Napoleon decided to include the Poles in the Young Guard corps under Marshal Mortier rather than designating them as Guard. The third battalions were formed, but on 31 May, after reviewing them in Posen, Napoleon directed that they not form elite companies, feeling their soldiers were too young. However, they would follow the main army as far as Smolensk and Gjatsk, joining the main body only during the retreat in the beginning of November. ... The 4th Regiment was still in Spain while the other regiments went to Russia. ... These men had fought bravely at Smolensk, Borodino, Tarutino, Krasnoe and at the Berezina Crossing. " (Nafziger - "Poles and Saxons of the Napoleonic Wars")

General Chlopicki General Joseph Chlopicki (born March 14, 1771 – died September 30, 1854) commanded the infantry of Vistula Legion between June 1808 and 1812. (Earlier it was under General Grabinski.) He was one of the toughest Polish infantry generals of Napoleonic wars. Chlopicki was awarded by the French with Legion of Honour for the battle of Epila and the storming of Saragossa. In 1809 he was promoted to the rank of general de brigade. During the invasion of Russia in 1812, Chlopicki was wounded at Smolensk. In 1813 he was made a general de division. He held aloof at first from the November Uprising of 1830-31 (war with Russia), but at the general request of his countrymen accepted the post of commander in chief of Polish army.

      1st Infantry Regiment of Vistula Legion
      28 Battles and combats: 1806 - St.Euphemie, Mangona, and Codron, 1807 - Salzbrunn, 1808 - Mallen, Allagon, Saragosse, Tudela, and Tavenca, 1809 - Saragosse, Alcanitz, Maria, Belchite, and Stella, 1810 - Villet-Checa, 1811 - Tarragona, Murviedra, Gratalope and Fairet, 1812 - Valence, Smolensk, Chirikovo, Borodino, Krimskoie, Voronowo, Beresina, Krasnoie, and Wilna
      Colonels: 1808 - Chlopicki, 1809 - Kosinowski, 1811 - Fondzielski, 1812 - Kosinowski

      2nd Infantry Regiment of Vistula Legion
      28 Battles and combats: 1808 - Saragossa and Tudela, 1809 - Perdiguera, Santa Fe, Belchite, Aquila, El Fresna, Calatayud, Retascon, Daroca, Ojos Negros and Tremedal, 1810 - Torre la Carcel, Teruel, Villastar, Villel, Lancosa, Tortosa and Fuente Santa, 1811 - Azuara, 1812 - Valence, Smolensk, Woronowo, Beresina, Tarutino, Wilna and Kowno, 1813 - Wittenberg
      Colonels: 1808 - Bialowieyski, 1808 - Kosinowski, 1809 - Michalowski ?, 1812 - Chlusowicz, 1812 - Malczewski

      3rd Infantry Regiment of Vistula Legion
      10 Battles and combats: 1808 - Saragosse, 1809 - Saragosse, 1812 - Smolensk, Chirikovo, Borodino, Krimskoie, Voronowo, Beresina, Krasnoie, and Wilna
      Colonels: 1807 - Swiderski, 1809 - Estko, 1812 - Kosinski, 1812 - Szott (Fondzielski ?)

      4th Infantry Regiment of Vistula Legion
      13 Battles and combats: 1810 - Puebla de Senabria, Benevente, Santa Martha, 1811 - Puebla, Aldea-del-Ponte, Tabara, Salinas and Penaranda, 1812 - Tudela, Ontario and Penaranda, 1813 - Rogozno and Parkowo
      Colonels: 1812 - Bronikowski and Estko

The infantry of Vistula Legion was part of Napoleon's Grande Armee during the invasion of Russia. They formed infantry division under Generals Claparede (Frenchman) and Chlopicki. The division was attached to the Imperial Guard.

Officer of the Vistula uhlans. The Vistula Legion consisted of several regiments of infantry (described above) and a single cavalry regiment. In 1811 was formed a second regiment. They were light cavalry and were armed with lances. The regiments had four squadrons each.

The Vistula Uhlans routed the Austrians at Hohenlinden in 1800, the Prussian infantry and cavalry at Struga (Strigau) in 1807, the British infantry and cavalry at Albuera in 1811, and the Spanish at Ocana and Tudela. The Spaniards called them "Picadors of the Hell". Some of the best privates and officers of this regiment were admitted into the Old Guard Lancer Regiment. They also served as instructors for the newly formed French lancer regiments.

For more information about the Vistula Uhlans click here.
(Uniforms, commanders, and battle record)

~

Army of Duchy of Warsaw.
The war in 1807 was called by Napoleon the "First Polish War"
and resulted in the formation of the Polish state, Duchy of Warsaw.
In 1812 Napoleon, in an attempt to gain increased support from
Poles termed the war against the Russia the "Second Polish War."

.

Marshal Murat enters Warsaw. In 1806, after crushing the fearsome Prussian army at Jena and Auerstadt, the French troops arrived in Poland. Marshal Murat entered Warsaw to a rapturous welcome. He was feted by the Poles igniting hopes of future kingship.
The Polish populace considered Napoleon's troops as friends. This is confirmed by French officers Parquin writes: "After our passage of the [Vistula] river ... the enemy [Russians] gave way and we occupied the Polish villages, where we were received like brothers by the people, miserably poor though they were." (Parquin - "Napoleon's Victories" p 63)

The Emperor however was hesitant about reenacting the Kingdom of Poland. In spite of the ovations given him by the Poles, he wrote: "Only God can arbitrate this vast political problem ... It would mean blood, more blood, and srtill more blood ..." But it was not long before the Duchy of Warsaw became a bastion of France in central and Eastern Europe, and Polish troops stood ready to fight for Napoleon and independence. For nowhere else had Napoleon a more loyal and devoted ally than the Poles who stood by him through thick and thin.

Napoleon conferring the Constitution
on Duchy of warsaw in 1807 The Duchy of Warsaw was officially created by Napoleon as part of the Treaty of Tilsit signed with Russia and Prussia in 1807. It was formally an independent duchy, allied to France, and in a personal union with the Kingdom of Saxony. The progressive Napoleonic Code (ext. link) became the law of the duchy. The Poles joked that the army is Polish, the king is Saxon, the money is Prussian, and the code is French.

The area of the duchy covered roughly the areas of the 2nd and 3rd Prussian partitions, with the exception of Danzig (Gdansk), which became the Free City of Danzig under joint French and Saxon "protection", and of the district around Bialystok, which became part of Russia. The population was 2,600,000. Following the annexation in 1809 of Austrian Galicia and Krakow, the duchy's population substantially increased, to 4,300,000.

Already in November 1806 Napoleon directed General Dabrowski to form Polish troops. Dabrowski issued a decree ordering the population to provide 1 infantry recruit from every 10 households, 1 cavalry recruit from every 45 households and 1 chasseur (light infantry) recruit from every estate. In January 1807 the Polish army consisted of 20.500 recruits and 3.000 volunteers. The army was organized into three legions (divisions).
The constitution established the Polish army at 30,000 men. Prince Poniatowski became its Minister of War. The Poles joked about the Duchy having "a Saxon king, French laws, Polish army, and Prussian currency." (Nafziger-"Poles and Saxons" p 3)

Population of Duchy of Warsaw and other countries
(incl. United States) during the Napoleonic Wars
Flag of Duchy of Warsaw Denmark - 1 million
Wurttemberg - 1,2 millions
Westphalia - 1,9 millions
Saxony - 1,95 millions
Lombardy - 2 millions
Papal State - 2,3 millions
Sweden - 2,3 millions
Portugal - 3 millions
Bavaria - 3,3 millions
Poland Duché de Varsovie - 4,3 millions
Naples - 5 millions
Holland & Belgium - 6,2 millions
USA - 6.5 millions
Prussia - 9,7 millions (in 1806 reduced to 4,9 millions)
Spain - 11 millions
Great Britain - 18,5 millions (England, Ireland, Scotland)
Austria - 21 millions (with Hungary)
France - 30 millions
Russia - 40 millions (w/annexed ter.)

.

Army of Duchy of Warsaw in 1807
Infantry
Cavalry
Artillery
1st Legion (Division)
- - - 1st Infantry Regiment
- - - 2nd Infantry Regiment
- - - 3rd Infantry Regiment
- - - 4th Infantry Regiment
2nd Legion (Division)
- - - 5th Infantry Regiment
- - - 6th Infantry Regiment
- - - 7th Infantry Regiment
- - - 8th Infantry Regiment
3rd Legion (Division)
- - - 9th Infantry Regiment
- - - 10th Infantry Regiment
- - - 11th Infantry Regiment
- - - 12th Infantry Regiment

Vistula Legion
- - - 1st Infantry Regiment of Vistula Legion
- - - 2nd Infantry Regiment of Vistula Legion
- - - 3rd Infantry Regiment of Vistula Legion

attached to 1st Legion (Division):
- - - 1st Cavalry Regiment
- - - 2nd Cavalry Regiment
attached to 2nd Legion (Division):
- - - 3rd Cavalry Regiment
- - - 4th Cavalry Regiment
attached to 3rd Legion (Division):
- - - 5th Cavalry Regiment
- - - 6th Cavalry Regiment

Uhlan Regiment of Vistula Legion

Lighthorse Regiment
of the Imperial Guard
.

.

.

I Battalion of Foot Artillery
II Battalion of Foot Artillery
III Battalion of Foot Artillery
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

July 1808:
- - - 1st Division (yellow lapels for infantry)
- - - Commander - General de Division Prince Joseph Poniatowski
- - - Second-in-command - General de Brigade Bieganski
- - - Chief-of-staff - Colonel Paszkowski
- - - ADC - Colonel Rautenstrauch
- - - - - - - - - Infantry Brigade - General de Brigade Aksamitowski
- - - - - - - - - - - - 1st Infantry Regiment
- - - - - - - - - - - - 2nd Infantry Regiment
- - - - - - - - - Infantry Brigade - General de Brigade Wojczynski
- - - - - - - - - - - - 3rd Infantry Regiment
- - - - - - - - - - - - 4th Infantry Regiment
- - - - - - - - - Cavalry Brigade
- - - - - - - - - - - - 2nd Uhlan Regiment
- - - - - - - - - - - - 1st Horse Chasseur Regiment
- - - - - - - - - Artillery: I Battalion of Foot Artillery
- - - - - - - - - and company of Horse Artillery
- - - 2nd Division (crimson lapels for infantry)
- - - Commander - General de Division Joseph Zajaczek
- - - Second-in-command - General de Brigade Skorzewski
- - - Chief-of-staff - Colonel Kossecki
- - - ADC - Colonel Radziminski
- - - - - - - - - Infantry Brigade - General de Brigade Niemojewski
- - - - - - - - - - - - 5th Infantry Regiment
- - - - - - - - - - - - 6th Infantry Regiment
- - - - - - - - - Infantry Brigade - General de Brigade Izydor Krasinski
- - - - - - - - - - - - 7th Infantry Regiment
- - - - - - - - - - - - 8th Infantry Regiment
- - - - - - - - - Cavalry Brigade
- - - - - - - - - - - - 3rd Uhlan Regiment
- - - - - - - - - - - - 4th Horse Chasseur Regiment
- - - - - - - - - Artillery: II Battalion of Foot Artillery
- - - 3rd Division (white lapels for infantry)
- - - Commander - General de Division Jan Henryk Dabrowski
- - - Second-in-command - Colonel Hauke
- - - Chief-of-staff - Colonel Pakosz
- - - ADC - Lieutenant Colonel Cedrowski
- - - - - - - - - Infantry Brigade - General de Brigade Sokolnicki
- - - - - - - - - - - - 9th Infantry Regiment
- - - - - - - - - - - - 10th Infantry Regiment
- - - - - - - - - Infantry Brigade - General de Brigade Grabowski
- - - - - - - - - - - - 11th Infantry Regiment
- - - - - - - - - - - - 12th Infantry Regiment
- - - - - - - - - Cavalry Brigade
- - - - - - - - - - - - 6th Uhlan Regiment
- - - - - - - - - - - - 5th Horse Chasseur Regiment
- - - - - - - - - Artillery: III Battalion of Foot Artillery

In August 1808 Marshal Davout selected the best, in his opinion, infantry regiment in every division and Napoleon send them to Spain. "Napoleon took this force into French service on much the same basis as the Hessians served the British in the American Revolution." (Nafziger - "Poles and Saxons" p 12)
The chosen troops were: 4th, 7th and 9th Infantry Regiment, 140-men artillery company and 200- -man sapper company. Several battalions were sent to Prussia. Due to such wide distribution of Polish troops the divisional organization had become obsolete.

After the victorious war against Austria and annexation of Galicia the Poles raised new regiments: 6 infantry and 10 cavalry (1 cuirassiers, 2 hussars and 7 uhlans). The Polish army consisted of
- 18 line infantry regiments - 45.000 men (with depots)
- 14.500 men (with depots)
- artillery and sapers - 2.620 men (with depots)
- Vistula Legion and Guard Chevaulegeres - 7.000 men (with depots)

.

Army of Duchy of Warsaw in 1809
Infantry
Cavalry
Artillery
1st Division - General Prince Poniatowski
- - - 1st Infantry Regiment
- - - 2nd Infantry Regiment
- - - 3rd Infantry Regiment
- - - 4th Infantry Regiment
2nd Division - General Zajaczek
- - - 5th Infantry Regiment
- - - 6th Infantry Regiment
- - - 7th Infantry Regiment
- - - 8th Infantry Regiment
3rd Division - General Dabrowski
- - - 9th Infantry Regiment
- - - 10th Infantry Regiment
- - - 11th Infantry Regiment
- - - 12th Infantry Regiment

First Vistula Legion
- - - 1st Infantry Regiment of Vistula Legion
- - - 2nd Infantry Regiment of Vistula Legion
- - - 3rd Infantry Regiment of Vistula Legion
Second Vistula Legion

Formed in the end of 1809
- - - 13th Infantry Regiment
- - - 14th Infantry Regiment
- - - 15th Infantry Regiment
- - - 16th Infantry Regiment
- - - 17th Infantry Regiment
- - - 18th Infantry Regiment

attached to 1st Division:
- - - 1st Horse Chasseur Regiment
- - - 2nd Uhlan Regiment
attached to 2nd Division:
- - - 3rd Uhlan Regiment
- - - 4th Horse Chasseur Regiment
attached to 3rd Division:
- - - 5th Horse Chasseur Regiment
- - - 6th Uhlan Regiment

Uhlan Regiment of Vistula Legion

Lighthorse Regiment
of the Imperial Guard

formed in the end of 1809:
- - - 7th Uhlan Regiment
- - - 8th Uhlan Regiment
- - - 9th Uhlan Regiment
- - - 10th Hussar Regiment
- - - 11th Uhlan Regiment
- - - 12th Uhlan Regiment
- - - 13th Hussar Regiment
- - - 14th Cuirassier Regiment
- - - 15th Uhlan Regiment
- - - 16th Uhlan Regiment

.

- - - I Battalion of Foot Artillery
- - - II Battalion of Foot Artillery
- - - III Battalion of Foot Artillery

- - - I Squadron of Horse Artillery .

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

In early 1812 due to financial difficulties in the Grand Duchy, Napoleon took into French pay several units: artillery companies in the fortresses of Danzig (Gdansk) and Kustrin (Kostrzyn), the 9th Uhlan Regiment, 5th, 10th and 11th Infantry Regiment. Napoleon approved Poniatowski's suggestion to add 2 light cannons to every Polish infantry regiment.
The strength of companies in infantry and cavalry regiments was increased. Before the campaign against Russia the army of Grand Duchy consisted of more than 75.000 men and 165 guns. There were 22 infantry and 20 cavalry regiments. There were also the Vistula Legion and the Guard Lighthorse-Lancers. Most of the regiments participated in the Invasion of Russia. See below.

.

Order of battle of Polish troops in August 1812 for the Invasion of Russia.
(GdD = General de Division, GdB = General de Brigade, Col.= Colonel)
Main Polish force (V Army Corps)
Other Polish units
V Army Corps
Commander: GdD Prince Poniatowski
Chief-of-Staff: GdD Fiszer
Chief-of-Artillery: GdB Pelletier [Frenchman]

16th Infantry Division - GdD Zajaczek
Infantry Brigade - GdB Mielzynski
. . . 3rd Infantry Regiment (2.621 men, 2 3pdr cannons)
. . . 15th Infantry Regiment (2.675 men, 2 3pdr cannons)
Infantry Brigade - GdB Paszkowski
. . . 13th Infantry Regiment (2.371 men, 2 3pdr cannons)
. . . 16th Infantry Regiment (2.679 men,2 3pdr cannons)
Artillery - Chef ?
. . . III Foot Battery (144 men, 4 6pdr cannons, 2 howitzers)
. . . XII Foot Battery (159 men, 4 6pdr cannons, 2 howitzers)
. . . Sapper Company (72 men)

17th Infantry Division - GdD Dabrowski
Infantry Brigade - GdB Zoltowski
. . . 1st Infantry Regiment (2.396 men, 2 3pdr cannons)
. . . 6th Infantry Regiment (2.543 men, 2 3pdr cannons)
Infantry Brigade - GdB Krasinski
. . . 14th Infantry Regiment (2.544 men, 2 3pdr cannons)
. . . 17th Infantry Regiment (2.666 men, 2 3pdr cannons)
Artillery - Chef Gugenmus
. . . X Foot Battery (167 men, 4 6pdr cannons, 2 howitzers)
. . . XI Foot Battery (175 men, 4 6pdr cannons, 2 howitzers)
. . . Sapper Company (71 men)

18th Infantry Division - GdD Kniaziewicz
Infantry Brigade - GdB Grabowski
. . . 2nd Infantry Regiment (2.420 men, 2 3pdr cannons)
. . . 8th Infantry Regiment (2.422 men, 2 3pdr cannons)
Infantry Brigade - GdB Pakosz
. . . 12th Infantry Regiment (2.206 men, 2 3pdr cannons)
. . . This infantry regiment was detached
Artillery - Chef ?
. . . IV Foot Battery (163 men, 4 6pdr cannons, 2 howitzers)
. . . V Foot Battery (153 men, 4 6pdr cannons, 2 howitzers)
. . . Sapper Company (61 men)

Light Cavalry Division - GdD Kaminski
Sebastiani,Lefebvre-Desnouettes
18th Light Cavalry Brigade - GdB ?
. . . 4th Horse Chasseur Regiment (786 men)
19th Light Cavalry Brigade - GdB ?
. . . 1st Horse Chasseur Regiment (652 men)
. . . 12th Uhlan Regiment (497 men)
19th Light Cavalry Brigade - GdB ?
. . . 5th Horse Chasseur Regiment (791 men)
. . . 13th Hussar Regiment (755 men)

Corps Reserve Artillery - Col. Gorski
. . . II Horse Battery (152 men, 4 6pdr cannons, 2 howitzers)
. . . XIV Foot Battery (158 men, 6 12pdr cannons)
. . . Pontoneers (121 men, bridging equipment)
General Artillery Park
. . . VII Foot Battery (169 men, no guns)
. . . VIII Foot Battery (81 men, no guns)
. . . IX Foot Battery (86 men, no guns)
. . . XIII Foot Battery (75 men, no guns)
. . . XV Foot Battery (89 men, no guns)

in the Imperial Guard:
. . . Guard Lancer Regiment - GdB Konopka

in the Vistula Legion under GdD Claparede
1st Infantry Brigade - GdB Chlopicki
. . . 1st Infantry Regiment of Vistula Legion
. . . 2nd Infantry Regiment of Vistula Legion
2nd Infantry Brigade - GdB Bronikowski
. . . 3rd Infantry Regiment of Vistula Legion
. . . 4th Infantry Regiment of Vistula Legion
Artillery .
. . . Foot Battery (4 cannons and 2 howitzers)
. . . Foot Battery (4 cannons and 2 howitzers)

in 28th Infantry Division under GdD Girard
Infantry Brigade -
. . . 2nd Infantry Regiment (1.331 men, 2 3pdr cannons)
. . . 7th Infantry Regiment (967 men, 2 3pdr cannons)
. . . 9th Infantry Regiment (1.281 men, 2 3pdr cannons)
Artillery
. . . I Foot Battery (67 men, 4 6pdr cannons, 2 howitzers)
. . . II Foot Battery (?? men, 4 6pdr cannons, 2 howitzers)
. . . Sapper Company (97 men)

in 4th Light Cavalry Division under GdD Rozniecki
28th Light Cavalry Brigade - GdB Dziewanowski
. . . 2nd Uhlan Regiment (596 men)
. . . 7th Uhlan Regiment (672 men)
. . . 11th Uhlan Regiment (551 men)
29th Light Cavalry Brigade - GdB Turno
. . . 3rd Uhlan Regiment (658 men)
. . . 11th Uhlan Regiment (688 men)
. . . 16th Uhlan Regiment (728 men)

in 7th Heavy Cavalry Division under GdD Lorge
. . . 14th Cuirassier Regiment (300 men ?)

Artillery of IV Cavalry Corps
. . . III Horse Battery (168 men, 4 6pdr cannons, 2 howitzers)
. . . IV Horse Battery (167 men, 4 6pdr cannons, 2 howitzers)

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Order of battle of Polish troops in October 1813 in Saxony.
Below are only VIII Army Corps and IV Cavalry Corps.
There were also Polish troops in the Imperial Guard
and in fortresses, like Zamosc, Glogau, Modlin etc.
(GdD = General de Division, GdB = General de Brigade, Col.= Colonel)

VIII Army Corps
IV Cavalry Corps
VIII Army Corps
Commander: Marshal Prince Poniatowski
Chief-of-Staff: GdD Rozniecki
Chief-of-Artillery: Col. Redel
Chief-of-Engineers: Col. Mallet [Frenchman]

Advance Guard - GdB Uminski
. . . Krakus Cavalry Regiment (4 sq.)
. . . 14th Cuirassier Regiment (1-2 sq., no armor)

26th Infantry Division - GdD Kamieniecki
1st Infantry Brigade - GdB Sierawski
. . . Vistula Legion Infantry Regiment
. . . 1st Infantry Regiment
. . . 16th Infantry Regiment
2nd Infantry Brigade - GdB Malachowski
. . . 8th Infantry Regiment
. . . 15th Infantry Regiment
Artillery - Cpt. Orlinski.
. . . Foot Battery (4 6pdr cannons, 2 5.5" howitzers)
. . . Foot Battery (4 6pdr cannons, 2 5.5" howitzers)
. . . Foot Battery (4 6pdr cannons, 2 5.5" howitzers)

27th Infantry Division - GdD Dabrowski
1st Infantry Brigade - GdB Zoltowski
. . . 2nd Infantry Regiment
. . . 4th Infantry Regiment
2nd Infantry Brigade - GdB Grabowski
. . . 12th Infantry Regiment
. . . 14th Infantry Regiment
Artillery -
. . . Foot Battery (4 6pdr cannons, 2 5.5" howitzers)
. . . Foot Battery (4 6pdr cannons, 2 5.5" howitzers)
. . . Horse Battery (4 6pdr cannons, 2 5.5" howitzers)

Reserve Artillery - Col. Bontemps
. . . Foot Battery
. . . Foot Battery
. . . Sapper Company

IV Cavalry Corps
Commander: GdD Sokolnicki
Chief-of-Staff: GdB de Tancarville [Frenchman]

7th Light Cavalry Division -
17th Light Cavalry Brigade - GdB Tolinski
. . . 1st Chasseur-a-Cheval Regiment
. . . 3rd Uhlan Regiment
18th Light Cavalry Brigade - GdB Krukowiecki
. . . 2nd Uhlan Regiment
. . . 4th Uhlan Regiment
Divisional Artillery - Capitaine Schwerin
. . . Horse Battery (4 6pdr cannons, 2 5.5" howitzers)

8th Light Cavalry Division - GdD Sulkowski
19th Light Cavalry Brigade - GdB Turno
. . . 6th Uhlan Regiment
. . . 8th Uhlan Regiment
20th Light Cavalry Brigade - GdB Weyssenhoff
. . . 16th Uhlan Regiment
. . . 13th Hussar Regiment
Divisional Artillery - Cpt. Masson
. . . Horse Battery (4 6pdr cannons, 2 5.5" howitzers)

Reserve Artillery:
. . . Horse Battery (4 6pdr cannons, 2 5.5" howitzers)
. . . Horse Battery (4 6pdr cannons, 2 5.5" howitzers)
.

.

.

.

.

.

PS.
The very heavy drain on its resources by massive military recruitment, combined with a drop in exports of grain, caused problems for the Duchy's economy. Furthermore, in 1808 the French government imposed on the duchy an agreement at Bayonne to buy from France the debts owed to it by Prussia. (The territory of the Duchy covered roughly the areas of the 2nd and 3rd Prussian partitions.) The debt, amounting to more than 43 million francs in gold, was bought at a very discounted rate of 21 million francs. However, although the duchy made its payments to France over a 4-year period, Prussia failed to pay it, causing the Polish economy to suffer heavily. Indeed, to this day the phrase "Bayonne sums" is a synonym in Polish for a huge amount of money.

~

Generals and officers of Polish Army.

.

General de brigade
of Duchy of Warsaw The Polish army was commanded by General de Division Prince Joseph Poniatowski. His chief of staff was General Fiszer. He was also Inspector-General of Infantry. The Polish cavalry was under General Rozniecki. General Pelletier was Inspector-General Artillery and Engineers. One of the best generals on divisional level were: Dabrowski, Kniaziewicz, Zajaczek, Chlopicki, and Sokolnicki.

There was rivalry within the officers and generals between those who had served in the army of the Duchy of Warsaw and those who had joined Polish units in French service. The former often felt the latter had put self interest before patriotic duty, while the latter scorned the former as military amateurs. The rivalry had been largely healthy, and there had in fact been considerable interchange between the two. Chlapowski writes: "It was marvelous to be back in Warsaw. ... there was a great difference between these new regiments and the Polish Guard and Vistula Legion, with which I had recently been in Spain. As well as Colonel Krasinski, the entire staff of the Polish Guard Lighthorse were experienced officers ... The Vistula Legion still had officers from Dabrowski's Italian Legion and even Kniaziewicz's Legion of the Rhine. Nearly all the NCOs were older men, so training was steady, severe, and regular. It wasn't like that in the army of the Duchy of Warsaw."

Polish officers and generals communicated in Polish and French language. The troops were organized after the French model and used much of its terminology. Chlapowski writes: "Our drill regulations were provided by General Dabrowski, translated from the French. Knowing the Prussian system, it was easy for me to learn these new regulations, which were far simpler and much better suited to the conduct of war." (Chlapowski/Simmons - p 13)

French ranks - Polish ranks
general de division - general dywizji
general de brigade - general brygady
colonel - pulkownik
major - major
capitaine - kapitan
lieutenant - porucznik

.

Commander-in-Chief of the Army
General Prince Joseph Poniatowski

He was the only foreigner Napoleon promoted to
the rank of marshal of France. Poniatowski was
one of the few commanders who was able to conduct
a successful campaign without Napoleon's supervision.

Prince Poniatowski Prince Józef Antoni Poniatowski was born in 1763 and ten years later became the ward of his uncle, the King of Poland. "Nicknamed 'the Polish Bayard', Poniatowski was born in Vienna. ... He was commisioned into the Austrian army in 1778, serving in the dragoons and carabiniers, and in 1788 he became an ADC to the Emperor Francis II ..." (Chandler - "Dictionary of the Napoleonic wars" p 346)
In 1788 Poniatowski participated in the war against Ottoman Empire and was wounded at siege of Sabatach. In 1789 he returned to Poland, became general and in 1792 defeated the Russians at Zielence. In July Poniatowski resigned and left Poland but two years later the ardent patriot had returned and joined the Kosciuszko Insurrection. After collapse of the uprising Poniatowski was in exile.

When Poland disappeared from the map of Europe, many Polish officers and generals fled to France where they felt an ideological affinity. But not Poniatowski, in 1798 the restless soul was back in the occupied by Prussians Warsaw. In 1807 Poniatowski met Marshal Murat and the French troops and began overtures to Napoleon for the restoration of a free Poland. In 1807 he became minister of war in the Polish Directory.

In April 1809 Poniatowski selected a good defensive position at Raszyn and withstood all Austrian attacks. Then he defeated them at Radzymin and reconquered parts of former Poland. Poniatowski routed the Austrians again at Góra and Grochów. The campaign of 1809 was a massive success for the Poles. For his achievements Poniatowski was presented the French grand-aigle de la Légion d'Honneur and a saber of honor. He was one of the few Napoleonic commanders who was able to conduct a successful campaign without Napoleon's supervision.

In 1812 Poniatowski led the V Army Corps to Russia and fought at Smolensk, Borodino, Tarutino and Krasne. Napoleon once said after Borodino, "Dauntless heroes; Murat, Ney, Poniatowski, - it is to you the glory is due! "

In 1813 Poniatowski rebuilt the Polish troops that were to become the VIII Army Corps. He led them to Saxony to join Napoleon's army. Poniatowski's troops participated in several small engagements, majority of them were victories. At Leipzig in 1813, Poniatowski defended Napoleon's flank for three days. The villages of Mark-Kleeberg and Dosen changed hands several times. Napoleon promoted him to the rank of Marshal of France. On the last day of battle Poniatowski was covering the retreat of Napoleon's army. When the bridge was destroyed Poniatowski spurred his horse into the Elster River. He was shot and disappeared under water. His body was found several days later.

.

      Chief-of-staff of the army and
      Inspector-General of Infantry
      - General Fiszer

      General Fiszer Stanislaw Fiszer came from a German family settled down in Poland. (His father was Karl Fischer.) Despite beign strict disciplinarian this short man was loved by the soldiers but could be brusque with officers. Fiszer was a superb organizer of infantry, his inspections were famous for their thoroughness. Fiszer was killed in 1812 at Tarutino in Russia.
      Fiszer held two posts: he was the Inspector-General of Infantry and chief-of-staff of the army. According to Roman Soltyk "He was equally adept working an office as in the field. His character was cold and his spirit was methodical. He was a freind of order and believed in strict subordination. He was best qualified to serve as chief of staff who was responsible for the details of the service."

      Inspector-General of Cavalry
      - General Rozniecki

      General Rozniecki Alexander Rozniecki began career in the Polish Royal Guard, served in cavalry, fought against the Russians and was engaged in patriotic conspiracies. In 1807 he was appointed Inspector-General of Cavalry. As general he was a gifted cavalry organizer and not without personal courage on the battlefield. In 1809 Rozniecki led daring cavalry raids into Galicia, in 1812 blundered at Mir and Romanow (against overwhelming force of Cossacks and cavalry) and rehabilitated himself at Borodino against Russian cuirassiers and infantry. As a man he was rude to his subordinates and servile toward his superiors. Contemporaries described him as being "dirty in soul and body, unkept in dress," and "brutal, following his lust like a wild beast." Excellent cavalryman.

      Inspector-General of Artillery and Engineers
      - General Jean Baptiste Pelletier [Frenchman]

      General Pelletier Jean Baptiste Pelletier was born in 1777 in Eclaron, France. He became officer in 2nd Regiment of Foot Artillery and saw combat at' Hagenau, Geisberg and Landau. Pelletier was also in Italy and fought at Mincio. During the war with Prussia and Russia in 1806-07 Pelletier saw action at Colberg, Heilsberg and Friedland. In 1809 he was promoted to the rank of general de brigade, and in 1811 to general de division.
      In 1809 Pelletier joined the Polish army and participated in the Polish-Austrian war. (In 1807-08 the Polish artillery was commanded by General Wincenty Axamitowski.) Pelletier became Inspector-General of Artillery. In 1812 He commanded artillery of V Army Corps (Polish) of the Grand Army. Pelletier was at Smolensk, Shevardino, Borodino, Tarutino, and was captured at Viazma. During the Waterloo Campaign in 1815 Pelletier commanded the artillery of II Army Corps under General Reille. He was at Quatre Bras and Waterloo.

      General Sokolnicki
      "He was extraordinarily active,
      brave beyond words."

      General Sokolnicki Michal Sokolnicki studied in military academies in Warsaw and Saxony. In 1809 he was one of the most enterprising commanders in the Austro- Polish war. On battlefield he was a daring commander. For example in 1800 at Offenbach he led four companies in a bayonet attack across a river. In 1809 at Raszyn he gallantly defended his positions against superior enemy. He also defeated Austrians at Grochów, Ostrówkiem, and at Sandomierz where he took the fortress.
      In 1812 Sokolnicki was French army's intelligence chief. He advised Napoleon to sent Polish troops not on Moscow but on Ukraine, where were some chances for pro-Polish and anti-Russian rebellion. He also suggested not rushing on Moscow but to advance at slower pace, set winter camps and continue the campaign in the next year. He thought that having thousands of warm uniforms stored in depots even before the campaign started was a must.
      In 1813 Sokolnicki distinguished himself as cavalry commander at Leipzig where his uhlans fought against vastly superior number of Austrian and Russian cuirassiers. It was a masterpiece of cavalry combat where five regiments tamed nine.
      As a man he was a very ambitious officer, and an opportunist suffering from self-importance. According to Roman Soltyk "Sokolnicki was trained and capable. He was extraordinarily active, brave beyond words, had a remarkable spirit when in the presence of danger and he seemed called to a higher destiny. His character was cold and reserved, generally winning the esteem of those who surrounded him, causing some envy."

      Commander of Zamosc Fortress
      - General Hauke

      General Hauke Of German origin and the son of a German teacher at the Warsaw Lyceum, Hauke served in the Polish army. His military carrer began after finishing the artillery school in Warsaw. Hauke distinguished himself in 1813 as the commander of Zamosc Fortress.
      The Polish garrison was 4.000-men strong with 130 guns. The men were conscripts of 13th Infantry Regiment and National Guard (militia). The Russian forces were under General Mussin-Pushkin and consisted of 6.000 men (16.000 in June 1813) and many artillery pieces. After a few weeks of the siege, epidemic of scurvy broke out in the fortress. In mid-June, both sides signed a temporary truce and the Russians limited their summer actions to blocking the fortress. In October, some 1200 soldiers were sick and all were starving. All horses and dogs were eaten. On October 22, news of Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig reached the fortress, and it lowered the spirits of the defenders. The decision to capitulate was taken on November 19, after eight months of siege.

~

Campaign of 1806-1807. The First Polish War.
The whole [Polish] army was learning and its excellent spirit,
liveliness and cheerful confidence bade well for the future."
- Officer Chlapowski

.

Polish infantry storming Tczew (Dirschau). Picture: Polish infantry storming Dirschau (today Tczew), a fortified town on the west bank of the Vistula River on 23rd February 1807. Besides the Polish troops there were also Baden and French troops. The most active of them were Polish infantry and French artillery. Only small part of 590-men strong Prussian garrison under Majot Both was able to escape to Danzig (today Gdansk). During their flight across frozen river the French artillery opened fire causing further casualties. In the battle of Dirschau the Prussians suffered 150 killed and missing, and 150 were taken prisoner. Few days later Marshal Lefebvre visited Dirschau.

After humiliating Prussia in 1806, the French Emperor turned his attention to subduing his mighty Russian foe. Part of the military operations in the end of 1806 and 1807 took place on the ancient Polish lands. The 1806 Polish Uprising was organized by General Dabrowski to help advancing French divisions in liberating Poland from Prussian occupation. On 20 September 1806 the Emperor issued orders to form a division from Polish deserters from the Prussian army. There were so many that soon it was decided to form a second division. Napoleon in his own words termed the campaign the First Polish War. As a result of this war the Duchy of Warsaw was created from parts of the Prussian and Austrian partitions. One of the first tasks for the new Polish government included providing food to the French and Polish divisions fighting against the Russians and Prussians.

The newly formed Polish troops participated in the campaign of 1807. On 27th January and 23rd February 1807 they fought at Tczew (Dirschau), on 14th February they took Gniew (Mewe) and on the 20th captured Slupsk (Stolpen).

In March-May approx. 9.000 Polish troops participated in the siege of Gdansk (Danzig). The Poles suffered 2.000 killed and wounded. Some Polish troops were also fighting at Friedland.

In 1808 the Polish Lighthorse Regiment of Napoleon's Imperial Guard was in Spain. They fought at Somosierra and entered Madrid.

~

1809 Campaign.
Poniatowski proved himself once and for all as
the commander of an independent army. At Raszyn
he fought to a standstill an Austrian force more
than twice the size.
During the campaign the Poles lost only 3 guns
and captured 62 pieces.

.

Battle of Raszyn Picture: Battle of Raszyn, 1809.
At the decisive moment Poniatowski (in left upper corner) led a successful bayonet counter- attack. This picture is not authentic in its details, for example, there were no Austrian grenadiers at Raszyn, but is evidence of the enduring interest in the military history of Poland.

In 1809 the Duchy of Warsaw sustained the full weight of the Austrian attack. Austrian corps under Archduke Ferdinand appeared on the Polish borders on April 14, 1809. Taken by surprise, the Polish government ordered general mobilization. Poniatowski selected a good defensive position at Raszyn. The few Polish troops offered an valiant resistance during the battle. (See map below). Poniatowski fought to a standstill an Austrian force more than twice the size. But it was strategically necessary to abandon Warsaw and to withdraw to the right bank of the Vistula.

Polish infantry at Raszyn. All Austrian efforts to cross the Vistula River were in vain. While the Austrians were exhausting themselves in their attempts to get at the right bank of the Vistula, Poniatowski crossed the Austrian frontier to liberate Galicia.

On May 14 the city of Lublin was taken and on the 18th the city of Sandomierz with its only major Vistula bridge.
On the 20th, in a night attack, the Zamosc fortress was captured together with 2,000 prisoners and 40 cannons.

These developments compelled the Austrians to withdraw from Warsaw. Everywhere enthusiastically received by the Poles, Poniatowski was able to liberate large areas of Galicia.

As a result of Polish offensive, and of the fact that Poniatowski had Polish administration and military structure in place there for some time, making it difficult for Napoleon to compromise the Polish gains for political expediency. Most of the liberated lands became incorporated into the Duchy in October 1809.
"For the first time since the partitions a Polish army had taken to the field under Polish command and had succeeded in reuniting two important pieces of the shattered Polish lands. ... Poles from Lithuania swam across the Niemen river to escape from Russia and serve in the Duchy's army. Poles from the Prussian and Austrian partitions came over to swell the ranks: and all were offereed citizenship in the Duchy's service." (- Norman Davies, p 302)

Raszyn 1809:
The Alder Wood and the dike changed hands several times.

~

1808-12 War in Spain .
(Peninsular Campaign).

.

Polish troops in Spain. 
Film Ashes (229 mins. 1965) Some Polish regiments served in Spain under French and Polish generals. The 4th, 7th and 9th Infantry Regiment, company of artillery, and company of sappers, formed an infantry division under French General Valence (in 1809 under Werle). Initially the Poles feared being send out of Europe. In 1802 Napoleon sent Polish troops to Haiti.
The division was called Polish Division, and then the name was changed to Division of Duchy of Warsaw. In 1808 it became part of French IV Corps under Lefebvre (in 1809 under Sebastiani).

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Infantry Regiment of Vistula Legion were under General de Brigade Jospeh Chlopicki. (In 1808 colonel of the 1st Regiment of VL). The Guard Lighthorse Regiment was with Napoleon's Imperial Guard. The Vistula Uhlan Regiment under Colonel Jan Konopka was part of French cavalry corps.

Charge at Somosierra The Poles distinguished themselves during the epic siege of Saragossa, and in several battles like Ocana, Tarragona, Maria, Mallen, Tudela, Albuera, and Fuengirola. The commander of Vistula Legion, Chlopicki, was awarded with Legion of Honour and promoted to the rank of general de brigade.

The brilliant charge of Polish light cavalry at Somosierra Pass opened the road to Madrid. The Spanish troops were decimated, and their guns captured. William F.P. Napier wrote that the charge of "these gallant warriors ... can hardly be paralleled in the annals of war... The charge itself, viewed as a simple military operation, was extravagantly rash ..."

The grenadier companies 
of Vistula Legion infantry 
storming Saragossa in 1808.
Picture by January Suchodolski. The infantry regiments of Vistula Legion distinguished themselves at Maria, Belchite, Lerida and during the two sieges of Saragossa. By the final fall of the city in February 1809 the Poles had lost 1,390 killed and wounded. The Spaniards rarely surrendered a city without a siege, and usually fought fiercely even after the city walls were breached !
During the first siege of Saragossa a French corps (5,000 infantry, 1,000 cavalry and 16 guns) under General Lefebvre-Desnouettes and subsequently commanded by General Verdier besieged, repeatedly stormed, and was repulsed from the city in the summer of 1808. The Spanish General Palafox raised a force of 7,500 troops. Palafox's resistance made him a national hero.
Saragossa would endure a second, longer, more famous siege starting in late December. Marshal Moncey had 38,000 infantry, 3,500 cavalry, 3,000 engineers, and 60 siege guns. Moncey split his forces: one division under Gazan was assigned to the north, Mortier's corps was posted to the west, and Moncey's corps went to the south. On 29 December 1808 Moncey was reassigned to Madrid and was replaced in command of his corps by Junot. In January 1809 Junot was replaced with Marshall Lannes who had been recovering from an earlier injury. The second siege was particularly noted for its brutality. When it finally fell to the French in 1809, Saragossa had become a city of corpses and smoking rubble: 12,000 people would remain of a prewar population of over 100,000 ! The siege of Saragossa became known in whole Europe.

Battle of Fuengirola Approx. 150 Polish infantrymen and 11 French dragoons repulsed a strong British-Spanish force at Fuengirola. The Poles captured British battery. The 82nd Foot attempted to retake the guns. The Poles fired a volley and charged with bayonets. The 82nd broke and fled, joining the 89th Foot in their flight to the boats. The Poles then loaded the captured cannons with British ammunition and bombarded the enemy on the beach. William Napier writes, "He (Lord Blayney) was immediately made prisoner; his troops again fled to the beach ..."

Battle of Albuera 1811 Although the Vistula Uhlans distinguished themselves in many battles and combats, the most known in English-speaking world is their charge at Albuera. Albuera was the bloodiest battle of the Peninsular War (1807-1814). It ended as something of a draw with awesome casaulties on both sides. Sir Beresford was severely criticised for his leadership during the battle. The charge of the Polish Vistula Uhlans and French cavalry was "one of the most successful cavalry charges of the entire Napoleonic era" (- Guy Dempsey) Six British colors were captured (5 by the Poles and 1 by the French) Four Colors were complete and two reduced to the flagstaff.

Despite the great performance in many engagements the Poles were unhappy with their deployment in Spain. It was far away from their homeland and had nothing to do with their own fight for independence.

Vast majority of the Poles was withdrawn from Spain when Napoleon began his preparations for the invasion of Russia in 1812. The infantry of Vistula Legion under General Chlopicki was strengthened with one regiment (4th of VL) and formed infantry division commanded by French General Claparede. The division was attached to the Imperial Guard. The Division of Duchy of Warsaw (4th, 7th and 9th Infantry Regiment) became 28th Infantry Division under French General Girard, in Marshal Victor's IX Army Corps.

Ps.
Meanwhile the 5th Infantry Regiment formed the garrisons of Czestochowa in Poland and Kostrin in Prussia. The 11th and 12th Infantry Regiment were part of French garrison of Danzig (Gdansk).

Map: battle of Somosierra Pass, 1808
(Charge of Polish Guard Lighthorse)

~

1812 - Invasion of Russia. "The Second Polish War."
The Poles formed the largest of the contingents
provided by any of the states allied with France.

.

Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812 One of the two or three major causes of the war with Russia in 1812 was the existence of the Duchy of Warsaw. Napoleon called the campaign, the "second Polish war." (The Tzar demanded that the word "Poles" be not used in public documents, that Polish orders be abolished and that the Polish army be considered as a part of that of Saxony.)

In June of 1812, Poniatowski together with 100,000 of his fellow Poles were part of Napoleon's expedition. They formed the largest of the contingents provided by any of the states allied with France. The dispersion, however, of the Polish regiments among the various French corps was strongly resented.


Multinationality of Napoleon's Grand Army
during the invasion of Russia in 1812:
- 250,000 Frenchmen
100,000 Poles (+ 8,000 Poles in Austrian corps included below)
- 15,000 Dutch
- 10,000 Belgians
- 21,000 Italians from Kingdom of Italy
- 7,000 Italians from annexed Piedmont, Liguria, Tuscany, Genoa, Parma and Rome
- 7,000 Italians from Naples
- 35,000 Austrians *
- 4,000 from Illiria and Dalmatia
- 4,000 Spaniards
- 3,000 Croats (+ 2,500 Croats in Austrian corps included below)
- 2,000 Portuguese
- 30,000 Bavarians
- 25,000 Prussians
- 22,000 Saxons
- 22,000 Westphalians
- 12,000 Wuerttembergers
- 5,000 Germans from annexed North Germany and left bank of the Rhine River
- 5,000 Baden
- 3,000 Berg
- 3,000 Hessians
- 2,000 Mecklenburg
- 4,000 from various small members of Rhine Confederation
- 9,000 Swiss
* - the Austrian corps consited of several nationalities:
8,000 Poles, 2,500 Czechs, 2,500 Croats, 10,000 German Austrians
and 12,000 Hungarians, Slovaks, Serbs and Romanians.

In 1812 the Polish troops carried the fame of Polish heroism along the same roads which two and three centuries before, in the times of King Stefan Batory and King Wladyslav IV saw the Polish banners of the White Eagle in a triumphant march to Moscow. The memories of Hetman Zolkiewski and Gosiewski came back.
At Czerepowo General Rozniecki "orders the Polish troops to halt, forms up in square and reminds us that we're standing at the limit of the Jagellons' and Batory's one-time empire. After painting for us the heroic aspects of our nation's glorious past he invites all present to dismount and pick up a little dust so as to be able to remind our descendants of this glorious event which has brought us back to Poland's former linits." (Britten-Austin - "1812 The March on Moscow" p 234)

The Poles foght with a great zeal at Smolensk, Borodino, Beresina Crossing, Polotzk, Krasne, Viazma and Borisov. Britten-Austin writes, "Some units, perhaps many, are mortified to find their exploits have escaped official notice. To his left had seen the 7th Hussars make a brilliant charge against Russian ainfantry and cavalry, and only lose a few men in so doing. 'A short way away to our left,' writes Dupuy 'the 9th Polish Lancers [Uhlans ?] pierced a square of Muscovite chasseurs and wiped it out.' To Thirion it had seemed 'these men [Poles] had become fighting mad. How many didn't I see who, with arm or leg bandaged, returned to the scrum at a flat-out gallop, forcefully eluding those of their comrades who tried to hold them back." (Britten-Austin - "1812 The March on Moscow" p 136)

The initial period of the offensive however was wasted. Poniatowski was placed under the direction of Napoleon's incompetent brother Jerome, who criticized by Napoleon eventually left, but for Poniatowski, then put in charge of Grande Armee's right wing, it was too late to make up for the lost opportunities. Later on St. Helena, the dethroned emperor reflected back on the 1812 war with Russia and expressed his belief, that if he had given Poniatowski Jerome's right wing command from the beginning, Bagration's army would have been destroyed early, and the campaign would have followed a different course.

Napoleon won at Smolensk and Borodino. The battle of Borodino was the bloodiest battle of Napoleonic Wars. Few weeks later Napoleon entered Moscow. The Tzar however refused to sue for peace.
Napoleon and his staff
 escorted by Polish lancers 
 during the winter 1812 During the winter retreat from Russia Napoleon's army ceased to exist. Of the 680,500 men that Napoleon had organized for his invasion of Russia, barely 93,000 remained !
Polish forces consisted of less than 10.000 men. The splendid Vistula Legion had only 500 survivors. William Napier writes, "Napoleon, unconquered of man, had been vanquished by the elements. The fires and the snows of Moscow combined had shattered his strength, and in confessed madness nations and rulers rejoiced that an enterprise, at once the grandest and most provident, the most beneficial ever attempted by a warrior-statement, had been foiled - they rejoiced that Napoleon had failed to reestablish unhappy Poland as a barrier against the most formidable and brutal, the most swinish tyranny that has ever menaced and disgraced European civilization." (Napier - Vol IV, p 167)

Not only the troops suffered during the campaign, the Polish populace fared not better. "Against the promised reconstruction of their state, most Poles went to extraordinary lengths to accommodate the Grand Army passing through their territories. ... the march into and out of Russia cleaned the house, only the fittest survived. Thus, the decimated remnants [of the Grand Army], particularly those of the Polish cavalry, who were familiar with the country, climate, and language, became the safe-conduct of what was left of the main army group. They served with distinction at Smolensk and Borodino and played a major role in making the crossing of the Beresina possible." (Riehn - "1812: Napoleon's Russian Campaign" pp 70-71)

Color map of the Battle of Smolensk, 1812.

Map: battle of Viazma, 1812
(Davout, Poniatowski and Eugene vs Russians)

~

1813 - Leipzig Campaign
Though the ranks of Poniatowski's troops were thinned,
their determination was strong.

.

Polish Infantry in 1813, 
picture by Chelminski. The Russian armies crossed the Vistula River at several points. Warsaw and other Polish cities fell to them. Poniatowski began withdrawing across Poland "as Schwarzenberg's perfidious maneuvers exposed him to the approaching Russians. His 8.000 army was joined by about 6.000 light cavalry..." (Nafziger and Wesolowski - "Poles and Saxons of the Napoleonic Wars" p 22)

Poniatowski's V Army Corps, or rather what was left from this splendid formation, moved to Krakow. The Prince reorganized his troops and raised them to the strength of 12,000 men.

Tzar Alexander of Russia Meanwhile "The Tzar presented himself as a liberator to the people and his representation made great progress in Germany. However, the spirit of the Poles remained unsettled. Tzar Alexander sought to neutralize the ill perception the Polish people had of him and, while Poniatoiwski and the supreme Polish government found itself in Krakow, Alexander called Prince Antoni Radziwill, on the pretext of family affairs, to move to Krakow and attempt to subvert the fidelity of the Poles. He was to propose that the Duchy of Warsaw assume a neutral stance for the duration of the war and that Poniatowski unite all the Polish troops in Zamosc fortress to await events. Radziwill's mission was a thorny affair. He feared the surveillance of the Minister of France, Bignon, who watched his movements. Poniatowski's faithfulness was well known. Radziwill made no attempt to approach the Prince directly. However, he sounded the attitudes of several members of the Polish government, emboldened them bit by bit, communicated his propositions to people that he thought the least likely to be repelled by his proposals to abandon their alliance with France and had decided to approach Poniatowski about accepting proposals that would allow Poland an independent political existence.
Prince Poniatowski The Prince was torn between his military duty and the apparent interests of his country, which seemed to exist in a new alliance. However, he then realized that Poland could not await the regeneration of the same powers that had divided it and then become their tributary. He put his entire confidence in the fortunes of Napoleon and remained unshakable." (- Roman Soltyk)
"The last act of independent will was carried out in the Duchy's behalf by Jozef Poniatowski. Refusing offers of clemency from the Russians, he determined to fight to the last at Napoleon's side. He gathered the reserves of his army together and retreated into Germany." (- Davies, Vol II, p 304) The Tzar and the King of Prussia met at Kalisz and concluded an alliance against Napoleon. The Russian and Prussian armies crossed the Odra River, while the French evacuated Berlin.

Napoleon had occupied himself with great activity in the reorganization of a new army, which he then led into Germany. Napoleon had ordered Poniatowski to move into Saxony via Moravia and Bohemia. Poniatowski's force consisted of 12,000 men organized in 6 infantry and 8 cavalry regiments. The Polish cavalry was well mounted and very useful to the French army, which was, overall, lacking in this arm.
Polish Infantry at Leipzig. In July Polish infantry and artillery had allowance for exercises in life fire training and shooting competitions. According to Mariusz Lukasiewicz's "Armia Ksiecia Jozefa" (p 215) the best shooters were awarded with 20 francs each. Near Zittau in Saxony Prince Poniatowski ordered intensive and large scale "war games" for his troops. The quarters were excellent and the food was pretty good. Many soldiers received new uniforms, shoes, shirts, and headwears.
Morale of the troops was very high despite of lack of weapons. According to General Sokolnicki only 20 % of men in IV Cavalry Corps had carbines. The average cavalryman was armed with lance, saber and one pistol.
In May 1813 Napoleon formed so-called Grenadier Corps, which became part of the French Guard. It consisted of three battalions; the 1st Battalion of Poles, 2nd of Saxons and 3rd of Westphalians. It was Napoleon's attempt to establish closer ties to the Poles and Germans.

The 8th Lancers (ex Vistula Uhlans) led one of the grand cavalry charges at Dresden, the second largest battle of Napoleonic Wars.

On 18 June, 1813, a Vistula Infantry Regiment was organized from the remnants of the Vistula Legion. It consisted of only two battalions. On 15 September the Legion fought the Russians in a bloody engagement at Neustadt (near Dresden).

Polish Infantry at Leipzig. The Poles distinguished themselves at Dennewitz and Lepzig, the largest battle of Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon's fate was sealed during the three-day battle for Leipzig, although the sheer bravery of his troops allowed the French army to extricate itself from complete destruction. Majority of Polish soldiers were either killed, wounded or taken prisoner, others wandered back to Poland. Only few followed the French.
Prince Poniatowski, the commander-in-chief of Polish army, was killed while covering Napoleon's retreat and the "... Poles constituted the last formed body of French troops" (Digby-Smith - "1813: Leipzig")

The battle of Leipzig was Poles' last chance, last hope,
and they fought very, very hard. Casualties :
- Polish casualties were 7.500 or 62 % (!) of their forces
- Prussian losses were 15.500 or 20 % of their forces
- Russian losses were 20.000 or 13 % of their forces
- Austrian losses 7.500 or 7 % of their forces
- Swedish casualties 400 men or 2 % of their forces


Death of Poniatowski at Leipzig.
Contesting every step with the overwhelming forces of his pursuers,
Poniatowski refused to surrender, and covered with wounds plunged
into the Elster River. There he died.

Map: battle of Dennwitz 1813
(Charge of Polish and French cavalry)

~

1814 - Campaign in France.
When informed of the French surrender
the Vistula Regiment nearly mutined.

.

In December 1813 Napoleon formed so-called Polish Corps,
it consisted of the following troops (strength on 1st January 1814):
- Krakus Regiment
- 1st Uhlan Regiment (530 men + 399 horses)
- 2nd Uhlan Regiment (530 men + 336 horses)
- Vistula Infantry Regiment (854 men in 2 battalions)
- four companies of foot artillery (520 men)
- company of horse artillery (125 men + 47 horses)
- sapper company (68 men)

There were also other Polish troops in France:
- 4th, 8th and 16th Uhlan Regiment
- 1st Horse Chasseur Regiment
- 13th Hussar Regiment
- 3rd Guard Eclaireur Regiment
- 1st Old Guard Lancer Regiment

The Polish troops distinguished themselves at Soissons, St.Dizier, Arcis-sur-Aube and Paris. The Polish troops in Paris consisted of small part of the superb Old Guard Lancers, three field batteries (18 guns) and the 3rd Guard Eclaireurs.

Reenactors of 
Vistula Legion At Arcis sur Aube in 1814 Napoleon took refuge in square formed by the Vistula Infantry. "Colbert's (cavalry) division, which was received by the fire of the light batteries ranged along the front of Frimont's squadrons, and at the same time Kaizarow's Cossacks, supported by e regiment of Austrian hussars, charged home against the right flank of the light cavalry of the Imperial Guard. The cry sauve qui peut was raised in the ranks, and Colbert's horsemen fled in panic on to the front of Exelmans' division, which was in second line. The lancers and dragoons gave way under the shock, and in a confused mass the two divisions fled at full gallop towards Arcis, with the Cossacks in hot pursuit.
Napoleon was at Torcy when he heard the sound of the guns; he set off for Arcis at a gallop, followed only by a few officers and a small escort. As he reached the town he was met by the mixed mass of French and allied cavalry; he drew his sword and managed to take refuge in the square of the (Polish) Vistula Legion battalion. The bayonets of the Poles stopped the hussars and the Cossacks, and their fire drove them back." (Houssaye - "Napoleon and the campaign of 1814" pp 249-250, publ. in London 1914)

Grenadier of Vistula Legion The fortress of Soissons was defended by a very weak garrison: 792 men of Vistula infantry, 80 eclaireurs, 20 French guns and 300 French municipal guardsmen. The overall command was in the hands of GdB Moreau. Napoleon ordered him to hold his position at all costs. On 1st March numerous Prussian and Russian troops arrived before Soissons. The next day they bombarded the town and stormed the ramparts. It was a bloody day. Approx. 300 men of Vistula Regiment "attacked them with such impetus that they were pushed out of the suburb, far into the surrounding fields." (Nafziger - "Poles and Saxons of the Napoleonic Wars" p 129)
In the evening an emissary arrived with a call to surrender. During a war council Moreau and the commander of Vistula Regiment voted categorically against capitulation. Soon another emissary arrived with stronger worded ultimatum threatening to put the garrison to the sword and sack the town. Moreau agreed to capitulate.
When informed of this the Vistula Regiment nearly mutined. The Allies were in such a hurry that at 3 pm two battalions entered the town and found themselves facing the angry Vistula Regiment. The commander of the Poles told the allies general to leave for another hour or he would start shooting ! The Allies general quickly agreed. At 4 pm the garrison departed Soissons with its weapons, receiving military honors. Allies generals asked Moreau why he didn't order his division to march after the vanguard, Moreau replied that this was his entire force. The Vistula Regiment was awarded by Napoleon with 23 crosses of Legion d'Honneur for its actions at Soissons. The Legion then went on to fight at the battle at St. Dizier.

After the fall Paris Napoleon gave up fighting and decided to abdicate. "General Krasinski who commanded the Polish Guard lancers ... came forward with his officers. As he took his leave of the Emperor he uttered these words, which do the greatest credit to his nation: Sire, if you had mounted the throne of Poland, you would have been killed upon it; but the Poles would have died at your feet to a man." (- Charles Parquin, French officer).

Few Poles stayed in France, some even went with the Emperor on Elba Island, while the majority returned to Poland.

.

.

1815.

.

There were few Polish units in French service during the Waterloo Campaign. The Elba Squadron under Jerzmanowski became the I squadron of Red Lancers. They probably formed Napoleon's escort and fought at Quatre Bras and at Waterloo. The 7th Lancer Regiment under Adam Huppe numbered 8 officers and 252 other ranks but lacked horses. On 2 July the lancers fought on foot in the defense of the bridges in Sevres earning Marshal Louis-Nicolas Davout's praise. Infantry regiment was organized. On 23 April it numbered only 15 officers and 310 other ranks. It was enough for one battalion.

On 29 June, near Rambouillet, the Poles (7th Lancers) met Napoleon for the last time.

~

Polish army after the Napoleonic Wars 1815-31.

.

The Polish army after the Napoleonic Wars was commanded by Grand Duke Constantine, Tzar Alexander's brother. It consisted of Guards (one division), infantry (two divisions), cavalry (two divisions), artillery and sappers. The army was excellent, one of the best ever Poland had. It was small but well armed, trained, and dressed.

The Guard Division was under General of Cavalry Wincenty Krasinski. During the Napoleonic Wars he commanded the Old Guard Lancer Regiment. The Guard Division consisted of Regiment of Guard Grenadiers, Regiment of Guard Horse Chasseurs, and Battery of Guard Horse Artillery. The Lithuanian Guards (two infantry and three cavalry regiments, and two horse batteries) were also part of the Guard Division. The Polish and Lithuanian Guards stationed in Warsaw.

Polish light infantry
after the Napoleonic Wars The infantry (24.600 men in 1830) was commanded by General of Infantry Izydor Krasinski (in 1828 Potocki). Between 1806 and 1814 Krasinski served in infantry of Duchy of Warsaw. There were eight regiments of line infantry, and four regiments of light infantry. The light infantry was called strzelcy (chasseurs, or jagers). Each regiment consisted of two (four in wartime) battalions of four companies (one grenadier, one voltigeur and two fusilier). The twelve regiments formed two divisions.

The cavalry (6.780 men in 1830) was under General of Cavalry Alexander Rozniecki. During the Napoleonic Wars he was Inspector-General of Cavalry. The Polish cavalry of 1815-31 was formed in two divisions. The first consisted of four regiments of horse chasseurs and the second of four regiments of uhlans. Each regiment had four field squadrons and one reserve squadron. Each squadron had four platoons. The best men served in the 1st and 4th Platoon.

The artillery (3.230 men and 96 field and fortress guns) was formed in thirteen batteries.
There were also rocket troops.

PS.
On 29 November 1830 a group of young Polish cadets attacked the Belweder Palace in Warsaw, the main seat of Grand Duke Constantine. It was the beginning of the November Uprising. The Polish and Russian troops were commanded by many veterans of Napoleonic Wars. For example, in the beginning the Polish army was under General Chlopicki, the commander of Vistula Legion.
The largest battle was fought at Olszynka, near Warsaw, with 100.000 combatants (40.000 Poles with 120 guns vs 60.000 Russians with 228 guns). For comparison at Salamanca in 1812 were 100.000 combatants (49.000 French vs 51.000 Allies), and at Marengo in 1800 were 45.000 combatants. The second largest battle of November Uprising was fought at Ostroleka (65.000 combatants).

.


Polish napoleonic troops (various reenactment groups)

Sources and Links.
Recommended Reading.

Kukiel - "Wojny Napoleonskie"
Bielecki - "Grand Army" 1995
Elting - "Swords Around a Throne"
Davies - "God's Playground. A History of Poland." Vol II, 1982
Lukasiewicz - "Armia Ksiecia Jozefa 1813" MON, 1986
Salter and McLachlan - "Poland the Rough Guide."
Kukiel - "Wojna 1812", tom 1-2, Kraków 1937
Kukiel - "Dzieje Oreza Polskiego w Epoce Napoleonskiej, 1795-1815" 1912
Gembarzewski - "Wojsko Polskie. Ksiestwo Warszawskie 1807-1814" 1912
Gembarzewski - "Rodowody pulków i oddzialów równorzednych" 1925
Hussaria: Polish Winged Cavalry - Tactics, Diversity of Enemies, Mobility.
The ultimate weapon of the Winged Knights was psychological...
The Winged Husaria: a model for competitive success.
Polish Renaissance Warfare.
Husaria. (in English)

Polish infantry, cavalry and artillery
(uniforms, weapons, tactics, battle record)

Napoleon, His Army and Enemies.