Notes of My Captivity in Russia, in the Years 1794, 1795, and 1796 |
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able allow already answered appeared arms army arrived asked Author battle became body brought carriage cause court covered death door dressed Emperor Empress enemy entered everything eyes four French gave give greatest guard half hand head heard heart horses hour immediately interest Italy kind King Kosciuszko ladies latter least leave liberty living looked Major manner means mind misfortune months morning Mostowski never Niemcewicz night o'clock obliged officers once opened pain passed Paul perhaps person Poland Poles Polish Potocki present Prince prison provinces received release remained respect Russian Samoilow seemed sent short side soldiers soon suffered taken tears thing thought thousand tion Titow told took town turn voice Warsaw whilst wished wound write written young
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Page 30 - How happy am I to have such a friend in misfortune ! " answered he, with tears in his eyes. I soon convinced myself that he was not so dangerously wounded as I had believed. The arrival of Russian officers did not allow us to converse further with each other ; and if the joy of victory, the trouble, and the arrangements consequent upon battle, had not permitted our enemies to occupy themselves much with us on the preceding day, they began very early this morning to think seriously of it. They appointed...
Page 27 - This was General Kosciuszko. His head and body, covered with blood, contrasted in a dreadful manner with the livid paleness of his face. He had on his head a large wound from a sword, and three on his back above the loins, from the thrusts of a pike. He could scarcely breathe.
Page 15 - ... readiness to receive them. As the enemy had cannon of larger caliber than ours, they opened the fire upon us at a great distance; and their large balls, passing through the brambles, and smashing the boughs of trees with dreadful noise, were falling among us. We had only three or four twelve-pounders, and as soon as the enemy were within the proper distance we fired upon them ; and with such effect that we could see their columns wavering, and panic spreading through their ranks. Our position...
Page 14 - October, at break of day, we were informed," says Niemcewicz, " that all the enemy's army was advancing towards us in battle array. Our little army stood in readiness to receive them. As the enemy had cannon of larger calibre than ours, they opened the fire upon us at a great distance ; and their large balls, passing through the brambles, and smashing the boughs of trees with, dreadful noise, were falling among us. We had only three or four twelve-pounders, and as soon as the enemy were within the...
Page 211 - In less than two hours the Grand Duke was already at the bed-side of his august mother, who was, as I have already said, motionless, except the abdomen, which still continued to heave. Severine Potocki, who was that day on duty, told me that this imperfect death of Catherine occasioned the courtiers the greatest perplexity ; for they were in presence of two sovereigns; the one was, a few hours ago, mistress of their fortunes and life, and might, perhaps, yet recover, because she still moved ; the...
Page 17 - ... stronger than we, and having a large park of artillery, were not discouraged by the disadvantages of the terrain, but continued to advance. Their fire became more and more rapid; a shower of balls of every size, grapeshot, and grenades, spreading, as they burst, death on all sides, overwhelmed us. "About twelve o'clock the fire became still more terrible ; death was flying and striking every-where; nearly all our artillery horses were killed or maimed. Not one of us, however, left his place....
Page 20 - Every thing is lost,' replied I; 'no matter what becomes of me !' He went away. I had neither strength nor wish to spur forward my horse. I saw myself surrounded by a band of Cossacks. I had no sword; my pistols were discharged ; and I could not raise my arm. They seized my horse by the bridle, and thus I was taken prisoner.
Page 19 - ... whom I led to the charge were scattered ; confusion prevailed every-where ; all the Russian army were advancing and surrounding us. Our . infantry, though weakened, and presenting many gaps in their ranks, stood firm, and received the attack of the phalanx of Russian bayonets. The butchery began ; the enemy became masters of the field, marching over the bodies of our soldiers, who covered in death the very ground they had occupied in battle. "While I was looking every-where for General Kosciuszko,...
Page 203 - At this I scarcely refrained from bursting out into laughter, but .soon feigning an exclamation of surprise : " Is it possible?" said I,
Page 220 - I know that you have suffered much," said he, "but you must complete your sacrifice ; you must do me one favor, and promise to go with me to America." — "You are aware of my attachment to you...
Bibliographic information
| Title | Notes of My Captivity in Russia, in the Years 1794, 1795, and 1796 |
| Author | Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz |
| Translated by | Alexander LASKI |
| Publisher | W. Tait, 1844 |
| Original from | the University of Michigan |
| Digitized | Aug 1, 2007 |
| Length | 251 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |