Battle of Żyrzyn

The Battle of Żyrzyn took place on August 8, 1863 in or near the village of Żyrzyn, Puławy County, Poland, between a small detachment of Russian troops and a force of Polish troops under the command of Colonel Michal Heidenreich.

Battle of Żyrzyn
Part of the January Uprising

Battle of Żyrzyn 1863
Date8 August 1863
Location
Result Polish victory
Belligerents

Polish Insurgents

Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Colonel Michal Heidenreich
O'Brien de Lacey[1]
lieutenant Laudański
Strength
700[1] 500
2 cannons
Casualties and losses
10-40 killed 80-181 killed
282 captured

The Russian force of 500 soldiers and two cannon were escorting a load of 200,000 rubles for the Russian army, 140,000 of which was captured by the Polish forces, along with 282 prisoners of war. Of the remaining Russian troops, 181 were killed, and 87 men escaped along with the remaining 60,000 rubles. The embarrassing defeat was widely reported on by the European press, and throughout the January Uprisings the Polish insurgents counted the engagement, one of many similar small battles, as a "great victory".[1]

References

  1. Davies, Norman (2005). God's Playground: A History of Poland. ISBN 0-19-925340-4.

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