Battle of Żyrzyn

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Battle of Żyrzyn
Part of the January Uprising

Poland's Lublin Voivodeship, the province containing the rural town of Żyrzyn and the region where the battle took place
Date August 8, 1863
Location Puławy County, Poland
Result Polish victory
Belligerents
Flag of Poland
Polish Insurgents

Russian Empire
Commanders
General Michal Heidenreich
O'Brien de Lacey[1]
Strength
700[1] 500
Casualties and losses
184 killed
282 captured
 
January Uprising
Ciołków – Węgrów – Miechów – Staszów – Małogoszcz – Pieskowa Skała – Chroberz – Grochowiska – Żyrzyn – Opatów

The Battle of Żyrzyn took place on August 8, 1863 in Puławy County, Poland, between a small detachment of Russian troops and a force of Polish troops under the command of General Michal Heidenreich. 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 rebels counted the engagement, one of may similar small battles, as a "great victory".[1]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c Davies p. 263

[edit] References

  • Davies, Norman God's Playground: A History of Poland in Two Volumes, 2005 ISBN 0199253404