Battle of Ostrołęka

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For the 1807 French Napoleonic victory, see Ostrołęka#History
Battle of Ostrołęka
Part of November Uprising

Battle of Ostrołęka of 1831 by Karol Malankiewicz
Date May 26, 1831
Location Ostrołęka, Poland
Result Polish defeat
Belligerents
Flag of Poland Poland Flag of Russia Imperial Russia
Commanders
Flag of Poland Jan Zygmunt Skrzynecki Flag of Russia Hans Karl von Diebitsch
Strength
30,000, 74 cannons 35,000, 148 cannons
Casualties and losses
6,400 (incl. ~2,000 killed) 5,800
 
November Uprising
Stoczek – 1st Wawer – Nowa Wieś – Kałuszyn – Białołęka – Olszynka Grochowska – 1st Puławy – 2nd Puławy – Kurów – Markuszów – 2nd Wawer – Dębe Wielkie – Domanice – Iganie – Poryck – Wronów – Kazimierz Dolny – Boremel – Sokołów Podlaski – Firley – Lubartów – Połaga – Tykocin – Nur – Wilno – Ostrołęka – Rajgród - Warsaw

The Battle of Ostrołęka of May 26, 1831, was one of the largest engagements of Poland's November Uprising. Throughout the day, Polish forces under Jan Skrzynecki fought for the control over the town of Ostrołęka against the assaulting Russian forces of Hans Karl von Diebitsch. Although by the end of the day the town was still in Polish hands and the two sides suffered comparable losses, the battle is usually considered a Polish defeat because of the Russian army's almost unlimited strategic reinforcement capability. The Polish Army could not similiarily replenish its casualties.

A German poem glorifying the 4th Regiment's actions at Ostrołęka
A German poem glorifying the 4th Regiment's actions at Ostrołęka

In the event, surviving Polish forces were saved by the particularly brave stand of its 4th Infantry Regiment, the Czwartacy, who repelled several waves of enemy infantry and cavalry charges, holding the burning town during heavy fighting in close quarters. By late evening the Poles were again saved by a self-sacrificing charge of the 4th battery of mounted artillery led by Lt.Col. Józef Bem.

The battle became one of the symbols of the failed uprising. Julius Moser, a German poet and writer, commemorated the 4th Regiment in his poem Die letzten Zehn vom vierten Regiment (The last 10 of the 4th Regiment), later widely-translated onto several languages. The battle also inspired Johan Sebastian Welhaven's Republikanerne.