Battle of Trzciana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battle of Trzciana
Part of the Polish-Swedish War (1626–1629)
Date June 25, 1629 Location Trzciana now known as Trzciano, Poland Result Polish victory
Belligerents
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth	Sweden
Commanders
Stanisław Koniecpolski, Field Crown Hetman of Poland	Gustav II Adolf, King of Sweden
Strength
1,300 hussars 1,200 light cavalry 2,000 reiters	4,000 cavalry 5,000 infantry
Casualties and losses
300 dead	over 1,200 dead 500 captured

The Battle of Trzciana (June 25, 1629) was the final battle of Polish-Swedish War (1626–1629). In this battle Polish forces led by field crown hetman Stanisław Koniecpolski defeated twice larger Swedish army commanded by King Gustav II Adolf.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Eve of the Battle 1.2 Battle 1.3 After the Battle

[edit] History

[edit] Eve of the Battle

Polish king Sigismund III Vasa has received military support of 5000 infantry and reiters from emperor Ferdinand II. Reinforcements, led by general Jan Georg Arnheim arrived at late spring 1629, and set their camp near Grudziądz. Gustav Adolf decided to attack this force, and led his army of 4,000 cavalry and 5,000 infatry from Malbork against them.

[edit] Battle

The joint force of Polish and Austrian soldiers led by Koniecpolski (Polish hetman) and von Arnim (Austrian general) made contact with the Swedish rearguard waiting at the village of Trzciana (Honigfelde).

Upon learning of the proximity of the Polish-Imperial force, Gustav II Adolf orders the Rhein count to continue the march as it is learned that the Polish Imperial force is in the vicinity. The Rhein count however does not follow his order and instead maintains a position at Trzciana. Meanwhile has Koniecpolski ordered his cossacks to advance through the woods NW of Sadowe and the Hussars to make another flanking manoeuvre behinds the hills SE of of Trzciana. von Arnims slower reiters reaches the battlefield last and forms into battle order to attack the Swedes from the front.

The Swedish leather cannons begin to fire on the approaching cossacks as they come out of the woods and the Rheincount orders his arquebuisers to attack them. Both the cossacks and arquebuisers are mobile cavalry with a good firepower but the Germans arquebuisers gain the upper hand and begins pushing the outnumbered cossacks back towards the forest. At this moment the Polish Husaria arrives from their flanking manoeuvre, a few banners are sent to deal with the Swedish artillery and 60-80 musketeers supporting them but the majority of them advance to charge the engaged arquebuisers.

The arquebuisers understandably and quickly collapses as the hussars charge their flank and rear and flee in great disorder towards the north where the rest of the army is. Gustav II Adolf tries to buy them time to regroup by charging with the Battallie (Zakarias Paulis squadron and Reinhold Anreps Finnish squadron) but most of the Battallie is demoralised by the flight of the rearguard and joins the flight. Gustav II Adolf is put to great risk as he and the remaining cavalry are faced with the pursuing cossacks. Gustav II Adolf is almost captured by a [cossack] but escapes by throwing off his harness over his head and is able to flee together with the rest of the cavalry.

The situation is critical as they reach the village Straszewo but field marshal Wrangel momentarily stabilises the situation by charging the pursuing Poles with his entire force. This gives Gustav II Adolf the time to reassemble some of the fleeing squadrons and rejoin battle. Then von Arnim's cuirassiers and Konieckpolski's hussars once again charges the battle and the Swedes are once again thrown back, but this time in better order. The Swedes then begin a withdrawal to Pulkowitz where the Gardescuirassiers and Streiffs squadron has taken up a defensive position while the infantry and artillery have continued to Neudorf where they take up a defensive position at a river crossing.

The Swedes are during their retreat subjected to a fierce pursuit but as they near Pulkowitz are they relieved by a counter attack by Streiffs squadron. The battle now reaches a deadlock between the Swedes and the Poles until von Arnim once again catches up with his cuirassiers and turns the battle against the Swedes. The Swedes now once against withdraws, this time to Neudorf where the infantry and artillery have taken their position and are without too much trouble are able to hold off the tired Polish-Imperial cavalry until darkness falls. The next day are the Swedes able to unmolested withdraw to Marienburg.

[edit] After the Battle

During the battle, Swedish cavalry suffered serious cavalry, losing about 600 dead of which 200 captured were captured by the Poles, including many high ranking officers. Swedish infantry, however, remained mostly intact, so the balance of forces in the war didn't change.