Battle of Mełchów

The Battle of Melchow, one of many clashes of the January Uprising, took place on September 30, 1863, in the village of Melchow (near Lelow), which at that time belonged to Russian-controlled Congress Poland. A party of 800 Polish insurgents, commanded by Zygmunt Chmielewski, clashed with soldiers of the Imperial Russian Army. Russian losses were estimated at app. 100 killed, while Poles lost 70 killed and wounded.

After the clashes near Cierno, Warzyn and Czarnca, Chmielenski concentrated insurgent units in Drochlin, where he was joined by riflemen of Captain Albert Esterhazy. When Russians found out about the insurgent camp, they sent there infantry, dragoons, Cossacks and two cannons. Polish forces had some 800 men, and the battle began with Russian barrage of the village, after which infantry entered the fray. Russian objective was to seize a local forest and then destroy the insurgent party. Chmielenski ordered his forces to halt the enemy, and then sent Polish cavalry into attack. Due to Russian machine gun fire, Polish advance was stopped. The insurgents regrouped and attacked again, with bayonets. Among those wounded during the cavalry charge was Adam Chmielowski.

Left insurgent wing under Captain Esterhazy repelled several attacks, but after Esterhazy’s death, his units dispersed and began a retreat towards main insurgent forces. Soon afterwards Colonel Wladyczanski, commander of right insurgent wing, was mortally wounded. Lack of both leaders forced Chmielenski to order all men to withdraw towards Lgoczanka. Russian soldiers, busy with looting the villages in the area, did not follow the Poles.

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