Battle of Pieskowa Skała

The Battle of Pieskowa Skala, one of many skirmishes of the January Uprising, took place on March 4, 1863, near Pieskowa Skala in southwestern corner of Russian-controlled Congress Poland. A party of Polish insurgents commanded by Marian Langiewicz, heading towards the border with Austrian Galicia, clashed with units of the Imperial Russian Army.

After the Battle of Malogoszcz, Polish insurgents with Langiewicz reached on March 3 the Pieskowa Skala Castle, where they decided to rest. On the same day Langiewicz, who was military leader of the districts of Krakow and Sandomierz, issued an appeal to the residents of Austrian Poland. Polish insurgents were followed by three Russian units, who surrounded Pieskowa Skala. The Russians were stationed in Olkusz, Miechow and Myszkow.

In the night of March 3/4, the Russians carried out a surprise attack on those rebels who slept in a building outside of the castle. Alarmed, the insurgents fought them, losing 2 men and then retreating from Pieskowa Skala. Those who failed to withdraw were killed by the Russians, and the castle itself was ransacked. In the morning of March 4 the clash continued, as more Russian troops arrived to the area of Pieskowa Skala, chasing the insurgents, who tried to escape towards nearby Galicia. Among those insurgents who were killed in the battle was a Ukrainian revolutionary, Andrij Potebnia.

Another skirmish at Pieskowa Skala took place on August 15, 1863, when 400 Polish insurgents commaneded by Count Krukowiecki attacked a Russian infantry company.

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