Battle of Racławice

[wojsport]

I would like to start discussion about polish battle of Racławice 1794 during Polish Nationality Uprising in 1794

What do you know about this battle ?

[clibinarium]

Not very much, but I have been to the panoramic painting in Wroclaw. I thought it was impressive.

[wojsport]

The historical uniforms of units which fought in this battle were diffrent that it was shown on the panorama in Wrocław

[wojsport]

I give you some information from Wilkipedia

The Battle of Racławice was one of the first battles of the Polish Kościuszko Uprising against Russia. It was fought on April 4, 1794 near the village of Racławice in Lesser Poland.

The Polish forces prepared for the battle were relatively small. The Polish Order of Battle was as follows:unit supperior soldiers
2 battalions Infantry Regiment of Czapski 400 bayonettes
2 battalions Infantry Regiment of Wodzicki 400 bayonettes
2 battalions Infantry Regiment of Ożarowski 400 bayonettes
1 battalion Infantry Regiment of Raczyński 200 bayonettes
10 squadrons of cavalry under Antoni Madaliński 400 sabres
10 squadrons of cavalry under Magnet 400 sabres
4 cavalry squadrons under Biernacki 160 sabres
2 auxiliary cavalry squadrons Duchy of Württemberg 80 sabres
2440 men altogether


In addition, Lesser Poland fielded approximately 2,000 peasants armed with war scythes and pikes, as well as 11 cannons. The outcome of the battle was a tactical Polish victory, with Kościuszko defeating the numerically inferior enemy. However, his forces were too small to start a successful pursuit and the Corps of General Denisov evaded destruction and continued to operate in Lesser Poland.

The victory was subsequently promoted in Poland as a major success and helped in starting the Kościuszko Uprising in other areas of Poland and the Warsaw Uprising of 1794. Also, the participation of peasant volunteers was seen by many as the starting point of the political evolution of Polish peasantry from serfs to equally-entitled citizens of the nation.

Emblem of the 303rd Squadron

After the battle, Kościuszko paraded in front of his troops in a sukmana, a traditional attire worn in Lesser Poland, in honour of the bravery of the peasants, whose charge ensured the quick capture of the Russian artillery. He also praised Wojciech Bartosz Głowacki, a peasant who was the first to capture the cannon (he is visible in the Matejko's painting, above). Both the red cap worn by his soldiers and the home-made war scythes were later featured on the emblem of the 303rd Polish Fighter Squadron which took part in the Battle of Britain.