Battle of Brest (1794)

{{Short description|Battle of the Kościuszko Uprising}} {{For|similarly named battles|Battle of Brest (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox military conflict | conflict = Battle of Brest | partof = the Kościuszko Uprising | image = File:Сражение под Брестом 1794.png | caption = Schematic of the Battle of Brest {{small|''The history of the cavalry'' by M. Markov}} | date = 19 September 1794 (8th O.S.) | place = Brest, Województwo brzeskie, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, present-day Belarus | result = Russian victory | combatant1 = {{flag|Russian Empire}} | combatant2 = {{flagicon image|Royal Banner of Stanisław II of Poland.svg|border=no}} Poland–Lithuania | commander1 = {{flagdeco|Russia}} '''Alexander Suvorov''' {{flagdeco|Russia}} {{ill|Pyotr Islenyev|ru|Исленьев, Пётр Алексеевич}} {{flagdeco|Russia}} {{ill|Georgy Shevich|ru|Шевич, Георгий Иванович (генерал от кавалерии)}} {{flagdeco|Russia}} Yakov Kulnev | commander2 = {{flagicon image|Banner of Kosciuszko Uprising flat.PNG}} '''{{ill|Karol Sierakowski|pl|Karol Sierakowski}}''' {{flagicon image|Banner of Kosciuszko Uprising flat.PNG}} Stanisław Mokronowski {{flagicon image|Banner of Kosciuszko Uprising flat.PNG}} Stanisław Kosmowski | strength1 = 8,000–9,000{{Efn| *8,000{{sfn|Leer|1883}} **per Bodart: 4,300 infantry, 3,700 ''Reiters''<ref name=Bodart>{{Cite book |last=Bodart |first=Gaston |date=1908 |publisher=C. W. Stern |location=Vienna & Leipzig |language=de |title=Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905) |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_A0kNAAAAYAAJ/page/297 |access-date=11 September 2023 |page=297}}</ref> *9,000<ref name="Sytin" /> ''n.b.'': 12–13,000 '''in total'''<ref name=Petrushevsky/> }} 14 cannons<ref name="Sytin">Брест-Литовск // Sytin Military Encyclopedia. Vol. 5: "Бомбарда — Верещагин", pp. 67—69</ref> | strength2 = 16,000–17,000:{{efn|per POWs: 16,500 regulars/scythemen<ref name="Petrushevsky" /><ref name="Herbst" />}} *6,000–7,000 regulars;{{efn| *6,000 regulars<ref name="Sytin" /> *6–7,000 (per Tomasz Wawrzecki)<ref name="Petrushevsky" /> }} *10,000 scythemen.<ref name="Sytin" />{{efn|Sierakowski's entire force could have totalled circa 13,000 men (28 cannons; or 12,000 as per Bodart, including 8,000 infantry and 4,000 ''Reiters''<ref name=Bodart/>). As per other sources, by 14 September he had only 4,917 men (26 cannon). Polish sources indicate 5,500 men (26 cannon) plus 1,074 (5 cannon), apparently Kniaziewicz's soldiers sent to him. The latter figures likely do not include the militia, massively armed only with scythes. Based on the statement that Sierakowski's troops consisted of 2/3 of scythes, his army consisted of about 15,000 men, according to one claim. Among the militia there were about 2,000 scythemen from Brest, Kobryn, Pruzhany, Bereza and Slonim. A significant part of the militia must have been left behind in the camp near Terespol.<ref name="wars"/><ref name="n" /><ref name=Herbst>Herbst (1983)</ref>}} 28 cannons<ref name="wars"/><ref name="Sytin" /> | casualties1 = Up to 1,000 killed or wounded<ref name="Sytin" /><ref name=Bodart/> | casualties2 = 2,145 killed or wounded<ref name=n>{{cite web |title=Сражения возле Крупчицкого монастыря и под Тересполем (Брест) |trans-title=Battles near Krupczyce Monastery and near Terespol (Brest) |website=Военная история 2-й половины 18 века |language=ru |url=https://wars175x.narod.ru/btl_krpch.html |access-date=10 April 2024}}</ref>{{efn|The source denote the number of 2,645 killed, wounded and captured. If reconcile it with the data of Sytin Military Encyclopedia about 500 prisoners below, then get the corresponding number.}} 500 captured<ref name="Sytin" /> {{efn|or up to 4,000 casualties<ref name=Bodart/>}} All artillery pieces<ref name="Sytin" /><ref name=Bodart/> 2 standards<ref name="Sytin" /> }} {{Campaignbox Kościuszko Uprising}} thumb|200px|Karol Sierakowski, the Polish commander The '''Battle of Brest''' ('''Brześć''' in Polish), also known as the '''Battle of Terespol''', took place between Russian imperial forces and Polish-Lithuanian insurrectionists south-west of Brest (near the village of Terespol), present-day Belarus, on 19 September 1794; the Russians won the encounter. It was part of the Kościuszko Uprising.<ref name="wars">{{cite book |last=Grygoryew |first=M. |title=Войска ВКЛ. Ад Сасаў да Касьцюшкi (1765–1794) |publisher=Выдавецтва Зьміцера Салошкіна |year=1994 |isbn=985-6090-01-6 |place=Minsk |pages=65–79 |language=be}}</ref>

==Preparations== The Russian forces were commanded by General-in-Chief Alexander Suvorov, who a little earlier, taking advantage of {{ill|Karol Sierakowski|lt=Sierakowski's|pl|Karol Sierakowski}} inferior numbers, had defeated his men in the Battle of Krupczyce. Suvorov met Sierakowski again on the battlefield.

Before 19 September, Polish-Lithuanian insurrectionists fortified themselves in the marshes near the town of Brest. At night (at 2 AM, according to one source),<ref name="orlov">{{cite book | title=Штурм Праги Суворовым в 1794 году (The Storm of Prague by Suvorov in 1794) | author=Orlov, N. A. | year=1894 | publisher=Тип. Штаба войск Гвардіи и Петербургскаго воен. округа | location=Saint Petersburg |pages=41-43}}</ref> Alexander Suvorov moved his troops near the Polish-Lithuanian positions, having forded the Western Bug river, and attacked at dawn. Polish forces consisted of Sierakowski's force with a detachment of Mokronowski from Lithuania for a total of 6,000 regulars and 10,000 scythemen, with 28 guns.<ref name="Sytin" />

==Battle== For the Russians, the assault was successful, the Poles could not hold out and began to retreat in three columns, pursued by cavalry (Islenyev on the left and Shevich on the right). A Polish attempt to hold their ground near the village of Koroshino failed, and they continued to retreat with heavy losses.<ref name="Sytin" />

The fighting lasted for six hours, often involving hand-to-hand combat with cold arms of infantry, but the Russians finally managed to gain the upper hand, destroying the Polish force. 500 of Sierakowski's men were taken prisoner, and the fields all around Brest were covered with corpses. The Polish lost all of their 28 artillery pieces and two banners. It was a complete destruction of Sierakowski's forces: only 1,000 men escaped.<ref name="Sytin" /><ref name="orlov"/>{{sfn|Leer|1883}}

According to Russian sources, Sierakowski himself fled to Siedlce with a detachment of his cavalry corps. A Russian military report stated that losses on their side stood at 95 killed and 228 injured, however in reality it is estimated that around 1000 Russians were killed.<ref>{{cite book | title=Item 196, Packet 4, No. 349 | publisher=Moscow Archive of the Head Staff}}</ref><ref name=notes>{{cite book | title=Notes of the Fatherland | date=Dec 1863 | pages=480}}</ref><ref name=Petrushevsky>{{cite book | last=Petrushevsky | pages=49, 60–70 | volume=II |title=Генералиссимус князь Суворов}}</ref>

==Aftermath== The Russian victory at Brest took a major hit on Polish morale. Tadeusz Kościuszko himself was distraught by the loss. In August, he announced at a meeting that by September, the Ottoman Empire would declare war on Russia and that "Suvorov, occupied by [them], could not be in Poland."<ref name=statements>{{cite book | title=Item 196, Packet 8, "Statements of gentleman Dashkovich" | publisher=Moscow Archive of the Head Staff}}</ref> Subsequently, there were rumors that a relatively low-ranking Cossack general named Suvorov, as opposed to the well-known one, was going to lead the Russian fight in Poland. After the Battle of Brest, however, it became clear which Suvorov was on the front lines. The next battle for him would be the Battle of Kobyłka.

===Kościuszko's response=== Kościuszko rushed to Siedlce to rally his troops and prevent the spread of panic. He explained the defeat at Brest as not the fault of the Polish commanders, but rather that the Russians simply had a numerical superiority. He also presented several of his commanders with new awards, with golden rings inscribed with the slogan, "The fatherland to its defender". Despite Kościuszko's efforts, Polish morale still suffered. This is evidenced by a report presented by Kościuszko, to the commanders of the Lithuanian army in Grodno:

{{Blockquote|"I warn the whole military; if anyone disturbs him with talk about how as if it is impossible to hold out against the Muscovites, or starts shouting during the time of battle that the Muscovites are on our rear, that they are cutting us off, or the like, he will be immediately locked in cuffs, turned over to a court and, by show of guilt, shot. I order to general Makranowski that during battle, part of the infantry with artillery will always stand behind the line with cannon charged with grapeshot, which will shoot those who flee. May everyone know that by advancing, they will gain victory and glory, but by turning back, will meet shame and imminent death. If among those who serve there are those who are convinced that the Muscovites cannot be defeated, people who are indifferent to their fatherland, freedom and glory, may they announce in advance their resignation from duty. It hurts me that I must institute such harsh rules. "<ref name="orlov" />}}

Kościuszko found it necessary to remind his subordinates of their historical legacy:

{{Blockquote|"Some tens of your ancestors could have conquered the entire Muscovite state, brought their czars in shackles, appointed the Muscovites a lord - but you, descendants of those very Polacks [sic], may doubt the successes of a fight for the fatherland, freedom, and your houses, for blood-relatives and for friends, and consider undefeatable those predatory gangs, who take the upper hand on you only because of your cowardice. "<ref name=notes /> }}

===Reaction in Russia=== In Saint Petersburg, Suvorov's victory was very well received. Catherine the Great granted him an expensive diamond hat bow and three cannon captured from the Poles;<ref name=statements /> Pyotr Rumyantsev thanked Suvorov and presented a most flattering evaluation of his efforts.<ref name=Petrushevsky /><ref>{{cite book | title=Saltykov's Secret Journal | pages=135}}</ref>

== Notes == {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

* Stanisław Herbst "Z dziejów wojskowych powstania kościuszkowskiego 1794 roku" Warszawa 1983. pages 365-77 * “Powstanie kościuszkowskie 1794 : dzieje militarne” pod red. T. Rawskiego, vol. II, Warszawa 1994 * {{Cite book |last=Markov |first=M. |title=История конницы. Часть 4-я. От Фридриха Великого до введения нарезного оружия. Отдел I |trans-title=The history of the cavalry. Part 4. From Frederick the Great to the introduction of rifled weapons. Section 1 |year=1890 |place=Tver |publisher=Типо-Литография Ф. С. Муравьёва}} * {{cite encyclopedia |title=Брест-Литовск |trans-title=Brest-Litovsk |first=Heinrich |last=Leer |language=ru |year=1883 |encyclopedia=Энциклопедия военных и морских наук |publisher=Типография В. Безобразова и Комп. |location=Saint Petersburg |volume=1 |pages=506–507}} * "Брест-Литовск". ''Military Encyclopedia:'' ''In 18 Volumes''. 1911–1915. {{coord missing|Belarus}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Battle Of Brest (1794)}} Category:Kościuszko Uprising Category:Battles involving the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Brest (1794) Category:History of Brest, Belarus Category:Alexander Suvorov