Help support TMP


"Poles Apart" Topic


2 Posts

All members in good standing are free to post here. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by The Miniatures Page.

Please don't make fun of others' membernames.

For more information, see the TMP FAQ.


Back to the Napoleonic Discussion Message Board


Areas of Interest

Napoleonic

Featured Hobby News Article


Featured Link


Top-Rated Ruleset

Song of Drums and Shakos


Rating: gold star gold star gold star gold star gold star gold star gold star 


Featured Showcase Article

28mm Soldaten Hulmutt Jucken

Personal logo Editor in Chief Bill The Editor of TMP Fezian paints the Dogman from the Flintloque starter set.


Featured Workbench Article

Staples Online Printing & Web Binding

The Editor dabbles with online printing.


Current Poll


Featured Book Review


726 hits since 28 Sep 2018
©1994-2025 Bill Armintrout
Comments or corrections?


TMP logo

Zardoz

Please sign in to your membership account, or, if you are not yet a member, please sign up for your free membership account.
Jpnorth28 Sep 2018 6:19 a.m. PST

I wonder what opinions are concerning the fighting abilities of the Polish Legions are. I know the Polish Vistula Legions under the empire had a good reputation (and was assigned to the Young Guard in 1812), but not sure about the legions which fought for the French republic. I ask because I came across a report by General Girardon from the summer of 1798 (campaign to put down the revolt around Rome):

"The Poles have bare feet and plead for shoes. I forgot to mention something about them. After Frosinone was taken I marched on Alatry with 400 men. Half way there the Poles lay down and refused to budge. I asked the officers, who were shocked, what was happening and they told me that the soldiers were complaining that they should not have to take part in two attacks per day. I failed to convince them that we were not operating in friendly territory."

He then wrote to Macdonald:

"Send me Frenchmen and have the Poles return to Rome if you can, for they have committed atrocities which my pen refuses to describe. They do not listen to anyone and the sight of the body of one of their comrades made them furious."

The French commanders in Haiti also had cause to complain about the conduct of the Poles, although there I think one can sympathise with the soldiers.

I want to reassure you that this is not a question of whether one nation is better or more violent than another. I have great interest in the Poles and have published two books on them (War of Lost Hope --about Haiti -- and Glory and Despair -- about the sieges of Saragossa), but I just wanted to see if there are any contemporary opinions on their conduct before 1805.

Jcfrog28 Sep 2018 8:41 a.m. PST

Otherwise they got famous for their dancing.

Sorry - only verified members can post on the forums.