Chapter 679 Burning Eastern Europe VI
The Russian army’s firepower is more intensive than that of the Poles, and their shooting accuracy is also higher.
When their infantry line came to more than 40 steps in front of the parapet on the east side of Zagazik village, several gaps had appeared in the Polish army's position.
The number of Polish soldiers added later has gradually decreased.
On the bell tower not far away, a Polish captain put down his telescope and said anxiously to Lieutenant Colonel Lubinska, who was in charge of commanding the defense line of Zagazik Village: "Master, with this level of casualties, we will not be able to survive again." If you send a reserve team up, there will probably be... a collapse."
Lieutenant Colonel Lubinska frowned.
He knew that his staff officer was right. However, those 300 soldiers were the last strength in his hands.
Today is just the first day of the war.
If the reserve team is also consumed, he will have no choice but to abandon Zagazik Village. And his mission is to stay here for three days.
General Kosciuszko said that the Russian army must be dragged into the rhythm of a critical battle before subsequent combat plans can be implemented.
Lubinska took a deep breath and said solemnly: "I believe them."
The Russian army's shooting became more and more fierce. In just over ten minutes, the long and narrow array covering the north and south sides of the village had reached a position more than 30 steps in front of the Polish defense line.
“Don’t be afraid!” Drasovitz’s voice was hoarse, but he still shouted, “Behind us is the motherland!”
This sentence was his last sentence I remembered this when I was listening to the speeches of people from the Barr Alliance.
He actually listened to a lot that day, but he only remembered this sentence.
Yes, behind him is the motherland, and even more so his son and daughter.
The invaders cannot get past him.
Unless you die.
The surrounding recruits shouted: "Protect our motherland!"
"Fight with them for the motherland!"
The Russian infantry lines opened fire.
The Polish defense line suddenly lost twenty or thirty people.
But the next moment, the Polish soldiers responded with a volley.
Although their shooting skills were poor, the Russians also suffered nearly thirty casualties.
Although the breast wall is slightly higher than the abdomen of an adult, it can still provide a certain degree of protection. This is also the Polish army's only reliance.
The Russian commander was also loudly motivating his men. The numerically superior infantry line has successfully approached the Poles, and the quality of our own soldiers is also much higher. There is no reason why we cannot attack this line of defense.
In just seven or eight minutes, the two sides had faced each other for dozens of rounds of shooting.
The formations on both sides became uneven. The fierce exchange of fire left them no time to deal with the corpses, and it was difficult to replenish the strength of the rear team.
In the command post at the rear of the Russian army, General Morkov observed the Polish defense line through the telescope and said to the staff: "Order the transport camp to prepare. The village of Zagazik will be ours soon. The attack on the town of Marice begins before half past two, which will require a large number of artillery shells."
He has clearly seen that the number of Polish troops defending has been reduced by at least one-fifth. Even the powerful Russian army would collapse in the face of such heavy casualties, let alone the weak Poles.
In fact, he already wanted to praise the Polish army. If it were the Ottomans, they should have started surrendering as early as when their infantry line reached 40 steps.
"Poor Poles," he smiled and shook his head, "How long can you hold on? 20 minutes? Or can you wait until Stepashin starts attacking?"
The fierce exchange of fire in front of the defense line in Zagazik Village continues.
Polish soldiers were still falling one after another, and those who were still alive were overwhelmed by the Russian shooting.
However, it was completely different from what Morkov expected.
This army, which is mainly composed of new recruits, may be nervous, panicked, or even scared, but no one wants to escape.
Their souls have been closely linked by the concept of "Polish nation".
Here are not individuals, they are part of Poland. No one can invade their most cherished motherland!
Coupled with the blessing of the Crusaders' belief in jihad, life and death are just the most insignificant matter to them at this moment.
What they have to do is to sacrifice the last drop of blood for the great motherland under the watchful eye of God.
Even if he is the only one standing behind this parapet!
The senior officers of Drasovitz's company were all killed. At this time, he silently chanted the drum beat in his heart and shouted loudly: "Aim -"
No one questioned his order, The 70 or so people around raised their flintlock guns at the same time.
"Launch——"
Drasovitz's hoarse shouts seemed to penetrate the battlefield, carrying dozens of lead bullets and hitting the Russian army's line formation, beating six people including the drummer to bloody pieces.
The Russian officers were shocked to find that although the Poles suffered heavy casualties, they did not waver at all. On the contrary, some on their side began to retreat.
Several Russian company commanders killed six or seven retreating soldiers, and then stabilized the situation.
At this moment, a sneer appeared on the face of the Russian infantry commander. He heard the sound of horse hooves coming from the northwest.
“Look, these bastards are scared!” Drasovitz noticed that some Russian soldiers were shrinking and immediately encouraged his comrades loudly.
At this moment, someone suddenly shouted on the left side of the defense line: "There are cavalry! Be careful!"
The commander of the seventh infantry company who was the closest turned his head and looked, and his heart suddenly tightened. There were more than forty cavalrymen. Under the cover of skirmishers, the Cossack cavalry sneaked past the northernmost end of the defense line.
Behind the defense line is our own artillery position.
Yes, although there are only two cannons, they have always played a huge role.
In fact, they accounted for at least a quarter of the Russian army's casualties.
Drasovitz was just a soldier and was not aware of the thrilling containment, feint attack and fighting that had just occurred in other parts of the battlefield. But he knew that although the 40 cavalry could not shake the infantry defense line, they could destroy the two cannons.
The captain of the seventh company drew his sword and shouted loudly: "Follow me to protect the cannon! Just veterans, hurry!"
Drasovitz immediately ran towards him, He waved to Yanik again: "You come too!"
"Okay!"
The commander of the seventh company ran towards the artillery position with more than 30 veterans. This is the maximum amount of manpower he can mobilize from the defensive line. Any more and the defense will not be able to hold on.
Drasovitz ran as hard as he could, but despair filled his heart. He remembered that there were only about a dozen guards left at the artillery position. By the time he rushed over, the cannon would have been destroyed by the Cossacks.
A quarter of an hour later, the commander of the seventh company rushed to the artillery position and saw that the artillery was still loading and firing, and he was relieved.
"Where is the enemy's cavalry?" he shouted to the nearest gunner.
“It’s blocked over there.” The latter raised his hand and pointed toward the northeast.
The company commander immediately saw that 200 steps away, a small group of people were relying on two dilapidated farmhouses, fighting fiercely with the Cossack cavalry.
No, the fighting there can no longer be considered intense. The number of people who resisted the cavalry was too small and had been wiped out. In an instant, only sporadic gunfire came from behind the farmhouse.
"Who is there?" The company commander frowned. He knew that the dozen or so soldiers guarding the artillery position would never be able to delay the Cossacks for so long.
The gunner lowered his head, picked up a cannonball, ran towards the muzzle, and said in a low voice: "It's Father Stashak, and the cobbler and blacksmith..."
The army in this era cannot do without these craftsmen for a moment - they have to repair boots and firearms for the army at any time, which is a precious technical job.
There are 12 cobblers and 10 blacksmiths in Zagazik village.
It was they, together with the priest, who assisted the 14 infantrymen here and used their own lives to hold off the Russian cavalry for nearly 20 minutes.
(End of this chapter)