"Poles are in the category of those nations,
that are mentioned, while they make the difficulties to the power (...).
In England Poles are understood very well.
It is enough to say, that Poles resemble the Irishmen,
and than everyone understands what is going on".

Norman Davies
("About the Poland and Poles - Thoughts found", "Znak" Editions, Cracow 2000)

In south-west Ireland, in small town at the Bantry Bay there is located the monument with the group of men armed with lances. In that place in 1798 armed by the lances men, similarly to the Kościuszko Upraise soldiers had been armed four years before by scythes, Irishmen attacked regular army troops. In the same Bay in December 1796 there took place not successful french landing of Hoche, that was both to support Ireland in fight about freedom and force the enemy of revolution in France to fight at two fronts. One of the officers that took part in the expedition was Hermann Wilhelm Daendels. While as a consequence of the storm Hermann Wilhelm Daenels was returning to Brest on the board of one of the ships at the same time in Italy polish general Jan Henryk Dąbrowski proclaimed his address to Poles to make them join Polish Legions in Italy. General Bonaparte, who took patronage over this action would not dream about the crown of Emperor. His star was just rising.
While sixteen years later, after tragic russian expedition the star of Napoleon, Emperor of French started to grow pale, Hermann Wilhelm Daenels, at that time distinguished at the fight protecting the crossing of Berezyna river, took command over the garrison of Modlin, that was composed with 5230 soldiers and 261 officers. "The garrison was mostly composed with Polish and Lithuanian infantry. So there was one battalion of each regiments 3rd and 17th - meant 48 officers, 1219 soldiers. The staff of the three battalions of 18th Regiment of Chodkiewicz with major Suhr, chefs of battalions: Trębicki, Słupecki and Rohland - 31 officers, 909 soldiers; staff of 3 battalions 20th Regiment of Biszping with major Glazer and chefs of battalions Milberg, Walicki and Płączyński - 48 officers, 713 soldiers; staff of 2 battalions of 21st Regiment of Przeździecki with major Hilchen and chefs of battalions: Mieszkowski, Łaszewski, Jezierski, Bitner - 30 officers, 471 soldiers - what meant in total 109 officers, 3093 soldiers. Polish Artillery of 1st Regiment - companies 4th, 8th, 9th, 15th - meant 13 officers, 297 soldiers. 7th companyof 1st battalion of sapers - 4 officers, 124 soldiers. Finally several chevaliers of 1st Regiment of Ulnas.
In total polish and Lithuanian troops - 174 officers and around 3800 soldiers was to fight in the entrenchments built lately by the sacrificial effort of polish nation. Engineers of the place beside the Frenchmen Prevo-Vernois was also captain Męcziszewski and lieutenant Wiszniewski. (...) Russian siege corps from the beginning under command of general Paszkiewicz and then general Kleinmachl was not enough seriously composed to consider conquering the Modlin by the use of its force. The only one art of the siege corps was to starve the garrison to death. It was to replace the military skills and courage by the resistance on the hunger, on the cold in poor barracks, on the humidity of the soaked beds of straw. The garrison was endured enough to keep Modlin up to receiving the news about retreating the Napoleon behind the Rhein. On 25th of December after the long negotiations general Daenels capitulated. Poles and Lithuanians were sent to their homes, rest of garrison was captured. From the Modlin there went around 2400 polish soldiers. Rest of it died."

by Marian Kukiel, History of the polish weapon in napoleonic époque (p.447 and several following).

192 years later in sunny days on 2nd and 3rd of September amateurs of the history from the Poland, Lithuania and Byelorussia memorized that events by the two days lasting historical display. For the invitation of the City Authorities of Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki there arrived the reenactment groups of 2nd Regiment of Infantry of Duchy of Warsaw under command of Michał Zaremba, batteries of the Club of Ancient Artillery under the command of Wojciech Borkowski and Maciej Mechliński, 3rd Company of 2nd Battalion of Artillery on Foot, 2nd Regiment of infantry of Vistula Legion under command of Piotr M.Zalewski (Arsenal - Association of Polish Regiments of 1717-1831), troop of Kauno Karo Istorijos Klubas from Lithuania under command of Algimantas Dougirdas, troop of Russian Infantry from Byelorussia and members of groups from Ossów and 1st Regiment of Infantry of Vistula Legion.
Accordingly to the War Commisioner Piotr Czerepak, who at the same time fulfilled the role of main organizer of this event, the purpos was to display some events from the history of siege of Modlin in 1813. In the program there was location of troops in so called redoubt of the Napoleon, display of the drill and parade of troops, and finally the storm of the Northern Gate - main point of the historical display. Despite to the limited number of participants it was well done reenactment. It was achieved both thanks to the well preparations at the side of the organizing group as well as the support of the City Authorities of Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, that provided the security and executed planting the area around the Northern Gate. Nothing could damage that impression, even the crazy grafitties at the walls. The significant role played also the individual treating the display, that was visible in the will of best possible acting the climate of époque. So they took care about the equipment of contemporary use in the area of the camp as well as of uniforms and personal soldiers equipment, what recalled the times of 1813.
Cleande and examined the weapon, exercises of fencing (where I received great lesson) and shooting exercises provided additional portion of the historical reality. Impression of the journey in the time was strengthened also by the discussions about the history, battles and fights in napoleonic époque. As humoristic we could treat the questions of spectators about the possibility of "taking photos with Napoleon" (officer with proper hat). Pleasant factor was the participation of the markeetans, that were taking best care over the soldiers falling in the fight. The storm, roars of the lines of infantry riffles, bangs of the cannons, pyrotechnical effects, sound of the sables, commands and shouts of both those who were fighting and who was wounded (Remik) were creating that picture. In the place of the hard defense, this small piece of land of Duchy of Warsaw, small reminiscence of the independent Polish Republic and experience of that days there was all filled with the smile and friendly atmosphere.
Words in polish, Lithuanian and byelorussian languages were the proof, that even dramatic history can not divide but join people. The only fact different was that the garrison of the stronghold they did not want to capitulate and fought up to the end (limitation of the munition). Spectators they might be much more numerous. So it is worth mentioning to better promotion of this event even in the regional scale. Not only Modlin, but as well Gdańsk and Zamość were defending very long. It is great reason not only to be proud but also to make the amateurs of history from The Country and from abroad interested in it. For Modlin there are more reasons, as it was defended much more times later on. It is good reason to promote, that may be supported by the close neighborhood of the Capital of Poland on the base of proofed well organization.

by Marcin Piontek
Assessor of 2nd Regiment of Infantry of Vistula Legion
(Arsenal – Association of Polish Regiments of 1717-1831)
Translation: Scout