Supposingly one of the most monuments that is worth notice stays the tomb of the brother of the Maria Walewska - general Joseph (Józef) Łączyński, that in capaign 1813 was wounded at Lützen, then took part in organization of Honorable Guard in Żytawa and Zgorzelec. The first person that payed attention on the death of Joseph (Józef) Łączyński in Szczawno-Zdrój was writer Marian Brandys. After him there noticed that fact Ryszard Kincel, who discovered interesting sources noticing the death of general.
Łączyński was captured by the Prussians during the battle at Fére Champenoise on the 25th of March 1814. In 1816 coming back Poland he got ill with his lounges. One year he spent in the hospital in Wrocław. After that he was directed for the following period of the treatment to Szczawno-Zdrój. There he died because of the stone type of disease of kidney on 7th of August 1820 at 6 on the clock in the morning. The doctor of him in Szczawno-Zdrój described precisely the treatment and dissection of his body. This description was published by "Schlesische Provinzialblätter" in 1820.

However Polish general Łączyński took part almost in all the napoleonic wars, the retreat from Russia destroyed his beautiful and healthy body. With the frozen foot and hands, sickly belly by the not natural food and nervous life he returned to the Motherland. He was constantly disturbed by the arthritis and opening wounds. Arthritis came, wounds they did not allow to be cured. Finally the stones in the kidneys started to disturb and the patient wanted to go either to Marienbad or Ems. Heavy pains forced him to stay at Wrocław. Thanks to the advice of the doctor Wendt he was directed to Szczawno, what was not accordingly neither to his will nor to opinion of the doctors. Here he started to drink the spring water, that started to work rapidly and with visible force. Plenty of the phlegm and pus was in the abundant urine, that had been portioned miserly but very often up to that time. From that time it was removed without the problems reliving small stones. The removing them caused heavy pains, that was softened by the compresses. The water also had the influence on the enlarging the shit, that was mixed with the pus.
I thought that it was caused by the urinary bladder, where it was provided from the fistula of the ending of bowels. As the spring water was working rapidly and heavy I had to stop it for the two days. Both for the enforcement and reducing the temperature I ordered quinine. Patient rejected arguing that he took plenty of medicines. Finally in the wine-type of alcohol he decided to take it. His condition was changeable, there was no temperature and the removing of sands and pus was continued. Suddenly he felt heavy pain around the angle and big toe of the left feet. It seemed as the coming back arthritis might have stopped the production of the stones. With the external means of treatment I tried to help the forces of the nature. However both passing experienced doctor and residing other doctor supported me with the advice, but there was nothing that might kept the life, that was rescued from the destroying fires. Dissection of the body proofed that longer life of the sick was not possible. Kidneys were completely filled with the small stones of the size of the head of pins, but without any signs of damage. Urinary bladder had numerous abscesses consisting both the pus and the phlegm. On the other hand the liver, about which nobody thought - was only the sack full of pus and had several wholes. It was the reason of the moving his bowets mixed with pus. As our Zdrój Górny was not able to treat the patient it turned out to be strong method for removing both the phlegm and stones from the Urinary drains, that had been confirmed also in other situations.

Books of deceased in parochial church in Szczawno Zdrój notet the death of Łączyński in this words: 1820, on the 9th of August there was buried polish general of brigade Mr. Józef (Joseph) Łączyński, officer and chevalier of Honorable Legia of French Kingdom, chevalier of the order of St. Stanislaus of Polish kingdom and other distinctions, that had died in age of 42 by stone disease of kidneys on 7th of August at 6 in the morning. Arrived from Warsaw in Polish kingdom, where he lived to Szczawno Górne for the spring treatment. In this place he found the death and in cemetery of Szczawno Dolne his place of burial.
There have remained up to this days burial monument erected in second half of the XIXth century at the wall of Saint Anna Church in Szczawienko. It is rounded with pyramid in the top. On the left side of pedestal there is inscription:

BENEDICT JOSEPH ŁĄCZYŃSKI
General of Brigade
Polish Army
Military Polish
Cross Chevalier / Honorable Legia
Officer, Order of Both Sycilia Comandor.

At the opposite side:

Died using
waters in Salzbrunn
on 7th of August 1820
Lived 43 years.

At the main wall of the monument there are placed words that for 200 years has been recalling that events and polish soldiers thinking about their Motherland:

If the way brings
the Pole in this place
let he sincere tear leave
that virtue and Motherland
love in the heart became deeply rooted
and for Her his forces damaged
He did not strengthened.

It seems that the monument in contemporary shape the monument was not founded just after the death of general, but much more later. In 1856 in the published description of the spring there was noted: "Nowadays his body is cowered only by the simple tomb in form of a barrow".*

* R. Kincel, U szląskich wód, Katowice b.d., P. 90-91. Translation following to R. Kincel. Biogram of Łączyński in PSB, t. XVIII, Wrocław 1973, p. 314-315, as well as G. Six.

by Mariusz Olczak
Translated: Scout