1st Battle of Malogoshch

By February 9 (21), 1863, all large rebel units (Ezeryansky, Kurovsky, Langevich) were united at Malogosh , under the general command of Langevich . The latter hoped to form a stronghold here for the accumulation of material and living force. The total number of rebels reached 3 thousand people. Russian troops at that time were divided into three groups, occupying Kielce (regiment. Chenger ), Khentsins (subpl. Dobrovolsky) and Yendrzheev (Major Golubov).

The leaders of the units decided to attack the enemy on February 12 (24). The rebels at Malogoshch were located as follows: the detachment of Langevich himself was located in the village itself, the detachment of Jezeransky occupied the summit with the cemetery , the rest of the Polish units were between them. It was decided to attack Malogoshch on three sides, the Chengery column (3 companies of the Smolensk regiment, 2 guns, 1 drag squadron) was supposed to attack the village from the north , the Dobrovolsky column (3 companies of the Mogilev regiment, 2 guns, 1 squadron) from the southeast side Golubov’s column (3 companies of the Galician regiment) from the south. Thus, sending 2/3 of the Russian forces to the enemy’s communications to the south, with a successful attack, threw him north-east to the Kielce garrison or to the west to Czestochow , also occupied by Russian troops.

At 10 a.m. on February 12 (24), 1863, Lieutenant Colonel Dobrovolsky with his detachment crossed over Losna. For Langevich, the offensive was a surprise; I had to hastily give orders to take positions. At the heights east of Malogosh, the arrows of the Grodzinsky battalion are located, having in reserve for the sniffing of cosigners. The eastern wooded hill was occupied by the battalion of Chakhovsky, and the defense of Malogosh himself was assigned to the infantry of Langevich, whose cavalry (about 300 horsemen) stood between him and the troops of Grodzinsky. The cemetery left artillery (2 op.) And the cavalry of Jezioransky.

Dobrovolsky, under cover of the fire of scattered Cossacks and dragoons, began to build a battle formation. At the same time, artillery fire was fired from a distance of 700 fathoms; a rifle platoon with a reserve behind the right flank was scattered to the right of artillery. The remaining platoons of linear companies lined up in columns behind the chain. Clearing the front, the Cossacks settled down on the right flank front to the edge of the enemy’s edge, and the dragoons - beyond the forest . Going left shoulder and a variable front, Dobrovolsky went on the offensive against the battalion of Grodzinsky. The enemy allowed him 300 steps, after which the Grodzinsky battalion went on the attack, but, unable to withstand grenade fire, was forced to turn back. At this time, flanking fire from the side of the forest edge (on the right) made Dobrovolsky stop the attack and scatter the floor of the platoon against the enemy who settled there. Thus, at this moment, Dobrovolsky’s detachment was surrounded by rebels on three sides, but they did not take advantage of this moment. This can only be explained by their lack of common control over the battle.

Expecting that Golubov’s convoy would approach the battlefield at 11 o’clock, at 10 and a half o’clock Dobrovolsky decided to attack the middle group of the enemy again, regardless of the presence of Langevich’s infantry on his flank. By virtue of this order, Golubov’s detachment had to attack Malogoshch immediately after the march. A vigorous offensive due to the fact that the village was not adapted for defense, as well as the fires that started in it, forced the enemy to clear Malogoshch; everyone ran. After pursuing a retreating enemy on the battlefield, Golubov was attached to the left flank of Dobrovolsky. At this time, the 1st company of the Mogilev regiment managed to bring down the Grodzinsky battalion from the top and force it to flee along the road. Ezioransky ordered his cavalry to launch an attack that was repelled with great damage. However, it allowed the rebels to retreat from the battlefield and more calmly organize a crossing to the other side of Losna. The cover of the retreating enemy troops was assigned to the rearguard of Chakhovsky, who, with 2 guns, occupying a position on the crest of a wooded mountain, started a shootout with a detachment of Dobrovolsky. It was about 12 noon, when Chenger, two hours late, approached the battlefield. Noticing the enemy, grouped at the crossing, he opened artillery fire on it, as well as behind the rear of the Chakhovsky rear guard . At the same time, Dobrovolsky decided to attack the wooded mountain occupied by parts of Chakhovsky. The 1st rifle company captured the crest of the mountain, capturing the guns and interrupting the servants and part of the cover. The enemy rushed to the river in disarray.

After the battle, Chenger occupied Malogoshch . The Russian losses for such a major battle were insignificant, only 5 killed, 1 died from wounds, and 28 wounded, the enemy had 300 killed, 500 wounded and 300 prisoners. ^[2]

• Maloshchina // Military Encyclopedia : [in 18 vol.] / Ed. V.F. Novitsky [et al.]. - SPb. ; [ M. ]: Type. t-va I. D. Sytin , 1911-1915.