On June 14, 1863, a Polish insurgent unit retreated before the advancing Russian forces from Węglewice to Lututów.[1] Later that day the Russians approached the insurgents in Lututów. The Poles then split into two groups, one of which broke through the Russian encirclement to rescue people and weapons.[3] The remaining group of 120 scythemen, led by Antoni Korotyński, engaged in a battle with 10 times more numerous Russians, which was doomed to be unsuccessful from the beginning.[2] Some of the insurgents surrendered, but the Russian commander ordered the murder of captured Polish prisoners and the battle turned into a massacre.[2] Korotyński's unit was completely annihilated, as 64 rebels were killed and 46 were wounded.[2] All the dead and wounded were stripped naked by the Russians and many of the dead had their throats slit.[2] Polish commander Antoni Korotyński, fatally wounded, died shortly after the battle.[2]
Burial and memorials
Bodies of the rebels were buried in a mass grave at the local cemetery. The location of the battle is marked by two large crosses and boulders.
References
^ abZieliński, Stanisław (1913). Bitwy i potyczki 1863-1864. Na podstawie materyałów drukowanych i rękopiśmiennych Muzeum Narodowego w Rapperswilu (in Polish). Rapperswil: Fundusz Wydawniczy Muzeum Narodowego w Rapperswilu. p. 205.
