Battle of Opatów (1863)

The First Battle of Opatow, one of many clashes of the January Uprising, took place on November 25, 1863, in the town of Opatow, which at that time belonged to Russian-controlled Congress Poland. A party of 210 Polish rebels, commanded by Józef Hauke-Bosak, managed to temporarily capture the town, which was defended by a 180-strong garrison of the Imperial Russian Army.

Polish rebels took advantage of the fact that main Russian forces had left Opatow, to chase rebel units operating near the town of Ilza. Hauke-Bossak ordered an attack from three sides. Weak Russian garrison was unable to defend the town, and was pushed out of Opatow. Poles captured the town and withdrew with seized Russian guns and ammunition towards Suchedniow.

Sources

• Stefan Kieniewicz: Powstanie styczniowe. Warszawa: Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, 1983. ISBN 83-01-03652-4.