Battle of Darsūniškis

Battle of Dersunisjki

Date	March 13, 1702 (O.S.) March 14, 1702 (Swedish calendar) March 24, 1702 (N.S.)
Location	Darsūniškis, Lithuania 54°44′12″N 24°07′12″E / 54.73667°N 24.12000°E / 54.73667; 24.12000Coordinates: 54°44′12″N 24°07′12″E / 54.73667°N 24.12000°E / 54.73667; 24.12000
Result	Polish victory

Belligerents

Swedish Empire

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

Commanders and leaders

Alexander Hummerhielm
Gustaf Henrik Siegroth

Michał Serwacy Wiśniowiecki

Strength

240 men

6,000 men

Casualties and losses

145 men

unknown

The Battle of Darsūniškis took place on March 24, 1702 near the town of Darsūniškis (Polish: Dorsuniszki) during the Swedish invasion of Poland in the Great Northern War. The Swedish army of about 240 men under the command of Alexander Hummerhielm was defeated by the Polish–Saxon army of 6,000 men under Michał Serwacy Wiśniowiecki.

After having Crossed the Düna the victorious Swedish army occupied all of Courland where after they began their campaign against Polish–Lithuanian mainland in the winter of 1701–1702. Charles XII of Sweden was determined to end the hostiles between the Saxon and Polish armies before starting an invasion of Russia and so he sent his Vanguard of Alexander Hummerhielm to seize footholds in Lithuania before the arrival of the main army. On March 22, 1702 general Hummerhielm marched out of Kowno to collect six cannons previously taken from the Polish army after a fierce skirmish near the Jieznas castle (Polish: Jezno). The Swedish infantry consisting of 110 men under Gustaf Henrik Siegroth traveled in carriages along the Neman (Neman/Nemunas) River (and the cavalry of 130 men under Hummerhielm walked alongside the banks.

After three days the troops arrived at linkewitzhoff where after they continued their march the next day towards the town of Darsūniškis where Hummerhielm went with his cavalry force to scout a distance away from his infantry. Here he was attacked by the vanguard of Michał Serwacy Wiśniowiecki's army which consisted of roughly 6,000 men. The Polish attack was repulsed and the Swedish cavalry started persecuting their defeated opponents until they were ambushed by the whole army of Wiśniowiecki. Hummerhielm was quickly captured but his men continued resisting until there were only 20 wounded Swedish cavalrymen left who were all captured and the rest killed, except for one man who made it over Neman to report to the main Swedish army of their defeat.

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Wikipedia