Early military events of modern Romania, 1859-1876

[Iamandi]

Costangalia Incident

Summer 1863

A detachment of 400 polish tryed to force the border, in his way on to South of the Tzarist Empire.

Under the lead of colonel M. Calinescu, a romanian group of infantry combined with cavalry stopped this polish detachment and disarmerd the mans.

Whith clemency, later, romanian guvern take them out from detency.


Anyone knows more about "Constangalia Incident"?
What was the "scop" of polish?

Any details are welcomed,

Iama

[Victor]

In January 1863, in the Polish regions within the Russian Empire started a revolt, aimed at rebuilding the Polish state. In February, Prince Czartoryski asked Prince Alexandru Ioan I to allow the transit of Polish revolutionaries through Romanian soil. It was agreed to that all had to be unarmed.

However, this condition wasn't respected when, on 30 June/12 July 1863, a detachment of 250 Poles, 2 French, 2 British and 2 Italians, under the command of col. Z. Milkowski, landed between Reni and Ismail in southern Bessarabia (which was then part of Romania). Their intention was to cross into Russian territory (central and northern Bessarabia) and then link up with the Polish Revolution. The situation wasn't good for Romania, which risked its neutral status in the conflict and possibly a later Russian occupation. At 22:30, col. Athanasie Calinescu, CO of the 3rd Line Infantry Regiment, started off with 416 men towards Ismail. It marched quickly in order to catch up with the Poles and in the evening of the following day it was 7 km behind it. On 2/14 July it was joined by 273 men from the 6th and 8th Companies/5th Line Infantry Regiment. A detachment of mounted gendarmes, under the command of maj. Scheleti, caught up with the Poles and managed to stop them for talks. Col. Calinescu transmitted the requests of gen. Ion Emanoil Florescu to lay down their weapons and return to Ismail. But it was rejected and, unfortunately, it had to be resolved violently.

The pursuit continued and col. Claienscu caught up with the Polish Detachment near Costangalia (Bajenari) at 5:30 on 3/15 July 1863. At 12:30 the Romanians attacked. The 689 men were deployed in three columns, each with one platoon in line. The 2 platoons on the right were commanded by maj. Ioan Sterian and the 3 platoons on the left by maj. I. Saegiu. The center (5 platoons) was subordinated to maj. Nicolae Scheleti. Two platoons were deployed in front of the formation as skirmishers. The reserve was made up of 115 recruits, placed at 30 paces from the center. The formation advanced and the troops fired at each other. During the exchange of fire, the recruits in reserve came under fire and panicked. They started running and the center also started to pull back. At 15:00, col. Calinescu ordered to sound the retreat. The left wing retreated first. The right wing was the last to disengage. The Romanians lost 18 dead and 45 wounded, while the Poles had 16 dead and 31 wounded.

The Polish Detachment then crossed the Prut River at Godesti, but it was again reengaged by col. A. Calinescu at Ranzesti on 5/17 July. Exhausted, the Poles surrendered without a fight and they were interned at Cahul. Later they were allowed to leave to the Ottoman or Austro-Hungarian Empires.