Polish troops under the command of Tadeusz Kościuszko defeated the better armed Russian army on April 4, 1794. The peasant squads performed a heroic attack on the Russian artillery with full determination and courage. 

Russian Empire in the second half of the 18th century occupied the territories of Poland. Step by step, the Russian Tsarina Catherine II sought to subjugate Poland by military violence. This aroused opposition from Poles who did not want to live in Russian captivity. 

  One of the symbols of this position was the Kościuszko Uprising (1794) led by Tadeusz Kościuszko – the Supreme Commander of the National Armed Forces, a Polish hero who also fought for the independence of the United States. He invited the peasants to take part in the anti-Russian uprising and they responded positively. It started the process of expanding citizens’ awareness to include a large, but so far maltreated peasant social stratum. However, the slow process of democratization was stopped by the neighbooring absolute monarchies: Prussia, Austria and Russia. 

  Scythes versus cannons 

  The troops led by Kościuszko wanted to liberate Poland from Russia’s occupation and began their march from the south to the north of the country. The Russian army, commanded by General Alexander Tormasov, met the Polish troops on the road near Racławice. The first move was made by the Russians who caused considerable losses in the Polish army. The situation looked bad and Kosciuszko decided to send the squads of peasants armed with scythes into the center of the Russian troops. The peasants bravely rushed to the artillery and captured cannons, allowing only one salvo. 

  Wojciech Bartos reached the Russian artillery first. The legend says that he covered the fuse of the cannon with his own cap and stopped the shot. He was appointed a standard-bearer for his act. Moreover, he was released from serfdom and was given the property of the house in which he lived. 

 The last attempt to rescue 

  The Battle of Racławice ended with the Polish victory on April 4, 1794, and other volunteers joined the insurgents who also fought against Prussia (Greater Poland Uprising). Despite heroic fights, the Kościuszko Uprising ended in a fiasco. None of the countries, including France, helped the Poles in the fight for their homeland and finally, they were defeated by Russian imperialism.