Polish Soldier – Sebastian Piasecki

Sebastian Piasecki, a Polish soldier, in the year 1809 was with the army in Puławy under the command of the unforgettable Prince Józef Poniatowski. The Prince issued a daily order for the officers to announce and select the soldiers who had shown the greatest bravery and courage in battle, as a reward allowing them to enter the Temple of Memory. A large number of them participated—almost all, in fact. Sebastian Piasecki was among them.

He carefully examined all the relics gathered in the Sybil and, with the greatest zeal, observed the remains of Czarnecki, Żółkiewski, the swords, and sabers of valiant Poles. Afterwards, he asked the person showing everything whether it would be permissible for him to place in the Sybil a saddle cloth, a sash, a cross, […], the entire equipment of the Austrian Commander Pulski, whom he had captured at the Zamość ramparts and brought to Prince Poniatowski. The Prince immediately granted him permission, and he requested that it be added to the Sybil as a keepsake.

When I was informed of this, I ordered Piasecki to be brought before me. I accepted this gift into the Sybil, which testified to the courage and valor of a simple Polish soldier. Afterwards, I offered him 30#, asking him to accept it from me. Yet Piasecki, as noble as he was brave, replied that if he were ever in need, he would come to the Duchess, but what he had given was not for sale. He refused to accept anything.