The royal troops thought to take Khmielnitski by surprise; when, to their astonishment, that chief, having collected immense forces, suddenly made his appearance within a thousand paces of the Polish army. On making this discovery, the king fell back and took up his position near Beresteczko, on the bank of the river Styr, in Volhynia; having on the one hand that river as his point-d'appui, and on the other, a hilly ground, which he bristled with infantry. He had all the bridges destroyed, in order to leave no possibility of retreat.
As this battle would decide the fate of the Cossacks, and as Khmielnitski, during the two days' skirmishing which preceded it, had become convinced that the Polish army was more numerous than usual, he seemed inclined to avoid the chances of a general engagement. The king, who penetrated his design, thereupon ordered his army to form in line of battle — a manoeuvre which was effected under cover of a dense fog. The right wing was commanded by the Grand-Hetman Pototski, who had under him the illustrious Sobieski, just arrived from his recent journey into France, and who was shortly to adorn the Polish crown with the added glories of his immortal fame. The left wing was confided to the command of General Kalinowski, supported by the Princes Ostrogoki and V'isniovietski, two noblemen of approved bravery serving under him, the king taking charge of the centre, and having in front of his line the Polish and German infantry, as likewise the artillery under the direction of Przyiemski, a veteran Swedish general. The second line was composed of a superb body of cavalry, amongst whom was the king in person. The third portion of the line formed a reserve, under the orders of Prince Charles, brother to the king, and of a French colonel, Duplessis, whose skill and daring had become proverbial. In the rear of these main bodies were posted a few regiments of light infantry, whilst the whole was hedged in with a forest of lances, the floating pennants from which spread farther than the eye could reach, and fonned a spectacle at once imposing and fantastic. The Polish army numbered 100,000 men.