There are at present four branches of Krasinski's family, and three generations. The head of the first branch, and the senior in age, is General Count Vincent Korwin Krasinski, who by his late wife. Princess Radzivell, has an only child, a son, Sigismond, married some years ago to Elizabeth Countess Branitska, by whom he has two young boys.
The general alluded to, performed extraordinary feats of valour under Napoleon, especially at Samossiera in the month of November, 1808, in Spain, where three squadrons of Polish lancers under his command stormed, up hill, a pass half a mile in lengthnd twenty-five yards in breadth, defended at the top by fifteen pieces of heavy cannon, and eleven thousand of Spanish regular infantry, under the order of General St. Juan. In spite, however, of all these formidable defences, and the two hills swarming with sharpshooters; in spite of the grape shot of the cannon, his intrepid band, composed of chosen men and chosen horses, reached the top, took all the cannons, hroke all the squares, routed the Spaniards and cleared the road for Napo-» Icon's army to Madrid.
In all the French, and even British military works, this celebrated charge is mentioned, and is undoubtedly considered as one of the most extraordinary in this century. It, however, succeeded, not only by the brilliant and indomitable valour of the Polish lancers and their gallant commander; but also by some favourable circumstances attending it. Napoleon was so much surprised at the complete success of the charge of Samossiera that he said: " Now, dear Krasinski, I believe in wonders." "It would be a wonder, sire," rejoined the latter, " if there was one single soldier under my command, who should hesitate an instant to sacrifice the last drop of his blood for your majesty's glory." This bon mof extremely pleased Napoleon, and was followed by many others, which, always delivered under proper circumstances, brought him substantial favours. Napoleon called him the Polish Alcibiades; the Polish Alcibiades having expensive habits was often in want. Once Napoleon met him walking dispirited in the streets of Paris. " You have debts, Krasinski," said the emperor. "Yes, sire, I have;" "Your debts are mine;" and thrice they were paid (30,000/,) Once Napoleon ordered Duroc to give to his favourite Polish aide-de-camp £6,000. Duroc looked cross. " Give to Krasinski £3,000 more," and they were given, and when the latter said, " The interest is worthy of your majesty," a handsome interest of that sum, much larger than that which any banker would require for it, was added to the additional gift, which altogether amounted to 100,000/. The general alluded to served in all the wars from 1806 till 1814, under Napoleon, and his regiment of lancers became the terror of the enemy, as they broke and routed every cavalry and infantry, which they ever attacked, and they never were beaten. To this time even at Bordeaux, there are numerous ballads and songs in their favour. They formed the guard of the French emperor, under the name of chevaux legers; they did wonders at Wagram, and in 1813.
It is impossible to describe the enthusiastic cheers with which the remainder of the gallant Polish bands, under the command of the General alluded to were received at Posen in 1814. Men, women, and children hailed them weeping. The uniform of the lancers was blue, trimmed with crimson, and double-breasted (not according to the Enghsh fashion), trimmed with rich embroidered gold. They wore a splendid crimson lancer's cap, on which there was a golden sun and a fine white ostrich feather. This uniform, with golden epaulets, splendid horses, chosen men, coloured pennants streaming from the top of the lances, produced in the sunshine an effect impossible to describe. At the sight of these warriors, preceded by the fame of the victories of Samossiera, Vagram, Reichenbach, and others, (most of them being decorated with military orders) the heroes of a hundred battles, commanded recently by the most skilful captain of the age, to whom they were faithful when every thing left him, passing slowly in military array, and returning to their country without ever having been fairly vanquished, a sort of religious veneration filled the heart. One would have thought that the sacred soil of a country that gave birth to such soldiers, could not be stained by a foreign foot, or oppressed.