Battle of Tryszki

The Swedish king had, ever since the Crossing of the Düna earlier that year, contemplated actions against the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth to have Augustus II, whom he considered too unpredictable as king, dethroned.[1] In the wake of the Lithuanian power struggle, the Sapieha family pledged for Swedish protection against the Ogiński's, who frequently raided their goods in Samogitia. Charles, who sought political support within the Commonwealth, seized the opportunity and sent two contingents as protection; 600 horse under Alexander Hummerhielm and 200 horse under Johan August Meijerfeldt.[2] These were frequently being harassed by Grzegorz Antoni Ogiński's forces, as a consequence.[Note 1] The fighting escalated, as Grzegorz numbers grew larger, and the two Swedish commanders soon requested reinforcements. Charles answered by assembling an additional 100 dragoons and 400 foot guards, merged the contingents together and personally led the combined forces in Samogitia to destroy the troubling forces under Grzegorz.[3]

On December 15,[3] the Swedish horse reached Tryszki,[Note 2] owned by the Ogiński family.[4] The Lithuanians forces had left the town just before, with most of its' inhabitants. Here Charles set up camp and left merely 40 men in the town square, as guards.[3] Just before midnight, at 23:00,[4] Grzegorz launched a surprise attack on the sleeping Swedes; between 1,000[5] and 2,000[6] of his cavalry rushed into the town uncontested and started killing Swedish horses and igniting the houses, inflicting some panic. The town square, which was in danger of getting completely overwhelmed, was saved as dismounted Swedish dragoons arrived and forced the Lithuanians away. Charles himself soon appeared with the bulk of the cavalry and rapidly counterattacked.[7] The tide of battle shifted, as more Swedish troops mobilized, and the Lithuanians were, after an hour, beaten;[8] they were chased for about five kilometers before the fighting stopped.[7] Grzegorz, who was close to being captured, lost 140 men[9] and retreated into Lithuania, towards Kowno (Kaunas).[7] The Swedes, who had 10 men killed and 18 wounded,[10] struck camp on December 17 and chased after him.[7]

Charles once again forced Grzegorz on the run at Kowno after which he left a 1,300 man strong garrison under Hummerhielm in the town, before heading back towards the main army in Courland.[7] While the complete destruction of Grzegorz' forces had failed, they were successfully forced out of Samogitia. Furthermore, an important Swedish forward operating base in Lithuania had been established, in form of Kowno.[11] As Charles reached the Swedish headquarters in Courland, on January 9, 1702, he immediately ordered the main army to prepare for a march into Lithuania and the inevitable Swedish invasion of Poland, in contrast to the advice of his generals.[Note 3]

Shortly after the battle of Tryszki and the following chase, the Swedish main army had received rumours saying Charles XII had been killed somewhere between Kowno and Wilno (Vilnius). He had supposedly been chasing Grzegorz deep into Lithuania.[12] On the contrary, other rumours spoke of a great battle between Charles and Ogiński's forces; the latter had, with 10,000 men (more than twice as many as the Swedes), been decisively defeated and forced on the run, after having lost 2,000 men killed.[13] These rumours made it into several later publications, including "The History of Poland Under Augustus II",[14] and "The History of the Wars, of His Late Majesty Charles XII, King of Sweden".[15]