Battle of Cheyląc

The Battle of Cheyląc was an engagement between Rictuvian Insurgents under Brigadier General Andrij Kobylanski and the Verdictine Army, consisting of 2 regiments commanded by Colonel Adelreich Mullberg. It took place on January 23 and 24, 1773 on the forest near the town of Cheyląc and was the first battle to take place in the year. Kobylanski used the nearby forest of Cheyląc as cover and mounted a surprise attack on the Verdictine troops.

Background
After another in which the insurgents and the National Army won, General Henley Murray took command on January 4, 1772 to defeat the growing revolution, which spread like wildfire in the whole Rictuvia. Murray's first action was to defeat the revolution in one blow by marching to Racilia with 500,000 troops and defeat the enemy. On January 19, Colonel Adelriech Mullberg, along with other Verdictine officers, was ordered to advance to Racilia and encircle the enemy from all sides. Mullberg took the Toziądz-Racilia road. The main forces of General Murray were marching towards Racilia from Graboitz.

The large movements were reported to Colonel Marcel Drazkowski, commander of the Rictuvian forces in Cheyląc, gathered and organized an army. He was able to gather 3700 men and on January 20, marched out of Cheyląc to intercept a Verdictine army led by Mullberg. He positioned his troops in the field outside town and prepared for the enemy to come. Brigadier General Andrij Kobylanski arrived to Cheyląc on January 21 with 600 men and took command of the army.

Battle
On the morning of January 23, Colonel Mullberg's regiment marched in the Toziądz-Racilia road. Kobylanski ordered the insurgents to hide in the forests and wait for the order to attack. By 8 o'clock in the morning, the first few shots were fired in the battle, hitting the Verdictine soldiers in the marching column.

Surprised, Mullberg ordered his men to a square formation. The formation was then attacked again by musket volleys from the left and right. The volleys came from the woods, fired by the well-positioned insurgents. After nearly 2 hours of exchanging fire, the Verdictine army charged straight to the woods to fight the insurgents in close quarters.

When the fighting in the woods became bitter, the Verdictine troops had to retreat back to the road. Still fighting in close quarters, an attack in the rear defeated Mullberg, who was then killed after a short battle with Drazkowski. With the death of their commander, the regiment retreated away.

Aftermath
Rictuvian losses had 87 killed and 124 wounded. The Verdictine forces had 69 killed and 114 wounded. The Verdictine cannons, which numbered around 5, were captured by the insurgents. Kobylanski immediately left for Racilia.

The battle ended with a Rictuvian victory.