Summary of Jack Fairweather's The Volunteer

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview: #1 Witold, a second lieutenant in the cavalry reserves, was ordered to gather his men and deliver them to the barracks in the nearby town of Lida for loading onto troop transports. He had trained 90 volunteers through the summer, but most of them were peasants who had never seen action or fired a gun in anger.#2 Witold was a man of his time and social class. He disliked politics and the way politicians exploited differences, but he was a man of his time and class. He likely held a paternal view toward the local Polish and Belarusian peasants.#3 Witold mounted a horse and rode to Krupa, where he gathered supplies and ammunition. He then went to visit his parents grave near the house.#4 The Polish army was forced to march hundreds of miles to reach their positions near the small city of Piotrkow Trybunalski, guarding the main road to Warsaw. The long procession of several thousand was constantly held up by broken wagons.