Inspired by the story of my ancestors roots in this war of the Three L's... Liberation, Loyalty and Liberty. And the long standing betrayal felt by Poles after events...
My own ancestors fought in this war as mentioned. On my fathers side, my ancestors served in the Line-Infatry of the Wars with Prussia. On my mothers side, who stems from Lithuanian Nobility, my ancestors served in the Cavalry under Jan Henryk Dąbrowski as a volunteer.
Poles fought as some of the bravest if not the bravest of Napoleons men. The difference between the conscripts of Napoleons main bulk line infatry, or the 'New age' Aristocracy or the other minorities, Poles that fought for Napoleon were the Intelligista, The Patriotic Aristocrates, and the Freemen who wanted to see their nation restored on the map. They fought with Fevour, Zeal and Honour on the front lines, usually used in the most desperate situations and winning time and again.
Battle of Somosierra, November 30, 1808 - Famed Polish cavalry charge that saw the French being able to capture Somosierra and the soon after capitulation of Spain.
According to many memoirs of the veterans of the battle, Kozietulski led his men for a charge with the official cry Vive l'Empereur. However, a popular legend has it that the true battle cry was in Polish Naprzód psiekrwie, Cesarz patrzy - Forward, you sons of dogs, the Emperor is watching
Battle of Raszyn, April 19, 1809 - Out numbered 2:1 by the Austrians, The Polish forces beat back the Austrians. The Austrian army under the Archduke Ferdinand Karl Joseph of Austria-Este invaded the Duchy of Warsaw in April, 1809. Polish troops under Prince Józef Antoni Poniatowski withstood the Austrian attack on Warsaw defeating them at Radzymin and reconquered parts of former Poland including Kraków and Lwów by beating the Austrians at near the villages of Góra and Grochów.
General Józef Antoni Poniatowski was presented grand-aigle de la Légion d'Honneur, a saber of honour and a lancer's shako for this victory.
Battle of Albuera, 16 May, 1811 - A Famed Polish cavalry charge lead to 80% casualties to the British brigade, under cover of pouring rain.
Battle of Horodnia, October 25, 1812 - Jan Kozietulski, famed commander of Somosierra, saved Napoleons life by charging incoming Cossacks. His uniform, pierced with a lance and stained with blood, is preserved to this day in the Museum of the Polish Army in Warsaw.
Battle of Leipzig, October 16, 1813 - Józef Poniatowski made a Marshal of France and entrusted with the dangerous duty of covering the French Army's retreat. He heroically defended Leipzig, losing half his corps in the attempt, finally falling back slowly upon a bridge over the Weisse Elster River, near Leipzig. In the general confusion, the French blew up the bridge before he could reach it. Contesting every step with the overwhelming forces of his pursuers, Prince Józef refused to surrender, and covered with wounds plunged into the river. There he died, probably shot by French troops' friendly fire from the opposite bank of the Elster River.
Duchy of Warsaw's Forces:
The standing army was of a considerable size when compared to the duchy's number of inhabitants. Initially consisting of 45,000 of regular soldiers (made up of both cavalry and infantry), its numbers were to rise to over 100,000 in 1810, and by the time of Napoleon's campaign in Russia in 1812, its army totaled almost 200,000 troops (out of a total population of some 4.3 million people).
Regiment de Chevau-Légers de la Garde Impériale Polonais - Famed as some of the best cavlry under Napoleons control. Unlike the Fear inspiring French heavy horsemen who used cold steel, the Polish used the lance, which was devastating to the Coalition troops.
Red Lancers was their other name. The cavalry of the Guard was involved in combat numerous times, and with few exceptions proved its worth in action. Perhaps the most famous episode in the history of the Guard cavalry was the charge of the Polish Lancers at the Battle of Waterloo, where, alongside line cuirassiers, they routed the Scots Greys and the Union Brigade.
Lancers (Lanciers) : Some of the most feared cavalry in Napoleon's armies were the Polish lancers of the Vistula Uhlans. Nicknamed Hell's Picadors or Los Diablos Polacos (The Polish Devils) by the Spanish, these medium and light horse (Chevau-Légčre Lanciers) cavalry had speed nearly equal to the Hussars, shock power almost as great as the Cuirassiers and were nearly as versatile as the Dragoons. They were armed with, as their name indicates, lances along with sabres and pistols. Lancers were the best cavalry for charging against infantry in square, where their lances could outreach the infantry's bayonets, (as happened to Colborne's British brigade at Albuera in 1811) and also in hunting down a routed enemy. They could be deadly against other types of cavalry as well, most famously demonstrated by the fate of Sir William Ponsonby and his Scots Greys at Waterloo. Excluding those of the guard, there were 9 lancer regiments. After the wars, the British were impressed enough to create their own lancer regiments.
NOTE: Before the Napoleon wars, the British saw the Lance as a Barbarians weapon.
Famed Polish Soldiers and Commanders:
Józef Antoni Poniatowski - Polish leader, general, minister of war and army chief, who became a Marshal of France.
Jan Henryk Dąbrowski - Polish general and national hero. He was a member of the noble/szlachta family Dąbrowski, who bore their own Coat-of-Arms/Herb: własnego Dąbrowski ("własnego" means "personal").
Jan Leon Hipolit Kozietulski - Polish noble, military commander and an officer of the armed forces of the Duchy of Warsaw during the Napoleonic Wars. He is best remembered as a heroic commander of the Polish cavalry charge during the battle of Somosierra.
When Napoleon was exiled, Loyal Poles followed him, longing to serve their Emperor... as their oath was not fufilled of restoring their homeland.
Poles should never forget the blood that was spilt with their French brothers and the French should know that the Poles will always remain a loyal Allie to the French Republic and it's People. Our history is filled with stories of French and Poles dying with one another as equals.
Success is commemorated; Failure merely remembered.
Victory needs no explanation, defeat allows none. 
