Following the start of the January Uprising in January 1863 in Poland by the insurgent forces against the Russian Empire, the government of the Ottoman Empire, allowed Polish expatriates to form revolutionary forces on their territory that would aid the rebellion in Poland.

The unit marched through Ottoman territory towards the border of the Romanian United Principalities, with the plan of crossing its territory, to reach the Bessarabia Governorate, Russian Empire, and then move to the Podolian Governorate, where they hoped to reactivate fighting in the region of modern Ukraine.

[1][2][3] After the Polish insurrectionaries crossed the border, Alexandru Ioan Cuza, the ruler of the Romanian United Principalities, sent forces to stop them from marching through his country.

These forces (a regiment from Ismail, with reinforcements from Galați and Reni[4]) consisted of 7 companies of infantry, counting 1,260 soldiers, with additional aid of 60 cavalrymen, all commanded by colonel Athanasie Călinescu.

At the same time, the Romanian cavalry charged at Polish forces, however, they were destroyed before their reached their target.