In late January 1657, following the Treaty of Radnot, southern provinces of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth were invaded by the Principality of Transylvania, whose army was commanded by George II Rákóczi.

Polish King John II Casimir of the Royal Vasa Dynasty was well aware of it and decided to prevent the Transylvanians, Moldovans, Wallachians, and Cossacks from escaping Poland.

King John II Casimir called Stefan Czarniecki to come with his division to Częstochowa where Austrian cavalry mercenaries, Lithuanians of Aleksander Hilary Polubiński, and a unit of Crimean Tatars joined him.

After the meeting, Czarniecki, with an army of 10,000. followed Rakoczi, attacking his troops in a guerrilla-style war, typical of the Polish hetman.

The next day, Czarniecki's troops caught up with the enemy while crossing the marshy backwaters of the Pełtwia, driving a significant part of Rákóczi's forces into the swamps.