In1812,NapoleoninvadedRussia.TheFrenchandRussiantroopswereinbattleformationfacingeachotherwhensomeoftheirofficersfraternised.AFrenchofficergivesthefollowingaccount.
"WhenaRussianofficer,Polishbybirth＊,heardthataregimentofPolishlancersstoodinthesecondlinebehindus,hehappilyrodeovertothisregimentasfastashishorsecouldcarryhimtoseeandchatwithhisfellowcountrymen.GeneralBruyere,whowassomedistanceaway,noticedthisandsentanaide-de-camptouswithordersfortheRussianofficertobearrested.Buttheaiderodesoslowly,nodoubtonpurpose,thatthePolewaswarnedbyanotherofficerandhurriedaway."
一八一二年，拿破崙侵俄，俄法軍隊列陣對圓，兩軍一些軍官卻交起好來。一名法國軍官記述了以下一件事。
「俄國一名軍官是波蘭人，聽到排列在我們後面的戰陣之中，第二排是一團波蘭長矛騎兵，就高高興興，催馬飛快走去跟那團鄉親見面閒聊。布呂耶爾將軍在遠處看見，叫隨從武官走過來傳令，要俘虜那俄國軍官。那武官騎着馬，慢慢走來，無疑是有意拖延。那波蘭人獲另一軍官示警，連忙策馬離去。」
＊十八世紀末，波蘭被俄國、普魯士和奧地利瓜分，國已不國，國民只能為外國效力。