Casimir Pulaski

For things named to honor Kazimierz Pułaski, see: Pulaski (disambiguation).

Kazimierz Pułaski of Ślepowron (Audio file "Pulaski.ogg" not found, in the USA, often written Casimir Pulaski; March 4, 1745 - October 11, 1779) was a Polish soldier and politician. A notable member of the Polish gentry, he was the commander of the Bar Confederation against the Russian domination of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. When this failed, he moved to America, where he became one of the notable commanders of the American Revolutionary War. He died in the Battle of Savannah.

Biography

Kazimierz Michał Wacław Wiktor Pułaski herbu Ślepowron, as was his full name, was born March 4, 1746 (some sources cite March 6) in Winiary near Warka. His father, Józef Pułaski, was a starost of the town and one of its most notable inhabitants of the time. Early in his youth Kazimierz Pułaski was sent to Warsaw, where he studied at the local college of Theatines. In 1762 he started his career as a page of Charles Christian Wettin, duke of Courland and a vassal of the Polish king. However, soon after his arrival to Mitau, the ducal court was expelled from the palaces by the Russian forces occupying the area. He returned to Warsaw, where in 1764 took part in the election of the new Polish monarch, Stanisław August.

Pułaski at Częstochowa, an 1875 painting by Józef Chełmoński

A skilled military commander and a son of one of the notable families, on February 29, 1768 Pułaski became one of the co-founders of the Bar Confederation, together with his father. The confederation, aimed to curtail Russian hegemony over the Commonwealth, was actively opposed by the Russian forces stationed in Poland. A Marshal of the gentry from the land of Łomża, Pułaski became one of the best commanders of the confederate forces. Already in 1768 he was besieged in a monastery in Berdyczów, which he defended for two weeks against overwhelming odds. Taken captive by the Russians, he was forced to pledge that he will not return to the confederates and then set free. However, he did not consider a forced pledge binding and fought against the Russian forces until 1772. In 1769 he was again besieged by numerically superior forces, this time in the old fortress of Okopy Świętej Trójcy. However, after a brave defence he was able to break through the Russian siege and defect with his men to Ottoman Empire, from where they returned to Lithuania. There Pułaski incited yet another revolt against Russia, with many local nobles joining the Confederation.

Between September 10, 1770 and January 9, 1771, Pułaski also commanded the Polish forces in the siege of Jasna Góra monastery, which he successfully defended. In November of that year he was also the main organizer of an attempt to take the king hostage. However, the attempt failed and the Confederation was disbanded soon afterwards. Pułaski was made a public enemy and was sentenced to death in absentia for attempted regicide. He fled the country, but no European state accepted him. After a brief stay in Turkey, he moved illegaly to France, where he was recruited by Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette for service in America.

From 1777 to his death, Pułaski fought in the American Revolutionary War for the independence of the United States. He was a noted cavalryman and, as the "Father of the American Cavalry," created Pulaski's Legion, one of the few cavalry regiments in the American Continental Army. He took part in the Battle of Brandywine, the Siege of Charleston, South Carolina, and the siege of Savannah, Georgia.

On October 9, 1779, Pułaski — during a cavalry charge, while probing for a weak point in the British lines at the Battle of Savannah — was wounded in the groin by grapeshot. He was carried from the field by several comrades, including Colonel John C. Cooper, and taken aboard the privateer merchant brigantine Wasp. Two days later, on October 11, 1779, without having regained consciousness, he died of his wounds.

According to several contemporary witnesses, including Pułaski's aide-de-camp, he was buried at sea. A long-standing rumor, however, has it that the wounded Pułaski was actually taken to Greenwich plantation near Savannah, where he died and was buried. In 2004, an eight-year examination of remains buried at the plantation ended inconclusively.

Tributes

File:Pomnik Kazimierz Pulaski.jpg

Statue of Kazimierz Pułaski at Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC.

One of the first tributes to Pułaski was paid when George Washington on 17 November 1779 issued a challege-and-password set for identifying friend and foe when crossing military lines: "Query: Pulaski, Response: Poland." The American Civil War Fort Pulaski National Monument is named in honor of Kazimierz Pułaski. A US Navy submarine, USS Casimir Pulaski, has been named for him, as was a 19th-century Coast Guard cutter [1].

The United States has long commemmorated Pułaski's contributions to the American War of Independence, but Polish immigration in the 20th century accelerated the interest. By Presidential Proclamation, every October 11 is "General Pulaski Memorial Day," dedicated to Pułaski's memory and to the heritage of Polish-Americans. Grand Rapids, Michigan, each October celebrates "Pulaski Days." The state of Kentucky has by law, since before 1942, recognized General Pulaski's Day. The state of Illinois has since 1977 celebrated Casimir Pulaski Day on the first Monday of March, doubtless due to the large Polish population of Chicago; Pulaski Road, one of Chicago's major arteries, is named for him. Wisconsin and Indiana extend similar recognition, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, also holds an annual parade and school holiday.

Named after Pulaski are counties in several states, including Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Virginia, as well as a village in Wisconsin. A bridge on Interstate 65 over the Kankakee River in Indiana is named after him. The Pulaski Skyway in northern New Jersey and the Pulaski Bridge in New York City are dedicated to him. A section of U.S. Highway 40 from New Castle, Delaware to Baltimore, Maryland is named the Pulaski Highway. There is also Casimir Pulaski elementary schools in New Bedford, Massachusetts and Meriden, Connecticut.

In the movie, Year of the Dragon, a drug-smuggling ship crucial to the finale is called the Kazimierz Pułaski.

American singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens titled a song "Casimir Pulaski Day" on his album, Illinois, in which the singer's adolescent love succumbs to cancer on Casimir Pulaski Day.

External links

Biography

Tributes

See also

External links