The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1879-10-09
casimir Pulaski.

u0 11Iu udy VI ILLS mCQGQ Will
be the one hundredth anniversary
of the death of the distinguished
soldier from whom our town has
received its name. Count Casimir
Pulaski was one of those liberty
loving sons of Poland, who, when
their own country lay hopeiessly
crushed beneath the overwhelming
power of their neighbors, have carri-
ed the banner of freedom in foreign
lands. Born in the year 1747, he
began life just as Poland was about
to enter upon that terrible series of
misfortunes which were destined to
eliminate in the complete extinc-
ton of her independence and to be
revived with every new effort to re-
gain it. Catharine H., the Empress
of Russia, so remarkable for her
talents, ambition, and vices, had by
her intrigues and arms imposed
upon his people government sub
servient TO her own grasping de-
signs. In 1768 the national party
among the Poles, under the lead of
Pulaski's father, formed a confed-
Grafton to shake off the yoke of
Russian bayonets, and Casimir, al
though little more than a mere
youth, threw himself at once into the
van of the struggle. He soon
showed himself a daring aud in
trepid leader. "Never was there a
warrior says a French historian
"who possessed greater dexteritv in
every kind of service" IuI772 the
patti lots were paralyzed by the an
nouncement that Russia, Prussia
and Austria were about to execute
the design of dismembering the
Polish state. The iniquitous scheme
was concoeted by the most enlight-
ened sovereigns of the day, Catha-
rine IL, Frederick the Great and
Maria Theresa. Resistance was
useless, and in the first partition a
vast portion of the Polish kingdom
was torn away. Success invited to
a repetition of the great political
crime, and before another genera
ton had passed away the ancient
monarchy, whose dominions had
surpassed in extent those of every
realm in Europe save Russia, had
ceased to exist. But Casimir Pu-
laski was not destined to witness
the full consummation of his coun-
try's ruin. He was leading the life
of destitute exile in France when
the events of the great conflict be-
yond the seas reused his spirit.
His father and brothers were al
ready martyrs to the cause of liber
ty. He determined to offer his
sword to the struggling Americans,
and in the summer of 1777 he land
ed on our shores, armed with recon-
mendations from Franklin to Wash,
ington. He had just been preceded
by the youthful Lafayette. Serving
at first as a volunteer in the light
cavalry, he speedily secured by his
gallantry in the unfortunate battle
of Brandywine the position of COM
mander of the cavalry With the rank
OF brigadier general. In the follow
ing year, 177S, having resigned his
command, he organized small in
corps of cavalry and
light infantry, which became known
as Pulaski's legion. After opera
ting in the Middle States, he led his
troops early in 1879 to the aid of
the beseiged city of Charleston.
Here, in the month of May, he
made an unsuccessful attack upon
the British forces. In the autumn
we find him before Savannah which
the French and Americans were
endeavoring to rescue from the en-
envy. October 9th an assault was
made upon the works, Pulaski lead
ing the cavalry. The result was
disastrous, and among the MORALLY
wounded was the gallant Pole. He
died two days later, on Oct'r l1th,
I779, and was buried in the Savan-
nah River. Savannah erected q
monument to him, and Fort Pulaski,
at the mouth of the river, was
named in his honor. His memory
is perpetuated in the name of mum
erous counties in the United States,
and In that of the beautiful capital
OF Giles county.