Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-21
PuIaaki in the ReyoIution

To the Editors of the Ness York Euenfno Post:
The centennial commemorafion at York
town VIII bring the historic names and SER
vices OF the heroes of the Revolutionary
war ViVidly before US, and the American
people will honor themselves In honOring
them. The services of the French and Ger
mans In our struggle for Independence will
be appropriately referred to, and due praise
and honor accorded to them as 1t most de-
servedlY should be. But are there not 9TH
ers-some who fell in the conflict, who laid
down their lives on the battlefield. and
were not permitted to share in the triumph
ant consummation at Yorktown--whose
names appear at this time to have been
overshadowed and forgotten, and respecting
whom honorable mention should at least be
made, to chow that as a nation we are
neither forgetful nor ungrateful? OF such
is the distinguished Polish General Pulaski.
In the darkest hour of the Revolution, DIR.
Franklin, our Ambassador in Paris, commu-
nicated the welcome intelligence to Wash
ington, June l3, 1872, that Count Pulaski,
who vas esteemed one of the greatest
officers in Europe and had been a General
OF the Confederstes in Poland, had offered
his services to the American cause and had
gone to join us. On the Counts arrival In
this country he Joined the American army
as volunteer. General Washington i'm
mediately assigned him to duty on his staf
with the Marquis de Lafayette and other
distinguished foreign officers. Very soon
after this the battle Of Brandywine took
place, and General Washington, during the
engagement, put General Pulaski in COM
msnd Of the horse forces with some other
troops, and he rendered such great. and
signal services that General Washington at
once reported the same and recommended
General Pulaski to Congress.
Our army up to this time had been de-
tcient In cavalry, and General Pulaski,
having had experience IN this important
arm OF the military service, was much
needed to organize such a force, and Con-
gress resolved that a commander of the
horse be appointed, and General Pulaski
was Immediately elected to the command.
He at once organized an effective cavalry,
which rendered valuable service in protect
ing Washington's army in their march
through Germantown, Philadelphia, and
crossing the Schuylkill river until General
Washington with his army went into winter
quarters at Valley Forge.
General Pulaski was then sent with his
command to operate in New Jersey and
along the Delaware river with his head
quarters at Trenton. Such had been the
value of his services that on the 28th of
March, 177S, Congress resolved that General
Pulaski be authorized to raise an independ-
ent corps of horse and foot equipped as
known thencefOrth, and designated in the
army as "Pulaski's Legion" The theatre
of war having then changed to the South,
Congress passed a resolution, February 9,
1779, that Count Pulaski be ordered to
march with his legion to South Carolina.
By rapid march he appeared before
Charleston just in time to save It
from falling into the hands of the
enemy. The British General Pro-
vost had demanded the surrender of the
place, and the Governor and Council of
South Carolina had agreed upon terms Of
capitulstion OF the town, its defencee.
munitions OF war and soldiers, and the sur
render was about being made when General
Pulaski, as an officer of the Continental
army. protested against it, and Immediately
attacked the British forces, compelled their
retreat and saved the town. Such dauntless
bravery was displayed 10 the victory secured
By General Pulaski and his legion against
an enemy superior in numbers, and that
too within two hours after long and weari-
some march, that the historic records show
that the heroic action had a 'great
tendency to infuse no inconsiderable mill
tary sentiment aud courage into the hearts
Of the people then quite Respondent"
General Pulaski then pushed on to Geor-
gis, crossed the Savannah river, and secured
the country from the enemy, communicated
with Count ID D'Estaing, who had arrived off
the coast with French troops, and effected
their landing. He then planned an attack
upon Savannah, and on the i9 Of October,
1879, it was made. Count D'Estaing was to
lead the French troops; when, instead of
svoiding a swampy piece of ground, he un-
dertook to advance through it, the enemy
met him with a murderous fire, In which
the Count was badly wounded. General
Pulaski, learning of this, and having prop
erlY disposed of his own troops, rushed to
the scene of disaster, and, presenting him
self before the French troops, he effeetually
rallied and inspired them on to the contest,
but soon after received a swivel shot
from the enemy In the upper part of his
right thigh. He had been twice wounded
the day before, and had two horses shot
under him. He was now entirely disabled.
and was borne from the field and conveyed
aboard the United States brig Wasp, then
lying in Savannah river, where, after linger-
ing and painful sufferings of two days, GEN
eral Pulaski expired. His remains were
compelled to be buried at sea. The brig
soon after arrived at Charleston and COM
municated the sad ttiings OF his death to
the Inhabitants. Unusual sorrow pervade6
the town, and an Impressive solemnity pre-
vailed among the people. Due hoDors were
paid by the Governor, Council and the
whole population as well as the army to the
memory of General Pulaski, Of whom an
uublmcly uodbu udU buuu6uiy DereIb them.
and, above all, one who had so lately pre-
served their town from the conquest and
pillage of the enemy.
General Lincoln having communicated to
Congress the death Of General Pulaski, that
body passed resolutions expressive of their
deep sense Of his loss and ordered monu-
ment to be erected TO his memory, and a
committee was appointed for that purpose.
But no monument has eyer been erected by
Congress or dollar expended to honor his
memory by the Government of the United
States. Some time since 8 monument was
erected at Savannah, Ca, through the mu-
nifcence and private subscriptions of indi-
viduals, but nothing whatever has been
done by Congress. Can we as a nation af-
ford to let the matter rest there Surely
services so brilliant and effective in dis
lodging the enem7's forces in the South,
and forcing them on TO the North, where
they were finally compelled to surrender at
Yorktown, should at this time be remem-
bered, and have suitable recognition and
honor paid to them. Its.
Ne1O York, October IA 1881.