Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-19
Where was PuIaski Buried?


Where was Pulaski Buried?
The story OF the death OF Sergt. Jasper
in the assault on Savannah by the French
and American armies on Oct. ., 1873, is
familiar to every school boy, but whether
he died soon after receiving the fatal
wound, and was buried in front Of the
intrenchments, or was taken OF by the
Americans on their retreat into South
Carolina and inferred on the roadside, is
question which cannot now
be decided. This uncertainty
also surrounds the burial place of Gen.
Nathaniel Greene, whose monument
stands unlettered in johnson square in
this city, and of Count Cashier Pulaski.
another hero Of the revolution, whose
memorial shaft towers skyward in Mon
terey square. Gen. Greene died several
years after the close of the war at his
plantation, few miles above this city.
and was inferred with military honors in
the Old Cemetery. An attempt was
made to identify his remains some twenty
years afterwards, but without success.
The remains had been placed in one of the
vaults near the western gate of the Gene
terry, but on investigation it appeared that
notorious negro thief had entered the
vault and stolen the silver plates from the
collins, and it was impossible to determine
which of them contained Gen. Greene's
remains.
There was great controversy respect
ing Count Pulaski's burial place. The
best supported story is that after
he was wounded he was taken on board a
vessel bound to Charleston, and that he
died on the passage and was buried at
sea. His companions made this state
ment on their arrival at Charleston, and
funeral honors were paid to the memory
of the brave soldier. There was a tradi-
ton, however, that Pulaski was taken to
Greenwich (now known as the Schutzen-
platz J, where he expired shortly after
wards and was buried near
palmetto tree. In spite of the
almost indubtable evidence of his burial
at sea, many persons believed the latter
story. The place whore his remains were
said to have been inferred were exca-
waited, and human remains were dis
covered. An examination Of the skull
showed that it conformed to that OF
Pulaski, having the peculiar formation
Of the skulls OF the race TO which he be-
longed. These remains were placed in
box and now lie inferred beneath his
monument. One of the strange features
OF this story is the old negroes on the
Greenwich place always insisted that Pu-
laski was buried beneath the palmetto
tree. The older negroes had told them of
the midnight interment of the officer who
was wounded in the battle of Savannah.
They told of the strange scenes which
in after years were enacted around the
tree at midnight. At that hour the blast
of the bugle Of cavalry would
be heard, and there would come CHASTITY
horsemen on ghastly steeds, the clauking
Of their sahres awakening every one
about the settlement. These spectre sol
diers would march around the grave of
their dead leader in solemn silence. and
then disappear. twas Pulaski's Polish
Legion keeping guard over his grave.
The old negroes always believed this
story, and said that after the remains
were removed the weird horsemen ceased
their nightly visits. Maybe they now
keep their yigils in Monterey square.
sittlg, an extremely independent Re.
publican member Of the Illinois Lcgis.
lature, does not take much stock in Gen.
Logan. just as the Republicans Thought
they would take advantage OF the death
ola Democratic member and elect Logan,
situg announced teat he would extend
the courtesy or "pa4r' to the deceased
Democrat. The Democrats in the Lcgis- /
lature rendered BIN a vote OF thanks. |
while the Republicans CRASHED thcirteeth f.
in their rage. The two Republican menu /.
bers who sat next him Immediately had F.
their desks removed, and now sittg en- /