Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-07

The former bore this inscription
"This corner stone CT monument 10
the memory of Maj. Gen. Ma
thanael Greene was laid by Gen.
Lafayette, ut the request OF the cltlzens
! Of Savannah, on the 2lst day OF March,
/ A. D., 1925" The latter was inscribed
as follows son the 2lst day Of March,
+ A. D., 1925, was laid by Gen. Lafayette, I
the request Of the citizens Of Savannah,
this foundation stone OF a monument to
the memory OF Brigadier Count Pulaski"
The effort 10 collect funds for the
erection OF mOrtuary shafts IS often
accompanied by perplexing delays and
dlsnppOlutments To facilitate the matter
in the present instance, the General
Assembly OF Georgia, on Nov. 80, 1896,
passed an act empowering certain
commissioners TO raise by lottery the
sum Of S35, 600 ''for the pur-
pose Of aiding the erection
OF monuments 10 the memory OF Gen,
Greene and OF Count Pulaski In the
city Of Savannah-the place already con-
secrated by the blood Of the one and the
ashes OF the other"
About twelve years after the laying OF
the corner stones by Gen. Lafayette, sGI-
ficient moneys having been realized to de-
fray the cost of its construction, the mon
ument now standing in johnson square
was builded in honor Of both Gen. Greene
and Of Count Pulaski, and continued 10
be known as the Greene and Pulaski
monument until, in 1888 the corner stone
was laid In Monterey square Of monu-
ment in honor OF Count Pulaski. From
that time to the present day the simple
STRUCTURE IN JOHNSON SQUARE
has remained consecrate to the memory
of Gen. Greene alone.
The corner stone laid by General La
fayette in 1928, in Chippewa square. OF
the monument intended 10 commemorate
on that spot the virtues and the devotion
Of the gallant Pole, was removed and
united to the Greene corner stone in
johnson square when the present shaft
was there constructed in joint memory of
Greene and Pulaski. In 1863, however,
this Pulaski corner stone was de-
tached from the Greene and Pulaski mon
ument in johnson square, and was placed,
with imposing ceremonies, in association
with another corner stone beneath the
beautiful mortuary structure which
now, in Monterey square, by its pres
ence embodies the gratitude Of sue
ceedIng generations and enkindles gem
erOus emulation OF that disinterested de-
votion TO, and love Of, freedom and right
which glowed in the breast and marked
the career OF Pulaski.
1t has been suggested that the search
for the remains of Gen. Greene, instituted
by the committee appointed for that pur
pose, was not thorough. Judge Johnson,
when writing in 1920, intimated that a
more careful inquiry might have accom-
plished more satisfactory results, and
limited that the coffin might have been re-
moved from the Grahame vault to that of
the Jones family.
There is another explanation OF the
DISAPPEARANCE OF THE REMAINS
Of Gen. Greene. 1t rests upon ira
dition and is not devoid of prob
ability. The Grahames, who adhered TO
the cause OF their King. and who departed
from Georgia wnen the British troops
were Withdrawn, were necessarily in
censed at the loss OF their estates, and the
cOnfiscatiOn OF their property by the sue
cessful RevOlutiOnists. Their personal
mistOrtunes intensified the hatred which,
as loyal subjects, they entertained to-
wards those who had been instrumental
in comprising the overthrow Of kingly
rule in Georgia. The thought that rebel
Major General should lie entombed in
their vault was revolving and narrowing
that some member of that fam
lily caused secret removal
of the remains of Gen. Greene from that
vault, and their reinterment in an I'M
marked grave. After the lapse of so
many years it is entirely probable that
their present resting place will never be
discovered.
COUNT PULASKI.
While the assault, launched by the
combined armies of Count d. Estaing and
Gen. Lincoln against the British lines
around savannah on the morning Of Oct.
Q, 1879, was raging, Count Pulaski, with
the approval of the American commRn-
der, attempted, at the head of some 200
oavalrymen, TO force passage between
the enemy's works. His purpose
WAS 10 penetrate within the town,
pass in rear of the hostile lines. and carry
confusion and havoc into the English
camp. In the execution of this design he
advanced at full speed until arrested 10y
the abattis. Here his command encount-
cred heavy oross-fire from the batteries,
which threw 1t into confusion. The
Count himself was endorsed by a canister
shot, which, penetrating his right thigh,
inflicted a mortal wound. He was borne
from the bloody field, aud, after the con-
fiict was over. was conveyed on board the
United States brig Wasp to 90 round TO
CharlestOwn. He was 30 terribly wound,
ed that he could not withdraw with the
American forces under Lincoln. Delayed
by head winds, the ship remained several
DAYS IN ChNduDdu river during THIS biint
he was attended by skillml surgeons
from the French fleet. IL was found i'm
possible 10 establish suppuratiOn, and
gaugrene supervened. AS the Wasp wac
leaving the river on her way 20 Charles
town, Pulaski
BREATHED HIS LAST.
His corpse became 80 offensive that Col
BentalOu, his officer in attendance, "was
compelled, though reluctantly, TO cOnsigr
10 watery grave all that was now left
upon earth OF his beloved aud hOnoreC
commander"
such, In a word, Is statement of the
death and burial OF this dashing officer
who. unable to win the independence o
his own country, lost his life IN the brave
effort TO achieve the liberties of the Anne,
rican colonies.
We have already alluded TO the early Of
forts made In savannah 20 DO honor 70 his
memory. They eliminated first in the
erection OF the joint monument to Gen
Greene and himself Ia Johnson square
subsequently,, the cornerstone OF the new
monument in Monterey square was laid
and, in December OF the following year
the admirable memorial structure, de
signed and executed by Launitz. wa.
completed. Early IN January, lS65, II
was committed TO the keeping OF "a,
Mayor aud Aldermen Of Savannah as
part Of the public property Of the city.
Beneath this monument were de
posted human remnius-pN humoU al