The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-03

side the Count Pulaski. Thaddeus Kos
ciusko of Poland was appointed a coll
onel OF engineers in the American
army on Oct. is, 1776, and Count Pu-
laski was appointed a brigadier gen.
eral OF the cavalry legion authorized
by Congress In IT'S. This brought him
into active fighting service in the field,
while Kosciusko, being the ranking
colonel of engineers. was engaged in
the work of perfecting defenses, and
did not make himself so conspicuous,
nor did he die from wounds received
in battle, as did Count Pulaski. But HIS
services We're valuable in creating de-
lenses where they were most needed,
and on Oct. 10, 1888, Congress resolved
that the Secretary of War transmit
to Col. Kosciusko the brevet commits
sion OF brigadier general, and signify
to that officer that Congress entertains
a high sense of his long, faithful and
meritorious services" Although his
name appears in the congressional
proceedings as Thaddeus Kosiusko, OH
the army roll it reads Thadeus Kosciuz-
ko. After his return to Poland I am
quite sure that monument was erect
ed to his memory at or near West
Point Military Academy, where he had
erected several strong Notifications.
Few old school boys have forgotten the
favorite defamation which declared
that
Freedom shrieked when Kosciusko
fell"
In the matter of Richard Peters, in
my last letter. / did not mean to re-
fleet upon the honesty of my good old
friend, w. A. Osborn. He no doubt
derived his information from the au-
photographed sketch of Col. Richard
Peters of Atlanta, published in the Con-
stitution soon after his death in 1889,
in which he says: my grandfather,
Judge Richard Peters, of Philadelphia,
is so well known in the annals of his
country that / scarce need speak of
him here. AS the contemporary of
George Washington, Secretary of War
under his administration. and judge of
the United States District Court of
Philadelphia until the time of his death,
the year 1888, his name was honored
and revered.' All that my once intl-
mate friend says of his eminent grand
| father is true, except that he was new
| er Secretary at War" under President
Washington. AS said last week, Capt
Richard Peters was chosen secretary
of the Board of War and Ordnance"
when 1t was created, and later, when
it was reorganized, he was elected a
member of the Board" by Congress,
which position he held until Gen. Lin
| coin was elected the first Secretary
at War when the Board" was abol-
ished. The salary of Capt. Peters as
| secretary of the Board" was only
$500 a year, from which / infer that
he also drew pay as a captain in the
| army, provided he needed or desired
! to be paid for his services, he being
both rich man and an unselfish pa
| triot
Gen. Washington at this time (June,
| 1870 was commander in-chief of the
Continental army and writing from
| New York a few days after the board"
| was created, said: "The instituting a
war office is certainly an event of
great Importance, and in all probable
| ity will be recorded as such in the
| historic page" The original board"
consisted of five members of Congress,
| but when recognized it was changed
to three persons mot members of Con-
gress." Several changes were made be-
fore the new board" was completed,
as some of the persons chosen declined
to act. Gen. Gates, Gen. Wilkinson
! and Capt. Peters were finally selected
at a salary of $1,000 a year. Having
been secretary of the former Board
of War;" and being a bosom friend of
Robert Morris, the financial hacker Of
the Colonial movement, Capt. Peters
was several times called upon for
special service by Congress. Once he
accompanied Morris to Washington's
headquarters to arrange matters of vi
tai Importance. Washington said his
plans to attack CORVALLIS must be