The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-03-05
Polish Heros Birthday
Recalls War Exploits
Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Polish, Won
Undying Fame in the American
Revolution

One of the most picturesque
and spectacular figures of the Rev
dictionary War was the Polish
hero, Thaddeus Kosciuszko, who
served in the American Army und-
er General George Washington. The
185th anniversary of the birth of
Kosciuszko will occur on February
IL, fact to which attention is call
ed in statement from the Divis.
ion of Information and Publication
of the George Washington BIZ
centennial Commission.
When the Revolution began there
were a number of foreign officers
who wished to enlist in the Amer
lean Army, if they could secure the
rank to which they felt themselves
entitled. A number of these men
were accepted on their merits and
upon recommendation of Benja-
min Franklin and other prominent
Americans abroad. In 1776 many
applied but they could not all be
accepted because Washington did
not want to officer his army with
too many foreigners and because,
in some cases, they were unable to
speak English.
AT this juno lure Kosciuszko ap-
peared on the scene with a letter of
recommendation from Franklin.
When he presented this to Wash
ington, the General asked him what
he wanted. Kosciuszko replied that
he had come to fight as volun-
teer for American independence.
What can you do?" asked Wash
ington. "Try me and see," replied
the youthful Pole.
Commissioned a colonel of en-
gineers on October 10, 1776, Kos
ciuszko was assigned to the army
under command of General Gates.
Here his rem arkable ability as an
engineer was soon in evidence, and
he was charged with the response
bility of fortifying Bemis Heights
near Saratoga. So well was this
work done that General Burgoyne
was unable to dislodge the Ameri-
cans from this place after two we'll
fought actions. Subsequently, Kos
ciuszko was, the, principal engineer
in executing the work at West
Point. Later in the war, he be-
came one Of Washington's adju-
tants and was with General Nath-
anel Greene during many of his
southern operations
In October, 1888, Congress award
ed Kosciuszko with the brevet of
brigadier-general and he was voted
the thanks of that body. This ac-
ton was taken upon the sugges-
ton of Washington whose inter-
cession with Congress in the mat
ter was one of his last official acts
as Commander-in-Chief. The gal
liant Pole was also made a member
of the Society of the Cincinnati.
After the Revolution, Kosciuszko
returned to his native country
where he lived in retirement
for a few years before being
appointed major-general in the Po-
lish army which moved against the
Russians. He was enlisted in a
forlorn hope, however, and after
gallant resistance for a few years
AN '" 90 uOACdCCu anu iIIlpTlSOnGQ DIV
the Russian Empress. Later he
was released and in 1897 returned
to the United States for a short
visit. While in this country he
was received with every mark of
esteem and was given a grant of
land by Congress. However, he
soon returned to France where he
lived until he moved to Switzerland
in 1916. A year later he was killed
in fall from his horse.
A gallant soldier of marked abil-
ity, Kosciuszko was one of the
outstanding foreign officers to serve
in the American army during the
Revolution. Admired and esteemed
by Washington, he enjoyed the
friendship of the great General un.
til the latter's death. His services
in the war were such that Ameri-
ca is still indebted to him, and his
name is remembered with honor
and respect.
l.