Polish Bad Ass
In a war that saw many "bad asses" serve on both sides, Kasimierz (Casimir) Pulaski ranks near the top. And if not for a stray round of grape, he might have fought his way to the top of the list. He fought for freedom on two continents and stayed undaunted throughout a career marked by professional setbacks. Although he never saw his homeland freed, he helped push a nascent republic toward hard-won freedom. Something tells me he was glad to sacrifice himself for a cause that changed the world.
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| Bad Ass on two continents |
Lineage
Kasimierz (Casimir) Pulaski was born in Podolia, Poland, on March 4, 1747, to Count Josef Pulaski, a member of the minor Polish gentry. He came from a family with knightly traditions—primarily in warfare. Pulaski’s family fought under Poland’s King John III Sobieski against the Turks in the 17th century—a campaign that helped save Europe. During the siege of Vienna in September 1683, the decisive battle of the campaign, the famous Polish winged hussars, heavily armored lancers, charged into the enemy and forced a retreat, marking the start of the long decline of the Ottoman Empire. Pulaski’s lineage can be traced back to these brave horsemen.
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| Charge of Winged Hussars at Vienna |
Fighting For Poland
And Poland needed men of fighting spirit. By the time Kasimierz was born, the once-powerful Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth faced intense political pressure from its increasingly strong neighbors. Austria, Prussia, and Russia had managed to manipulate the weak King Stanislaw II. Pulaski was well educated, and in 1768, he joined the Confederation of the Bars, formed by his father to oppose the Russians. He fought in several successful actions, including the famous defense of the monastery fortress of Czestochowa in 1771, but he was eventually defeated and exiled to Turkey. As a result, Poland underwent its first partition (of three). Pulaski spent his years in Turkey trying to rally support against their common threat, the Russians. When this effort failed, he sailed for France, now penniless and broken. But then he learned of the American Revolution!
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| Pulaski led forces of the Bar Confederation at Czestochowa in 1771 |
Fighting for Freedom
If he could not free Poland, he would dedicate his sword to a new cause for freedom. Pulaski approached American agents in France, Silas Deane and Benjamin Franklin, seeking a commission in the Continental Army. Franklin provided him with a letter of introduction, and the excited nobleman sailed for Boston in July 1777. After consulting with members of the Continental Congress, the young Pole volunteered his services to General George Washington as an aide. He served alongside Washington at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777. Although this resulted in a defeat for the Americans, quick and decisive actions by Pulaski may have saved the Continental Army from total destruction. He fought at Germantown, covering Washington's retreat, patrolled the area around Valley Forge during the winter, moved to Trenton, and then, under Gen. Anthony Wayne, fought the British at Haddonfield, New Jersey.
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| Pulaski was one of many foreign officers who served the cause of freedom |
Failure to Communicate
Nobody doubted Pulaski’s heroism under fire or his dedication to the Cause, but he was quarrelsome, headstrong, and overly sensitive about rank—like many Americans. His hot temper caused problems that were made worse by his limited English skills; he often spoke in French to communicate. His constant arguing and fussing reached a peak when he had a falling-out in spring 1778 with General Anthony Wayne, who was also quick to anger. Pulaski even threatened to resign over it. Washington convinced him to stay with the army and asked Congress for a separate command. This request was granted, and on March 28, 1778, Congress authorized Kazimierz Pulaski to form a unit that would soon be called the Pulaski Legion.
I am Legion
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| The Legion's Banner |
A legion is an old term for a combined arms force. During the Revolutionary War, this typically meant infantry and cavalry – but occasionally, a few light cannons were also included. The Pulaski Legion was recruited near Baltimore and consisted of Americans, Germans, Frenchmen, Irishmen, and Poles. It flew a red banner. Pulaski’s unit originally had 200 infantry and 68 cavalry armed with, believe it or not… lances. Polish cavalry was famous for its lancer units, which often charged to victory over Cossacks, Russians, Turks, and Germans. No wonder the brave Pole made his own version.
The Legion saw immediate action along the New Jersey coast, where it tasted its first blood at Egg Harbor on October 4, 1778. Unfortunately, it did not earn glory. The renowned British Major Patrick Ferguson led his own legion and surprised Pulaski’s force in camp, resulting in heavy casualties. It turned out that one of Pulaski’s men deserted and provided the British with intelligence about the unit positions.
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| Major Patrick Ferguson |
Washington sent Pulaski’s unit to a quiet area to recover. The Legion garrisoned the upper Delaware to defend against Indian raids. Pulaski’s pride was wounded, and he became angry over the assignment. His stern nature caused another issue. Pulaski court-martialed his subordinate, Major Stephen Moylan, over a perceived insult. He also threatened to resign once again. With the patience of Job, General Washington stepped in once more. He reassigned the quarrelsome Pole and his Legion to the Southern theater.
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| Cavalry and Infantry of the Legion |
Since the center of gravity had shifted south, this move not only took Pulaski out from under Washington’s direct oversight, but it also guaranteed him a tough fight to match his combative nature.
For the South
So in the spring of 1779, Pulaski and his Legion joined American forces defending Charleston, South Carolina. He arrived just in time for a whirlwind! The British strategy had shifted southward, hoping that an overwhelming show of force would break the will of the patriots in the region. In late 1778, they had taken Savannah, Georgia, and now they aimed to move north toward the Carolinas.
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| The British Strategy turned South to separate the Carolinas and Georgia from the rebellion |
The British under General Augustin Prevost threatened the southern capital and prepared for a siege. In a daring move, Pulaski attacked the British on May 11, 1779. Outnumbered, the Legion was defeated and pushed back. When he returned to the city, he learned that morale was low and patriot resolve was waning. The steadfast Pulaski urged the inhabitants not to surrender so easily. They held out long enough for the American southern commander, General Benjamin Lincoln, to arrive with reinforcements. Pulaski often suffered from bouts of malaria contracted in the hot, swampy coastal lowlands of the south. But the stubborn and proud officer refused to leave active service.
At the start of September, General Lincoln prepared to launch a mission to retake Savannah with long-awaited French support. Cavalry would be involved, and Pulaski was sent to Augusta, Georgia, to join General Lachlan McIntosh. Lachlan and Pulaski’s forces protected the advance of Lincoln’s attack. Pulaski captured a British outpost near the Ogeechee River. His Legion then served as an advance guard for the allied French units under Admiral Charles Hector, Comte d'Estaing.
But d’Estaing faced a tight deadline. Relying on his naval support and with hurricane season quickly approaching, he chose to risk everything on a surprise attack on October 9, 1779. Pulaski was appointed commander of the entire combined Franco-American cavalry force. Impulsive as ever, Pulaski launched a full-scale cavalry charge against heavily fortified British defenses. However, Pulaski was hit by a grape shot, and the attack was thoroughly repelled.
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| Pulaski was mortally wounded by grapeshot |
Mortally wounded, Pulaski was transferred to a transport ship, the Wasp, in hopes of reaching Charleston. However, the brave Pulaski died two days later—February 11, 1779. He was buried at sea. And his Legion? His men were reassigned to Colonel Charles Armand’s legion for the rest of the war.
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| Pulaski monument in his native Poland |
Legacy
Despite his haughty and quarrelsome nature, Casimir Pulaski is remembered in many ways. Naturally, in Poland, he is recognized as a man who fought for freedom on two continents and bears the title "Soldier of Liberty." In America, his service and sacrifices are honored through the many streets, bridges, counties, and towns that bear his name.
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| Monument to Pulaski in Washington, DC |
Pulaski gave his last full measure outside Savannah, Georgia, where a large monument honors his sacrifice fighting for the city during the American Revolution. In 1833, the new fort being built on Cockspur Island outside Savannah was named Fort Pulaski in honor of Casimir Pulaski.
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| Fort Pulaski |
Primarily, he is the man who gave the American colonists their first real mounted legion. The U.S. cavalry later adopted its guidons in red and white, the national colors of Poland, to honor the bravest cavalryman of the War for Independence, cementing his legacy as "The Father of the American Cavalry."
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