Background
Casimir was born probably in 1748 at Podolia, Poland. He was the eldest son of Count Joseph Pulaski and Marianna Zielińska. He was a brother of Franciszek Ksawery Pułaski and Antoni Pułaski.
Casimir was born probably in 1748 at Podolia, Poland. He was the eldest son of Count Joseph Pulaski and Marianna Zielińska. He was a brother of Franciszek Ksawery Pułaski and Antoni Pułaski.
Early in his youth, Casimir Pulaski attended an elite college run by Theatines, a male religious order of the Catholic Church in Warsaw, but did not finish his education.
After serving in the guard of Duke Charles of Courland Casimir returned to Poland and, in 1768, joined in active rebellion with his father, who had founded the Confederation of Bar, to combat the foreign domination of Poland through Stanislaus II. His military exploits were heroic and temporarily successful, but his forces were finally crushed and scattered, his estates confiscated, and he fled to Turkey in 1772.
He spent several years trying to incite Turkey to attack Russia and, late in 1775, he arrived in Paris, penniless and without employment. It was suggested that he be sent to the aid of the American insurgents; Rulhiere, an agent of Vergennes, put him in touch with Franklin and Deane. On May 29, 1777, Franklin wrote a letter to Washington introducing Pulaski and on June 5 Deane advanced him the necessary money for the voyage.
Pulaski arrived in Boston in July, met Washington the following month, and received from him a letter to the Continental Congress. On August 27 Washington wrote John Hancock suggesting that Pulaski be placed in command of all the cavalry; two days before this Pulaski had given Hancock plans for the organization of a corps of volunteers. In September he joined Washington as a volunteer and participated in the battle of Brandywine with distinction.
During the battle of Germantown (October 4) Pulaski was in charge of a small patrol. The later charge that he was responsible for that defeat because he fell asleep in a farmhouse seems without foundation. In November and December he sent Washington two memorials concerning the increase of the cavalry and the formation of a squadron of Bosniques (light cavalry).
He commanded the cavalry during the winter of 1777 at Trenton, and later at Flemington, and acted in unison with Gen. Anthony Wayne in scouting for supplies for the famishing troops at Valley Forge. But he refused to continue to serve under Wayne and often incurred the open hostility of his own subordinates. In order to end this unhappy situation he resigned his command in March 1778. His enemy Stephen Moylan was advanced to the command which he had vacated.
Congress gave Pulaski, supported by Washington, permission to organize an independent corps of cavalry in March and Pulaski established headquarters at Baltimore. On September 17 he appeared before Congress and stated that he blushed to find himself "languishing in a state of inactivity. "
He was sent to protect American supplies at Egg Harbor, and on October 15, through information given by a deserter, the British surprised and cut up the legion. The Indian massacres in the Cherry Valley caused Pulaski to be sent to Minisink on the Delaware River, but here he was restless and wished to return to Poland. He complained to Congress (November 26) that there was "nothing but bears to fight. "
After three months he was ordered (February 2, 1779) to the support of General Lincoln in South Carolina. He arrived at Charlestown on May 8. Learning of the approach of General Provost northward from Savannah he rushed to the attack of the British advance guard and suffered a decisive defeat. He later contemplated an attack against Wappo, but this expedition was countermanded and another disaster averted.
Pulaski joined forces with General Lincoln, who, assisted by the French fleet, was preparing to attack Savannah. On August 19 he wrote Congress a long letter in which he detailed the disappointments that he had encountered in a service. On October 9, at the siege of Savannah, he bravely but impatiently charged the enemy lines at the head of his cavalry and fell with a grapeshot in the loin. He was removed to the Wasp, where surgeons were unable to remove the bullet, and he died on board, probably on October 11. Whether he was buried at sea, or beneath the oaks of St. Helena's Island, or in Greenwich, Georgia, has never been established.
Casimir Pulaski fought unsuccessfully against foreign control of his native Poland and then journeyed to America to fight in the American Revolution. He distinguished himself throughout the revolution, most notably when he saved the life of George Washington. Pulaski became a general in the Continental Army, created the Pulaski Cavalry Legion, reformed the American cavalry. His late American career was mostly tragic, for it was a chronicle of disaster and embittered disappointment. Specifically, he failed to defend Minisink on the Delaware River from further attacks by Native Americans. He also was defeated during siege of Charleston, siege of Savannah. A bust of Pulaski was added to a collection of other busts of American heroes at United States Capitol in 1867. Pulaski High School and Casimir Pulaski High School, both in Wisconsin, are named after him.
Casimir Pulaski never married and had no descendants.
