My Fanciful Accounts

Casimir Pulaski was recruited by Ben Franklin in Paris to be a military leader in the Revolutionary War in America. In Poland Pulaski had fought against three invading powers- Russia, Austria, and Prussia. In Revolutionary documents, there were multiple referrals to the American fear of the Russian expeditionary corps. It was because Pulaski had won all of his laurels fighting the Russians that the Americans were so eager to have them working for them. As Pulaski made his way to his first meeting with George Washington, he created a plan and his future job description. While traveling to his destination, Pulaski saw a countryside full of dispirited men who wondered how much longer they could withstand their defeats. Based on what he saw, he determined that what was needed was a mounted corps of volunteers to act as Washington's eyes on his marches and to protect Washington's retreats. Washington agreed and wrote to John Hancock suggesting Pulaski be put in charge of all the cavalry.
Before he could even be commissioned by Congress, Pulaski found himself in charge of collecting stragglers and horseman from the Battle of Brandywine and using his judgement to cover Washington's retreat. Pulaski was up to the task. Using a series of swift hit-and-run ambushes and an unexpected charge, Pulaski and his stragglers were able to halt the flanking British columns enabling the main body of the American army to escape.
Less than a month later Pulaski was awarded his commission as Brigadier General in command of all American cavalry, about 300 men. Until the end of 1777 much to Pulaski's chagrin, he seldom had more than a quarter of his men with him. It wasn't until late 1777 when the horses needed to be taken somewhere to forage that the 300 came together in Trenton. There Pulaski and his calvary spent the winter drilling and reorganizing. During this time Pulaski supposedly helped fund this endeavor with $16,000 of his own money.
Pulaski's men were said to have "adhered to him as a brother,' but alas, the same cannot be said of his subordinate American officers. Take orders from a foreigner! Not! Pulaski's successes only fueled the prejudices, ultimately demoralizing his men, making his command ineffective, and causing him to submit his letter of resignation. Pulaski asked Washington and was allowed to form, train, and equip a corps of foreign troopers.  On April 13, 1778 recruiting began in Baltimore for the Pulaski Cavalry Legion. There was no shortage of recruits as men were so eager to serve under him that they were leaving the regular Maryland service to join. One general protested resulting in Washington ordering Pulaski to send those men back.
Pulaski lost his life to gangrene that set in from a bullet wound to the thigh that he received while fighting in Savannah. He died aboard the American brig Wasp. He is thought to have been buried at sea. Pulaski died as he lived- a hero.

Fort Pulaski National Park, Georgia

In 2009 Barack Obama signed a joint resolution conferring honorary US citizenship on Pulaski. In Illinois we celebrate Casimir Pulaski Day the first Monday of March- tomorrow. As I celebrate this honored man, I will also be celebrating my ethnicity and the millions of other Polish Americans- famous and ordinary- that have left their imprints on every aspect of American life.