COUNT CASIMIR

See also:

• COUNT CASIMIR PULASKI (1748-1779)

PULASKI (1748-1779)  , Polish soldier, was born in Podolia in 1748, and took a prominent share, under his father Count Joseph Pulaski, in the formation of the con-federation of Bar and in the military operations which followed, becoming ultimately commander-in-chief of the Polish patriot forces . Driven into exile about 1772, Pulaski went to America and joined the army of Washington in 1777 . He distinguished himself at once in the battle of Brandywine, was made a brigadier-general and chief of cavalry by Congress, and fought at Germantown, and in the battles of the winter 1777-78, after which he raised a mixed corps called the Pulaski legion . At the head of this force he won further distinction in the southern theatre of war, and successfully defended Charleston in May 1779 . He was mortally wounded soon afterwards at the unsuccessful attack on Savannah (Oct . 9) and died two days later on board ship . Congress voted a monument to his memory; and though this vote has never been carried into execution, Lafayette laid the corner-stone of a monument in Savannah in 1824, and this was completed in 1855 .