Casimir Pulaski – The Father of American Cavalry

With the 250th birthday of the republic approaching this summer, I wish to honor the memory and contribution of Kazimierz Michał Władysław Wiktor Pułaski, "The Father of American Cavalry"to the establishment of the United States.

Recruited by Benjamin Franklin and Marquis de Lafayette in Marseille, France 1777, Pulaski, left Poland during the calamitous period of Commonwealth’s first partition, acclaimed"for his bravery and conduct in defence of the liberties of his country against the three great invading powers of Russia, Austria and Prussia".

Under the command of George Washington himself in 1777, he led a cavalry charge that defeated a group of retreating British who were regrouping for an assault on Washington himself, saving his life. He wrote to Washington, "I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it."

He was commissioned as an officer and organized several cavalry regiments under his command. He was with Washington during the infamous hardship of Valley Forge, urging the continental army to continue the fight through winter. He made the rank of brigadier general and established Pulaski’s legion in Baltimore in 1778.

He served in many battles and ultimately perished in battle during the siege of Savannah 1779. The picture of his monument is shown above. Casimir Pulaski day is celebrated in the United States on March 6 and is observed in Polish American communities, particularly in the Chicago area.

I didn’t know about this story until my cousin told me about it. I always assumed we first came to the United States during the industrial revolution. I never imagined how important a contribution one person could make to a just cause and wanted recognize this shared history with you all. Let’s celebrate our accomplishments and build on that which is before us for the future.

Honor and Homeland.

To our brother Kazimierz, thank you.

🇺🇸🤝🇵🇱