Kościuszko Bicentennial

Jewish insurgents form the frst Jewish cavalry Kosciuszko Mound - Krakow, Poland since biblical times, and fght in Kosciuszko’s Army. Later Kosciuszko is wounded in battle Celebrating and captured by the Russians. Armed Polish resistance to Russia and Prussia ends. Following the death of Empress Catherine the Kosciuszko Great in 1796, her son and successor Emperor Paul agrees to release all Polish soldiers, if they agree to no longer fght against Russia. Kosciuszko is released. Milwaukee dedicates a monument In 1798 Kosciuszko returns to America, he to Kosciuszko in 1905 Taddeus Kosciuszko meets with military comrades and friends including Tomas Jeferson. He writes His 1746-1817 “American Will” authorizing Tomas Jeferson to “employ the whole thereof in purchasing Negroes from among his own or any others and giving them Liberty in my name, in giving them an education in trades or otherwise and in having them instructed for their new condition,…. to be good fathers or mothers, husbands or wives, and in their duties to be citizens teaching them to be defenders of their Liberty and Country.” Returning from America, Kosciuszko spends the rest of his life in exile. He dies in Switzerland in 1817. His body rests in a crypt in Wawel Cathedral in Krakow. His heart rests in a chapel in the Royal Castle in Warsaw. Monuments to Kosciuszko began shortly afer his death, starting with the 100 f. high Painting “Kosciuszko at West Point” Kosciuszko Mound in Krakow, built by grateful pacwisconsin.com By Boleslaw Jan Czedekowski, 1885-1969 Poles, who brought soil from areas around Members of the Polish American Congress - Poland, and from battlefelds where he fought in Wisconsin Division compiled this publication Poland and America. and are proud to sponsor its distribution. Born 1746 in Mereczowszczyzna Polish- Tis is in large part due to Koscuiszko’s Poland adopts the frst constitution in Europe Lithuanian Common-wealth (Now Belarus) strategically designed fortifcations. At Saratoga, on May 3, 1791. He was the son of a minor nobleman. Burgoyne’s army is forced to surrender. Tis battle convinces France and Spain that the May 1792: Russia invades Poland, beginning Educated at the “Knight’s School” Military Americans can win, and they declare war against the Polish - Russian War of 1792. Poland is Academy in Warsaw. Followed by 5 years of England. outmanned 3:1. Later, the King of Poland study in France covering mathematics, military orders Poland to cease hostilities against Russia, engineering, artillery, and liberal arts subjects March 1778: Kosciuszko arrives at West Point, abandoning its independence, for a supposed including literature, philosophy, history, and New York, and spends 2 years designing and peace. ethics. building fortifcations. Tese fortifcations block the British from moving down the Hudson January 1793: Russia and Prussia sign the He later wrote, “During the fve years of my life River and splitting New England from the Second Partition of Poland. I spent in foreign countries, I have endeavored mid-Atlantic and Southern States. To relax, he to master those arts which pertain to a solid plants a garden. Today a garden is maintained March 1794: Polish insurgents appoint government, aiming at the happiness of all, in his honor on the grounds of the U.S. Military Kosciuszko Commander-in-Chief of a newly also economics and military art; I earnestly Academy. formed army to fght the Russians. Kosciuszko tried to learn this inasmuch as I had a natural vows “not to use these powers to oppress any passion for these things.” In 1780 Kosciuszko becomes Chief Engineer person, but to defend the integrity of the under General Nathanael Greene, in the borders of Poland, regain the independence August 1776: Kosciuszko arrives in Philadelphia Southern Campaign. Te English surrender at of the nation, and to strengthen universal ofering his skills to the American Independence Yorktown in Oct. 1781. Te Treaty of Paris is liberties.” cause. signed in 1783, ending the war. Poland’s peasants rally to the cause of freedom, September 1776: Kosciuszko is hired as a Tomas Jeferson and Kosciuszko meet several and defeat the Russians in the Battle of civilian engineer to fortify the approaches to times during the course of the war and become Raclawice near Krakow. Philadelphia on the Delaware River and the city lifelong friends. Jeferson calls Kosciuszko “Te of Philadelphia itself against British attack. Purest Son of Liberty, that I have ever known.” October 1776: Kosciuszko’s engineering A grateful Congress and General Washington skills impress the Americans. It earns him promote Kosciuszko to Brigadier General and a commission as a Colonel of Engineers in grant him American citizenship. the Continental Army. His frst assignment in the Continental Army takes him to Fort In 1784 Kosciuszko returns to Poland. Ticonderoga, New York, where his advice on how and where to construct defenses is ignored. In 1789, Poland commissions Kosciuszko Te British win the battle, and capture the fort. as a Major General in a last ditch attempt to strengthen its army and fend of foreign September 1777: Te British Army under intrusions and domination. General Burgoyne moving south from Canada Painting “Kosciuszko at the Battle of Raclawice” is stopped at the momentous Battle of Saratoga. By Jan Styka, 1858-1925.

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