Our country broke away from England not so long ago. The Revolutionary War began some 250 years ago. It started in 1775 and ended in 1783.
So many men and women contributed to the cause of our freedom. Some were born in America. Others came from England, or Germany, or France. Even Poland All heroes in this quest for a new free country. But all of them had immigrant beginnings. Except for the Native Americans who helped along the way.
As I mentioned, these people came from many places to win the road to freedom. And some of them, most of them, we’ve never even heard of.
Like this man. Casimir Pulaski.
Casimir Pulaski played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War. He is known as “The Father of American Cavalry.” That’s right. A horsey guy. He was significant in the development of the United States’ cavalry forces.
Pulaski was born into a noble family in Warsaw, Poland. As such, he became involved in Polish politics at a young age. He joined the Bar Confederation to fight against Russian influence in Poland. Unfortunately, the uprising failed. Because of that, Pulaski was forced into exile.
We all know Benjamin Franklin. Well, our good man Ben had heard of Pulaski. Somehow. And Ben was impressed by Pulaski’s reputation. So. From afar, Ben recruited him to join the American cause.
Pulaski arrived in America in 1777, eager to serve in the fight for freedom. He quickly proved his worth at the Battle of Brandywine, where his cavalry charge saved George Washington’s life and prevented a major defeat. Woot for our Polish horse man.
Washington appointed Pulaski as a brigadier general after that. Pulaski formed the Pulaski Cavalry Legion, a mixed unit of cavalry and infantry. He often used his own money to equip his troops.
In 1779, Pulaski led a charge during the Siege of Savannah. He was wounded in the battle and died two days later.
He is one of only eight people to be awarded honorary American citizenship, alongside Winston Churchill, Raoul Wallenberg, and Mother Teresa.
Pulaski was born on March 6, 1747. And he died on October 11, 1779 ( Aged 32).
As a note of interest. I was wondering if we still had a Cavalry. Well. The United States Cavalry, as a “traditional mounted military force,” was officially disbanded after World War II.
However, the term “cavalry” is still used in a different context within the U.S. military today. The modern U.S. Army, for instance, has units like the 1st Cavalry Division, which historically used horses but now operates as a mechanized infantry division.
So, while the traditional cavalry in the old sense doesn’t exist anymore, the term and some of its units have evolved into different roles within the military.
Personally? I think they should reserve the term “cavalry” for the horses and the people who ride them. And the other units should be called “tanks” and such.
Ride on, Pulaski.
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“A horse is the projection of peoples’ dreams about themselves – strong, powerful, beautiful – and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence.” — Pam Brown
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“The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and fire.” — Sharon Ralls Lemon
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“Horses lend us the wings we lack.” — William Johns
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The heroes we didn’t know. And their horses.
