Casimir Pulaski letter signed ("C. Pulaski"). One page, 7.75" x 12.5", Philadelphia, [Pennsylvania]; September 15, 1778. Brigadier General Pulaski writes to General Washington to express his disappointment that he and his men have yet to be called upon to join Washington in the field. Letter, in an unknown hand in French, to George Washington at West Point, New York, expressing Pulaski's disappointment at the lack of military activity for himself and his newly formed cavalry and light infantry. It reads, in part [English translation]: "My General I have desired for sixteen days to join you. But now that I have been sent back makes me regret all the precautions I took for form a corps which would have enabled me to fulfil the orders of your Excellency. I have two hundred and fifty men ready to fight. The rest are sick or selected for special duty and altogether I have 330 men. I sent Mr. Legond to receive your orders and I send at the same time a letter for the Congress which obliges me to send him. I ask for the favor and am with respect to Your Excellency..." Signed, "C. Pulaski". Pulaski learned of the American cause against Britain from Benjamin Franklin in Paris and sailed for America, arriving on July 23, 1777. He joined Washington's forces and distinguished himself at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777. As a result of Pulaski's heroism, Washington appointed him Brigadier General in the Continental Army cavalry. Some American officers serving under Pulaski didn't like taking orders from a foreigner who could barely speak English and whose ideas concerning discipline and tactics differed from those to which they were accustomed. The resulting friction between American officers and Pulaski, along with his discontent over pay delays and the rejection of his proposal to create a lancer unit, led to Pulaski's resignation from command in March 1778. Soon thereafter, with the recommendation of Major General Horatio Gates (1727-1806), Congress confirmed, with Washington's approval, Pulaski's previous appointment at brigadier general, with a special title of "Commander of the Horse," and authorized him to form an independent corps of lancers and light infantry. As Pulaski mentions in this letter to Washington, he was quite successful in this endeavor, recruiting 330 men for his corps. Despite his success, the restless Pulaski expresses his frustration with inactivity. He informs Washington that he and his men are ready to fight. Washington replied to Pulaski's letter on September 19, stating that Pulaski's corps should join the army, but not to proceed until receipt of orders from Congress or the Board of War. On the same day that he wrote to Pulaski, Washington wrote to the Board of War expressing his wish that Pulaski's corps join the army, claiming that Pulaski's horsemen would be of use on the advanced posts and his infantry of service to the main body of the army. The next day, September 20, Congress ordered Pulaski's corps to Trenton, New Jersey, where they were to receive Washington's orders. Washington wrote to Pulaski on September 29, ordering him and his corps to join the force under Major General Lord Stirling (1726-1783) in the area of Paramus, New Jersey. On October 15, Pulaski's corps encountered the British at Egg Harbor, New Jersey, where Pulaski's division suffered a defeat at the hands of a British force, losing fifty men in battle. A vignette portrait of Pulaski accompanies the letter. Pulaski letters are extremely rare. Founders Online has this letter marked as "Letter not found" as they only have a record of the addressed cover, making this letter particularly exciting and unusual. Reference: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 17, 15 September–31 October 1778, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2008, page 13. Condition: Small area of loss to bottom right corner with wax seal remnants. HID03101062020 © 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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