by Alex Storozynski. One of the largely forgotten heroes of the American Revolution was a Polish immigrant with a virtually unpronounceable last name—Thaddeus (Tadeusz) Kos´ciuszko (kosh-chew-sko). A brilliant military engineer, Kos´ciuszko arrived in Philadelphia in August 1776 and, on Benjamin Franklin's doorstep, volunteered his services to the Revolution. He proceeded to construct defenses for Philadelphia, helped devise a successful battle plan at Saratoga, and designed the defenses at West Point—the plans that Benedict Arnold was so interested in selling to the British. Much to the chagrin of his French counterparts, he was appointed chief engineer of the army and participated in the final campaign at Yorktown. Kos´ciuszko returned to Poland eager to emulate the American independence movement there, leading the Polish army against the Russian invasion. Unfortunately, that cause was lost, and he was captured but later pardoned by Tsar Paul I. For the rest of his life, he championed human rights. Using new archival sources in Switzerland and Poland, Storozynski has written a complete biography of a truly great republican. Strongly recommended for both lay readers and specialists.—Library Journal. (Check Catalog)
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The peasant prince : Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the age of revolution
by Alex Storozynski. One of the largely forgotten heroes of the American Revolution was a Polish immigrant with a virtually unpronounceable last name—Thaddeus (Tadeusz) Kos´ciuszko (kosh-chew-sko). A brilliant military engineer, Kos´ciuszko arrived in Philadelphia in August 1776 and, on Benjamin Franklin's doorstep, volunteered his services to the Revolution. He proceeded to construct defenses for Philadelphia, helped devise a successful battle plan at Saratoga, and designed the defenses at West Point—the plans that Benedict Arnold was so interested in selling to the British. Much to the chagrin of his French counterparts, he was appointed chief engineer of the army and participated in the final campaign at Yorktown. Kos´ciuszko returned to Poland eager to emulate the American independence movement there, leading the Polish army against the Russian invasion. Unfortunately, that cause was lost, and he was captured but later pardoned by Tsar Paul I. For the rest of his life, he championed human rights. Using new archival sources in Switzerland and Poland, Storozynski has written a complete biography of a truly great republican. Strongly recommended for both lay readers and specialists.—Library Journal. (Check Catalog)
