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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
COUNT PULASKI AND THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH.
By Very Rev. Jos. D. Mitchell, V.G.
In the articles on Count Pulaski published in The
Bulletin last month, it was stated that he was a loyal
child of the Catholic Church. There is no doubt
whatever concerning the Catholicity of this hero of
the American Revolution who gave his life for our
freedom in the fatal attack on Savannah in 17 79.
In his early life in Poland Count Pulaski and his
father were leaders of the Catholic party against the
tyranny of the Russians on one side and the Prussians
on the other. In the famous Confederation of Bara,
formed for the liberation of his native land, Pulaski
was associated with Father Marcus, a Carmelite monk,
Bishop Adam Krasinski, and other staunch Catholics
of Poland. One of his notable exploits in this brave,
but futile, attempt to save his country was his fortifi
cation of the Cloister of Our Lady of Czenstochora,
which for a long time he held against the Russians.
It will doubtless be of interest to the readers of
The Bulletin to know the account that Major Rogowski
gave of the death of Pulaski just outside the breast
works of Savannah on that fatal October day in
1779. Major Rogowski, who was himself severely
wounded while at the side of Pulaski, thus describes
the scene:
“For half an hour the guns roared and blood flowed
abundantly. Seeing an opening between the enemy’s
works, Pulaski resolved with his Legion and a small
detachment of Georgia cavalry, to charge through,
enter the city and confuse the enemy and cheer the
inhabitants with good tidings. General Lincoln ap
proved the daring plan. Imploring the help of the
Almighty, Pulaski shouted to his men ‘Forward V and
we, two hundred strong, rode at full speed after him
the earth resounding under the hoofs of bur
chargers. For the first few moments all went well;
we sped like knights into the peril. Just, however,
as we passed the gap between the two batteries a
cross-fire like a pouring shower confused our ranks.
I looked around. O, sad moment, ever to be re
membered Pulaski lies prostrate on the ground! I
leaped towards him, thinking possibly his wound was
not dangerous, but a cannister shot had pierced his
thigh and the blood was also flowing from his breast
probably from a second wound. Falling on my
knees, I tried to raise him. He said in a faint voice,
‘Jesus, Maria, Joseph!’ Further than this, I knew not,
for at that moment a musket ball, grazing my scalp,
blinded me with blood, and I fell to the ground in a
state of insensibility.’’
Major Rogowski also relates that just nine days
before the battle Pulaski had lost his scapulars which
the Nuncio had blessed for him during his stay at
Crenstochowe and he regarded this as an evil omen,
stating that he anticipated an early death.
Mrs. Charles R. Herron, a convert to the Catholic
faith, with her sister, Mrs. Morrison, remembered
well the exhuming of the supposed remains of Count
Pulaski at Greenwich in 1853. The whole skeleton
was intact, and after a thorough examination by the
Medical Society of Savannah—especially by Dr. Wil
liam G. Bulloch and Dr. James B. Read, it was de
cided that the skull was that of a Pole the distance
between the eyes and the shape of the cheek bones
confirming this opinion. There was also unearthed
with the remains the remnants of a Rosary and a
Polish dagger—such as were worn by Polish officers
in the time of Pulaski. Of course, it is impossible to
state with certainty whether these were the actual
remains of Count Pulaski, as Colonel Bentalou s state
ment was that he had himself buried his beloved
commander and hero at sea while the Wasp was
leaving the Savannah River on her way to Charleston.
It was stated, however, in the old days, that this
report was circulated for fear the English, who hated
Pulaski, and still held possession of Savannah, might
desecrate the grave. At any rate, we are certain
that Savannah has erected a beautiful and imposing
monument to one who was as staunch a Catholic
as he was a patriot as much a lover of the Church
as he was of the cause of freedom.
BAY STATE TRIBUTE TO MR. FARRELL.
(From The Catholic Mirror, Springfield, Mass.)
A striking example of the wonderful influence
Catholic laymen can exercise upon religious and civic
action is brought to light by the death of James J.
Farrell, of Augusta, Ga. He founded and was acting
chairman of the Catholic Laymen’s Association of
Georgia, whose object was the suppression of bigotry
in the South and the education of his fellow non-
Catholics in the principal truths of our Church. The
organization has met with wonderful success and it
has quickly become one of the greatest religious in
fluences of the South. And James Farrell was its
moving spirit. But his soul has returned to its Maker
and other hands must carry on the work. A won
derful tribute has been paid this man of great re
ligious faith by the Catholic press throughout the
land. Bishop Keiley, of Savannah, made the state
ment that James Farrell was the greatest layman he
had ever known.
The early return of the Dominicans to Oxford is»
foreshadowed in the announcement that the Order has
purchased property in that city within the precincts
of the University. The property acquired is on the
historic St. Gives Street, where the Jesuits have their
house of studies. The Benedictines are housed in St.
Bennett’s Hall, and the Franciscans, the other of the
four great religious orders at Oxford, have Grosse
teste House, named after an illustrious English
scholar and prelate of pre-Reformation days.
La Croix reports that on motion of a Protestant,
seconded by a Protestant, the Municipal Council of
Bordeaux has voted 25,000 francs in aid of poor
pupils attending Catholic schools.