Newspaper Page Text
September 7, 1929
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
Anniversary Recalls Facts
of Heroic Death of Pulaski
Father Mitchell Gives Details of Battle of Savannah 150
Years Ago in Which Illustrious Polish Leader Sacri
ficed His Life for American Liberty
REV. JOS. D. MITCHELL
(In The Savannah Press.)
The solemn commemoration of the
150th anniversary of the death of
Count Pulaski, to be held this com
ing October, if it does nothing else,
will be well worth all the work and
difficulty expended in bringing
foicirbly before the people of Sa
vannah the priceless historical
heritage that is ours. The general
apathy and indifference so long
shown by our people would be al
most incredible if told to a stranger.
Some of our citizens have already
called attention to the contrast in
this regard between our city and
other parts of the country—especially
New England. Every detail of the
battle of Bunker Hill, Lexington and
Concord is told and the points are
all marked with suitable monuments
and shown with pride to visitors. Our
historians have devoted pages to
their narration and pass over with
a few paragraphs the battle of Sa
vannah, one of the bloodiest of the
entire war.
Were it not for the beautiful and
imposing monument to the memory
of Pulaski and Jasper and the per
petuation of the memory of these
two heroes in the names of wards
and squares, scarcely anyone would
know that this bloody and dis
astrous battle had ever occurred in
Savannah.
The battlefield itself, although in
the very heart of the busiest part of
the city, is altogether ignored. It
is estimated that the American and
allied forces lost about 1.000 killed,
whose bodies were buried where they
fell in battle. Hundreds pass over
their forgotten graves every day of
the year, and the number can often
be reckoned in the thousands;' and
with the exception of one bronze
tablet on Railroad Street which is
scarcely even noticed, there is not
a sign to indicate the fact that the
mortal remains of these heroes and 1
martyrs to the cause of American j
liberty lie buried beneath our feet, i
At last—thanks to the patriotic de- |
votion of the Polish people to the j
memory of their dead—the citizens of
Savannah have awakened to the I
importance in American history of
the desperate struggle which took
place at their own gates 150 years
ago.
American battle lines, I had no dif
ficulty in locating the place which
was formerly described as the "hill”
which led from the swamp land in
the west up to the high ground now
known as West Broad Street. En
deavoring to follow the British line
of defense, I found myself at a loss
as to how to locate the "second bat
tery.” Having in my possession a
copy of Lord Rawdon's map of the
siege of Savannah, and making due
allowance for the roughness of its
general outlines, I determined that 1
would measure off the ground myself
and see if it were possible to come to
a definite conclusion.
As I could not do this very well ny
daylight without attracting undue at
tention, I determined to make the at
tempt by night. So early in the year
1920, after midnight I went to the site
of the old Spring Hill Redoubt and
was in the act of marking off the
ground just in front of the Central
Station when I encountered the
watchful eye of the policeman then
on night duty. He naturally seemed
surprised to find me there at such an
hour and asked me "if I were think
ing of buying the Central Railway or
was I planning to blow it up?” I an
swered, "I am just trying to locate
the spot where Pulaski was shot.”
His reply was: "I havent' heard of
any shooting affair around here; not
lately, anyhow.” A good illustration
of the knowledge and interest shown
by Savannahians generally.
My friend, the policeman, kindly
allowed me to finish my work of
.amateur surveying, and the next day
with my measurements in hand 1
again consulted my historical docu
ments. The conclusion was inevit
able; Pulaski received his death
wound, beyond a shadow of a doubt,
just where the passengers alight from
the first passenger car which enters
Savannah over the Central Railroad
system. How many ever recall wiis
fact when getting off the train?
The splendid articles of Thomas
Gamble and Major W. W. Gordon
will do much to enlighten the future
generations in regard to Savannah's
heroes of the Revolution. And be
sides the Pulaski memorial the cele
bration of this year will finally
bring about the too long deferred
public recognition of the services of
Captain Denis Cottineau, who in the
same year, by his faithfulness to
duty, made possible the great naval
victory of John Paul Jtmes which
marked the turning point in our war
for independence.
Having gone over carefully the
work of Mr. Gamble and Major Gor
don, I would not venture to add
anything to the story were it not
for the fact that this commemoration
gives the opportunity to make public
certainTacts that should not be al
lowed to pass into total oblivion.
My own interest in the story of
the death of Count Pulaski and the
battle of Savannah began some ten
years ago. At that time I was pre
paring some historical sketches of the
Catholic Church in Savannah. I was
aided very much ir. my work of re
search by a number of friends both
here and elsewhere, who put me in
touch with almost every available
source of information. Most of this
it is necessary to mention here, as it
is being well told in the work of Mr.
Gamble and Major Gordon. There
are only two points in connection
with the celebration which I would
wish to make public. The first is
the location of the place where
Pulaski received his mortal wound
while leading his famous charge
against the British ramparts; the
second being the circumstances of
his death and burial.
Some years ago the site of the
Spring Hill Redoubt was accurately
marked. It is know that the gallant
Sergeant Jasper was mortally wound
ed here while planting his standard
above the British works. He was
carried from the field and buried in
an unknown grave not far distant
from the place where he received 'his
death wound. His body lies under
the warehouses, shops or railroad
yards west of what is now West
Broad Street, and no one seems to
take further interest. At least we
know the place where he was killed.
After all my study and investiga
tion had been completed, I came
across an old copy of Askew’s His
tory of Savannah written back in
the forties. In a footnote, printed in
very fine type, it is there stated that
"Pulaski was shot from his horse
where the new railroad station has
been built.” So all my work and re
search had been unnecessary, except
for the fact tliat I had gained the in
formation through my x own efforts,
and it was all the more valuable in
consilience.
Studying the positions of the Am
erican and allied lines of attack, it
was quite evident that the only ap
proach to the city would have been
either by way of the Augsuta road—
now known as Railroad Street—or the
road leading to the Indian village of
Yamacraw—now known as Indian
Street. The rest of the territory was
all swamp land covered with under
brush and practically impassable for
both cavalry and infantry. The fight
ing 'was concentrated in the vicinity
of the Soring Hill Redoubt, which oc
cupied the ground now owned by the
Central of Georgia Railroad on West
Broad between Harris and Railroad
streets, and leased to the packing
houses. Here was stationed the first
British battery. The second battery
was some little distance north of this
—just exactly where cannot now be
ascertained.
Question Box
(By REV. B. X. O’REILLY)
Q. If a girl enters a convent and
then leaves is it a grievous sin?
A girl who enters a convent may
leave without being guilty of sin at
any time during her novitiate. One
of the purposes of the novitiate in
religious orders is to test vocation.
After the candidates have taken
vows they can not leave until the
time for W'hich the vows were taken
has expired or they are dispensed. In
most religious orders of women vows
are taken at first only for one year.
After that they are taken for a long
er period, sometimes for life. If the
vows be only simple vows there is
little difficulty in getting a dispensa
tion for a grave reason.
Q. How shall a person judge
whether they are sick enough to eat
meat on Friday?
A. The only way in which we can
determine the degree of sickness
which would relieve from the Friday
abstinence is. to be guided by com
mon sense and the advice of a con
scientious physician. The law of. the
Church regarding fast and abstinence
is a grave law, and must be obeyed
under penalty of sin. The Church
deals with humanity and imposes no
law that works under hardships or
the generality of men and women.
Hence, her laws admit of exception
in many instances. If one's health
requires the use of meat on days of
abstinence, the law of the Church
does not bind. Common sense ought
to be sufficient guide in solving any
doubt, and reliable doctors are al
ways at hand to pass judgment.
Q. Is it a sin for a person to make
a visit to Church without a hat on?
A. A man is supposed to remove
his hat when he enters the Church,
while a woman is supposed to have
her head covered. Should a woman
not wearing her hat pass a Church
and wish to make a little visit it
would be no harm for her to enter
and spend a few minutes with our
divine Lord. On formal occasions it
is proper that a woman wear her hat
when she go to Church.
dangerous, but a cannister shot had
pierced his thigh and the blood was
also flowing from his breast—prob
ably 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 feel on the ground in a
state of insensibilit” ”
How Confidence and Ability
Built a Three-Mile Bridge
Charleston News and Courier Gives Major Portion of
Credit for Spanning Cooper River at Cost of Six
Million Dollars to Hon. J ohn P. Grace, Its Sponsor
The opening of the three-mile,
six million dollar bridge over the
Cooper River at Charleston places
it in immediate reach of a fertile
and potentially rich territory for
merly all but inaccessible to
South Carolina's largest city. The
building of this great bridge is
regarded as one of the most im
portant events in the history of
Charleston, and the following edi
torial from The Charleston News
and Courier gives the major por
tion of the credit to Hon. John
P. Grace, formerly mayor of
Charleston, and one of the most
widely known Catholics in the
South. The News * * and Courier
editorial follows:
As late as the autumn of 1927 not
one Charlestonian in a thousand be
lieve.! that the Cooper River would
be bridged. Dispatches came from
Chicago that capitalists were favor
ably inclined to the project, some
of the dispatches were positive in
tenor, but the scheme seemed too
great—would outsiders risk four mil
lions, much the less six millions, of
dollars in such an enterprise? It was
a kind of enterprise almost unknown
to South Carolinians; the toll bridges
that we had known were small struc
tures, across narrow streams.
At a dinner at the Country Club
in July of 1»27, at which representa
tives of the H. M. Byllesby Company,
were entertained, one of them, speak
ing guardedly, said: “I can only say
to you gentlemen this; if we do not
build this bridge, some other inter
ests will build it,” and from that ex
pression the writer, for the first vie,
gained confidence that the promoters
"meant business.” Nevertheless, af
ter the war department vetoed the
plan for a Market Street terminal,
the outlook for the construction ap
peared, for a time, gloomy.
Preliminarily, it had been neces
sary for some one to enlist the in
terest of these Chicagoans. Some one
had to impress them that the oppor
tunity for investment was worth their
inquiry. Some one had to have faith
in the bridge, faith in Charleston.
faith in the territory which would
provide it that traffic. Some one had
to take the foremost part in the legal
and legislative preparation, and all
these things required labor, skill, pa
tience, diligence, and with ti.em. zeal
and enthusiasm, that would make
reasoning gripping upon men who
were asked to hazard huge sums of
money, other people’s money as well
as their own.
The man who had this faith, and
who did these things was John P.
Grace. In saying this The I^ews and
Courier would not disparage the val
uable assistance doubtless given him
bv associates. It is to be noted that
he did them rapidly. The expedition
with which the actual construction
has been accomplished has been no
greater than that which characterized
the work that made the bridge possi
ble.
A bridge across the Cooper, it may
be said, would have been built any
way—some day, ten. twenty or thirty
years in future. That may be, but
the point is not to be lost that a
city as well as a man’s fortune may
be made in a year. At no period
in Charleston’s history was an under
taking that would renew confidence
more needed. The commercial tone
of the community was profoundly de
pressed. Banks had recently failed,
industries were lagging, trade was
dull. To the casual observer, the
prospect of capitalists making money
out of a six million dollar bridge
could hardly be called bright. How
ever one may be aware that the land
is fertile, one motoring from Mount
Pleasant wharf 125 miles north on
Route 40 will at this time, see not
much to promise volume of toll
bridge traffic. What does one see,
except in the towns of Georgetown
and Conway? In a stretch of ten
miles in Spartanburg to Greenville
one might count perhaps five times
the white population and five times
as many automobiles.
This will be changed. The bridge
will change it. Courage, faith and
understanding were needful for the
building of the bridge, and these Mr.
Grace had. They found the money.
When I began my study and in
vestigation of the details of the bat
tle, I was surprised that nc. one seem
ed to know anything of the exact
spot where Pulaski was shot from his
horse, struck by a grape shot fired
from the British bastion. All those
of whom I made inquiry could only
say that “it was somewhere west of
the city.”
I determined that 1 would not rest
satisfied until I couVl definitely as
certain just where the tvent occur
red. Taking the historical data that
was in my possession at the time,
and reading carefully the descrip
tion of the British defenses and the
It was between these two batteries
that Pulaski made his famous charge.
It is quite evident that bis men never
reached the crest of high .ground but
were scattered in confusion while
dashing up the hill, led bv the gallant
Pole. Had they reached the top of
the hill, they would have been safe
from the fire from both batteries and
could have had easy access to the
town, which at that time extended
south only as far as Oglethorpe Ave
nue and west only to what is now
Jefferson Street. When the ground
was cut down in 3837 to lay the foun
dations of the Central of Georgia
Station, many articles of warfare
were unearthed along with remains
of the dead. Who knows but these
may have belonged to the brave fol
lowers of Pulaski?
It will doubtless be of interest to
the readers of The Press to know
the account that Major Rodowski
gave of the death of Pulaski. Major
Rogowski, who was himself severely
wounded while at his commander’s
side, thus described the scene: “For
half an hour the guns roared and
blcod 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 tid
ings. General Lincoln approved the
daring plan.
Major Rogowski also relates that
just nine days hgfore the battle
Pulaski lost the scapulars which the
Papal Npncio, had blessed for him in
Poland during his stay at Crens-
tochowe; and he regarded this as a
divine sign that his earthly life was
drawing to a close and the Savannah
campaign would be his last.
When one considers the almost
impossible chance of success in the
charge on the British breastworks
which Pulaski made, it dees appear
at first sight almost an act of suicide.
Yet, to those who are acquainted
with the other events of his life, it
is only in keeping with his general j
mind and character. Casimir Pul
aski was one who literally “knew
not the fear of death.” It is certain
that in all American history there
is none who fought beneath her
standard possessed of greater brav
ery than he. Every success that
ever marked his military career
seems to have been gained more
through his intrepid valor than
through any special military genius.
As a field officer, receiving orders
from a superior, he stands second to
none; as a military strategist he does
riot seem to have ranked so high. He
had a wonderful and engaging per
sonality which inspired his men with
a courage and daring similar to his
own and a devotion to him bordering
on a kind of worship. One is re
minded somewhat of “Jeb” Stuart
and Stonewall Jackson in later Am
erican history,
Celtic Art to Adorn
C. U. Shrine Altar
Plans Made for A. 0. H.
Ladies’ Auxiliary Gift
“Imploring the help of the Al
mighty, Pulaski shouted to his men.
‘Forward!’ and we. 200 strong, rede at
full speed after him—the earth re
sounding under the hoofs of our
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 bat
teries a cross-fire like a pouring
shower confused our ranks. I look
ed around.
“O, sad moment, ever to be remem
bered. Pulaski lies prostrate on the
ground; I leaped toward him, think
ing possibly his wound was not
His sincerity and purely unselfish
devotion to the American cause is
beyond question. He never asked
for honors for himself except in so
far as he could thus better serve the
cause. Having fought for the free
dom of his own beloved Poland
against overwhelming odds, and
having continued the fight almost
singled handed as long as there was
even the remotest possibility of
success, he finally determh—' to de
vote all that he had and was to the
cause of human freedom exemplified
in the struggle of the American
colonists against their oppressors.
Under the leadership of his father,
he was one of those who formed in
1768 the “Confederation of Bar” for
the liberation of Poland from Rus
sian political tyranny and religious
persecution. The watchword of this
confederation was “For Faith and
Country”—and after *he entered the
service of the American government
it became for him “for Faith and
Liberty.” His devotion to the cause
• of both is universally recognized
throughout his life and it is peculiar
ly exemplified in his death. When
struck by the shot before the Savan
nah breastworks, his last words were
“Jesus, Mary, Joseph,” and when he
regained consciousness, lying pros
trate on the ground, he said to those
around him, “Follow my lancers to
whom I have given the order to at
tack.” His duties to his God and
his adopted country so evident in
these two expressions were character
istic of his entire life. His private
life was beyond reproach.
(By N. C. W. C. News Service)
WASHINGTON. — Ladies Auxili
ary of the Ancient Order of Hibern
ians is to equip completely with ob
jects of Celtic art the altar of St.
Brigid in the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception on the cam
pus of the Catholic University cl
America here, it has been an
nounced. The last convention of the
Auxiliary, by a unanimous vote, in
structed the organization’s Memor
ial Committee to proceed with this
work and plans are now under way.
The Auxiliary already has given to
St. Brigid's Chapel of the Shrine the
magnificent Kilmallock Chalice, the
Holy Cross Missal, a splendid replica
of the Cross of Ceng and a missal
stand made from the blood-stained
wood of pews of the Church of St.
Francis Xavier of Gettysburg. Pa.,
which was used as a hospital during
the famous Civil War battle. The
scrollwork of the missal stand was
eonied from the Book of Kells.
Dr. Ellen Ryan "Jollv. author of
“The Nuns of the Battlefield. - ’ is
chairman of the Memorial Committee.
French Bishop, Once
A.rmy Captain, Dead
Jesuit Missionary Military
Student With Joffre
Fr. Gannon Doubts
New Paper’s Wisdom
(Rev. Peter C. Cannon. Editor of the
True Voice, Omaha.)
A monthly newspaper which, its
publishers say. will be devoted to
“stamping out bigotry and intoler
ance,” made its appearance in Wash
ington last week. In the first issue
the editors announce that they have
declared war on the “Methodist lob
by” in the national capital. The
publication is called “The Challenge.”
Frankly, we do not believe that the
new publication will do any good.
Instead of stamping out bigotry and
intolerance, it is likely to have just
the opposite effect. Bigotry and in
tolerance cannot he counteracted by
direct methods. The experience ol
the past few years amply demon
strates that proposition. Only by
patience, charity, good example and
widespread dissemination of the truth
can these unlovely failings of our
modern civilization be overcome. The
root of intolerance is ignorance. But
it will not be stamped out in a day
or in a generation. Attempts to
stamp it out generally stir up more
of it.
(BY M. Massiani)
(Paris Correspondent, N. C. W. C.
News Service)
PARIS. — A dispatch from Mada
gascar announces the death at 79
years of Msgr. Henri de Lespinasse
de Saune, Titular Bishop of Sosua,
former apostolic vicar of Tananarive.
Msgr. de Saune attended the artil
lery officers’ school with Marshal
Joffre. Later he met the future gen
eralissimo in Madagascar. At that
time Joffre was a colonel. The fu
ture bishop saw service as a second
lieutenant of artillery during the
Franco-Prussian War. and had risen
to the rank of captain before enter
ing the Society of Jesus. After hav
ing filled the office of superior of
many houses of the order, he was
sent to Madagascar in 1900 as coadju
tor to the vicar apostolic of Mada
gascar, whom he succeeded in 1911.
Two years ago. because of his fail
ing sight, he asked to have a succes-
or appointed and Msgr. Fourcadier
was appointed to replace him.
The deceased bishop had devoted
much of his efforts toward increasing ■
the number of native clergymen. To
his great joy "in 1925, he conferred
ordination upon nine Madagascans.
Msgr. McElroy’s
Service to Carolina
Dom Maur Sablayrolles, O. S. V...
creator of the famous Institute Gre
gorian in Paris and one of the most
noted authorities on music on the
continent, is coming to the United
States to become professor of Gre
gorian Chant at the Catholic Univer
sity of America, Monsignor Ryan,
rector of the University, announces.
(From The News and Courier)
The Right Rev. Monsignor J. T.
McElroy rendered consecrated serv
ice in the Catholic diocese of Char
leston for more than forty years. He
was especially concerned with the
welfare of negro members of the
church. Through bright day's and
through dark da.ys Monsignor McEl-
ray gave of his time and his talents,
always with a purpose single of ren
dering service for the sake of serv
ice.
. The Rev. J. D. Budd, of sainted
memory, washed that Father McEl
roy follow him as rector of the Ca
thedral of St. John the Baptist. This
wish was fulfilled. In due course,
the priest was elevated to the dignity
of vicar general of the diocese and
to monsignorial rank. He had amply
earned the honors hisc hurch bestow
ed on him.
To give without stint of one's life
in service of God and man, always
without thought of personal fortune,
is an ennobling record. And in the
community at large, Monsignor Mc
Elroy was esteemed as priest of God,
as friend of all the people. He came
into the diocese a stranger, from
Baltimore; after his years of unself
ish performance, he goes hence t»
Baltimore, to rest.