He had no combat experience. He did not graduate from the military engineering school. He didn't even know the English language. How is it possible that the American Congress almost immediately entrusted him with the task of building revolutionary fortifications?
Tadeusz Kościuszko, seeing no prospects for himself in Poland, left for Dresden in autumn 1775, where he unsuccessfully tried to get a job in the Saxon army. Later, he decided to return to France, hoping to find employment there. However, news from overseas changed his plans. On the wave of revolutionary enthusiasm, which also spread to Europe, he decided to enlist in the American army.
He did so primarily for ideological reasons. He believed deeply in the ideals of the Enlightenment and wanted to contribute to the independence of the British colonies. At the same time, however, he also wanted to prove himself on the battlefield - his education remained only theoretical. Not without significance was the fact that engineers were sought in the newly created American armed forces - the Pole could therefore expect that with his qualifications he would receive a relatively high officer position.
Critical Test
Kościuszko arrived in America in August 1776, a month after the Declaration of Independence was announced. He decided to offer his services to the commander of the Continental Army - George Washington. Before he met him, however, he was brought before Benjamin Franklin, who was coordinating the security efforts of Pennsylvania at the time.
David Rittenhouse was delighted with Kościuszko's competence.
It was at the request of the latter that David Rittenhouse - a Pennsylvania politician, astronomer and creator of the first American telescope - checked the competence of the Polish officer. Delighted by his skills, he almost immediately recommended him to work for the Pennsylvania Security Committee. As a result, on August 30, the Continental Congress assigned Kościuszko to the United States Department of War to work on the forts.
It was a success, and at the same time a huge promotion, impossible anywhere else. Kościuszko, though talented, was completely unknown. He had no combat experience, he did not graduate from a military engineering school, he did not even speak English! The Americans, however, had no choice.
The French engineer, Colonel Gilles Jean Marie Rolland Barazer de Kermorvan, who was to develop a plan for the fortifications and security of Philadelphia where Congress was sitting, was unable to establish constructive cooperation with the authorities. Meanwhile, the British defeated American forces at Long Island and took New York. Washington was forced to retreat to Pennsylvania. Kościuszko was the only hope of the revolutionaries.
The situation was serious. Had British troops under General William Howe reached Philadelphia before the fortifications were prepared, their attack could have taken the city over. It would be a huge blow to the Americans fighting for a free country.
You can read about the greatest leaders in our history in the book "Polish gods of war" .
Getting started
Kościuszko and Benjamin Franklin immediately went to work. The Pole, on Washington's orders, started with the construction of the Billingsport fort. However, the lack of materials and the pressure of time meant that the original plans had to be abandoned. Eventually, a small redoubt was built with a position for 5 cannons. The young engineer then successfully fortified the Dalaware River.
It was by his order that the palisades were driven into the bottom of the river, which limited the freedom of movement of British ships. He also masked the fire positions and secured the American positions against the landing from the water side by the lines of Spanish goats. He then built two more defensive forts:Fort Mercer on the New Jersey side and Fort Mifflin on the Pennsylvania side. Moreover, to facilitate the gunfire of the British, he ordered that all trees from the surrounding orchards that came across the line of fire should be cut down.
The construction of the Philadelphia fortifications took over half a year. From October 1776 to April 1777, Kosciuszko was assisted by a French artillery officer, Charles Noel Romand de Lisle. The result of their work delighted the Americans. The Pole was recognized as the most talented engineer in the American military! No wonder that on October 18, 1776, he was appointed colonel of engineering in the Continental Army.
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You can read about the secret of the successes of our greatest leaders in the book " Polish gods wars " . The above text is an excerpt from the chapter devoted to Tadeusz Kościuszko.
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