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[[File:Tadeusz Kościuszko.PNG|thumb|Tadeusz Kosciuszko]]

[[File:Tadeusz Kościuszko.PNG|thumb|Tadeusz Kosciuszko]]

'''Tadeusz Andrezej Bonawentura Kosciuszko''' (February 4, 1746 in Ivatsevichy District, [[Belarus]] - October 15, 1817 in Solothurn, [[Switzerland]]) was a [[Poland|Polish]] freedom fighter and statesman. He led revolts against [[Russia]] in his homeland, but is best known for his participation in the American [[Revolutionary War]].   

'''Tadeusz Andrezej Bonawentura Kosciuszko''' (February 4, 1746 in Ivatsevichy District, Poland, today [[Belarus]] - October 15, 1817 in Solothurn, [[Switzerland]]) was a [[Poland|Polish]] freedom fighter and statesman. He led revolts against [[Russia]] in his homeland, but is best known for his participation in the American [[Revolutionary War]].   

==Early life==

==Early life==

Kosciuszko was born into a noble family in the village of Mereczowszczyno; Ivatsevichy District, Poland (today Belarus).  His parents were Ludwik Kosciuszko, sword-bearer of the palatinate of Brzesc, and Tekla Ratomska. After being educated at home he entered the corps of cadets at Warsaw, where his unusual ability and energy attracted the notice of Prince Adam Casimir Czartoryski, by whose influence in 1769 he was sent abroad at the expense of the state to complete his military education. In Germany, Italy and France he studied diligently, completing his course at Brest, where he learnt fortification and naval tactics, returning to Poland in 1774 with the rank of captain of artillery. Two years later he moved to the [[United States]] and became the head engineer of the [[Continental Army]]. He expressed deep love for the Declaration of Independence, which he said embodied everything he believed in. During the War he masterminded a key British defeat at the [[Battle of Saratoga]]. He was also a personal friend of [[Thomas Jefferson]] and an [[Abolitionism|Abolitionist]]. There are many monuments in America and Poland made for him. He was made an honorary citizen of the [[United States]].  

Kosciuszko was born into a noble family in the village of Mereczowszczyno; Ivatsevichy District, Poland (today Belarus).  His parents were Ludwik Kosciuszko, sword-bearer of the palatinate of Brzesc, and Tekla Ratomska. After being educated at home he entered the corps of cadets at [[Warsaw]], where his unusual ability and energy attracted the notice of Prince Adam Casimir Czartoryski, by whose influence in 1769 he was sent abroad at the expense of the state to complete his military education. In Germany, Italy and France he studied diligently, completing his course at Brest, where he learnt fortification and naval tactics, returning to Poland in 1774 with the rank of captain of artillery. Two years later he moved to the [[United States]] and became the head engineer of the [[Continental Army]]. He expressed deep love for the Declaration of Independence, which he said embodied everything he believed in. During the War he masterminded a key British defeat at the [[Battle of Saratoga]]. He was also a personal friend of [[Thomas Jefferson]] and an [[Abolitionism|Abolitionist]]. There are many monuments in America and Poland made for him. He was made an honorary citizen of the [[United States]].  

In 1775 he returned home. In 1792 [[Catherine the Great]] invaded Poland, Kosciuszko led Polish forces. After the government capitulated, he moved into exile in [[Saxony]], [[Germany]]. Two years later he returned and led an uprising for independence, but was captured by Russian forces. After he was reprieved by Russian government he moved to [[Switzerland]], where he died in 1817.<ref>http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/tadeusz-kosciuszko</ref>

In 1775 he returned home. In 1792 [[Catherine the Great]] invaded Poland, Kosciuszko led Polish forces. After the government capitulated, he moved into exile in [[Saxony]], [[Germany]]. Two years later he returned and led an uprising for independence, but was captured by Russian forces. After he was reprieved by Russian government he moved to [[Switzerland]], where he died in 1817.<ref>http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/tadeusz-kosciuszko</ref>

==Revolutionary War==

==Revolutionary War==

In 1776 he entered the army of the United States as a volunteer, and brilliantly distinguished himself, especially during the operations about New York and at Yorktown. Washington promoted Kosciuszko to the rank of a colonel of artillery and made him his adjutant. His humanity and charm of manner made him moreover one the most popular of the American officers. In 1783 Kosciuszko was rewarded for his services and his devotion to the cause of American independence with the thanks of Congress, the privilege of American citizenship, a considerable annual pension with landed estates, and the rank of brigadier-general, which he retained in the Polish service.

In 1776 he entered the army of the United States as a volunteer, and brilliantly distinguished himself, especially during the operations about [[New York]] and at [[Yorktown]]. Washington promoted Kosciuszko to the rank of a colonel of artillery and made him his adjutant. His humanity and charm of manner made him moreover one the most popular of the American officers. In 1783 Kosciuszko was rewarded for his services and his devotion to the cause of American independence with the thanks of Congress, the privilege of American citizenship, a considerable annual pension with landed estates, and the rank of brigadier-general, which he retained in the Polish service.

==Russian War==

==Russian War==

In the war following upon the proclamation of the constitution of the 3rd of May 1791 and the formation of the reactionary Confederation of Targowica, Kosciuszko took a leading part. As the commander of a division under Prince Joseph Poniatowski he distinguished himself at the battle of Zielence in 1792, and at Dubienka (July 18) with 4000 men and to guns defended the line of the Bug for five days against the Russians with 18,000 men and 60 guns, subsequently retiring upon Warsaw unmolested.

In the war following upon the proclamation of the constitution of the 3rd of May 1791 and the formation of the reactionary Confederation of Targowica, Kosciuszko took a leading part. As the commander of a division under Prince Joseph Poniatowski he distinguished himself at the battle of Zielence in 1792, and at Dubienka (July 18) with 4000 men and to guns defended the line of the Bug for five days against the Russians with 18,000 men and 60 guns, subsequently retiring upon Warsaw unmolested.

When the king acceded to the Targo-wicians, Kosciuszko with many other Polish generals threw up his commission and retired to Leipzig, which speedily became the centre of the Polish emigration. In January 1793, provided with letters of introduction from the French agent Perandier, Kosciuszko went on a political mission to Paris to induce the revolutionary government to espouse the cause of Poland. In return for assistance he promised to make the future government of Poland as close a copy of the French government as possible; but the Jacobins, already intent on detaching Prussia from the anti-French coalition, had no serious intention of fighting Poland's battles. The fact that Kosciuszko's visit synchronized with the execution of Louis XVI subsequently gave the enemies of Poland a plausible pretext for accusing hex of Jacobinism, and thus prejudicing Europe against her.

When the king acceded to the Targo-wicians, Kosciuszko with many other Polish generals threw up his commission and retired to [[Leipzig]], which speedily became the centre of the Polish emigration. In January 1793, provided with letters of introduction from the French agent Perandier, Kosciuszko went on a political mission to Paris to induce the revolutionary government to espouse the cause of Poland. In return for assistance he promised to make the future government of Poland as close a copy of the French government as possible; but the Jacobins, already intent on detaching [[Prussia]] from the anti-French coalition, had no serious intention of fighting Poland's battles. The fact that Kosciuszko's visit synchronized with the execution of [[Louis XVI]] subsequently gave the enemies of Poland a plausible pretext for accusing hex of Jacobinism, and thus prejudicing Europe against her.

==Insurrection==

==Insurrection==

On his return to Leipzig Kosciuszko was invited by the Polish insurgents to take the command of the national armies, with dictatorial power. He hesitated at first, well aware that a rising in the circumstances was premature. " I will have nothing to do with Cossack raiding," he replied; "if war we have, it must be a regular war." He also insisted that the war must be conducted on the model of the American War of Independence, and settled down in the neighbourhood of Cracow to await events. When, however, he heard that the insurrection had already broken out, and that the Russian armies were concentrating to crush it, Kosciuszko hesitated no longer, but hastened to Cracow, which he reached on the 23rd of March 1794. On the following day his arms were consecrated according to ancient custom at the church of the Capucins, by way of giving the insurrection a religious sanction incompatible with Jacobinism.

On his return to Leipzig Kosciuszko was invited by the Polish insurgents to take the command of the national armies, with dictatorial power. He hesitated at first, well aware that a rising in the circumstances was premature. " I will have nothing to do with Cossack raiding," he replied; "if war we have, it must be a regular war." He also insisted that the war must be conducted on the model of the American War of Independence, and settled down in the neighbourhood of [[Cracow]] to await events. When, however, he heard that the insurrection had already broken out, and that the Russian armies were concentrating to crush it, Kosciuszko hesitated no longer, but hastened to Cracow, which he reached on the 23rd of March 1794. On the following day his arms were consecrated according to ancient custom at the church of the Capucins, by way of giving the insurrection a religious sanction incompatible with Jacobinism.

The same day, amidst a vast concourse of people in the market-place, Kosciuszko took an oath of fidelity to the Polish nation; swore to wage war against the enemies of his country; but protested at the same time that he would fight only for the independence and territorial integrity of Poland. The insurrection had from the first a purely popular character. We find none of the great historic names of Poland in the lists of the original confederates. For the most part the confederates of Kosciuszko were small squires, traders, peasants and men of low degree generally. Yet the comparatively few gentlemen who joined the movement sacrificed everything to it. Thus, to take but a single instance, Karol Prozor sold the whole of his ancestral estates and thus contributed 1,000,000 thalers to the cause. From the 24th of March to the ist of April Kosciuszko remained at Cracow organizing his forces. On the 3rd of April at Raclawice, with 4000 regulars, and 2000 peasants armed only with scythes and pikes, and next to no artillery, he defeated the Russians, who had 5000 veterans and 30 guns.

The same day, amidst a vast concourse of people in the market-place, Kosciuszko took an oath of fidelity to the Polish nation; swore to wage war against the enemies of his country; but protested at the same time that he would fight only for the independence and territorial integrity of Poland. The insurrection had from the first a purely popular character. We find none of the great historic names of Poland in the lists of the original confederates. For the most part the confederates of Kosciuszko were small squires, traders, peasants and men of low degree generally. Yet the comparatively few gentlemen who joined the movement sacrificed everything to it. Thus, to take but a single instance, Karol Prozor sold the whole of his ancestral estates and thus contributed 1,000,000 thalers to the cause. From the 24th of March to the ist of April Kosciuszko remained at Cracow organizing his forces. On the 3rd of April at Raclawice, with 4000 regulars, and 2000 peasants armed only with scythes and pikes, and next to no artillery, he defeated the Russians, who had 5000 veterans and 30 guns.