Statue of Historic Figure: Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski - Providence, RI

Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski

Providence, RI

N 41° 47.138 W 071° 24.923

Short Description: 

The equestrian statue of Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski is located in Roger Williams Park in Providence, RI

Long Description: 

An heroic 14' by 5.5' by 13' bronze equestrian statue of Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski stands on an 8' by 9' by 15' granite base. The monument occupies a prominent and busy intersection at Roger Williams Park. The statue was created by Guido Nincheri, sculptor and cast at the Fondaria Artistica Veronese Foundry.

General Pulaski is riding a charging horse. He holds the reins in his left hand and hold a curved sword up at a 45 degree angle with his right hand. He is wearing a military uniform with epaulets and riding boots but is not wearing a hat. The horse is in a galloping on an incline with its head down, tail slightly up, and left front foot off the ground.

On the front of the base is the single word:

PULASKI

A plaque on the left side of the base, which was added later, is inscribed:

BRIGADIER GENERAL CASIMIR PULASKI

SOLDIER OF LIBERTY

AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR HERO

1747-1779

THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED BY THE BRIDIGIER GENERAL CASMIR PULASKI BI-

CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL COMMITTEE OF RHODE ISLAND IN MEMORY OF CASMIR 

PULASKI. A REVOLUTIONARY WAR HERO OF TWO CONTINENTS.

HE DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF IN THE BATTLES OF:

BRANDYWINE; GERMANTOWN; VALLEY FORGE;

EGG HARBOR; WARREN TAVERN; WHITEMARSH

HADDONFIELD; CHARLESTOWN; AND SAVANNAH

BRIDIGIER GENERAL UNITED STATES

FATHER OF THE AMERICAN CALVARY

MARSHAL GENERAL OF POLAND

WHILE LEADING HIS FAMOUS "PULASKI" LEGION ON A CHARGE THROUGH THE

BRITISH LINES IN THE BATTLE OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, HE WAS MORTALLY

WOUNDED ON THE 9TH DAY OF OCTOBER 1779 AND DIED TWO DAYS LA-

TER AT THE AGE OF THIRTY-TWO.

CASMIR PULASKI DIED AS HE LIVED, A MARTYR TO THE CAUSE OF

AMERICAN FREEDOM, AND HE HAS BECOME A SYMBOL OF UNDAUNTED

COURAGE AND SPIRIT TO LOVERS OF FREEDOM EVERYWHERE. 

Casimir Pulaski was born into a noble family on March 6, 1745 in Warsaw, Poland. After opposing the Russians in Europe he came to the American Colonies to join the Continental Army under the command of George Washington. As a Brigadier General, he organized a corps of lancers and light infantry that became known as the Pulaski Cavalry Legion, hence he is called the father of the American cavalry. He died of woulds sustained during the siege of Savannah on October 11, 1779. He is one of only seven persons to be awarded honorary United States citizenship.