How About a Kosciuszko Day?-- Part 3: Military Engineer

Kosciuszko made his reputation as a military engineer and architect, overseeing the building of fortifications and selecting sites to fight the British.  This protected the small Continental Army and delayed British forces.  He was promoted to brigadier general.

George Washington was a great admirer of the young Polish officer, but  is said to have trouble spelling his name.  One account said that  he spelled Kosciuszko's name eleven different ways.

During his time with the American Army, his orderly was the dedicated and intelligent Agrippa Hull, a free black man.  As the two bonded, Kosciuszko became increasingly dismayed that white Americans were fighting for universal principles that it denied to half a million enslaved blacks.

--Cooter