A Revolutionary Hero – with an unusual name
General Kościuszko (1746-1817)
The State of Mississippi boasts many towns named with unique non-English words, most are relative to the Native Americans that originally inhabited the area. But there is at least one – “Kosciusko” – which drew its unusual name from a man whose contributions to the revolution are all but lost to even its own citizens of today.
Courtesy D. Tracy Ward, 2015 Mississippi state capitol
Mississippi was granted its statehood in 1817, the same year this decorated military hero passed away at the age of 71. The County of Attala and its chosen seat of justice, Kosciusko, were founded in 1833. At that time, local leaders were still aware of the events of the American Revolution – just a few short decades earlier!
Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko (1746-1817) was a Polish-Lithuanian and American general and military leader. He is a national hero of Poland, Lithuania, the United States, and Belarus. Kosciuszko fought in the American Revolutionary War as a colonel in the Continental Army. In the summer of 1776, Kościuszko was sent to Pennsylvania to work with the Continental Army. He met Thomas Jefferson, and they became very close friends. Kościuszko was a guest at Monticello on many occasions, and spent prolonged visits there.
Courtesy D. Tracy Ward – 2015 Philadelphia, PA
His faith in God and Biblical principles, as well as a fervent dedication to future generations, is clearly evident in the following letter of “Advice to a Youth”, of which an excerpt follows:
“To do honor to your family and yourself and at my recommendation, you must reread what follows every day so that it will be engraved on your memory on which your well being will depend. Rise at four in the summer and six in the winter. Your first thoughts must be directed towards the Supreme Being; worship Him for a few minutes. Set yourself to work with reflection and intelligence, either at your prescribed duty carried out in the most scrupulous manner, or perfect yourself in some science in which you should have true mastery. Avoid lying under any circumstances in your life, but always be frank and loyal and always tell the truth.”
Courtesy D. Tracy Ward, 2015 Philadelphia
D. Tracy Ward, Architect
Originally prepared 2013 – Reedited & Uploaded January 2018 – DTW’s Blog #0004
Our Original Posts, including images when applicable, are copyrighted © 1993-2018 by D. Tracy Ward and Benchmark Design, PC. God bless America! Treasure Liberty always and pass it on! President Herbert Hoover, October 18, 1931: “This great complex, which we call American life, is builded and can alone survive upon the translation into individual action of that fundamental philosophy announced by the Savior nineteen centuries ago…” (read Mark 12:30-31)
