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KOSCIUSKO, THADDEUS (TADEUZ ANDREZEJ BONAWENTURA), Brigadier General, Continental Army. Autograph letter signed ("Thads. Kosciuzko") to Mrs. Lewis Morris (wife of the Signer of the Declaration of Independence), Newport, Rhode Island, 4 April 1784. 2 pages, 4to, integral address leaf with panel in Koscuisko's hand and recipient's docket, small seal hole, folds discreetly strengthened.
A flirtatious letter in Kosciusko's usual mangled English, replete with misspellings, written shortly before the Polish officer returned to his native country to join the independence movement there. "Give me leave to rec[c]omend to your notice Mr. Benard a Gentilman [sic] of my acquientance [sic] It is useless to bestow any a[p]plause of his Character, as your discerning judgement can form the opinion, after first vue of him.
"I ought to quarrel with you and with good raison [sic] had I had any inclination[.] I was in expectation all this time of receiving a Letter -- and I find myself at last unmercifuly disappointed - is it Friendship -- Mere words t[h]rown at random to four Corners of the Globe. Pardon me if the ap[p]lication will sound too harsh in your delicate ears. -- Accustomed as your sex are to be adored -- the truth in its nacked [sic] state, and not varnished with any subtilities of flat[t]ery are apt to be desagreable [sic].
"General and Mrs. [Nathanael] Greene presents [sic] their compliments to your whole family -- the happiness attend you all who is [sic] friend to me but not in words if you please. I wish to see you dressed and in the assembly room and with your stay finished you most ["must"?] appear as [an] angel -- give ak [acknowledgements?] to your husband from me...."
Kosciusko (1746-1817) had studied both artillery and philosophy in France. Borrowing money for his passage, he came to America at the beginning of the Revolution and was commissioned by Pennsylvania to design its Delaware River forts. Commissioned a Colonel in the Continental Army, he served with Gates at Saratoga ("his selection and fortification of the Saratoga battlefield made possible the American victory that marked the turning point of the war" -Boatner). He designed the important fortifications at West Point and was later chief Engineer in the Southern Department under Greene, where he spent the remainder of the war. He returned to Poland in July 1784.
A flirtatious letter in Kosciusko's usual mangled English, replete with misspellings, written shortly before the Polish officer returned to his native country to join the independence movement there. "Give me leave to rec[c]omend to your notice Mr. Benard a Gentilman [sic] of my acquientance [sic] It is useless to bestow any a[p]plause of his Character, as your discerning judgement can form the opinion, after first vue of him.
"I ought to quarrel with you and with good raison [sic] had I had any inclination[.] I was in expectation all this time of receiving a Letter -- and I find myself at last unmercifuly disappointed - is it Friendship -- Mere words t[h]rown at random to four Corners of the Globe. Pardon me if the ap[p]lication will sound too harsh in your delicate ears. -- Accustomed as your sex are to be adored -- the truth in its nacked [sic] state, and not varnished with any subtilities of flat[t]ery are apt to be desagreable [sic].
"General and Mrs. [Nathanael] Greene presents [sic] their compliments to your whole family -- the happiness attend you all who is [sic] friend to me but not in words if you please. I wish to see you dressed and in the assembly room and with your stay finished you most ["must"?] appear as [an] angel -- give ak [acknowledgements?] to your husband from me...."
Kosciusko (1746-1817) had studied both artillery and philosophy in France. Borrowing money for his passage, he came to America at the beginning of the Revolution and was commissioned by Pennsylvania to design its Delaware River forts. Commissioned a Colonel in the Continental Army, he served with Gates at Saratoga ("his selection and fortification of the Saratoga battlefield made possible the American victory that marked the turning point of the war" -Boatner). He designed the important fortifications at West Point and was later chief Engineer in the Southern Department under Greene, where he spent the remainder of the war. He returned to Poland in July 1784.