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===Bar Confederation=== [[File:Kazimierz Pułaski at Częstochowa during Bar Confederation.PNG|thumb|280px|alt=A painting by Józef Chełmoński depicting Pulaski at Częstochowa|Pulaski at [[Częstochowa]], an 1875 painting by [[Józef Chełmoński]].]] He took part in the 1764 election of the new Polish monarch, [[Stanisław August of Poland|Stanisław II Augustus]], with his family. In December 1767, Pulaski and his father became involved with the [[Bar Confederation]], which saw King Stanisław as a Russian puppet and sought to curtail Russian [[hegemony]] over the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Commonwealth]]. The confederation was actively opposed by the Russian forces stationed in Poland. Pulaski recruited a unit and, on February 29, 1768, signed the act of the confederation, thus declaring himself an official supporter of the movement.<ref name="psb386" /> On March 6, he received a ''[[pułkownik]]'' (colonel) rank and commanded a [[Choragiew|''chorągiew'']] of [[Polish cavalry|cavalry]]. In March and April, Pulaski agitated among the Polish military, successfully convincing some forces to join the Confederates. He fought his first battle on April 20 near Pohorełe. It was a victory, as was another on April 23 near [[Starokostiantyniv]]. An engagement at Kaczanówka on April 28 resulted in a defeat. In early May, he garrisoned [[Khmilnyk|Chmielnik]] (Khmilnyk) but was forced to retreat when allied reinforcements were defeated.<ref name="psb386" /> He retreated to a monastery in [[Berdyczów]], which he defended during a siege by royalist forces for over two weeks until June 16. Eventually, he was forced to surrender and was taken captive by the Russians. On June 28, he was released in exchange for a pledge that he would not again take up arms with the Confederates, and that he would lobby the Confederates to end hostilities. However, Pulaski considered the assurance to be non-binding and made a public declaration to that effect upon reaching a camp of the Confederates at the end of July. Agreeing to the pledge in the first place weakened his authority and popularity among the Confederates, and his own father considered whether or not he should be [[Court-martial]]ed. Some heated debates followed, and Pulaski was reinstated to active-duty only in early September.<ref name="psb387">[[#Szczygielski86|Szczygielski 1986]], p. 387</ref> [[File:Pułaski at Bar by Korneli Szlegel.PNG|thumb|Casimir Pulaski gathering supporters for the Confederation at [[Bar, Ukraine|Bar]]. Painting by Korneli Szlegel.]] [[File:Bar Confederation 1768-1772.PNG|thumb|284px|alt=Map showing area of the Bar Confederation conflict|A map of the [[Bar Confederation]] conflict in Poland between 1768 and 1772, with white areas being controlled by the Confederates.]] [[File:Kazimierz Pułaski at Częstochowa's walls.PNG|thumb|200px|alt=Painting by Juliusz Kossak depicting Pulaski at Jasna Góra in 1770|Pulaski at the walls of the [[Jasna Góra Monastery]] in 1770, by artist [[Juliusz Kossak]].]] In 1769, Pulaski's unit was again besieged by numerically superior forces, this time in the old fortress of [[Okopy Świętej Trójcy]], which had served as his base of operations since December the previous year. After a staunch defence, he was able to break the Russian siege. On April 7, he was made the ''[[regimentarz]]'' of the [[Kraków Voivodeship (14th century – 1795)|Kraków Voivodeship]].<ref name="psb387" /> In May and June he operated near [[Przemyśl]], but failed to take the town. Criticized by some of his fellow Confederates, Pulaski departed to [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|Lithuania]] with his allies and a force of about 600 men on June 3.<ref name="psb387" /> There, Pulaski attempted to incite a larger revolt against Russia.<ref name="psb388">[[#Szczygielski86|Szczygielski 1986]], p. 388</ref> Despite no decisive military successes, he was able to assemble a 4,000-strong army and deliver it back to a Confederate staging point. This excursion received international notice and gained him a reputation as the most effective military leader in the Bar Confederation. Next, he moved with his unit towards [[Zamość]] and — after nearly losing his life to the inferior forces of the future Generalissimo [[Alexander Suvorov]] in the disastrous [[Battle of Orzechowo|Battle of Orekhowa]]{{efn|Also rendered: "Orzechowo", "Orekhovo". Three hundred and twenty (320) officers and men overall against 2,000–3,000 Poles; both sides had two guns each. Pulaski's brother Franz lost his life to a pistol shot from Russian squadron leader count Castelli whose target was Casimir himself. This translation is from the Russian Wikipedia Page, {{lang|ru|[[:ru:Сражение под Ореховом]]}} ('Battle of Orekhovo') — which is supported by reliable sources in Russian, including the letters and official reports on the matter made by Suvorov himself.}} — on the next day, September 15, he was again defeated at the Battle of Włodawa, with his forces almost completely dispelled. He spent the rest of the year rebuilding his unit in the region of [[Podkarpacie]].<ref name="psb388"/> In February 1770, Pulaski moved near [[Nowy Targ]], and in March, helped to subdue the mutiny of Józef Bierzyński. Based in [[Izby]], he operated in southern [[Lesser Poland]]. On May 13 his force was defeated at the Battle of Dęborzyn. Around June 9–10 in [[Prešov]], in a conference with other Confederate leaders, he met [[Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor]], who complimented Pulaski on his actions. On July 3–4, Pulaski's camp was captured by Johann von Drewitz, and he was forced to retreat into Austria. Early in August he met with the French emissary, [[Charles François Dumouriez]]. He disregarded an order to take [[Lanckorona]] and instead cooperated with Michał Walewski in a raid on [[Kraków]] on the night of August 31.<ref name="psb388" /><ref name="psb389">[[#Szczygielski86|Szczygielski, 1986]], p. 389</ref> He then departed for [[Częstochowa]]. On September 10, along with Walewski, he used subterfuge to take control of the [[Jasna Góra monastery]]. On September 18 he met [[Franciszka Corvin-Krasińska|Franciszka z Krasińskich]], an aristocrat from the [[Krasiński family]] and the wife of [[Charles of Saxony, Duke of Courland]]. He impressed her and she became one of his protectors. Around September 22–24 Walewski was made the commandant of Jasna Góra, which slighted Pulaski. Nonetheless, he continued as the ''de facto'' commander of Confederate troops stationed in and around Jasna Góra.<ref name="psb389" /> Between September 10, 1770, and January 14, 1771, Pulaski, Walewski and [[Józef Zaremba]] commanded the Polish forces during the siege of Jasna Góra monastery. They successfully defended against Drewitz in a series of engagements, the largest one on November 11, followed by a siege from December 31 to January 14. The defense of Jasna Góra further enhanced his reputation among the Confederates and abroad.<ref name="psb389" /> A popular Confederate song taunting Drewitz included lyrics about Pulaski and Jasna Góra.<ref name="Maciejewski1976">[[#Maciejewski|Maciejewski, 1976]], p. 381</ref> Pulaski intended to pursue Drewitz, but a growing discord between him and Zaremba prevented this from becoming a real option.<ref name="psb389" /> In February 1771, Pulaski operated around [[Lublin]]. On February 25 he was victorious at [[Tarłów]] and on the night of February 28 and March 1, his forces besieged [[Kraśnik]]. In March that year he became one of the members of the Confederates' War Council. Dumouriez, who became a military adviser to the Confederates, at the time described him as "spontaneous, more proud than ambitious, friend of the prince of Courland, enemy of the [[Potocki family]], brave and honest" as well as popular among other commanders. This was due to his refusal to follow orders and adhere to discipline. [[Jędrzej Kitowicz]] who met him as well around that time described him as short and thin, pacing and speaking quickly, and uninterested in women or drinking. He enjoyed fighting against the Russians above everything else, and was daring to the extent he forgot about his safety in battles, resulting in his many failures on the battlefield.<ref name="psb389" /> In May 1771, Pulaski advanced on Zamość, refusing to coordinate an operation with Dumouriez against [[Alexander Suvorov]]. Without Pulaski's support, the Confederates were defeated at the [[Battle of Lanckorona]]. Pulaski's forces were victorious at the Battle of Majdany, and briefly besieged Zamość, but it was relieved by Suvorov. He retreated, suffering major losses, towards Częstochowa. On July 27, pressured by Franciszka z Krasińskich, he declared he would from then on strictly adhere to orders from the Confederacy that he had previously habitually disregarded.<ref name="psb390" /> In October his responsibilities in the War Council were increased, and the same month he became involved with the plan to kidnap [[Stanisław August Poniatowski|King Poniatowski]].<ref name="psb390" /> Pulaski was initially opposed to this plan but later supported it on the condition that the king would not be harmed.<ref name="Storozynski2010-23">[[#AlexStorozynski|Storozynski, 2010]], p. 23</ref> The attempt failed, weakening the international reputation of the Confederates. When Pulaski's involvement with the attempted kidnapping became known, the Austrians expelled him from their territories.<ref name="psb390" /><ref name="Stone2001-272">[[#Stone|Stone, 2001]], p. 272</ref> He spent the following winter and spring in Częstochowa, during which time several of his followers were defeated, captured or killed.<ref name="psb390">[[#Szczygielski86|Szczygielski, 1986]], p. 390</ref> On May 31, 1772, Pulaski, increasingly distanced from other leaders of the Confederation, left the Jasna Góra monastery and went to [[Silesia]] in Prussia.<ref name="psb390" /> In the meantime, the Bar Confederation was defeated, with most fighting ending around the summer.<ref name="Stone2001-272" /> Overall, Pulaski was seen as one of the most famous and accomplished Confederate leaders.<ref name="psb388" /><ref name="psb389" /> At the same time, he often acted independently, disobeying orders from Confederate command, and among his detractors, which included Dumouriez, had a reputation of a "loose cannon".<ref name="psb389" /><ref name="psb390" /> The [[First Partition of Poland]] occurred in 1772. Leaving Prussia, Pulaski sought refuge in France, where he unsuccessfully attempted to join the [[French Army]]. In 1773, his opponents in Poland accused him of attempted [[regicide]], and proceedings began at the Sejm Court on June 7.<ref name="psb390" /><ref name="psb391">[[#Szczygielski86|Szczygielski, 1986]], p. 391</ref> The [[Partition Sejm]] had been convened by the victors to validate the First Partition. Poniatowski himself warned Pulaski to stay away from Poland, or risk death.<ref name="psb390" /> The court verdict, declared ''[[trial in absentia|in absentia]]'' in July, stripped Pulaski of "all dignity and honors", demanded that his possessions be confiscated, and sentenced him to death. He attempted to recreate a Confederate force in the [[Ottoman Empire]] during the [[Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774)|Russo-Turkish War]], but before he could make any progress, the Turks were defeated, and he barely escaped by sea to [[Marseille]], France. He found himself in debt and unable to find an army that would enlist him. He spent the year of 1775 in France, imprisoned at times for debts, until his allies gathered enough funds to arrange for his release. Around that time, due to the efforts of his friend [[Claude-Carloman de Rulhière]], he was recruited by the [[Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette|Marquis de Lafayette]] and [[Benjamin Franklin]], who he met in spring 1777, for service in the [[American Revolutionary War]].<ref name="psb391" /><ref name="Pulaski Day" />
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