Editing Casimir Pulaski (section)

====Southern front====
Pulaski arrived in [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]] on May 8, 1779, finding the city [[Siege of Charleston|in crisis]].<ref name="Wilson 107-108">[[#Wilson2005|Wilson, 2005]], pp. 107–108</ref> General [[Benjamin Lincoln]], commander of the southern army, had led most of the army toward [[Augusta, Georgia]], in a bid to recapture Savannah, which had been [[Capture of Savannah|captured by the British]] in late 1778.<ref name="Wilson 101-102">[[#Wilson2005|Wilson, 2005]], pp. 101–102</ref> The British commander, Brigadier General [[Augustine Prevost]], responded to Lincoln's move by launching a raiding expedition from Savannah across the [[Savannah River]].<ref name="Wilson 103">[[#Wilson2005|Wilson, 2005]], p. 103</ref> The South Carolina militia fell back before the British advance, and Prevost's force followed them all the way to Charleston. Pulaski arrived just as military leaders were establishing the city's defenses.<ref name="Russell 106">[[#Russell|Russell, 2000]], p. 106</ref>

When the British advanced on May 11, Pulaski's Legion engaged forward elements of the British force, and was badly mauled in the encounter. The Legion infantry, numbering only about 60 men before the skirmish, was virtually wiped out, and Pulaski was forced to retreat to the safety of the city's guns.<ref name="Wilson 108">[[#Wilson2005|Wilson, 2005]], p. 108</ref> Although some historians credit this action with Prevost's decision to withdraw back toward Savannah the next day, despite ongoing negotiations of a possible surrender of Charleston, that decision is more likely based on news Prevost received that Lincoln's larger force was returning to Charleston to face him, and that Prevost's troops had gone further than he had originally intended. One early historian criticized Pulaski's actions during that engagement as "ill-judged, ill-conducted, disgraceful and disastrous".<ref name="Griffin 95">[[#Griffin1907|Griffin, 1907]], p. 95</ref> The episode was of minor strategic consequence and did little to enhance the reputation of Pulaski's unit.<ref name="Russell 107">[[#Russell|Russell, 2000]], p. 107</ref>

[[File:Death of Pulaski.jpg|thumb|Pulaski mortally wounded by grapeshot while leading cavalry charge.]]
Although Pulaski frequently suffered from [[malaria]] while stationed in Charleston, he remained in active service. At the beginning of September, Lincoln prepared to launch an attempt to retake Savannah with French assistance. Pulaski was ordered to Augusta, where he was to join forces with General [[Lachlan McIntosh]].<ref name=appletons133 /> Their combined forces were to serve as the forward elements of Lincoln's army.<ref name="The history of Georgia: Revolutionary epoch">[[#Colcock1883|Colcock, 1883]], p. 378</ref> Pulaski captured a British outpost near [[Ogeechee River]].<ref name="Kajencki2005-93">[[#Kajencki2005|Kajencki, 2005]], p. 93</ref> His units then acted as an advance guard for the allied French units under Admiral [[Charles Hector, comte d'Estaing]].<ref name="psb393" /> He rendered great services during the [[siege of Savannah]], and in the assault of October 9 commanded the whole cavalry, both French and American.<ref name=appletons133 />