ALS, DLC:GW; ADfS, MHi: Heath Papers.

On this date Heath also wrote GW the following letter of introduction: “This will be handed to you by Count Koskowtski a Polish Officer who finding Liberty extinct in his own Country has Come to protect and enjoy it here on his Passage he was taken Prisoner and has been Some time in Captivity, has lately obtained his release and has requested a Line to Your Excellency, all that I can say is that He exhibits the Character of a Gentleman and expresses a warm attachment to our Cause, & is a particular acquaintance of Count Polaski” (ADfS, MHi: Heath Papers). GW introduced Stanislaw Kotkowski (Kotkouski) to Henry Laurens in his letter to Laurens of 18 Nov. (DNA:PCC, item 152). That letter and the enclosed letters introducing Kotkowski to GW that had been written at Paris by Benjamin Franklin on 13 June 1777 and Silas Deane on 14 June 1777 were read by Congress on 25 Nov. 1778 and were referred to the Board of War (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 12:1161; Franklin’s letter is in DNA:PCC, item 82, and Deane’s letter is in DNA:PCC, item 103). On 10 Dec. 1778 the Board of War recommended and Congress agreed to give Kotkowski “the rank of Captain in General Pulaski’s legion, with the pay of a Lieutenant; in which latter capacity he is willing to do duty in the corps” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 12:1210). Tried by a court-martial at Minisink, N.Y., on 11–12 Jan. 1779 for gross misconduct at the house of a civilian, Kotkowski was convicted and sentenced to be cashiered (see court-martial proceedings, 11–12 Jan. 1779, and Edward Hand to GW, 15 Jan. 1779, both in DLC:GW). Kotkowski apparently returned to Europe soon afterwards (see GW to Edward Hand, 7 Feb. 1779, NjMoHP).