The Bitter End When men were men ... and women were, too By Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill
A
s we’re all well aware, we live in some very odd times! However, we aren’t that different from our pirate forefathers before us. How so? Prepare yourself to be blindsided, or broadsided, whichever the case may be. History is very important to me, and perhaps, in looking back, I should have been a history professor as a calling instead of a crochety old boat captain. But I do get a chance to see a lot of local history each day, in and around the lowcountry coastline. One example I’m eager to learn more about are the 19 canons, dating back to the Revolutionary War that the Army Corp of Engineers have recovered from the Savannah River over the past year. I get to see lighthouses, those ancient beacons that guided mariners to safety. I also get to see river fortifications that once protected our shipping ports and seaside communities – the name of one of these leads me to this column. Fort Pulaski sits astride the North and South Channels of the Savannah River, though this article is not about the fort, rather the person it’s named after: Casimir Pulaski, of Polish blood and military fame and the one time bodyguard of General George Washington. Later, during the Siege of Savannah, Pulaski was mortally wounded and subsequently died aboard the USS Wasp. And here is where the tale takes on a couple of twists. There are two different accounts regarding Count Pulaski’s remains. One is that he was buried at sea not far from where the Savannah River meets the Atlantic, as was reported by his aide de camp. The other claims he was laid to rest in an unmarked grave at Greenwich Plantation. In 1995, the remains in Greenwich were exhumed and reinterred at Monterey Square in Savannah. As y’all know, I love taking folks down the rabbit hole with me, so here we go. When the body was exhumed to be moved, physicians confirmed that it fit the bill for “a man of Pulaski’s age and stature,” as stated on the historical marker in Monterey Square. DNA samples were taken during the relocation of the alleged remains and tested to see if this was indeed Count Casimir Pulaski. The results came back with a stunning revelation. Though the skeletal remains appeared to be male and first-hand accounts of Pulaski during his lifetime indicated that he had male characteristics, including facial hair and baldness, the DNA results indicated the deceased was female. Yep, that’s right, female. This has been a matter of contention for nearly two decades
Was Pulaski female or does someone else lie beneath the monument in Monterey Square? Photo by J. Gary Hill
now. Those of you with kids may be familiar with the story of Mulan, a young Chinese girl who impersonates her father and joins the army. Was this perhaps an American version? Throughout history there are accounts of women impersonating men in order to accomplish some task that women weren’t permitted to do, including military service. Some medical experts have suggested that if it is Pulaski, his gender would be classified as intersex, which does not conform to our normal binary definitions of male and female. So, is it Pulaski buried in the grave that carries his name or someone else? If not Pulaski, who? Maybe he was buried at sea and someone else lies in that final resting place in Monterey Square. Who’s to say which story is the correct one? There are multiple sources for both versions online. What do I know, I’m just a crochety old captain. Have I ever told you about the French word matelotage? No? Well, that one is a doozy, but as I’m seeing the bottom of the page coming up, it’s time to save this and send it to the boss lady since I’m already “way late for a very important date” as my rabbit friend would say. Hope you’ve enjoyed another foray into the past! 'Til our wakes cross again, peace and love, and shrimp and grits. I'll see you on the water!
Email: TheOriginalCaptainGator@gmail.com 30
Southern Tides Magazine April 2022
