This Day In History: Agrippa Hull, Little-known American Patriot: A Free African-American Patriot

Agrippa Hull was a free African-American patriot who served as an orderly to Tadeusz Kościuszko, a Polish military officer, engineer, and nobleman, for five years during the American Revolutionary War. He served for a total of six years and two months. After the war, he received a veteran's pension.
Raised in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, Hull's increasing fame is accessible in large part due to his association with Kościuszko, who is still a hero across America today for helping design and construct the defenses of West Point, among other things. Serving as Kościuszko's orderly for 50 months in nearly every major battle, Hull was described by noted historian Gary Gary Nash as a great "unnoticed American." Nash further speaks of Hull's service to the Continental Army at the side of Kościuszko as the core of his "hidden importance." By the end of the war, Hull had served for six years and two months in Washington's army, receiving a badge of honor for his extended service, and precious discharge papers signed by the commanding general himself.