Scientific researchers are arguing that examination of skeletal remains and DNA testing has found that Revolutionary war hero Casimir Pulaski was in fact biologically female

Scientific researchers are arguing that examination of skeletal remains and DNA testing has found that a Revolutionary war hero dubbed 'the father of the American cavalry' was in fact biologically female.

Researchers from Georgia Southern University say they made the discovery about General Casimir Pulaski after years of research examining the general's remains.

Their claims are laid out in a new documentary - The General Was Female? - on the Smithsonian Channel's America's Hidden Stories series, which airs next week.

The documentary suggests that Pulaski had an intersex condition known as congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

The condition results in genetic females producing excessive amounts of male steroid hormones that can lead to abnormal sexual development and make genitals appear more masculine.

'That's pretty much the only way to explain the combination of features that we see,' Virginia Hutton Estabrook of Georgia Southern University told the Chicago Tribune.

In addition to the female-looking pelvis, researchers say the skeletal remains also had a more female facial structure and jaw.

Researchers from Georgia Southern University say they made the discovery about General Casimir Pulaski after years of research examining the general's remains, which had been buried at a memorial dedicated to him in Savannah, Georgia

Chatham County coroner Dr. James C. Metts Jr. holds the skull believed to be that of General Casimir Pulaski. Metts went to Pulaski's native Poland to collect DNA from a descendent to make a positive identification

Backing up their claims, researchers said extensive DNA testing provided a match between the remains and Pulaski's grand-niece.

They also said the skeleton showed evidence of horseback riding, that he was of a similar height and had a battle wound injury that Pulaski suffered.

Pulaski, who was born in Poland in 1745, fought against Russia before later making his way to America to join the revolution and lead the charge against British forces.

After fighting Russia, he was falsely accused of trying to assassinate the king of Poland, he went into exile in France, where he heard talk of revolution in America and met Benjamin Franklyn in Paris.

Historians say Pulaski likely saved George Washington's life during one battle by stalling British forces.

He died in 1779 at the age of 34 fighting a battle in Savannah.

Pulaski was initially buried on a Savannah plantation before his remains were dug up and buried at a memorial dedicated to him in one of the city's squares in 1854.

How a Polish commander became the 'father of the American cavalry' A 19th-century monument to Polish soldier and military commander Casimir Pulaski in Savannah, Georgia Casimir Pulaski was a Polish nobleman soldier and military commander who has been described as 'the father of the American cavalry' - alongside his Hungarian friend Michael Kovats de Fabriczy. Born in Warsaw in 1745, he was one of the leading Polish military commanders who fought against Russia as part of the Bar Confederation. After a recommendation by Benjamin Franklin, Pulaski emigrated to North America and joined the Revolutionary War. Pulaski was accepted into the Continental Army as a volunteer and rose to became a general. He created the Pulaski Cavalry Legion and revolutionized the way the American cavalry operated. During his distinguished service he even saved the life of George Washington. While leading a charge against British forces at the Battle of Savannah he was wounded and died. He was one of only eight people to be awarded honorary United States citizenship. Advertisement

Forensic experts are pictured above in 1998 exhuming Casimir Pulaski's great grandniece in Poland so could make a DNA match to the remains found in Savannah, Georgia

The Pulaski Skyway as seen on June 25, 2014 in Jersey City, New Jersey

Brooklyn is one of many areas around the United States that had paid tribute to the general with a street named after him. Pictured above is an aerial view of Pulaski Street

An aerial starboard bow view of the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine USS Casimir Pulaski named after the famous revolutionary general

The subject of his remains have been a mystery for more than 100 years with some speculating about whether the general was actually ever buried in Savannah or if he was laid to rest at sea.

Permission was eventually granted in 1996 to study the remains buried in the Pulaski Monument.

The initial findings confused scientists when further examination suggested the skeletal remains appeared to be biologically female.

It fueled speculation that the remains did not actually belong to Pulaski.

The research into the general's bone samples was dropped several years later due to lack of funding for additional DNA testing.

It was taken back up again in 2015 by researchers at the Georgia Southern University and they were given funding by the Smithsonian Channel for the costly DNA lab work.

The team's findings are currently being reviewed by the Journal of Forensic Anthropology.

Pulaski never married or fathered any children but was engaged in a long correspondence with a female friend throughout a large part of his adult life.

Pulaski Park and Fieldhouse in Chicago. An 18-mile street also bears his name in the city of Chicago

The Pulaski Bridge in Brooklyn named after the famous Count General in February 2015

Men of a Rhode Island regiment pause during gun practice to pose for a picture near a gun emplacement and cannon at Fort Pulaski, Georgia, in 1862

Fort Pulaski National Monument on the site of the Battle of Fort Pulaski in Savannah, Georgia

Like many foreign officers in the Continental Army, Pulaski caused animosity among his colleagues.

He was said to have demanded that only high-ranking generals such as George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette were in higher positions and that he reported directly to Congress.

Unable to speak much English, Pulaski only reluctantly took orders even from Washington and caused ructions with fellow officers in the revolutionary army.

One rival was Anthony Wayne, who believed Pulaski looked down on the fighting ability of American soldiers.

Pulaski also resented that American officers disliked taking orders from a foreigner.

He also lodged court martial proceedings against one his own commanders, Stephen Moylan, for disobeying his orders and punching a fellow Polish soldier.

After resigning his post as chief of cavalry in March 1778, Pulaski sought Congressional approval to raise his own cavalry made up of prisoners and deserters.

Pulaski was mortally wounded during a brave but foolhardy cavalry charge at the Battle of Savannah in Georgia in 1779.

It was said his enemies were so in awe of his bravery they allowed his body to taken from the battlefield and he died from a head wound on board the USS Wasp.

A World War I Polish army recruitment poster depicting Casimir Pulaski and Thaddeus Kosciuszko (left) and a bust of the general (right)