Today in the history of mounted warfare

[Couvi]

1862 Battle of Holly Spring, Massachusetts.

Rebels raid Union supply depot at Holly Springs, Mississippi

On this day in 1862, Confederate General Earl Van Dorn thwarts Union General Ulysses S. Grant's first attempt to capture Vicksburg, Mississippi, when Van Dorn attacks Grant's supplies at Holly Springs, Mississippi.

Grant planned a two-pronged attack on the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. He would take a force from western Tennessee to approach Vicksburg from the interior of Mississippi. Meanwhile, Union General William T. Sherman would lead an army down the Mississippi River for an attack from the north. Grant said, "We can go as far as supplies can go."

The plan started on a good note for the Yankees when Grant's army pushed aside Confederates in northern Mississippi. In response, Confederate cavalry colonel John Griffith suggested attacking Grant's supply line at Holly Springs, and recommended Van Dorn for the mission. Up to that point, Van Dorn had done little to build his reputation. He lost the Battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas and the Battle of Corinth, Mississippi, earlier in 1862, and was known for his drunkenness and tendency to cavort with prostitutes.

Van Dorn gathered three cavalry brigades and left Grenada, Mississippi, on December 17. On December 20, his forces fell on the Union supply depot at Holly Springs, driving the Yankee defenders away and capturing materials. What could not be carried was destroyed. Van Dorn remained in the area a few more days, cutting rail and telegraph lines, before fleeing in the face of pursuing Union cavalry. The Confederates rode 500 miles in two weeks, returning on December 28 after successfully disrupting Grant's campaign. The raid was the highlight of Van Dorn's military career. He was murdered five months later by the husband of a woman with whom he was having an affair.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-hist ... ississippi

[Calendar]

July 2

626 Li Shimin, the future Emperor Taizong of Tang, Emperor of China, ambushes and kills his rival brothers Li Yuanji and Li Jiancheng in the Incident at Xuanwu Gate.

963 Roman army proclaims Nicephorus Phocas Emperor of the Romans on the plains outside Cappadocian Caesarea.

1613 The first English expedition from Massachusetts against Acadia led by Samuel Argall takes place.

1644 In the English Civil War the Battle of Marston Moor occurs. Cromwell's forces prevail over Royalist forces.

1679 Daniel Greysolon de Du Luth makes treaty with local tribes and plants arms of France at Sioux village of Izatys on Lake Michigan.

1685 Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville captures Fort Rupert from English.

1698 Thomas Savery patents the first steam engine.

July 2

1775 - George Washington arrived in Boston and took over as commander-in-chief of the new Continental Army.

1776 The Continental Congress passed a resolution that "these United Colonies are, and of right, ought to be, Free and Independent States."

1777 Vermont became the first American colony to abolish slavery.

1798 Irish Rebels defeat small force of Yeomanry at Ballraheen Hill and then move to camp at Croghan.

1800 The British Act of Union is passed

1809 - Alarmed by the growing encroachment of whites squatting on Native American lands, the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh calls on all Indians to unite and resist.

1862 Lincoln signed an act granting land for state agricultural colleges. In its own way, this act would be as significant as the Homestead Acts in its impact upon American society. Many state colleges and universities today owe their existence to this act, although the practical origins of these schools is often forgotten.

1862 Flag Officer L. M. Goldsborough's fleet covered the withdrawal of General McClellan's army after a battle with Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee at Malvern Hill.

1863 - General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia attacks General George G. Meade's Army of the Potomac at both Culp's Hill and Little Round Top, but fails to move the Yankees from their positions.

1865 Sioux and/or Cheyenne raid the telegraph line near Platte Bridge Station, Wyoming, wounding Sgt. Holding of the 11th Kansas. Sgt. Holding's attacker was killed by Pvt. Hammond, and the body was thought to be that of a European American, not an Indian.

1881 - Only four months into his administration, President James A. Garfield is shot as he walks through a railroad waiting room in Washington, D.C.

1885 Big Bear surrenders to General Strange at Fort Carlton Saskatchewan after his men run out of food and ammunition. He was sentenced with Poundmaker to three years in Stony Mountain Penitentiary.

1890 Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act.

1900 The first flight of a zeppelin made by its inventor Count von Zeppelin, took place at a field outside Berlin, Germany.

1901 The 6th Cavalry was engaged in action at Patian Island, Philippines (see CMH citations for today).

1922 Heavy fighting took place in Dublin during the Irish Rebellion.

1926 The U.S. Army Air Corps was created.

1926 An Act of Congress established the Soldier’s Medal for acts of heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy.

1932 Democrats nominated New York Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt for president at their convention in Chicago.

1937 Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to make the first round-the-world flight at the equator. The CGC Itasca, while conducting re-supply operations in the Central Pacific, made the last-known radio contact with the plane.

1940 OKW issues a directive for the invasion of the UK.

1941 An Imperial Conference is held in Japan in which the crown ratifies a decision to attempt to take bases in French Indochina even at the risk of war. Japan also determines to conscript 1,000,000 men in preparation for war and to recall its ships from the Atlantic.

1926 - The Distinguished Flying Cross was established in the Air Corps Act (Act of Congress, Public Law No. 446, 69th Congress).

1941 - The US authorities very soon know of a Japanese determination to attempt to seize bases in Indonesia even if it should precipitate war through their code-breaking service which has managed to work out the key to the major Japanese diplomatic code and some other minor operational codes.

1944 The first elements of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force sail from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for Italy.

1947 - An object crashed near Roswell, N.M. The Army Air Force later insisted it was a weather balloon, but eyewitness accounts gave rise to speculation it might have been an alien spacecraft.

36 Medal of Honor citations at Gettysburg today.

1950 USS Juneau and two British ships sink 5 of 6 attacking North Korean torpedo boats and gunboats in the only significant naval engagement of the Korean War.

1950 The Royal Australian Air Force 77 Squadron began flying F-51 Mustang missions in Korea.

1951 The U.S. 3rd Infantry Division launched Operation DOUGHNUT, a series of attacks directed against hills in the Iron Triangle.

1957 The Seawolf, the first submarine powered by liquid metal cooled reactor, was completed.

1957 Grayback, the first submarine designed to fire guided missiles, was launched.

1964 Civil Rights Act of 1964 signed into law.

1966 First French nuclear explosion takes place on the Mururoa atoll.

1980 US Draft registration for 18 year old men resumes.

Congressional Medals of Honor for action on this day:

ALLEN, NATHANIEL M.: Corporal, Company B, 1st Massachusetts Infantry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Boston, Mass. Birth: Boston, Mass. Date of issue: 29 March 1899. Citation: When his regiment was falling back, this soldier, bearing the national color, returned in the face of the enemy's fire, pulled the regimental flag from under the body of its bearer, who had fallen, saved the flag from capture, and brought both colors off the field.

CAREY, HUGH: Sergeant, Company E, 82d New York Infantry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 6 February 1888. Citation: Captured the flag of the 7th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.), being twice wounded in the effort.

CARLISLE, CASPER R.: Private, Company F, Independent Pennsylvania Light Artillery. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Allegheny County, Pa. Birth: Allegheny County, Pa. Date of issue: 21 December 1892. Citation: Saved a gun of his battery under heavy musketry fire, most of the horses being killed and the drivers wounded.

CHAMBERLAIN, JOSHUA L.: Colonel, 20th Maine Infantry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Brunswick, Maine. Born: 8 September 1828, Brewer Maine. Date of issue: 11 August 1893. Citation: Daring heroism and great tenacity in holding his position on the Little Round Top against repeated assaults, and carrying the advance position on the Great Round Top.

CLARK, HARRISON: Corporal, Company E, 125th New York Infantry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Chatham, N.Y. Birth: Chatham, N.Y. Date of issue: 11 June 1895. Citation: Seized the colors and advanced with them after the color bearer had been shot.

FASSETT, JOHN B.: Captain, Company F, 23d Pennsylvania Infantry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Philadelphia, Pa. Birth: Philadelphia, Pa. Date of issue: 29 December 1894. Citation: While acting as an aide, voluntarily led a regiment to the relief of a battery and recaptured its guns from the enemy.

FORCE, MANNING F.: Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers. Place and date: At Atlanta, Ga., 22 July 1864. Entered service at: Cincinnati, Ohio. Born: Washington, D.C. 17 December 1824. Date of issue: 31 March 1892. Citation: Charged upon the enemy's works, and after their capture defended his position against assaults of the enemy until he was severely wounded.

FURMAN, CHESTER S.: Corporal, Company A, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Columbia, Pa. Date of issue: 3 August 1897. Citation: Was 1 of 6 volunteers who charged upon a log house near Devil's Den, where a squad of the enemy's sharpshooters were sheltered, and compelled their surrender.

GAGE, RICHARD J.: Private, Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry Place and date: Elk River, Tenn., 2 July 1863. Entered service at. Ottawa, Ill. Birth: Grafton County, N.H. Date of issue: 30 October 1897. Citation: Voluntarily joined a small party that, under a heavy fire, captured a stockade and saved the bridge.

HART, JOHN W.: Sergeant, Company D, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Cumberland, Md. Birth: Germany. Date of issue: 3 August 1897. Citation: Was one of six volunteers who charged upon a log house near the Devil's Den, where a squad of the enemy's sharpshooters were sheltered, and compelled their surrender.

HOLLAND, LEMUEL F.: Corporal, Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry. Place and date: At Elk River, Tenn., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: La Salle County, Ill. Birth. Burlington, Ohio. Date of issue: 30 October 1897. Citation: Voluntarily joined a small party that, under a heavy fire, captured a stockade and saved the bridge.

HORAN, THOMAS
Rank and organization. Sergeant, Company E, 72d New York Infantry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Dunkirk, N.Y. Birth:------. Date of issue: 5 April 1898. Citation: In a charge of his regiment this soldier captured the regimental flag of the 8th Florlda Infantry (C.S.A.).

HOUGHTON, GEORGE L.: Private, Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry. Place and date: At Elk River, Tenn., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Brookfield, Cook County, Ill. Birth: Canada. Date of issue: 27 March 1900. Citation: Voluntarily joined a small party that, under a heavy fire, captured a stockade and saved the bridge.

JOHNSON, WALLACE W.: Sergeant, Company G, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Waverly, N.Y. Birth: Newfield, N.Y. Date of issue: 8 August 1900. Citation: With five other volunteers gallantly charged on a number of the enemy's sharpshooters concealed in a log house, captured them, and brought them into the Union lines.

KNOX, EDWARD M.: Second Lieutenant, 15th New York Battery. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Birth: New York, N.Y. Date of issue: 18 October 1892. Citation: Held his ground with the battery after the other batteries had fallen back until compelled to draw his piece off by hand; he was severely wounded.

LONERGAN, JOHN: Captain, Company A, 13th Vermont Infantry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Burlington, Vt. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 28 October 1893. Citation: Gallantry in the recapture of 4 guns and the capture of 2 additional guns from the enemy; also the capture of a number of prisoners.

MARSH, GEORGE: Sergeant, Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry. Place and date: At Elk River, Tenn., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Brookfield, La Salle County, Ill. Birth: Brookfield, La Salle County, Ill. Date of issue: 17 September 1897. Citation: Voluntarily led a small party and, under a heavy fire, captured a stockade and saved the bridge.

MEARS, GEORGE W.: Sergeant, Company A, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Bloomsburgh, Pa. Birth: Bloomsburgh, Pa. Date of issue: 16 February 1897. Citation: With five volunteers he gallantly charged on a number of the enemy's sharpshooters concealed in a log house, captured them, and brought them into the Union lines.

PIPES, JAMES: Captain, Company A, 140th Pennsylvania Infantry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863; At Reams Station, Va., 25 August 1864. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Green County, Pa. Date of issue: 5 April 1898. Citation: While a sergeant and retiring with his company before the rapid advance of the enemy at Gettysburg, he and a companion stopped and carried to a place of safety a wounded and helpless comrade; in this act both he and his companion were severely wounded. A year later, at Reams Station, Va., while commanding a skirmish line, voluntarily assisted in checking a flank movement of the enemy, and while so doing was severely wounded, suffering the loss of an arm.

POSTLES, JAMES PARKE: Captain, Company A, 1st Delaware Infantry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Wilmington, Del. Born: 28 September 1840, Camden, Del. Date of issue: 22 July 1892. Citation: Voluntarily delivered an order in the face of heavy fire of the enemy.

PURMAN, JAMES J.: Lieutenant, Company A, 140th Pennsylvania Infantry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Greene County, Pa. Birth: ------. Dare of issue: 30 October 1896. Citation: Voluntarily assisted a wounded comrade to a place of apparent safety while the enemy were in close proximity; he received the fire of the enemy and a wound which resulted in the amputation of his left leg.

REED, CHARLES W.: Bugler, 9th Independent Battery, Massachusetts Light Artillery. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Charlestown, Mass. Date of issue: 16 August 1895. Citation: Rescued his wounded captain from between the lines.

ROOSEVELT, GEORGE W.: First Sergeant, Company K. 26th Pennsylvania Infantry. Place and date: At Bull Run, Va., 30 August 1862. At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Chester Pa. Birth: Chester, Pa. Date of issue: 2 July 1887. Citation: At Bull Run, Va., recaptured the colors, which had been seized by the enemy. At Gettysburg captured a Confederate color bearer and color, in which effort he was severely wounded.

ROUSH, J. LEVI: Corporal, Company D, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Bedford County, Pa. Date of issue: 3 August 1897. Citation: Was 1 of 6 volunteers who charged upon a log house near the Devil's Den, where a squad of the enemy's sharpshooters were sheltered, and compelled their surrender.

SHAPLAND, JOHN: Private, Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry. Place and date: At Elk River, Tenn., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Ottawa, Ill. Birth: England. Date of issue: 30 October 1897. Citation: Voluntarily joined a small party that, under a heavy fire, captured a stockade and saved the bridge.

SICKLES, DANIEL E.: Major General, U.S. Volunteers. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Birth: New York, N.Y. Date of issue: 30 October 1897. Citation: Displayed most conspicuous gallantry on the field vigorously contesting the advance of the enemy and continuing to encourage his troops after being himself severely wounded.

SLAGLE, OSCAR: Private, Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry. Place and date: At Elk River, Tenn., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Manlius, Ill. Birth: Fulton County, Ohio. Date of issue: 30 October 1897. Citation: Voluntarily joined a small party that, under a heavy fire, captured a stockade and saved the bridge.

SMALLEY, REUBEN S.: Private, Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry. Place and date: At Elk River, Tenn., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Brookfield, La Salle County, Ill. Birth: Washington County, Pa. Date of issue: 30 October 1897. Citation: Voluntarily joined a small party that, under a heavy fire, captured a stockade and saved the bridge.

SMITH, THADDEUS S.. Corporal, Company E, 6th Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry. Place and date. At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Franklin County, Pa. Date of issue: 5 May 1900. Citation: Was 1 of 6 volunteers who charged upon a log house near the Devil's Den, where a squad of the enemy's sharpshooters were sheltered, and compelled their surrender.

STACEY, CHARLES: Private, Company D, 55th Ohio Infantry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: ------. Birth: England. Date of issue: 23 June 1896. Citation: Voluntarily took an advanced position on the skirmish line for the purpose of ascertaining the location of Confederate sharpshooters, and under heavy fire held the position thus taken until the company of which he was a member went back to the main line.

TOZIER, ANDREW J.: Sergeant, Company I, 20th Maine Infantry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Plymouth, Maine. Birth: Monmouth, Maine. Date of issue: 13 August 1898. Citation: At the crisis of the engagement this soldier, a color bearer, stood alone in an advanced position, the regiment having been borne back, and defended his colors with musket and ammunition picked up at his feet.

WELBORN, IRA C.: Second Lieutenant, 9th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Santiago, Cuba, 2 July 1898. Entered service at: Mico, Miss. Birth: Mico, Miss. Date of issue: 21 June 1899. Citation: Voluntarily left shelter and went, under fire, to the aid of a private of his company who was wounded.

GREER, ALLEN J.: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 4th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: Near Majada, Laguna Province, Philippine Islands, 2 July 1901. Entered service at: Memphis, Tenn. Birth: Memphis, Tenn. Date of issue: 10 March 1902. Citation: Charged alone an insurgent outpost with his pistol, killing 1, wounding 2, and capturing 3 insurgents with their rifles and equipment.

HENDERSON, JOSEPH: Sergeant, Troop B, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Patian Island, Philippine Islands, 2 July 1909. Entered service at: Leavenworth, Kans. Birth: Leavenworth, Kans. Date of issue: Unknown. Citation: While in action against hostile Moros, voluntarily advanced alone, in the face of a heavy fire, to within about 15 yards of the hostile position and refastened to a tree a block and tackle used in checking the recoil of a mountain gun.

MILLER, ARCHIE: First Lieutenant, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Patian Island, Philippine Islands, 2 July 1909. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Birth: Fort Sheridan, Ill. Date of issue: Unknown. Citation: While in action against hostile Moros, when the machinegun detachment, having been driven from its position by a heavy fire, 1 member being killed, did, with the assistance of an enlisted man, place the machinegun in advance of its former position at a distance of about 20 yards from the enemy, in accomplishing which he was obliged to splice a piece of timber to one leg of the gun tripod, all the while being under a heavy fire, and the gun tripod being several times struck by bullets.

Victoria Crosses awarded for action on this day:

O'SULLIVAN Gerald Robert: Captain. 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, British Army. On 1 July/2 July 1915 south-west of Krithia, Gallipoli, Turkey, Captain O'Sullivan volunteered to lead a party of bomb throwers to recapture a vital trench. He advanced in the open under very heavy fire and in order to throw his bombs with greater effect, got up on the parapet, completely exposed to the enemy occupying the position. He was finally wounded, but his example led his men to make further efforts which resulted in the recapture of the trench. Previously, on 18 June/19 June he had saved a critical situation by his gallantry and leadership.

SOMERS James: Sergeant. 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, British Army. On 1/2 July 1915, in Gallipoli, Turkey, when, owing to hostile bombing, some of his troops had retired from a sap, Sergeant Somers remained alone there until a party brought up bombs. He then climbed over into the Turkish trench and bombed the Turks with great effect. Later on, he advanced into the open under heavy fire and held back the enemy by throwing bombs into their flank until a barricade had been established. During this period, he frequently ran to and from his trenches to obtain fresh supplies of bombs.

[Couvi]

1865 Sioux and/or Cheyenne raid the telegraph line near Platte Bridge Station, Wyoming, wounding Sgt. Holding of the 11th Kansas. Sgt. Holding's attacker was killed by Pvt. Hammond, and the body was thought to be that of a European American, not an Indian.

In looking for information about Sgt. Holding's attacker who killed by Pvt. Hammond, and whose body was thought to be that of a European American, not an Indian, I discovered this bit on Lt. Caspar Collins:

Lieutenant Caspar Collins: Fighting the Odds at Platte Bridge: http://www.historynet.com/lieutenant-casper-collins-fighting-the-odds-at-platte-bridge.htm Apparently he was a brave young man.

One has to wonder who the European was.

[Calendar]

July 3

987 Hugh Capet crowned King of France.

1187 Saladin's forces destroy Jerusalem's crusader army at the Horns of Hattin, Palestine.

1608 The city of Quebec was founded by Samuel de Champlain.

1775 - On Cambridge common in Massachusetts, George Washington rides out in front of the American troops gathered there, draws his sword, and formally takes command of the Continental Army.

1778 The Wyoming Massacre occurred during the American Revolution in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania. Up to 360 Americans, including women and children, die in the event which had shades of the French Indian War in some ways.
http://www.archive.org/stream/massacreo ... h_djvu.txt

1863 - Troops under Confederate General George Pickett begin a massive attack against the center of the Union lines at Gettysburg on the climactic third day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the largest engagement of the war.After a long Confederate artillery bombardment, the Rebel force moved through the open field and up the slight rise of Cemetery Ridge. But by the time they reached the Union line, the attack had been broken into many small units, and they were unable to penetrate the Yankee center. The failed attack effectively ended the battle of Gettysburg. On July 4, Lee began to withdraw his forces to Virginia. The casualties for both armies were staggering. Lee lost 28,000 of his 75,000 soldiers, and Union losses stood at over 22,000.

1863 Lewis A. Armistead, 46, Brig Gen, C.S.A., killed in action at Gettysburg.

1863 Alonzo Cushing, 1st Lt, U.S.A., killed in action at age 22 at Gettysburg. Approval of an award of the Congressional Medal of Honor has been authorized by the Army, but apparently Congress has not yet authorized the medal. Congressional approval is all that is required in order for this heroic artilleryman to receive the medal that he certainly met the criteria for in 1863.

1863 Richard B Garnett, 46, Brig Gen, C.S.A., killed in action at Gettysburg.

1868 The Wind River Reservation created in Wyoming. Originally the reservation was a reservation for the Shoshone tribe, whose leader, Washakie, had requested that the government set aside a reservation for his people. The Arapahos would come to call the reservation home some years thereafter.

1869 Sioux raid Wind River valley but are driven off by soldiers.

1886 Raymond A Spruance, Admiral, U.S., born.

1890 - Idaho, the last of the 50 states to be explored by whites, is admitted to the union.

1898 The U.S. Navy defeated a Spanish fleet in the harbor at Santiago, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War.

1930 Congress created the Veterans Administration.

1940 British warships destroy the French fleet at Mers-el-Kebir, Algeria, to prevent Germany seizing it.

1943 The Pole Mountain military reservation, formerly used for the training of Wyoming National Guard cavalrymen and cavalrymen from various posts around the region, is opened to civilian picnickers. That this would occur in 1943 says something about the direction the Army was headed in at the time.

1962 Algeria became independent after 132 years of French rule.

1988 The USS Vincennes shot down an Iran Air jetliner over the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 people aboard.

2001 Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic refused to enter a plea on war crimes charges in his first appearance before a U.N. tribunal at The Hague.

Congressional Medals of Honor awarded for action on this day:

There were 38 MOH citations at Gettysburg this day. The following are cavalry at Gettysburg and elsewhere.

WELLS, WILLIAM
Rank and organization: Major, 1st Vermont Cavalry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 3 July 1863. Entered service at: Waterbury, Vt. Born: 14 December 1837, Waterbury, Vt. Date of issue: 8 September 1891. Citation: Led the second battalion of his regiment in a daring charge.

WILEY, JAMES
Rank and organization. Sergeant, Company B, 59th New York Infantry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 3 July 1863. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Ohio. Date of issue: 1 December 1864. Citation: Capture of flag of a Georgia regiment.

WILSON, CHARLES E.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company A, 1st New Jersey Cavalry. Place and date: At Sailors Creek, Va., 6 April 1865. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Bucks County, Pa. Date of issue: 3 July 1865. Citation: Charged the enemy's works, colors in hand, and had 2 horses shot from under him.

BACON, ELIJAH W.

BENEDICT, GEORGE G.

BROWN, MORRIS, JR.

CLOPP, JOHN E.

DE CASTRO, JOSEPH H.

DORE, GEORGE H.

ENDERLIN, RICHARD

FALLS, BENJAMIN F.

FLYNN, CHRISTOPHER

FUGER, FREDERICK

HINCKS, WILLIAM B.

JELLISON, BENJAMIN H.

MAYBERRY, JOHN B.

McCARREN, BERNARD

MILLER, JOHN

MILLER, WILLIAM E. Captain, Company H, 3d Pennsylvania Cavalry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 3 July 1863. Citation: Without orders, led a charge of his squadron upon the flank of the enemy, checked his attack, and cut off and dispersed the rear of his column.

MUNSELL, HARVEY M.

O'BRIEN, HENRY D.

PLATT, GEORGE C. Private, Troop H, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Fairfield, Pa., 3 July 63. Citation: Seized the regimental flag upon the death of the standard bearer in a hand_to_hand fight and prevented it from falling into the hands of the enemy.

RAYMOND, WILLIAM H.

RICE, EDMUND

RICHMOND, JAMES

ROBINSON, JOHN H.

ROOD, OLIVER P.

SHERMAN, MARSHALL

SOUTHARD, DAVID. Sergeant, Company C, 1st New Jersey Cavalry. Place and date. At Sailors Creek, Va., 6 April 1865. Citation: Capture of flag; and was the first man over the works in the charge.

THOMPSON, JAMES B.

VEAZEY, WHEELOCK G.

WALL, JERRY

WEBB, ALEXANDER S.

WILEY, JAMES

WILSON, CHARLES E.

BRADBURY, SANFORD
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company L, 8th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Hell Canyon, Ariz., 3 July 1869. Citation: Conspicuous gallantry in action.

HAUPT, PAUL
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company L, 8th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Hell Canyon, Ariz., 3 July 1869. Citation: Gallantry in action.

MITCHELL, JOHN J.
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company L, 8th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Hell Canyon, Ariz., 3 July 1869. Citation: Gallantry in action.

HOLT, GEORGE: Peacetime award. Quarter Gunner, U.S. Navy. Born: 1840, Kentucky. Accredited to: Kentucky. G.O. No.: 180, 10 October 1872. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Plymouth, Hamburg Harbor, 3 July 1871. Jumping overboard at the imminent risk of his life, Holt, with a comrade, rescued from drowning one of a party who was thrown from a shore boat into a 4-knot, running tide while the boat was coming alongside the ship.

TOBIN, PAUL: Peacetime award. Landsman, U.S. Navy. Birth: Plybin, France. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Plymouth, Hamburg Harbor, 3 July 1871. Jumping overboard at the imminent risk of his life, Tobin, with a comrade, rescued from drowning one of a party who was thrown from a shore boat into a 4-knot running tide while the boat was coming alongside the ship.

MAcNEAL, HARRY LEWIS: Spanish American War. Private, U.S. Marine Corps. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during action at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba, 3 July 1898. Braving the fire of the enemy, MacNeal displayed gallantry throughout this action.

GLOWIN, JOSEPH ANTHONY: Dominican Republic. Corporal, U .S. Marine Corps. Citation: During an engagement at Guayacanas on 3 July 1916, Cpl. Glowin participated in action against a considerable force of rebels on the line of march.

WINANS, ROSWELL: Dominican Republic. First Sergeant. U.S. Marine Corps. Place and date: Guayacanas, Dominican Republic, 3 July 1916. Entered service at: Washington. Born. 9 December 1887, Brookville, Ind. G.O. No.: 244, 30 October 1916. Citation: During an engagement at Guavacanas on 3 July 1916, 1st Sgt. Winans participated in action against a considerable force of rebels on the line of march. During a running fight of 1,200 yards, our forces reached the enemy entrenchments and Cpl. Joseph A. Gowin, U.S.M.C., placed the machinegun, of which he had charge, behind a large log across the road and immediately opened fire on the trenches. He was struck once but continued firing his gun, but a moment later he was again struck and had to be dragged out of the position into cover. 1st Sgt. Winans, U.S.M.C., then arrived with a Colt's gun which he placed in a most exposed position, coolly opened fire on the trenches and when the gun jammed, stood up and repaired it under fire. All the time Glowin and Winans were handling their guns they were exposed to a very heavy fire which was striking into the logs and around the men, 7 men being wounded and 1 killed within 20 feet. 1st Sgt. Winans continued flring his gun until the enemy had abandoned the trenches.

Winans rose to the rank of Brigadier General.

KOELSCH, JOHN KELVIN. Korean War. Posthumous award. Lieutenant (J.G.), U.S. Navy, Navy helicopter rescue unit. Place and date: North Korea, 3 July 1951. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with a Navy helicopter rescue unit. Although darkness was rapidly approaching when information was received that a marine aviator had been shot down and was trapped by the enemy in mountainous terrain deep in hostile territory, Lt. (J.G.) Koelsch voluntarily flew a helicopter to the reported position of the downed airman in an attempt to effect a rescue. With an almost solid overcast concealing everything below the mountain peaks, he descended in his unarmed and vulnerable aircraft without the accompanying fighter escort to an extremely low altitude beneath the cloud level and began a systematic search. Despite the increasingly intense enemy fire, which struck his helicopter on 1 occasion, he persisted in his mission until he succeeded in locating the downed pilot, who was suffering from serious burns on the arms and legs. While the victim was being hoisted into the aircraft, it was struck again by an accurate burst of hostile fire and crashed on the side of the mountain. Quickly extricating his crewmen and the aviator from the wreckage, Lt. (J.G.) Koelsch led them from the vicinity in an effort to escape from hostile troops, evading the enemy forces for 9 days and rendering such medical attention as possible to his severely burned companion until all were captured. Up to the time of his death while still a captive of the enemy, Lt. (J.G.) Koelsch steadfastly refused to aid his captors in any manner and served to inspire his fellow prisoners by his fortitude and consideration for others. His great personal valor and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice throughout sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

SHUCK, WILLIAM E., JR.: Korean War. Posthumous award. Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company G, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Korea, 3 July 1952. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader of Company G, in action against enemy aggressor forces. When his platoon was subjected to a devastating barrage of enemy small-arms, grenade, artillery, and mortar fire during an assault against strongly fortified hill positions well forward of the main line of resistance, S/Sgt. Shuck, although painfully wounded, refused medical attention and continued to lead his machine gun squad in the attack. Unhesitatingly assuming command of a rifle squad when the leader became a casualty, he skillfully organized the 2 squads into an attacking force and led 2 more daring assaults upon the hostile positions. Wounded a second time, he steadfastly refused evacuation and remained in the foremost position under heavy fire until assured that all dead and wounded were evacuated. Mortally wounded by an enemy sniper bullet while voluntarily assisting in the removal of the last casualty, S/Sgt. Shuck, by his fortitude and great personal valor in the face of overwhelming odds, served to inspire all who observed him. His unyielding courage throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

BLANCHFIELD, MICHAEL R.: Vietnam War. Posthumous award. Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 4th Battalion, 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade. Place and date: Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam, 3 July 1969. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Blanchfield distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman in Company A on a combat patrol. The patrol surrounded a group of houses to search for suspects. During the search of 1 of the huts, a man suddenly ran out toward a nearby tree line. Sp4c. Blanchfield, who was on guard outside the hut, saw the man, shouted for him to halt, and began firing at him as the man ignored the warning and continued to run. The suspect suddenly threw a grenade toward the hut and its occupants. Although the exploding grenade severely wounded Sp4c. Blanchfield and several others, he regained his feet to continue the pursuit of the enemy. The fleeing enemy threw a second grenade which landed near Sp4c. Blanchfield and several members of his patrol. Instantly realizing the danger, he shouted a warning to his comrades. Sp4c. Blanchfield unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his safety, threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full and fatal impact of the explosion. By his gallant action and self-sacrifice, he was able to save the lives and prevent injury to 4 members of the patrol and several Vietnamese civilians in the immediate area. Sp4c. Blanchfield's extraordinary courage and gallantry at the cost of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

FOLLAND, MICHAEL FLEMING: Vietnam War. Posthumous award. Corporal, U.S. Army, Company D, 2d Battalion, 3d Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade. Place and date: Long Khanh, Providence, Republic of Vietnam, 3 July 1969. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Cpl. Folland distinguished himself while serving as an ammunition bearer with the weapons platoon of Company D, during a reconnaissance patrol mission. As the patrol was moving through a dense jungle area, it was caught in an intense crossfire from heavily fortified and concealed enemy ambush positions. As the patrol reacted to neutralize the ambush, it became evident that the heavy weapons could not be used in the cramped fighting area. Cpl. Folland dropped his recoilless rifle ammunition, and ran forward to join his commander in an assault on the enemy bunkers. The assaulting force moved forward until it was pinned down directly in front of the heavily fortified bunkers by machine gun fire. Cpl. Folland stood up to draw enemy fire on himself and to place suppressive fire on the enemy positions while his commander attempted to destroy the machine gun positions with grenades. Before the officer could throw a grenade, an enemy grenade landed in the position. Cpl. Folland alerted his comrades and his commander hurled the grenade from the position. When a second enemy grenade landed in the position, Cpl. Folland again shouted a warning to his fellow soldiers. Seeing that no one could reach the grenade and realizing that it was about to explode, Cpl. Folland, with complete disregard for his safety, threw himself on the grenade. By his dauntless courage, Cpl. Folland saved the lives of his comrades although he was mortally wounded by the explosion. Cpl. Folland's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Victoria Crosses awarded for action on this day:

TREWAVAS Joseph: Crimean War. Seaman. Royal Navy. Citation: On 3 July 1855 in the Straits of Genitchi, Sea of Azov in the Crimea, Seaman Trewavas of HMS Beagle was sent in a 4-oared gig to destroy a bridge, and so cut the Russians' main supply route. This was the third attempt, the first two having failed. As the gig ground against the bridge, Seaman Trewavas leapt out with an axe and began to hew away at the hawsers holding the pontoons together, and although the enemy kept up a heavy fire, particularly on Trewavas himself, he continued until his task was completed, and the two severed ends of the pontoon began to drift apart. He was wounded as he got back into the gig.

BERESFORD Lord William Leslie de la Poer: Zulu Wars Captain. 9th Queen's Royal Lancers, British Army. Citation: On 3 July 1879 at Ulundi, Zululand, South Africa, during the retirement of a reconnoitring party, Captain Lord William Beresford went to the assistance of Sergeant Fitzmaurice of the 24th Regiment, whose horse had fallen and rolled on him. The Zulus were coming in great numbers, but Lord William, with help from Sergeant Edmund O'Toole of the Frontier Light Horse.,managed to mount the injured man behind him. He was, however, so dizzy that Sergeant O'Toole, who had been keeping back the advancing Zulus, gave up his carbine and, riding alongside, helped to hold him on until they reached safety.

O'TOOLE Edmund: Zulu War. Sergeant, Frontier Light Horse, British Colonial forces. Citation: On 3 July 1879 at Ulundi, Zululand, South Africa, during the retirement of a reconnoitering party, a captain (Lord William Leslie de la Poer Beresford) of the 9th Lancers went to the assistance of Sergeant Fitzmaurice of the 24th Regiment whose horse had fallen and rolled on him. The Zulus were coming up quickly in great numbers, but the officer, with help from Sergeant O'Toole, managed to mount the injured man behind him. He was, however, so dizzy that the sergeant, who had been keeping back the enemy, gave up his carbine and rode alongside to hold him on. They all finally reached safety.

ENGLISH William John: Second Boer War. Lieutenant. 2nd The Scottish Horse. Citation: This Officer with five men was holding the right of a position at Vlakfontein on the 3rd July, 1901, during an attack by the Boers. Two of his men were killed and two wounded, but the position was still held, largely owing to Lieutenant English's personal pluck. When the ammunition ran short he went over to the next party and obtained more; to do this he had to cross some 15 yards of open ground under a heavy fire at a range of from 20 to 30 yards.

CARTON de WIART Adrian: World War One. Lieutenant-colonel. 4th Dragoon Guards (Royal Irish), British Army. Citation: For most conspicuous bravery, coolness and determination during severe operations of a prolonged nature. It was owing in a great measure to his dauntless courage and inspiring example that a serious reverse was averted. He displayed the utmost energy and courage in forcing our attack home. After three other battalion Commanders had become casualties, he controlled their commands, and ensured that the ground won was maintained at all costs. He frequently exposed himself in the organisation of positions and of supplies, passing unflinchingly through fire barrage of the most intense nature. His gallantry was inspiring to all.

TURRALL Thomas George: World War One. Private. 10th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, British Army. Citation: On 3 July 1916 at La Boiselle, France, during a bombing attack by a small party against the enemy, the officer in charge was badly wounded and the party was compelled eventually to retire. Private Turrall remained with the wounded officer for three hours under continuous and heavy fire from machine-guns and bombs. Notwithstanding that both he and the officer were at one time completely cut off from the British troops, he held his ground with determination and finally carried the officer to the British lines after a counter-attack had made this possible.

Last supplemented on Wednesday July 3, 2012.

[Pat Holscher]

1865 Sioux and/or Cheyenne raid the telegraph line near Platte Bridge Station, Wyoming, wounding Sgt. Holding of the 11th Kansas. Sgt. Holding's attacker was killed by Pvt. Hammond, and the body was thought to be that of a European American, not an Indian.

In looking for information about Sgt. Holding's attacker who killed by Pvt. Hammond, and whose body was thought to be that of a European American, not an Indian, I discovered this bit on Lt. Caspar Collins:

Lieutenant Caspar Collins: Fighting the Odds at Platte Bridge: http://www.historynet.com/lieutenant-casper-collins-fighting-the-odds-at-platte-bridge.htm Apparently he was a brave young man.

One has to wonder who the European was.

Nice account of the Battle of Platte Bridge Station.

[Calendar]

July 4

Today in Independence Day in the United States.


And a day unusually packed with interesting historical events.

1054 A supernova is seen by Chinese, Arab, and possibly Amerindian observers near the star Zeta Tauri. For several months it remains bright enough to be seen during the day.

1187 In the Battle of Hattin Saladin defeats the Crusaders under King Guy of Jerusalem.

1301 In the Battle of Breukelen Holland defeats Lichtenberg.

1636 City of Providence, Rhode Island, was formed.

1690 James II flees to France for assistance after his defeat by William of Orange.

1754 Lieutenant Colonel George Washington is compelled to surrender “Fort Necessity” to a French task force from Fort Duquesne.

1763 Ojibwa and Sauk Indians capture Ft. Michilimackinac from the British.

For July 4.

On this date in 1776 the Continental Congress acted to pass The Declaration of Independence.

By this act, the Continental Congress radically altered the nature of the ongoing war against the United Kingdom, no matter what prospective the war is viewed from. The American colonies had been at war with the United Kingdom since 1774, when militiamen and British troops first engaged each other in combat at Lexington and Concord.

While it seems difficult to understand it now, the war was not at first for the stated war aim of achieving a complete separation from the United Kingdom. The various Colonial governments viewed their association with the United Kingdom in different ways, some of which would seem quite foreign to Americans today. At first the concept of completely severing a political association with the United Kingdom seemed so extremely radical as to be beyond consideration for many. However, by the second year of the war, the section of the population which wished for Congress to declare the colonies to be independent from the United Kingdom (which was a concept that some Colonist had before the war, and already believed to be a type of reality) had grown to the point where a majority in Congress favored it. On this day, Congress declared the separation to be a permanent and self evident fact.

The text of the Declaration reads:

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Pat

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by HawkHero</i>
<br />Pat;

Lexington and Concord were on April 19th, 1775. The battle is quite amazing in that the British essentially ran from Concord almost to Boston before running into the British relief column. While history often shows militiamen taking aimed shots from behind walls, the evidence shows that only about one in 1,000 shots fired hit another person. In the end, there were 273 British casualties compared to about 93 American casualties.



Brian S Colonna
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Quite correct, and, moreover thanks for correcting the date.

Pat

I'm linking in an archived thread, given the interesting debate on the nature of the American Revolution it contains:

topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=3604

A large part of what made this stirring, intelligent, and civil debate so interesting was the learned participation of the late Rev. Kevin Fox in it. I note that as it should be noted that Rev. Fox, as those were participating in the forum at that time will recall, sadly lost his battle with cancer, so we cannot renew the debate with his participation. Rev. Fox was quite knowledgeable and interested in the American Revolution and on the Northwest Mounted Police. He was also a fox hunter. His passing leaves a sad void here.

Pat

1776. The United States declares its independence from the United Kingdom. Notable in this is that the Continental Congress, representing the American colonies, but excluding Quebec, had been waging war against the United Kingdom for a period of several months prior to this without having sought to sever their relationship with Great Britain, showing how close the bonds between the colonies and the UK really were.

[/quote]

1777 John Paul Jones hoists first Stars and Stripes flag on Ranger at Portsmouth, NH.

1785 The first Fourth of July parade was held in Bristol, Rhode Island.

1796 The First Independence Day celebration was held.

1800 The Marine Band played at Tun Tavern, Philadelphia, in their first public appearance.

1801 First Presidential Review of U.S. Marine Band and Marines at the White House.

1802 The U.S. Military Academy opened at West Point, N.Y.

1803 The Louisiana Purchase is announced to the American people.

1804 Author Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem, Mass.

Not really a mounted warfare item, but today (July 4th), in addition to the other significant events in US history, also marks the first celebration of July 4th west of the Miss., in 1804. This was by Lewis & Clark's Corps of Discovery which, after all, was an expedition lead by military officers. I'll justify its entry here by noting that this expedition relied heavily on horse transportation, although they'd hoped to rely upon water transportation to a much greater extent than they did.

Pat

1804 In the first Fourth of July celebration west of the Mississippi River, Lewis and Clark fire the expedition cannon and order an extra ration of whiskey for the men.

1804 Nathaniel Hawthorne, militiaman, novelist born.

1807 Giuseppe Garibaldi born.

1826 John Adams died at age 90 in Braintree, Mass., while Thomas Jefferson died at 83 at Monticello.

1826 Green Clay Smith, Brig Gen, U.S. born.

1828 James Johnston Pettigrew, Brig Gen, C.S.A., born.

1830 William Sublette names "Rock Independence" as his Wind River bound party spent the 4th of July there. The name would shortly be changed to Independence Rock.

1831 James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States, died at age 73 in New York City.

1845 Henry David Thoreau began a two-year experiment in simple living at Walden Pond near Concord, Mass.

1848 Marx and Engels published the Communist Manifesto. In Marx's treatise he proclaimed the inevitability of his theory of communism, although the book itself was weak on actual economics, just as Marx was fairly weak on actually working. Not surprisingly, folks like Marx met with a poor reception by the regimes that actually attempted his theories.

1848 The Cornerstone of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. was laid by President Polk.

1850 - President Zachary Taylor stood hatless in the sun for hours listening to speeches. He returned to the White House and attempted to cool off by eating cherries, cucumbers and drinking iced milk. Severe stomach cramps followed and it is likely that Taylor's own physicians inadvertently killed him with a whole series of debilitating treatments. He died on died July 9. So, put on your hat and be careful with your July 4 celebrations.

1861 Union and Confederate forces skirmished at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.

1862 Battle at Green River, Ky took place in part of Morgan's Raid.

1863 General Lee’s army limped toward Virginia after defeat at Gettysburg. 28,063 of 75,000 confederate soldiers were lost. General Meade’s army suffered 23,049 soldiers killed, wounded and missing.

1863 Dramatic midnight cavalry charge by the 1st West Virginia Cav, at Monterey Mountain, Pa. See CMH citations.

1863 Paul Joseph Revere, US grandson of Paul Revere, Union died from wounds at Gettysburg.

1863 Failed Confederate assault on Helena, Arkansas.

1863 Skirmish at Smithburg, TN.

1863 Vicksburg surrenders.

1864 U.S.S. Hastings engaged Confederate sharpshooters on the White River above St. Charles, Arkansas.

1872 Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president of the United States, was born in Plymouth, Vt.

1878 George M. Cohan born in Providence, Rhode Island

1878 Thoroughbred horses Ten Broeck and Mollie McCarty run a match race and are immortalized in the song Molly and Tenbrooks.

1879 The Zululand capital of Ulundi is captured by British troops and burnt to the ground ending the Anglo-Zulu War.

1883 Field Marshal Sir Alan Brooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, born.

1884 France gives the United States the Statue of Liberty.

1886 First train from Montreal arrives in Port Moody, British Columbia.

1894 The Provisional Government under Judge Stanford B. Dole declared Hawaii a republic.

1898 A US flag was hoisted over Wake Island during the Spanish-American War.

1901 William H. Taft became the American territorial governor of the Philippines.

1902 President Theodore Roosevelt officially ended the Philippine-American War. It really wasn't, but he saw the value in declaring it to be so.

1909 6th U.S. Cav engaged at Patian Island, Philippine Islands. See CMH citations.

1910 African-American boxer Jack Johnson knocks out white boxer Jim Jeffries in a heavyweight boxing match sparking race riots across the United States.

1913 Woodrow Wilson addresses American Civil War veterans at the Great Reunion of 1913.

1916 Tokyo Rose, Iva Toguri D'Aquino, was born in Los Angeles.

1917 German Gotha bombers conduct air raids on the Felixstowe Naval Air Station at Harwich, United Kingdom.

1917:

1921 Eamon De Valera orders the American flag flown in Dublin to "emphasize the principle for which we are fighting".

1926 The Nazi party formed in Weimar, Germany.

1933 Heinrich Brüning agrees under pressure to dissolve the German Center Party ending effective political resistance against Hitler.

1939 Baseball player Lou Gehrig, afflicted with a fatal illness, bid a tearful farewell at Yankee Stadium in New York.

1940 British Force H returns to Mers-el-Kébir, Algeria, to finish off the French battleships Provence and Dunkerque.
posting.php?mode=edit&f=3&p=102881

1941 Germans murder Polish scientists and writers in the captured Ukrainian city of Lviv.

1942 Irving Berlin’s musical review "This Is the Army" opened at the Broadway Theater in New York.

1942 The first American bombing mission over enemy-occupied Europe took place on airfields in Holland.

1942 Japanese DD Nehoni is sunk in the Aleutians by U.S. submarine Triton.

1942 The American Volunteer Group ("Flying Tigers") becomes the Fourteenth Air Force.

1943 US 37th Infantry Div land at Bairoko, on Kula Gulf

1944 1,100 US guns fired 4th of July salute at German lines in Normandy.

1944 Canadians take village of Carpiquet.

1946 The Philippines became independent.

1946 Forty-two returning Jewish survivors of Nazi genocide are killed in Kielce, Poland in the worst of the post war genocides of this type.

1950 CVs USS Valley Forge and HMS Triumph make first UN air strikes of the Korean War.

1958 Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II, was appointed auxiliary bishop of Krakow.

1966 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Freedom of Information Act into law.

1976 Israeli commandos raided Entebbe airport in Uganda.

1987 Klaus Barbie, the former Gestapo chief known as the "Butcher of Lyon," was convicted by a French court of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life in prison.

2004 The cornerstone of the Freedom Tower was laid at the World Trade Center site.

2009 The Statue of Liberty's crown was reopened to tourists for the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Congressional Medals of Honor for action on this day:

CAPEHART, CHARLES E.: Major, 1st West Virginia Cavalry. Place and date: At Monterey Mountain, Pa., 4 July 1863. Entered service at: Washington, D.C. Born: 1883, Conemaugh Township, Cambria County, Pa. Date of issue: 7 April 1898. Citation: While commanding the regiment, charged down the mountain side at midnight, in a heavy rain, upon the enemy's fleeing wagon train. Many wagons were captured and destroyed and many prisoners taken.

HANNA, MARCUS A.: Sergeant, Company B, 50th Massachusetts Infantry. Place and date: At Port Hudson, La., 4 July 1863. Entered service at: Rockport, Mass. Born: 3 November 1842, Bristol, Maine. Date of issue: 2 November 1895. Citation: Voluntarily exposed himself to a heavy fire to get water for comrades in rifle pits.

KENNEDY, JOHN T.: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Patian Island, Philippine Islands, 4 July 1909. Entered service at: Orangeburg, S.C. Birth: Hendersonville, S.C. Date of issue: Unknown. Citation: While in action against hostile Moros, he entered with a few enlisted men the mouth of a cave occupied by a desperate enemy, this act having been ordered after he had volunteered several times. In this action 2d Lt. Kennedy was severely wounded.

WILSON, ARTHUR H.: Second Lieutenant, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Patian Island, Philippine Islands, 4 July 1909. Entered service at: Springfield, Ill. Birth: Springfield, Ill. Date of issue: Unknown. Citation: While in action against hostile Moros, when, it being necessary to secure a mountain gun in position by rope and tackle, voluntarily with the assistance of an enlisted man, carried the rope forward and fastened it, being all the time under heavy fire of the enemy at short range.

NAKAMURA, WILLIAM K.: Private First Class William K. Nakamura distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 4 July 1944, near Castellina, Italy. During a fierce firefight, Private First Class Nakamura’s platoon became pinned down by enemy machine gun fire from a concealed position. On his own initiative, Private First Class Nakamura crawled 20 yards toward the hostile nest with fire from the enemy machine gun barely missing him. Reaching a point 15 yards from the position, he quickly raised himself to a kneeling position and threw four hand grenades, killing or wounding at least three of the enemy soldiers. The enemy weapon silenced, Private First Class Nakamura crawled back to his platoon, which was able to continue its advance as a result of his courageous action. Later, his company was ordered to withdraw from the crest of a hill so that a mortar barrage could be placed on the ridge. On his own initiative, Private First Class Nakamura remained in position to cover his comrades’ withdrawal. While moving toward the safety of a wooded draw, his platoon became pinned down by deadly machine gun fire. Crawling to a point from which he could fire on the enemy position, Private First Class Nakamura quickly and accurately fired his weapon to pin down the enemy machine gunners. His platoon was then able to withdraw to safety without further casualties. Private First Class Nakamura was killed during this heroic stand. Private First Class Nakamura’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.

ONO, FRANK H.: Private First Class Frank H. Ono distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 4 July 1944, near Castellina, Italy. In attacking a heavily defended hill, Private First Class Ono’s squad was caught in a hail of formidable fire from the well-entrenched enemy. Private First Class Ono opened fire with his automatic rifle and silenced one machine gun 300 hundred yards to the right front. Advancing through incessant fire, he killed a sniper with another burst of fire, and while his squad leader reorganized the rest of the platoon in the rear, he alone defended the critical position. His weapon was then wrenched from his grasp by a burst of enemy machine pistol fire as enemy troops attempted to close in on him. Hurling hand grenades, Private First Class Ono forced the enemy to abandon the attempt, resolutely defending the newly won ground until the rest of the platoon moved forward. Taking a wounded comrade's rifle, Private First Class Ono again joined in the assault. After killing two more enemy soldiers, he boldly ran through withering automatic, small arms, and mortar fire to render first aid to his platoon leader and a seriously wounded rifleman. In danger of being encircled, the platoon was ordered to withdraw. Volunteering to cover the platoon, Private First Class Ono occupied virtually unprotected positions near the crest of the hill, engaging an enemy machine gun emplaced on an adjoining ridge and exchanging fire with snipers armed with machine pistols. Completely disregarding his own safety, he made himself the constant target of concentrated enemy fire until the platoon reached the comparative safety of a draw. He then descended the hill in stages, firing his rifle, until he rejoined the platoon. Private First Class Ono’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.

MENDONCA, LEROY A.: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Chich-on, Korea, 4 July 1951. Entered service at: Honolulu, T.H. Birth: Honolulu, T.H. G.O. No.: 83, 3 September 1952. Citation: Sgt. LeRoy A. Mendonca, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. After his platoon, in an exhaustive fight, had captured Hill 586, the newly won positions were assaulted during the night by a numerically superior enemy force. When the 1st Platoon positions were outflanked and under great pressure and the platoon was ordered to withdraw to a secondary line of defense, Sgt. Mendonca voluntarily remained in an exposed position and covered the platoon's withdrawal. Although under murderous enemy fire, he fired his weapon and hurled grenades at the onrushing enemy until his supply of ammunition was exhausted. He fought on, clubbing with his rifle and using his bayonet until he was mortally wounded. After the action it was estimated that Sgt. Mendonca had accounted for 37 enemy casualties. His daring actions stalled the crushing assault, protecting the platoon's withdrawal to secondary positions, and enabling the entire unit to repel the enemy attack and retain possession of the vital hilltop position. Sgt. Mendonca's extraordinary gallantry and exemplary valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.

NEWLIN, MELVIN EARL: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF. Place and date: Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, 4 July 1967. Entered service at: Cleveland, Ohio. Born: 27 September 1948, Wellsville, Ohio. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machine gunner attached to the 1st Platoon, Company F, 2d Battalion, on 3 and 4 July 1967. Pfc. Newlin, with 4 other marines, was manning a key position on the perimeter of the Nong Son outpost when the enemy launched a savage and well coordinated mortar and infantry assault, seriously wounding him and killing his 4 comrades. Propping himself against his machinegun, he poured a deadly accurate stream of fire into the charging ranks of the Viet Cong. Though repeatedly hit by small-arms fire, he twice repelled enemy attempts to overrun his position. During the third attempt, a grenade explosion wounded him again and knocked him to the ground unconscious. The Viet Cong guerrillas, believing him dead, bypassed him and continued their assault on the main force. Meanwhile, Pfc. Newlin regained consciousness, crawled back to his weapon, and brought it to bear on the rear of the enemy, causing havoc and confusion among them. Spotting the enemy attempting to bring a captured 106 recoilless weapon to bear on other marine positions, he shifted his fire, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and preventing them from firing the captured weapon. He then shifted his fire back to the primary enemy force, causing the enemy to stop their assault on the marine bunkers and to once again attack his machinegun position. Valiantly fighting off 2 more enemy assaults, he firmly held his ground until mortally wounded. Pfc. Newlin had single-handedly broken up and disorganized the entire enemy assault force, causing them to lose momentum and delaying them long enough for his fellow marines to organize a defense and beat off their secondary attack. His indomitable courage, fortitude, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of almost certain death reflect great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

Last supplemented on Wednesday, July 4, 2012.

[Calendar]

July 5

46 Caesar returns to Rome following victory in the African War.

663 Constans II visits Rome, the first emperor to do so in over a century.

1044 In the Battle of Menfo the Germans defeat the Magyars.

1187 Saladin captures the citdael of Tiberias.

1295 Scotland and France form the "Auld Alliance", against England.

1610 John Guy sets sail from Bristol with 39 other colonists for Newfoundland.

1770 Russian navy led by British officers defeated Turkish Navy at Tchesme near the island of Chios, off the western coast of Turkey.

1775 The Olive Branch Petition was adopted by the Continental Congress and professed the attachment of the American people to George III and asked for the cessation of British hostilities directed at the Colonies.

My, what a difference a year makes. The King, regarding it as his duty as sovereign, soundly rejected this Petition and supported the suppression of the colonies by armed force.

1777 Arthur St. Clair abandons Ticonderoga this night after leaving strategic Mount Defiance carelessly defended.

1790 The Irish mail coach makes its first run from Dublin to Waterford.

1798 Irish Rebels break camp and march north, colliding with a government force led by General Duff. They retreat south and turn to fight Duff at Ballygullen, near Craanford. The battle is indecisive.

1801 David Glasgow Farragut, the First Admiral, born.

1806 Spanish defeat a British attempt to take Buenos Aires.

1809 The Battle of Wagram, the largest of the Napoleonic Wars.

1811 Venezuela became the first South American country to declare independence from Spain.

1813 Three weeks of British raids on Fort Schlosser, Black Rock and Plattsburgh, New York begin.

1814 The Battle of Chippawa occurs in which American Major General Jacob Brown defeats British General Phineas Riall at Chippawa, Ontario.

1830 The French occupied the North African city of Algiers.

1853 Cecil John Rhodes, imperialist, born.

1884 Germany takes possession of Cameroon.

1902 Henry Cabot Lodge Jr, tank officer, diplomat, born.

1935 Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the National Labor Relations Act, which allowed labor to organize for the purpose of collective bargaining.

1937 Spam is introduced into the market by the Hormel Foods Corporation.

1937 Ft. Laramie officially declared to be public property to be turned over by the State to the Federal government.

1940 The United Kingdom and the Vichy France government break off diplomatic relations.

1941 German troops reach the Dnieper River.

1943 The Battle of Kursk, often cited as the the largest tank battle in history, begins with a German attack on Soviet forces. Recent works by various authors now cast doubt on Kursk being the biggest tank battle of all time, and in fact even cast some doubt on one of the long standing Soviet versions of a major clash during the battle. It's now fairly clear that while Kursk was a huge battle, it wasn't the biggest of all time, in terms of tanks engaged.

1945 Liberation of the Philippines declared.

1948 Britain's National Health Service Act went into effect.

1950 Pvt Kenneth Shadrick, becomes the first American killed in the Korean War.

1967 Governor General Roland Michener invested by Queen Elizabeth with the first ribbon and pendant star of the Order of Canada; founding of the Order of Canada.

1971 The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 years, is formally certified by President Richard Nixon.

1975 The Cape Verde Islands became independent after 500 years of Portuguese rule.

2002 Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams died at age 83.

2006 North Korea test-fired seven missiles into the Sea of Japan, including at least one believed capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.

Congressional Medals of Honor awarded for action on this day:

None.

Victoria Crosses awarded for action on this day:

RICHARDSON Arthur Herbert Lindsay: Sergeant. Lord Strathcona's Horse. On the 5th July, 1900, at Wolve Spruit, about 15 miles north of Standerton, a party of Lord Strathcona's Corps, only 38 in number, came into contact, and was engaged at close quarters, with a force of 80 of the enemy. When the order to retire had been given, Sergeant Richardson rode back under a very hoavy cross-fire and picked up a trooper whose horse had been shot and who was wounded in two places and rode with him out of fire. At the time when this act of gallantry was performed, Sergeant Richardson was within 300 yards of the enemy, and was himself riding a wounded horse.

When the order to retire had been given, Sergeant Richardson rode back under a very hoavy cross-fire and picked up a trooper whose horse had been shot and who was wounded in two places and rode with him out of fire. At the time when this act of gallantry was performed, Sergeant Richardson was within 300 yards of the enemy, and was himself riding a wounded horse.

Sgt. Richardson was British born, and had been a rancher in Canada prior to joining the NWMP. After the Boer War, he returned to Britain to live in Scotland.

BELL Donald Simpson: 2nd Lieutenant. 9th Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own). 5 July 1916. For most conspicuous bravery. During an attack a very heavy enfilade fire was opened on the attacking company by a hostile machine gun. 2nd Lt. Bell immediately, and on his own initiative, crept up a communication trench and then, followed by Corpl. Colwill and Pte. Batey, rushed across the open under very heavy fire and attacked the machine gun, shooting the firer with his revolver, and destroying gun and personnel with bombs. This very brave act saved many lives and ensured the success of the attack. Five days later this very gallant officer lost his life performing a very similar act of bravery.

2nd Lt. Bell was the first English footballer to enlist in the British Army during World War One.

WILKINSON Thomas Orde Lauder: Lieutenant 7th Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. On 5 July 1916 at La Boiselle, France, during an attack, when a party of men from another unit were retiring without their machine-gun, Lieutenant Wilkinson with two of his men, got the gun into action and held up the enemy until relieved. Later he forced his way forward during a bombing attack and found four or five men from different units stopped by a wall of earth over which the enemy was throwing bombs. He at once mounted the machine-gun on top of the parapet and dispersed the bombers. Subsequently, in trying to bring in a wounded man, he was killed.

Last supplemented on Thursday, July 5, 2012.

[Calendar]

July 6

1187 200 Christian knights captured at Hattin, murdered by Saladin.

1348 Papal bull of Pope Clement VI issued protecting the Jews accused to have caused the Black Death.

1483 King Richard III was crowned.

1535 Sir Thomas More was executed in England for treason.

1553 Mary I ascends the throne of England.

1560 In the Treaty of Edinburgh Scotland abandons its French ties to ally with England. See yesterday.

1630 Swedish troops under Gustavus Adolphus land in Pomerania, Germany.

1652 Netherlands declares war on England and the First Anglo-Dutch War begins.

1685 The Battle of Sedgemoor in which King James II defeats the Duke of Monmouth.

1699 Capt William Kidd arrested in Boston

1747 John Paul Jones, who would go "in harm's way", born.

1777 British forces captured Fort Ticonderoga during the American Revolution.

1782 The Battle of Negapatam results in an indecisive Anglo-French naval clash off India.

1785 Congress introduces the dollar.

1796 Czar Nicholas I of Russia born.

1801 First Naval Battle of Algeciras in which a Franco-Spanish squadron defeats the British.

1814 Justus McKinstry, Brig Gen, U.S., born.

1815 Charles Bianconi, opens his first horse-drawn coach service, between Clonmel and Cahir, Co. Tipperary, a distance of 10 miles

1821 Edward Winston Pettus, Brig Gen, C.S.A. born.

1832 Maximilian, Archduke of Austria, Emperor of Mexico born.

1854 The first official meeting of the Republican Party took place in Jackson, Mich.

1861 Skirmish at Middle Creek Fork/Buckhannon, Wests Virginia.

1862 Battle of Devall's Bluff, AR.

1863 Battle of Williamsport, Md begins.

1864 Battle of Chattahoochee River, Ga., begins.

1864 Jubal Early's forces capture Hagerstown, Maryland.

1885 Louis Pasteur successfully tests his vaccine against rabies.

1892 Baron Willy Coppens de Houthulst, Belgian ace, born. Coppens was what would later be known as a "hot dog" pilot who performed stunts over enemy lines after shooting down balloons. On one occasion, he actually landed his aircraft on top of an enemy balloon, switched his engines off, and restarted them when the plane soon slid off the balloon. He survived the war and retired from the Belgian army in 1940.

1907 The Irish Crown Jewels vanish from Dublin Castle, never to be found

1909 Andrei Gromyko, Soviet Foreign Minister born.

1917. The Arab Revolt, under the leadership of T. E. Lawrence, takes Aquaba in a noted mounted action.

1919 The British dirigible R34 lands in New York, completing the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by an airship.

1923 The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was officially formed.

1933 Baseball's first All-Star game was held at Chicago's Comiskey Park, with the American League's best beating the National League, bor squad 4-2.

1939 The last remaining Jewish enterprises in Germany are closed.

1944 Jackie Robinson refuses to move to the back of a bus, leading to a court martial.

1946 George W. Bush, Air Guardsman, President, born.

1947 The AK-47 goes into production in the Soviet Union.

1967 Nigerian forces invade Biafra.

1974 Garrison Keillor's radio show, "A Prairie Home Companion," debuted in a live broadcast from St. Paul, Minn.

2010 Queen Elizabeth II addressed the United Nations for the first time since 1957.

2010 Actress Lindsay Lohan was sentenced to 90 days in jail and 90 days in a residential substance-abuse program for violating her probation stemming from two separate 2007 cases of driving under the influence of cocaine and alcohol. The sentence stands as an example as to how "celebrities" receive better treatment at law than regular folks.

Victoria Crosses awarded for action on this day:

GRANT John Duncan Ruxton: Tibet. Lieutenant. 8th Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army. 6 July 1904. Citation: Herorism in the storming of the the Gyantse Fortress.

BROWN Walter Ernest: World War One. Corporal. 20th Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Division. Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and determination when with an advanced party from his battalion which was going into the line in relief. The company to which he was attached carried out during the night a minor operation resulting in the capture of a small system of enemy trench. Early on the following morning an enemy strong post about seventy. yards distant caused the occupants of the newly captured trench great inconvenience by persistent sniping. Hearing that it had been decided to rush this post, Corporal Brown, on his own initiative, crept out along the shallow trench and made a dash towards the post. An enemy machine gun opened fire from another trench and forced him to take cover. Later he again dashed forward and reached his objective. With a Mills grenade in his hand he stood at the door of a dug-out and called on the occupants to surrender. One of the enemy rushed out, a scuffle ensued, and Corporal Brown knocked him down with his fist. Loud cries of "Kamerad" were then heard, and from the dug-out an officer and eleven, other ranks appeared. This party Corporal Brown brought back as prisoners to our line, the enemy meanwhile from other positions bringing heavy machine-gun fire to bear on the party.

Brown started the war off in the Australian Camel Corps and then the Light Horse. He was transferred in France to the Service Corps in France which he apparently didn't like, as he claimed he had lost his false teeth which resulted in a transfer back to Egypt, as that meant, for some reason, he couldn't be kept in theatre. In Egypt he joined infantry reinforcements by way of his own volition.

CUTLER Arthur Roden: World War Two. Lieutenant. Australian Military Forces. Citation: For most conspicuous and sustained gallantry during the Syrian Campaign and for outstanding bravery during the bitter fighting at Merdjayoun when this artillery officer became a byword amongst the forward troops with whom he worked.

At Merdjayoun on the 19 June 1941 our infantry attack was checked after suffering heavy casualties from an enemy counter attack with tanks. Enemy machine gun fire swept the ground but Lieutenant Cutler with another artillery officer and a small party pushed on ahead of the infantry and established an outpost in a house. The telephone line was cut and he went out and mended this line under machine gun fire and returned to the house, from which enemy posts and a battery were successfully engaged.

The enemy then attacked this outpost with infantry and tanks, killing the Bren gunner and mortally wounding the other officer. Lieutenant Cutler and another manned the anti-tank rifle and Bren gun and fought back driving the enemy infantry away. The tanks continued the attack, but under constant fire from the anti-tank rifle and Bren gun eventually withdrew. Lieutenant Cutler then personally supervised the evacuation of the wounded members of his party. Undaunted he pressed for a further advance. He had been ordered to establish an outpost from which he could register the only road by which the enemy transport could enter the town. With a small party of volunteers he pressed on until finally with one other he succeeded in establishing an outpost right in the town, which was occupied by the Foreign Legion, despite enemy machine gun fire which prevented our infantry from advancing.

At this time Lieutenant Cutler knew the enemy were massing on his left for a counter attack and that he was in danger of being cut off. Nevertheless he carried out his task of registering the battery on the road and engaging enemy posts. The enemy counter attacked with infantry and tanks and he was cut off. He was forced to go to ground, but after dark succeeded in making his way through the enemy lines. His work in registering the only road by which enemy transport could enter the town was of vital importance and a big factor in the enemy's subsequent retreat.

On the night of the 23rd-24 June he was in charge of a 25-pounder sent forward into our forward defended localities to silence an enemy anti-tank gun and post which had held up our attack. This he did and next morning the recapture of Merdjayoun was completed.

Later at Damour on 6 July when our forward infantry were pinned to the ground by heavy hostile machine gun fire Lieutenant Cutler, regardless of all danger, went to bring a line to his outpost when he was seriously wounded. Twenty-six hours elapsed before it was possible to rescue this officer, whose wound by this time had become septic necessitating the amputation of his leg.

Throughout the Campaign this officer's courage was unparalleled and his work was a big factor in the recapture of Merdjayoun.

Last supplemented on Friday, July 6, 2012.

[Calendar]

July 7

54 BC Caesar defeats the Britons near Bigbury.

1124 Tyre surrenders to the Crusaders.

1456 Joan of Arc of witchcraft charges, posthumously.

1540 Francisco Vasquez de Coronado captures the Zuni Pueblo of Hawikul, NM.

1543 French troops invade Luxembourg.

1647 Masaniello initiates a rebellion against Spanish rule in Naples.

1674 Anti-Spanish uprising begins at Messina.

1700 - MP for Co. Sligo, Captain Hugh Morgan of Lord Dungannon's Regiment, is summoned to appear before a board of general officers at the Curragh of Kildare to answer accusations of being 'a rogue and rascal' and several other complaints.

1742 Spanish invading force defeated by Colonial militia in Georgia.

1777 American troops gave up Fort Ticonderoga, on Lake Champlain, to the British.

1778 Allied French fleet under Comte d'Estaing arrives off of North America.

1798 Hostilities began in the undeclared naval 2ar with France with Frigate Delaware capturing French privateer, Croyable.

1801 Toussaint L'Ouverture declares Haitian independence.

1813 William Scott Ketchum, Brig Gen, U.S. born.

1816 Isaac Fitzgerald Shepard, Brig Gen, U.S., born.

1824 Alfred Pleasonton, Maj Gen, U.S., born.

1827 James Murrell Shackelford, Brig Gen, U.S., born.

1827 William Montague Browne, Brig Gen, C.S.A., born.

1829 Royal Military Chapel established.

1832 William Sublette's party reaches Jackson Hole and crosses Teton Pass

1838 Central American Federation is dissolved.

1846 U.S. annexation of California was proclaimed at Monterey following the surrender of the Mexican garrison.

1863 United States initiates conscription.

1863 Robert E. Lee, in Hagerstown, Maryland, reported his defeat at Gettysburg to Jefferson Davis.

1863 Lt. Colonel Christopher "Kit" Carson leaves Santa Fe with his troops, beginning his campaign against the Indians of New Mexico and Arizona.

1865 Four convicted of conspiring in the assassination of President Lincoln hanged in Washington D.C.

1867 7th Cavalry departs its position on the Republican River and heads for Fort Wallace. Several men desert the command and Col. Custer, concerned about discipline and survival of the command, orders the men pursued with orders to kill them. Three men are captured and shot. Col. Custer is aware that a small detachment led by Lieutenant Lyman Kidder has been dispatched by Gen. Sherman to locate Custer's command and deliver orders directing Custer to Fort Wallace. Custer rushes towards Fort Wallace and searches for the Kidder detachment. On the 11th, the detachment is located but the men had been killed by Indians.

1876. Sioux and Cheyenne attack an Army scouting party at Sibley Lake, in the Big Horn Mountains.

1886 Electric street lights turned on in Laramie Wyoming for the first time.

1898 The United States annexes Hawaii. 1898 was quite a year for expansion, given the Spanish American War and this event.

1898 German marines occupy Subic Bay.

1905 The International Workers of the World founded their labor organization in Chicago.

1906 Satchel Paige born.

1908 The Great White Fleet left San Francisco.

1928 Sliced bread is sold for the first time by the Chillicothe Baking Company of Chillicothe, Missouri.

1930 Construction began on Boulder Dam on the Colorado River.

1937 The British 'Peel Commission' recommends partitioning Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states.

1937 The Battle of Lugou Bridge occurs in which Japanese forces invade Beijing, China.

This date is the arguable beginning date for World War Two. Fighting would continue from this point forward, without interruption, until 1945.

1941 The United States lands forces on Iceland to take over its garrisoning from the British in spite of American neutrality.

1941 Beirut is occupied by Free France and British troops.

1944 Largest Banzai charge of the Pacific War at the Battle of Saipan.

1944 U.S. forces took over the island of Noemfoor, west of Biak, off the northern coast of New Guinea.

1946 Jim Day, Canadian equestrian, born in Toronto. Day first rode with the Canadian International Team in 1964; took the individual championship at Harrisburg Pennsylvania 1964; tied the long standing record jump of seven feet one inch at the National Horse Show in New York 1966; gold medal in the individual competition at the Pan American Games 1967; Olympic gold medal with fellow Canadian team show jumpers Jim Elder and Tom Gayford in Mexico City 1968; member of the World Prix des Nations team 1970; won the North American three day event title 1973.

1956 The Bundestag passes a law establishing a universal military obligation of all young German men.

1958 President Eisenhower signed the Alaska statehood bill.

1966 Female nurses of the 150th Aeromedical Flight, New Jersey Air National Guard, receive men injured or ill from their duty in Vietnam to treat them on their return flights to stateside hospitals for convalesce in an example of Air National Guard involvement in the Vietnam War.

1969 A battalion of the U.S. 9th Infantry Division leaves Saigon in the initial withdrawal of U.S. troops

1976 For the first time women are enrolled into the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

1994 The former Wyoming National Guard Cavalry Stable in Newcastle, now a museum, added to the National Register of Historic Places.

1999 President Clinton became the first president since Franklin D. Roosevelt to visit an Indian reservation as he toured the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

2005 Terrorist attacks in London make for the most severe attack on London since World War Two.

Congressional Medals of Honor awarded for action on this day:

AGERHOLM, HAROLD CHRIST: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 29 January 1925, Racine, Wis. Accredited to: Wisconsin. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 4th Battalion, 10th Marines, 2d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Marianas Islands, 7 July 1944. When the enemy launched a fierce, determined counterattack against our positions and overran a neighboring artillery battalion, Pfc. Agerholm immediately volunteered to assist in the efforts to check the hostile attack and evacuate our wounded. Locating and appropriating an abandoned ambulance jeep, he repeatedly made extremely perilous trips under heavy rifle and mortar fire and single-handedly loaded and evacuated approximately 45 casualties, working tirelessly and with utter disregard for his own safety during a grueling period of more than 3 hours. Despite intense, persistent enemy fire, he ran out to aid 2 men whom he believed to be wounded marines but was himself mortally wounded by a Japanese sniper while carrying out his hazardous mission. Pfc. Agerholm's brilliant initiative, great personal valor and self-sacrificing efforts in the face of almost certain death reflect the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

BAKER, THOMAS A.: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 105th Infantry, 27th Infantry Division. Place and date: Saipan, Mariana Islands, 19 June to 7 July 1944. Entered service at: Troy, N.Y. Birth: Troy, N.Y. G.O. No.: 35, 9 May 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty at Saipan, Mariana Islands, 19 June to 7 July 1944. When his entire company was held up by fire from automatic weapons and small-arms fire from strongly fortified enemy positions that commanded the view of the company, Sgt. (then Pvt.) Baker voluntarily took a bazooka and dashed alone to within 100 yards of the enemy. Through heavy rifle and machinegun fire that was directed at him by the enemy, he knocked out the strong point, enabling his company to assault the ridge. Some days later while his company advanced across the open field flanked with obstructions and places of concealment for the enemy, Sgt. Baker again voluntarily took up a position in the rear to protect the company against surprise attack and came upon 2 heavily fortified enemy pockets manned by 2 officers and 10 enlisted men which had been bypassed. Without regard for such superior numbers, he unhesitatingly attacked and killed all of them. Five hundred yards farther, he discovered 6 men of the enemy who had concealed themselves behind our lines and destroyed all of them. On 7 July 1944, the perimeter of which Sgt. Baker was a part was attacked from 3 sides by from 3,000 to 5,000 Japanese. During the early stages of this attack, Sgt. Baker was seriously wounded but he insisted on remaining in the line and fired at the enemy at ranges sometimes as close as 5 yards until his ammunition ran out. Without ammunition and with his own weapon battered to uselessness from hand-to-hand combat, he was carried about 50 yards to the rear by a comrade, who was then himself wounded. At this point Sgt. Baker refused to be moved any farther stating that he preferred to be left to die rather than risk the lives of any more of his friends. A short time later, at his request, he was placed in a sitting position against a small tree . Another comrade, withdrawing, offered assistance. Sgt. Baker refused, insisting that he be left alone and be given a soldier's pistol with its remaining 8 rounds of ammunition. When last seen alive, Sgt. Baker was propped against a tree, pistol in hand, calmly facing the foe. Later Sgt. Baker's body was found in the same position, gun empty, with 8 Japanese lying dead before him. His deeds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.

MOTO, KAORU: Private First Class Kaoru Moto distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 7 July 1944, near Castellina, Italy. While serving as first scout, Private First Class Moto observed a machine gun nest that was hindering his platoon’s progress. On his own initiative, he made his way to a point ten paces from the hostile position, and killed the enemy machine gunner. Immediately, the enemy assistant gunner opened fire in the direction of Private First Class Moto. Crawling to the rear of the position, Private First Class Moto surprised the enemy soldier, who quickly surrendered. Taking his prisoner with him, Private First Class Moto took a position a few yards from a house to prevent the enemy from using the building as an observation post. While guarding the house and his prisoner, he observed an enemy machine gun team moving into position. He engaged them, and with deadly fire forced the enemy to withdraw. An enemy sniper located in another house fired at Private First Class Moto, severely wounding him. Applying first aid to his wound, he changed position to elude the sniper fire and to advance. Finally relieved of his position, he made his way to the rear for treatment. Crossing a road, he spotted an enemy machine gun nest. Opening fire, he wounded two of the three soldiers occupying the position. Not satisfied with this accomplishment, he then crawled forward to a better position and ordered the enemy soldier to surrender. Receiving no answer, Private First Class Moto fired at the position, and the soldiers surrendered. Private First Class Moto’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.

O'BRIEN, WILLIAM J.: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, 1st Battalion, 105th Infantry, 27th Infantry Division. Place and date: At Saipan, Marianas Islands, 20 June through 7 July 1944. Entered service at: Troy, N.Y. Birth: Troy, N.Y. G.O. No.: 35, 9 May 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty at Saipan, Marianas Islands, from 20 June through 7 July 1944. When assault elements of his platoon were held up by intense enemy fire, Lt. Col. O'Brien ordered 3 tanks to precede the assault companies in an attempt to knock out the strongpoint. Due to direct enemy fire the tanks' turrets were closed, causing the tanks to lose direction and to fire into our own troops. Lt. Col. O'Brien, with complete disregard for his own safety, dashed into full view of the enemy and ran to the leader's tank, and pounded on the tank with his pistol butt to attract 2 of the tank's crew and, mounting the tank fully exposed to enemy fire, Lt. Col. O'Brien personally directed the assault until the enemy strongpoint had been liquidated. On 28 June 1944, while his platoon was attempting to take a bitterly defended high ridge in the vicinity of Donnay, Lt. Col. O'Brien arranged to capture the ridge by a double envelopment movement of 2 large combat battalions. He personally took control of the maneuver. Lt. Col. O'Brien crossed 1,200 yards of sniper-infested underbrush alone to arrive at a point where 1 of his platoons was being held up by the enemy. Leaving some men to contain the enemy he personally led 4 men into a narrow ravine behind, and killed or drove off all the Japanese manning that strongpoint. In this action he captured S machineguns and one 77-mm. fieldpiece. Lt. Col. O'Brien then organized the 2 platoons for night defense and against repeated counterattacks directed them. Meanwhile he managed to hold ground. On 7 July 1944 his battalion and another battalion were attacked by an overwhelming enemy force estimated at between 3,000 and 5,000 Japanese. With bloody hand-to-hand fighting in progress everywhere, their forward positions were finally overrun by the sheer weight of the enemy numbers. With many casualties and ammunition running low, Lt. Col. O'Brien refused to leave the front lines. Striding up and down the lines, he fired at the enemy with a pistol in each hand and his presence there bolstered the spirits of the men, encouraged them in their fight and sustained them in their heroic stand. Even after he was seriously wounded, Lt. Col. O'Brien refused to be evacuated and after his pistol ammunition was exhausted, he manned a .50 caliber machinegun, mounted on a jeep, and continued firing. When last seen alive he was standing upright firing into the Jap hordes that were then enveloping him. Some time later his body was found surrounded by enemy he had killed His valor was consistent with the highest traditions of the service.

TANOUYE, TED T.: Technical Sergeant Ted T. Tanouye distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 7 July 1944, near Molino A Ventoabbto, Italy. Technical Sergeant Tanouye led his platoon in an attack to capture the crest of a strategically important hill that afforded little cover. Observing an enemy machine gun crew placing its gun in position to his left front, Technical Sergeant Tanouye crept forward a few yards and opened fire on the position, killing or wounding three and causing two others to disperse. Immediately, an enemy machine pistol opened fire on him. He returned the fire and killed or wounded three more enemy soldiers. While advancing forward, Technical Sergeant Tanouye was subjected to grenade bursts, which severely wounded his left arm. Sighting an enemy-held trench, he raked the position with fire from his submachine gun and wounded several of the enemy. Running out of ammunition, he crawled 20 yards to obtain several clips from a comrade on his left flank. Next, sighting an enemy machine pistol that had pinned down his men, Technical Sergeant Tanouye crawled forward a few yards and threw a hand grenade into the position, silencing the pistol. He then located another enemy machine gun firing down the slope of the hill, opened fire on it, and silenced that position. Drawing fire from a machine pistol nest located above him, he opened fire on it and wounded three of its occupants. Finally taking his objective, Technical Sergeant Tanouye organized a defensive position on the reverse slope of the hill before accepting first aid treatment and evacuation. Technical Sergeant Tanouye’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.

BAUGH, WILLIAM B.: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, Company G, 3d Battalion, 1st Marine, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Along road from Koto-ri to Hagaru-ri, Korea, 29 November 1950. Entered service at: Harrison, Ohio. Born: 7 July 1930, McKinney, Ky. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a member of an antitank assault squad attached to Company G, during a nighttime enemy attack against a motorized column. Acting instantly when a hostile hand grenade landed in his truck as he and his squad prepared to alight and assist in the repulse of an enemy force delivering intense automatic-weapons and grenade fire from deeply entrenched and well-concealed roadside positions, Pfc. Baugh quickly shouted a warning to the other men in the vehicle and, unmindful of his personal safety, hurled himself upon the deadly missile, thereby saving his comrades from serious injury or possible death. Sustaining severe wounds from which he died a short time afterward, Pfc. Baugh, by his superb courage and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice, upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Victoria Crosses awarded for action on this day:

CONNOLLY William: Gunner, Bengal Horse Artillery. 7 July 1857. During an engagement with the enemy, Gunner Connolly, acting as second sponge-man, was felled by a musket ball through his thigh and although suffering severely from pain and loss of blood, he insisted on mounting his horse in the gun team and riding to the next position which the guns had taken up on retirement. He was again hit by a musket ball later the same morning but staggered to his feet and went on wielding his sponge with energy and courage, and encouraging another wounded man, until he was wounded yet again and fell unconscious.

LAWRENCE Samuel Hill Waring: Lieutenant. The 32nd Regiment of Foot, British Army. For distinguished bravery in a Sortie on the 7th of July, 1857, made, as reported by Major Wilson, late Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-General of the Lucknow Garrison, for the purpose of examining a house strongly held by the Enemy, in order to discover whether or not a mine was being driven from it. Major Wilson states that he saw the attack, and was an eye-witness to the great personal gallantry of Major Lawrence on the occasion, he being the first person to mount the ladder, and enter the window of the house, in effecting which he had his pistol knocked out of his hand by one of the Enemy:—also, for distinguished gallantry in a Sortie, on the 26th of September, 1857, in charging with two of his men, in advance of his Company, and capturing a 9-pounder gun.

YOUENS Frederick: 2nd Lieutenant. Durham Light Infantry, British Army. 7 July 1917. On 7 July 1917 near Hill 60, Belgium, it was reported that the enemy were preparing to raid the British trenches and Second Lieutenant Youens, who had already been wounded, immediately set out to rally a Lewis gun team which had become disorganized. While doing this an enemy bomb fell on the Lewis gun position without exploding. The second lieutenant picked it up and hurled it over the parapet, but soon after another bomb fell near the same place and again he picked it up, but it exploded in his hand, severely wounding him and some of his men. The officer later succumbed to his wounds.

WARD James Allen: Sergeant. The Royal New Zealand Air Force. On 7 July 1941 after an attack on Münster, Germany the Wellington (AA-R) in which Sergeant Ward was second pilot was attacked by a German night-fighter. The attack opened a fuel tank in the starboard wing and caused a fire at the rear of the starboard engine. The skipper of the aircraft told him to try to put out the fire. Sergeant Ward crawled out through the narrow astro-hatch (used for celestial navigation) on the end of a rope taken from the aircraft's emergency dinghy. He kicked or tore holes in the aircraft's fabric to give himself hand- and foot-holes. By this means he got to the engine and smothered the flames with a canvas cover. Although the fuel continued to leak with the fire out the plane was now safe. His crawl back over the wing, in which he had previously torn holes, was more dangerous than the outward journey but he managed with the help of the aircraft's navigator. Instead of the crew having to bail-out, the aircraft made an emergency landing at Newmarket, United Kingdom.[/quote]

[Calendar]

July 8

452 Pope Leo I convinces Atilla the Hun not to attack Rome.

1191 Saladin burns Haifa.

1520 Battle of Otumba in which Cortes defeats the Aztecs.

1573 Spanish capture Haarlem from the Dutch after a seven month siege.

1642 Owen Roe O'Neill accepts an offer to lead the Ulster rebels and arrives in Ulster. Thomas Preston, another experienced general, arrives from the continent

1663 King Charles II granted a charter to Rhode Island.

1709 In the Great Northern War the Battle of Poltava occurs in which Peter I of Russia defeats Charles XII of Sweden at Poltava ending Sweden's role as a major power in Europe.

1716 In the Great Northern War the naval Battle of Dynekilen takes place.

1755 Britain broke off diplomatic relations with France.

1758 The British attack on Fort Carillon at Ticonderoga, New York, fails.

1759 Brigadier General John Prideaux demands that French Commander Pouchot surrender Fort Niagara. Pouchot refuses, saying 'He did not understand English'.

1776 Col. John Nixon gives the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence at Independence Square in Philadelphia.

1778 George Washington headquartered his Continental Army at West Point.

1778 Allied French fleet under Comte d'Estaing arrives in America.

1819 Alexander Hays, Brig Gen, U.S., born.

1821 William H. L. Wallace, Brig Gen, U.S., born.

1824 Waldimir Bonawentura Krzyzanowski, Brig Gen, U.S. born.

1826 Benjamin Henry Grierson, Maj Gen, U.S., born.

1826 Robert Kingston Scott, Brig Gen, U.S., born.

1838 Ferdinand Adolf Heinrich August Graf von Zeppelin, born.

1853 Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Yedo Bay, Japan.

1863 Confederate troops surrendered Port Hudson LA.

1869 A skirmish involving the 5th Cavalry happens on the Republican River, Kansas (see CMH awards for today). A three men detachment led by Corporal John Kyle, Company M, 5th U.S. Cavalry, skirmishes with an Indian force of eight. Sgt. Co-Rux-Te-Chod-Ish (Mad Bear) is accidentally wounded by his own command as he breaks ranks in an attempt to capture a hostile Indian.

1874 The NWMP begins its March West.

1884 Louis Riel arrives back in the North Saskatchewan valley to meet Gabriel Dumont.

1889 In the last official bare knuckle title fight ever held, heavyweight John L. Sullivan beats fellow Jack Kilrain in a world championship bout which lasts 75 rounds.

1889 The first issue of the Wall Street Journal is published.

1896 William Jennings Bryan delivers his Cross of Gold speech.

1898 American forces under ADM George E. Dewey occupied Isla Grande in Subic Bay, the Philippines.

1906 The last stage run over the Rawlins Wyoming to Lander Wyoming line is made

1911 Nebraskan "Two Gun" Nan Aspinwall becomes the first woman to ride across the United States, completing her ride from the Pacific by riding into New York City.

1919 President Woodrow Wilson receives welcome in New York City after his return from the Versailles Peace Conference in France.

1927 Max Hoffmann dies in Bad Reichenhall, Germany. Hoffmann was the developer of the military strategy which Hindenburg and Ludendorff used in the Battle of Tannenberg in 1914. In 1918 he led the offensive against Russia which forced the final peace terms ending Russian participation in World War I.

1941 Nazis order Jews in the Baltic States to wear a Star of David.

1942 Soviet amphibious landing on Someri, Finland, repulsed.
http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/2 ... -1942.html

1942 U-255 sinks American SS Olopana. Luftwaffe sinks Panamanian freighter El Capitan. Soviet submarine ShCh-317 sinks German SS Otto Cords. U-571 torpedoes US tanker MV J.A. Moffett, Jr. US submarine S-37 sinks Japanese transport Tenzan Maru. Japanese submarine I-10 sinks British SS Hartismere,
http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/2 ... -1942.html

1942 Trial commences of German sabateurs in Washington, D.C.
http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/2 ... -1942.html

1942 RAF raids Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/2 ... -1942.html

1944 British troops capture Caen.

1944 Guam shelled by U.S. ships.

1945 TF38 arrives off Japan with 20 carriers; to stay until the war is over

1950 Gen. Douglas MacArthur named commander-in-chief of United Nations forces in Korea.


1960 Downed CIA U2 pilot Francis Gary Powers is charged with espionage by the Soviet Union.

1994 Kim Il Sung, North Korea's communist leader since 1948, died at age 82.

Congressional Medals of Honor awarded fora action on this day:

CARNEY, WILLIAM H.: Sergeant, Company C, 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry. Place and date: At Fort Wagner, S.C., 18 July 1863. Citation: When the color sergeant was shot down, this soldier grasped the flag, led the way to the parapet, and planted the colors thereon. When the troops fell back he brought off the flag, under a fierce fire in which he was twice severely wounded.

CO-RUX-TE-CHOD-ISH (Mad Bear): Sergeant, Pawnee Scouts, U.S. Army. Place and date: At Republican River, Kans., 8 July 1869. Citation: Ran out from the command in pursuit of a dismounted Indian; was shot down and badly wounded by a bullet from his own command.

KYLE, JOHN: Corporal, Company M, 5th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: Near Republican River, Kans., 8 July 1869. Citation: This soldier and 2 others were attacked by 8 Indians, but beat them off and badly wounded 2 of them.

TIMMERMAN, GRANT FREDERICK: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as tank commander serving with the 2d Battalion, 6th Marines, 2d Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Marianas Islands, on 8 July 1944. Advancing with his tank a few yards ahead of the infantry in support of a vigorous attack on hostile positions, Sgt. Timmerman maintained steady fire from his antiaircraft sky mount machinegun until progress was impeded by a series of enemy trenches and pillboxes. Observing a target of opportunity, he immediately ordered the tank stopped and, mindful of the danger from the muzzle blast as he prepared to open fire with the 75mm., fearlessly stood up in the exposed turret and ordered the infantry to hit the deck. Quick to act as a grenade, hurled by the Japanese, was about to drop into the open turret hatch, Sgt. Timmerman unhesitatingly blocked the opening with his body holding the grenade against his chest and taking the brunt of the explosion. His exception valor and loyalty in saving his men at the cost of his own life reflect the highest credit upon Sgt. Timmerman and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.

SHEA, RICHARD T., JR.: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company A 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Sokkogae, Korea, 6 to 8 July 1953. Citation: 1st Lt. Shea, executive officer, Company A, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. On the night of 6 July, he was supervising the reinforcement of defensive positions when the enemy attacked with great numerical superiority. Voluntarily proceeding to the area most threatened, he organized and led a counterattack and, in the bitter fighting which ensued, closed with and killed 2 hostile soldiers with his trench knife. Calmly moving among the men, checking positions, steadying and urging the troops to hold firm, he fought side by side with them throughout the night. Despite heavy losses, the hostile force pressed the assault with determination, and at dawn made an all-out attempt to overrun friendly elements. Charging forward to meet the challenge, 1st Lt. Shea and his gallant men drove back the hostile troops. Elements of Company G joined the defense on the afternoon of 7 July, having lost key personnel through casualties. Immediately integrating these troops into his unit, 1st Lt. Shea rallied a group of 20 men and again charged the enemy. Although wounded in this action, he refused evacuation and continued to lead the counterattack. When the assaulting element was pinned down by heavy machine gun fire, he personally rushed the emplacement and, firing his carbine and lobbing grenades with deadly accuracy, neutralized the weapon and killed 3 of the enemy. With forceful leadership and by his heroic example, 1st Lt. Shea coordinated and directed a holding action throughout the night and the following morning. On 8 July, the enemy attacked again. Despite additional wounds, he launched a determined counterattack and was last seen in close hand-to-hand combat with the enemy. 1st Lt. Shea's inspirational leadership and unflinching courage set an illustrious example of valor to the men of his regiment, reflecting lasting glory upon himself and upholding the noble traditions of the military service.

Victoria Crosses awarded for action on this day.

None.

Last supplemented on Sunday July 8, 2012.

[Calendar]

July 9

586 BC Babylonian King Nebukadnezar II takes Jerusalem.

1540. King Henry VIII effects a purported annulment to Anne of Cleves, to whom he'd been married for six months.

1755 Maj Gen Edward Braddock, age 60, died of his wounds on the Monongahela.

1776. The Declaration of Independence is read to Washington's troops in New York.

1793 Importation of slaves into Lower Canada prohibited. The same also occurs on this day in Upper Canada with the passed act further limiting the servitude of those remaining, slaves' children should be free at age 25 and all slaves entering the province from this date automatically free.

1795 US National Debt of $2,024,899 US paid off.

1797 Edmund Burke, political philosopher, died at age 68.

1811 North West Company trader David Thompson claims the area of the junction of the Snake and Columbia Rivers for UK.

1816. Argentina declares independence from Spain.

1850 Zachery Taylor died in office.

1861 Confederate cavalry lunder John Morgan captured Tompkinsville, Kentucky.

1866 Colonel Henry B. Carrington leaves Fort Reno, Wyoming for Piney Creek to select the site for what became Ft. Phil Kearny.

1874 North West Mounted Police heads west from Fort Dufferin to the American whisky post called Fort Whoop Up at the junction of the Oldman and St. Mary rivers near present-day Lethbridge, Alberta. The occupants abandon the fort upon the mounties arrival.

1887 Samuel Eliot Morison, sailor, naval officer, historian and father of singer Jim Morison, whom he would outlive, born.

1915 German South West Africa captured by South African troops.

1915 The last stage robbery in the United States occurred in Yellowstone National Park, seeing financier Bernard amongst the passengers robbed.

1918. Congress creates the Distinguished Service Cross, adding a decoration for servicemen at a time when there were very, very, few.

1940. A sad day for France, Marshall Petain given power to unilaterally amend the French Constitution.

1941 British broke the German air to ground operations Code used on the Eastern Front.

1943 Allies land on Sicily. The Italian response would see the use of cavalry against U.S. airborne in one instance.

1944. Japanese defeated on Saipan.

1944 Canadians and British capture Caen

1947 The engagement of Britain's Princess Elizabeth, the future queen, to Lt. Philip Mountbatten was announced.

1995 French commandos board the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior II in the South Pacific.

Congressional Medals of Honor for action on this day:

DAVIS, GEORGE E.: First Lieutenant, Company D, 10th Vermont Infantry. Place and date: At Monocacy, Md., 9 July 1864. Entered service at: Burlington, Vt. Birth: Dunstable, Mass. Date of issue: 27 May 1892. Citation: While in command of a small force, held the approaches to the 2 bridges against repeated assaults of superior numbers, thereby materially delaying Early's advance on Washington.

HAND, ALLEXANDER: Quartermaster, U.S. Navy. Born: 1836, Delaware. Accredited to: Delaware. G.O. No.: 11 , 3 April 1 863. Citation: Served on board the U.S.S. Ceres in the fight near Hamilton, Roanoke River, 9 July 1862. Fired on by the enemy with small arms, Hand courageously returned the raking enemy fire and was spoken of for "good conduct and cool bravery under enemy fire," by the commanding officer.

KELLEY, JOHN: Second Class Fireman, U.S. Navy. Birth: Ireland. Accredited to: Ireland. G.O. No.: 11, 3 April 1863. Citation: Served as second-class fireman on board the U.S.S. Ceres in the fight near Hamilton, Roanoke River, 9 July 1862. When his ship was fired on by the enemy with small arms, Kelley returned the raking fire, courageously carrying out his duties through the engagement and was spoken of for "good conduct and cool bravery under enemy fires," by the commanding officer.

SCOTT, ALEXANDER: Corporal, Company D, 10th Vermont Infantry. Place and date: At Monocacy, Md., 9 July 1864. Entered service at: Winooski, Vt. Birth: Canada. Date of issue: 28 September 1897. Citation: Under a very heavy fire of the enemy saved the national flag of his regiment from capture.

BELL, JAMEJ: Private, Company E, 7th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Big Horn, Mont., 9 July 1875. Entered service at:------. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 2 December 1876. Citation: Carried dispatches to Gen. Crook at the imminent risk of his life.

EVANS, WILLIAM: Private, Company E, 7th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Big Horn, Mont., 9 July 1876. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 2 December 1876. Citation: Carried dispatches to Brig. Gen. Crook through a country occupied by Sioux.

STEWART, BENJAMIN F.: Private, Company E, 7th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Big Horn River, Mont., 9 July 1876. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Norfolk, Va. Date of issue: 2 December 1876. Citation: Carried dispatches to Gen. Crook at imminent risk of his life.

STEWART, BENJAMIN F.: Private, Company E, 7th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Big Horn River, Mont., 9 July 1876. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Norfolk, Va. Date of issue: 2 December 1876. Citation: Carried dispatches to Gen. Crook at imminent risk of his life.

LUCY, JOHN Second Class Boy, U.S. Navy. Born: 1859, New York, N.Y. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 214, 27 July 1876. Citation: Displayed heroic conduct while serving on board the U.S. Training Ship Minnesota on the occasion of the burning of Castle Garden at New York, 9 July 1876.

PUCKET, DONALD D.: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 98th , Bombardment Group. Place and date: Ploesti Raid, Rumania, 9 July 1944. Entered service at: Boulder, Colo. Birth: Longmont, Colo. G.O. No.: 48, 23 June 1945. Citation: He took part in a highly effective attack against vital oil installation in Ploesti, Rumania, on 9 July 1944. Just after "bombs away," the plane received heavy and direct hits from antiaircraft fire. One crewmember was instantly killed and 6 others severely wounded. The airplane was badly damaged, 2 were knocked out, the control cables cut, the oxygen system on fire, and the bomb bay flooded with gas and hydraulic fluid. Regaining control of his crippled plane, 1st Lt. Pucket turned its direction over to the copilot. He calmed the crew, administered first aid, and surveyed the damage. Finding the bomb bay doors jammed, he used the hand crank to open them to allow the gas to escape. He jettisoned all guns and equipment but the plane continued to lose altitude rapidly. Realizing that it would be impossible to reach friendly territory he ordered the crew to abandon ship. Three of the crew, uncontrollable from fright or shock, would not leave. 1st Lt. Pucket urged the others to jump. Ignoring their entreaties to follow, he refused to abandon the 3 hysterical men and was last seen fighting to regain control of the plane. A few moments later the flaming bomber crashed on a mountainside. 1st Lt. Pucket, unhesitatingly and with supreme sacrifice, gave his life in his courageous attempt to save the lives of 3 others.

Last supplemented on Monday, July 9.

[Calendar]

July 10

138 Emperor Hadrian dies after a heart failure at Baiae.

988 Norse King Glun Iarainn recognises Máel Sechnaill II, High King of Ireland.

1460 At the Battle of Northampton Lord Grey defeats King Henry VI.

1553 Lady Jane Grey takes the throne of England.

1775 Horatio Gates orders blacks excluded from the Continental Army.

1776 The statue of King George III was pulled down in New York City.

1778 Louis XVI declared war on England.

1797 First US frigate, the "United States," was launched in Philadelphia.

1818 John Stuart "Cerro Gordo" Williams, Brig Gen, C.S.A., born.

1820 Andrew Porter, Brig Gen, U.S., born.

1821 Christopher Columbus Augur, Maj Gen, U.S., born.

1833 Lucius Eugene Polk, Brig Gen, C.S.A., born.

1834 James Abbott McNeill Whistler, USMA drop-out, artist (“Whistler’s Mother”), born.

1832 President Jackson vetoed legislation to re-charter the Second Bank of the United States.

1850 Vice President Millard Fillmore became president following the death of Zachary Taylor.

1861 The Confederate States of America and the Creek Indians conclude a treaty.

1866 The War Department issued orders to establish a fort south of Laramie, Wyoming. It was initially named Fort John Buford but was renamed Fort Sanders on September 5, 1866.

1890 Wyoming became the 44th state.

1913 Romania declares war on Bulgaria.

1917 Emma Goldman imprisoned for obstructing the draft.

1923 All non-fascist parties in Italy are dissolved.

1938 Howard Hughes completes 91-hour 'round-the-world flight.

1940 Vichy government is established in France.

1940 The German Luftwaffe sent 70 planes to bomb targets in Southern Wales, beginning the Battle of Britain.

1941 Polish residents of Jedwabne massacre 1,600 Jews, and blame the Germans.

1942 Himmler orders sterilization of all Jewish woman in Ravensbruck Camp.

1942 USAAF agrees to increase strength in the Pacific, slowing buildup in Britain.

1943 U.S. and British forces invaded Sicily during World War II.

1944 The island of Saipan in the Marianas (Western Pacific) fell to U.S. troops.

1945 U-530, missing since the end of April, surfaces at Mar del Plata, south of Buenos Aires, sparking off speculation that it ferried high-ranking Nazi officials to sanctuary in South America.

1950 The first engagement between U.S. and North Korean tanks occurred near Chonui.

1951 Armistice talks aimed at ending the Korean War began at Kaesong.

1953 American troops abandon Pork Chop Hill, Korea.

1960 Belgium sends troops to Congo.

1973 The Bahamas became independent after three centuries of British colonial rule.

1985 Coca-Cola Co. said it would resume selling its old formula.

1991 Boris Yeltsin took the oath of office as the first elected president of the Russian republic.

1992 A federal judge in Miami sentenced former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega to 40 years in prison on drug and racketeering charges.

2006 Chechen terrorist leader Shamil Basayev was killed when a dynamite-laden truck in his convoy exploded.

Congressional Medals of Honor awarded for action on this day:

PARLE, JOHN JOSEPH: Ensign, U.S. Naval Reserve. Born: 26 May 1920, Omaha, Nebr. Accredited to: Nebraska. Citation: For valor and courage above and beyond the call of duty as Officer-in-Charge of Small Boats in the U.S.S. LST 375 during the amphibious assault on the island of Sicily, 9-10 July 1943. Realizing that a detonation of explosives would prematurely disclose to the enemy the assault about to be carried out, and with full knowledge of the peril involved, Ens. Parle unhesitatingly risked his life to extinguish a smoke pot accidentally ignited in a boat carrying charges of high explosives, detonating fuses and ammunition. Undaunted by fire and blinding smoke, he entered the craft, quickly snuffed out a burning fuse, and after failing in his desperate efforts to extinguish the fire pot, finally seized it with both hands and threw it over the side. Although he succumbed a week later from smoke and fumes inhaled, Ens. Parle's heroic self-sacrifice prevented grave damage to the ship and personnel and insured the security of a vital mission. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.

SCHOONOVER, DAN D.: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company A, 13th Engineer Combat Battalion, 7th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Sokkogae, Korea, 8 to 10 July 1953. Entered service at: Boise, Idaho. Born: 8 October 1933, Boise, Idaho. G.O. No.: 5, 14 January 1955. Citation: Cpl. Schoonover, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. He was in charge of an engineer demolition squad attached to an infantry company which was committed to dislodge the enemy from a vital hill. Realizing that the heavy fighting and intense enemy fire made it impossible to carry out his mission, he voluntarily employed his unit as a rifle squad and, forging up the steep barren slope, participated in the assault on hostile positions. When an artillery round exploded on the roof of an enemy bunker, he courageously ran forward and leaped into the position, killing 1 hostile infantryman and taking another prisoner. Later in the action, when friendly forces were pinned down by vicious fire from another enemy bunker, he dashed through the hail of fire, hurled grenades in the nearest aperture, then ran to the doorway and emptied his pistol, killing the remainder of the enemy. His brave action neutralized the position and enabled friendly troops to continue their advance to the crest of the hill. When the enemy counterattacked he constantly exposed himself to the heavy bombardment to direct the fire of his men and to call in an effective artillery barrage on hostile forces. Although the company was relieved early the following morning, he voluntarily remained in the area, manned a machine gun for several hours, and subsequently joined another assault on enemy emplacements. When last seen he was operating an automatic rifle with devastating effect until mortally wounded by artillery fire. Cpl. Schoonover's heroic leadership during 2 days of heavy fighting, superb personal bravery, and willing self-sacrifice inspired his comrades and saved many lives, reflecting lasting glory upon himself and upholding the honored traditions of the military service.

Victoria Crosses awarded for action on this day:

KERR William Alexander: Lieutenant. The 24th Bombay Native Infantry. On the breaking out of a mutiny in the 27th Bombay Native Infantry in July, 1857, a party of the mutineers took up a position in the stronghold, or paga, near the town of Kolapore, and defended themselves to extremity. Lieutenant Kerr, of the Southern Mahratta Irregular Horse, took a prominent share of the attack on the position, and at the moment when its capture was of great public importance, he made a dash at one of the gateways, with some dismounted horsemen, and forced an entrance by breaking down the gate. The attack was completely successful, and the defenders were either killed, wounded, or captured, a result that may with perfect justice be attributed to Lieutenant Kerr's dashing and devoted bravery." (Letter from the Political Superintendent at Kolapore, to the Adjutant-General of the Army, dated 10th September, 1857.)

GORDON James Heather: Private. The 7th Australian Division's 2/31st BattalionOn 10 July 1941 at Jezzine, Syria, Private Gordon's company was held up by intense machine-gun and grenade fire from Vichy French forces, but on his own initiative, he crept forward alone and succeeded in getting close to the machine-gun post. He then charged it and killed the four machine-gunners with his bayonet. His action demoralized the enemy in this sector and the company advanced and took the position.

YESHWANT GHADGE: Naik. 5th Mahratta Light Infantry, in the Indian Army. On 10 July 1944 in the Upper Tiber Valley, Italy, a rifle section commanded by Naik Yeshwant Ghadge came under heavy machine-gun fire at close range which killed or wounded all members of the section except the commander. Without hesitation Naik Yeshwant Ghadge rushed the machine-gun position, first throwing a grenade which knocked out the machine-gun and firer and then he shot one of the gun crew. Finally, having no time to change his magazine, he clubbed to death the two remaining members of the crew. He fell mortally wounded, shot by an enemy sniper.

[Pat Holscher]

July 10
1945 U-530, missing since the end of April, surfaces at Mar del Plata, south of Buenos Aires, sparking off speculation that it ferried high-ranking Nazi officials to sanctuary in South America.

This is one of the oddest stories of WWII, and would make for a good movie. Basically, the officers of the boat broke off contact after being action for several days and then surfacing to receive the "go to port, the war is over" message. Rather than simply proceed to the nearest port, they made a run for Mar del Plata, which was an Argentine sub base. The captain claimed that the officers didn't believe the message as it had technical problems, but that for some reason they decided to throw in the towel and head for Argentina, over the objection of some enlisted men who wanted to surrender. When they arrived at the Argentine port, after weeks of travel (mostly submerged during the day) they purposely damaged the engines of the boat and then brought it into port. They claimed that they hadn't realized Argentina had entered the war.

More likely, the officers were afraid that their actions as U-boot officers made them some species of war criminal, and the hope was to make it to a neutral port. They probably really didn't believe that Argentina had entered the war.

Of course, Argentina had entered the war as an Allied nation late war, and they were not given sanctuary. Presumably the officers were returned to Germany after some weeks or months. I wonder what became of the captain?

[Calendar]

July 11

1274 King Robert I the Bruce of Scotland was born.

1533 England's King Henry VIII was excommunicated.

1657 King Frederick I of Prussia was born.

1767 John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States, was born in Braintree, Mass.

1786 Morocco agreed to stop attacking American ships in the Mediterranean for a payment of $10,000.

1792 Prussia invades France.

1798 The U.S. Marine Corps was created by an act of Congress.

1804 Vice President Aaron Burr mortally wounded former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton in a pistol duel near Weehawken, N.J.

1825 Edward Henry Hobson, Brig Gen, U.S., born.

1841 William Paul Roberts, Brig Gen, C.S.A., born.

1859 Big Ben, the great bell inside the famous London clock tower, chimed for the first time.

1862 The Postmaster General of the United States ordered mail carriers to forgo the trail over South Pass in favor of the Overland Trail due to the risk of Indian attacks.

1869 Battle of Summit Springs Colorado.

1899 E. B. White, writer of essays and children's books, and a manual of style dedicated to making writing exceedingly dull, was born.

1890 Arthur W Tedder, Marshal of the Royal Air Force, born.

1914 Baseball Hall of Famer Babe Ruth made his major league debut as a pitcher for the Red Sox. He was nineteen years old at the time, and his youth caused his teammates to call him "Babe". Boston won the game over Clevland 4 to 3.

Ruth was the product of a really troubled upbringing. He was one of eight children, but six of his siblings died before reaching maturity. Ruth himself was a difficult child and had been sent to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys at age 7, where he had lived until 19 years of age. He left there and went into major league baseball the same year.

1952 The Republican National Convention nominated Dwight D. Eisenhower for president and Richard M. Nixon for vice president.

1955 The Air Force Academy was dedicated at Lowry Air Base in Colorado.

1960 "To Kill a Mockingbird," was first published.

1977 The Medal of Freedom was awarded posthumously to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

1995 The United States normalized relations with Vietnam.

Congressional Medals of Honor awarded for action on this day:

BRATLING, FRANK: Corporal, Company C, 8th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: Near Fort Selden, N. Mex., 8-11 July 1873. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Germany. Date of issue: 12 August 1875. Citation: Services against hostile Indians.

HUMPHREY, CHARLES F.: First Lieutenant, 4th U.S. Artillery. Place and date: At Clearwater, Idaho, 11 July 1877. Entered service at: ------. Birth: New York. Date of issue: 2 March 1897. Citation: Voluntarily and successfully conducted, in the face of a withering fire, a party which recovered possession of an abandoned howitzer and 2 Gatling guns Iying between the lines a few yards from the Indians.

LYTLE, LEONIDAS S.: Sergeant, Company C, 8th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: Near Fort Selden, N. Mex., 8-11 July 1873. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Warren County, Pa. Date of issue: 12 April 1875. Citation: Services against hostile Indians.

MORRIS, JAMES L.: First Sergeant, Company C, 8th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: Near Fort Selden, N. Mex., 8-11 July 1873. Entered service at:------. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 12 August 1875. Citation: Services against hostile Indians.

SHEERIN, JOHN: Blacksmith, Company C, 8th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: Near Fort Selden, N. Mex., 8-11 July 1873. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Camden County, N.J. Date of issue: 12 August 1875. Citation: Services against hostile Indians.

WILLS, HENRY: Private, Company C, 8th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: Near Fort Selden, N. Mex., 8-11 July 1873. Entered service at. Pennsylvania. Birth: Gracon, Pa. Date of issue: 12 August 1875. Citation: Services against hostile Indians.

CRAIG, ROBERT: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Favoratta, Sicily, 11 July 1943. Entered service at: Toledo, Ohio. Birth: Scotland. G.O. No.: 41, 26 May 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, on 11 July 1943 at Favoratta, Sicily. 2d Lt. Craig voluntarily undertook the perilous task of locating and destroying a hidden enemy machinegun which had halted the advance of his company. Attempts by 3 other officers to locate the weapon had resulted in failure, with each officer receiving wounds. 2d Lt. Craig located the gun and snaked his way to a point within 35 yards of the hostile position before being discovered. Charging headlong into the furious automatic fire, he reached the gun, stood over it, and killed the 3 crew members with his carbine. With this obstacle removed, his company continued its advance. Shortly thereafter while advancing down the forward slope of a ridge, 2d Lt. Craig and his platoon, in a position devoid of cover and concealment, encountered the fire of approximately 100 enemy soldiers. Electing to sacrifice himself so that his platoon might carry on the battle, he ordered his men to withdraw to the cover of the crest while he drew the enemy fire to himself. With no hope of survival, he charged toward the enemy until he was within 25 yards of them. Assuming a kneeling position, he killed 5 and wounded 3 enemy soldiers. While the hostile force concentrated fire on him, his platoon reached the cover of the crest. 2d Lt. Craig was killed by enemy fire, but his intrepid action so inspired his men that they drove the enemy from the area, inflicting heavy casualties on the hostile force.

ENDL, GERALD L.: Staff Sergeant, U S. Army, 32d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Anamo, New Guinea, 11 July 1944. Entered service at: Janesville, Wis. Birth: Ft. Atkinson, Wis. G.O. No.: 17, 13 March 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty near Anamo, New Guinea, on 11 July 1944. S/Sgt. Endl was at the head of the leading platoon of his company advancing along a jungle trail when enemy troops were encountered and a fire fight developed. The enemy attacked in force under heavy rifle, machinegun, and grenade fire. His platoon leader wounded, S/Sgt. Endl immediately assumed command and deployed his platoon on a firing line at the fork in the trail toward which the enemy attack was directed. The dense jungle terrain greatly restricted vision and movement, and he endeavored to penetrate down the trail toward an open clearing of Kunai grass. As he advanced, he detected the enemy, supported by at least 6 light and 2 heavy machineguns, attempting an enveloping movement around both flanks. His commanding officer sent a second platoon to move up on the left flank of the position, but the enemy closed in rapidly, placing our force in imminent danger of being isolated and annihilated. Twelve members of his platoon were wounded, 7 being cut off by the enemy. Realizing that if his platoon were forced farther back, these 7 men would be hopelessly trapped and at the mercy of a vicious enemy, he resolved to advance at all cost, knowing it meant almost certain death, in an effort to rescue his comrades. In the face of extremely heavy fire he went forward alone and for a period of approximately 10 minutes engaged the enemy in a heroic close-range fight, holding them off while his men crawled forward under cover to evacuate the wounded and to withdraw. Courageously refusing to abandon 4 more wounded men who were Iying along the trail, 1 by 1 he brought them back to safety. As he was carrying the last man in his arms he was struck by a heavy burst of automatic fire and was killed. By his persistent and daring self-sacrifice and on behalf of his comrades, S/Sgt. Endl made possible the successful evacuation of all but 1 man, and enabled the 2 platoons to withdraw with their wounded and to reorganize with the rest of the company.

ROBERTS, GORDON R.: Sergeant (then Sp4c.), U.S. Army, Company B, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. Place and date: Thua Thien Province, Republic of Vietnam, 11 July 1969. Entered service at: Cincinnati, Ohio. Born: 14 June 1950, Middletown, Ohio. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Roberts distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman in Company B, during combat operations. Sgt. Roberts' platoon was maneuvering along a ridge to attack heavily fortified enemy bunker positions which had pinned down an adjoining friendly company. As the platoon approached the enemy positions, it was suddenly pinned down by heavy automatic weapons and grenade fire from camouflaged enemy fortifications atop the overlooking hill. Seeing his platoon immobilized and in danger of failing in its mission, Sgt. Roberts crawled rapidly toward the closest enemy bunker. With complete disregard for his safety, he leaped to his feet and charged the bunker, firing as he ran. Despite the intense enemy fire directed at him, Sgt. Roberts silenced the 2-man bunker. Without hesitation, Sgt. Roberts continued his l-man assault on a second bunker. As he neared the second bunker, a burst of enemy fire knocked his rifle from his hands. Sgt. Roberts picked up a rifle dropped by a comrade and continued his assault, silencing the bunker. He continued his charge against a third bunker and destroyed it with well-thrown hand grenades. Although Sgt. Roberts was now cut off from his platoon, he continued his assault against a fourth enemy emplacement. He fought through a heavy hail of fire to join elements of the adjoining company which had been pinned down by the enemy fire. Although continually exposed to hostile fire, he assisted in moving wounded personnel from exposed positions on the hilltop to an evacuation area before returning to his unit. By his gallant and selfless actions, Sgt. Roberts contributed directly to saving the lives of his comrades and served as an inspiration to his fellow soldiers in the defeat of the enemy force. Sgt. Roberts' extraordinary heroism in action at the risk of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Last supplemented on Wednesday, July 11, 2012.

[Trooper]

"Captain Chilson, with 10 men, left Fort Selden on June 9, 1873, and after four days and four nights riding, overtook and engaged a party of Indian marauders who had committed depredations at Sheddo Ranch, killing 3, and capturing 12 horses and 1 mule. Corporal Frank Bratling was killed in this engagement. The department commander in General Orders thanked Captain Chilson and his men for the soldierly manner in which they had acquitted themselves. The detachment returned on the 16th. having marched 350 miles in seven days and four hours. Special mention was made by Captain Chilson of 1st Sergeant I. L. Morris, Sergeant L. S. Lytle, Corporal Frank Bratling (killed), blacksmith John Sheerin, and Private Henry Wills. Their names were forwarded to the War Department with recommendations that medals of honor be conferred upon them."
http://www.history.army.mil/books/R&H/R&H-8CV.htm

Re Cpl. Bratling:

"Fort McRae was, for many years, the final resting place of Cpl. Frank Bratling, C Troop, 8th Calvary, recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Corporal Bratling was stationed at Fort Selden under the command of Capt. George W. Chilson when they were called to track and engage an unknown number of Indians who had stolen livestock from a local ranch. Following a pursuit that covered approximately 465 miles, the Indians were trapped in a canyon and gunfire ensued. As described in Captain Chilson’s report (July 16, 1873), “at this point one of my men Corpl Frank Brattling [sic], ‘C’ Troop, 8th Cav, while kneeling to take more deliberate aim, and in open ground within 20 paces of the Indians was shot through the heart and killed instantly.” The encounter took place in the vicinity of Fort McRae, so it was logical that the Captain made for the fort the morning after the engagement. It was at Fort McRae that Corporal Bratling was pronounced dead, July 14, 1873, and buried in the post cemetery by 4 p.m. that day. The following day, Captain Chilson returned to Fort Selden with his remaining men and the stolen livestock.

Captain Chilson’s spirited report of the pursuit and encounter with the Apache was received with great favor by the Adjutant General’s Office. A general order (No. 9) issued by the Assistant Adjutant General’s Office on August 5, 1873, stated, “The names of the enlisted men who have thus distinguished themselves will be forwarded to the War Department, with the recommendation that medals of honor may be conferred upon them.”

Until 2001, Corporal Bratling’s remains were presumed to remain interred at the fort. In November 2001, a document was identified at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., that ordered the relocation of the Fort McRae cemetery to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The order was signed by President Grant in 1886. Bratling’s Medal of Honor was one of only 18 earned in the Territory/State of New Mexico."

http://www.newmexicohistory.org/filedet ... ileID=9969

[Calendar]

July 12

100 B.C. Julius Caesar was born in Rome.

927 Æthelstan, King of England, secures a pledge from Constantine II of Scotland that the latter will not ally with Viking kings.

1109 Crusaders capture Tripoli, Syria.

1174 King William I (the Lion) of Scotland, who had laid seige to the castle of Alnwick in Northern England, was defeated and captured by English troops.

1191 Richard Lionheart takes Acre.

1290 King Edward I orders the Jews expelled from England.

1450 A British tax rebellion ends when its leader, Jack Cade, is driven out of London.

1543 England's King Henry VIII married his sixth and last wife, Catherine Parr.

1630 New Amsterdam's governor bought Gull Island from Indians for cargo and renamed it Oyster Island. It later became Ellis Island.

1690 William of Orange defeated James II at the Battle of the Boyne.

1804 Alexander Hamilton age 47, died of wounds from a pistol duel with Aaron Burr.

1806 Sixteen German imperial states leave the largely defunct Holy Roman Empire and form the Confederation of the Rhine.

1807 Silas Casey, Maj Gen, U.S., born.

1812 Gen Hull's US forces invade Canada.

1821 Daniel Harvey Hill, Lt Gen, C.S.A., born.

1843 British Parliament passes the Canada Corn Act, that lets Canadian wheat into the UK with minimal duty.

1861 Confederate Special commissioner Albert Pike completes treaties with the members of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes.

1862 Congress authorized the Medal of Honor.

1870 The 6th Cavalry was engaged in some sort of action at the Wichita River, Texaas (see CMH awards).

1895 Oscar Hammerstein II was born in New York City.

1906 Captain Alfred Dreyfus was rehabilitated.

1908 Milton Berle was born Mendel Berlinger in New York City.

1915 Canadian Army orders harvest furloughs to Canadian Expeditionary Force soldiers still in training camps in Canada.

1941 First Luftwaffe air raid on Moscow.

1941 Germans murder 5,000 Jews near Bialystock.

1942 Australian Maroubra Force reach Kokoda

1942 U-Boat lands four German saboteurs on Long Island, who are soon captured

1943 Soviets halt German offensive at Kursk.

1944 Theresienstadt Concentration Camp disbanded, with 4,000 people gassed.

1972 George McGovern won the Democratic presidential nomination at the party's convention in Miami Beach.

1982 FEMA promises that survivors of a nuclear war will get their mail.

2005 Prince Albert II of Monaco acceded to the throne.

Congressional Medals of Honor awarded for action on this day:

BALDWIN, FRANK D.: Captain, Company D, 19th Michigan Infantry; First Lieutenant, 5th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Peach Tree Creek, Ga., 12 July 1864. Entered service at: Constantine, Mich. Birth: Michigan. Date of issue: 3 December 1891. Second award. Citation: Led his company in a countercharge at Peach Tree Creek, Ga., 12 July 1864, under a galling fire ahead of his own men, and singly entered the enemy's line, capturing and bringing back 2 commissioned officers, fully armed, besides a guidon of a Georgia regiment.

WRAY, WILLIAM J.: Sergeant, Company K, 1st Veteran Reserve Corps. Place and date: At Fort Stevens, D.C., 12 July 1864. Citation: Rallied the company at a critical moment during a change of position under fire.

CONNOR, JOHN: Corporal, Company H, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 July 1870. Citation: Gallantry in action.

CONNOR, JOHN: Corporal, Company H, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 July 1870. Citation: Gallantry in action.

This is near the present day location of Wichita Falls, TX.

So what battle happened there?

http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/onli ... cles/qfl01

I can certainly believe that the fight was unequal in numbers but I'm confused by the assertion that the Kiowas outgunned the detachment of the Sixth Cavalry.
The Sixth had been armed with Spencer carbines since 1866, and I find it hard to believe that so many Spencer rifles could have found their way into Kiowa hands.

That is curious.

I think the account there may be somewhat deceptive, and given liberal interpretation to it perhaps we might infer that that the Indians had sufficient Spencers as to make their impact felt, but that this might not have been all that many Spencers. Even at that, in 1870, that would be somewhat surprising, particularly as the 6th would have been heavily Spencer armed.

And Kiowa Spencers would have had to come through some alternative sources, perhaps CW surplus, so we wouldn't expect many. And CW Spencers didn't have a high tolerance for repeated abuse, tough as they were. Somewhere on the forum we have a thread where a lot of older Spencers were tested in this time frame and found to have excessive headspace.

ELDRIDGE, GEORGE H.: Sergeant, Company C, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 July 1870. Citation: Gallantry in action.

GIVEN, JOHN J.: Corporal, Company K, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 July 1870. Citation: Bravery in action.

KERRIGAN, THOMAS: Sergeant, Company H, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 July 1870. Citation: Gallantry in action.

KIRK, JOHN: First Sergeant, Company L, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 July 1870. Citation: Gallantry in action.

MAY, JOHN: Sergeant, Company L, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 July 1870. Citation: Gallantry in action.

NEAL, SOLON D.: Private, Company L, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 July 1870. Citation: Gallantry in action.

PORTER, SAMUEL: Farrier, Company L, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 July 1870. Citation: Gallantry in action.

SMITH, CHARLES E.: Corporal, Company H, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 July 1870. Citation: Gallantry in action.

STOKES, ALONZO: First Sergeant, Company H, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 July 1870. Citation: Gallantry in action.

WATSON, JAMES C.: Corporal, Company I., 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 July 1870. Citation: Gallantry in action.

WINDUS, CLARON A.: Bugler, Company L, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 July 1870. Citation: Gallantry in action.

WINTERBOTTOM, WILLIAM: Sergeant, Company A, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 July 1870. Citation: Gallantry in action.

MITCHELL, JOSEPHn: Gunner's Mate First Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 27 November 1876, Philadelphia, Pa. Accredited to: Pennsylvania. G.O. No.: 55, 19 July 1901. Citation: In the presence of the enemy during the battle of Peking, China, 12 July 1900, Mitchell distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.

STANLEY, ROBERT HENRY: Hospital Apprentice, U.S. Navy. Place and date: China, 13, 20, 21, and 22 June 1900. Citation: For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy in volunteering and carrying messages under fire at Peking, China, 12 July 1900.

HARMON, ROY W.: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C, 362d Infantry, 91st Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Casaglia, Italy, 12 July 1944. Citation: He was an acting squad leader when heavy machinegun fire from enemy positions, well dug in on commanding ground and camouflaged by haystacks, stopped his company's advance and pinned down 1 platoon where it was exposed to almost certain annihilation. Ordered to rescue the beleaguered platoon by neutralizing the German automatic fire, he led his squad forward along a draw to the right of the trapped unit against 3 key positions which poured murderous fire into his helpless comrades. When within range, his squad fired tracer bullets in an attempt to set fire to the 3 haystacks which were strung out in a loose line directly to the front, 75, 150, and 250 yards away. Realizing that this attack was ineffective, Sgt. Harmon ordered his squad to hold their position and voluntarily began a 1-man assault. Carrying white phosphorus grenades and a submachine gun, he skillfully took advantage of what little cover the terrain afforded and crept to within 25 yards of the first position. He set the haystack afire with a grenade, and when 2 of the enemy attempted to flee from the inferno, he killed them with his submachine gun. Crawling toward the second machinegun emplacement, he attracted fire and was wounded; but he continued to advance and destroyed the position with hand grenades, killing the occupants. He then attacked the third machinegun, running to a small knoll, then crawling over ground which offered no concealment or cover. About halfway to his objective, he was again wounded. But he struggled ahead until within 20 yards of the machinegun nest, where he raised himself to his knees to throw a grenade. He was knocked down by direct enemy fire. With a final, magnificent effort, he again arose, hurled the grenade and fell dead, riddled by bullets. His missile fired the third position, destroying it. Sgt. Harmon's extraordinary heroism, gallantry, and self-sacrifice saved a platoon from being wiped out, and made it possible for his company to advance against powerful enemy resistance.
*REASONER, FRANK S.: First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company A, 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division. Place and date: near Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam, 12 July 1965. Entered service at: Kellogg, Idaho. Born: 16 September 1937, Spokane, Wash. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. The reconnaissance patrol led by 1st Lt. Reasoner had deeply penetrated heavily controlled enemy territory when it came under extremely heavy fire from an estimated 50 to 100 Viet Cong insurgents. Accompanying the advance party and the point that consisted of 5 men, he immediately deployed his men for an assault after the Viet Cong had opened fire from numerous concealed positions. Boldly shouting encouragement, and virtually isolated from the main body, he organized a base of fire for an assault on the enemy positions. The slashing fury of the Viet Cong machinegun and automatic weapons fire made it impossible for the main body to move forward. Repeatedly exposing himself to the devastating attack he skillfully provided covering fire, killing at least 2 Viet Cong and effectively silencing an automatic weapons position in a valiant attempt to effect evacuation of a wounded man. As casualties began to mount his radio operator was wounded and 1st Lt. Reasoner immediately moved to his side and tended his wounds. When the radio operator was hit a second time while attempting to reach a covered position, 1st Lt. Reasoner courageously running to his aid through the grazing machinegun fire fell mortally wounded. His indomitable fighting spirit, valiant leadership and unflinching devotion to duty provided the inspiration that was to enable the patrol to complete its mission without further casualties. In the face of almost certain death he gallantly gave his life in the service of his country. His actions upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.

Victoria Crosses awarded for action on this day:

None.

[Calendar]

July 13

Today is an interesting one in history, with a lot of events occurring earlier in history than we'd suppose, as well as later than we'd suspect.

1585 A group of 108 English colonists, led by Sir Richard Grenville, reached Roanoke Island, North Carolina.

1755 Edward Braddock, British general, died in battle at Fort Pitt.

1787 Congress, under the Articles of Confederation, enacted the Northwest Ordinance, establishing rules for governing the Northwest Territory, for admitting new states to the Union and limiting the expansion of slavery.

1793 French revolutionary writer Jean Paul Marat was stabbed to death in his bath by Charlotte Corday, who was executed four days later.

1821 Nathan Bedford Forrest was born.

1854 US forces shelled and burned San Juan del Norte, Nicaragua.

1861 Union forces under General George B. McClellan route Confederate forces under General Robert Garnett at Corrick's Ford in western Virginia

1862 Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest defeated a Union army at Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

1863 Rioting against the Civil War military draft erupted in New York City; about 1,000 people died over three days.

1863 USS Wyoming battled Japanese warlord's forces.

1864 Gen Jubal Early retreated from the outskirts of Washington back to Shenandoah Valley.

1866 Great Eastern began a two week voyage to complete a 12-year effort to lay telegraph cable across the Atlantic between Britain and the United States.

1866 Colonel Henry Carrington begins construction on Fort Phil Kearny.

1890 John C. Fremont died.

1900 Tientsin is retaken by European Allies from the rebelling Boxers.

1916 The first aero Company, New York National Guard, was called to Federal service during the border crisis with Mexico on July 13, 1916. This was the first time a National Guard aviation unit was mobilized. The unit was commanded by Capt. Raynal C. Bolling.

http://www.firstaero.org/

1916 Guardsmen of the 4th South Dakota Infantry prepare to leave for San Benito, Texas, to take up their station on the Mexican border where it will be placed into the First Separate Brigade along with the 22nd U.S. Infantry, the 1st Louisiana and 1st Oklahoma infantry regiments.

1930 France beat Mexico 4-1 in the first match of soccer's inaugural World Cup tournament in Montevideo, Uruguay.

1943 The 10 Mountain Division came into being on July 13, 1943, at Camp Hale, Colorado as the 10th Light Division (Alpine).

1960 John F. Kennedy won the Democratic presidential nomination at the party's convention in Los Angeles.

1985 The Constitution's presidential disability clause was invoked for the first time as President Ronald Reagan transferred power temporarily to Vice President George H.W. Bush before undergoing surgery for colon cancer.

[Pat Holscher]

July 14.

Today is Bastille Day.

1187 Saladin captures Nablus.

1223 Louis VIII becomes King of France.

1771 Father Junipero Serra founded the Mission San Antonio de Padua in California.

1789. On this day, Parisians stormed the Bastille, starting off what would become the French Revolution. Today is celebrated as the French national holiday, Bastille day, commemorating the vent.

July 14. The storming of the Bastille in 1789. 7 prisoners and much paper work are liberated.

On the same date in 1793 thief, journalist, and Friend of the People, Jean Paul Marat's incessant cry for more blood is augmented with some of his own as he is killed in his bath by Charlotte Corday, a knife to the heart avenging the death of her friend

...and prompting a rather graphic painting...

Correction: further reading indicates that Marat was killed the evening of the 13th not the 14th. Sorry.

1798. Congress passed the Sedition Act, one of a series of controversial acts directed at malicious writings about the government. It remains one of the most controversial acts every passed by Congress.

1798 The first direct federal tax in US states took effect on dwellings, land and slaves.

1813 LT John M. Gamble was the first marine to command a ship in battle, the prize vessel Greenwich in capture of British whaler Seringapatam.

1818 Nathaniel Lyon, Brig Gen, U.S., KIA, Wilson's Creek, born.

1830 Richard Henry Jackson, in Ireland, Brig. Gen, born.

1831 William Dwight, Brig Gen, U.S., born.

1862 Congress passed an act stating that: " . . . the spirit ration in the Navy of the United States shall forever cease, and . . . no distilled spirituous liquors shall be admitted on board vessels of war, except as medical stores . . . there shall be allowed and paid to each person in the Navy now entitled to the ration, five cents per day in commutation and lieu thereof, which shall be in addition to their present pay."

1863 Naval forces under Rear Admiral S. P. Lee, including U.S.S. Sangamon, Lehigh, Mahaska, Morse, Commodore Barney, Commodore Jones, Shokokon, and Seymour, captured Fort Powhatan on the James River, Virginia.

1864 General Nathan Bedford Forrest suffered defeat when Union General Andrew J. Smith routed his force in Tupelo, Mississippi.

1864 Gold was discovered in Helena, Montana.

1866. On this day in 1866 the site for Ft. Phil Kearny was chosen. The site of the ill fated fort was chosen based upon a ready supply of timber and it was very near a natural hay meadow. While the fort proved to be highly isolated during the winter, the initial resource considerations that went in to its location were not poorly made, although consideration as to its winter isolation was not adequately made.

There's some disagreement on that 1866 date. See yesterday's entry.

1881. William Bonnie, aka "Billy the Kid", shot by Sheriff Pat Garrett.

1882 Sailors and Marines helped restore order at Alexandria, Egypt.

1900 A combined force made up principally of Japanese Army troops, but including American and other European contingents, seized Tientsin from Chinese Boxers

1922 Bill Millin, Scotsman, piper for Lord Lovat during the relief of Pegasus Bridge on D-Day, born.

1933. Germany's National Socialist Party, the Nazis, outlaw all other political parties.

1941 Vichy French Foreign Legionaries signed an armistice in Damascus, allowing them to join the Free French Foreign Legion.

1944 The French Expeditionary Corps captures Poggibonsi.

1946 Heart Mountain, Wyoming, Japanese-American draft resisters were released from McNeil Island.

July 15, 1948 d. General John J. Pershing:

http://www.reference.com/search?q=John%20J.%20Pershing

1958 Iraq's monarchy falls.

1969 El Salvador invades Honduras.

1972 Jane Fonda makes first of 10 broadcasts on Radio Hanoi.

Congressional Medals of Honor awarded for action on this day:

HIBSON, JOSEPH C.: Private, Company C, 48th New York Infantry. Place and date: Near Fort Wagner, S.C., 13 July 1863, Near Fort Wagner, S.C., 14 July 1863; Near Fort Wagner, S.C., 18 July 1863. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Birth: England. Date of issue: 23 October 1897. Citation: While voluntarily performing picket duty under fire on 13 July 1863, was attacked and his surrender demanded, but he killed his assailant. The day following responded to a call for a volunteer to reconnoiter the enemy's position, and went within the enemy's lines under fire and was exposed to great danger. On 18 July voluntarily exposed himself with great gallantry during an assault, and received 3 wounds that permanently disabled him for active service.

HOLTON, CHARLES M.: First Sergeant, Company A, 7th Michigan Cavalry. Place and date: At Falling Waters, Va., 14 July 1863. Entered service at: Battle Creek, Mich. Born: 25 May 1838, Potter, N.Y. Date of issue: 21 March 1889. Citation: Capture of flag of 55th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.). In the midst of the battle with foot soldiers he dismounted to capture the flag.

Victoria Crosses awarded for action on this day:

BOULTER William Ewart: Sergeant. The Northamptonshire Regiment, British Army. On 14 July 1916 at Trones Wood, France, when one company and part of another was held up in the attack on a wood by a hostile machine-gun which was causing heavy casualties, Sergeant Boulter, with utter contempt of danger, and in spite of being wounded in the shoulder, advanced alone over open ground under heavy fire, in front of the gun and bombed the gun team from their position. This act not only saved many casualties, but materially helped the operation of clearing the enemy out of the wood.[/quote]

[selewis]

Another late entry, sorry Calendar. Working out of town, trying to farm on the weekend (it's raining on my windrows right now,Oy vey), I don't get to my computer as often as I'd like. Oh my heck, I'm going to grab my rain gear, horse, and chuck it all for a few hours.

Sandy


July 8,1835 Philadelphia. The Liberty Bell cracked while tolling a requiem for Chief Justice John Marshall, who had died two days before.

[Pat Holscher]

July 15

1741 Vitus Bering, a Danish mariner working for Russia, landed on the Alaskan coast.

1870 Georgia became the last of the Confederate states to be readmitted to the Union.

1916 William Boeing founded Pacific Aero Products, the forerunner of the Boeing Co., in Seattle.

1918 The Second Battle of the Marne began.

1971 President Richard Nixon announced he would visit the People's Republic of China.

2002 John Walker Lindh, an American who had fought in the Taliban in Afghanistan, pleaded guilty to two felonies in a deal sparing him life in prison.