Anecdote
OLD ABE THE WAR EAGLE
The most famous mascot in the history of the U.S. Army was an eagle. In 1861, a Chippewa Indian chief chopped down a tree to get two eaglets in a nest. One eaglet died in the fall, but the Read more
Anecdote
GENERAL HOWE’S DOG
By 1777, there was no love lost between the Patriots and the Redcoats. The British had recently routed Washington’s army at Brandywine and had taken the city of Philadelphia. The commander of the Continental Army felt he needed to Read more
Anecdote
JOHN BARRY
John Barry was born on March 25, 1745, in Ireland to a Catholic tenant farmer. His family was evicted from its farm by a British landlord. They moved to the coast and John fell in Read more
Anecdote
JOSEPH PLUMB MARTIN
Joseph was born on November 21, 1760. His father was a reverend and well-to-do. Joseph was given a good education, which would later be proven in his memoirs. After Lexington and Concord, he threatened to run away and join a Read more
Anecdote
THE BERSERKER ON STAMFORD BRIDGE
Today is the 7th anniversary of this website. I wanted to commemorate that with a favorite story of mine. Viking berserkers would open battles by launching themselves against the enemy with no Read more
Anecdote
THOMAS SUMTER
Thomas Sumter was born on August 14, 1734 in Virginia. His father had been an indentured servant. Thomas got little formal education. He joined the militia and participated in Braddock’s defeat in the Battle of the Wilderness. After this, he Read more
Anecdote
HAYM SALOMON & ROBERT MORRIS
Haym Salomon was born on April 7, 1740. He was a Polish Jew who immigrated to New York City in 1775. He became a financial broker to merchants who were involved in trade. He immediately joined colonists who opposed British Read more
Anecdote
Casimir Pulaski and Tadeusz Kościuszko
Kazimierz Michal Wladyslaw Wiktor Pulaski (on the right below) was born to a noble family in Warsaw on March 6, 1745. He loved the military so he became a cavalryman when he grew up. He fought the Russians, but Read more
Anecdote
SALEM POOR and PETER SALEM
Salem Poor purchased his freedom in 1769 at age 22. It cost him 27 pounds (equivalent to $5,800 today) which was an average yearly wage for a working man. In May, 1775, he enlisted in the militia. He was Read more
Anecdote
BARON DE KALB
Johan von Robais was born in what is today Germany on June 19, 1721. At age 16, he went to France to become a mercenary. He was a born leader and rose to colonel by age 26. However, his Read more