In 249, the Romans sent a fleet to recapture Drepana on Sicily during the First Punic War. It was being used as a base for raids on the Italian coast. Consul Publius Claudius Pulcher tried to arrive at dawn to catch the Carthaginian fleet sleeping. Unfortunately, the enemy admiral was Read more…
One of the most famous Civil War spies was Maria Isabella Boyd. Better known as Belle Boyd. Belle was born in Virginia in 1844. When the Civil War broke out, her 45-year-old father enlisted in Stonewall Jackson’s brigade. A loyal and patriotic Southerner, she wanted to serve her country. Read more…
There are some who look at Hitler as a military genius. There is little evidence to support this and a ton of evidence that proves he was in fact an idiot. He doomed Nazi Germany because of terrible decisions like fighting on two fronts, invading the Soviet Union, and Read more…
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 other became Chief Sky’s pet. He traded him for a Read more…
After Jefferson’s inauguration, Elder John Leland encouraged his Baptist congregation in Cheshire, Massachusetts to present a gift to the new president. It was to thank him for his republicanism and his support for religious liberty. But what would be appropriate? A “mammoth cheese”! The congregation was encouraged to contribute Read more…
Today is the 4th anniversary of this website. I still have many stories to get to. I decided to post on some forgotten heroes who have been dissed by history. A recent movie popularized the glorious sacrifice of 300 Spartan warriors at the Battle of Thermopylae. “300” tells the Read more…
Teachers have long taught that the Stock Market Crash of 1929 resulted in many stock investors jumping out of high rises. Seems logical, right? So many millions lost and fortunes ruined, it seems logical that some riches to rags individuals ended it all. The problem is that this did Read more…
I ran across this when I was teaching my Medieval England unit in my Western Civilization classes. It is incredible. Kudos to David Newton. It only lasts 4 1/2 minutes.
The use of war elephants probably began in Ancient India. The weapon gradually moved westward. Darius III had some at the Battle of Gaugamela (Arbela), but they did not have an impact on the result of the battle. Alexander the Great prevailed. He met elephants again in India at Read more…
When I create my “This Day in History” posts, one of the web sites I use is This Day in US Military History (https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/). R. W. White does a great job highlighting interesting events that occurred on every day of the year. He also includes a section that covers Read more…