Wilmer McLean had been in the Virginia state militia and served in the Mexican War). At age 47, he was too old to serve in the Civil War. He owned 1,400 acres near Bull Run Creek in Virginia. In 1861, the war came to his farm. Confederate Gen. Pierre Read more
In 2002, American forces in Afghanistan were involved in operations to search and destroy Al Qaeda and Taliban forces. It was determined that there was an enemy concentration in the Shah-i-Kot Valley. The valley had seen action between the mujahideen and the Soviet army during that war. The valley Read more
When King Philip of Macedonia invaded Greece in 338 B.C., he defeated an Athenian/Theban army at the Battle of Chaeronea. Resistance ceased as all the other Greek city-states submitted to Philip’s victorious army. All except Sparta. When Philip arrived outside Sparta, he halted his army and awaited the Spartan Read more
Lafayette “Lafe” Pool was born to a Texas farm family in 1919. When he graduated from high school, he attempted to enlist in the Navy. His twin brother was taken, but he wasn’t because of an eye injury. He went to college, but in 1940 he joined the Army. Read more
On Sept. 28, 1781, Washington and his Continental Army arrived at Yorktown, Virginia and began the siege. Here is the chronology of the siege: August 1 – Cornwallis arrives at Yorktown after his pyrrhic victory at Guilford Courthouse (March 15). He expects to get reinforcements for Henry Clinton’s army in Read more
In 202 B.C., the Romans and Carthaginians met in the decisive battle of the Second Punic War. Two of the greatest generals in history faced off. The battle was fought outside Carthage. Scipio (later Africanus) had invaded north Africa earlier and started scorching earth and threatening Carthage. This strategy Read more
*** This anecdote is probably apocryphal, but it could be true. Plus, it’s cool. Two of the greatest generals met in the Battle of Zama in 202 B.C. The battle ended the Second Punic War and made Rome the dominant power in the western Mediterranean. In the battle, Scipio Read more
Was Hitler Jewish? It would be the greatest irony if he was. Hitler’s mother was Maria Shicklgruber. When Adolf was born his birth certificate did not identify his father. When his mother married five years later to Johann Georg Hiedler, her son’s name was changed to that of his Read more
This post is about the signers of the Declaration. Keep in mind that most of them signed on August 2, 1776. Only John Hancock signed it on July 4. The last to sign was Thomas McKean of Delaware. He signed sometime in 1777. The youngest was Edward Rutledge from South Read more
America’s independence was not celebrated until after the War of 1812. It was then decided that July 4 would be the day. This was a bad decision because the United States actually declared independence on July 2. That was the day that a resolution by Richard Henry Lee was approved Read more