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Rall’s Note
In December, 1776 the Continental Army was coming off a series of bad defeats. It had lost New York City and retreated across New Jersey to seek refuge in Pennsylvania. The army barely got across the Delaware River with the Read more
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Horse-Drawn Artillery
This is a picture of horse-drawn artillery. This type of mobile artillery was developed during the Thirty Years’ War by the Swedish army of Gustavus Adolphus. In the Civil War, a unit consisted of the cannon on two wheels and Read more
Anecdote
CAESAR AND THE PIRATES
When Julius Caesar was an up and coming politician, he made a trip to Rhodes to study rhetoric. On the way, his ship was taken by pirates. Yes, they had pirates in the Mediterranean Sea in the time of Ancient Read more
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Camp Barber
Prior to the Civil War, long hair was the norm for several reasons. First, lots of hair gave a raw look and it was thought to be intimidating. Second, in cold weather it provided some protection. Lastly, lots of hair Read more
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Civil War Pickets
A picket is a soldier who is positioned in front of an army to provide early warning of an enemy attack. The word comes from the French word “piquet” which means pointed stake. It was first used by the French Read more
Uncategorized
THE SKIN BENCH
Cambyses was the Persian Emperor who conquered Egypt. He may have been a great conqueror, but he was a cruel despot. Once when a judge was found guilty of corruption, he had him flayed alive. He ordered that the skin Read more
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Slave Cabin
This picture is of a typical slave cabin in the Antebellum South. Most of the field hands lived in structures like this. The cabins were made of wood. Even the chimneys were wooden. Most were 1 1/2 stories with the Read more
Anecdote
PEARL HARBOR WARNINGS
PEARL HARBOR WARNINGS For years, the final exam for Japanese naval cadets included the question: “How would you attack Pearl Harbor?” The night before the attack, the FBI intercepted a suspicious phone call from Tokyo to the Japanese embassy in Read more
Anecdote
AMERICA’S FIRST SHOT
AMERICA’S FIRST SHOT – On Dec. 7, 1941 just before daybreak, a minesweeper in Pearl Harbor signaled the destroyer USS Ward that it had sighted an unidentified submarine. Four hours later, lookouts on the Ward spotted the conning tower of Read more