Anecdote
C.S.S. HUNLEY
Horace Lawson Hunley was born in Tennessee but his family settled in New Orleans. He grew up to be a lawyer and a member of the state legislature. He was also a marine engineer interested in building a submarine. Read more
Anecdote
THE NILAND BROTHERS
If you have seen “Saving Private Ryan”, here is the true story that inspired the film. The Niland brothers grew up in Tonawanda, New York. Preston and Robert enlisted in the Army before Pearl Harbor. Edward and Frederick enlisted Read more
Anecdote
FORGOTTEN HERO: John Glover
Without John Glover, the Revolution would not have succeeded. He was that important. Glover was a successful shipowner and merchant before the war. He was given command of a regiment of seamen and fishermen from Gloucester and Marblehead in Read more
Anecdote
THE PASTRY WAR
There have been several strange little wars throughout history, including the Soccer War and the War of Jenkin’s Ear. If you want to make the history books, and this website, you need a catchy name. The Guerra de los Read more
Anecdote
THE INVENTION OF BARBED WIRE
Joseph Glidden patented barbed wire on November 24, 1874. It was one of the most important inventions in the settling of the West. In 1873, Henry Rose was having trouble with a “breachy cow” so he invented a strip Read more
Anecdote
BLACK BEARD’S DEATH
Edward Thach’s career came to an end on Nov. 22, 1718. The Governor of Virginia had enough of his piracy and decided that despite the “protection” from the Governor of North Carolina, Blackbeard needed to be stopped. He sent two Read more
Anecdote
BLOODY SUNDAY
“Bloody Sunday” is an event in the Irish War of Independence. It occurred on November 21, 1920. It consisted of three separate incidents. In the morning, Irish Republican Army gunmen were sent by Michael Collins to assassinate members of Read more
Anecdote
TRUTH IS THE FIRST CASUALTY
From November 14-16, 1965, the U.S. Army fought the first battle of the Vietnam War. A battalion was helicoptered into the Ia Drang valley to sneak up on a North Vietnamese regiment, but knocked over a hornet’s nest of Read more
Anecdote
THE LAST MAN
The Great War ended on Nov. 11. It must have sucked to be the last American killed in the war. Especially since the death made no difference in the outcome. Germany was decisively defeated at this point and had Read more
Anecdote
JOSEPH BONAPARTE, NEW JERSEYAN
Joseph Bonaparte was the older brother of Napoleon. Due to Napoleon’s nepotism, he became King of Naples (where he was popular) and later King of Spain (where he was not). He was dethroned and when his brother was defeated Read more