On April 25, 1777, a force of 2,000 redcoats landed at Westport, Connecticut and marched on Danbury. There they burned homes and destroyed rebel supplies. The raid was similar to the one on Concord, Massachusetts a year earlier. Col. Henry Ludington was in command of the militia forces in Read more…
One of the most dangerous jobs in a Civil War army was carrying your unit’s flag into battle. The colors, as they were called were carried at the front of the unit as it moved towards the enemy. This made them a clear target for enemy fire, plus there Read more…
Henry Flipper was born into slavery in 1856. A bright child, he went on to Atlanta University. While a freshman there, he received an appointment to West Point. He was one of five “colored cadets” that entered the military academy in 1873. He withstood the “silent treatment” from all Read more…
In 1519, Hernan Cortes landed in Mexico with 500 men, 100 sailors, and 16 horses. He burned his ships when he decided that his goal was the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan or bust. He hooked up with a maiden named Malinche (Marina after being baptized) who gave birth to their Read more…
On June 28, 1880, the notorious Australian outlaw Ned Kelly was captured. Ned Kelly’s father was sent to Australia from Ireland for stealing two pigs. As a boy, the young Ned saved another boy from drowning, but his future would be focused on taking lives. The son took after Read more…
One of the most famous battles in American History occurred during the centennial year on June 25, 1876. For a long time it was called “Custer’s Last Stand”, but today it is correctly titled the Battle of Little Bighorn. Here are some interesting facts about the battle. In 1868, at Read more…
Recently I started a debate over who was the best Roman general. I proposed Scipio Africanus as the best and many proposed others, particularly Julius Caesar. I think that those who support Caesar certainly have plenty of evidence to back up their choice. I will readily concede that he is Read more…
Erich Paul Remark was born in Germany on June 22, 1898. He was born to a working-class family and was the third of four children. He was drafted into the German army at age 18 in June, 1917. He fought in the trenches on the Western Front and was Read more…
Lizzie Borden took an axe And gave her mother 40 whacks When she saw what she had done She gave her father 41 Andrew Borden now is dead Lizzie hit him on the head Up Read more…
One of the biggest mysteries of the 20th Century was what happened to Anastasia. Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaeuna was born on June 18, 1901. She was the youngest daughter of Czar Nicholas II of Russia. Her birth was a disappointment to the Czar, who was hoping for a make Read more…