The teenage Alexander once accompanied his father Philip on a horse-buying expedition. There was one magnificent stallion that Philip was interested in, but none of his expert horsemen could stay on the horse. Each was bucked off as soon as Read more…
Bummers were soldiers in Sherman’s army during its March to the Sea and march through South Carolina. The term most likely originated with the German word “bummler” which meant an idler or scoundrel. Sherman’s soldiers adopted it as a means Read more…
Roman emperor Caligula had a low opinion of the Roman public. He sometimes would show the finger (that’s right, people were flipping the bird in ancient times) to people at banquets. At the chariot races once, when he heard the Read more…
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…
It was Christmas eve on the Western Front in France in 1914. The Germans were singing “Silent Night” and when the song drifted over to the British, they joined in. After the song ended, a German stood up and waved Read more…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…