Posted on 05/05/2017 8:57:52 AM PDT by fugazi
1862: Disappointed in the lack of progress of Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign, President Abraham Lincoln departs for Hampton Roads, Va. on the Treasury Department revenue cutter Miami to personally oversee operations. Over five days, the president – a former militia rifle company commander – directs the bombardment of Confederate positions and lands to conduct reconnaissance of the area with Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton and Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase.
1864: The bloody albeit inconclusive Battle of the Wilderness (Virginia) opens between Union Army forces under the command of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, and Confederate forces under Gen. Robert E. Lee. Fighting is grim: Casualties will be heavy on both sides. Union and Confederate generals will be killed. Wounded and trapped soldiers will be burned alive by a battle-sparked woods fire. Within two days, Grant will disengage and advance toward Spotsylvania Courthouse.
1916: Two companies of Marines from the transport USS Prairie (AD-5) land at Santo Domingo, beginning the United States’ eight-year occupation of the Dominican Republic. The leathernecks provide protection for the U.S. Legation and Consulate, and occupy the nearby Fort San Geronimo.
1917: Eugene J. Bullard becomes the first black combat aviator, earning his wings with the French Air Service...
(Excerpt) Read more at victoryinstitute.net ...
fugazi wrote:
Bullard’s story is fascinating. He tried to join the American air service after the United States entered the conflict but was refused entry because he was black.
In bringing this up lets not forget That was because of President Wilson who segregated the services.
One of the most astounding things is how earlier Commanders in Chief actually were ON battlefields. James Madison rode for two days uninterrupted to catch up to the army, which was retreating, to try and organize a response.
Lincoln actually VISITED Richmond a few days after it fell and rode around the city with only a single guard!
The services had been segregated long before Wilson was elected, and remained segregated long after he was dead. Not that Wilson had any problem with it...
One of the most astounding things is how earlier Commanders in Chief actually were ON battlefields.
...
I didn’t know about Madison or Lincoln. I did know that Washington took command of the army to put down the Whiskey Rebellion.
Meanwhile, in Mexico, the battle of Puebla was fought on this day in 1862...Mexican victory against the French.
Well, not really. He rode out to meet the troops, then sent Hamilton with the army while he returned to Philly.
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