The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The Battle of Guilford Courthouse (3/15/1781) - May 22nd, 2003

N.C. State Library ^

[SAMWolf]

Dear Lord,

There's a young man far from home,
called to serve his nation in time of war;
sent to defend our freedom
on some distant foreign shore.

We pray You keep him safe,
we pray You keep him strong,
we pray You send him safely home ...
for he's been away so long.

There's a young woman far from home,
serving her nation with pride.
Her step is strong, her step is sure,
there is courage in every stride.
We pray You keep her safe,
we pray You keep her strong,
we pray You send her safely home ...
for she's been away too long.

Bless those who await their safe return.
Bless those who mourn the lost.
Bless those who serve this country well,
no matter what the cost.

Author Unknown

.

FReepers from the The Foxhole
join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time.

.

.................................................................................................................................

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The Battle of Guilford (Courthouse)

Overview:

On the bright, late winter day of March 15, 1781, the Revolutionary War came to a remote county seat in north central North Carolina. Guilford Courthouse, with its population of considerably fewer than 100, was on this day the temporary residence of 4,400 American soldiers and their leader, Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene. The British had overrun Georgia and South Carolina and showed every indication of ripping the stars and stripes of North Carolina and Virginia from the new American flag. From the ragged remnants of a defeated southern army, Greene had raised a new force comprising 1,700 Continentals (three-year enlistees in the regular army) and about 2,700 militia (mostly farmers who were nonprofessional temporary soldiers called up for short periods of service during an emergency). Early on the morning of March 15, General Greene deployed his men in three lines of battle across the Great Salisbury Wagon Road that led off to the southwest toward the camp of the British army commanded by Lord Charles Cornwallis. Although grossly outnumbered, Cornwallis nonetheless was certain that his redcoats, victors on scores of battlefields, could overcome the rebels.

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse Begins

Lt. Col. Henry Lee opened the battle with an advance guard action against the British near the Quaker settlement of New Garden, 3 miles west of the American position. This skirmish resulted in no advantage to either side. The Americans retired, and the British continued to advance along the New Garden Road toward the courthouse.

American Lines

Greene's troops were drawn up in three lines, approximately 400 yards apart, facing west. The first two lines extended north and south across the New Garden road; the third line was entirely north of the road, following the crest of a low hill. Heavily wooded terrain limited the effectiveness of cavalry. The woods likewise reduced the effectiveness of artillery since the field of fire, particularly for the attacking force, was poor.



Approximately one-half mile in front of the position was a small stream from which the ground rose steadily, though rather gradually, to the crest of a hill where the first line was drawn up. Three cultivated fields, one to the north and two to the south of the road, provided an excellent field of fire for parts of that line, and the rail fences enclosing the cultivated land afforded the troops some protection. The second line was entirely in the woods, and the third was near the eastern edge of a good-sized clearing.

Both flanks of the first two lines and the right flank of the third were unprotected. But the heavy woods dictated a direct frontal attack by the British; therefore these exposed flanks were not a disadvantage for the Americans. The left flank of the third line rested on the New Garden Road and was protected by artillery during the later stages of the battle.

The First Line consisted of two brigades of North Carolina Militia, almost all of whom were wholly untrained and entirely without battle experience. On the left flank were stationed Lt. Col. Henry Lee's Legion and Col. William Campbell's Riflemen. The former were regulars and the latter were frontiersmen from the Virginia and North Carolina mountains who had had appreciable campaign experience, including participation in the Battle of Kings Mountain. The right flank detachment was composed of Lt. Col. William Washington's regular cavalry, the remnant of the Delaware regiment of Continentals, and Col. Charles Lynch's Riflemen, comparable in experience and capacity to Campbell's. In the center on the road, a section of artillery, two 6-pound guns, commanded the stream-crossing below.


Portrait of Nathaniel Greene, Revolutionary War General and associate of George Washington, dated 1783 (from the National Park Service Collection)

The Second Line was made up entirely of Virginia Militia, the majority of whom were as untrained and inexperienced as were the North Carolinians in the front line. The Virginia officers, however, were largely men who had served in the Continental Army, and a number of them had had some battle experience. Also in the ranks of the Virginians were a few men who had had previous military service. Thus the second line was somewhat stronger than the first by virtue of this leaven of experience. Finally, Brig. Gen. Edward Stevens, in command of one brigade, placed sentinels a few yards in the rear of his line to insure against any break by his men.

The Third Line was composed of Greene's two small brigades of Continental troops. Of the four regiments, one, the 1st Maryland, was a veteran unit. The 2d Maryland and the two Virginia regiments were recently reorganized, had excellent officers, and contained a good proportion of veterans in the ranks. The total force, regular and militia, infantry, cavalry, and artillery, numbered about 4,400. Of this total possibly 1,500 to 1,600 of all arms were regulars, but many of these fell into the recruit classification.

British Lines

Lord Cornwallis commanded an army, numerically inferior to Greene's; but it was vastly superior in organization, discipline, training, and experience. Engaged in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse were about 2,000 of the very flower of the British forces in America. There were two battalions, a grenadier, and a light infantry company of the Guards; the 23d and 33d Regiments of foot, the former, the famous Welsh Fusiliers; the 71st Highlanders, the King's Own Borderers; the Regiment of Bose, one of the best of the Hessian units; some Hessian Yagers (riflemen); Tarleton's Legion Cavalry; and a detachment of the Royal Artillery. All were veterans, thoroughly schooled in the business of war, and commanded by able, experienced officers.


Lord Cornwallis

Advancing toward the east from the scene of the opening skirmish along the New Garden Road, the attacking force crossed the stream at the foot of the hill in front of the American position, and formed for action. Meanwhile, the American artillery had opened fire in an attempt to delay the crossing, and to harass the formation of the line, but with little result. The British artillery replied with an equally useless expenditure of ammunition.

Attack formation was a single line with a small reserve. The right wing consisted of the Highlanders and the Regiment of Bose with the 1st Battalion of Guards in support. In the left wing the 23d and 33d Regiments were in line and the 2d Battalion and Grenadiers of the Guards in support. The small reserve consisted of the artillery, confined by the woods to the road in the center the Yagers and the Light Infantry of the Guards, stationed to the left in the woods; and the cavalry, on the road in column behind the artillery.

Attack on the First Line

Their formation now completed, the British troops waited for the command to attack. At its word they moved almost directly east toward the brow of the hill held by the Americans. Brisk fighting ensued on the two flanks, where Greene had stationed his experienced troops. This flank resistance forced the commander of each of the two British wings to commit his small support to the battle in its earliest stages. Gen. Alexander Leslie, on the right, brought up the 1st Battalion of the Guards to assist in opposing the American left, and thus extended his own line. On the British left Lt. Col. James Webster caused his whole line to incline to the left, while his support, the 2d Battalion and Grenadiers of the Guards, moved into the center to maintain contact with the right wing and fill the interval caused by Webster's swerve to the left. The Light Infantry and Yagers were brought up from the reserve and posted on the extreme left flank. Many casualties were suffered by the British, especially by the flank units, but the center encountered little resistance, for that part of the American line, in large measure, broke at the first onset.



The American left flank detachment under Lee and Campbell retired toward the southeast under pressure from the Regiment of Bose and the 1st Battalion of the Guards. Continuing their struggle, these units became completely detached from the main course of the engagement, conducting what amounted to a separate conflict of their own. This battle within a battle was finally broken off by the Americans at about the same time that the main engagement ended.

The exact course of the American right flank detachment is unknown. It seems most probable that it briefly took position on the flank of the second line; and, upon the retirement of that body, moved thence to the flank of the third.

[SAMWolf]

Attack on the Second Line

The break in the center permitted the attack to proceed east along the road and through the woods about 400 yards, where it struck the second line. There the Virginians gave a good account of themselves, inflicting further casualties upon the attackers. Superior British discipline, organization, and experience, however, were too much for the militia, who were forced to retire to the rear. The second line withdrew in a distinctly more orderly fashion than had the first line.

Attack on the Third Line



Withdrawal of the second line opened the way for the advance against the third. This last line was entirely north of the road and was opposed by the British left wing. Heavy woods and several gullies of considerable size served to slow up the advance, particularly that of the Welsh Fusiliers. The 2d Battalion of the Guards made contact with the left units of the American line almost simultaneously with the attack on the American right by the Yagers, the Light Infantry, and the 33d Regiment. A general engagement resulted in which the contest was more nearly equal than any which had preceded it.

The Guards were shattered by the combined efforts of the Maryland Brigade and a charge by Washington's cavalry. This charge was the only real cavalry action during the battle. In their attack on the American line, the Guards had been repulsed by the 1st Maryland. Now in a counterattack, the Maryland regulars advanced to engage with the bayonet. Precisely at this time Washington led his saber-wielding dragoons through the broken ranks of the Guards and then left them to the mercies of the Marylanders. The infantry closed in a fierce but brief hand-to-hand conflict, ended only by a "whiff of grape-shot" thrown into the struggling mass at the order of Cornwallis. Only the imminence of a wholesale British retreat could have induced Cornwallis to thus fire into his own men.

On the extreme left the Yagers, the Light Infantry, and the 33d Regiment had been driven back to a position of safety by the steady fire of the Americans. They were not pursued, the defenders in that quarter remaining steadfast in their own position.

Col. Henry Lee

By this time the Fusiliers had succeeded in passing the woods and gullies, which had impeded their progress, and were in position to attack. The Royal Artillery had occupied a position from which it commanded almost the entire American line with grape and canister, and the Highlanders to the south of the road threatened to turn Greene's left flank. The Guards, extricated from their conflict with the Marylanders by the grape-shot, were hastily reorganized, while the latter returned to their position in the American line. Tarleton had been dispatched with the cavalry to recall the 1st Battalion of the Guards from the detached contest with the troops of Lee and Campbell and to conduct that unit to the scene of the major engagement.

Thus, all was ready for a final assault in force upon the one remaining line of American troops. That assault was never to be made, for the American commander decided not to risk a final test of strength which might result in the complete destruction of his Army.

American Withdrawal

General Greene was faced with a difficult decision at this juncture. On the one hand a desperate charge by his Continentals, or even a determined stand in their established position, might conceivably have shattered the little English force already weakened by extensive casualties. Either of these courses, however, involved the risk of sacrificing completely, or materially weakening, his two small brigades of regulars--the only thoroughly dependable force in his entire command.

On the other hand, a general retirement from the field with his remaining troops involved no risk and would leave him situated to renew the contest at his own discretion. His Continentals had not, thus far, suffered many casualties. They were entirely under control and fully capable of immediate or future action. He was fully aware that much further campaigning would be necessary if the South were to be redeemed from British domination. He had dealt a blow to his adversary while suffering little himself. He therefore ordered a general retreat, leaving to his enemy the field of conflict and hence the claim to victory.

Guilford Flag

British arms had gained another hard-fought field. Disciplined, organized, regular troops had triumphed again over greatly superior numbers of raw militia. No more than this had been accomplished. A victory had been won, but won at such cost that it could not be exploited. Of the entire British force at the beginning of the battle, nearly 600, or more than one-fourth of the whole, were casualties at its close 21/2 hours later.

The Americans, on the other hand, suffered only about half as many casualties. A large number of men were missing, principally from among the troops of the first line, but the majority of these found their way back to the army within a few days.

[SAMWolf]

The Road to Yorktown

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse was the climax of a hard campaign of 2 months in the dead of winter. Cornwallis had previously destroyed his baggage train in order that he might pursue the Americans more rapidly during the race for the river fords. Now, after their victory at Guilford, the British found themselves in an almost desperate situation. Shoes, clothing, ammunition, medicines, food--all the myriad supplies and equipment necessary for successful campaigning--were either entirely expended or dangerously low. The men were tired and their morale was none too good. Rest, reorganization, and refitting were essential, and for this Cornwallis required time and safety. The English were, therefore, forced to retreat in order that they might establish immediate contact with their base of operations at Charleston.



After the battle, Cornwallis headed southeast. His first destination was Cross Creek near Fayetteville. The settlers in that region, almost all Highland Scots, were largely loyalists, and it was thought that they would provide the retreating army with food and a safe haven for reorganization. It was also thought that water communication with Charleston could be established by way of the Cape Fear River. But the river was not navigable to Cross Creek, nor was food available. Of necessity, then, the march was continued to Wilmington, where the sea route to Charleston was open, and where all needed supplies could be delivered without difficulty.

In the meantime, Greene eagerly grasped the opportunity presented by the action at Guilford Courthouse and the retreat of his adversary. He followed Cornwallis part of the way to Cross Creek, seeking in his turn to bring on a contest. This Cornwallis avoided. After a few days of fruitless pursuit, Greene suddenly changed direction. He led his army into South Carolina and bent his energies to the redemption of that State.



In this purpose he was successful. At the end of the summer he had lost most of his battles, as he had lost at Guilford. But after each battle the British were compelled to evacuate one or more of their posts. Finally, in September, after the Battle of Eutaw Springs, the British were driven from the whole State and continued to hold only the city of Charleston, against which Greene was powerless for want of an assisting naval force.

Cornwallis remained at Wilmington for about a month, going thence to Virginia where he united with an army under Benedict Arnold and operated over much of the southern part of the State during the first part of the summer. Early in August he established himself at Yorktown, where he was forced to surrender on October 19.


Nathaniel Greene Memorial, Greensboro

The importance of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse lies not in the battle itself, nor in the numbers involved, the tactics employed, nor in the casualties inflicted upon either side. Rather its importance is in the effects which flowed from it, and in the fact that in winning, Cornwallis was the ultimate loser. Thus Guilford Courthouse is important in the immediate result of rendering North Carolina safe and in the larger result of freeing Greene's hands for reconquest to the southward. Broken was the grand British plan of campaign which would have detached the Southern Colonies from the Colonies to the north. Cornwallis was driven into Virginia without making secure his rear. Greene had lost a battle but won a campaign.

Additional Sources:

theamericanrevolution.org
www.cr.nps.gov
www.fortgreenepark.org
www.framery.com
libraryautomation.com
www.law.ou.edu
teachpol.tcnj.edu
libweb.uncc.edu

[SAMWolf]

Letter from Cornwallis to Lord George Germain regarding the battle: March 17, 1781

This account article is Compiled from Walter Clark, ed., State Records of North Carolina, vol. XVII (Goldsboro, N.C., 1899), 1002-1007.

My Lord,

I have the satisfaction to inform your Lordship that His Majesty’s Troops under my command obtained a signal victory on the 15th Inst[ant] over the Rebel Army commanded by General Greene....The conduct and actions of the officers and soldiers that compose this little army will do more justice to their merit than I can by words. Their persevering intrepidity in action, their invincible patience in the hardship and fatigue of a march of above 600 miles, in which they forded several large rivers, and numberless Creeks, many of which would be reckoned large rivers in any other country in the world, without tents or covering against the climate, and often without provisions, will sufficiently manifest their ardent zeal for the honor and interests of their Sovereign and their Country....I have the honor to inclose to your Lordship the list of our killed and wounded....

Unit:	Killed	Wounded	Missing	Total
Royal Artillery	2	4	0	6
Brigade of Guards	37	157	22	216
23rd Regiment	13	55	0	68
33rd	11	63	0	74
71st	13	50	0	63
Regt. von Bose [Hessians]	10	67	3	80
Yager [Hessians]	4	3	1	8
British Legion [cavalry]	3	14	0	17
TOTALS	93	413	26	532

Letter from Nathanael Greene to to Governor Abner Nash of North Carolina

Quoted from Richard K. Showman and Dennis M. Conrad, eds., The Papers of General Nathanael Greene, vol. VII (Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina Press, 1994), 448.

Time will not permit me to be very particular, and therefore I shall only Confirm the account of there having been an action on the 15th. The battle was fought near Guilford Court House. It was long and severe. We gave up the ground and were obliged to leave our artillery, all the horses being killed. We retreated in good order....The Enemy loss is very great, much more than ours. We ought to have had a victory, and had your Militia stood by their officers it was certain. However the enemy have gained no advantage, except the ground and field pieces. Their operating force is diminished in such a manner, that I am not without hope of turning their victory into defeat, if the Militia don’t leave me....

On March 16, Greene’s adjutant, Col. O. H. Williams compiled a list of casualties to send to Samuel Huntington, President of Congress:

Unit:	Killed	Wounded	Missing	Total
Virginia Regulars	29	40	39	108
Maryland Regulars	15	42	97	154
Del. Batt’n	7	13	15	35
VA Militia, lst Brig.	11	36	141	188
VA Militia, 2nd Brig.	1	16	87	104
Rifle Regts.	3	16	94	113
Cavalry	3	8	3	14
Partizan Legion	3	8	7	18
NC Cavalry	1	1	0	2
NC Militia	6	5	563	574
TOTALS	79	185	1,046	1,310

NOTE: Most of the missing Americans were militiamen who simply went home after the battle. For this reason, most authorities figure total American casualties as 264 killed and wounded.

[SAMWolf]

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[SAMWolf]

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[maica]

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[Valin]

On This Day In History


Birthdates which occurred on May 22:
1671 Abraham Patras Governor-General of East-Indies (1735-37)
1722 Johannes Schmidlin composer
1759 Gervais-François Couperin composer
1780 Jan Emmanuel Dulezalek composer
1783 Thomas Forbes Walmisley composer
1804 John William (Turk) Livingston Commander (Union Navy), died in 1885
1808 G de Nerval writer
1813 Richard Wagner Leipzig Germany, composer (Ring, Flying Dutchman)
1820 Alexander Ernst Fesca composer
1821 Alfred Sully Brevet Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1879
1826 George Parr cricketer (legendary Notts batsman, 1st England touring captain)
1828 Albrecht Gräfe pioneer eye surgeon; founded modern ophthalmology
1844 Mary Cassatt US, Impressionist painter (Woman Bathing)
1850 Johann Schrammel composer
1852 Emile Sauret composer
1859 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle UK, author-brought Sherlock Holmes to life twice
1862 August Cuppens Flemish author/pastor
1865 Enrique Morera composer
1874 Daniel F Malan premier of South-Africa (1948-54)
1874 Francesco Paolo Neglia composer
1879 Eastwood Lane composer
1879 Hendrik Heyman Belgian minister of Nÿverheid/mayor
1879 Jean Emile Paul Cras composer
1879 Warwick Armstrong cricketer (Big Ship Great Aussie skipper 1920-21)
1884 Alceo Toni composer
1885 Julio Fonseca composer
1891 J R Becher writer
1891 Robert Gordon Sproul educator/college president (University of California)
1892 Louis van Tulder Dutch tenor (From Office Stool to High C)
1897 Robert Neumann Austrian/British author (Waters of Babylon)
1898 René de Vos Dutch actor/composer (Jij Bent Mijn Leven)
1902 Al Simmons Milwaukee WI, outfielder (A's)/lifetime batting average of .334
1904 Anne de Vries writer (Bartje)
1906 Harry Ritz US comic (Ritz Brothers-Silent Movie)
1907 Hergé [Georges Rémi] Belgian cartoonist (Kuifje)
1907 Laurence Olivier England, actor (Rebecca, Hamlet, Jazz Singer)
1907 Lord Laurence Olivier actor (Rebecca, Hamlet, Jazz Singer)
1910 Johnny Olson TV announcer (Price is Right)
1911 Anatol Rapoport Russian/US mathematician/biologist (game theory)
1912 Hendrik Koekoek Dutch MP (Farmers Party)
1913 Andrea C Bensddorp Dutch/South African actress (Commensaal)
1913 Carlyle Blackwell Jr California, actor (Docks of New York)
1914 Vance Packard Granville Summit PA, author (Hidden Persuaders)
1916 Gordon Binkerd composer
1917 Jean-Louis Laffitte Curtis novelist
1918 David Land impressario
1919 Paul Vanden Boeynants premier Belgium (1966-68, 1978-79)
1920 Hugh Armstrong Clegg industrial relations academic
1920 Thomas Gold astronomer (proposed steady-state theory of universe)
1922 Judith Crist New York NY, movie critic (TV Guide)
1924 Charles Aznavour [Chahnour Varinag Aznavourian] Paris France, French-Armenian singer (Monsieur Carnavel, Tin Drum)
1924 Claude Andre Francois Ballif composer
1924 Helen Wedemeyer Hilo HI, actress (Hawaii Five-O)
1925 Jean Tinguely Swiss sculptor artist (movement objects)
1927 Eric Petrie cricketer (New Zealand wicketkeeper of the late 1950's)
1927 Michael Constantine Reading PA, actor (Room 222, Don't Drink the Water)
1928 Roscoe Robinson US gospel singer
1928 T Boone Pickens CEO (Shamrock, Mesa Petroleum Co)
1929 Asher Ben-Yohanan composer
1930 Dieuwke Y W de Graaff-Nauta Dutch undersecretary of the Interior
1931 Kenny Ball rocker
1933 John Browning Denver CO, pianist (Leventritt Award-1956)
1934 Peter Nero New York NY, conductor/pianist (A Sunday in New York)
1938 Frank Converse actor (It's About Time, Dr Cook's Garden, Movin' On)
1938 Richard Benjamin New York NY, director/actor (Goodbye Columbus, He & She)
1938 Susan Strasberg New York NY, actress (In Praise of Older Women, Manitou)
1940 Bernard Shaw news correspondant (CBS, CNN)
1940 Erapalli Prasanna cricketer (one of India's big four spinners)
1940 Michael Sarrazin actor (Seduction, They Shoot Horses Don't They)
1941 Paul Winfield Los Angeles CA, actor (Star Trek II, Huckleberry Finn, Mars Attacks)
1941 Sebastian Forbes composer
1942 Barbara Parkins Vancouver British Columbia, actress (Betty-Peyton Place, Asylum)
1942 Calvin Simon US rock vocalist (Funkadelic-1 Nation Under a Groove)
1942 Malika A Sabirova Russian dancer
1942 Pallo Jordan South African ANC member/heads (Radio Freedom)
1943 Tommy John pitcher (Yankee/Dodger)
1945 Victoria Wyndham Chicago IL, actress (Rachel Cory-Another World)
1948 Richard Baker (Representative-R-LA)
1950 Bernie Taupin lyricist, writes with Elton John
1952 Jan Todd woman power lifter, once lifted 248 kg in a squat
1952 R W Eaks Colorado Springs CO, Nike golfer (1990 Quicksilver Open)
1953 John Edward Stevens New York NY, bank robber (FBI Most Wanted List)
1954 Jerry Dammers keyboardist (Specials-The Special)
1955 Iva Davies rock guitarist/vocalist (Icehouse)
1955 Sam Coppersmith (Representative-D-AZ)
1956 Douglas Heyes Jr Los Angeles CA, actor (Captains & the Kings, Aspen)
1959 [Steven Patrick] Morrissey Manchester England, rocker (The Smiths-Hand in Glove, & solo artist-November Spawned a Monster)
1959 Ed Fry actor (Larry-As the World Turns, Adam Cory-Another World)
1961 Dana Williams Dayton OH, singer (Diamond Rio-Meet in the Middle)
1962 Andrew Donald Magee Paris France, PGA golfer (1988 Pensacola Open)
1964 David Lidberg jockey
1966 Donald Royal NBA forward (Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic)
1966 Jose Mesa Azua Dominican Republic, pitcher (Cleveland Indians)
1968 Alan Levine Park Ridge IL, pitcher (Chicago White Sox)
1968 Brent Geiberger Santa Barbara CA, Nike golfer (1994 Queen Mary-2nd)
1968 Carmie Vairo Vancouver British Columbia, softball infielder (Olympics-96)
1968 Mike Harbold Oakland CA, sprint kayak (Olympics-96)
1968 Randy Brown NBA guard (Chicago Bulls)
1969 Tim Wiley Lexington MA, kayak (alternate-Olympics-96)
1969 Vaughn Eshelman Philadelphia PA, pitcher (Boston Red Sox)
1970 Clyde Johnson cornerback (Kansas City Chiefs)
1970 Eric Wunderlich US, 200 meter breaststroke (Olympics-96)
1970 Marcus Dowdell NFL wide receiver/kick returner (Arizona Cardinals)
1970 Naomi Campbell London England, model/actress (Cool as Ice, Unzipped)
1971 Corey Croom NFL running back (New England Patriots)
1971 Troy Barnhart Hanford CA, water polo 2 meter offense (Olympics-96)
1972 Alison Eastwood daughter of actor Clint/actress (Tightrope)
1972 Mike Hollis NFL kicker (Jacksonville Jaguars)
1972 Rich Owens NFL defensive end (Washington Redskins)
1973 Aaron Graham corner (Arizona Cardinals)
1973 Daniel Tiatto Australian soccer midfielder (Olyroos, Olympics-96)
1973 Julian Tavarez Santiago Dominican Republic, pitcher (Cleveland Indians)
1973 Leslie Ratliffe WLAF offensive tackle (Rhein Fire)
1974 Greg Jones linebacker (Washington Redskins)
1975 Cole Hauser Santa Barbara CA, actor (Randy-High Incident)[or Mar 22]
1975 Janne Niinimaa Raahe Finland, NHL defenseman (Finland Olympics-bronze-98, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers)
1976 Christian Vande Velde Chicago IL, cyclist (Olympics-96)

---

Deaths which occurred on May 22:
0337 Constantine the Great emperor of Rome (306-37)/anti semite, dies
0987 Louis V le Faineant the Lazy, king of France (986-87), poisoned at 20
1501 Robert Gaguin French writer/diplomat (Arte Metrificandi), dies at 66
1540 Francesco Guicciardini Italian historian/President of Romagna, dies at 57
1667 Alexander VII [Fabio Chigi] Italian Pope (1655-67), dies at 68
1688 Johann A Quenstedt German Lutheran theologist, dies at 70
1781 Garret Wesley Mornington composer, dies at 45
1801 Heinrich Gottfried Reichard composer, dies at 58
1819 John H van Kinsbergen Lieutenant-Admiral/founder (Corps Marines), dies at 84
1825 Domenico Corri composer, dies at 80
1859 Ferdinand II [Re Bomba] Dutch King of Sicily, dies at 49
1868 Julius Plücker German mathematician/physicist (formula of P), dies
1873 Alessandro Manzoni writer, dies at 88
1878 Franz von Holstein composer, dies at 52
1880 Heinrich Freiherr von Gagern German liberal politician, dies at 80
1885 Victor(-Marie) Hugo French writer (Les Misérables), dies at 83
1898 Edward Bellamy writer, dies at 48
1910 Jules Renard French writer (Le plaisir the rompre), dies at 46
1921 Marie E Wilton writer, dies
1925 John [Denton Pinkstone] French British field marshall (WWI), dies at 72
1928 William Gairdner English missionary (Nile Mission Press), dies at 54
1932 Lady Augusta [Isabella Gregory] playwright (Gold Apple), dies at 80
1939 Ernst Toller writer, dies at 45
1939 Willem de Mérode poet (Precious Blood), dies at 51
1945 Carel A Lion Cachet lithographer/wood carver, dies
1948 Claude McKaye Jamaican/US poet/author (Banjo, Home to Harlem), dies in Chicago at 57
1949 Hans Erich Pfitzner Russian/German composer, dies at 80
1949 Klaus H T Mann German/US writer (Turning Point), dies
1953 Vaclav Klicka composer, dies at 70
1958 Magdalene Székely-Lulofs author (Our Italian Employees), dies at 58
1961 Joan Davis actress (I Married Joan), dies of heart attack at 53
1965 Bobby Watson comedian (Hitler Gang, Boys Town), dies at 77
1965 Heinrich Barth Swiss philosopher (Das Sein in der Zeit), dies
1966 Tom Goddard cricketer (22 wickets in 8 Tests for England 1930-39), dies
1967 [James Mercer] Langston Hughes US author (Tambourines to Glory), dies at 65
1967 Henry C Rümke psychiatrist (Light of Man), dies at 74
1970 Joseph W Krutch US writer (Measure of Man), dies at 76
1972 Margaret Rutherford English actress (Murder Ahoy, VIP's), dies at 80
1975 Torben Meyer actor (Viking, Roberta, Sunny), dies at 90
1977 Gijsbert van Hall banker/mayor of Amsterdam (1957-67), dies at 73
1977 Marius Monnikendam Dutch choir composer, dies at 80
1978 Bjarne Brustad composer, dies at 83
1984 John Marley actor (Cat Ballou), dies following heart surgery at 77
1986 Martin Gabel actor (Thief, Marnie), dies at 63
1987 Mario Zafred composer, dies at 65
1988 Dennis Day tenor/comedian (Jack Benny Show, Danny Boy), dies at 71
1988 Giorgio Almirante Italy, fascist (member of parliament), dies at 73
1990 Max Wall actor (Jabberwocky), dies
1990 Rocky Graziano boxer, dies at 71, of heart failure
1991 Lino Brocka director (Macho Dancer, Jaguar), dies in car crash at 51
1993 Mieczyslaw Horszowski Polish/US pianist (Carnegie Hall), dies at 100
1994 Frederick Hemming McClintock criminologist, dies at 68
1994 Mitacq [Michel Tacq] Belgian comic strip artist (Beaver Patrol), dies
1995 Robert Flemyng actor (Kafka, Rebecca, Funny Face), dies at 83
1996 Duncan Montgomery Stewart academic, dies at 66
1996 Rex Collings writer/publisher, dies at 70

---

Reported: MISSING in ACTION

1967 BACKUS KENNETH F. PYRITES NY.
1967 HOLMES LESTER EVAN PLAINFIELD IA.
1967 PERRINE ELTON L. PITTSFORD NY.
1967 VOGEL RICHARD D. MILLARD OH.
(03/04/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE AND WELL 98)
1968 ADAM JOHN Q. BETHEL KS.
(CONTACT LOST)
1968 CHAMBERS JERRY L. MUSKOGEE OK.
(CONTACT LOST)
1968 CREWS JOHN H. III ASHVILLE NC.
1968 GLOVER CALVIN C. STEUBENVILLE OH.
(CONTACT LOST)
1968 KNEBEL THOMAS E. MIDWAY AR.
(CONTACT) LOST)
1968 MASON WILLIAM H. CAMDEN AR.
(CONTACT LOST)
1968 MC PHAIL WILLIAM T. CHATTANOOGA TN.
(CONTACT) LOST
1968 MITCHELL THOMAS B. LITTLETON CO.
(CONTACT) LOST
1968 MILLER EDWIN F. BERGEN NJ.
(03/14/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE IN 98)
1968 PATE GARY BROOKS GA.
(CONTACT LOST)
1968 RASH MELVIN D. YORKTOWN VA.
(CONTACT LOST)
1968 ST PIERRE DEAN PAUL KANKAKEE IL.


POW / MIA Data & Bios supplied
by the P.O.W. NETWORK. Skidmore, MO. USA.
Information on how to RETURN a bracelet.

---

On this day...
0012 -BC- A daytime meteor shower, possibly Zeta Perseid observed in China
0760 14th recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet
1176 Murder attempt by "Assassins" on Saladin near Aleppo
1200 Peace of Goulet
1370 Jews are expelled/massacred from Brussels Belgium
1455 Open battle in England's 30-year War of the Roses (St Albans)
1455 Richard of York takes St Albans, kidnapping King Henry VI
1526 Pope Clemens VII, France, Genoa, Venice, Florence & Milan form Anti-French League of Cognac
1570 1st atlas, with 70 maps, published
1594 Earl Mauritius & Willem Louis begins siege of Groningen
1629 Emperor Ferdinand II & Danish King Christian IV sign Peace of Lübeck
1659 France, England & Netherlands sign "Hedges Concerto" treaty
1712 Emperor Karel VI crowned king of Hungary
1746 Russia & Austria signs treaty of cooperation
1761 1st life insurance policy in US, issued in Philadelphia
1762 Sweden & Prussia sign peace treaty
1784 Ceylonese student leader Pieter Quint Ondaatje demands democracy
1803 1st public library opens (Connecticut)
1807 Former Vice President Aaron Burr is tried for treason in Richmond VA (acquitted)
1807 Townsend Speakman 1st sells fruit-flavored carbonated drinks (Philadelphia)
1819 1st steam propelled vessel to cross Atlantic (leaves Savannah GA)
1836 Felix Mendelssohn's oratorium "St Paul" premieres in Düsseldorf
1843 1st wagon train, 1000+ departs Independence MO for Oregon
1849 Abraham Lincoln patents a buoying device
1856 Violence in Senate, South Carolina Representative Brooks used a cane on Massachusetts Senator Sumner
1858 Confederación Granadina (now Colombia) forms
1863 General Grant begins siege on Vicksburg
1863 War Department establishes Bureau of Colored Troops
1864 Battle of North Anna River VA (Totopotamy River, Haw's Shop, Hanovertown)
1868 Great Train Robbery; 7 men (Reno Brothers) make off with $98,000 in cash
1872 Amnesty Act restores civil rights to Southerners (except for 500)
1877 3rd Kentucky Derby: Billy Walker aboard Baden-Baden wins in 2:38
1883 Cub's Billy Sunday's 1st at bat, begins 14 consecutive strike-outs
1884 1-armed pitcher Hugh Daily fanned 13 hitters
1885 13th Preakness: Jim McLaughlin aboard Tecumseh wins in 2:49
1888 Leroy Buffington patents a system to build skyscrapers
1891 1st motion picture shown to National Federation of Women's Clubs
1892 Dr Washington Sheffield invents toothpaste tube
1893 Montréal Athletic Association beat Ottawa Generals 2-1, in 1st Cup Game
1900 Associated Press organizes in NYC as non-profit news cooperative
1900 Edwin S Votey patents pneumatic piano player
1902 36th Belmont Stakes: John Bullman aboard Mastermam wins in 2:22.6
1905 Royal Academy in Delft Holland becomes Technical High School
1906 10th anniversary of Olympics, celebration held in Athens, Greece
1906 31st Preakness: Walter Miller aboard Whimsical wins in 1:45
1906 Wright Brothers patent an aeroplane
1907 Albert Trott takes two hat-tricks in an innings, Middlesex vs Somerset
1909 1st San Fransisco fireboat, David Scannell, launched
1911 Braves pitcher, Cliff Curtis, loses his 23rd game in a row
1915 Local train collides with troop train killing 226 (Gretna Scotland)
1916 French troops occupy parts of Fort Douaumont Verdun
1923 Stanley Baldwin succeeds Andrew Bonar Law as British premier
1924 In Chicago, Nathan Leopold & Richard Loeb kidnap Robert Franks
1926 "Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue" by Gene Austin hits #1
1926 Chiang Kai-shek replaces communists in Guomindang China
1926 Dutch Communist Party expels David Wijnkoop
1927 8.3 earthquake strikes Nan-Shan China, 200,000 killed
1927 Dodgers beat Phillies, 20-4
1928 US Congress accept Jones-White Merchant Naval Act
1930 Ruth hits 3 consecutive homeruns (8th-10th of 60 in 1930)
1930 Yankee "Bronx Bombers" hit 14 homeruns in a game
1931 Canned rattlesnake meat 1st goes on sale in Florida
1933 Loch Ness Monster is 1st reportedly sighted by John Mackay
1933 World Trade Day/National Maritime Day 1st celebrated
1938 Dodgers announce contracts to install lights at Ebbets Field
1939 Hitler & Mussolini sign "Pact of Steel"
1940 Dutch Premier De Geer begins working with Nazis
1940 Prime Minister Winston Churchill flies to Paris
1941 British troops attack Baghdad
1942 México declares war on Nazi-Germany & Japan
1943 1st jet fighter is tested
1943 RAF scatters 1st copies of "The Flying Hollander"
1943 Stalin disbands Komintern
1945 6th Marine division reaches suburbs of Naha Okinawa
1945 NSB-Führer Rost van Tonningen attempts & fails at suicide
1946 Yankees turn triple-play & defeat Tigers' 5-3
1947 "Truman Doctrine" goes into effect, aiding Turkey & Greece
1947 1st US ballistic missile fired
1950 Celal Bayar elected president of Turkey
1950 Dutch poet Gerrit Achterberg wins PC Hooft prize
1950 Richard Strauss' "4 Last Songs" (4 letzte Lieder) in London
1953 President Eisenhower signs Offshore Oil Bill
1953 Yankee Irv Noren hits into a triple-play, Yankees beat Washington 12-4
1954 80th Preakness: Johnny Adams aboard Hasty Road wins in 1:57.4
1954 KREX TV channel 5 in Grand Junction CO (CBS) begins broadcasting
1954 Robert Zimmerman aka Bob Dylan is Bar Mitzvahed
1955 Oldest man to drive in the Grand Prix (aged 55) finishes 6th
1956 "Bob Hope Show" last airs on NBC-TV
1956 KRIS TV channel 6 in Corpus Christi TX (NBC) begins broadcasting
1957 KBTX TV channel 3 in Bryan TX (CBS) begins broadcasting
1957 Red Sox set American League record by smashing 4 homeruns in 6th inning in 11-0 win
1957 South Africa Government approves race separation in universities
1959 Benjamin O Davis Jr becomes 1st black general-major in USAF
1960 Virtually all coastal towns between 37th & 44th parallels severely damaged by tsunami that strikes Hilo HI at 01:04 AM
1961 "Mother-In-Law" by Ernie K-Doe hits #1
1961 "Touchables In Brooklyn" by Dickie Goodman hits #42
1961 1st revolving restaurant (Top Of The Space Needle in Seattle), opens
1962 14th Emmy Awards: Bob Newhart Show, E G Marshall & Shirley Booth
1962 Netherlands telephone net becomes completely automated
1962 Robert A Rushworth, USAF major, takes X-15 to 30,600 meters
1962 Roger Maris walks 5 times (record 4 intentionally) in a 9 inning game
1963 A C Milan wins 8th Europe Cup 1 at London
1963 Greek parliament leader Lambrakis injured
1963 Mickey Mantle hits a ball off Yankee Stadium's facade
1964 LBJ presents "Great Society"
1965 "Super-cali-fragil-istic-expi-ali-docious" hits #66
1965 Beatles' "Ticket to Ride" single goes #1
1965 Mad Dog Vachon beats Igor Vodic in Omaha, to become NWA champion
1966 18th Emmy Awards: Fugitive, Dick Van Dyke & Mary Tyler Moore
1966 Shirley Englehorn wins LPGA Babe Didrikson-Zaharias Golf Open
1967 "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" debuts on NET (now PBS)
1967 Egyptian president Nasser closes Straits of Tiran to Israel
1967 Fire at L'Innovation department store kills 322 (Brussels, Belgium)
1968 Pittsburgh Pirate Willie Stargell hits 3 homeruns, a double & a single
1969 Stafford & Cernan pilot Apollo 10 LEM 9.4 miles (15km) above lunar surface
1970 Arab terrorists kill 9 children & 3 adults on a school bus
1970 France performs nuclear test at Muruora Island
1970 Mel Stottlemyre sets record by walking 11, but wins 2-0
1972 Ceylon becomes Republic of Sri Lanka as its constitution is ratified
1972 Ton Sijbrands becomes world checker champion
1972 US President Nixon begins visit Moscow
1973 Emmy News & Documentaries Award presentation
1973 President Nixon confesses his role in Watergate cover-up
1974 Ruffian begins her racing career as a filly & dies 14 months later
1974 Soccer team Veendam forms
1974 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
1975 8th ABA Championship: Kentucky Colonels beat Indiana Pacers, 4 games to 1
1976 NASA launches space vehicle S-179
1976 St Louis Cardinal Reggie Smith hits 3 homeruns
1977 Final European scheduled run of the Orient Express (94 years)
1977 Kathy Whitworth wins LPGA Coca-Cola Golf Classic
1977 Red Sox (6) & Brewers (5) tie single game homerun record of 11
1979 Canadians elect conservatives, Joseph Clark replaces Pierre Trudeau
1979 Commencement of 1st ICC Trophy (PNG vs East Africa & Singapore vs Argentina)
1980 Marlo Thomas & Phil Donahue marry
1981 Soyuz 40 returns to Earth
1983 Pat Bradley wins LPGA Chrysler-Plymouth Charity Golf Tournament
1983 Toronto Blue Jay Cliff Johnson hits record 18th pinch hit homerun
1985 Pete Rose 2,108th run passes Hank Aaron as National League run scoring leader
1985 Real Madrid wins 14th UEFA Cup at Madrid
1985 US sailor Michael L Walker arrested for spying for USSR
1987 30 killed in a Texas tornado
1988 34th LPGA Championship won by Sherri Turner
1988 Károly Grósz succeeds party leader János Kádár in Hungary
1990 Andre Dawson sets record being intentionally walked 5 times
1990 Dow Jones average hits a record 2,852.23
1990 Microsoft releases Windows 3.0
1990 North & South Yemen merge to form Republic of Yemen
1991 Inter Milan wins 20th UEFA Cup at Rome
1991 NFL Owners agree to add 2 teams in 1994
1991 Roh Jai Bong resigns as premier of South Korea
1992 California Angels are involved in a bus crash in New Jersey
1992 India launches its Agni rocket
1992 Johnny Carson's final appearance as host of the Tonight Show
1993 Riddick Bowe TKOs Jesse Ferguson in 2 for heavyweight boxing title
1994 Elaine Crosby wins LPGA Lady Keystone Golf Open
1994 Toronto NBA franchise unveils name "Raptors" & logo
1995 Laverne & Shirley 20th anniversary reunionn special, televised
1996 "Tartuffe: Born Again" opens at Circle in Square Theater NYC for 29 performances
1996 Emmy 23rd Daytime Award presentation - Susan Lucci loses for 16th time

---

Holidays
Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week"

Angel's Camp CA : Jumping Frog Jubilee Day
Haiti : National Sovereignty Day
Sri Lanka : Republic Day (1972)
US : National Maritime Day
Canada : Victoria Day (1819) - - - - - ( Monday )

---

Religious Observances
Roman Catholic : Commemoration of St Rita of Cascia, widow; invoked in desperate cases
Orthodox : Translat of Relics of St Nicholas the Wonderworker

---

Religious History
1541 In Germany, the Ratisbon (Regensburg) Conference ended, its mission to reunify the Catholic Church having failed. From this time on, the Protestant movement became permanent.
1740 English revivalist George Whitefield wrote in a letter: 'We must all have the spirit of martyrdom, though we may not all die martyrs.'
1868 Birth of William R. Newell, American clergyman and devotional writer. He published expository works on the Bible, and is remembered today as author of the hymn, "At Calvary" (a.k.a. "Years I Spent in Vanity and Pride").
1944 The Gospel Mission of South America was founded by William M. Strong in Concepcion, Chile. An interdenominational Protestant missions agency, its headquarters moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in 1975.
1967 The General Assembly of the Southern Presbyterian Church (PCUS) adopted the Confession of 1967. It was the first major declaration of faith adopted by this branch of Protestantism since the Westminster Confession of 1647.

---

Thought for the day :
" One disadvantage of having nothing to do: You can't stop and rest. "

[snippy_about_it]

IMHO, the conditions that all our soldiers throughout history have fought under are naturally not the best, however it seems to me that our Revolutionary fighters fought under some of the worst.

For God and Country, because it surely couldn't have been for anything else.

Good Morning Sam.

[facedown]

A different version:

Battle Flag of the North Carolina Militia in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina, March 15, 1781.

From A brief outline of the History of the Flag of the United States

My favorite:

The "General Fremont" Banner

During the 1840's it was not yet common for the U.S. Army to carry the official flag. Each was known to have their own regiment banner or garrison flag. This flag was designed and made by the wife of General John Fremont for use during his explorations of the far western parts of the continental United States. This flag can be seen at the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles.

[Johnny Gage]

Air Power
Saab 37 "Viggen"

In December 1961 the Swedish Government approved development of Aircraft System 37, the Viggen. The basic platform was the AJ 37 attack aircraft, to be followed by S 37 reconnaissance versions and the JA 37 fighter. The new aircraft had a novel and advanced aerodynamic configuration to meet the short take-off/landing and other performance requirements: a fixed foreplane with flaps was mounted ahead of and slightly above the delta main wing. On 8 February 1967 the first prototype of the Saab 37 Viggen family made its maiden flight. In April 1968 the Government authorized Viggen production and the first aircraft was delivered in July 1971. A total of 329 aircraft were eventually built in attack, trainer, two reconnaissance versions and the more powerful fighter variant that included new avionics, new air-to-air missiles and Europe´s first pulse-Doppler radar.

In 1985 Austria became the third export customer, after Denmark and Finland, to buy Saab Draken. This was the fourth time that Austria bought Saab aircraft for their air defense, having previously bought Saab 29, Saab Safir and Saab 105OE. The last of 329 Viggens, a JA 37 fighter version, was delivered from Saab in Linköping to the Swedish Air Force in 1990. Since then, Viggen has undergone several upgrades, the latest being Mod. D for the fighter version including communication and weapon systems similar to those in Gripen.

The aircraft's main wings are low-mounted, delta-shaped, extending from the body midsection to the exhaust. Small, clipped delta wings are forward of the main wings and high-mounted on the body. There is one turbofan engine in the body. There are semicircular air intakes just forward and below the secondary wings. There is a large, single exhaust. The fuselage is short and wide with a pointed, solid nose. There is a bubble canopy and a small belly fin. There are no tail flats. There is a large, unequally tapered fin with a small, clipped tip.

Specifications:
Primary Function: Multi-role fighter
Contractor: Saab
Crew: One
Unit Cost: N/A
Powerplant: One Volvo Flygmotor RM8B turbofan (P&W JT8D-22 w/ Sweedish afterburner and thrust reverser) rated at 16,200 lb st (72.06kN) dry.

Dimensions:
Length: 53 ft 9.75 in (16.40 m)
Wingspan: 34 ft 9.25 in (10.60 m)
Height: 19 ft 4.25 in (5.90 m)
Max Takeoff Weight: 45,194 lb (20500 kg) -- for attack

Performance:
Speed: Mach 2.0 (1,321 mph / 2126 km/h) at 36,000 ft (10975 m)
Ceiling: 18 300 m (60 000 feet)
COmbat Range: 800Km
Armaments:
one ventral 30-mm Oerlikon KCA cannon w/ 150 rounds.
Up to 6 Rb 71 Sky Flash and Rb 74 (AIM-9L) AAMs.
Air-to-surface armaments available.

All photos Copyright of FAS Military Analysis Network

[Johnny Gage]

1965 Mad Dog Vachon beats Igor Vodic in Omaha, to become NWA champion

Ahh... Good 'ol Mad Dog. I remember him from the 70's wrestling in the AWA with the likes of Verne Gagne, et al.

[SAMWolf]

Thank you, maica

[SAMWolf]

1964 LBJ presents "Great Society"

Trillions in wealth confiscated from the producers and redistributed and not all we ended up with was "It's not enough we need more". LBJ's "Great Society" sucks.

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Snippy.

IMHO, the conditions that all our soldiers throughout history have fought under are naturally not the best, however it seems to me that our Revolutionary fighters fought under some of the worst.

I have to agree with you there. Organinzing an Army and a Government while occupied by the enemy, not all the population backing you, I can't even begin to imagine what it was like.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Facedown. The numbers and types of flags flown during the revolution is amazing.

Still like the "Don't tread on me" flag.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Johnny.

Seems the early 60's was the "delta wing" phase of jet design.

[Valin]

I met him once back in the 60s. He'd just finished a match in Duluth and was eating at this dive "Joe Hueys" (chinese food) A bunch of us stopped there to eat after yet one more fruitless attempt to get laid and he was there. He growled at us after SOME wise ass told him it was all a fake.
As I recall there was a hasty retreat at that point.

[snippy_about_it]

Organinzing an Army and a Government while occupied by the enemy, not all the population backing you...

Yes, that too. I was thinking of the lack of a supply line or planning for that matter for food, clothes, tents, weapons, etc.