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The muskets are stacked one last time, The regimental standards are furled one last time. The Army of Northern Virginia passes into history.

1941: The following personnel were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the Japanese attack on the Hawaiian Islands. Capt. Mervyn S. Bennion, USS West Virginia BB48 Ens. Francis C. Flaherty, USS Oklahoma BB37 BMC Edwin J. Hill USS, Nevada BB36 LCDR Samuel G. Fuqua, USS Arizona BB39 RADM Isaac C. Kidd, BatDiv 1, aboard USS Arizona BB39 Ens. Herbert C. Jones, USS California BB44 AOC John W. Finn, VP14 at NAS Kaneohe Bay RMC Thomas J. Reeves, USS California BB44 LCDR Donald K. Ross, USS Nevada BB36 MM1 Robert R. Scott, USS California BB44 CWT Peter Tomich,...

General, I have been a soldier all my life. I have been with soldiers engaged in fights by couples, by squads, companies, regiments, divisions, and armies, and should know, as well as any one, what soldiers can do. It is my opinion that no fifteen thousand men ever arranged for battle can take that position.

General Thomas Rosser invites Generals George Pickett and Fitzhugh Lee to join him for lunch. By all accounts, the baked shad was excellent, and the gentlemen enjoyed a pleasant afternoon.

1778: Continental ship, Ranger, commanded by John Paul Jones, receives the first official salute to a U.S. Stars and Stripes flag by a foreign government (the French fleet) at Quiberon, France.

1799: During the Quasi-War with France, USS Constellation, commanded by Capt. Thomas Truxtun, captures the French frigate l’Insurgente off Saint Kitts and Nevis Island. 2001: While surfacing, the USS Greeneville SSN-772 accidentally strikes and sinks the Ehime-Maru, a Japanese training vessel operated by the Uwajima Fishery High School; nine the Ehime-Maru's crew members were killed, including four high school students.

1779 The frigate, Bonhomme Richard, commanded by John Paul Jones, engages HMS Serapis. During the battle, with his ship nearly destroyed, he refuses to surrender, shouting "I have not yet begun to fight". With assistance from the Continental frigate Alliance, John Paul Jones captures Serapis. Two days later, Bonhomme Richard sinks under the sea. 1944 USS West Virginia (BB 48) reaches Pearl Harbor and rejoins the Pacific Fleet, marking the end of the salvage and reconstruction of 18 ships damaged Dec. 7, 1941

Up from the meadows rich with corn, Clear in the cool September morn, The clustered spires of Frederick Stand, Green-walled by the hills of Maryland. Round about them orchards sweep, Apple and peach-tree deep, Fair as a garden of the Lord, To the eyes of the famished rebel horde, On that pleasant morn of the early fall When Lee marched over the Mountain wall, Over the mountains winding down, Horse and foot, into Fredrick town. Forty flags with their silver stars, Forty flags with their crimson bars, Flapped in the morning wind; the sun Of noon looked down, and saw...

1833 The frigate Constitution is the first vessel to enter the newly built dry dock at the Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, Mass. for overhaul. A false rumor circulates in Boston in 1830 that the U.S. Navy intends to scrap the ship; young Oliver Wendell Holmes pens his poem "Old Ironsides", becoming a rallying cry to save the ship.

1942 PBY aircraft from (VP 24) recovers a two-man torpedo bomber crew from USS Enterprise (CV 6) 360 miles north of Midway after their plane went down June 4. The aviators are the last survivors of the Battle of Midway to be recovered.

1864. Off the coast of Cherbourg France, the USS Kearsarge sinks the Confederate CSS Alabama. The Alabama had captured or sunk 55 American ships before going to the bottom.

1814 American sloop USS Peacock and HMS Epervier engage in battle. Peacock takes two 32-pound shots in her fore-yard with the first exchange, but her return broadside smashes most of Eperviers rigging and guns. After 45 minutes, Epervier is captured. The battle is hailed as a tribute of American gunnery as Epervier has 45 shot holes in her port side.

1952 While steaming at night in formation 700 miles west of the Azores, USS Hobson (DD 464) and USS Wasp (CV 18) collide as Hobson crossed the carriers bow from starboard to port and was struck amidships, breaking her in two. Hobson and 176 of her crew are lost, including her commanding officer, Lt. Cmdr. W. J. Tierney.

Colonel Thomas Rosser invites Major Generals Fitzhugh Lee and George Pickett to join him for a luncheon of baked shad. Both generals graciously accept the invitation. By all accounts, it was a quiet, relaxing afternoon for all present.

1856 The stores-ship, USS Supply, commanded by Lt. David Dixon Porter, sails from Smyrna, Syria, bound for Indianola, Texas, with a load of 21 camels intended for experimental use, by the Army. in the American desert Southwest.

General Robert E. Lee assumes the post of General in Chief of the Armies of the Confederate States. He will hold this position until April 9, 1865

President Lincoln receives the following telegram from Major General William T. Sherman “I beg to present you, as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about 25,000 bales of cotton.”

The XIII Amendment to the Constitution of the United States is ratified. Hereditary chattel slavery is outlawed throughout the country.

MY LAI

1850: Flogging of sailors in the Navy and Merchant Marine is outlawed by act of Congress.