The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The Battle Of Eutaw Springs (9/8/1781) - Mar. 11th, 2004

http://www.rootsweb.com/~scbchs/BatSprings.htm ^

[SAMWolf]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

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

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

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The Battle Of Eutaw Springs
Sept. 8, 1781
Bloodiest of The American Revolution

Seven years of British determination to bring South Carolina to her knees met failure. The spirit that had long resisted royal edict and church canon, the fierce desire and indomitable will to be masters of their own destinies, and the dauntless courage that had carved a new way of life from a wilderness were again threatened by oppression; so, little difference was felt among nationalities and creeds, causing a unity to grow among the new world "peasants and shepherds" that shook the foundations of old regimes.

General Nathanael Greene

By midsummer, 1781, the Continentals under General Nathaniel Greene had gained virtual control of South Carolina. The retreating British. disillusioned and sick with summer heat, united forces under Colonel Stewart at Orangeburg and began their march to Charleston. Early in September the 2,300 well-equipped British camped in cool shade beside the gushing springs of Eutaw, little dreaming the Continentals were close upon their heels. General Greene, hearing of Washington's plan to encircle and embarrass the British at Yorktown, determined to prevent Southern aid from reaching the beleaguered Cornwallis. Contingents under Marion, Pickens, Lee, William Washington, Hampton and other South Carolina leaders were called together, and reinforcements from other colonies joined them. These 2,092 poorly-equipped, underfed, and near-naked Americans camped on Sept. 7th. on the River Road at Burdell's Plantation, only seven miles from Eutaw Springs. Strategy for the ensuing attack is accredited to the genius of the dreaded "Swamp Fox," General Francis Marion, who knew every foot of the Santee swamps and river.



The 8th dawned fair and intensely hot, but the Americans, on short rations and with little rest, advanced in early morning light toward the springs. At their approach the surprised British left their uneaten breakfast and quickly threw lines of battle across the road in a heavily wooded area. Behind them in cleared fields stood a large brick home with a high-walled garden. The woods and waters of Eutaw Creek were on the north. Heavy firing soon crackled and boomed through the shady woods. At first the center of the American line caved in, but while opposing flanks were fighting separate battles, Greene restored the center with Sumner's North Carolina Continentals. The whole British line then began to give, but Colonel Stewart quickly pulled up his left-flank reserves, forcing the Americans to retreat under thunderous fire. The encouraged British shouted, yelled, and rushed forward in disorder; whereupon Greene (according to J. P. Petit) "brought in his strongest force: the Maryland and Virginia Continentals, Kirkwood's Delawares, and Wm. Washington's South Carolina cavalry . . . with devasting effect." The British fled in every direction and the Americans took over their camp. Only Major Majoribanks, on the British right flank and pushed far back into the woods near Eutaw Creek, was able to hold his unit together. Major Sheridan took hasty refuge in the brick home, Colonel Stewart gathered some of his men beyond, and from this vantage they "picked off" many American officers and men.



Greene sent Wm. Washington's cavalry to deal with Majoribanks, but penetrating the woods with horses was too difficult, so Washington tried to encircle and rout, thus exposing himself to dangerous fire. His horse was shot from under him, he himself was wounded. and his company practically ravaged. When a hand to hand fight developed, a Britisher poised his sword over the wounded Washington, but Majoribanks saw and gallantly turned it aside.

In camp, eating the deserted breakfast, and feeling the battle was won, the hungry, thirsty Americans began plundering the English stores of food, liquors, and equipment. Thoroughly enjoying themselves they ignored their leaders' warnings and commands. Majoribanks, realizing the disorder, fell upon them. Sheridan and Stewart pounded at their right, and Coffin came in from their left. The stunned Americans fought this impossible situation bravely, but they were put to flight from the British camp.

After more than four hours of indecisive battle under a merciless sun, both armies had had enough. Casualties were extremely high. "Blood ran ankle-deep in places," and the strewn area of dead and dying was heart-breaking. Greene collected his wounded and returned to Burdell's Plantation. Stewart remained the night at Eutaw Springs but hastily retreated the next day toward Charleston, leaving behind many of his dead unburied and seventy of his seriously wounded. The gallant Majoribanks, wounded and on his way to Moncks Corner, died in a Negro cabin on Wantoot Plantation. He was buried beside the road, but when lake waters were to cover that area his remains were removed by the S.G.P.S.A. to their present resting place at Eutaw Springs Battlefield.



The total casualties came to 1,188, according to Rev. M. H. Osborne. Many were buried where they fell, therefore the whole battlefield is a hero's cemetery, sacred to the memory of courageous men. Patriot blood shed at Eutaw was certainly not shed in vain. This last major battle in South Carolina completely broke the British hold in the South and, more important, denied needed aid to the North. Only six weeks later Cornwallis succumbed to Washington at Yorktown, and American Independence was assured.

[SAMWolf]

In July 1781, General Alexander Stewart fresh from Ireland took command of British troops in South Carolina. He replaced General Lord Francis Rawdon who returned to England and a substantial inheritance. Before this change of command was accomplished, one outstanding act of brutality was perpetrated against the Continentals by Rawdon.


General Francis Marion

When Charleston surrendered Colonel Hayes, a distinguished citizen of the town, was given a parole and allowed to return to his home. Later when summoned to join the British army by compulsion, Hayes escaped and rejoined the American forces. During a reckless raid at Quarter House too near to Charleston, Hayes was recaptured. Hayes was sentenced to by hanged. Despite petitions for pardon from the citizens of Charleston, on orders from Rawdon and the brutal commandant of Charleston, Colonel Nisbet Balfour, Hayes was hanged. The hanging was especially tragic because Hayes' wife and recently died and his hanging left his several small children orphaned.

Rawdon returned to England destroyed by the South Carolina swamps. When Stewart took command he wanted to quickly prove himself capable of succeeding where Rawdon had failed. Stewart set out from the British camp at Orangeburgh and moved forward to establish a camp at McCord's Ferry. He was, as the crow flies, only sixteen miles from General Nathanael Greene's camp on the Congaree River. Between them, however, were both the Wateree and Congaree Rivers. The junction of the rivers was overflowed with recent rains such that a vast lake was created. From this lake rose tall live oaks with Spanish moss and cane bent by the current.

When Greene decided to attack Stewart, he was required to make a seventy-mile circuit around this lake. Eventually, Greene crossed the Congaree River and began moving downstream forcing Stewart ahead of him. Greene's objective was to recover country without bloodshed, if possible, while forcing Stewart down to the sea below Charleston.

September 8, 1781 found Stewart camped at Eutaw Springs and Greene only a short distance from him. Greene was bivouaced at Burdell's plantation. He began the day on horseback before dawn forming his troops into two columns. Stewart was ignorant of Greene's approach. Eutaw Springs, itself, was a cold spring that bubbled up around cypress knees overhung by tall trees draped with moss. The spring was bordered almost impenetrably with a small shrub called black-jack. Stewart's soldiers were encamped near a sturdy three-story brick house with tents on both sides of the small road.

British "rooting parties," squads searching for sweet potatoes, discovered Greene's presence. Stewart drew up his lines with the third regiment--the famous Buffs--forming the right, Colonel John Cruger forming the center, and Major John Marjoribanks forming the left. The American's and British were quickly engaged and conflict begun all along the line. A victory for the Continentals appeared to have occurred as the American soldiers reached the British tents and baggage. The Americans then broke ranks and scattered into the tents and marquees to take what refreshments there were.

The British the remained then fled into the three-story brick house from which they were able to defend themselves. Marjoribanks who found himself in the black-jack thicket then succeeded in making his retreat into the brick house. With the heat of day extreme, Greene was forced to send a messenger to Stewart under white flag proposing both armies should unite in burying their dead and removing their wounded.

The outcome of Eutaw Springs was Guilford Court House all over again. Stewart's loses were terrible, but the British were still in possession of the field. Both sides claimed victory. The encounter was described as "by far the most bloody and obstinate."

Greene began a weary march toward his previous night's encampment where there were adequate supplies for his soldiers. Greene's aid Pendleton was ordered to ride through the woods in search of stragglers and helpless wounded. When Greene reached his encampment at Burdell's plantation there was fresh water, cooking fires were begun under iron kettles. There were order to write and the wounded to visit for General Greene.

Stewart left seventy wounded behind as he made his way back to Charleston. He was harassed in his retreat by local partisans who attacked and captured vital supplies that he was carrying. Major Marjoribanks died of his wounds on the retreat and was buried along the road beneath a lonely headboard with only his name.

News of Eutaw Springs was carried to the Continental Congress by Greene's Virginia aide, Captain Parcel. General Henry Knox wrote that "without an army, without means, without anything, he has performed wonders." (Elswyth Thane, The Fighting Quaker: Nathanael Greene, Mattituck, New York: Aeonian Press, Inc., 1972, pp. 145-51.)

[SAMWolf]

Nathaniel Greene Report of Eutaw Springs 9/11/1781
Papers of the Congressional Congress M247-175 v. 2 pg. 317
National Archives and Records Administration
Transcribed by Billy Markland

Head Quarters, Martins Tavern,
near Fergusons swamp So. Carolina
September 11th 1781

Sir,

In my dispatch of the 25th of August I informed your Excellency that we were on our march for Frydays ferry to form a junction with the State Troops, and a Body of Militia collecting at that place; with an intention to make an attack upon the British Army laying at Col. Thompsons near McCords ferry. On the 27th on our arrival near Frydays ferry I got intelligence that the Enemy were retiring.

We crossed the River at Howells ferry, and took post at Mottes plantation. Here I got intelligence that the Enemy had halted at the Eutaw Springs about forty miles below us; and that they had a reinforcement, and were making preparations to establish a permanent post there. To prevent this I was determined rather to hazard an Action, notwithstanding our numbers were greatly inferior to theirs. On the 5th we began our march, our Baggage and Stores having been ordered to Howells ferry under a proper Guard. We moved by slow and easy marches; as well to disguise our real intention, as to give General Marion an opportunity to join us, who had been detached for the support of Col. Harding, a report of which I transmitted in my letter of the 5th dated at Maybricks Creek. General Marion joined us on the evening of the 7th at Burdells plantation, 7 miles from the Enemies Camp.


Lieutenant Col. William Washington

We made the following disposition, and marched at 4 o'Clock the next Morning to attack the Enemy. Our front line was composed of four small Battalions of Militia; two of North, and two of South Carolinians; one of the South Carolinians was under the immediate command of Genl. Marion, and was posted on the right, who also commanded the front Line; the two North Carolina Battalions under the command of Col. Malmady was posted in the center, and the other South Carolina Battalion under the command of General Pickens was posted on the left. Our second Line consisted of three small Brigades of Continental Troops, one from North Carolina, one from Virginia, and one from Maryland. The North Carolinians were formed into three Battalions under the command of Lieut. Col. Ash, Majors Armstrong and Blount, the whole commanded by General Sumner, and posted upon the right. The Virginians consisted of two Battalions commanded by Major Snead and Captain Edmonds and the whole by Lieutenant Colonel Campbell and posted in the center. The Marylanders also consisted to two Battalions, commanded [by] Lt. Colonel Howard and Major Hardman, and the Brigade by Col. Williams Dy. Adjutant General to the Army, and was posted upon the left. Lieut. Col. Lee with his Legion covered our right flank, and Lieut. Col. Henderson with the State Troops commanded by Lieutenant Colonels Hampton, Middleton, and Polk, our left. Lieutenant Col. Washington with his Horse and the Delaware Troops under Captain Kirkwood formed a Corps de reserve. Two three Pounders under Captain Lieutenant Gaines advanced with the front Line, and two fives under Captain Browne with the second.

The Legion and State Troops formed our advance and were to retire upon the flanks upon the Enemy's forming. In this order we moved into the attack, the Legion and State Troops fell in with a party of the Enemy's Horse and foot about four miles from their Camp, who mistaking our People for a party of Militia charged them briefly, but were soon convinced of their mistake by the reception they met with, the Infantry of the State Troops kept up a heavy fire, and the Legion under Captain Rudolf charged them with fixed Bayonets, they fled on all sides leaving four or five dead on the ground, and several more wounded. As this was supposed to be the advance of the British Army our front Line was ordered to form and move on briskly in Line, [while] the Legion and State Troops take their positions upon the Flanks. All the Country is covered with Timber from the place the Action began to the Eutaw Springs. The fight began again between two and three Miles from the British Camp. The Militia were ordered to keep advancing as they fired. The Enemies advanced parties were soon driven in, and a most tremendous fire began on both sides from right to left, and the Legion and State Troops were closely engaged.



General Marion, Col Malmady and General Pickens conducted the Troops with great gallantry and good conduct and the Militia fought with a degree of spirit and firmness that reflected the highest honor upon this class of soldiers but the Enemies fire being greatly superior to ours, and continuing to advance, the Militias began to give ground. The North Carolina Brigade under General Sumner was ordered to their support. These were all new levees, and had been under discipline but little more than a month, notwithstanding which they fought with a degree of obstinacy that would do honor to the best of veterans, and I could hardly tell which to admire most, the gallantry of the Officers or the bravery of the Troops. They kept up a heavy and well directed fire, and the Enemy returned it with equal spirit, for they really fought worthy of a better cause, and execution was done on both sides. In this stage of the Action the Virginians under Lieut. Col. Campbell, and the Maryland Troops under Col. Williams were led on to a brisk charge with trailed Arms, through a heavy cannonade, and a shower of Musquett [sic] Balls. Nothing could exceed the gallantry and firmness of both Officers and Soldiers upon this occasion . They preserved their order, and pressed on with such unshaken resolution that they bore down all before them. The Enemy were routed in all quarters. Lt. Col. Lee had with great address, gallantry, and good conduct, turned the Enemys left flank and was charging them in rear at the same time the Virginia and Maryland Troops were charging them in front.

A most valuable Officer Lieut. Col. Henderson got wounded early in the Action, and Lieut. Col. Hampton who commanded the State Cavalry, and who fortunately succeeded Lt. Col. Henderson in command, charged a party of the Enemy and took upwards of 100 Prisoners. Lieut. Col. Washington brought up the Corps de reserve up from the left, where the Enemy seemed disposed to make farther resistance, and charged them so briskly with the Cavalry and Captain Kirkwoods Infantry as gave them no time to rally or form. Lieutenant Colonels Polk and Middleton who commanded the State Infantry, were no less conspicuous for their good conduct, than their intrepidity and the Troops under their command gave a specimen of what may be expected from men naturally brave, when improved by proper discipline.



Captain Lieutenant Gaines who commanded the three Pounders with the front Line did great execution, untill [sic] his pieces were dismounted. We kept close at the Enemy's heels after they broke, untill [sic] we got into their Camp, and [a] great number of Prisoners were continually falling into our hands, and some hundreds of the fugitives run [sic]off towards Charles Town. But a party threw themselves into a large three story brick House which stands near the Spring, others took post in a picquetted Garden, while others were lodged in an inpenetrable thicket, consisting of a ragged Shrub called a black Jack. Thus secured in front, and upon the right by the House, and a deep Ravine upon the left by the Picquetted Garden, and in the impenetrable Schrubs, and the rear also being secured by the Springs and deep hollow ways, the Enemy renewed the Action. Every exertion was made to dislodge them, Lt. Col. Washington made most astonishing efforts to get through the Thicket to charge the Enemy in the Rear, but found it impracticable, had his Horse shot under him, and was wounded and taken Prisoner. Four six Pounders were ordered up before the House, two of our own, and two of the Enemy's which they had abandoned, as they were pushed on [so much?] under the command of the fire from the House, and the party in the Thickett [sic] as rendered it impracticable to bring them off again when the Troops were ordered to retire. Never were pieces better served, most of the Men and Officers were either killed or wounded. Washington failing in his charge on the left, and the Legion baffled in an attempt upon the right, and finding our Infantry [galled?] by the fire of the Enemy, and our Ammunition mostly consumed, tho' both Officers and Men continued to exhibit uncommon acts of heroism, I thought proper to retire out of the fire of the House and draw up the Troops at a little distance [?] the Woods, not thinking it advisable to p[ursue?] our advantage farther, being persuaded the Enemy could not hold the Post many Hours, and that our chance to attack them on the retreat was better than a second attempt to dislodge them, which, if we succeeded, it must be attended with considerable loss.

We collected all our Wounded except such as were under the command of the fire of the House, and retired to the ground from which we marched in the Morning, there being no Water nearer, and the Troops ready to faint with the heat, and want of refreshment, the Action having continued near four Hours. I left on the field of Action a strong Picquett, and early in the Morning detached General Marion, and Lt. Col. Lee with the Legion Horse between Eutaw and Charles Town, to prevent any reinforcements from coming to the relief of the Enemy, and also to retard their march should they attempt to retire, and give time for the Army to fall upon their Rear, and put a finishing stroke to our successes. We left two pieces of our Artillery in the hands of the Enemy, and brought off one of theirs.


Battlefield Monument

On the Evening of the 9th the Enemy retired, leaving upwards of 70 of their Wounded behind them, and not less than 1000 stand of Arms that were picked up on the field, and found broke and concealed in the Eutaw Springs. They stove [in?] between 20 and 30 puncheons of Rum, and destroyed a great variety of other Stores which they had not carriages to carry off. We pursued them the moment we got intelligence of their retiring. But they formed a junction with Maj. McArthur at this place, General Marion, and Lieut. Col. Lee not having a force sufficient to prevent it. But on our approach they retired [to?] the neighbourhood of Charles Town. We have taken 500 Prisoners, including the Wounded the Enemy left behind; and I think they cannot have suffered less than 600 more in killed and Wounded. The Fugitives that fled from the field of Battle spread such an alarm that the Enemy burnt their Stores at Dorchester, and abandoned the Post at Fair Lawn, and a great number of Negroes and others were employed in falling Trees across the Road for some Miles without the Gates of Charles Town. Nothing but the brick House, and the peculiar strength of the position at Eutaw saved the remains of the British Army from being all made Prisoners.

We purued them as far as this place but not being able to overtake them we shall halt a Day or two to refresh; and then take our [old?] position on the high Hills of Santee. I think myself principally indebted for the victory we obtained to the free use of the Bayonet made by the Virginians and Marylanders, the Infantry of the Legion, and Captain Kirkwoods Light Infantry and tho' few Armies ever exhibited equal bravery with our in general, yet the conduct and intrepidity of these Corps were peculiarly conspicuous. Lt. Col. Campbell fell as he was leading his Troops to the charge, and tho' he fell with distinguished marks of honor, yet his loss is much to be regretted. He was the great Soldier and the firm patriot.

Our loss in Officers is considerably more from their value than their number, for never did either Men or Officers offer their blood more willingly in the service of their Country. I cannot help acknowledging my obligations to Col. Williams for his great activity on this and many other occasions in forming the Army, and for his uncommon intrepedity in leading on the Maryland Troops to the charge, which exceeded any thing I ever saw. I also feel myself greatly indebted to Captains Pierce, and Pendleton, Major Hyrne, and Captain Shubrick, my aids de Camp, for their activity and good conduct throughout the whole of the Action.

This dispatch will be handed your Excellency by Captain Pierce to whom I beg leave to refer you for further particulars.

I have the honor to be with the greatest respect,

Your Excellency's
most obedient and most humble servant

Nath. Greene

His Excely. the President of Congress

Additional Sources:

freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~familyinformation/transcripts
pre1900prints.com
www.uswars.net
www.angelfire.com/md2/Ldotvets/Revolution
www.vanderfordfamily.com
www.royalprovincial.com
www.americanrevwar.homestead.com
www.benning.army.mil
www.multied.com
www.ngb.army.mi
www.nksd.wednet.edu
www.casayego.com

[SAMWolf]

The last important engagement in the Carolina campaign of the American Revolution was fought in Eutaw Springs 30 miles northwest of Charleston, South Carolina. The American forces under General Nathanael Greene attacked at 4 AM, driving British troops under Colonel Alexander Stewart from the field. Greene believed that if he could destroy Stewart he could end the British threat to the south once and for all. The American attack floundered when the men stopped to plunder the camp. The British then rallied and repulsed the Americans. The end result however, was that the British were too weak to hold the field anymore. After sunset, Stewart retreated toward Charleston. The battle was an important victory for the Americans; it forced the British to remain within Charleston and prepared the way for the siege of Yorktown.

[SAMWolf]

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[snippy_about_it]

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Good Thursday Morning Everyone

If you would like added to our ping list let us know.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Snippy.

Boeing 314 "Clipper"

[E.G.C.]

Good morning Snippy and everyone at the Freeper Foxhole.

It's B-Ball tournament time. The Big 12 is underway. Nebraska plays OU tonight at 6. OSU plays tommorow.

Good luck to everyone in the Big 12. may the best team win.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning Aeronaut. That's a big one!

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning EGC.

[The Mayor]

He came to them, walking on the sea. —Mark 6:48

Jesus hears even the faintest cry for help.

[snippy_about_it]

Our loss in Officers is considerably more from their value than their number, for never did either Men or Officers offer their blood more willingly in the service of their Country.

It's wonderful that these letters were written and preserved. Thanks for bringing us this story of our earliest heroes.

[Valin]

On This Day In History


Birthdates which occurred on March 11:
1726 Madame Louise-Florence d'Épinay France, writer (Woman, Man & 2 Kingdoms)/salon hostess
1731 Robert Treat Paine judge, signer of Declaration of Independence
1811 Marsena Rudolph Patrick Brevet Major General (Union volunteers)
1811 Urbain Jean Joseph le Verrier co-discovered Neptune
1812 James Speed Attorney General (Union), died in 1887
1818 John Wilkins Whitfield Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1879
1822 Allison Nelson Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1862
1832 William Ruffin Cox Brigadier General (Confederate Army-2nd North Carolina Infantry), died in 1919
1840 Edmund Kirby Jr Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1863
1879 Niels Bjerrum Danish chemist (ph tests)
1885 Malcolm Campbell 1st auto racer to travel 5 miles/minutes (8 km/minute)
1890 Vannevar Bush developed 1st electronic analogue computer
1892 Raoul Walsh New York NY, director (Thief of Baghdad, Battle Cry)
1898 Dorothy Gish Massillon OH, stage & silent film actress (Orphans of the Storm)
1907 Helmuth J von Moltke German politician (July 20th plot)
1908 Lawrence Welk Strasburg ND, orchestra leader (Lawrence Welk Show)
1914 Ralph Ellison writer (Invisible Man, Shadow & Act)
1916 Sir [James] Harold Wilson (L) British Prime Minister (1964-70, 1974-76)
1926 Ralph Abernathy civil rights leader (Southern Christian Leadership)
1928 Albert Salmi Brooklyn NY, actor (Daniel Boone, 79 Park Avenue)
1931 Rupert Murdoch Australia, publisher (New York Post), CEO FOX-TV Network
1934 Sam Donaldson El Paso TX, ABC White House correspondent (Prime Time)
1936 Antonin Scalia Trenton NJ, 105th Supreme Court Justice (1986- )
1945 Mark Stein vocalist/organist (Vanilla Fudge-You Keep Me Hanging On)
1950 Bobby McFerrin singer (Don't Worry Be Happy-1989 Grammy)
1952 Douglas Adams Cambridge England, author (Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy)(DON'T PANICE)
1956 Curtis L Brown Jr Elizabethtown NC, Major USAF/astronaut (STS 47, STS 66, 77, 85, 95)

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Deaths which occurred on March 11:
0222 Varius A Bassianus Syrian emperor of Rome (218-22), murdered at 18?
0638 Sophronius of Jerusalem saint/patriarch of Jerusalem, dies
1820 Benjamin West British painter (Death of General Wolfe), dies at 81
1845 John Chapman [Johnny Appleseed] dies in Allen County Indiana
1897 Henry Drummond Scottish geologist/evangelist, dies at 45
1921 Sherburne W Burnham US astronomer (binary stars), dies at 83
1955 Alexander Fleming English bacteriologist (penicillin), dies at 73
1967 Geraldine Farrar soprano/actress (Such Sweet Compulsion), dies at 85
1969 John Wyndham [Parkes Lucas B Harris] author (Day of the Triffids, Chrysalids), dies at 65
1970 Erle Stanley Gardner US writer (Perry Mason), dies at 80
1971 Philo T Farnsworth US TV pioneer, dies at 64
1971 Whitney M Young Jr leader(National Urban League 1961-71), dies at 49
1972 Fredric [William] Brown sci-fi author (Martians Go Home), dies at 65
1987 [Wayne] Woody Hayes football coach (Ohio State), dies at 74
1993 Dino Bravo wrestler (WWF), shot to death at 44
1996 Vince Edwards actor (Ben Casey), dies of cancer at 67

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Reported: MISSING in ACTION
1965 SMITH RICHARD D.---WICHITA KS.
[REMAINS ID'D 9/94]
1967 GREENE CHARLES E.---SCHENECTADY NY.
03/04/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE IN 98]
1967 HITESHEW JAMES E.---WESTON WV.
[03/04/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE AND WELL 98]
1967 KARINS JOSEPH J. JR.---SYRACUSE NY]
[REMAINS RETURNED 04/88]
1967 MOORE ERNEST M.---MILLBRAE CA.
[03/04/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE AND WELL 98]
1968 BOND RONALD DALE---FARGO ND.
1968 BLANTON CLARENCE F.---EL RENO OK.
1968 CALLOWAY PORTER E.---BERNICE LA.
1968 CALFEE HAMES HENRY---NEWGULF TX.
[NOT ON OFFICIAL DIA LIST. TDY CIV/LOCKHEED]
1968 DAVIS THOMAS J.---EUFALFA AL.
[03/16/73 RELEASED BY PRG, ALIVE IN 98]
1968 DAVIS JAMES WOODROW---WAYNESBORO MS.
[NOT ON OFFICIAL DIA LIST. TDY CIV/LOCKHEED]
1968 GISH HENRY G.---LANCASTER PA.
[NOT ON OFFICIAL DIA LIST. TDY CIV/LOCKHEED]
1968 HOLLAND MELVIN A.---TOLEDO WA.
[NOT ON OFFICIAL DIA LIST. CIV/LOCKHEED]
1968 HALL WILLIS ROSELLE---BELLEVUE NE.
[NOT ON OFFICIAL DIA LIST. CIV/LOCKHEED]
1968 KIRK HERBERT A.---PHILADELPHIA PA.
[NOT ON OFFICIAL DIA LIST. TDY CIV/LOCKHEED]
1968 MC MILLAN ISIAH---GRETNA FL.
[03/16/73 RELEASED BY PRG, ALIVE IN 98]
1968 OLDS ERNEST A.---SALISBURY MD.
[REMAINS IDENTIFIED 02 AUG 96]
1968 PRICE DAVID STANLEY---CENTRALIA WA.
[NOT ON OFFICIAL DIA LIST. TDY CIV/LOCKHEED]
1968 RODRIGUEZ ALBERT E.---FRANKLINVILLE NY.
[REMAINS RET 12/15/88" ID 7/25/89]
1968 SHANNON PATRICK LEE---CORDELL OK.
NOT ON OFFICIAL DIA LIST. TDY CIV/LOCKHEED]
1968 SPRINGSTEADAH DONALD K.---MILLVILLE NJ.
[NOT ON OFFICIAL DIA LIST. TDY CIV/LOCKHEED]
1968 WORLEY DON F.---AUGUSTA AR.
[NOT ON OFFICIAL DIA LIST. TDY CIV/LOCKHEED]

POW / MIA Data & Bios supplied by
the P.O.W. NETWORK. Skidmore, MO. USA.

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On this day...
0417 Zosimus becomes bishop of Rome
0537 Goths lay siege to Rome
0843 Icon worship officially re-instated in Aya Sofia Constantinople
1302 Romeo & Juliet's wedding day, according to Shakespeare
1502 Tebriz shah Ismail I of Persia crowned
1513 Giovanni de' Medici chosen Pope Leo X
1665 New York approves new code guaranteeing Protestants religious rights
1669 Volcano Etna in Italy erupts killing 15,000
1702 1st English daily newspaper, "Daily Courant", is published
1779 US army Corps of Engineers established (1st time)
1795 Battle at Kurdla India: Mahratten beat Mogols
1810 Emperor Napoleon married by proxy to Archduchess Marie Louise
1812 Citizenship granted to Prussian Jews
1823 1st normal school in US opens, Concord Academy, Concord VT
1824 US War Department creates the Bureau of Indian Affairs
1851 Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Rigoletto" premieres in Venice
1861 Confederate convention in Montgomery, adopts constitution
1862 General Stonewall Jackson evacuates Winchester Virginia
1862 Lincoln removes McClellen as general-in-chief & makes him head of Army of the Potomac. Gen Henry Halleck is named general-in-chief
1864 Skirmish at Calfkiller Creek (Sparta), Tennessee
1865 General Sherman's Union forces occupy Fayetteville NC
1867 Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Don Carlos" premieres in Paris France
1882 Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association organized in Princeton NJ
1888 Great blizzard of '88 strikes northeast US
1892 1st public basketball game (Springfield MA)
1901 Cincinnati Enquirer reports Baltimore manager John McGraw signed Cherokee Indian Tokohoma, who is really black 2nd baseman Charlie Grant
1917 British troops occupy Baghdad
1918 Moscow becomes capital of revolutionary Russia
1918 Save the Redwoods League founded
1926 Eamon da Valera ends leadership of Sinn Fein
1927 1st armored commercial car hold-up in US, Pittsburgh
1927 1st golden gloves tournament
1930 President & Chief Justice William Taft buried in Arlington
1935 Hermann Goering officially creates German Air Force, the Luftwaffe
1941 Bronko Nagurski beats Ray Steele in Minnesota, to become wrestling champion
1941 FDR signs Lend-Lease Bill (lend money to Britain)
1942 1st deportation train leaves Paris France for Auschewitz Concentration Camp
1942 General MacArthur leaves Corregidor (Bataan) for Australia
1945 Flemish Nazi collaborator Maria Huygens sentenced to death
1948 Jewish Agency of Jerusalem bombed
1948 Reginald Weir became the 1st black to play in the US Tennis Open
1953 1st woman army doctor commissioned (FM Adams)
1953 An American B-47 accidentally drops a nuclear bomb on South Carolina, the bomb doesn't go off due to 6 safety catches (OOPS)
1954 US Army charges Senator Joseph McCarthy used undue pressure tactics
1958 Charles Van Doren finally loses on TV game show "21"
1958 Starting this season, American League batters are required to wear batting helmets
1960 Pioneer 5 launched into solar orbit between Earth & Venus
1961 Then NHL record 40 penalties, Black Hawks & Maple Leafs (20 each)
1965 Indonesia President Sukarno accepts qualifications of Suharto
1966 Military coup led by Indonesian General Suharto breaks out
1968 Otis Redding posthumously receives gold record for "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay"
1970 Iraq Ba'th Party recognizes Kurd nation
1974 Rhino Store gives people 5¢ to take home Danny Bonaduce's Album
1975 Portugal military coup under General Spinola fails
1977 34 Israelis killed by Palestinians on the Tel Aviv-Haifa highway
1977 Moslems hold 130 hostages in Washington DC
1978 Terrorists attack mail truck at Tel Aviv, 45 killed
1981 Chile constitution takes effect, Augusto Pinochet 2nd term begins
1981 Johnny Mize & Rube Foster elected to baseball Hall of Fame
1982 Harrison Williams (Senator-Democrat-NJ) resigned rather than face expulsion
1982 Menachem Begin & Anwar Sadat sign peace treaty in Washington DC
1983 World Ice Dance Championship in Helsinki Finland won by Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean (Great Britain)
1985 Mikhail S Gorbachev replaces Konstantin Chernenko as Soviet leader
1986 1 million days since traditional foundation of Rome, 4/21/753 BC
1987 Wayne Gretzky scores 1,500th NHL point
1992 Five-time top contender Martin Buser won the Iditarod dog sled race in Alaska in record time.
1992 Members of the U.N. Security Council accused Iraq of playing a game of "cheat and retreat" from its promises to disarm and respect its people's human rights; Iraqi deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz lashed back, saying his country was complying with Gulf War cease-fire resolutions.
1993 Janet Reno won unanimous Senate approval to become the first female U.S. Attorney General.
1996 The Whitewater trial of Gov. Jim Guy Tucker and two former associates of Bill and Hillary Clinton opened in Arkansas.
1997 Ashes of Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry are launched into space
1997 Beatle Paul McCartney knighted Sir Paul by Queen Elizabeth II

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

Liberia : Decorations Day
Mauritius : Maha Shivaratree
US : Johnny Appleseed Day (anniversary of his death-1845)
World : World Culture Day (leap years)
Memphis TN : Cotton Carnival (held for 5 days)(Tuesday)
New Mexico : Arbor Day (Friday)
US : Aardvark Week (Day 5)
US : Federal Employees Recognition Week (Day 5)
Worship of Tools Day

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Religious Observances
Roman Catholic : Commemoration of St Teresa Margaret Redi, Italian Carmelite

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Religious History
1665 New York's English Deputies approved a new legal code, which guaranteed all Protestants the right to practice their religious observances unhindered. (There were currently a host of Protestant groups thriving within this now_English colony, acquired only seven months earlier from the Dutch.)
1738 English revivalist George Whitefield wrote in his journal: 'Suffering times are a Christian's best improving times; for they break the will, wean us from the creature, prove the heart.'
1845 Wittenberg College was chartered in Springfield, Ohio, under Lutheran auspices.
1860 Birth of H. Frances Davidson, pioneer missionary. In 1892 she became the first woman from the Brethren in Christ Church to earn an M.A. degree, and in 1897 became one of her denomination's first missionaries to travel to the African continent.
1923 Death of Mary Ann Thomson, 89, American hymnwriter. Among her most enduring contributions to the Church were the lyrics to "O Zion, Haste, Thy Mission High Fulfilling," which she wrote at age 34.

Source: William D. Blake. ALMANAC OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1987.

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Thought for the day :
"We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance."

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Word of the day...
aeropalmics (âr-o-päm-ks)
1. (n.) The study of wind resistance conducted by holding a cupped hand out the car window.

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New State Slogans...
Washington: Help! We're Overrun By Nerds And Slackers!

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Amazing Fact #38,765...
Spiral staircases in medieval castles are running clockwise. This is because all knights used to be
right-handed. When the intruding army would climb the stairs they would not be able to use their right hand which was holding the sword because of the difficulties in climbing the stairs. Left-handed knights would have had no troubles except left-handed people could never become knights because it was assumed that they were descendants of the devil.

[CholeraJoe]

except left-handed people could never become knights because it was assumed that they were descendants of the devil.

I'm left handed and come from a long line of lefties. That must explain why my Welsh ancestors were blacksmiths and coal miners instead of nobility.

[Valin]

I'm left handed and come from a long line of lefties.

assumed that they were descendants of the devil.

The prosecution rests. :-)

[snippy_about_it]

1953 An American B-47 accidentally drops a nuclear bomb on South Carolina, the bomb doesn't go off due to 6 safety catches (OOPS)

I thought this was out in the ocean and still there. hmmm. I'm going to have to research if no one has the answer today.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning Mayor.

[The Mayor]

Hi Snippy....

Runnin out the door.. see ya later.

[snippy_about_it]

If the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body...then only left-handed people are in their right minds. ;-)

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning everyone.

[Valin]

You might be thinking of the one lost off of Spain.