Replies

The government in Washington projected a new enterprise-the capture of Vera Cruz, and a direct march from the coast upon the city of Mexico. General Scott was sent out to take the chief command, and withdrew most of the regulars under Taylor to aid in this expedition. Taylor's force was now reduced to about ten thousand volunteers and a few companies of regulars. Meanwhile, Santa Anna was at San Luis Potosi, with twenty-two thousand of the best troops of Mexico, prepared to oppose his advance. In early February, 1847, Taylor advanced with part of his force to Agua Nueva, but learning that Santa Anna was marching on him with his whole army, he fell back to Buena Vista and took position in a strong mountain-defile. He had then with him four thousand seven hundred and fifty-nine men to oppose an army of about twenty thousand.

Santa Anna's march to this point had been a difficult one, through deserts and over mountains, his army almost destitute of food and water. A speedy victory or a hasty retreat was necessary for him, for his men could not long be sustained in the country into which he had advanced. Yet he had a serious task before him, despite the small force of his opponents. The pass through the mountains, which the Americans had seized, was constricted by impassable gullies, till it was little wider than the road that traversed it, while on each side rose high and precipitous mountains. Three miles distant was the small village of Buena Vista, where the American baggage-and supply-trains were stationed. On February 22 the Mexican army advanced to the southern entrance to the pass, and Santa Anna sent General Taylor a summons to surrender, which was without ceremony declined. Some skirmishing took place, but the main action was reserved for the next day.

At daylight on the 23d of February both armies were in rapid motion. General Taylor had reached Saltillo [about eight miles from the field of battle] on the previous night. Near this place General Minion had maneuvered all day, for the purpose of cutting off the expected retreat of the American army, and perhaps of making an attempt upon the town. In order to be prepared for any emergency, the commander appointed four companies of Illinois volunteers to garrison it, assisted by Webster's artillery. He then proceeded to Buena Vista, and ordered forward all the available troops from that place.

During the night the enemy had succeeded in gaining the top of the mountain, where the skirmish of the preceding evening had taken place, and in passing thence to the left and rear. Under cover of the night about fifteen hundred men had been thrown forward to the same position, and were now prepared for an attack upon the light troops of Colonel Marshall. Here the battle of the 23d commenced at an early hour. Heavy volleys of musketry, succeeded by the roar of cannon and shouts of officers, convinced General Wool that the left wing was to be the principal point of attack. The intrepid riflemen, animated by their commander, received the shock from the immense masses of the enemy with coolness, pouring back, in return, the contents of their unerring rifles. Soon they were reinforced by three companies of the 2d Illinois volunteers, under Major Trail. The troops covered themselves behind ridges of the mountains, in positions perfectly secure from artillery, and where every charge of the enemy was met with advantage.

While this movement was going on, a heavy column moved along the San Luis road against the American centre. As they marched rapidly towards this point, Captain Washington opened his battery from the pass. So terrible was the effect that whole lines seemed to sink at every discharge, and long gaps in the densely-packed mass told of the sweeping entrance of grape and canister. Led on by their officers, the survivors pressed forward, under this withering fire, until within full range of the captain's artillery, when the front ranks recoiled in confusion. The whole column was soon in rapid retreat, leaving behind masses of dead and dying.

Generalissimo D. Antonio López de Santa Anna

These, however, were but preparations for the main attack. During the whole morning, an immense force of infantry and cavalry had been concentrated among the rides, and under cover of the cliffs, at the foot of the mountain on which Colonel Marshall was posted. They now commenced filing through the gorges towards the large plateau where Brigadier-General Lane was posted, with the 2d Indiana regiment, under Colonel Bowles, the 2d Illinois regiment, and Captain O'Brien's artillery. On gaining the plateau the enemy rushed on in crowded masses, the cavalry pouring through a defile to charge the American infantry. Lane immediately ordered the Indiana regiment forward, supporting it with the artillery. This movement seems to have been unfortunate, as it separated the troops from immediate support at a most critical moment. The enemy perceived the error, and, collecting all their force in one united mass, they charged like an avalanche along the edge of the plateau. The Indiana troops had not reached the designated position, when Colonel Bowles, who commanded the regiment, without the authority of General Lane, gave the order, "Cease firing and retreat."

The consequences were unfortunate. The regiment, once in retreat, could not be rallied. A few were brought back to the field, but the most of them retreated to Buena Vista, and were lost to the remainder of the battle.

Unaware of the loss of his support, O'Brien galloped on until he arrived at the spot pointed out by General Lane. The spectacle from this position, was sufficient to appall even a veteran. The hills, on every side, were alive with troops; horsemen were pouring over the ground, and artillery vomiting forth floods of flaming death. The rocks seemed to start and topple with the hurrying multitude, and shouts of officers and men rose, like the roar of ocean, above the din of battle. The intrepid O'Brien saw the vast host rushing towards him, and, with a quick, anxious glance, he turned to see where was his support. He was alone. With three pieces of artillery, and a few cannoneers, he was exposed to the shock of the huge multitude. If he yielded, the battle was lost, and certain destruction seemed inevitable if he stood. Flushed with victory, the heavy columns of cavalry came pouring on from the discomfiture of the Indianians, their horses crowding upon each other, and surrounded on all sides by the dense masses of infantry. Victory was concentrated at this single point, and every eye on the battle-field was bent upon the issue. Amid the deafening uproar, the shrill voice of Wool was heard far in the distance, calling forward the troops of Illinois. The sound seemed to animate O'Brien's little company, and they prepared for the fearful encounter.

General Zachary Taylor

By this time most of the cannoneers had been killed or disabled, the captain had received a wound in the leg and two horses had fallen under him. Three thousand Mexican infantry were pouring showers of musketry upon him, while a battery three hundred yards to his left was vomiting forth grape and canister. Suddenly he opened his fire. Companies melted before him; alleys and gaps opened along all the enemy's front, and the unerring shot rattled upon their cannon, sweeping artillery, man, and horse to destruction. Struck with horror, the front columns wavered and fell back. Elated with success, O'Brien advanced about fifty yards, and continued his fire. The van paused, rallied to receive reinforcements, and again moved forward. In rapid succession one discharge after another was hurled against them; but each gap was filled as soon as made, and in one desperate mass they poured towards the captain's position. Finding it impossible longer to resist their progress, he gave them his last discharge, and withdrew to the American line.

On arriving here he had not a cannoneer to work the guns, all having been killed or disabled. It being impossible to replace them, he was compelled to apply to Captain Washington, who furnished him with two six-pounders. With these he again ascended the plateau, where he came in contact with a strong line of infantry and cavalry, covered by a heavy battery. He was himself supported by a body of infantry posted in two ravines on his right and left. The remainder of the American infantry and artillery were engaged with the enemy about half a mile to his left. O'Brien kept the Mexicans in check, while the troops to the left drove the body opposed to them round the head of the ravine, where they united with those opposed to the captain. About this time the latter received orders to advance, and at the same time the enemy, finding themselves strong by their junction, came on to meet him.

The position of affairs was most critical, for if the Mexicans succeeded in forcing the American position the day was theirs. There being no artillery opposed to them but O'Brien's section and another piece, it was all-important for him to maintain his ground until the guns on the left could come round the ravine to join him. He determined, therefore, to hold this position until the enemy reached the muzzles of his guns. The struggle was a terrible one. Each party put forth its utmost strength, and the feelings of the soldier were wound to a pitch of enthusiasm that made him reckless of death itself. The enemy sank down by scores, and a body of lancers, charging the Illinois troops, were compelled to fall back. Still the main body rushed on, shaking the mountain-passes with the trampling of their armed thousands, and shouting above the uproar of battle. The wounded and dying were crushed in their furious charge, and soon their horses were within a few yards of O'Brien's pieces. Here they received the last discharge, and as the driving hail smote their columns, a groan of anguish followed, and horse and rider sank down and rolled over the rocky surface in the arms of death. It was a dreadful moment, and as the columns swayed to and fro beneath the shock, and then sternly united for the headlong leap, companies that were mere spectators grew pale for the result. Although O'Brien was losing men and horses with alarming rapidity, he gave orders again to fire, when suddenly the few recruits who were fit for duty lost their presence of mind, and, with all his efforts, they could not be kept to the guns. Mortified to find the fruits of his gigantic efforts torn from him, the captain rode round his guns with startling quickness, urging his followers by voice and action; but it was in vain; no man on the field could have rallied them; and after staying at his post to the last, he retired slowly and sullenly. He lost his pieces, but by his gallant stand he had kept the enemy in check long enough to save the day.

Major Dix at the Battle of Buena Vista

About the same time the 2d Illinois regiment, under Colonel Bissell, having been completely outflanked, was compelled to fall back. Colonel Marshall's light troops, on the extreme left, came down from their mountainous position and joined the American main army. Masses of cavalry and infantry were now pouring through the defiles on the American left, in order to gain the rear north of the large plateau. At this moment General Taylor arrived upon the field from Saltillo. As the Mexican infantry turned the American flank, they came in contact with Colonel Davis's Mississippi riflemen, posted on a plateau north of the principal one. The 2d Kentucky regiment, and a section of artillery, under Captain Bragg, had previously been ordered to this position from the right, and arrived at a most important crisis. As the masses of the enemy emerged from the defiles to the table-land above, they opened upon the riflemen, and the battle soon became deeply interesting. The lancers meanwhile were drawing up for a charge. The artillery on each side was in an incessant blaze, and one sheet of sparkling fire flashed from the small-arms of both lines. Then the cavalry came dashing down, in dense columns, their dress and arms glittering in the sun, seemingly in strange contrast with their work of death. All around was clamor and hurry, drowning the shouts of command and groans of the dying. Davis gave the order to fire; a report from hundreds of rifles rang along his line, and mangled heaps of the enemy sunk to the ground. Struck with dismay, the lacerated host heaved back, while in mad confusion horse trod down horse, crushing wounded and dying beneath their hoofs in the reckless rushings of retreat. The day was once more saved.

At the same time the Kentucky regiment, supported by Bragg's artillery, had driven back the enemy's infantry and recovered a portion of the lost ground. The latter officer then moved his pieces to the main plateau, where, in company with Captain Sherman, he did much execution, particularly upon the masses that were in the rear. General Taylor placed all the regular cavalry and Captain Pike's squadron of horse under the orders of Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel May, with directions to hold in check the enemy's column, still advancing to the rear along the base of the mountain. May posted himself north of the ravine through which the enemy were moving towards Buena Vista, in order to charge them as they approached that place. The enemy, however, still continued to advance, until almost the whole American artillery were playing upon them. At length, unable to stand the fearful slaughter, their ranks fell into confusion, some of the corps attempting to effect a retreat upon their main line of battle. To prevent this, the general ordered the Ist dragoons, under Lieutenant Rucker, to ascend the deep ravine which these corps were endeavoring to cross, and disperse them. The squadron, however, were unable to accomplish their object, in consequence of a heavy fire from a battery covering the enemy's retreat.

Meanwhile a large body of lancers assembled on the extreme left of the Americans, for the purpose of charging upon Buena Vista. To support that point, General Taylor ordered forward May, with two pieces of Sherman's battery. At the same time, the scattered forces at that hacienda were collected by Majors Munroe and Morrison, and, uniting with some of the troops of the Indiana regiment, they were posted to defend the position. Before May could reach the village the enemy had begun the attack. They were gallantly opposed by the Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry, under Colonels Marshall and Yell. The shock was a heavy one. Colonel Yell fell at the head of his column, a lance entering his mouth, wrenching off his lower jaw, and shattering the side of his face. The Kentuckians lost Adjutant Vaughan, a young officer of much promise. The enemy's column was separated into two portions, one sweeping by the American depot under a destructive fire from the Indiana troops, until they gained the mountain opposite, the other portion regaining the base of the mountain to the west. Lieutenant-Colonel May now reached Buena Vista, and, approaching the base of the mountain, held in check the enemy's right flank, upon whose masses, crowded in the narrow gorges and ravines, the artillery was doing fearful execution.

The position of that portion of the Mexican army which had gained the American rear was now so critical as to induce the belief that it would be forced to surrender. At the moment, however, when the artillery was thinning its ranks, and May, after much maneuvering, was about charging their flank, a white flag was observed approaching the American quarters, and General Taylor ordered the firing to cease. The message was simply a demand from General Santa Anna, requesting to know what the American general wanted. General Wool was sent to have a personal interview with the Mexican general. On reaching the Mexican lines, Wool was unable to stop the enemy's farther advance, and returned to head-quarters. The object of the Mexicans had, however, been accomplished,-their extreme right moving along the base of the mountain and joining the main army.

The roar of artillery, which had lasted from before sunrise, now partially ceased on the principal field, the enemy apparently confining his efforts to the protection of his artillery. General Taylor had just left the main depot, when he was unexpectedly recalled by a heavy fire of musketry. On regaining his position a stirring scene was presented. The Illinois and 2d Kentucky cavalry had been attacked in a rugged defile by an overwhelming force of both cavalry and infantry, and were now struggling against fearful odds. Could the enemy succeed in defeating these troops, they might renew the main attack with great advantage, and perhaps gain the day. To prevent the catastrophe, Captain Bragg, who had just arrived from the left, was immediately ordered into battery. Feeling how important was every moment, that brave officer abandoned some of his heaviest carriages, and pushed forward with those that could move most rapidly. Gaining a point from which they could be used, he placed them in battery and loaded with canister. His position was one of imminent peril. The supporting infantry had been routed, the advance artillery captured, and the enemy, flushed with victory, were throwing their masses towards him. He appealed to the commanding general for help. None was to be had; and, nerving himself for his terrible duties, he returned to the battery, and spoke a few low, hurried words to his men. Silently but firmly they gathered round their pieces, and awaited orders. The commanding general sat on horseback, gazing with thrilling intensity upon that handful of troops. After all the losses and triumphs of the day, victory had eluded their grasp, to hang upon the approaching struggle.

"The Gallant Charge Of The Kentucky Cavalry Under Col. Marshall,
At The Battle Of Buena Vista Febr. 23d. 1847."

The cavalry were almost near enough to spring upon his guns, when Bragg gave the order to fire. Suddenly they halted, staggered a few paces, and then closed for the charge. The shouts of their supporting infantry followed the roar of artillery, and they again advanced. The cannoneers had marked the effect, with feelings too intense to admit of outward expression, and, rapidly reloading, they again poured forth a shower of grape. The effect was fearful; and General Taylor, as he beheld the bleeding columns, felt that the day was his own. A third discharge completed the rout. Discipline gave way among the enemy to the confused flight of terrified hosts, as, pouring through the rugged passes, they trod each other down in their hurried course. One wild shout went up from the American army, broken at short intervals by the thunder of Bragg's artillery.

In the retreat of the enemy, a portion of the American infantry pursued them through a ravine so far that they got out of supporting distance. On seeing this, the Mexicans suddenly wheeled round and attacked them. The infantry were in their turn driven back, taking the course of another ravine, at the end of which a body of the enemy were waiting to intercept them. Fortunately, while the cavalry were pursuing, they came within range of Washington's battery, which, opening upon them with grape, drove back the column in confusion and saved the exhausted fugitives.

This was the last struggle on the well-fought field of Buena Vista. For ten hours the battle had raged with unmitigated fury, and yet, strange to say, each army occupied the ground that it had early in the morning. As night crept among the rocky gorges, the wearied soldiers sank down on their arms upon the field. Although the air was excessively cold, the Americans slept without fires, expecting a renewal of the attack early on the following morning. The night was one of horror. On every rock, and in every defile, piles of dead and wounded lay, the latter writhing in torture, their wounds stiff and clotted with the chill air, while their piercing cries for aid, and supplications for water, made the night hideous.

The expected renewal of the assault by the Mexicans the next day was not made. Santa Anna found his men worn out with fatigue, burning with thirst, and starving for want of food. And they had suffered too severely in the battle to be in a condition to endure another conflict. Before daylight he was in full retreat, leaving the well-won field to the victorious Americans. After their failure to carry the American position, desertion became so extreme in the Mexican host as to threaten to disorganize the army, and another battle would have been ruinous. The loses in this conflict on the American side were two hundred and sixty-seven killed, four hundred and fifty-six wounded, and twenty-three missing. Santa Anna stated his loss at fifteen hundred, but it was probably greater.

It may be remarked here that the task of Santa Anna in this battle was one that fully overcame the disparity in numbers. The pass of Angostura, occupied by Washington's battery, is one of the strongest in Mexico, and capable of being defended by a small party against great odds. The American right wing was posted with one flank against the precipitous mountains and the other resting on impassable ravines, while it could only be approached over broken and exposed ground. The plateau which formed the key of the American position was high and commanding, and could be reached only through intricate windings among the rock ledges.

There was no other victory of the war received with such enthusiasm in the United States, and Buena Vista carried General Taylor to the Presidency. It ended the war in that region of Mexico, Santa Anna being now called southward, to defend the capital from the projected invasion of General Scot by way of Vera Cruz.

On This Day In History

Birthdates which occurred on March 05:
1324 David II Bruce king of Scotland (1331..71)
1326 Louis I [the Great] King of Hungary (1342-82), Poland (1370-82)
1512 Gerardus Mercator Rupelmonde (Belgium), geographer/mapmaker
1574 William Oughtred England, mathematician/inventor (slide rule)
1578 Charles d'Albert duke of Luynes premier of France/Governor of Picardië
1585 Johan Georg I elector of Saxon (1611-56) (Peace of Prague)
1637 John van der Heyden Dutch painter/inventor (fire extinguisher)
1658 Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac French colonial governor of America
1668 Francesco Gasparini composer
1696 Giovanni Battista Tiepolo Venetian Rococo painter (Isaac's Sacrifice)
1733 Vincenzo Galeotti [Tomazelli], Italian dancer/choreographer
1746 Jacob Wallenberg Swedish writer/naval chaplain
1748 William Shield composer
1750 Jean B G d'Ansse de Villoison French classical (Apollonii Lexicon)
1751 Jan Krtitel Kuchar composer
1756 Thomas Linley composer
1774 Christoph Ernst Friedrich Weyse composer
1794 Jacques Babinet French physicist/mathematician/astronomer
1805 Theodore Labarre composer
1817 Austen H Layard British archaeologist/diplomat
1824 Elisha Harris US, physician/found American Public Health Association
1824 James Merritt Ives lithographer (Currier & Ives)
1825 John Dunovant Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1864
1825 Joseph Albert German photographer (albertotype)
1828 Johann Gungl composer
1840 Constance Fenimore Woolson Claremont NH, writer (Jupiter Lights)
1843 William F Sudds composer
1845 Alfonse Hasselmans composer
1850 Daniel Brink Towner composer
1852 Lady Isabella Gregory Ireland, writer/playwright (Golden Apple)
1853 Arthur W Foote Salem MA, organist/composer (Suite for Strings in E)
1853 Howard Pyle illustrator/painter/author (King Stork)
1867 Theodor Zöckler German theologist (Stanislauer Anstalten)
1868 Prosper Poullet Belgian viscount/jurist/minister
1869 Michael von Faulhaber cardinal/archbishop of Munich
1870 [B] Franc[lin] Norris US, writer (McTeague, Octopus)
1871 Maria do Carmo Geronimo Brazilian lives to be at least 126
1874 Arthur van Schendel Dutch writer (The World a Dancing Party)
1874 Henry Travers Berwick-Upon-Tweed Northumberland England, actor (Bells of St Mary's, High Sierra)
1877 Malcolm D Whitman tennis champion (US Open-1898)
1879 Walter Long actor (Moby Dick, Sheik, Sea Devils, Dragnet Patrol)
1886 Paul Radmilovic England, swimmer (Olympics-3 gold-1908)
1887 Heitor Villa-Lobos Rio de Janeiro Brazil, composer (Salon Waltz)
1888 Friedrich Schnack German journalist/writer (Rosewood)
1889 Frits Slomp [Frits de Rover], Dutch vicar/resistance fighter
1891 Harold Ogden "Chic" Johnson Chicago IL, comedian (Olsen & Johnson)
1893 Emmett J Culligan founder of water treatment organization
1894 Henry Daniell London, actor (Camille, Philadelphia Story, Body Snatchers)
1895 Fritz Usinger German writer (Eternal Struggle)
1897 Mei-ling Soong Madame Chiang Kai-shek
1899 Patrick Hadley composer
19-- Dyango Barcelona Spain, Spanish singer (A Fin Solos)
19-- Jo De Winter Sacramento CA, actress (Dr Lawrence-Gloria)
19-- Ray MacDonnell Lawrence MA, actor (Dr Joe Martin-All My Children)
1900 Ludwig Donath actor (Jolson Story, Jolson Sings Again)
1901 Julian Przybos Polish poet (Sruby)
1903 Lowell Peters Cleveland TN, vocalist (Southernaires)
1905 Gilroy Roberts US chief engraver (1948-64)
1908 Rex [Reginald Carey] Harrison Huyton Lancashire England, actor (My Fair Lady, Dr Doolittle)
1908 Sophie Stewart Scotland, actress (As You Like It, Under the Red Robe)
1909 Sutan Sjahrir premier of Indonesia (1945-47)
1911 Joseph Tomelty actor/playwright (Bedevilled, Moby Dick, Melba)
1913 Yulian Grigor'yevich Kreyn composer
1914 Joan Sterndale-Bennett London England, actress (Those Fantastic Flying Fools)
1916 Horace Ian Parrott composer
1917 Joseph Stone lawyer
1917 Virginia Christine Stanton IA, actress (Tales of Wells Fargo)
1918 Halsey S Colchester British SAS/spy (MI6)/priest
1918 Ranga Sohoni Indian cricketer (pace bowler of late 40's average 101)
1920 Delbert L Latta (Representative-Republican-OH, 1959- )
1920 Leontine Kelly 1st black female bishop (Methodist)
1920 Virginia Christine actress (Mrs Olson)
1921 Berkley Bedell (Representative-Democrat-IA, 1975- )
1922 Ebrahim Maka Indian cricket wicketkeeper (2 Tests 1952)
1922 James Noble Dallas TX, actor (Governor Gatling-Benson)
1922 Pier Paolo Pasolini Bologna Italy, director (Teorema, Pigsty)
1927 Jack [John Joseph Edward] Cassidy Richmond Hill NY, actor (Oscar/Jetman-He & She)
1929 Joan Shawlee Forest Hills NY, actress (Prehistoric Women)
1930 Lorin Maazel Neuilly France, conductor (NBC Symphony Orchestra 1941)
1931 Anthony Headges composer
1931 Barry Tuckwell Melbourne Australia, horn player (London Symphony Orchestra 1955-68)
1932 Walter Charles Marshall scientist
1933 Arlen Dean Snyder Rice KS, actor (Trauma Center)
1933 Norbert Linke composer
1934 James B Sikking Los Angeles CA, actor (Hill St Blues, Star Trek 3, Doogie Howser)
1935 Malcolm J Anderson tennis champion (US Open-1957)
1935 Philip K Chapman Melbourne Australia, astronaut (Apollo 14 support)
1936 Dale Douglass Wewoka OK, PGA golfer (1970 Phoenix Open)
1936 Dean Stockwell Hollywood CA, actor (Quantum Leap, Blue Velvet)
1937 Stephen Fitz-Simon entrepreneur
1938 Fred "Hammer" Williamson Gary IN, NFLer (Chiefs)/actor (Julia)
1938 Paul Evans singer/pedal guitarist (Damascus Road)
1939 Charles Fuller US writer (Zooman, Soldier Story)
1939 Samantha Eggar London England, actress (Collector, Dr Doolittle)
1939 Terry Curry English multi-millionaire
1940 Mary Rose Oakar (Representative)
1942 Michael D[iamond] Resnick sci-fi author (Sideshow, Eros Ascending)
1944 Paul Sands Los Angeles CA, comedian/actor (SCTV, Story Theater, St Elsewhere)
1945 Randy Matson US, shot putter (Olympics-gold-1968)
1946 Michael Warren South Bend IN, actor (Bobby Hill-Hill Street Blues)
1946 Murray Head singer
1946 Rocky Bleier Wisconsin, NFL running back (Pittsburgh Steelers)
1947 Eddie Hodges Hattiesburg MS, actor/singer (High Hopes, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)
1948 Eddy Grant Guyana, reggae performer (Electric Avenue)
1948 Jacques Kloes singer (Dizzy Man's Band)
1950 Eugene Fodor Turkey Creek CO, violinist (1972 Paganini Award, 1974 Tchaikovsky Award)
1950 Harvey Jacob Alperin Minneapolis MN, actor (Cocktail)
1951 Rodney Hogg cricketer (prolific Australian wicket-taker 1978-84)
1952 Alan Clark keyboardist (Dire Straits-Sultans of Swing)
1953 Russel D Feingold (Senator-D-WI)
1953 Valery Grigoriyevich Korzun Russian Colonel/cosmonaut (TM-24)
1954 Marsha Warfield comedian/actress (Roz-Night Court)
1955 Marcia McCabe actress (Alice-One Life to Live)
1955 Penn Jillette Greenfield MA, magician (Penn & Teller-Penn & Teller are Dead)
1956 Mark Handley writer (Nell)
1957 Mark E Smith English rock vocalist (Fall-Fall in a Hole)
1957 Tim Holden (Representative-Democrat-PA)
1958 Andy Gibb Manchester England, singer/TV host (Solid Gold)
1958 Bill Timoney TV commercial actor (Addicted to Love)
1961 Dan Stuart US singer/songwriter (Green on Red)
1961 Zeke Mowatt NFL tight end (New York Giants)
1962 Elise Burgin Baltimore MD, tennis star
1962 Robert L Curbeam Jr Baltimore MD, astronaut (STS 85, sk-99)
1963 Eddo Brandes cricketer (Zimbabwe Test pace bowler)
1964 Reggie Williams NBA forward/guard (Denver Nuggets)
1966 Greg Clark CFL linebacker (Saskatchewan Roughriders)
1966 Michael Irvin NFL wide receiver (Dallas Cowboys)
1966 Tracy Kerdyk Coral Gables FL, LPGA golfer (1995 JAL Big Apple)
1967 Nicole Boegman Australian long jumper (Olympics-88, 92, 96)
1968 Marq Mellor Long Island NY, field hockey forward (Olympics-96)
1968 Roman Phifer linebacker (St Louis Rams)
1968 Shjon Podein Rochester, NHL left wing (Philadelphia Flyers)
1971 Amy Peistrup-Matthews Arlington Heights IL, WPVA (Old Orchard-17-1995)
1971 Brian Hunter Portland OR, outfielder (Houston Astros)
1971 Chad Fonville Jacksonville NC, infielder (Los Angeles Dodgers)
1971 James Roberson WLAF defensive end (Rhein Fire)
1971 Jose Mercedes El Seybo Dominican Republic, pitcher (Milwaukee Brewers)
1972 Brandon Hamilton CFL cornerback (Winnipeg Blue Bombers)
1972 Brian Grant NBA forward (Portland Trailblazers, Sacramento Kings)
1972 Hernan Gumy Buenos Aires Argentina, tennis star
1972 Mikael Tillstrom Sweden, tennis star
1972 Tom Hipsz CFL defensive tackle (Montréal Alouettes)
1973 Nicole Pratt Mackay Australia, tennis star (1995 Futures Australia)
1973 Paul Lieftink Dutch soccer player (NAC, Spakenburg)
1974 Brad Schumacher US, 400 meter/800 meter freestyle (Olympics-gold-96)
1974 Hans Bond Dutch soccer player (FC Volendam)
1974 Kevin Connolly actor (Beverly Hillbillies, Rocky V, Angus)
1975 Chris Silverwood cricketer (England Test pace bowler vs Zimbabwe 1996)
1975 Niki Taylor model (Elle, Marie Claire)
1976 Adriana Serra-Zanetti Modena Italy, tennis star (1995 Moscow semi)
1977 Bryan Berard NHL defenseman (Team USA Olympics-1998, New York Islanders)
1977 Natalie Bevins Miss West Virginia-USA (1997)
1978 Kimberly McCullough Bellflower CA, actress (Robin-General Hospital)

Deaths which occurred on March 05:
0254 St Lucius I Pope (253-54), dies
1291 Sa'ad al'Da'ulah Jewish grand vizier of Persia, assassinated
1561 Carlo Caraffa Italian cardinal, dies at 41
1574 Philip of Saint-Aldegonde Flemish viceroy Holland/Zealand/Utrecht, dies
1576 Don Luís de Requesens y Zuñiga viceroy of Netherlands (1573-76), dies at 70
1605 Clement VIII [Ippolito Aldofireini], Pope (1592-1605), dies at 69
1625 James I (VI) king of England (1603-25)/poet/author, dies at 58
1644 Louise Juliana countess of Nassau, dies at 73
1732 Joseph-François Salomon composer, dies at 82
1770 Crispus Attuks slave, is 1st of 5 killed during Boston Massacre
1778 Thomas A Arne English composer (Alfred, Rule Britannia), dies at 67
1794 Rámon de la Cruz Spanish playwright/translator, dies at 62
1795 Josef Reicha composer, dies at 42
1827 Alessandro Volta Italian physicist (made 1st battery), dies at 82
1853 Georg A Kestner German art collector/diplomat, dies at 75
1873 Marie-Alexis Castillon de Saint-Victor composer, dies at 34
1876 Marie-C-S de Flavigny Agoult [Daniel Stern], Fren author, dies at 70
1893 Hippolyte Taine French philosopher/historian, dies at 64
1893 Richard Samuel Hughes composer, dies at 37
1895 Nikolai Leskow writer, dies at 64
1904 Alfred von Waldersee Prussian field marshal/chief-staff, dies at 71
1919 Jozef Surzynski composer, dies at 67
1932 Takuma Dan Japanese baron/financier/industrial, murdered
1941 Ludwig Quidde German historian/politician (Nobel 1927), dies at 82
1944 Max Jacob French writer, dies in Nazi concentration camp at 67
1947 Alfredo Casella Italian composer/conductor (La Giara), dies at 63
1948 Charles Prince cricketer (5 & 1 in only Test for South Africa), dies
1952 Vladimir Vladimirovich Scherbachov composer, dies at 63
1953 Josef V Stalin soviet leader responsible for 11 million murders, dies at 73
1953 Sergey Sergeyevich Prokofiev composer, dies at 61
1954 Julian Lowell Coolidge mathematician (Study-Segre school), dies at 80
1956 Erich Itor Kahn composer, dies at 50
1962 Anne C Veth Dutch cartoonist/art critic, dies at 82
1962 Otakar Jeremias composer, dies at 69
1963 Cyril Smith actor (Adventures of Sir Lancelot), dies at 70
1963 Hawkshaw Hawkins country singer (Ozark Jubilee), dies at 41
1963 Patsy Cline country singer (Crazy, I Fall To Pieces), dies in a plane crash at 30
1966 Anna Achmatova Ukrainian poet, dies at 76
1966 Enrique E Ecker Curaçaos/US bacteriologist, dies at 79
1967 Mischa Auer actor (My Man Godfrey), dies at 61 of a heart attack
1967 Mohammed H Mossadeq premier of Persia (1951-53), dies
1971 Winnie Lightner actress (Gold Dust Gertie, Sit Tight), dies at 71
1972 Nils Bjorkander composer, dies at 78
1973 Rupert Crosse actor (Too Late Blues), dies of cancer at 45
1974 Billy Dewolfe actor (Good Morning World), dies at 67
1974 Solomon I "Sol" Hurok US impresario, dies at 85
1977 Lockrem Johnson composer, dies at 52
1977 Moses Pergament composer, dies at 83
1979 Vicente Ascone composer, dies at 81
1980 Jay Silverheels actor (Tonto-Lone Ranger), dies at 60
1980 Winifred Wagner-William German World Festival organizer, dies at 82
1981 Brenda De Banzie actress (39 Steps, Hobson's Choice), dies at 64
1981 Paul Horbiger actor (3rd Man), dies at 86
1982 John Belushi comedian (Sat Night Live), dies of drug overdose at 33
1984 Harry Salter orchestra leader (Stop the Music), dies at 85
1984 Michael Sklar California, comedian (Laugh-in, Sha Na Na), dies at 39
1984 Tito Gobbi Italian baritone (Scarpia in Tosca), dies at 68
1984 William Powell actor (My Man Godfrey), dies at 91
1986 Teddy Hoad cricketer (West Indian captain 1930), dies
1990 Gary Merrill actor (Time Tunnel, Huckleberry Finn), dies at 75
1990 Gloria Carter Spann President Carter's sister, dies at 63 from cancer
1991 August de Schryver Belgian politician/founder (CVP), dies at 92
1991 Trijntje Jansma-Boskma oldest person in Netherland, dies at 109
1992 Andrew Samuel child actor (Our Gang), dies at 82
1992 Yevgeny Yevstigneev Russian actor (Welcome Kosta), dies at 65
1993 Diana Ochoa dies after long illness at 80
1993 Peter Bierdrager Dutch Fokker's-test pilot, dies in air crash
1994 Abdullah Al-Sallal President of Yemen (1962-67), dies
1994 Joe Daley jazz tenor/clarinet/flute player, dies at 75
1994 Paul Vincze medallist, dies at 86
1995 Ed Flanders actor (Dr Westphal-St Elsewhere), dies
1995 Marguerite Kelsey English painter/sculptor model (Haunting), dies at 86
1995 Peter John Norton naval diplomat/artist, dies at 82
1995 Vivian Stanshall British musician (Magical Mystery Tour), dies at 51
1996 Joshua Compston art impressario, dies at 26
1996 Khundaqar Mushtaq Amhed President of Bangladesh (1975), dies
1996 Nicolas Cotoner y Cotoner Spanish courtier, dies at 90
1996 Whit Bissell actor (Time Tunnel), dies at 86

On this day...
0254 St Lucius I ends his reign as Catholic Pope
1179 3rd Lateran Council (11th ecumenical council) opens in Rome
1461 Henry VI was deposed by Duke of York during War of the Roses
1496 English King Henry VII hires John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) to explore
1528 Utrecht Governor Maarten van Rossum plunders The Hague
1558 Smoking tobacco introduced in Europe by Francisco Fernandes
1579 Betuwe joins Union of Utrecht
1616 Copernicus' "de Revolutionibus" placed on Catholic Forbidden index
1623 1st American temperance law enacted, Virginia
1651 South Sea dike in Amsterdam breaks after storm
1684 Emperor Leopold I, Poland & Venice sign Heilig Covenant of Linz
1743 1st US religious journal, The Christian History, published, Boston
1746 Jakobijnse troops leave Aberdeen
1750 1st American Shakespearean production-"altered" Richard III, New York NY
1760 Princess Carolina marries General Charles Christian van Nassau-Weilburg
1766 Don Antonio de Ulloa takes possession of Louisiana Terr from French
1770 Blanche Kelso Bruce sworn in as a US Senator (Mississippi)
1770 Boston Massacre, British troops kill 5 in crowd; Crispus Attackus becomes 1st black to die for American freedom
1783 King Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski grants rights to Jews of Kovno
1795 Amsterdam celebrates Revolution on the Dam; Square of Revolution
1795 Treaty of Basel-Prussia ends war with France
1807 1st performance of Ludwig von Beethoven's 4th Symphony in B
1820 Dutch city of Leeuwarden forbids Jews to go to synagogues on Sundays
1821 Monroe is 1st President inaugurated on March 5th, because 4th was Sun
1836 Mexico attacks Alamo
1836 Samuel Colt manufactures 1st pistol, 34-caliber "Texas" model
1845 Congress appropriates $30,000 to ship camels to western US
1849 Zachary Taylor sworn in as 12th President
1856 Covent Garden Opera House destroyed in a fire
1856 Georgia becomes 1st state to regulate railroads
1862 Union troops under Brigadier-General Wright occupy Fernandina FL
1864 1st track meet between Oxford & Cambridge
1868 Arrigo Boito's opera "Mefistofele" premieres in Milan
1868 Stapler patented in England by C H Gould
1868 US Senate organizes to decide charges against President Andrew Johnson
1872 George Westinghouse Jr patents triple air brake for trains
1877 Rutherford B Hayes inaugurated as 19th US President
1894 Seattle authorizes 1st municipal employment office in US
1896 Italian Governor of Eritrea, General Baldissera, reaches Massawa
1896 Italian premier Crispi resigns
1897 American Negro Academy forms
1899 1st performance of Edward MacDowell's 2nd Concerto in D
1900 American Hall of Fame is founded
1903 Definitive treaty for construction of Baghdad railway drawn
1907 1st radio broadcast of a musical composition aired
1908 1st ascent of Mount Erebus, Antarctica
1910 Ramon Inclan's "La Farsa Infantil de la Cabeza del Dragon" premieres
1910 Stanley Cup: Montréal Wanderers beat Ottawa Senators, 3-1
1912 Spanish steamer "Principe de Asturias" sinks northeast of Spain, 500 die
1917 1st jazz recording for Victor Records released
1919 Louis Hirsch & Harold Atteridge's musical premieres in New York NY
1922 "Nosferatu" premieres in Berlin
1923 Montana & Nevada become 1st states to enact old age pension laws
1924 Computing-Tabulating-Recording Corp becomes IBM
1924 Frank Carauna, becomes 1st to bowl 2 successive perfect 300 games
1924 King Hussein of Hedzjaz appoints himself kalief
1927 1,000 US marines land in China to protect American property
1928 Karl Zuckmayer's "Der Hauptmann von Köpenick" premieres in Berlin
1931 Gandhi & British viceroy Lord Irwin sign pact
1933 FDR proclaims 10-day bank holiday
1933 Germany's Nazi Party wins majority in parliament (43.9%-17.2M votes)
1934 Mother-in-law's day 1st celebrated (Amarillo TX)
1935 1st premature baby health law in US (Chicago)
1936 Spitfire makes its 1st flight (Eastleigh Aerodrome in Southampton)
1942 Bosnia Tito establishes 3rd Proletarit Brigade in Bosnia
1942 Dmitri Shostakovich's 7th Symphony, premieres in Siberia
1942 Japanese troop march into Batavia
1943 Anti fascist strikes in Italy
1943 RAF bombs Essen Germany
1944 1st performance of Walter Piston's 2nd Symphony
1945 Allies bombs The Hague, Netherlands
1945 Generals Eisenhower, Patton & Patch meet in Luneville
1945 US 7th Army Corps captures Cologne
1945 US Ladies Figure Skating Championship won by Gretchen Merrill
1946 Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech (Fulton MO)
1948 Actor Eli Wallach marries actress Anne Jackson
1948 US rocket flies record 4800 KPH to 126k height
1949 Bradman plays his last innings in 1st-class cricket, gets 30
1952 Terence Rattigan's "Deep Blue Sea" premieres in London
1953 Josef Stalin's death announced
1954 "Girl in Pink Tights" opens at Mark Hellinger NYC for 115 performances
1955 Elvis Presley's 1st TV appearance on "Louisiana Hayride" show
1955 WBBJ TV channel 7 in Jackson TN (ABC) begins broadcasting
1956 "King Kong" 1st televised
1956 Mickey Wright wins LPGA Jacksonville Golf Open
1957 Eamon de Valera's Fianna Fail-party wins election in Ireland
1957 Sergeant Bilko satirizes Elvis Presley (Elvin Pelvin)
1958 Explorer 2 fails to reach Earth orbit
1958 KDUH TV channel 4 in Scottsbluff-Hay Spring NE (ABC) 1st broadcast
1959 Iran & US sign economic & military treaty
1960 Elvis Presley ends 2-year hitch in US Army
1960 World Ice Dance Championship in Vancouver won by Doreen Denny & Courtney Jones (Great Britain)
1960 World Ice Pairs Figure Skating Championship in Vancouver won by Barbara Wagner & Robert Paul (Canada)
1960 World Ladies Figure Skating Championship in Vancouver won by Carol E Heiss (USA)
1960 World Men's Figure Skating Championship in Vancouver won by Alain Giletti (France)
1962 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
1963 Beatles record "From Me to You" & "Thank You Girl"
1964 Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen Jr, announces a baseball team is moving there
1964 Emergency crisis proclaimed in Ceylon due to social unrest
1965 1st performance of Walter Piston's 8th Symphony
1965 Ernie Terrel beats Eddie Machen in 15 for heavyweight boxing title
1966 75 MPH air currents cause BOAC 707 crash above Mount Fuji, 124 die
1966 Bob Seagren pole vaults 5.19 meter indoor world record
1966 Player representatives elect Marvin Miller, as executive director of Players' Association
1966 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
1967 WEDN TV channel 53 in Norwich CT (PBS) begins broadcasting
1968 US launches Solar Explorer 2 to study the Sun
1969 Gold reaches then record high ($47 per ounce) in Paris France
1969 Gustav Heinemann elected President of West-Germany
1969 Joe Orton's "What the Butler Saw" premieres in London
1970 3 SDS Weathermen terrorist group bomb 18 West 11th St in New York NY
1970 Edison Theater opens at 240 W 47th St NYC
1970 Nuclear non-proliferation treaty went into effect
1972 Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis leaves communist party
1973 Yankee pitchers Peterson & Kekich announce they swapped wives
1974 "Candide" opens at Broadway Theater NYC for 740 performances
1974 Ralph Stewart failed in 2nd Islander penalty shot
1976 British £ falls below $2 for 1st time
1978 "Hello, Dolly!" opens at Lunt-Fontanne Theater NYC for 152 performances
1978 Landsat 3 launched from Vandenberg AFB, California
1979 Voyager I's closest approach to Jupiter (172,000 miles)
1980 Earth satellites record gamma rays from remnants of supernova N-49
1981 "Bring Back Birdie" opens at Martin Beck Theater NYC for 4 performances
1981 US government grants Atlanta $1 million to search for black boy murderer
1981 World Ice Dance Championship in Hartford won by Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean (Great Britain)
1981 World Ice Pairs Figure Skating Championship in Hartford won by Irina Vorobieva & Igor Lisovski (USSR)
1981 World Ladies Figure Skating Championship in Hartfoed won by Denise Biellmann (Switzerland)
1981 World Men's Figure Skating Championship in Hartford won by Scott Hamilton (USA)
1982 Gaylord Perry (with 297 wins) signs with Seattle Mariners
1982 Russian spacecraft Venera 14 lands on Venus sends back data
1983 Bob Hawke (Labour) defeats Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser (Conservative)
1983 New South Wales beat Western Australia by 54 runs to win Sheffield Shield
1984 Supreme Court (5-4); city may use public money for Nativity scene
1984 US accuse Iraq of using poison gas
1985 New York Islander Mike Bossy is 1st to score 50 goals in 8 straight seasons
1986 "Today" tabloid launched (Britain's 1st national color newspaper)
1989 19th Easter Seal Telethon raises $37,002,000
1989 Blaine McCallister wins Honda Golf Classic shooting 266
1989 Elly Verhulst runs world record 3000 meter indoor (8 :3.82)
1991 Iraq repealed its annexation of Kuwait
1991 Reggie Miller (Indiana) begins NBA free throw streak of 52 games
1992 Ethic committee votes to reveal congressmen who bounced checks
1993 Boston Celtic Larry Bird undergoes backfusion surgery
1993 Fokker 100 crashes at Skopje Macedonia, 81 die
1993 Former Washington DC Mayor Marion Barry divorces his wife Effi
1993 Marlins beat Astros 12-8 in their 1st spring training game
1994 Dottie Mochrie wins Chrysler-Plymouth Tournament of Golf Championship
1994 Largest milkshake (1,955 gallons of chocolate-Nelspruit South Africa)
1994 PBA National Championship won by David Traber
1994 Singer Grace Slick arrested for pointing a gun at a cop
1995 21st People's Choice Awards: Tim Allen wins
1995 Estonia Centrumlinkse Coalition party wins parliamentary election
1995 Graves of czar Nicholas & family found in St Petersburg
1995 Marc Velzeboer skates world record 3 km short track (5 :0.26)
1996 Earl Weaver & Jim Bunning, elected to Hall of Fame
1997 Tommy Lasorda, Nellie Fox & Willie Wells for Hall of Fame
1998 Mariah Carey divorces Tommy Mottola

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

Boston MA : Boston Massacre Day (1770)

Religious Observances

Religious History
1179 The Third Lateran Council opened under Alexander III. It was attended by 300 bishops who enacted measures against the Waldenses and Albigensians. Lateran III also mandated that popes were to be elected by two-thirds vote from the assembled cardinals.
1555 French-born Swiss reformer John Calvin wrote in a letter to Philip Melanchthon: 'It behooves us to accomplish what God requires of us, even when we are in the greatest despair respecting the results.'
1743 In Boston, editor Thomas Prince published the first issue of his weekly, "The Christian History." It was the first religious journal published in America.
1850 Birth of Daniel B. Towner, American music evangelist. An associate of D.L. Moody, Towner composed over 2,000 hymn tunes, including AT CALVARY ("Years I Spent in Vanity and Pride"), MOODY ("Marvelous Grace of our Loving Lord") and TRUST AND OBEY ("When We Walk With the Lord").
1951 The religious program "Circuit Rider" debuted over ABC television. The broadcast featured music selections and biographies of evangelists, and was produced by Franklin W. Dyson.

Thought for the day :
"Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared."

Wednesday's weird warship, USS Kearsarge (BB-5)

Kearsarge class battleship
Ddisplacement. 11,540 t.
Length. 375'4"
Beam. 72'3"
Draft. 23'6"
Speed. 16 k.
Complement. 553
Armament. 4 13"'; 4 8", 14 6", 20 6-pdr., 8 1-pdr., 4 .30 cal.

The USS Kearsarge, named by act of Congress to commemorate the famed steam sloop-of-war, was launched 24 March 1898 by the Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, Va.; sponsored by Mrs. Herbert Winslow, daughter-in-law of Kearsarge's commander, Captain John A. Winslow, during her famous battle with Alabama; and commissioned 20 February 1900, Captain William M. Folger in command.

Kearsarge became flagship of the North Atlantic Station, cruising down the Atlantic seaboard and in the Caribbean. From 3 June 1903 to 26 July 1903 she served briefly as flagship of the European Squadron while on a cruise that took her first to Kiel, Germany. She was visited by the German Emperor 26 June 1903 and by the Prince of Wales 13 July. She returned to Bar Harbor, Maine, 26 July 1903 and resumed duties as flagship of the North Atlantic Fleet. She sailed from New York 1 December 1903 for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where, on 10 December, the United States took formal possession of the Guantanamo Naval Reservation. Following maneuvers in the Caribbean, she led the North Atlantic Battleship Squadron to Lisbon where she entertained the King of Portugal, 11 June 1904. She next steamed to Phaleron Bay, Greece, where she celebrated the Fourth of July with the King, Prince Andrew, Princess Alice of Greece. The squadron paid goodwill calls at Corfu, Trieste, and Fiume before returning to Newport, R.I., 29 August 1904.

Kearsarge remained flagship of the North Atlantic Fleet until relieved 31 March by battleship Maine, but continued operations with the fleet. During target practice off Cape Cruz, Cuba, 13 April 1906, an accidental ignition of a powder charge of a 13- inch gun killed two officers and eight men. Four men were seriously injured. Attached to the 2d Squadron, 4th Division, she sailed 16 December 1907 with the "Great White Fleet" of battleships, sent around the world by President Theodore Roosevelt. She sailed from Hampton Roads around the coasts of South America to the Western seaboard, thence to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Japan. From there, Kearsarge proceeded to Ceylon, transited the Suez Canal, and visited ports of the Mediterranean, before returning to the eastern seaboard of the United States. President Theodore Roosevelt reviewed the Fleet as it passed into the Hampton Roads 22 February 1909, having completed a world cruise of overwhelming success, showing the flag and spreading good will. This dramatic gesture impressed the world with the power of the U.S. Navy.

Kearsarge decommissioned in the Philadelphia Navy Yard 4 September 1909 for modernization. She recommissioned 23 June 1915 for operations along the Atlantic coast until 17 September when she departed Philadelphia to land a detachment of marines at Vera Cruz, Mexico. She remained off Vera Cruz from 28 September 1915 to 5 January 1916, then carried the marines to New Orleans before joining the Atlantic Reserve Fleet 4 February 1916 at Philadelphia. She trained Massachusetts and Maine State Naval Militia until America entered World War I, then trained thousands of armed guard crews as well as naval engineers in waters along the East Coast ranging from Boston to Pensacola. On the evening of 18 August 1918, Kearsarge rescued 26 survivors of Norwegian Bark Nordhav which had been sunk by German Submarine U-117. The survivors were landed in Boston.

Kearsarge continued as engineering training ship until 29 May 1919 when she embarked Naval Academy Midshipmen for training in the west Indies. The midshipmen were debarked at Annapolis 29 August and Kearsarge proceeded to the Philadelphi a Navy Yard, where she decommissioned 10 May 1920 for conversion to a crane ship and a new career. She was designated AB-1 5 August 1920.

In place of military trappings, Kearsarge received an immense revolving crane with a rated lifting capacity of 250 tons, as well as hull "blisters," which gave her more stability. The 10,000-ton craneship rendered invaluable service for the next 20 years. One of many accomplishments was the raising of sunken submarine SQUALUS off the New Hampshire coast. On 6 November 1941 she designated Crane Ship No. 1, giving up her illustrious name which was assigned to a mighty aircraft carrier. But she continued her yeoman service and made many contributions to the American victories of World War II. She handled guns, turrets, armor and other heavy lifts for new battleships such as Indiana and Alabama; cruisers Savannah and Chicago; and guns on the veteran battleship Pennsylvania.

In 1945 the crane ship was towed to the San Francisco Naval Shipyard where she assisted in the construction of carriers Hornet, Boxer, and Saratoga. She departed the west Coast in 1948 to finish her career in the Boston Naval Shipyard. Joe McDonald, master rigger, described her as "a big gray hulk of a thing" which was "pulled around by two or three tugs" on the job; "But the old girl has brought millions of dollars worth of business to Boston. Without her we would never have been able to do many of the big jobs, that cost billions of dollars." As one example, he recalled that the former battleship lifted a gantry crane intact at the South Boston Naval Drydocks and transporting it to Charleston where she placed it on crane tracks to be driven away. As Crane Ship No. 1, her name was struck from the Navy List 22 June 1955. She was sold for scrapping 9 August 1955.

Now for the weird stuff:

Note the two story turrets. The Kearsarge class battleships were the first to be built with such turrets. Unfortunatly, they were not the last. The design was controversial. Some foreign observers considered it a most efficient concentration of firepower, although no foreign navy ever duplicated it.

Another design flaw was the 13-inch gun mountings. These weapons were set so far back in the turrets that very large gun ports were required. In fact, the openings were so large, an enemy shell could pass through the opening between the gun and turret wall without touching either, making the turret armor almost useless.

Also, there was an uninterupted passage between the turret and the magazine below. A naval officer of the time said that he could sink her simply by tossing a lit match through the large gun port. The match could simply fall all the way to the magazine.

LT William S. Sims said of Kearsarge's sister ship, the USS Kentucky, "Kentucky is not a battleship at all. She is the worst crime in naval construction ever perpetrated by the white race."

In February 1901, LT Sims presented a detailed report of his criticisms of the Kearsarge class to the Navy Department. Not suprisingly, in March Sims was transfered from the USS Kentucky to the monitor USS Monterey in Canton China.