The FReeper Foxhole Profiles James Ewell Brown (JEB) Stuart - Apr. 5th, 2003

http://www.civilwarhome.com/cmhstuartbio.htm ^

[SAMWolf]

Dear Lord,

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

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

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

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

Author Unknown

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FReepers from the USO Canteen, The Foxhole, and The Poetry Branch
join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time.

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James Ewell Brown (JEB) Stuart
(1833-1864)

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Major-General James Ewell Brown Stuart, chief of cavalry of the army of Northern Virginia, was born in Patrick county, Va., February 6, 1833. His ancestry in America began with Archibald Stuart, who sought refuge from religious persecution in western Pennsylvania in 1726, and subsequently removed with his family to Augusta county, Va., about 1738. The next generation was distinguished by the services of Maj. Alexander Stuart, who fell dangerously wounded while commanding his regiment at Guilford Court House. John Alexander, son of the latter, spent part of his life in the West, serving as Federal judge in Illinois and Missouri, and as speaker of the house in the latter State. His son, Archibald Stuart, lawyer, soldier of 1812, representative in Virginia legislatures and conventions, married a descendant of the distinguished Letcher family, and their son became the brilliant Virginia cavalry leader.

General Stuart pursued his youthful studies at Emory and Henry college, and then entering the National military academy, was graduated in 1854, and was commissioned second lieutenant in October of that year. He served in Texas against the Apaches with the mounted riflemen until transferred to the new First cavalry in May, 1855, with which he served at Fort Leavenworth. November 14, 1855, he was married at Fort Riley to the daughter of Col. Philip St. George Cooke, and in the following month he was promoted first lieutenant. He remained on the frontier and in Kansas, and was wounded at the Indian battle of Solomon's River in 1857. At Washington, in 1859, he carried secret instructions to Col. R. E. Lee, and accompanied that officer as aide, against the outbreak at Harper's Perry, where he read the summons to surrender to the leader, theretofore known as "Smith," but whom he recognized at once as "Ossawatomie" Brown of Kansas. Lieutenant Stuart received a commission as captain from Washington in April, 1861, but he had decided to go with Virginia, and tendered her his services as soon as his resignation was accepted, May 7th.

JEB Stuart bids farewell to his wife, Flora, in Dundee Plantation house, near Hanover Courthouse, Virginia.

He was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of Virginia infantry, May 10, 1861, with orders to report to Jackson at Harper's Ferry.

His later appointments included:

Captain of Cavalry, CSA (May 24, 186 1);
Colonel, 1st Virginia Cavalry (July 16, 1861);
Brigadier General, CSA (September 24, 1861);
and Major General, CSA July 25, 1862).

His commands in the Army of Northern Virginia included:

Cavalry Brigade (October 22, 1861 - July 28, 1862);
Cavalry Division July 28, 1862 - September 9, 1863);
temporarily Jackson's 2nd Corps (May 3-6, 1863);
and Cavalry Corps (September 9, 1863 - May 11, 1864).

With about 350 cavalrymen he at once assumed the duties which distinguished his service throughout the war. He became the eye of the army under Jackson and Johnston, so effectually that Johnston afterward wrote him from the West: "How can I eat, sleep or rest in peace without you upon the outpost." He screened Johnston's movement to Manassas, and in the fighting of July 21st made an effective charge, of which Early wrote: "Stuart did as much toward saving the battle of First Manassas as any subordinate who participated in it." He pursued the Federals twelve miles and subsequently held the heights in sight of Washington, with headquarters on Munson's hill. September 24, 1861, he was promoted brigadier-general in the Confederate army. He encountered the enemy before Munson's hill and at Dranesville, and being transferred to the Peninsula early in 1862, covered the retreat from Yorktown, opening the fighting at Williamsburg; and after the Federals had approached Richmond he won the admiring attention of both nations by his brilliant ride around McClellan's army.

On July 25, 1862, he was promoted major-general. There followed his raid to the rear of Pope's army, capturing a part of the staff of the Federal general and his headquarters at Catlett's station; the raid in conjunction with General Trimble, in which the Federal depot at Manassas Junction was destroyed. Subsequently he was in command before Washington, screening the movement into Maryland, his gallant troopers being engaged in frequent skirmishes and fighting most gallantly in the battles at the South Mountain passes. At Sharpsburg he covered the left flank, and with his famous horse artillery repulsed the advance of Sumner's corps. In October occurred his daring raid to Chambersburg, Pa., returning between McClellan's army and Washington, evading numerous Federal expeditions against him, and losing but one man wounded. His success demoralized the Federal cavalry, and did much to render halting and impotent the subsequent movements against Lee, in opposition to which his command was almost constantly engaged.



About midnight of May 2d, after Jackson and Hill had fallen, Stuart took command of the First corps of the army, at Chancellorsville, and on the 3d, with splendid personal courage and brilliant generalship, continued to drive the Federals by an audacious attack of 20,000 against 80,000, until he had gained Chancellor's house and a safe position. He remained in command of the corps until Hooker had retreated across the river.

After several brilliant encounters with the enemy's cavalry during the subsequent maneuvers, he set out again between the Federal army and Washington, with orders to meet Early at York, Pa. After eight days and nights of steady marching, and the last three in almost constant fighting, he reached Gettysburg with a large train of Federal supplies, and on the third day of the battle made a fierce attack upon the enemy's right. His cavalry saved the Confederate trains at Williamsport, on the retreat.

In the spring of I864 he conducted the advance of A. P. Hill's corps against Grant on May 5th, and giving Lee notice of the movement to Spottsylvania, hastened to throw his cavalry before the enemy's advance. Then being called southward by Sheridan's raid, he interposed his cavalry between the Federals and the Confederate capital at Yellow Tavern, where, on May 11th, he received a wound from which he died at Richmond on the following day. The death of Stuart produced a gloom in the South, second only to that which followed the loss of Jackson.

His characteristics were such as to make him a popular hero. Personally he was the embodiment of reckless courage, splendid manhood, and unconquerable gayety. He could wear, without exciting a suspicion of unfitness, all the warlike adornments of an old-time cavalier. His black plume, and hat caught up with a golden star, seemed the proper frame for a knightly face. A laugh was always at his lips, and a song behind it. He would lead a march with his banjo-player thrumming at his side. As he rode down the lines at Chancellorsville, the commander of an army, and the successor of Stonewall Jackson, whose fall had torn the hearts of his soldiers, he sang in a rollicking way: "Old Joe Hooker, come out of the Wilderness."



As a soldier he was a born leader. He demonstrated his ability to direct an army after the wounding of Jackson, and Jackson, who knew before the trial, sent word to him: "Tell General Stuart to act on his own judgment and do what he thinks best. I have implicit confidence in him." On other fields he had shown the brilliancy of a Napoleon in the management of artillery. Thus in all arms of the service he had won the highest honors. In emergency he was calm, quiet, and perfect master of all his resources. A boy in camp, and a lover of fun, he was a daring sabreur in the fight, and always fully awake to the demands of duty. He had the instinctive knowledge of the situation that belongs to the soldierly genius, and the constant readiness to act on the instant that wins battles against inertia and slothfulness. But he was never known fully while he lived. He was careless of how lightheartedness and gayety may be misjudged, and it was left to his friends after his death to tell that he indulged in none of the vices supposed to be habitual with soldiers, was never profane, and even abstained from card-playing. He was a faithful husband and father, and altogether one of the purest of men, as well as the bravest. One of these true friends, John Esten Cooke, in describing his last moments, has written: "As his life had been one of earnest devotion to the cause in which he believed, so his last hours were tranquil, his confidence in the mercy of heaven unfailing. When he was asked how he felt, he said, 'Easy, but willing to die, if God and my country think I have done my duty.' His last words were: 'I am going fast now; I am resigned. God's will be done.' As he uttered these words he expired.'

[SAMWolf]

If knights in shining armor had fought in the Civil War, J.E.B. Stuart would have had his waxed to the max. Even without the armor, the Confederate cavalryman cut an eye-catching figure.

He retained the knight's plume, sported a bright red cape and, for those intimate moments away from the front, wore cologne. He would have been an easy target for cynics had he not backed up his knightly appearances with heroic actions, which he did countless times.

Never were Stuart's leadership abilities more apparent than at the Rappahannock River hamlet of Brandy Station in June 1863. There, Stuart's horsemen and those of Union commander Alfred Pleasonton collided - to the surprise of everyone.

The resulting struggle escalated into the largest cavalry battle ever fought in this hemisphere. Despite his surprise, and the presence of a Union "first team" on the field - among its officers were George Custer and John Buford - Stuart won a tactical victory at Brandy Station.

Pleasonton was keeping a low profile. Thus, by his presence and clear-headedness, Stuart was able to seize the initiative from the enemy. The Confederate press - critics tot he end - was not impressed. Lee's "eyes and ears" were never supposed to be caught off guard. That and Stuart's failure to win glorious victories in fighting later that month in Fauquier and Loudoun counties were all the papers needed to call for his head.

After screening Lee's move north in the battles of Aldie, Middleburg and Upperville, Stuart took off on another of his joy rides: He and his men paid visits to Fairfax; Rockville, Md.; Westminster, Md.; York, Pa.; and Carlisle, Pa. The psychological effect on his raid on loyalist Marylanders and Pennsylvanians was great. Militarily, he accomplished little, however.

Meanwhile, the Army of Northern Virginia was groping its way through the south-central Pennsylvania countryside. Like Brandy Station, Gettysburg just happened. Bitter-end Lee defenders blame Gen. James Longstreet or Stuart for the Gettysburg debacle. Lee's blunder was launching an attack on the Union center, a move that proved disastrous for the Confederates.

Stuart had less than a year to live after Gettysburg. He fell mortally wounded in 1864 at Yellow Tavern.

[SAMWolf]

General Lee sent these orders to his cavalry commander, Jeb Stuart, prior to the Gettysburg campaign. They have since become a source of controversy between those who interpret them as giving Stuart leave to ride around the Federal army, and those who claim that Lee's intention was that the cavalry screen and scout ahead of the army as it advanced into Maryland and Pennsylvania



Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia June 23, 1863--5 p.m
Maj. Gen. J. E. B. STUART,
Commanding Cavalry:

General,

Your notes of 9 and 10.30 a.m. to-day have just been received. As regards the purchase of tobacco for your men, supposing that Confederate money will not be taken, I am willing for your commissaries or quartermasters to purchase this tobacco and let the men get it from them, but I can have nothing seized by the men.

If General Hooker's army remains inactive, you can leave two brigades to watch him, and withdraw with the three others, but should he not appear to be moving northward, I think you had better withdraw this side of the mountain to-morrow night, cross at Shepherdstown next day, and move over to Fredericktown.

You will, however, be able to judge whether you can pass around their army without hinderance, doing them all the damage you can, and cross the river east of the mountains. In either case, after crossing the river, you must move on and feel the right of Ewell's troops, collecting information, provisions, &c.

Give instructions to the commander of the brigades left behind, to watch the flank and rear of the army, and (in the event of the enemy leaving their front) retire from the mountains west of the Shenandoah, leaving sufficient pickets to guard the passes, and bringing everything clean along the Valley, closing upon the rear of the army.

As regards the movements of the two brigades of the enemy moving toward Warrenton, the commander of the brigades to be left in the mountains must do what he can to counteract them, but I think the sooner you cross into Maryland, after to-morrow, the better.

The movements of Ewell's corps are as stated in my former letter. Hill's first division will reach the Potomac to-day, and Longstreet will follow to-morrow.

Be watchful and circumspect in all your movements.

I am, very respectfully and truly, yours,

R. E. Lee
General.

Additional Sources:

www.oldgloryprints.com
www.state.ga.us
www.markscollection.com
www.allenscreations.com
www.designsetc.com
www.framery.com

[SAMWolf]

'I had rather die than be whipped.'

'I would rather be a private in Virginia's army than a general in any army that was going to coerce her.'

'Believe that you can whip the enemy and you've won half the battle. '

-- J.E.B. Stuart, CSA

[SAMWolf]

The State of the Union is Strong!
Support the Commander in Chief
Click Here to Send a Message to the opposition!

[SAMWolf]

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Everybody.

Chow time!
NG's and ER's to the front of the line.

Standing Operating Procedures state:
Click the Pics For Today's Tunes

[Jen]

FALL IN to the FReeper Foxhole!

To be removed from this list, please send me a blank private reply with "REMOVE" in the subject line! Thanks! Jen

[Jen]

Hey Sam! Just popped in to check my FReepmail on my way to bed. New thread is up early, I see. I'll be in AL all day Saturday helping my mom. See y'all when I get back home.

[DoughtyOne]

Even the best Commander in Chief cannot project to the field. He relies on the training and
preparedness of his troops. He trusts his Generals and and other military leaders to prepare
our men for combat.  But that isn't all. We have a military combat personnel who are second
to none, not only in fighting ability, but in personal relations.  They are capable of being more
lethal than any force in history.  They are also capable of introspection and compassion.

Clockwise:

1. A service member is motivated to form a flag out of rocks at a post in the gulf.
2. One of our personnel holds an infant who has become separated from her parents.
3. Another of our troops gets five from a beaming Iraqi boy, as Iraqi men smile on.
4. Not every service member would feel comfortable holding the hand of his fellow
unit member if they were wounded.  This is an Iraqi soldier who had been wounded.

Each of these men felt compelled to do something others might not have.

In the midst of chaos, they have found time to become more aware of their
love of country or fellow man.  When people talk about the faults of the
people who make up the United States, please remember these men.
They are each white, although our minority troops would perform just
as capably.  I do think it is important however to point out that these men
were concerned with, and treated their fellow man honorably.  It is not often
noted, and often said that they don't.

As a people we are second to none on the planet.  There has been no other
nation like us.  Nations we conquer are better off after we have conquered
them than they were before.  We do not take their land and we respect their
citizens.  We rebuild them and treat them honorably.

One other person is shown in this graphic.  He was compelled to do something
that many other men wouldn't have been.  He saw the suffering of the Iraqi
people, realized that Hussein could negatively impact our nation, and decided
that something had to be done.  When many said no, Bush said we must.

[SAMWolf]

Great write up with the graphic, Doughty One.

[SAMWolf]

My Computer clock is a minute off.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[GailA]

Here's a link with tributes to Fathers who were killed in WWII AWON

[GailA]

Good Morning FRiends...today's graphic

[Soaring Feather]

Good Morning SAM.

[SpookBrat]

Good morning guys. Tim's home this weekend. Woohoo!

[Soaring Feather]

Good Morning Brat!! Have a wonderful weekend!

[SpookBrat]

*whining tone* Brat? Me? I am not a brat! I NEVER get what I want. *stomping feet and sticking out tongue*

[Valin]

On This Day In History


Birthdates which occurred on April 05:
1588 Thomas Hobbes England, philosopher (Leviathan)
1649 Elihu Yale England, philanthropist founded Yale
1725 Giacomo Casanova Italian writer/philanderer/adventurer (uncertain)
1732 Jean-Honor‚ Fragonard painter
1752 S‚bastien Erard piano/harp manufacturer
1784 Ludwig Spohr Germany, violin virtuoso/composer (Faust)
1795 Sir Henry Havelock British soldier (War in Afghanistan 1838-39)
1811 Jules Dupr‚ landscape painter
1824 Sydney Thompson Dobell poet (The Roman)
1827 Joseph Lister England, physician, founded aseptic surgery
1830 Alexander Muir Lesmahagow Scotland, poet (The Maple Leaf Forever)
1832 Jules-Fran‡ois Camille Ferry French statesman
1837 Algernon Charles Swinburne England, poet (Atalanta in Calydon)
1838 Alpheus Hyatt US, invertebrate paleontologist
1839 Robert Smalls Beaufort SC, black congressman 1875-87 (Rep-SC)
1856 Booker Taliaferro Washington pioneer educator (1st black on US stamp)
1869 Albert Roussel Tourcoing France, composer (Rapsodie Flamende)
1893 Clas Thunberg Finland, speed skater (Olympic Gold-1924, 28)
1899 Willianm Hornby Steer barrister/judge
19-- Chao Li Chi actress (Falcon Crest)
19-- Cindy Weintraub NYC, actress (Terry-Baker's Dozen)
19-- Christopher Hewett Sussex England, actor (Mr Belvedere)
19-- Shawn Stevens Morristown NJ, actor (Roy-Last Convertible)
19-- Tasia Valenza actress (All My Children)
19-- Willy Chirino spanish singer
1900 Spencer Tracy actor (Father's Little Dividend, Adam's Rib)
1901 Chester Bowles Mass, ambassador/writer (Conscience of a Liberal)
1901 Melvyn Douglas Macon Ga, actor (Hud, Ghost Story)
1905 Bill Raisch one armed actor (Fred Johnson-Fugitive)
1908 Bette Davis Lowell Mass, famous eyes (Of Human Bondage, Jezebel)
1908 Grady Sutton Chattanooga Tn, actor (Pruitts of South Hampton)
1908 George Schick Prague Czech, conductor (Chicago Symphony)
1908 Herbert von Karajan Austria, Berlin Philharmonic conductor/Nazi
1908 Mary Hemingway writer (Ernest Hemmingway Biography)
1909 Alberto Romero "Cubby" Broccoli film producer
1911 Goddard Lieberson Hanley Staffordshire England, recording exec
1911 Gordon Jones Alden Iowa, actor (Mike the Cop-Abbott & Costello)
1916 Gregory Peck La Jolla Calif, actor (To Kill a Mockingbird, MacArthur)
1917 Richard Yardumian Philadelphia, composer (Come Creator Spirit)
1917 Robert Bloch American writer (Psycho)
1919 Sir Douglas Henley British auditor-general
1920 Arthur Halley England, Canadian author (Hotel, Airport)
1921 Lady Fisher founder (British Women Caring Trust)
1921 Robert Q Lewis NYC, TV host (Masquerade Party, Robert Q Lewis Show)
1922 Gale Storm Bloomington Tx, actr (My Little Margie, Gale Storm Show)
1922 Tom Finney British soccer star
1923 Nguyen Van Thieu president of South Vietnam
1923 Stanley Orme chairman (British Labour Party)
1926 Roger Corman Detroit, producer/director (Little Shop of Horrors)
1928 Michael Bryant actor (Sakharov, Girly)
1928 Tony Williams rocker (The Platters-Only You)
1928 Will Gaines jazz dancer
1929 Nigel Hawthorne actor (Tartuffe, Pope John Paul II)
1933 Frank Gorshin comedian/impersonator (Riddler-Batman)
1934 Stanley Turrentine saxophonist
1934 Tina Maria Stone runner (1 year distance record of 15,472 miles)
1935 Donald Lynden-Bell British astronomer
1935 Frank Gorshin Pittsburgh Pa, impressionist/actor (Riddler-Batman)
1936 John Albert professor (Master of University College Oxford)
1937 Colin Powell Bronx NY, general/asst to president (Nat Sec Affairs)
1939 David Winters London England, choreographer (Steve Allen Comedy Hour)
1939 Lonnie White vocalist (Smokey Robinson & Miracles-Shop Around)
1940 Aliza Kashi Israel, actress/singer (Merv Griffin regular)
1941 David LaFlamme electric violinist (It's a Beautiful Day)
1941 Eric Burdon rocker (Animals-House of the Rising Sun)
1941 Michael Moriarity Detroit, actor (Bang the Drum Slowly, Q, Stuff)
1942 Allan Clarke rock vocalist (Hollies-The Air That I Breathe)
1943 Jonathan Lynn Bath England, actor (Danny-Doctor in the House)
1943 Max Gail Mich, (Barney Miller, Whiz Kids, DC Cab, Normal People)
1944 Dave Holland heavy metal rocker (Judas Priest-Breakin' the Law)
1946 Jane Asher Paul McCartney's former girlfriend/actress (Deep End)
1946 Jennifer Penney ballerina
1949 Dr Judith Arlene Resnik Akron Ohio, ast (STS 41D, 51L-Chal disaster)
1950 Agnetha F„ltskog Stockholm Sweden, rocker (ABBA-Waterloo)
1950 Anna Ulvaeus rocker (Aha-Take on Me)
1950 Franklin R Chang-Diaz Costa Rica, PhD/astronaut (STS 61C, 34, sk:46)
1951 Everett Morton rocker (English Beat)
1951 Roosevel Ferguson Arkansas, murderer (FBI Most Wanted List)
1954 Christopher S Nelson New Orleans LA, actor (Sons & Daughters)
1954 Michael W Butler created TODAY program
1954 Stan Ridgeway rocker (Mosquito-Garage Sale)
1955 Janice Long British radio host
1958 Cammie Lusko LA Calif, Guinness' World Strongest Woman
1958 Johan Kriek South Africa, tennis player (US Indoor 1982)
1963 Jimmy Osmond singer (Donny & Marie Show)
1968 Gianna Amore Warwick RI, playmate (August, 1989)
2173 Harcourt Fenton "Harry" Mudd New Amsterdam, Arcturus (Star Trek)

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Deaths which occurred on April 05:
1531 Richard Roose boiled to death for trying to poison an archbishop
1649 John Winthrop 1st governor Mass Bay Colony, dies
1684 William Brouncker 2nd viscout/1st pres of Royal Society, dies
1765 Edward Young poet, dies
1794 Georges-Jaques Danton French revolutionary leader, guillotined
1811 Robert Raikes founder of Sunday Schools, dies
1923 George Edward Stanhope Molyne£x Herbert 5th Earl of Carnarvon, dies
1928 Jane Ellen Harrison scholar/archelogist, dies
1946 Vincent Millie Youmans composer, dies
1964 Douglas MacArthur US general (Pacific theater-WW II), dies at 84
1972 Brian Donlevy actor (Steve-Dangerous Assignment), dies at 73
1974 William Hudson actor (I Led 3 Lives), dies at 49
1975 Chai Kai-shek leader (Taiwan), dies
1976 Howard Hughes reclusive billionaire, dies at 72
1984 Arthur Travors Harris marshal of British RAF, dies
1991 John Tower (Sen-R-Tx), dies in a plane crash
1992 Sam Walton Billionaire CEO (Walmart), dies of cancer at 74

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Reported: MISSING in ACTION

1966 BROWN JAMES WILLIAM MAUD TX.
1967 PARKER THOMAS A. OXFORD IN.
1968 MATOCHA DONALD JOHN SMITHVILLE TX.
1970 CROPPER CURTIS H. PASO ROBLES CA.
1970 CARON GILLES FRANCE 1970 HANNOTEAUX GUY FRANCE 1970 VISOT MICHEL FRANCE 1972 SPENGLER HENRY M. II ALEXANDRIA VA.
REMAINS RETURNED 08/22/89
1972 WINDELER CHARLES C. JR. SAVANNAH GA.
REMAINS RETURNED 08/22/89

POW / MIA Data & Bios supplied by the P.O.W. NETWORK.

Skidmore, MO. USA.

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On this day...
1242 Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod defeats Teutonic Knights
1614 2nd parliment of King James I begin session (no enactments)
1614 Indian princess Pocahontas marries English colonist John Rolfe
1621 Mayflower sails from Plymouth on a return trip to England
1762 British take Grenada, West Indies, from French
1792 George Washington casts 1st presidential veto
1812 Brits storm Badajoz fortress, held by French & Spanish
1815 Eruption of Tambora volcano (Sumbawa Java)
1847 The opera "Die Fledermaus" is produced (Vienna)
1853 A De Gasparis discovers asteroid #24 Themis
1853 Asteroid 24, Themis discovered
1853 DeGasparis discovers his 7th asteroid, Themis (24)
1861 Federals abandon Ft Quitman, Tx
1874 "Die Fledermaus" 1st performed (Vienna)
1881 Transvaal regains independence under British suzerainty
1886 J Palisa discovers asteroid #257 Silesia
1887 Anne Sullivan teaches "water" to Helen Keller
1889 Start of Sherlock Holmes "Adventure of The Copper Beeches" (BG)
1894 11 strikers killed in riot at Connellsville, Penn
1894 Start of Sherlock Holmes "Adventure of the Empty House" (BG)
1895 Start of Sherlock Holmes "Adventure of the 3 Students" (BG)
1895 Writer Oscar Wylde is arrested
1896 1st modern Olympic Games officially opens in Athens
1900 Attempted assassination of Prince of Wales in Brussels, fails
1906 St Pius X encyclical "On the Mariavites or Mystic Priests of Poland"
1907 A Kopff discovers asteroid #632 Pyrrha
1911 W W Aster acquires the Daily Observer
1913 S Belyavskij & G Neujmin discovers asteroid #749 Malzovia
1915 Jess Willard defeats Jack Johnson for heavyweight boxing crown (23r)
1919 Eamon de Valera becomes president of Dail Eireann
1919 Polish Army executes 35 young Jews
1922 KOB-AM in Albuquerque NM begins radio transmissions
1922 WDZ-AM in Decatur IL begins radio transmissions
1924 K Reinmuth discovers asteroid #2235 Vittore
1927 Johnny Weissmuller set records in the 100 & 200 m freestyle
1929 C Jackson discovers asteroid #1116 Catriona
1936 Tupelo Mississippi virtually annihilated by a tornado, 216 die
1938 Anti-Jewish riots break out in Dabrowa Poland
1938 H Alikoski discovers asteroid #2714 Matti
1941 In SF, Castro & Fillmore streetcars replaced by buses
1943 Poon Lim found after being adrift 133 days
1945 Kuniaki Koiso resigns as PM of Japan; replaced by Kantaro Suzuki
1949 60 year old St Anthony's Hospital burns, kills 77 (Effingham Ill)
1951 Julius & Ethel Rosenberg, atomic spies, sentenced to death
1952 Henry Wittenberg wins his 8th AAU wrestling title
1954 Elvis Presley records his debut single, "That's All Right"
1955 Winston Churchill resigns as British PM, Anthony Eden succeeds him
1959 Art Wall wins golf's Masters
1961 Barbra Striesand appears on "The Jack Paar Show"
1962 NASA civilian pilot Neil A Armstrong takes X-15 to 54,600 m
1963 Beatles recieve their 1st silver disc (Please Please Me)
1964 1st driverless trains run on the London Underground
1967 '76er Wilt Chamberlain sets NBA record of 41 rebounds
1967 ATS II launched but fails to reach orbit
1968 Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego opens
1971 Mount Etna erupts in Sicily Italy
1972 Baseball season is delayed due to a strike
1973 NFL adopts jersey numbering system (ie QBs, 1-19)
1974 Then tallest building, World Trade Center opens in NYC (110 stories)
1975 Soyuz 18A launch aborted short of orbit; cosmonauts return safely
1976 Felix Aguilar Observatory discovers asteroid #2928
1976 Harold Wilson resigns as PM of England
1979 Pioneer 11 launched towards Jupiter
1981 E Bowell discovers asteroids #2383 Bradley & #2433 Sootiyo
1981 Phila Flyers amass a record 2,621 penalty minutes
1982 Lord Carrington, British foreign sect resigns due to Falkland Is war
1984 A Mrkos discovers asteroid #3364
1984 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar breaks Wilt Chamberlain's all-time career
scoring record of 31,419 points (31,421)
1986 2 US servicemen die in West Berlin discotheque bombing
1986 Record for a throw-and-return boomerang toss is set (121m)
1986 US soldier & Turkish woman killed in West Berlin disco bombing
1987 Fox TV network premiers showing Married With Children & Tracey Ullman
1987 Wayne Gretsky wins 7th straight NHL scoring title
1988 Democratic convention picks Michael Dukakis as their pres candidate
1989 David Letterman becomes 1st network TV series to use dolby stereo
1989 Orel Hershiser ends his 59 consecutive scoreless pitched inning streak
1989 Solidarity grants legal status in Poland
1990 John Stockton reaches 1000-assist mark for NBA record 3 yrs in a row
1990 NY Rangers beat NY Islanders 2-1 in 1st game of preliminary
1990 Paul Newman wins a court victory over Julius Gold, to keep giving
all profits from Newman foods to charity
1991 Joe Dumaars (Detroit) ends NBA free throw streak of 62 games
1991 Kitty Kelly publishes a book knocking Nancy Reagan
1991 Space Shuttle STS 37 (Atlantis 8) launched
1991 US begins air drops to Kurdish refugees in Northern Iraq
1992 Comedian Sam Kenison marries live-in girlfriend Maleeka
1992 Game 2 of Mayor Challenge - NY Yankees sweep NY Mets 6-5 at Shea
1992 Wrestlemania VIII-Randy "Macho Man" Savage beats Ric Flair for title
2348 -BC- Noah's ark grounded, Mt Ararat (calculated date)

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

Taiwan : Death of Chiang Kai-shek/Tomb Sweeping Day (1975)
Iceland : 1st Day of Summer (or 0418)
South Korea : Arbor Day
Switzerland : Glarius Festival (1388) - - - - - ( Thursday )
Mass : Student Government Day - - - - - ( Friday )

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Religious Observances
Christian : Feast of St Ethelburga of Lyminge
Christian : Feast of St Gerard of Suave-Majeure
Orthodox : Earliest possible Orthodox Easter (3/23 OS)
Christian : Feast of St Albert of Montecorvino
Christian : Feast of St DerfelGadarn
RC : Memorial of St Vincent Ferrer, confessor/priest CE (opt)

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Religious History
1784 Birth of Louis Spohr, German violin virtuoso and composer. He is best remembered today for composing the hymn tunes GERALD ("I Want a Principle Within") and SPOHR ("All Things Bright and Beautiful").
1802 Pioneer Methodist bishop Francis Asbury wrote in his journal: 'I am often drawn out in thankfulness to God, who hath saved a mother of mine and, I trust, a father also, who are already in glory, where I hope to meet them both."
1811 Death of Robert Raikes, 76, the English philanthropist regarded by many as the founder (in 1780) of the modern Sunday School movement.
1953 In Washington, D.C., President Dwight Eisenhower inaugurated the Presidential Prayer Breakfast. (Its name was later changed to the Annual National Prayer Breakfast.)
1969 Pope Paul VI abolished the galero (red hat) and red shoes and buckles customarily worn by Roman Catholic cardinals.

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Thought for the day :
"We are all here for a spell; get all the good laughs you can."

[Soaring Feather]

Okay Spook, how's this?