The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The Nez Perce War (1877)

Through the Valley...
Lolo Creek to Carlton Creek

After avoiding a major conflict on the Lolo Trail, the Nez Perce followed Lolo Creek to the Bitterroot River. White Bird and others wanted to go north to Canada. Looking Glass insisted on traveling south toward the Big Hole where he had led many hunting parties. He knew there were few settlements and many lush meadows for grazing horses. The chiefs made a fateful decision to go south, up the Bitterroot Valley, into the Big Hole Valley, and east to the buffalo country.

Colonel John Gibbon,
Seventh Infantry
Western History Department,
Denver Public Library

The Nez Perce camped on settler J.P. McClain's ranch just north of Carlton Creek, in the vicinity of today's Looking Glass Recreation Area. Reports that the Nez Perce stole some of McClain's equipment proved untrue. The Nez Perce buffalo hunters often left equipment in one of McClain's outbuildings. They were just reclaiming their own property.

Some Bitterroot volunteers could not return home without passing through the Nez Perce camp. Looking Glass made it clear that they did not wish to fight, and permitted the volunteers to pass unharmed through the camp.

"You are volunteers; you come over to fight us. I could kill you if I wanted to, but I do not. You can go to you homes. I give you my word of honor that I will harm nobody."
Looking Glass to volunteers returning from Lolo Trail barricade.

"Looking Glass met us and told us he would not harm any persons or property in the valley if allowed to pass in peace and that we could pass through his camp to our homes."
W.B. Harlan, settler.

Through the Valley...
Carlton Creek to Stevensville

The Nez Perce moved up the Bitterroot Valley in western Montana, on July 29, 1877, in "a cavalcade about five-miles long" to the Stevensville, Montana area. The main body of Nez Perce spent two of three days camped along Silverhorn Creek west of Stevensville, Montana near Charlo's home, an area known today as Indian Prairie.

Nez Perce encampment, 1871

Howard, whom the Nez Perce Indians nicknamed "General Two-Day Behind," was back in Idaho. The few soldiers the Nez Perce had encountered on the Lolo Trail had retreated to Fort Missoula in Missoula, Montana, Charlo whites and Nez Perce Indians and wanted peace. Frequent intermarriage, trading, shared buffalo hunting, and mutual defense had cemented good relationships with the Nez Perce. His people had also lived among the settlers in the Bitterroot Valley in western Montana.

Many of the settlers were friends of the Salish. How could Charlo join one side against the other? When asked to support the Army, he said, "We are friendly to the whites, but in your war with the Nez Perce could not take sides." He remained neutral.

"It was my father's boast that his hand had never in seventy years been bloodied with the white man's blood, and I am the son of my father. We could not fight against the Nez Perce because they helped me several years ago against my enemy the Blackfeet, but we will not fight with them against the whites."
Charlo.

Crossing the Lolo Trail with their remaining possessions and 1,000+ hungry horse was a major achievement. The Nez Perce and their stock needed rest.

"The Indians... are moving very slowly, in fact have not moved at all since reaching their present camping ground (west of Stevensville)"
C.P. Higgins, Missoula banker, letter to Governor Potts 7/31/77

The Nez Perce had no idea that Colonel Gibbon and the 7th Infantry were coming from Fort Shaw, Montana, to join the chase.

During their stay opposite Stevensville, groups of Indians visited the town for supplies. Henry Buck reported, "They soon made known their wants to us, saying they needed supplies and had money to pay for them, but if we refused to sell, would take them anyway."

"The Indians have plenty of gold dust, coin and greenbacks and have been paying exorbitant prices for flour, coffee, sugar and tobacco."
Washington McCormick, Missoula businessman, in letter to Governor Potts, 1877

Through the Valley....
Stevensville Montana to Skalkaho

As the Nez Perce traveled slowly up the valley--12 to 14 miles a day--most settlers believed the Indians had no war-like ambitions.

However, not all businessmen were willing to deal with the Nez Perce. A Corvallis, Montana merchant, P. R. Young, angrily ordered the Nez Perce out of his store and barred it shut. Later, Gibbon praised the merchant, while he chastised the Stevensville, Montana merchants.

Reports of incidents at the Corvallis, Montana and Skalkaho sod forts suggest that the settlers would have been safer in their own homes. One historian reports, "the Nez Perce warriors rode up and examined the forts. Their friendliness and amusement reassured the settlers, some of whom were even said to have visited the Indian camp and sold bullets to the warriors." Several warriors reportedly shot arrows at "Fort Run" (Skalkaho). The arrows fell far short of their mark.

"The fort at Corvallis Montana was built of green sods for a surrounding wall... This section of the valley was peopled largely by 'Missourians' who, during the Civil war, received warnings often to 'get up and go' to a safer place of refuge... hence the newly-coined word "skeddale" came into vogue and the stockade was thereupon christened 'Fort Skeddale'.
Henry Buck, settler and relative of Major Catlin, 1877

Gibbon and his command entered western Montana's Bitterroot Valley on August 4. They camped near the present-day Pine Hollow Road, southeast of Stevensville, Montana. As Gibbon moved up the valley, volunteer settlers, who were now manning the sod forts, joined Gibbon in pursuit of the Nez Perce. The settlers elected J.L. Humble of Corvallis, Montana and John Catlin of Skalkaho, company "captains." Both were at first hesitant to join the chase. The Nez Perce Indians had kept their word and traveled through the valley without incident.

Near Corvallis, a young man named Amos Chaffin admired the beaded jacket worn by the Nez Perce warrior and told his nephew,"If we ever get into a fight with these fellers I'm going to get me that fancy jacket." After the Battle of Big Hole, his nephew asked about the jacket and Amos answered, "By grabs, I had all I could do to keep my own jacket."

1877 - Few Tribes Could Rival the Nez Perce Indians in the Art of Selective Breeding

The Nez Perce inhabited the mountainous plateau region at the intersection of what are now the states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Here, in the region of the Palouse River, the steep mountains and box canyons provided natural enclosures in which horses could be contained or separated for selective breeding. The trademark of the Nez Perce horses was their spots. These horses, named Appaloosas after the river near which they were bred, were renowned among western Indians for their speed and endurance.

"While he lived, Major Catlin never changed his opinion, always asserting his belief that the (Bitterroot) citizens went into the battle without just cause."
Will Cave, settler and relative of Major Catlin

"When we got to Sleeping Child Creek, I told Scott Cherrill that I thought we were doing wrong. The Indians had gone through the valley and had done just as they agreed to. I did not think that we had any right to follow them up and pick a fight. (He turned back)
James Chafflin, settler volunteer

"But what did these same settlers do when General Gibbon came along? They volunteered to go with him after the Indians, who only a few days before had allowed them to pass through their camp to Fort Owen without bloodshed."
Alex Notes, Big Hole Valley settler.

Through the Valley and Over the Continental Divide...
Skalkaho to the Big Hole

On August 4, the Nez Perce camped near the confluence of the Bitterroot River's east and west forks. Two young warriors, Lone Bird and Wahlitits, told of dreams they had warning that death would follow if they did not hurry. Looking Glass was still convinced they need not hurry. The was was left in Idaho. The Dreams were disregarded. Looking Glass prevailed.

"My shaking heart tells me trouble and death will overtake us if we make no hurry through this land! I can not smother, I can not hide what I see. I must speak what is revealed to me. Let us be gone to the buffalo country."Lone Birde, Nez Perce warrior

"My brothers, my sisters, I am telling you! In a dream last night I saw myself killed. I will me killed soon!
Wahlitits, Nez Perce warrior killed at the Big Hole Battle

On August 5, the Nez Perce traveled up Spring Gulch, across Low Saddle on the north side of Sula Peak, dropped down into Ross' Hole and camped near present-day Indian Trees Campground before crossing the Continental Divide.

"We traveled through the Bitter Root Valley slowly. The white people were friendly. We did much buying and trading with them. No more fighting! We had left Howard and his was in Idaho."

Yellow Wolf.

Completely unaware of Gibbon, Looking Glass expressed the same belief by proclaiming, "War is quit!"

The steep trail over the Divide was familiar, but difficult. After the climb, and one night at Trail Creek, the Nez Perce made camp on the banks of a clear, cool stream where the forested mountains meet the green meadows. Horses grazed. Woman cut lodge poles and gathered roots. Children played and men hunted game. They had made it to the Big Hole!

"That night the warriors paraded about camp, singing, all making a good time. It was first since war started. Everybody with a good feeling. Going to the buffalo country!"
Yellow Wolf, Nez Perce warrior

Most of the Nez Perce believed they could not relax and savor their freedom. Still, a few questioned Looking Glass' optimism. Several young men wanted to scout back along the trail and signs of trouble. Looking Glass would not agree and said that scouting would violate trust in their peace agreement with the Bitterroot settlers.

"All right, Looking Glass, you are one of the chiefs! I have no wife, no children to be placed fronting the danger that I feel coming to us. Whatever the gains, whatever the loss, it is yours."
Five Wounds, Nez Perce warrior who wanted to send scouts back over trail.

Skalkaho Falls

On August 6, Gibbon, commanding the 7th Infantry and the volunteer army, crossed the hills south of Rye Creek. The crude wagon "road" was so speed and difficult that they had to make a "dry camp" before reaching the summit. They crossed into Ross' Hole the next day, making camp just a jew miles below the spot where the Nez Perce had camped two nights before. Here, near the confluence of Waugh and Camp Creeks, Captain Humble, and many of the volunteers, returned home fulfilled their obligation to accompany the soldiers as far as Ross' Hole. Thirty-four settler volunteers, enticed by Gibbon's offer of captured Nez Perce horses, continued the chase.

"Now some have accused us of going out just to steal the horses; that gives the wrong impression, as we did not think of that until the general made us the offer. He told us that we could have all the horses except enough to mount his command, if we could whip the Indians."
Tom Sherrill, Settler.

Gibbon dispatched Lieutenant Bradley and Captain Catlin, with some of their men and a couple volunteers, to locate the Nez Perce. Early of the 8th, Gibbon and his men started over the Divide. It required many laborious hours, using double teams and men on drag ropes, to get the wagons up the esteem slope.

"The road was excellent until we commenced to climb the divide separating us from Ross Hole at the extreme upper end of the Bitter Root Valley. Here the ascent that we were compelled to halt at nightfall and make a dry camp before to halt at nightfall and make a dry camp before reaching the summit."
Gibbon

"You must remember that it was not the nice auto road they have up the hill now with its seven percent grade. It was an almost impassable mountain trail, and men were compelled to help the mules by pulling on a good long and stout rope."
Tom Sherrill, settler and citizen volunteer, in describing the crude trail to present day Gibbons Pass.

Before reaching the top, Bradley's messenger arrived with news that the Nez Perce camp had been located. Leaving the wagon train to follow later, Gibbon and his men pushed on. They reached Bradley and his scouts about sunset.

Meanwhile, Howard was still playing catch-up. He had camped near Lolo Hot Springs before moving up the Bitterroot Valley. On August 9, he camped near the mouth of Rye Creek. When he learned from a relay of military messengers and the settlers that Gibbon was not far behind the Nez Perce, Howard selected twenty of his best calvary and began a forced march to reach Gibbon.

The Nez Perce bands, after long months of running battles and retreating from Col. John Gibbons infantry and volunteers, settled down on the Big Hole River to rest. They failed to post guards anywhere and were secure in their belief that the army was far to the rear. But by forced marches, the military caught up and prepared a surprise daybreak assault. The camp consisted of about 90 lodges with about 800 souls including 125 warriors.

The same day, the dawn's silence was shattered when Gibbon's 7th Infantry and Catlin's Bitterroot volunteers attacked the unsuspecting, sleeping Nez Perce at their camp beside the Big Hole River at the present Big Hole National Battlefield.

Epilogue...
the struggle continues

Thundering gunfire from the willows along the creek ended the tranquil dawn. A cry of "we are attacked" aroused the sleeping Nez Perce warriors to battle. The war was "not quit." The Big Hole Battle had begun.

Battle of Big Hole

At first light the troops attacked and succeeded in capturing the village for a short period. But the warriors rallied and drove the soldiers back across the river. Meanwhile a gun crew of six infantrymen were inching their way to a site overlooking the village. They emplaced the 12 pounder mountain Howitzer. The crew consisted of two sergeants, a corporal, and three privates. They managed to fire only two rounds before the Nez Perce attacked and captured the gun and a pack mule loaded with 200 pounds of Springfield ammunition. The Nez Perce celebrated their victory be dismantling the gun and depositing the parts in the swampy bog below. The gun was retrieved later, cleaned up, and is currently on display at the Big Hole Battlefield Museum.

The Indians kept the troops pinned down for 36 hours. During this time the surviving Indians were were retreating toward Yellowstone National Park. They continued their retreat toward Canada---but camped just south of the Canadian boundary in the Bear Paw Range. They were overwhelmed by units of General miles.

Years afterward, an elder Nez Perce woman expressed the heartfelt Nez Perce distress:"...we were fools and the white man's lies made us more foolish."

White Bird's sentiments were similar,"A white man must have no respect for himself. It makes no difference how well he is treated by the Indians, he will take the advantage."

The Nez Perce eventually surrendered in the Bear Paw Mountains, near today's Chinook, Montana, where Chief Joseph make his memorable speech. White Bird, and one-third of the Nez Perce, escaped to Canada. The war was finally "quit", but human suffering was not.

The captive Nez Perce were imprisoned in Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. There, more Nez Perce died than were killed in all the fighting. Some Nez Perce were eventually allowed to return to their homeland, but Joseph and others were forced to settle on the Colville Reservation in Washington state.

The Beginning of the End In Montana

The Nez Perce trip through the area was not the end of Indian strife in western Montana's Bitterroot Valley. Just 14 years later, in 1891, Charlo sadly agreed to move the remaining Salish people to the Jocko (Flathead) Indian Reservation.

Henry Buck, Stevensville, Montana settler, merchant and war participant, reflected on the situation,
"It was this same high-handed dictatorial policy of our government in Idaho that fired Chief Joseph to wrath in defense of his birthright and forced us, as innocent citizens, to seek our own protection, and which, only a few years later, demand of Charlo and his tribe, our defenders, the surrender of his heritage in exchange for a home not of his choice."

Additional Sources:

www.nps.gov
www2.state.id.us
www.imh.org
www.montana-artists.com
vulcan.wr.usgs.gov
www.axel-jacob.de
www.stockmansupply.com

'I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. Looking Glass is dead. Toohoolhoolzote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say, "Yes" or "No." He who led the young men [Olikut] is dead. It is cold, and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are -- perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.'

-- Chief Joseph
Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt
(1840-1904)

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USS REAGAN Commissioning

Nancy Reagan, wife of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, waves to the crowd gathered for commissioning ceremony of the USS Ronald Reagan in Norfolk, Virginia, July 12, 2003. The USS Ronald Reagan is the newest nuclear powered Nimitz class aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy. It will be stationed in San Diego, California. REUTERS/Stefan Zaklin

Guests outside a hanger on the USS Ronald Reagan watch as crewmembers follow Nancy Reagan's order to 'Man the ship and bring it to life,' during the ship's commissioning ceremony in Norfolk, Virginia July 12, 2003.

Nancy Reagan, right, wife of former President Ronald Reagan, waves to the crowd at the commissioning ceremony of the Navy's newest aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, Saturday, July 12, 2003, at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. The ship's commanding officer, Capt. Bill Goodwin, looks on. The carrier, nearly 1,100 feet long and standing 20 stories above the waterline, is the first to be named for a living president. (AP Photo/Gary C. Knapp)

Vice President Dick Cheney, center, waves to assembled crowd during the commissioning ceremony of the USS Ronald Reagan, the Navy's newest aircraft carrier, Saturday, July 12, 2003, at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. Nancy Reagan, left, wife of former President Ronald Reagan, and Captain Bill Goodwin, right, the commanding officer of the carrier, look on.

The crew of the Navy's newest aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, bow their heads during the invocation at the ship's commissioning Saturday, July 12, 2003, at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va.

Tens of thousands of spectators sit through heat and humidity to witness the commissioning of the Navy's newest aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, Saturday, July 12, 2003, at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va.

Former first lady Nancy Reagan, left, is escorted by Command Master Chief Bob Conklin, right, the highest ranking enlisted man stationed aboard the Navy's newest aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, during the ship's commissioning Saturday, July 12, 2003, at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va.

Crewmembers of the Navy's newest aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, look out over the railings at the crowd before the start of the ship's commissioning Saturday, July 12, 2003, at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va.

Members of the crew of the Navy's newest aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, stand in formation as they endure the heat and humidity during the vessel's commissioning ceremony Saturday, July 12, 2003, at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. Ronald Reagan, now 92 and ailing with Alzheimer's disease, didn't attend the ceremony, but he was praised by many of the speakers.(AP Photo/Gary C. Knapp)

Dignitaries and special guests stand for the singing of the national anthem during the commissioning ceremony of navy's newest aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan Saturday, July 12, 2003, at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Gary C. Knapp)

Crewmembers on the USS Ronald Reagan man the rails above elevator two during the commissioning ceremony for the aircraft carrier Saturday, July 12, 2003, at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Gary C. Knapp)

The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan(CVN-76) looms above the crowd attending the christening ceremony for the ship.(AFP/File/Mario Tama)

Crewmembers stand in formation on the pier as they wait for the commissioning ceremony of the Navy's newest aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, to begin Saturday, July 12, 2003, at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va.

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Good Morning, SamWolf. How's it going?

"Let me be a free man—free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to think and talk and act for myself—and I will obey every law, or submit to the penalty."

I would have liked Chief Joseph.

Good Morning SAM, Snippy, everyone!!

Have a wonderful day today.

Good Morning E.G.C.

We have cloudy skies and the mid fifities right now. It got cloudy last evening, but no rain. It's supposed to hit 80 again today with a chance of morning sprinkles.

Sounds a lot like he had some of the same ideas our Founding Fathers had.

Good Morning Feather.

Good thread SAM. Living in Montana, many of the locations mentioned are familiar to me. Stevensville MT isn't much bigger today than it was in 1877.

Good Morning CholeraJoe.

I came through Montana on my way out to Oregon, the western part of the State is gorgeous. I also found out why they call it "Big Sky" Country.

The sliders have been extincted.
*Hat off in memorium of the poor brave, tasty sliders.*

I'm in.
And.. ouch.

Good Morning Everybody.

You Know The Drill
Click the Pics J

Coffee & Donuts J

Good morning Sam, my friend. Thanks for the nice posts. Have a great day and God bless!

On This Day In History

Birthdates which occurred on July 13:
1396 Philip the Good Duke of Burgundy
1527 John Dee London, alchemist/astrologer/mathematician
1793 John Clare Northamptonshire peasant poet (Shepard's Calendar)
1821 Nathan Bedford Forrest Tennessee, brilliant cavalry leader, Lt Gen
1863 Emma Mary Wooley educator (Mary Anna Wells)
1894 Isaak Babel Russian short-story writer/dramatist (Red Calvary)
1901 Mickey "Toy Bulldog" Walker welterweight boxing champ (1922-26)
1906 Harry Sosnik Chicago, orch leader (Jack Carter Show, Your Hit Parade)
1913 Carolina Gisolf Holland, high jumper (Olympic-silver-1928)
1913 Dave Garroway Schnectady NY, TV host (Today Show)
1923 Susie Bond Louisville Ky, actress (Flo, Temperature Rising)
1926 Meyer Kupferman NYC, composer (In Fimi Tres)
1928 Bob Crane Waterbury Ct, actor (Hogan's Heroes)
1931 Bill Moor Toledo Oh, actor (Hanky Panky)
1934 Alexei S Yeliseyev cosmonaut (Soyuz 5, 8, 10)
1934 Wole Soyinka Nigeria, dramatist (Road, Kongi's Harvest)
1935 Jack Kemp (Rep-R-NY)/right-wing/US Secretary of Housing (1989- )
1940 Patrick Stewart actor (Capt Picard-Star Trek Next Generation)
1940 Paul Prudhomme cajun chef
1941 Robert Forster Rochester NY, actor (Lady in Red, Alligator)
1942 Harrison Ford actor (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Frantic)
1942 Roger McGuinn rocker (Byrds-Turn Turn Turn, Mr Tambourine Man)
1944 Erno Rubik Budapest, inventor (Rubik's cube)
1946 Richard "Cheech" Marin comedian (Cheech & Chong-Up in Smoke)
1948 Alf Hansen Norway, double sculls (Olympic-gold-1976)
1948 Daphne Maxwell Reid actress (Frank's Place)
1948 Don Sweet Vancouver, CFL, NFL place kicker (Montr‚al, Green Bay)
1950 George D "Pinky" Nelson Iowa, PhD/astro (STS 41C, STS 61-C, STS-26)
1951 Didi Conn Bkln NY, actress (Denise-Benson, Helen-The Practice)
1954 David Thompson NBA guard (Phoenix Suns, Seattle Supersonics)
1954 Louise Mandrell Corpus Christi Tx, country singer (Mandrell Sisters)
1956 Mark "Animal" Mendoza rocker (Twisted Sister-We're Not Gonna Take It)
1963 Bobby Rock Houston Tx, rock drummer (Nelson-Love & Affection)
1963 Spud Webb NBA guard (Atlanta Hawks)
1966 Myong Hui Choe North Korea, gymnist (Olympic-1980)
1970 Steven J Brown Hackensack NJ, guitarist (Trixter-Give It To Me Good)

Deaths which occurred on July 13:
1024 Henry II, the Monk, German King (1002-24)
1105 Rashi, [Rabbi Shlomo Yitzaki], Jewish intellectual

1755 Edward Braddock, British general, dies in battle at Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh)
1762 James Bradley 3rd Astronomer Royal, dies
1793 Jean Paul Marat French revolutionary, murdered by Charlotte Corday
1890 John C Fremont declared Republic of California, dies at 76
1946 Alfred Stieglitz, US photographer/art dealer (Camera Work), dies at 82
1955 Ruth Ellis hung
1961 Arnold Schoenberg Austrian-US composer (Second Quartet), dies at 86
1973 Lon Chaney Jr actor (Hawkeye, Pistols 'n' Petticoats), dies at 67
1982 John Alexander actor, dies at 85
1993 Davey Allisson, race car drive, dies in a plane crash at 32

Reported: MISSING in ACTION

1963 SAM TRINH A VIETNAM [COMMANDO RELEASED 03/27/83, ALIVE AND WELL 98]
1965 GALLANT HENRY J. TAMPA FL.
[WOUNDED AIR GND SEARCH NEG]
1965 TAYLOR FRED CASTLEWOOD VA.
[ARVN AIR GND SEARCH NEG]
1968 HURST JOHN CLARK LUFKIN TX.

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

On this day...
432 -BC- Origin of Metonic Cycle
574 John III ends his reign as Catholic Pope
1099 The Crusaders launch their final assault on Jerusalem.
1534 Ottoman armies capture Tabriz in northwestern Persia.
1568 Dean of St Paul's Cathedral perfects a way to bottle beer
1585 A group of 108 English colonists, led by Sir Richard Grenville, reaches Roanoke Island, North Carolina.
1657 Oliver Cromwell constrains English army leader John Lambert
1772 Capt James Cook begins 2nd trip (Resolution) to South Seas
1787 Congress establishes Northwest Territory (excludes slavery)
1787 Ord of 1787-a territory can become 3 to 5 states at 60,000 pop
1793 French rev writer Jean Paul Marat murdered by Charlotte Corday
1832 Source of Mississippi River discovered (Henry R Schoolcraft)
1836 US patent #1 (after 9,957 unnumbered patents), for locomotive wheels
1854 US forces shell & burn San Juan del Norte, Nicaragua
1863 First wartime (Civil War) draft of U.S. civilians; a riot of Anti-draft Irish mobs starts and many blacks were lynched in NYC; about 1,000 die; Rioters were also outraged that exemptions from the draft could be legally bought for three hundred dollars, a small fortune at that time
1865 Horace Greeley advises his readers to "Go west young man"
1865 PT Barnum's museum burns down
1868 Oscar J Dunn, former slave, installed as lt governor of Louisiana
1878 Treaty of Berlin amended terms of Treaty of San Stefano
1882 200 die as train derails near Tcherny, Russia
1896 Ed Delahanty, becomes 2nd major leaguer to hit 4 HRs in a game
1898 Guglielmo Marconi patents the radio
1898 SF Ferry Building at foot of Market St opens
1900 Phillies beat Pittsburgh 23-8
1908 4th modern Olympic games opens in London
1917 Vision of Virgin Mary appeared to children of Fatima, Portugal
1919 Race riots in Longview & Gregg counties Texas
1930 Sarnoff reports in NY Times "TV would be a theater in every home"
1934 Babe Ruth hits HR #700 against Detroit
1936 112ø F (44ø C), Mio, Michigan (state record)
1936 114ø F (46ø C), Wisconsin Dells, Wisc. (state record)
1943 1st All Star night game (AL beats NL 5-4 at Shribe Pk, Phila)
1948 AL beats NL 5-2 in 15th All Star Game (Sportsman Park, St Louis)
1953 J A Bruwer discovers asteroids #1658 Innes & #3284
1954 AL beats NL 11-9 in 21st All Star Game (Cleveland Stadium)
1954 Dean Stone gets credit for AL win, although he didn't retire a batter, he threw out Shoendienst trying to steal home, AL-11 NL-9
1960 AL beats NL 6-0 in 29th All Star Game (NY Yankees host)
1960 Democratic Natl convention nominates Sen John F Kennedy for president
1960 KDBQ-AM in San Francisco CA changes call letters to KYA
1961 NL beats AL 5-4 (10 innings) in 30th All Star Game (SF Candlestick)
1963 Early Wynn, wins his 300th & last game at 43
1965 NL beats AL 6-5 in 36th All Star Game (Metropolitan Stadium, Minneapolis)
1967 Race riots break out in Newark, 27 die
1969 Russia launches unmanned Luna 15 to Moon
1971 AL beats NL 6-4 in 42nd All Star Game (Tiger Stadium, Detroit)
1972 C Torres discovers asteroid #3050 Carrera
1972 LA Rams (Irsay) & Baltimore Colts (Rosenbloom) swap owners
1972 T Smirnova discovers asteroid #2112 Ulyanov
1973 Bobby Murcer's 3 homers accounted for all RBIs, beating KC 5-0
1975 8.5" (21.6 cm) of rainfall, Dover, Delaware (state record)
1976 Courtmartial begins in USSR for Valeri Sablin (Hunt for Red Oct)
1976 NL beats AL 7-1 in 47th All Star Game (Veteran's Stadium Phila)
1977 NYC experiences 25 hr black-out
1978 Alexander Ginzburg sentenced by Soviet court to 8 years
1978 BBC bans Sex Pistols "No One is Innocent"
1978 Lee Iacocca fired as Ford Motor Pres by chairman Henry Ford II
1978 Walter Poenisch completes swim of 207 km from Cuba to Florida
1979 George Harrison releases "faster"
1982 NL scores 4-1 victory over AL for 11th straight All-Star triumph
1984 Sergei Bubka of USSR pole vaults a record 5.89 m
1985 Live Aid, a rock concert in London, Phila, Moscow & Sydney
1985 Yankees retire Roger Maris (#9) & Elston Howard (#32) uniforms
1987 Federal judge throws out Bette Midler's $10 million suit against Ford Motor Co, who used a sound alike voice for their TV commercials
1991 Bob Milacki & 3 other Balt Oriole pitchers no-hit the A's 2-0

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

France : La Retraite aux Flambeaux/Night Watch-« day
Japan : Bon Festival starts
Rhodesia : Founder's Day/Rhode's Day
South Africa : Family Day - - - - - ( Monday )
Swaziland : Reed Dance Day - - - - - ( Monday )
National Bookstore Weekend
National Nude Weekend (NOT to be combined with the above)

Religious Observances
Christian : Festival of Our Lady of F tima
RC : Commemoration of St Anacletus I, pope (c 76-c 88), martyr
RC : Feast of St Eugenius, bishop of Carthage, confessor
RC : Memorial of St Henry II (the Pious), emperor (opt)

Religious History
1105 Death of Rashi (b.1040), medieval Jewish Bible scholar. His name is a Hebrewacrostic for Rabbi Shelomoh ben Isaac. Rashi was the leading rabbinic commentator in hisday on the Old Testament and Talmud.
1769 Birth of Thomas Kelly, Irish Episcopal clergyman and author of 765 hymns,including 'Praise the Savior, Ye Who Know Him.'
1778 Anglican clergyman and hymnwriter John Newton wrote in a letter: 'It is perhapsthe highest triumph we can obtain over bigotry when we are able to bear with bigotsthemselves.'
1815 President John Adams wrote in a letter: 'The Hebrews have done more to civilizemen than any other nation. If I were an atheist,... I should still believe fate had ordainedthe Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations.'
1886 Birth of Father Edward Flanagan, American Catholic parish priest. Believing therewas 'no such thing as a bad boy,' in 1922 he organized Boys Town near Omaha, Nebraska.

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

Thought for the day :
" Learning music by reading about it, Is like making love by mail. "

Today's 'You Might Be A Redneck If' Joke...
You have every episode of Hee-Haw on tape.

Just goes to show you that the concepts of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness are not the sole province Old European White Men...

And that they can flourish elsewhere.