Docendo Discimus
In the haunting aftermath of the Civil War, the city of Memphis, Tennessee, found itself ensnared in a brutal confrontation that would sear its name into the annals of post-war violence. The Memphis Massacre of May 1, 1866, an event marked by racial hostility and bloody reprisal, unfolded in a city pulsing with the tumult... Continue Reading →
Today, we embark on a journey back to the dawn of the American experiment. Our spotlight shines on the first presidential term of George Washington, a time when the nation’s destiny hung in the balance. On April 30, 1789, amidst the grandeur of Federal Hall in New York City, Washington stepped onto a second-floor balcony to take... Continue Reading →
On April 30, 1871, a harrowing event unfolded near the confluence of the San Pedro River and Aravaipa Creek in the Arizona Territory, known as the Camp Grant Massacre. This brutal incident involved the slaughter of nearly 150 Apache people, primarily women, children, and the elderly. The roots of this tragedy trace back to the... Continue Reading →
On April 29, 1946, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE), also known as the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal, convened to bring Japanese military and political leaders to justice following World War II. This article explores the background, proceedings, and aftermath of the Tribunal, shedding light on its historical significance and the controversies... Continue Reading →
In the heated debates surrounding the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, Maryland played a pivotal role as the seventh state to endorse the new framework of government on April 28, 1788. The state's decision was not made lightly; it reflected deep discussions and conflicts over federal power, representation, economic regulations, individual rights, and the contentious... Continue Reading →
The SS Sultana was a Mississippi River steamboat that tragically sank on April 27, 1865, near Memphis, Tennessee. Originally constructed in 1863, the Sultana was a side-wheel steamboat used primarily for transporting cargo and passengers along the Mississippi River. During the final days of the American Civil War, the ship was tasked with a critical... Continue Reading →
I cannot tell you where we were, but you may safely assume that it was... more or less... downwind. A very long way downwind, but downwind nevertheless. I was standing the Weapons Tech watch, and the growler rang in MCC. It was the Chief of the Watch, who wanted me to go back to AMR2... Continue Reading →
ANZAC Day, observed on April 25th each year, holds a special place in the hearts of Australians and New Zealanders. It is a day of remembrance, honoring those who served and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The origins of ANZAC Day trace back to the Gallipoli campaign during World War I, but its... Continue Reading →
On April 24, 1183bce (as determined by Eratosthenes the Beta), the City of Troy fell to the Greeks after nine years of devastating siege and bloody war. Few people today realize how many of our cultural values have been inculcated into us by the events of that day. The defeated Trojans would wander west and finally resettle... Continue Reading →
On April 23, 1516, a pivotal moment in brewing history was marked by the adoption of the Reinheitsgebot, also known as the German Beer Purity Law. This regulation, which was initially decreed by Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria, established a significant standard for the brewing of beer not only in Germany but also set a... Continue Reading →
The Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889 marks a pivotal event in American Westward expansion history, involving the dramatic opening of the "Unassigned Lands" in the Indian Territory for settlement. These lands, centrally located, were deemed available after being considered surplus to the requirements of local Native American tribes under pressure from the U.S. Government. This... Continue Reading →
On April 21, 753 BCE, according to tradition, the city of Rome was founded. This date, deeply entrenched in the fabric of Roman history, marks the beginning of a civilization that would eventually dominate the ancient world. The foundation of Rome is wrapped in a tapestry of myth and legend, primarily sourced from two seminal... Continue Reading →
On April 20, 1945, as the Third Reich teetered on the brink of collapse, a heart-wrenching crime was committed at the Bullenhuser Damm School in Hamburg, Germany. Twenty Jewish children, who had been subjected to horrific medical experiments at Neuengamme Concentration Camp, were murdered in a vain attempt to conceal the barbarities inflicted upon them... Continue Reading →
It was a very sunny, very beautiful day in Virginia Beach. Just after lunch, we were gathered into the the auditorium where the accident aboard USS Iowa was announced to us, and we were instructed as to what we could and could not say if we were approached by the media for comment. It went... Continue Reading →
I am - or at least to be - a pretty big fan of tennis. Especially in 1the 70's and 80, and once spent an entire Independence Day weekend in the hospital watching my beloved Andrea Yeager at Wimbledon. I also particularly love the French Open, and the red clay courts. It takes place at... Continue Reading →
On April 17, 1492, the Capitulations of Santa Fe were signed, marking a pivotal moment in world history. This document outlined an agreement between Christopher Columbus and the Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, sanctioning Columbus’s proposed expedition to reach the Indies by sailing west. This bold initiative not only reflected the maritime ambitions of the... Continue Reading →
The Battle of Megiddo, fought on April 16, 1457 BCE, stands as one of the most significant and well-documented events of the ancient Near East. This confrontation marked a pivotal moment in the military campaign of Thutmose III, the sixth Pharaoh of Egypt's Eighteenth Dynasty, against a coalition of Canaanite kingdoms. It was not just... Continue Reading →
Jackie Robinson Day, observed annually on April 15th, is one of Major League Baseball's (MLB) most significant and reflective holidays. It commemorates the day in 1947 when Jackie Robinson broke the color line, becoming the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era. This event not only changed the course... Continue Reading →
In the dark annals of American history, few events are as chilling and audacious as the conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. While John Wilkes Booth's successful assassination of Lincoln is well-documented, the simultaneous attempt on Secretary of State William H. Seward's life by Lewis Powell is a grim reminder of the extent of the... Continue Reading →
On April 13, 1873, an event occurred in Grant Parish, Louisiana, that would mark one of the darkest days in the history of post-Civil War America: the Colfax Massacre. This event did not happen in isolation; it was the culmination of intense political and racial tensions that had been brewing in the South. To understand... Continue Reading →
Dave Does History 