The FReeper Foxhole Remembers John Marshall Alley - Union Soldier - Mar. 19th, 2003

http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/cwc/projects/alley/alley9.htm#i ^ | contributed by Kay Norberg

[SAMWolf]

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The Memoirs of
John Marshall Alley
Union Soldier

In the War

The war was assuming large proportions, and I began to see that the rebellion could not be put down without my help. George had served his time of enlistment, and was at home. Sam was only 18, and was needed at home, but for the fear that we might be drafted and sent to different parts of the country, our parents preferred that we all go together so we could all help each other It was hard to leave them without help, but they could rent the place or hire some help. Hester was with them and was 9 years old, big enough to run on errands and be of some help at home.

On the 15th day of August, 1862, we, with a number of neighbor boys, among whom were your mother's brothers William and Andrew, went to Greenfield where the company was to meet, and took the train for Indianapolis.



We arrived at Indianapolis in the afternoon and were marched out to camp. Lumber was brought and we all went to work building a "shebang." Before night we had a board tent built, large enough to hold the 103 men of our company, and furnished with bunks on either side for sleeping. We were then furnished with a blanket and rubber apiece for sleeping. These contrasted sadly with the soft beds of home; and let me say here, that as long as I was at home I don't remember sleeping in an unmade-up bed. Then we were furnished each with a tin plate, tin cup, knife, fork, and spoon. After a while came the grub; hard tack, strong bacon, rice, beans, coffee, sugar, and salt. It looked like hard fare but further on we were mighty glad to get it. Tables were made by driving stakes and laying slats from one to another and laying rough boards on them. The company was divided into messes of 20 men each and cooks appointed who were excused from other duty. Late in the evening we were summoned to our first meal at Uncle Sam's table. It was rough, but some of us had had nothing since early breakfast, and it tasted pretty good. Night came on and we turned in but horror of horrors! A hundred and three men all crowded into one room, some of them drunk, some of them obscene, and nearly all of them noisy, and many of them vying with each other in profanity and obscene songs. They brayed, and howled, and crowed, and squalled, and spit all night long. The army is a good place to bring out a man's character.

Louisville and Memphis

After drilling about two months, we were provided with guns, knapsacks, canteens, and haversacks, and were ordered to Louisville, KY., which was threatened by the rebels under Gen. Bragg. We ran over the Jeffersonville railroad , crossed the Ohio on a pontoon or floating bridge, and went into camp in the suburbs of Louisville. We were assigned to the 99th regiment of Indiana Volunteers; our company was B.



After scaring Gen. Bragg away from Louisville, encountering the coldest weather I ever say in the month of October, and enduring a scourge of the mumps, we were ordered down the river to Memphis; Nov. 8, 1862. While passing the mouth of the Wabash River which divides Indiana from Illinois, it was remarked that we would never all see Indiana again.

We reached Memphis late on the evening of Nov. 16. After a scourge of measles we left Memphis on the 26th of Nov. and went on our first campaign, under Gen. Grant; the objective point being Vicksburg. He had sent Gen. Sherman down the river while he was to march with the main force by land, and meet at Vicksburg, but the plans didn't work. When we had gone a little south of Holly Springs the rebs made a dash on our rear and destroyed our supplies; so the campaign was abandoned. It takes too many men to guard a long line of railroad in an enemy's country, and the railroad was the only means Grant had of supplying his army. We spent the winter and spring guarding the railroad east of Memphis.

Andrew Curry

During the winter we lost a great many man with the typhoid fever, among them your uncle Andrew Curry. He was a noble good man. Everybody liked him; smart, cheerful, agreeable, and a fine singer. He was a fifer in the regimental band. Your uncle Billy was sick at the same time, and I think would have died if the friends at home had not sent a first class doctor down there to bring them through. The regimental doctor wouldn't leave this soft bed at night to see the sick boys. Dr. B. F. Duncan of Greenfield went down and stayed with them till all were recovered.

On A Raid

In the spring of 1863 we went on a raid of 170 miles into Mississippi, and Dr. Duncan went with us. We took the train for Holly Springs, but hadn't gone far before we plunged into a sandbank. Not being a big one, we shoveled it out of the way and went on, but soon plunged into another one. This one was a little too big for us so we got off the train and camped till daylight. The next morning we started on foot and hadn't gone but a little way when we came to a deep creek where the railroad bridge had been washed away; so, if we had gone just a little further on the train we might have plunged into something worse than a sandbank. Thanks to a kind Providence. We understood that a party had been sent out to inspect the road as far as Holly Springs and had reported it in good running order. We had not used the road since Grant had abandoned his campaign the winter before. It was plain that the road had not been inspected at all, else the inspectors had reported falsely. We never knew whether the inspectors were afraid to go over the road, and only guessed at its condition, or whether they were basely disloyal and gave a false report with a view to our destruction. We marched through Holly Springs but every door and window was closed, and nobody was to be seen. At night we were visited by a terrific Mississippi thunderstorm, and were most thoroughly drenched.



The next morning was cool and we suffered with cold. I was very sorry for our good Dr. Duncan as he stood shivering over the fire, wet as a muskrat. We marched with our clothes and blankets soaked with water. After catching a number of prisoners and horses we returned to camp. The object of the raid was to hold Gen. Chalmers in our vicinity while Gen. Grierson conducted another big raid further south.

Bad News From Home

On arriving at camp we found a big mail, when I learned of the death of my father. The news was unexpected, and I could hardly realize that I would never see him again in this world. In this hour of bereavement I had but two consolations, and they were strong ones. One was that I could go where I knew he had gone, and there see him again. The other consolation was that I had always been dutiful, and had never given him any trouble. I have had this testimony given me by both of my parents, and it is a great comfort to me when I look back at the long hard lives they lived; but I reproach myself yet that I didn't only give them no trouble, but that I didn't try harder to make their lives more cheerful, and to throw more sunshine on their pathway. Father died in the spring of 1863. He lived a live worthy of anyone's imitation, and I have no doubt but that he has gone to a rich reward. He was honest and upright in all his dealings with men, and charitable with the suffering. Mother wrote to me to select a verse of scripture to be put on his tombstone, and I selected that beautiful passage in the 23rd Psalm; "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." If we live right we die right.

On returning from the raid Dr. Duncan prepared to leave us for his home. We hated to see him go. He had the body of your Uncle Andrew Curry taken up and placed in a metallic coffin and took it home for burial. It was a great satisfaction to the friends at home to have him buried in the cemetery with his own relatives.

Vicksburg

Grant and Sherman by a series of hard fought battles had succeeded in surrounding Vicksburg, in which was Gen. Pembarton with about 30,000 men, and we were ordered down the river to assist in the siege.



We broke camp on the 6th of June 1863, and marched to Memphis, where we got aboard the steamer Emerald and started for Vicksburg. When a boy I use to read about the great Mississippi River, but I never expected to ride on it, much less on a mission of destruction. I was third in our family to navigate it, and George and Sam would make five.

We were getting into the heart of Rebeldom and everything looked warlike. Bales of hay were lashed to each side of the pilot house for fear of sharpshooters on the shore, and where things looked suspicious on the shore a shell was sent out to inquire into matters.

Just above Vicksburg we turned up the Yazoo River and landed at a high bluff, where we camped and waited for orders.

Jackson, Mississippi

We were ordered about four miles to the rear of Vicksburg to prevent Gen. Johnston from attacking the siegers from that quarter. We remained here till the evening of July 4, and suddenly the dull roaring of cannon at Vicksburg ceased and soon we received word that the city had surrendered. Grant was summoned to Washington, and Sherman took the army and went after Johnston. We had a spat with them at Big Black River, and then followed on to Jackson, the capital of Mississippi. We had quite a siege to get into the city, but we entered it on the 16th of July, 1863. After destroying some railroad, we took a look at Jackson, took a swim in the clear waters of the Pearl, and returned to Big Black River where we went into camp.

Home on Furlough

From this place a great many soldiers were allowed to go home on furlough. Mother had written for me to come and advise her some abut settling up the estate. I applied for a furlough, stating the case, and was granted one.

Two others of our company also attained leave and we started home together. We went to Vicksburg where we obtained passes up the river on the steamer Gen. Anderson. The government paid our way home and back, but deducted the amount from our pay. We arrived at Cairo, Illinois, where we took the train through Illinois and Indiana for Indianapolis and Greenfield.



Southern Illinois was grossly disloyal, and the conductor wanted to put us into a second class car by ourselves, but we couldn't see the necessity. We arrived at Greenfield after dark, and after supper we got liver horses for two (the other had relatives in town) and rode out about five miles to his father-in-law's. They were all in bed, but the women got up and spread a bed on the floor for us. In the morning we got a boy to take the horses back and we struck out on foot for home; he one way and I another. I surprised our folks by landing in from Vicksburg for breakfast.

Camp of Big Black River

Having sufficiently recovered I set out for the land of magnolias. The other boys had gone and I made the long journey alone. When I reached the river I took the steamer Sultana, for Vicksburg, and arrived at Camp Sherman.

While there a man wanted me to go with him and some others to a graveyard across the river, where he though there was money buried. Negroes had reported that a rich planter had at two different times gone to the cemetery and buried, what appeared, from the size of the coffin, to be children, when they knew he had no children. I expect the Negroes were right in their judgment, but I didn't go. We had no business across Big Black River. Some of our boys went over there to get some peaches and didn't come back.



After the terrible battle of Chickamauga, we were ordered to Chattanooga to help Gen. Rosencrans. We broke camp on Big Black River about the first of October, 1863, and marched to Vicksburg. We had to wait awhile until Sherman could get enough boats to move up the river, and so we had a chance to look over the city. It stood on a high bluff, on a great bend of the Mississippi, and the big siege guns of the enemy thoroughly covered the approach by water from above and below. The inhabitants had dug for themselves caves in the hillsides to hide away from the shells of our big guns, during the siege. There was a whole field full of cannon and caisons which Grant had taken with the city.

Up the River to Memphis

After a short delay we were put aboard the big steamer Glassgow, and started up the river. The crew was not friendly to our cause and I believe they would have sent us to eternity if they could have done it without going with us. The boat was loaded from hull to hurricane deck and from bow to stern with men, horses, mules, cannon, caisons, ammunition, hay bales, and what not. A fire would have meant the destruction of everybody and everything on board. Our officers watched the crew closely, and placed guards in every part of the vessel. We arrived at Memphis after dark, Oct. 9, and slept on the rocky wharf. On the 11th, we started on a long march of 400 miles for Chattanooga.

[SAMWolf]

March to Chattanooga

Rosencrans' army was well nigh surrounded in Chattanooga, and were suffering, so we lost not time on this march. We passed some of our old camping places, and near the place where we lost so many many the winter before. On the 3rd of November we were joined by five or six men who had been hiding away for months to avoid being conscripted into the rebel army. On the morning of November 5th, we came to a poor desolate woman who implored our protection. Her husband had been killed because he wouldn't join the rebel army; her mother had been shot for expressing her union sentiments, and she had only saved herself by instant flight, followed by a shower of rebel bullets. She was put in our ambulance and taken to Decherd, within our lines.

We struck the Tennessee River at Bridgeport, Alabama, where we drew clothing, rations, and a good supply of ammunition. We overhauled our guns ready for business, as we were nearing the enemy. Rosencrans' men who had been so roughly handled in the battle of Chickamauga, told us that the country swarmed with rebels, and that they would eat us up.

We crossed the Tennessee on a pontoon bridge and ascended Raccoon Mountain by a road which the rebs deemed impassable by an army. We crossed the mountain and descended by a similar road into Lockout Valley. Here we routed a small body of the enemy who were not expecting an enemy from that direction. They didn't know how we got there. We camped in this valley one night and demolished a big rebel machine shop. The next morning we started early and rounded the point of Lookout Mountain right under the guns of the rebel batteries on the summit, and marched up the Tennessee to the extreme left of the army, going into camp late at night, opposite the mouth of the Chickamauga.

On the morning of Nov. 24, we were roused up at 4 o'clock in the morning and moved down to the river. A few men crossed over in pontoon boats while the bridge was being built. We went to digging like groundhogs while the remainder of the army was crossing. The bridge was completed and our cannon all moved over. We were ready for business.

Battle of Missionary Ridge



Rosencrans had been removed and Grant was in command. Our regiment lead the division that day, and the regiment moved left in front, and I, being left guide, had the honor of leading the division in the opening of the battle of Missionary Ridge. Skirmishers were thrown out in advance, soon the crack of rifles was heard, and then the boom of rebel cannon. It was misting rain, and thick fog made it difficult to see any distance. We were facing the command of Gen. John C. Breckinridge of the extreme rebel right. We were advancing through thick timber up the extreme right of Missionary Ridge. The climb was too steep for our batteries, and the enemy's big guns were very destructive to our men. Our artillery men were on the ground however, and taking the exact range of the enemy's guns, they ordered a 24 pounder dragged up by hand. An artillery duel followed but it was short. The rebel battery never bothered us any more.

Granger's Delinquency

We fortified our position during the night, and having been in the front on the 24th, it was our day for the rear on the 25th, so we didn't have much to do.

Sherman's fierce attack on the rebel right caused the enemy to weaken his center to reinforce Breckinridge. Grant saw this and ordered the center under Gen. Granger to different divisions, and he from some cause unaccountable, delayed them for one hour, when Grant repeated the order. (See history of the 99th) During this delay, the battle was going hard with Sherman; and when the center charged, they didn't have much to do. Thus, Sherman's army, after a march of 400 miles and without a single day's rest, opened and bore the brunt of the Battle of Missionary Ridge. If Grant's order, given at 2 in the afternoon, had been promptly obeyed, we could have ruined Bragg's army; but delayed till 4, at that time of year, was only to dislodge him, and leave him to withdraw during the night. We pursued as far as Ringold, Georgia, tore up the railroad, and then started on a forced march of 100 miles and back to relieve Gen. Burnside at Knoxville, who was hardpressed by Gen. Longstreet.

There were troops who had been lying in Chattanooga doing nothing since the battle of Chickamauga in September. Gen. Grant ordered Gen. Granger to take 20,00 of these and go with all speed to the relief of Gen. Burnside; but Granger was so slow that Grant saw at once that it would be utterly vain to depend on him, so he ordered Sherman to head the expedition, with his men.

March to Knoxville

This was a very hard campaign. It was winter. We only took what clothes we had on, one blanket and rubber, and 100 rounds of ammunition to the man. We took a very scanty supply of provisions, having to hunt our living from the country, while marching 30 and 40 miles a day, and often tearing up railroad half the night. We had to keep up fires some nights and lie so close to them that many of the men had their blankets burned and spoiled, and some of them their clothing also. I have known men to march 30 or 40 miles and not have a bite to eat at night. One morning after having marched about 35 miles and tearing up railroad half the night, I was sick and couldn't march.

Narrow Excape

I had vomited everything from the stomach and knew I would feel better in a little while. The captain wanted the doctor to take me in the ambulance. "No, no, no room. He will have to be left behind." He had the ambulance full of his own old traps. The major let me ride his horse for a few hours, when I felt better I walked the rest of the day. Some neighbor boys in the 12th (Ind.) were left behind and when we came back that way they were hanging up to the trees.

When we got near Knoxville, Longstreet withdrew, and we returned more leisurely. A great many men were bare-footed, I among them. The ground would freeze hard at night and thaw to a cold mud during the day. You can imaging the comfort we took in marching under such conditions, and what a crop of rheumatic decrepitude we were sowing to be reaped in after life. After a while I found a pair of slippers which some old auntie had left in a deserted negro cabin, which I appropriated to my own use; and which with some old rags for stockings, answered a very good purpose until I got where I could get something better. Wen we got to Chattanooga we drew clothing and plenty of rations; and then we pursued our march on to Bridgeport, Stevenson, and Scottsboro, Alabama, which latter place we reached Jan 1, 1864. Here we built us comfortable quarters and had a much needed and well deserved rest.

[SAMWolf]

Scottsboro, Alabama

Most of the citizens around Scottsboro were loyal, and would come into camp from across the Tennessee River to get our help in bringing their families out of Rebeldom; and an immense number of soldiers deserted the rebels and came to us. Quite a number of our boys married southern girls and sent them north. The rocky hills around Scottsboro were covered with cedar. The sap was almost snow-white, and the heart almost fiery red. The boys used to make all kinds of toys with the wood.

While here your grandpa Curry and one of his neighbors came down to see up and brought us a box of good things to eat. We made them as comfortable as possible while they were with us, but I expect they thought they had got to a poor hotel.



But their visit was cut short by an order for us to march. It looked hard for us to have to march and leave them when they had come so far to see us; but war is hard at best. We marched away on the 11th of Feb. not knowing where nor what for. They started for home.

A Winter Raid

We marched from Bridgeport to Chattanooga for the third time and went on a winter raid down into Georgia. The object of the raid, we learned, was to hold Johnston at Dalton while Sherman made a big raid from Vicksburg into eastern Mississippi. We went nearly to Dalton, GA., made lots of noise, (more than the ass did with the loin sent him into the woods to scar the game out) gave Johnston a big scare, got badly scared ourselves and came near getting captured; and then returned to Scottsboro, traveling the road between Chattanooga and Bridgeport for the fourth time.

Our stay at Scottsboro is the brightest spot in my military life; and immediately following it is the darkest.

Atlanta Campaign

The country now had able commanders in the field who were competent and loyal, and not too jealous of eachother to work together in harmony for the suppression of the rebellion; but the loyal element of the nation was nearly all in the army, leaving the disloyal element of the nation to raise cain and pandemonium at home. In many places soldiers were called from the front to go North and quell the rioters. This gave great encouragement to the rebellion, and no doubt prolonged the war. At one time, greenbacks were only worth 35 cents on the dollar.



This was the darkest year of the war, the darkest year of our country's history, and the darkest year of my life. I think of it yet with a shudder, and will not follow the bloody details of the Atlanta campaign in this memoir.

Our armies were recruited and equipped for what the country thought to be the great and final struggle. We were furnished with new and better guns; we were inspected and everything, not strictly needed in and was ordered sent home. Extra blankets, overcoats, watches, revolvers, photographs and other unnecessary things were boxed up and sent home, but they never got there.

On the first day of May, 1864, we broke camp at Scottsboro, traveled the road to Chattanooga for the fifth and last time. On the 6th of May we camped at Crawfish Spring, where the water comes boiling out of the ground cold and clear, and forms a river at once, larger than the North Fork of the Nehalem. This is the source of the Chickamauga. Here I was detailed, with two others of our company as guards of our division train. We had to guard the train that supplied our division with provisions, from rebel attack, and also help load and unload wagons, and assist them over bad roads.

We passed over the Chickamauga battle ground. Great pine trees, three feet through, were shot down by cannon. Little mounds of earth lay round where the dead had been covered up where they fell.

Battle of Dallas, GA.

At Dallas, Ga., on the 28th of May about half of Co. A were killed or wounded. George was wounded in the wrist and Sam in the leg and ankle. Sam was in the field hospital for several days not far from our train, where I visited him several times. He was cheerful and hopeful. He was not badly wounded and would have recovered if he had half taken care of him. The wounded were put on the train for home, and we moved forward and I saw Sam for the last time. I helped him in the ambulance when the hospital moved. He owed some little debts to the boys that he told me to pay for him out of money that others owed him. He died at Rome, Ga., Sept. 3 1864, and was after the war removed to the government cemetery at Marietta, Ga. I have a strong hope that Sam was saved, from what he wrote to me, and what I heard from others who were in the hospital with him. I always felt a great responsibility resting on me in regard to the spiritual welfare of those younger than myself, and I tried to do the best I could for them in precept and example, and I don't know where I have failed. Poor mother; Sam was the baby. George didn't join the regiment any more till the campaign was over.



The orderly sergeant of our company was wounded, and I, being the next ranking sergeant, was relieved from the train and went to the company. The regiment was camped in line of battle on the Chatahoochie River, very near the enemy, but Johnston fell back with his army, and McPherson, who commanded the Army of Tennessee, moved to the extreme left and advanced almost to Atlanta. The result of this movement was the battle of July 22, where McPherson was killed.

Battles of July 22 and 28

This was the hardest day's work of my life, I believe, and I don't believe the description of it would be of interest to you. The command devolved on Gen. Logan, our corps commander. We held the field. After a few days, the Army of the Tennessee moved to the extreme right where we got our foot into it again. Our division was in the rear and before we got into position two of the best army corps in the rebel service, Lee's and Hardee's, struck us on the wing. They made seven desperate charges and met with seven desperate repulses. The horrors of this day's work my be seen in the history of the 99th Ind., if anyone wants to see them.

At dark, Co. B was sent a little to the front as pickets where we were horrified with the groaning of our wounded enemies, and unable to help them.

Battle of Jonesboro and Fall of Atlanta

About three o'clock in the morning July 29, the rebel bugles sounded, and soon we heard the sound of their wagons, moving to the rear. We gathered up their wounded and took them to our hospital and buried their dead. We advanced our lines and fortified and from this time, were continually under fire until August 26, when we withdrew and moved to the right, and struck the last railroad by which Hood supplied his army. Seeing the hopelessness of holding Atlanta, he blew up 81 car loads of ammunition and evacuated the city.

Johnston commanded the rebel army until about the middle of July. He was prudent, and spared his men; but when Hood was put in command, he rushed his men onto us in four pitched battles and well nigh ruined his army. We followed the rebs a few days after the last battle and then marched into the "Gale City." We were glad to take a rest, for we had been under a fire almost continuously for four months.



Up to this time our regiment had marched on foot 1,913 miles. We looked over the conquered city, fortified, cut chestnut trees and ate the nuts, and then started on another campaign after Hood who had swung around and was tearing up the railroad by which Sherman's army was supplied.

After Hood, March through Georgia

We broke camp on the 4th of October, 1864, and followed Hood past Kenesaw Mountain and Alatoona, where Sherman signaled to Gen. Corse to "Hold the Fort" (which gave rise to the song Hold the Fort), and almost back to Dalton, when Sherman left him to the care of Gens. Thomas and Schofield, and returned to Atlanta. On this campaign we marched about 307 miles, making 2,220 miles in all.

All the inhabitants had been sent out of Atlanta, the railroads leading to it destroyed, the rails heated red hot and twisted out of shape, the machine shops destroyed, and the place rendered unfit for a rebel stronghold in the near future. It was rumored in camp that Sherman was entering on some great scheme, but no one knew what or where, until one evening late we were ordered into line to hear an order from Sherman. Everything was expectation.

Savannah

The people of Savannah were glad to see Sherman's army. They were tired of the war. We marched through the streets in column by company, with flags waving and bands playing, and the women and children didn't run and hide. We traded in the stores, and they were glad to get our greenbacks.

When Fort McAllister was taken our vessels from the Atlantic came streaming up the Ogeechee with provisions and clothing, and a big mail. Some of the boys from home got bad news but I got good news this time. Uncle Tom was on his way home to stay with Mother and Het. Wasn't I glad? Our friends at home had heard all manner of rumors about Sherman's army. The mischief-making stay at home had us all annihilated. They would have given their bottom dollar to make it so. On this campaign we marched 346 miles, making 2,566 miles in all. Sherman's army couldn't afford to rest long. We took a short ocean voyage to Beaufort, South Carolina, where we camped long enough to corduroy some swampy roads and then the Carolina Campaign was begun.

Carolina Campaign

We broke camp on the 15th of January, 1865. This was a campaign of great exposure. We made no effort to keep dry. It was no use. We marched through rain and mud, and waded creeks, rivers, and swamps like so many cattle. On the 12th of February, we waded the overflown bottom of the North Edisto River, where the water was sometimes knee deep and sometimes waist deep. It was full of vines and brambles, and cyprus stools so that we often fell down and went clear under. We were floundering through there for just two hours, and the weather was freezing cold. The rebs held the road at the crossing, and we had to flank them.

We moved northward destroying all communication between the coast and the interior. Old Charleston, where was fired the first gun of the war, surrendered to the inevitable, then Columbia, the cradle of secession, succumbed, then Chesaw, Camdon, and Fayetteville. A vast amount of rebel ammunition went up in smoke at these places.



On the 21st of March we heard a terrific cannonading on our left and knew that someone was catching it. We marched nearly all that nighty, helping our trains and artillery over a big swamp, and reaching dry ground, dropped down for a little sleep when an order came for us to return and assist the 14th Corps which had suffered severely the day before. We had to recross the big swamp and march nearly all the next day, in a heavy rain before we arrived at our destination. At night we were placed on the front line where the bullets were whistling all around us. We expected to charge the enemy the next morning, but he was gone, and we were not angry.

A lot of Gen. Lee's men from Richmond, calling themselves Lee's bulldogs, had been sent down to oppose Sherman's progress. Lee told Jeff Davis that unless Sherman was stopped he could not hold Richmond. On the 23rd of March the weather cleared up. We pried our cannon out of the mud and went on our way rejoicing.

Goldsboro and Raleigh

On the 24th we reached Goldsboro, N. C., where we were again in communication with the world, and where we drew plenty of rations and clothing. Many of the boys were barefooted. We had been marching and wading for two months and a half and no chance to get clothing, except from the country. Sherman promised us a rest, and gave it to us. In the campaign we marched 454 miles. While at Goldsboro we heard the glorious news of the fall of Richmond.

Lee's Surrender

On the 10th of April we again moved northward. We met with but little opposition. A few little spats with the Johnnies reminded us that the war was not quite over. On the 12th of April we were ordered to march, but the order was countermanded. Presently we heard away ahead of us a tremendous cheering. Then we heard it a little closer and louder; and then closer and still louder. Then we saw the air fairly black with flying hats. Then an officer came dashing up to us and announced officially from General Sherman that Lee had surrendered to General Grant. Hats flew high in the air, the drums beat, and men cheered themselves hoarse, and rolled on the ground like they were wild, and I guess they were. The year before marked the darkest period in our country's history; and I believe the surrender of Lee marked the brightest. The news seemed too good to be true, but it was.



We moved to Raleigh, and the people were glad to see Sherman's army. There were two daily papers in Raleigh, and our boys bought them and wrote articles for them. The people were tired of war.

While at Raleigh we received the intelligence of the assassination of Lincoln. The boys were very mad for a while, and talked of going for Johnston without mercy, but they soon got over it.

[SAMWolf]

'We took the train for Greenfield where we arrived at 1 p.m. Your grandpa and grandma Curry, and Bell were there with a wagon to meet us. When I cam to the place where I left them to go home, Bell asked here mother where I was going. When I told her I was going home she said, "Why, aint it our Marshall?" She thought that I belonged to their family. She was only three or four months old when we enlisted.

When I got home I found that George had beaten me home. He was sick and left us at Goldsboro, and took shipping to New York, and was discharged before I was. So there were four of the original family together again. Uncle Tom had enlisted, and was guarding on the Baltimore and Ohio road when we passed. He was discharged and returned home soon after we did, and then there were three boys at home again, which was a great consolation to mother. But it was hard to see us come home without Sam.

I enlisted as a private and was discharged as a First Lieutenant. It seemed so strange to be allowed to go and come as we pleased, without passes, that we hardly knew how to behave ourselves.'

-- John Marshall Alley

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[Soaring Feather]

Good Morning Samwolf, FOXHOLE FREEPERS!

[SAMWolf]

Good morning, Feather

[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

[aomagrat]

Wednesday's weird warship, the french navy's Dupuy-de-Lôme

Dupuy-de-Lôme class armored cruiser
Displacement. 6676 t.
Lenght. 360.89'
Beam. 50.8'
Draft. 24'
Speed. 19.7 k.
Complement. 526
Armament. 2 7.6"; 6 6.4"; 4 9pdr; 8 3pdr, 6 1pdr

Laid down in July 1888, launched in November 1890, and commissioned in 1895, the vessel was the first to have a 110-mm protective belt from bow to stem. She had a 55-mm armoured deck and as a new feature a splinter deck above boiler and engine rooms. Like all French warships of the period she showed a very martial silhouette with the significant heavy tubular fighting masts. In appearance the Dupuy-de-Lôme was remarkable with a very marked snout or plough bow and a sloping stern. She suffered from lack of speed, the envisaged 21 kts were not achieved. Tests unveiled that the third screw was more or less unefficient because of the design of the sloping stern.

She received broad international interest, her design was widely discussed. Nevertheless she quickly turned out to be an unbalanced design notregarding her impact on future warship design. Her name was programmatic, as she was christened after the French naval architect who had designed the first french armour clad Gloire.

In 1905 she was reconstructed to some extent, having 20 Normann boilers with three funnels installed and the military mast removed. She was sold to Peru in 1912 as Commandant Elias Aguirre but was never delivered; she was resold to Belgium in 1920 and converted into a cargo ship under the name Peruvier.

An ugly ship manned by cheese eating surrender monkeys.

[Valin]

On this Day In History


Birthdates which occurred on March 19:
1503 Benedetto Varchi Italy, humanist/historian (Storia Fiorentina)
1589 William Bradford Governor of Plymouth colony for 30 years (baptized)
1593 Georges de la Tour French painter
1601 Alonzo Cano Spanish painter/sculptor (Cathedral Granada)
1604 Johan IV composer/king of Portugal (1640-56)
1610 Hasegawa Tohaku Japanese painter
1629 Aleksei M Romanov 1st Romanov tsar of Russia
1673 Pedro Vaz Rego composer
1715 Charles-Joseph van Helmont composer
1716 Guillaume Coustou Jr French sculptor (Mausolée du Dauphin)
1721 Tobias Smollett Scottish writer, baptized
1728 Pieter-Jozef Verhaghen Flemish (court)painter
1734 Thomas McKean US attorney (signed Declaration of Independence)
1740 Johann Georg Roser composer
1740 Joseph F Weigl Germany, violin cellist
1742 Zacharias H Alewijn Dutch literary/poet
1745 Nicolas Sejan composer
1752 Jose Mauricio composer
1767 Leonhard von Call composer
1777 Anton R Falck Dutch minister of Education/diplomat
1785 Pierre-Joseph-Guillaume Zimmermann composer
1809 Fredrik Pacius composer
1813 David Livingstone Scotland, explorer (found by Stanley in Africa)
1816 Johannes Josephus Hermanus Verhulst composer
1817 Lewis Henry Little Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1862
1819 David Henry Williams Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1891
1821 Francis Barretto Spinola Brigadier General (Union volunteers)
1821 Sir Richard Burton explorer/translator (Arabian Nights)
1821 William Allingham Irish poet (Laurence Bloomfield in Ireland)
1823 Cornelis A van Sypesteyn Dutch Governor of Surinam (1873-82)
1827 Alexander Shaler Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1911
1837 Robert Daniel Johnston Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1919
1844 Ulrika "Minna" Cant-Johnstown Finnish playwright (Kovan onnen lapsia)
1845 Willem H de Beaufort Dutch historian/politician
1847 Constantin Dimitrescu composer
1848 Wyatt Earp Monmouth IL, marshall-fought in Gunfight at the OK Corral
1851 Roque Sáenz Peña President of Argentina (1910-14)
1860 William Jennings Bryan "The Great Commoner" orator/statesman
1871 Joseph McGinnity Rock Island IL, baseball pitcher (New York Giants)
1871 Schofield Haigh cricketer ("Sunshine of the Yorkshire 11")
1872 Sergei Diaghilev Gruzino Novgorod Russia, ballet director
1873 Max Reger Brand Bavaria, composer/pianist/professor (Leipzig University)
1874 Arthur Hoyt Georgetown CO, actor (Gold Dust Gertie, Goldie Get Along)
1879 Joseph Haas German (opera) composer (Tobias Wunderlich)
1882 Gaston Lachaise US sculptor (Standing Woman)
1883 Josef Matthais Hauer composer
1883 Joseph W Stilwell US General (China)
1888 Josef Albers German/US graphic artist/painter/writer (Bauhaus)
1889 Manoel II last king of Portugal (1908-10)
1891 Earl Warren California, (Governor-Republican-CA)/14th supreme court chief justice (1953-69)
1892 Robert Denzler composer
1892 Siegfried T Bok neurobiologist/anatomist (Cybernetica)
1894 Jackie "Moms" Mabley Brevard SC, comedienne (Merv Griffin Show)
1897 Betty Compson Beaver UT, actress (Millionaire Kid, Mad Youth)
1897 L O'Flaherty writer
1900 [Jean] Frédéric Joliot-Curie French physicist (Nobel 1935)
1900 Roy Roberts Tampa FL, actor (Petticoat Junction, Lucy Show)
1901 Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart Dutch Minister of Justice (Nobel 1954)
1901 Jo Mielziner Paris France, set designer (Carousel, Death of a Salesman)
1903 Benjamin M Telders President of Dutch Liberal States Party
1903 James Bullock colliery manager
1904 John J Sirica US federal judge (Watergate hearings)
1904 Tadeusz Zygfryd Kassern composer
1905 Albert Speer German architect/minister of Armament (NSDAP)
1906 Adolf Eichmann Ruhr Germany, Nazi Gestapo officer
1906 Normand Lockwood composer
1907 Cor Treslem [Cornelis L Melsert], actor/director (Willem van Oranje)
1907 Elizabeh LeFanu Maconochy composer
1907 Kent Smith New York NY, actor (Peyton Place, Invaders)
1907 Marc Vaubourgoin composer
1907 Nakagawa Soen Formosa, Zen teacher (Rinzai line)
1909 Louis Hayward Johannesburg South Africa, actor (Lone Wolf, Survivors)
1910 Sergei Nikolayevich Anokhin cosmonaut
1911 Kenneth Robinson politician/businessman
1912 Adolf Galland fighter Pilot
1912 Russ Case Hamburg IA, orchestra leader (Julius La Rosa Show)
1913 William Chatterton cricketer (48 in only Test for England 1892)
1914 J Jay Berwanger 1st Heisman Trophy winner (1935)
1914 Patricia Morison actress (Peyton Place, Dressed to Kill)
1915 Norman Yardley England cricket captain (late 40's)
1916 Irving Wallace author (People's Almanac, The Man)
1917 Dino Lipatti composer
1919 Cornelis Berkhouwer Member of 2nd chamber (Dutch Liberal Party)
1923 Janine Dacosta French pianist
1923 Tige Andrews Brooklyn NY, actor (Captain Adam Greer-Mod Squad)
1925 Brent Scowcroft Ogden UT, Lieutenant General (USAF)/National Security Council
1927 Richie Ashburn baseball infielder (Philadelphia Phillies)/sportscaster
1928 Clive Van Ryneveld cricketer (South African all-rounder 1951-58)
1928 Hans Kung theologian
1928 Patrick McGoohan Astoria NY, actor (#6-Prisoner, Secret Agent)
1929 Herman van San composer
1929 Michael Ryan actor (John Randolph-Another World)
1929 Robert Muczynski composer
1930 Bill Henderson Chicago IL, jazz singer (Torpedo-Dreams)
1930 Ornette Coleman jazz composer (Downbeat Musician of Year 1966)
1931 Bill Hoskyns England, épée fencer (Olympics-silver-1964)
1932 Gay Robert Brewer Middletwon OH, PGA golfer (1972 Canadian)
1933 Philip Roth Newark NJ, novelist (Goodbye Columbus, Portnoy's Complaint)
1934 Börge Andersen Denmark, Danish Chess Champion (1967, 68)
1935 Burt Metcalfe Saskatchewan Canada, actor/director (Father of the Bride)
1935 Phyllis Newman Jersey City NJ, actress (Coming of Age, TW3)
1935 Renee Taylor New York NY, actress (Jack Paar Show, Mary Hartman, Nanny)
1936 Amancio D'Silva musician
1936 Ursula Andress Berne Switzerland, actress (Dr No, She, Sensuous Nurse)
1937 Clarence "Frogman" Henry musician (You Always Hurt the One You Love)
1939 Abbas Ali Baig cricketer (Indian bat 112 on debut vs England 1959)
1939 Joe Kapp NFL QB (Minnesota Vikings, Boston Patriots, Houston Oilers)
1941 Lord Vestey British food magnate/billionaire (Union International)
1942 David Minge (Representative-Democrat-MN)
1942 Jeff Neighbour US bassist (Joy of Cooking)
1942 Robin Luke rocker (Susie Darlin')
1942 Ross Valory rocker (Journey)
1944 Joseph Celli composer
1944 Lynda Bird Johnson Robb LBJ's daughter
1944 Myung-Wha Chung Seoul Korea, cellist (Chung Sisters)
1945 Lisa Nicole Baker Detroit TX, playmate of the year (Nov 1966)
1946 Bigas Luna director/writer (Anguish)
1946 Mohammad Ilyas cricketer (Pakistani batsman in ten Tests 1964-69)
1946 Paul Atkinson rock guitarist (Zombies-Never Even Thought)
1946 Ruth Pointer singer (Pointer Sisters-I'm So Exicted)
1947 Earlie Fires jockey (Hialeah Park)
1947 Glenn Close Greenwich CT, actress (The Big Chill, Fatal Attraction)
1947 John Beckwith English real estate developer/multi-millionaire
1947 Vince Martino Schenectady NY, WLAF offensive assistant (Barcelona Dragons)
1948 Vintcent Van der Bijl Natal cricket bowler (superb 2 meter of 70's & 80's)
1949 Denny Albee Oklahoma City OK, actor (Dr Janssen-One Life to Live)
1952 Derek Longmuir Edinburgh Scotland, rock drummer (Bay City Rollers-Saturday Night)
1952 Warren Lees New Zealand cricket wicket-keeper (late 70's)
1953 Billy Sheehan rocker (Mr Big-Lean Into It)
1953 Hans Rinn German Democratic Republic, 2 man lugist (Olympics-gold-1976, 80)
1953 Ricky Wilson Athens GA, rock guitarist (B-52's-Rock Lobster, Love Shack)
1954 Charles Pinnell horse trainer
1955 [Walter] Bruce Willis PennsGrove NJ, actor (Moonlighting, Die Hard)
1956 Alina Castro Havana Cuba, daughter of Fidel
1957 Blake Passey horse trainer
1959 Shelly Burch Tucson AZ, actress (Delila-One Life to Live, Identity Crisis)
1959 Terry Hall rocker (Colourfield-Animal Liberation)
1966 Paul Devenport New Zealand, Canadian Tour golfer (1991 Texas Tour)
1968 Liam Jewell Toronto Ontario, kayaker (Olympics-96)
1968 Tyrone Hill NBA forward (Milwaukee Bucks)
1969 Arjan Vermeulen soccer player (Vitesse)
1969 Michael Bergin model (Coca Cola)/actor
1969 Scott Alexander Brownlee Hamilton New Zealand, rowing coxless 4 men (Olympics-96)
1970 Errol Refos soccer player (Feyenoord)
1970 Janne Laukenen Lahti Finland, NHL defenseman (Finland Olympics-B-98, Senators)
1970 Rick Mirer NFL quarterback (Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears)
1970 Sean Fleming CFL kicker (Edmonton Eskimos)
1971 Cory Fleming NFL wide receiver (Dallas Cowboys)
1971 Dalton James actor (My Father the Hero, Mark-Beverly Hills 90210)
1971 Kirk Botkin NFL tight end (New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers)
1971 Louie Debrusk Cambridge, NHL left wing (Edmonton Oilers)
1971 Marty Moore NFL inside linebacker (New England Patriots)
1971 Taase Faumui NFL defensive linebacker (Pittsburgh Steelers)
1971 Whitney Hedgepeth 100 meter/200 meter backstroke (Olympics-2 silver-96)
1972 Maria Maunder St John's Newfoundland, rower (Olympics-96)
1973 John Michels NFL tackle (Green Bay Packers-Superbowl 31)
1974 Jennifer Lynn Drayton Saginaw MI, Miss Michigan-America (1996)
1974 John Coppinger El Paso TX, pitcher (Baltimore Orioles)
1975 Antonio Daniels NBA guard (Vancouver Grizzlies)
1976 Rachel Blanchard Toronto, actress (Cher Horowitz-Clueless)
1982 Che'Vonne Burton Miss Michigan Teen-USA (1997)/Miss Michigan-USA (2000)
1992 Henry & Angus Bernsen twin sons of Corbin Bernsen & Amanda Pays

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Deaths which occurred on March 19:
1263 Hugo of St-Cher/a S Caro French cardinal, dies
1556 Lieven van der Maude [Ammonius], South Netherlands poet, dies at 70
1635 Pieter Christiaensz Bor Dutch historian, dies
1638 Paul Moreelse Dutch painter/master builder, dies at about 66
1644 Si Sang last Ming-emperor of China, commits suicide
1687 Rene-Robert Cavelier La Salle French explorer (Louisiana), murdered in what is now Texas at 43
1702 Willem III Henry [Dutch William], king of England/Scot, dies at 51
1721 Clement XI [Giovanni F Albani], Italian Pope (1700-21), dies at 71
1782 Adrien Trudo Sale composer, dies at 59
1782 Louis-Henry Paisible composer, dies at 33
1796 Stephen Storace composer, dies at 33
1797 Philip Hayes composer, dies at 58
1811 Frantisek Adam Mica composer, dies at 65
1845 George Augustus Kollmann composer, dies at 56
1850 Adalbert Gyrowetz composer, dies at 87
1862 F Wilhelm von Schadow German painter (Modern Vasari), dies at 73
1866 Louis Clapisson composer, dies at 57
1869 Guillaume Nerenburger Belgian General (triangulatie), dies at 64
1876 Jozef Stefani composer, dies at 75
1884 Alfonse Charles Renaud de Vilback composer, dies at 54
1893 Karel Komzak composer, dies at 69
1897 Antoine T d'Abbadie French explorer (Ethiopia), dies at 87
1898 Joao da Cruz Brazilian poet, dies at 26
1905 Makar Grigori Ekmalyan composer, dies at 49
1907 Thomas Bailey Aldrich US writer (Stillwater Tragedy), dies at 70
1913 John Thomas composer, dies at 87
1918 Willem H de Beaufort Dutch historian/liberal politician, dies at 73
1924 Charles Villiers Stanford Irish composer/author, dies at 71
1930 Arthur J Balfour British theologist/premier (1902-05), dies at 81
1934 Anthony J Block lawyer (Dutch strafproces), dies at 66
1936 John Larkin IV actor/writer (Charlie Chan in Panamá), dies at 63
1937 Horacio Quiroga Uruguayan author/poet, commits suicide at 58
1940 Gustaaf Sap Belgian minister of Economic Affairs, dies at 54
1943 Vicente Ripolles composer, dies at 75
1945 Fritz Fromm German supreme commander of Reserve army, executed
1946 Amir Hamzah Indonesian poet (Buah Rindu), dies at 35
1947 Willem F J Pijper Dutch composer/critic, dies at 52
1950 Edgar Rice Burroughs sci-fi author (Tarzan of the Apes), dies at 74
1951 H Zur Mühlen writer, dies
1954 Walter Braunfels composer, dies at 71
1958 Vernon Ransford cricketer (20 Tests for Australia, 1211 runs), dies
1961 Edric Cundell composer, dies at 68
1969 Theodor Schaefer composer, dies at 65
1971 Jan Greshoff Dutch poet/author/journalist (Last Things), dies at 82
1971 Mary Dorna Dutch author, dies at 79
1974 Anne Klien fashion designer, dies at 51
1974 Edward Platt actor (Chief-Get Smart), dies at 58
1974 Hertha Kuusinen Finnish communist/daughter of Otto K, dies at 70
1975 John A DeMott dies at 63
1976 George Sklavos composer, dies at 87
1976 Paul Kossoff rock guitarist (Free), dies of heart failure at 25
1979 Al Hodge actor (Captain Video), dies at 65
1979 Richard Beckinsale actor (Doing Time, Porridge, Lovers), dies at 31
1982 Alan Badel actor, dies of a heart attack at 58
1982 Randy Rhoads heavy metal guitarist (Ozzy Osbourne), dies in plane crash at 25
1987 Arch Oboler radio writer (Lights Out), dies at 77
1987 Emile Meyer actor (Young Jesse James, Lineup), dies
1987 Louis Broglie French physicist (Nobel 1929), dies at 94
1987 Tony Stratton-Smith journalist/record co CEO (Charisma), dies at 53
1991 John Russell Thomas NFL general manager (Detroit Lions), dies
1991 Ron Pagano dies after lengthy illness at 37
1991 Sunday Wilshin actor (Murder by Rope), dies at 86
1992 Cesare Danova actor (Tentacles, Viva Las Vegas), dies at 66
1993 Barend P Tammeling journalist (Trouw, Peek on the North), dies at 58
1993 Jeff Ward drummer (9 Inch Nails), commits suicide at 30
1994 Giuseppe Diana Italian anti-mafia priest, murdered
1994 Jose Coronel Urtecho poet, dies at 87
1995 Fernand Lodewick literature historian (Literature), dies at 85
1995 Gerard Tebroke 5/10 km-dasher, dies at 45
1995 Kenneth Norman Joseph Loveless priest folk musician, dies at 83
1996 Christopher John Magenis Headington musician, dies at 65
1996 William Hutchinson Murray mountaineer/author, dies at 83
1997 Willem De Kooning artists (Abstract), dies of Alzheimer at 92

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On this day...
0721 -BC- 1st recorded lunar eclipse; Location, Babylon
1227 Count Ugolino of Segna elected Pope Gregory IX
1452 Frederick III of Hapsburg crowned Roman German Emperor
1524 Giovanni de Varrazano of France sights land around area of Carolinas
1540 Court of Holland names Amsterdam sheriff John Hubrechtsz a "heretic"
1563 Peace of Amboise; Rights for Huguenots
1571 Spanish troops occupy Manila
1628 Massachusetts colony founded by Englishmen
1644 200 members of Peking imperial family/court commit suicide
1682 Nationally Council accept independence of French church
1702 James II's daughter Anne Stuart becomes queen of England
1748 English Naturalization Act passes granting Jews right to colonize US
1775 4 people buried by avalanche for 37 days, 3 survive (Italy)
1775 Poland & Prussia sign trade agreement
1799 Joseph Haydn's "Die Schöpfung" premieres in Vienna
1803 Johann von Schillers "Die Braut von Messina" premieres in Weimar
1822 Boston MA incorporated as a city
1831 1st US bank robbery (City Bank, New York/$245,000)
1859 Charles François Gounod's opera "Faust" premieres in Paris France
1864 Charles François Gounod's opera "Mireille" is produced (Paris France)
1865 Battle of Bentonville-Confederates retreat from Greenville NC
1866 Immigrant ship Monarch of the Seas sinks in Liverpool; 738 die
1870 Antônio Carlos Gomes's opera "Il Guarany" premieres in Milan Italy
1877 Australia beat England by 45 runs in very 1st Test match
1883 Jan Matzeliger invents 1st machine to manufacture entire shoes
1885 Louis Riel returns to Canada, proclaims provisional government, Saskatchewan
1892 3 brothers Hearne play in same Test Cricket England vs SA (Cape Town)
1895 Los Angeles Railway established to provide streetcar service
1906 Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari's "Quattro Rusteghi" premieres in Munich
1907 18.8 cm precipitation at Lewer's Ranch NV (state record)
1914 Stanley Cup: Toronto Blueshirts (NHA) sweep Victoria Capitals (PCHA) in 3 game
1915 Pluto photographed for 1st time (although unknown at the time)
1917 US Supreme Court upheld 8-hour work day for railroad employees (Adamson Act)
1918 Congress authorizes time zones & approves daylight saving time
1918 S Potter becomes 1st US pilot to shoot down a German seaplane
1920 US Senate rejects Treaty of Versailles for 2nd time refusing to ratify League of Nations' covenant (maintaining isolation policy)
1925 Angelo G Roncalli (Pope John XXIII) becomes a bishop
1927 Bloody battles between communists & Nazis in Berlin
1928 "Amos & Andy" debuts on radio (NBC Blue Network-WMAQ Chicago)
1930 Nakagawa Soen accepted as a student of Katsube Keigaku Roshi
1931 Nevada legalizes gambling
1937 Pope Pius XI publishes encyclical Divini redemptoris against communism
1938 Toronto Maple Leafs score 8 goals in 5 minutes
1940 Failed British air raid on German base at Sylt
1940 French government of Daladier, falls
1941 Jimmy Dorsey & his Orchestraestra record "Green Eyes" & "Maria Elena"
1942 FDR orders men between 45 & 64 to register for non military duty
1942 Thoroughbred Racing Association of US formed in Chicago
1943 Airship Canadian Star torpedoed & sinks
1944 Tippett's oratorium "Child of Our Time" premieres in London
1945 800 killed as Kamikaze attacked USS Franklin off Japan
1945 Adolf Hitler issues Nero Decree: destruction of German facilities
1945 British 36th division conquers Mogok (ruby mine)
1945 US Task Force 58 attacks ships near Kobe/Kure
1946 French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique & Réunion become overseas departments
1946 Nicolai Schwernik succeeds Kalinin as President of USSR
1947 Belgian government of Spaak, forms
1947 Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek conquers Jenan
1948 Lee Savold KOs Gino Buonvino in 54 seconds at Madison Square Garden, New York NY
1949 1st museum devoted exclusively to atomic energy, Oak Ridge TN
1950 5th US Women's Open Golf Championship won by Babe Didrikson-Zaharias
1950 City College of New York defeats Bradley to win the NIT
1951 Herman Wouk's "Caine Mutiny" is published
1953 25th Academy Awards: "Greatest Show on Earth", Gary Cooper & Shirley Booth win (1st time televised)
1953 Tennessee Williams' "Camino Real" premieres in New York NY
1954 1st color telecast of a prize fight, Giardello vs Troy in Madison Square Garden, New York NY
1954 1st rocket-driven sled on rails was tested in Alamogordo NM
1954 US Ladies Figure Skating Championship won by Tenley Albright
1954 US Men's Figure Skating Championship won by Hayes A Jenkins
1954 Weekes, Worrell & Walcott complete tons in innings vs England
1955 17th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: San Francisco beats La Salle 77-63
1956 Biggest NBA margin of victory: Minnesota Lakers-133, St Louis Hawks-75
1957 Indians reject Boston's offer of $1 million for Herb Score
1958 Britain's 1st planetarium opens at Madame Tussaud's in London
1958 Sobers completes a century in each innings vs Pakistan
1959 "1st Impressions" opens at Alvin Theater NYC for 84 performances
1960 "Redhead" closes at 46th St Theater NYC after 455 performances
1960 22nd NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Ohio State beats California 75-55
1962 "All American" opens at Winter Garden Theater NYC for 80 performances
1962 Archbishop Suenens of Mechelen-Brussels appointed cardinal
1964 Sean Connery's 1st day of shooting on "Goldfinger"
1965 Chivu Stoica becomes President of the Council of Romanian People's Republic & Nicolae Ceausescu appointed 1st Secretary of Romanian communist party
1965 Indonesia nationalizes all foreign oil companies
1965 Rembrandt's "Titus" sells for then record ƒ7,770,000
1966 "Pousse Cafe" closes at 46th St Theater NYC after 3 performances
1966 28th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Texas Western beats Kentucky 72-65
1966 Belgium government of Vanden Boeynants begins
1967 French Somaliland (Djibouti) votes to continue association with France
1967 Marilynn Smith wins LPGA St Petersburg Orange Golf Classic
1968 Howard University students seize administration building
1969 British invade Anguilla
1969 Chicago 8 indicted in aftermath of Chicago Democratic convention
1970 West German chancellor & East German premier Willy Brandt meet
1971 Philadelphia 76ers outscore Cincinnati Royals 90-8 in 1 half
1972 "To Live Another Summer" closes at Helen Hayes NYC after 173 performances
1972 Carol Mann wins LPGA Orange Blossom Golf Classic
1972 India & Bangladesh sign friendship treaty
1972 Los Angeles Lakers beat Golden State Warriors, 162-99, by then record 63 points
1973 Dean tells Nixon, "There is a cancer growing on the Presidency"
1974 Jefferson Starship begins their 1st tour
1975 "Dr Jazz" opens at Winter Garden Theater NYC for 5 performances
1975 Pennsylvania is 1st state to allow girls to compete with boys in High School sports
1976 Princess Margaret separates from the Earl of Snowdon, after 16 years
1977 "Side by Side by Sondheim" closes at Music Box NYC after 390 performances
1977 France performs nuclear test at Muruora Island
1977 Jevgeni Kulikov skates world record 1000 meter (1:15.33)
1978 50,000 demonstrate in Amsterdam against neutron bomb
1978 Sally Little wins LPGA Kathryn Crosby/Honda Civic Golf Classic
1979 House of Representatives begins live TV broadcasts via C-SPAN
1981 2 workers killed in space shuttle Columbia accident
1981 Buffalo Sabres beat Toronto Maple Leafs 14-4
1981 Emmy 8th Daytime Awards: Susan Lucci loses for 2nd time
1982 National Guard jet tanker crashes killing 27
1984 "Kate & Allie" premieres
1984 John J O'Connor named 8th archbishop of New York
1984 KSD-AM in St Louis MO changes call letters to KUSA
1984 Mobil oil tanker spills 200,000 gallons into Columbia River
1984 Pitcher Denny McLain, indicted on various charges of racketeering
1984 STS 41-C vehicle moves to launch pad
1985 "Spin Magazine" begins publishing
1985 New South Wales wins cricket Sheffield Shield by beating Queensland by 1 wicket
1985 Senate votes 55-45, to authorize production of the MX missile
1987 Bonnie Blair skates ladies world record 500 meter (39.43 seconds)
1987 Fred Currey acquires Greyhound Bus Company
1987 Hassanali inaugurated as President of Trinidad & Tobago
1987 PTL leader Jim Bakker resigns after sex scandal with Jessica Hahn
1987 Yvonne van Gennip skates ladies world record 3 km (4:16.85)
1988 2 British soldiers lynched in Belfast North Ireland
1988 Yvonne van Gennip skates un-official world record 10 km (15 :5.25)
1989 Boeing V-22 Osprey VTOL aircraft makes maiden flight
1989 Lori Garbacz wins Circle K LPGA Golf Open Tucson
1989 World Ice Dance Championship in Paris France won by M Klimova & S Ponomarenko (USR)
1989 World Ice Pairs Figure Skating Championship in Paris France won by E Gordeeva & S Grinkov (USSR)
1989 World Ladies Figure Skating Championship in Paris France won by Midori Ito (Japan)
1989 World Men's Figure Skating Championship in Paris France won by Kurt Browning (Canada)
1990 1st world ice hockey tournament for women held (Ottawa)
1991 Kansas City Royals announce they are putting Bo Jackson on waivers
1991 NFL owners strip Phoenix of 1993 Super Bowl game due to Arizona not recognizing Martin Luther King Day
1991 Sacramento Kings set NBA record of 29 consecutive road loses
1991 St Louis Blue Brett Hull is 3rd NHLer to score 80 goals in a season
1992 "Master Builder" opens at Belasco Theater NYC for 45 performances
1992 British Prince Andrew & Princess Sarah Ferguson announce separation
1993 Supreme Court Justice Byron R White announced plans to retire
1993 World Ice Dance Championship in Prague won by M Usova & A Zhulin (Russia)
1993 World Ice Pairs Figure Skating Championship in Prague won by I Brasseur & L Eisler (Canada)
1993 World Ladies Figure Skating Championship in Prague won by Oksana Baiul (Ukraine)
1993 World Men's Figure Skating Championship in Prague won by Kurt Browning (Canada)
1994 2500 kilograms of cocaine intercepted in Zeewolde Netherlands
1994 Lara scores 167 for West Indies vs England at Georgetown
1994 Largest omelet (1,383² ft) made with 160,000 eggs in Yokohama Japan
1994 New Jersey Devils club record 41st win of the season
1995 "Translations" opens at Plymouth Theater NYC for 25 performances
1995 "Uncle Vanya" closes at Circle in Square Theater NYC after 29 performances
1995 5 die by poison gas in Japanese subway
1995 Arizona begins using new area code 520 outside of Phoenix
1995 Bonnie Blair skates female world record point total (156.450)
1995 Finland Social-Democratic Party wins parliamentary election
1995 Laura Davis wins LPGA Standard Register PING Golf Tournament
1995 Michael Jordan rejoins Chicago Bulls after 17 months, beats Pacers
1995 NBA New York Knicks beat New York Nets in 100th meeting (Knicks 53 Nets 47)
1995 Neil Marshall skates world record 3 km (3 :4.08)
1996 Winnie Mandela divorces Nelson after 38 years of marrage
1997 Major League Baseball announces 5 year/$50M deal with Pepsi
1997 Supreme Court hears Internet indecency arguments
1998 "Ah Wilderness!" opens at Vivian Beaumont theater

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

Australia : Canberra Day
Italy, Spain, Canary Island : St Joseph Day

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Religious Observances
Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican : Solemnity of St Joseph, stepfather of Jesus
Ancient Rome : Quinquatrus (Feast of Minerva); a d xiv Kal Apr

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Religious History
1563 The Edict of Amboise granted a limited amount of freedom to French Protestants, thereby ending the First Huguenot War.
1641 A General Court ended which declared the Colony of Rhode Island a democracy. The Court also adopted a constitution granting religious freedom to all its citizens.
1937 Pius XI declared in the encyclical "Divini redemptoris": 'There would be neither Socialism nor Communism today if the rulers of the nations had not scorned the teachings and material warnings of the Church.'
1944 German Lutheran pastor and Nazi martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in a letter: 'We can have abundant life, even though many wishes remain unfulfilled.'
1987 Jim Bakker, 48, stepped down as head of the PTL ministry amid disclosures of a 1980 sexual liaison with church secretary Jessica Hahn.

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Thought for the day :
"I believe in looking reality straight in the eye and denying it."

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!!

[Valin]

We arrived at Indianapolis in the afternoon and were marched out to camp. Lumber was brought and we all went to work building a "shebang." Before night we had a board tent built,

So that's where we got the phrase "The whole shebang".
OH OH, does this mean I've learned something?
I'm afraid!

[manna]

Present!

[SAMWolf]

Morning Jen.

[SAMWolf]

She was sold to Peru in 1912 as Commandant Elias Aguirre but was never delivered; she was resold to Belgium in 1920

Beinning the proud tradition of stiffing their "friends".

[SAMWolf]

1912 Adolf Galland fighter Pilot



'It felt as if I were being pushed by Angels'.
Adolf Galland, after flying a Me 262 for the first time.

[SAMWolf]

LOL!

"Knowledge is good"

Emil Faber, Founder Faber College in Faber, PA.

[MHGinTN]

I don't know if this has made it to the Foxhole yet, but I want to share some things forwarded to me from a source I should not name:

For when folks don't think it is real...
AFOSI DETACHMENT 201 ALERT NOTICE 03-02
7 Mar 2003

INFORMATION: At or around 1130 am on 6 Mar 03, two military members from the 203d Red Horse Flight (VA ANG, Virginia Beach, VA), were at a restaurant in Virginia Beach when they were approached by two individuals of Middle Eastern descent. These individuals proceed to question them as to where they could get uniforms, weapons, what base were they assigned to and where they deploying. Both members refused to answer their questions. One the individuals got very defensive when the military members refused answer their questions. The military members departed the restaurant, but not before obtaining good descriptions of each one of them as well as the make/model of their car and tag number. The military members returned to the unit and reported the incident.

The local police department and the FBI were notified. Both individuals were captured. One individual was wanted in NY for weapons issues and both where in this country illegally. One of them was also known to very violent.

SUGGESTION: This incident highlights the importance of reporting suspicious behavior. AFOSI would rather investigation one thousand unfounded reports that miss the one that results in the successful arrest as depicted above. It is everyone's duty and responsibility to stay alert to their surrounding and report suspicious behavior with as many details as possible. Thanks for your help.

POC FOR QUESTIONS/FEEDBACK: Special Agent XXXXX XXXXXX, X-XXXX.

For those who think our president is callous...

President Bush Visits Wounded OEF Soldiers
17 January 2003

Below is an attempt to capture a truly memorable event that took place at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC. The President came to visit five soldiers that were wounded in Afghanistan. SSG Jerry was one of those soldiers and the reason I, MSG R, was present for this event.

As the President entered the room he spoke Spanish to the family. He said hello to everyone and positioned himself on the left side of SSG Jerry's bed. Mrs. Celina was standing next to him. I was standing on the opposite side of the bed with SSG Jerry's mother, Nancy, and his two aunts. He said hello to Celina and then to SSG Jerry. He then looked at me and reached across SSG Jerry to shake my hand and ask me where I was from. I told him that I was originally from New York, but I re-entered the military while living in Texas. He replied, "Texas," with a little laugh. I then told the President that Jerry and his family are from Texas. The whole room started to laugh. Mr. Bush told the SSG Jerry family in Spanish, to say hello to his mother the next time they are in Texas. He hadn't seen her in a while.

The President then turned his attention to SSG Jerry, the person he had come to see. SSG Jerry instructed his wife to hand the President a sterling silver XXth SFG coin as a gift for coming to see him and the other wounded soldiers. After thanking him he told Jerry that he had something for him as well.

At that point MG Kiley, the Commander of Walter Reed Medical Center, published the order for SSG Jerry's Bronze Star. The President pinned the award to Jerry's hospital gown. SSG Jerry thanked The President and extended his amputated left arm to the President to shake note: right arm immobilized for skin graphing).

The President grabbed his amputated limb with both hands and shook it. He then did something that took everyone in the room by surprise. He reached down and kissed SSG Jerry on the forehead. The way a father would kiss his child before putting him to bed. As he rose from the bed you could see the emotion welling up in his eyes. He told SSG Jerry that he was strong and he was going to be OK. He turned to Celina and thanked her with a hug for her husband's selfless service to our country.

SSG Jerry told the President that he wanted to stand up for him. The President told him that it was OK, he was standing for both of them. Jerry told the President that, after he was completely healed, he wanted to go back overseas to fight the war. Mr. Bush told him and everyone in the room that we needed more men like SSG Jerry. The President then came around the bed and thanked Jerry's mother and aunts for Jerry's service to our country.

Mrs. Nancy requested the President take a picture with the family. Mrs. Laura Bush approached me and shook my hand. I thanked her for coming to see our soldier. She said that it wasn't a problem. As The President turned to leave the room he told the SSG Jerry family "Dios de Bendiga ".

On the way out of the room the President turned to me, shook my hand again, and told me that I was doing a fine job. Outside the room the President took pictures with Mrs. Bush, Jerry's daughter Dion (2yr old child), & Mrs. Celina. Mrs. Nancy, Jerry's mother, grabbed my arm and told the President that she wanted a picture of the two of us. She told The President that I had been like one of her sons since Jerry's accident. As I was standing next to the President he commented that I seemed like the kind of friend that someone like SSG Jerry needed during a time like this. I told the President "Sir, I know that if it was me laying in that bed, Jerry would be there for me, just like any other soldier would, in XXth SFG". With that the President shook my hand again, looked me in the eye, and told me I was a good man. To say the least, I was extremely flattered by The President's kind words. In my heart I know that it could have been anyone from XXth SFG here, and he would have told him the same thing. That was one of the reasons I came to SF, because we take care of our own. I'm very thankful to still have that feeling after 22 years of military service.

I leave you with some images (separate attachement) of the Commander in Chief expressing his thanks and gratitude to a warrior for his selfless service to his country. Remember that Special Forces Medics and his teammates saved this warrior's life. Without their efforts and commitment SSG Jerry would never have lived to reflect on this memorable day. His medical care has truly been a success story. I can't say enough about all the medical personnel involved in saving SSG Jerry's life. SSG Jerry has made tremendous progress since he was injured, but still has a long way to go. Please keep the SSG Jerry family in your prayers.