[JerseyJohn61]

1859. Interesting, as that must have been an active solar
cycle that lasted some years.

In December of 1862, on the battlefield at Fredricksburg,
Virginia, the Northern Lights were seen. A very unusual
occurrence that far south. Must have been a potent flare
“season”....JJ61

[muawiyah]

Fredericksburg VA is about as far South as Seymour, Indiana where I recall seeing the Northern Lights more than half a century ago.

A review of the records concerning solar flares would probably find out exactly what day that happened too!