Free Republic

One of the American Civil War's most famous generals once lived on California's Central Coast and his home can still be visited. General William Tecumseh Sherman is best known for his "March To the Sea" where he marched from Atlanta to Savannah, destroying military targets, industry, infrastructure, and civilian property. The march was pivotal in ending the war and forcing the Confederacy to surrender. Before Sherman was fighting on the east coast and leading to the defeat of the traitorous Confederacy, he was stationed in Monterey and lived at the now-named Sherman Quarter, on Calle Principal, a block away from...

Capt. James Lawrence "Don't Give Up the Ship!" & Captain Oliver Hazard Perry "We have met the enemy, and they are ours!" Among the many U.S. Navy and Marine heroes confronting Tripoli's Muslim Barbary pirates was Captain James Lawrence. In 1804, Captain Lawrence was second-in-command, under Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, of an expedition to destroy the captured 36-gun frigate USS Philadelphia held in Tripoli's harbor. It had run aground on an uncharted sandbar. Muslim pirates captured it and were preparing to use it for piracy. James Lawrence also commanded the USS Enterprise which fought battles with the Tripolitan Corsairs along the...

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- A man plans to pursue visitation rights with the half-dozen black bears that were removed from his farm near Tecumseh last month. Duane Kuhl, 37, was ticketed on suspicion of illegally possessing wild animals. He pleaded not guilty to the six misdemeanor charges at an arraignment Wednesday in Johnson County Court. Kuhl also faces a five felony counts of stealing some 64 hogs. His lawyer, Christopher Ferdico, said he and his client plan to pursue the opportunity to visit with the bears, now being housed at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, and check on their...

Dear Lord, There's a young man far from home, called to serve his nation in time of war; sent to defend our freedom on some distant foreign shore. We pray You keep him safe, we pray You keep him strong, we pray You send him safely home ... for he's been away so long. There's a young woman far from home, serving her nation with pride. Her step is strong, her step is sure, there is courage in every stride. We pray You keep her safe, we pray You keep her strong, we pray You send her safely home...