Happy Birthday William H. Seward
William Henry Seward was born on May 16, 1801 in Florida, New York. Seward served as Abraham Lincoln’s secretary of state during the Civil War and later acquired Alaska for the United States.
Civil War
-
-
Lincoln Made Honorary Citizen of San Marino
On May 7, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln accepted the “honor of citizenship” from San Marino. It was one of the earliest instances of US and San Marino relations, which wouldn’t be formally established for decades.
-
Stonewall Jackson Mortally Wounded
On May 2, 1863, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was mortally wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville. Regarded as a gifted tactical commander, his death was a major blow to the confederacy.
-
Union Wins Battle of Shiloh
On April 7, 1862, Ulysses S. Grant won the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee. The bloodiest battle in US history up to that point, one in four soldiers was killed, wounded, or captured.
-
U.S. Merchant Marine
On March 15, 1938, the Merchant Marine Cadet Corps was established. Merchant Marines transport cargo and passengers in peacetime and are called upon in times of war to deliver troops and supplies wherever needed.
-
Birth of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. was born on March 8, 1841, in Boston, Massachusetts. Known as “The Great Dissenter,” he is one of the best-known American judges, serving on the Supreme Court for 30 years.
-
Incorporation of B&O Railroad
One of America’s oldest railroads, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, was first established on February 28, 1827. The railroad was at the forefront of transportation history for decades – pioneer the use of steam engines to electric and beyond.
-
First Shots of the Civil War?
On January 9, 1861, Southern rebels fired on an American ship attempting to resupply Fort Sumter. Some consider these to be the opening shots of the Civil War.
-
South Carolina Secedes from the Union
On December 20, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. Within months they were followed by 10 other states, forming the Confederate States of America, sparking the Civil War.
