Birth of General Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was born on June 13, 1786, in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. Nicknamed “Old Fuss and Feathers” and the “Grand Old Man of the Army,” he was one of America’s longest-serving military commanders.
Civil War
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Confederate Postal Service Begins
On June 1, 1861, the Confederate States of America took control of their own postal operations. With several months before official postage stamps would be ready, some cities produced their own postmaster’s provisional stamps to keep mail moving during this time.
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Birth of Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins was born on May 19, 1795, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. A successful businessman, he donated $7 million for the creation of schools and hospitals, the largest philanthropic gift in America up to that time.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
