Gilbert M. Stack's Blog, page 119
October 27, 2018
Today in History: The Extermination Order
On this day (October 27) in 1838, Lilburn Boggs, Governor of Missouri, issued an order to “exterminate” all Mormons who refused to leave the state. There had been increasing tension between the Mormons and other citizens of Missouri largely surrounding Mormon opposition to slavery, their growing numbers, and their religious views. As tensions grew, divisions in the Mormon community led to dissenters being expelled from the Mormon stronghold in Caldwell County. Some of these dissenters reported that Mormons were preparing to invade the capitals of neighboring counties. A militia was formed and led by anti-Mormon Captain Samuel Bogart who began to disarm some Mormon families. They arrested three men and a rumor circulated in Mormon communities that a mob was going to execute the men. In response the Mormons mobilized a force under Captain David “Fear-Not” Patten to rescue the arrested Mormons. The two forces met near dawn on October 25. It is unclear who fired first but a Mormon scout was killed. The Mormons then formed up and charged the militia which broke and fled. Three Mormons, including Fear-Not Patten, were killed, and one militia man. Governor Boggs then issued his infamous Extermination Order which led directly to the Haun’s Mill massacre which I will write about on October 30.
October 25, 2018
Today in History: George III Becomes King of England
On this day (October 25) in 1760 George III became King of Great Britain and King of Ireland. He would reign during the American Revolution and suffer recurring mental illness which may have been the disease porphyria.
October 24, 2018
Today in History: The First Picture from Space
On this day (October 24) in 1946 a U.S. rocket called V2 No 13 launched from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, achieved a height of 65 miles, and took the first photograph of the earth from outer space.
October 23, 2018
Today in History: The Irish Rebel
On this day (October 23) in 1641, Irish Catholics attempted to seize control of Charles I’s administration in Dublin. They were not trying to overthrow Charles, but to take advantage of his problems with Scotland and many of his English subjects to force him to grant concessions to his Catholic Irish subjects. Unfortunately for them, their effort failed and led to a series of wars that only ended when Oliver Cromwell decisively crushed them in the 1650s.
October 22, 2018
Today in History: The Battle of Red Bank
On this day (October 22) in 1777 American Revolutionaries decisively defeated a British attempt to seize Fort Mercer on the Delaware River just south of British occupied Philadelphia. Fort Mercer was one of two American forts constructed to keep the British from resupplying their troops in Philadelphia. 1200 Hessian soldiers under the command of Colonel Carl von Donop attacked the fort from two directions while six British naval vessels attacked from the river. Both assaults were driven back decisively and von Donop was left on the battlefield by his men with a wound in his leg. He died three days later which was ironic since at the start of the battle he had told his men, “Either this fort will be called Fort Donop, or I shall have fallen.”
October 21, 2018
Today in History: The First Kamikaze Attack
On this day (October 21) in 1944, the first kamikaze attack was launched by the Japanese military. These attacks were intended to compensate for Japanese loss of air superiority in the war by providing a more certain method for sinking Allied warships. The fighter plane was loaded with a 440 pound bomb and successfully crashed into the cruiser, HMAS Australia, killing its captain and 29 men and injuring 64 others. The Australia did not sink.
October 20, 2018
Today in History: The Johnnie Bright Incident
On this day (October 20) in 1951 the Johnnie Bright Incident occurred in a football game between Drake’s Bulldog and Texas A&M. Bright was a Heisman contender and African-American athlete and Texas A&M players were still angry that their school had been forced to desegregate. With the encouragement of their coaches, they decided to get Bright and make certain his winning streak ended. They practiced breaking his jaw in the week leading up the game, knocked him out three times in the first nine minutes of the game and did actually break his jaw. Despite this, Bright stayed in the game for several plays completing a critical sixty-one yard touchdown pass before finally being forced to sit out.
A Pulitzer prize winning series of photographs clearly showed that the jaw-breaking blow was struck well after the football had been handed off. Even with this evidence, Texas A&M officials refused to admit that anything wrong had been planned or done for fifty years after the blow.
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October 19, 2018
Legionnaire 6: Morganita Burning Is Available for Pre-Order
At long last, Legionnaire 6: Morganita Burning is available for pre-order. It's 25% off if you purchase it by 12/6/18.
The long-feared war has erupted and Prefect Marcus Venandus and his newly raised legion are on the front lines of the fighting. After the successful conquest of a fortified border town, Marcus leads his men deep into Morganitan territory, part of a daring plan to secure Amatista’s rear by eliminating its major northern opponent before its other foes can join in the fighting. Yet will his new infantry prove up to the task? Despite new weapons and the strategies of far off Aquila to direct them, Marcus’ men are badly inexperienced and riven with the same deep-seated racial prejudices that embroil all of the peoples of the north. With just as many enemies within as without, can Marcus find the path to victory?
And here's the great cover by artist Shirley Burnett:
For your convenience, here's the link to the book page on Amazon.
On this Day: Cornwallis Surrendered at Yorktown
On this day (October 19) in 1781 British General Cornwallis formally surrendered the George Washington at Yorktown ending the fighting in the American Revolution and setting the stage for the peace treaty negotiations. Cornwallis would go on to have a highly respected military career as Governor-General of India. George Washington would go on to become the first president of the United States of America.
October 18, 2018
Today in History: Alaska Joins the United States
On this day (October Eighteen) in 1867, the United States took possession of Alaska after purchasing the territory from Russia for $7.2 million. At the time, the purchase was pejoratively described as Seward’s Folly—condemning Secretary of State William Seward for wasting taxpayer money on the frozen wasteland. In retrospect, it not only got Russia out of North America and opened vast natural beauty and mineral resources to the country, but provided the nation with the 49th state. Happy Alaska day!
