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Today in 1861, Union and Confederate armies fight the first major battle of the Civil War at Bull Run near Manassas, Va. Washingtonians ride out from the capital in carriages to eat picnic lunches hoping to watch the defeat of the Southern rebellion. They will be disappointed.
Today in 1914, Austria-Hungary delivers a punitive 10-point ultimatum to Serbia following Archduke Ferdinand’s assassination in Sarajevo in June. The demands, which seem designed to be rejected, target Serbian sovereignty. Serbia accepts all but one. Austria-Hungary declares war
On this day in 1942, the U.S. government orders the nationwide rationing of gasoline to help support the war effort.
On this day in 1812, British, Portuguese and Spanish troops under the command of Sir Arthur Wellesley smash the French at the Battle of Salamanca. It's later said that the future Duke of Wellington "defeated an army of 40,000 men in 40 minutes."
Today in 1944, American troops land on Guam. Of the 18,000 Japanese dug in on the island, all but about 1,200 will be killed in 20 days of heavy fighting. A handful evade capture. Some fight on for weeks after VJ Day; one named Shoichi Yokoi remains in hiding until 1972.
Happy 2,381st birthday to Alexander the Great, who is believed to have been born on this date (or possibly July 21) in 356 BC in Pella, Macedon. "There is nothing impossible to him who will try.
Today in 1944, assassins attempt to kill Adolf Hitler by planting a bomb in his East Prussian headquarters. The Führer survives and credits divine intervention. Mass arrests follow; nearly 5,000 Germans will be executed for their alleged involvement in the plot.
On this day in 1545, Tudor England loses its state-of-the-art warship, the Mary Rose, in action against a French invasion fleet off the Isle of Wight. The vessel will spend 437 years on bottom before being recovered in 1982.
On this day in 1870, France declares war on Prussia. The armies of Emperor Napoleon III are woefully unprepared for the contest that lies ahead and suffer a series of humiliating defeats. Within six months, German troops are marching through the streets of Paris.
Today in 1863, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry storms the walls of Fort Wagner near Charleston, South Carolina. Despite failing to capture the objective, the unit's heroism proves the mettle of African-American troops, paving the way for the raising of even more Black regiments.
On this day in 1914, the U.S. Army Signal Corps establishes a 23-plane "Aviation Section." It's the forerunner of the USAF. The unit's budget for the coming year will be $250,000 — less than the cost of a single AIM-9 Sidewinder missile today.
On this day in 1925, Adolf Hitler publishes the first volume of 'Mein Kampf.' In it, the future German Führer tells his life story, deals in toxic racial hatreds and lays out his plans for what will become the Third Reich. Eventually, more than 10 million copies will be printed.
On this day in 1944, two munition ships explode in Port Chicago, California, killing 320. Most of the dead are African American sailors and dock workers. A month later, 50 survivors will be charged with mutiny after refusing to work until more safety precautions are implemented.
On this day in 1936, nationalist elements within Spain's military rise up to overthrow the country's left-of-centre coalition government. The coup triggers a three-year civil war that leaves hundreds of thousands dead.
On this day in 1945, Truman, Stalin and Churchill assemble near Berlin at Potsdam, Germany to map out the post-war world. Behind the scenes, relations between the Western Allies and Moscow are beginning to unravel.
On this day in 1453, the French defeat an English army at Castillon. It's the last major battle of the Hundred Years War.
On this day in 1918, the RMS Carpathia is lost off England's west coast after being torpedoed by a German U-boat. The vessel won worldwide fame just six years earlier for being the first ship to respond to the Titanic's distress signal.
On this day in 1791, Lafayette orders the French National Guard to fire into a crowd of Parisians gathered on the Champ de Mars. The mob has assembled to demand the overthrow of France's monarchy.
On this day in 2014, a surface-to-air missile fired from a Russian launcher destroys a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 over Ukraine. The aircraft, which is flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, is carrying 283 passengers and 15 crew. All are killed.
In the movie 'Jaws' Quint gets the date of the USS Indianapolis sinking wrong. He said it happened "June the 29th, 1945" but it was actually July 30. Off by more than a month. (I bet he never really saw a shark eat a rocking chair either!)
