Civil War
Dedication of the Washington Monument
On February 21, 1885, the Washington Monument was dedicated, 37 years after its cornerstone was laid.
Birth of Admiral William T. Sampson
US Navy Rear Admiral William T. Sampson was born on February 9, 1840, in Palmyra, New York.
College of William and Mary
On February 8, 1693, a royal charter officially established the College of William and Mary. Today it’s the second-oldest college in America (behind Harvard).
Birth of Horatio Alger
Horatio Alger, Jr. was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, on January 13, 1832.
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.
Happy Birthday, Albert Bierstadt
Artist Albert Bierstadt was born on January 7, 1830, in Solingen, Germany.
Battle of Stones River
On December 31, 1862, the Battle of Stones River (also known as the Second Battle of Murfreesboro) began in Middle Tennessee.
Birth of President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, on December 29, 1808. When Johnson was just three years old, his father, Jacob Johnson, died. Mary McDonough Johnson supported him and his brothers by taking on washing and sewing for others.
Birth of Admiral George Dewey
George Dewey was born in Montpelier, Vermont, on December 26, 1837. His father had helped found the National Life Insurance Company as well as the Christ Episcopal Church in Montpelier.