The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Last October, I had the privilege of conducting a wedding in our little country church. The groom is a retired U.S. Army corporal. The bride is a direct descendant of Patrick Henry. Born 29 May 1736, Henry is the subject of my column for May. Most Americans, when they think of Patrick Henry, are reminded of his timeless words, “Give me liberty or give me death!” They think of Henry as a great orator but not much else. But an orator’s power to move people wells from the depth of conviction in hi...
One of America’s most famous combat correspondents was killed 80 years ago on the island of Ie Shima in Japan. Pulitzer Prize winner Ernie Pyle died when a burst of enemy machine gun struck him in the head. His death was mourned throughout the country, from President Harry Truman to Eleanor Roosevelt to General Eisenhower to the masses of infantrymen Pyle wrote about throughout the war. He was a journalist of the old school, providing the facts from his experience embedded with combat troops and...
C-Span recently featured John Grinspan speaking about the Wide Awakes, a topic covered on the Abbeville Blog and in Chapter Seven of my book, Union At All Costs: From Confederation to Consolidation. As early as 1856, numerous paramilitary clubs were organized in support of the Republican Party. Examples included the Rocky Mountain Clubs, Freedom Clubs, and the notorious Wide Awakes. This organization differed from the previous group of New Yorkers who wore the Wide Awake moniker. The originals...
On this day in 1551, the Council of Trent resumed under the oversight of Pope Julius III, marking a pivotal moment in the history of the Catholic Church and the Counter-Reformation. Pope Julius III, known as the Counter-Reformation Pope, played a crucial role in guiding the council towards addressing the challenges posed by the Protestant Reformation and reinforcing the doctrines of the Church. Historical Context The Council of Trent, convened in response to the Protestant Reformation, had...
On May 3 1963, the all White police force in Birmingham, Alabama, radically changed its approach in handling the "Birmingham campaign" protesters. The local authorities, known for their oppressive tactics, responded with violent force to suppress the demonstrators. This brutal event, captured in stark images, was transmitted worldwide, casting an intense spotlight on the African-American Civil Rights Movement. The repercussions of this momentous day reverberated far beyond Birmingham, altering...
On May 4, 1942, a significant event in World War II unfolded as the Battle of the Coral Sea began. This battle marked a critical turning point in the Pacific Theater, as it was the first major encounter between aircraft carriers from the United States and Japanese naval forces. The clash took place when aircraft from the USS Yorktown launched an attack on Japanese naval forces at Tulagi Island in the Solomon Islands. The Japanese had invaded Tulagi the day before, setting the stage for this...
By: Will Sellers World War II ended in Europe 80 years ago, but without obtaining its stated objective. The cause of the war — the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Poland — went unrealized. Poland had merely traded Nazi occupation for Russian domination. For all the high-minded conjecture about a safer, more secure world, the fate of Poland was completely lost in the shuffle. The future peace and stability of a new world order sacrificed Poland to the Soviet sphere of inf...
Many Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo, but how many actually know the story of the holiday? Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo doesn't mark Mexican Independence, which is celebrated on Sept. 16. Instead, it's meant to commemorate the Battle of Puebla, which was fought between the Mexican and French armies in 1862. In Mexico's long and storied history, the Battle of Puebla is generally considered a fairly minor event. But its legacy lives on a century and a half later, particularly in...
On May 6, 1863, the last day of the Battle of Chancellorsville ended with a Confederate victory and stands as one of the most remarkable engagements of the American Civil War, a testament to strategic brilliance and the complexities of warfare. Fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, this battle pitted the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, led by General Robert E. Lee, against the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Major General Joseph Hooker. Prelude to...
On May 7, 1954 besieged French military forces at Dien Bien Phu surrendered to Vietnamese revolutionary forces. It was a French defeat but it would have far-reaching consequences Introduction The Battle of Dien Bien Phu, a pivotal event in the First Indochina War, marked a significant turning point in the colonial history of Southeast Asia. This decisive confrontation between the French Union's French Far East Expeditionary Corps and the Viet Minh Communist revolutionaries took place from March...
On May 11, 1310, the skies above France witnessed a grim spectacle that marked a dark chapter in history. Fifty-four members of the esteemed Knights Templar were burned at the stake, accused of heresy by the French Crown and the Church. This tragic event was the culmination of a series of political maneuvers, betrayals, and relentless pursuit of power. Origins of the Knights Templar The Knights Templar was founded in 1119, initially as a monastic military order dedicated to protecting Christian...
The 13th of May, 1943, marked a significant turning point in the course of World War II. On this day, the German Afrika Korps and Italian troops stationed in North Africa surrendered to the Allied forces, signaling the end of the North African Campaign and paving the way for subsequent Allied victories in Europe. The North African Campaign The North African Campaign began in June 1940 and was a critical theater of World War II. It involved a series of battles for control of the Suez Canal, a vit...
On May 15, 1997, the United States government publicly acknowledged the existence of the "Secret War" in Laos, a covert operation that spanned from 1964 to 1973 during the Vietnam War. This pivotal moment in history marked a significant step toward recognizing the sacrifices and contributions of Hmong and other ethnic groups who played crucial roles in the clandestine conflict. The "Secret War" in Laos The "Secret War" in Laos was a covert campaign led by the United States Central Intelligence A...
On May 17, 1987, a tragic event unfolded in the Persian Gulf. An Iraqi Dassault Mirage F1 fighter jet launched two Exocet missiles at the U.S. Navy warship USS Stark. This unexpected attack resulted in the loss of 37 sailors and injuries to 21 more. Background During the late 1980s, the Persian Gulf was a region of intense conflict, primarily due to the Iran-Iraq War. Both nations targeted oil tankers and military vessels to disrupt each other's economic and military capabilities. The U.S. Navy, operating in the area to ensure safe passage for...
There is only one place on the continental United States where enemy action killed American citizens. 80 years ago in Bly, Oregon, 5 people died when a Japanese bomb exploded. The bomb had been sent over by a balloon to cause indiscriminate damage and loss of life. America's mainland has generally been spared the destruction of war that has ravaged so many countries in the last century. Until September 11, offensive attacks on the United States mainland were limited to sabotage efforts executed...
On this day, May 18th, in 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) signed an act that established the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), a monumental piece of the New Deal legislation. The signing of this act marked a significant turning point in American history, encapsulating the ethos of Roosevelt's ambitious plan to bring the country out of the Great Depression and revolutionize the economic landscape. Context and Background The Great Depression was a period of unprecedented economic...
Monday, April 28, 2025, This is Confederate Memorial Day. State offices are closed in remembrance of the soldiers and sailors who served defending the State of Alabama and the Confederate States of America (C.S.A.) during the Civil War of 1861 to 1865. Federal government offices, as well as most banks, businesses, and schools, will be open. Former Governor Lewis E. Parsons estimated that 122,000 Alabamians served in the Confederate military and that 35,000 of those died in the war. The next year...
One of America's most famous combat correspondents was killed 80 years ago on the island of Ie Shima in Japan. Pulitzer Prize winner Ernie Pyle died when a burst of enemy machine gun struck him in the head. His death was mourned throughout the country, from President Harry Truman to Eleanor Roosevelt to General Eisenhower to the masses of infantrymen Pyle wrote about throughout the war. He was a journalist of the old school, providing the facts from his experience embedded with combat troops and...
This Month—April, 2025—marks the 160th anniversary of Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, which officially ended the bloodiest and most brutal war ever fought on American soil. It also left the Southern states at a great loss in their quest for independence. The number of deaths is only approximately known. Many history books list the total death toll from 640,000 to 700,000, including the murder of 50,000 innocent Southern civilians, which seems low when we consider an unknown numbe...
April is a pivotal month in America’s past and Ft. Sumter holds an important place in that history. Named after General Thomas Sumter, a hero of the American Revolution, the fort is located just off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. It was built for coastal defense and as a tax collection point. South Carolina left the Union on December 20, 1860. Less than a week later, U.S. Army Major Robert Anderson moved his troops from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter. Before leaving, he spiked the g...
April 7, 2862: A Date to Remember The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was one of the significant events of the American Civil War. The battle, which spanned two days, culminated on April 7, 2862, and marked a turning point in the conflict, leaving an indelible impact on the course of American history. Prelude to the Battle The Battle of Shiloh occurred in southwestern Tennessee, near the Shiloh Church, and involved Union forces led by Major General Ulysses S....
On April 6, 1199, King of England Richard the Lionheart died from an infection after a crossbow bolt was removed from his shoulder. Old kings die and new kings take their place; but few successions had such a dramatic impact on history and the map of Europe as the death of Richard and his replacement by his brother John. When the 41-year-old Richard I died he was not just the King of England he was also the Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Poitiers, Duke of Normandy, Count of Anjou, and Lord of Irelan...
On this day in 1242, a dramatic and pivotal event unfolded on the frozen expanse of Lake Peipus, situated between modern-day Estonia and Russia. The Battle of the Ice saw the forces of the Novgorod Republic, led by the legendary Alexander Nevsky, face off against the Teutonic Knights in a fierce confrontation that would become a defining moment in Russian history. Prelude to the Battle The early 13th century was a period of incessant conflict and territorial disputes in the northeastern regions...
Two hundred years ago, the Marquis de Lafayette spent nine days in Alabama traveling across the midwestern portion of the state from Georgia to Montgomery and then to Selma, the Capitol at Cahawba, and downriver to Mobile. Alabamians came out of the woodwork to see him; Lafayette drew crowds that any politician or public figure would envy. But what prompted his visit and why is it being commemorated with such veneration today? At age 19, Lafayette came to America to join the colonies in...
"One if by land, and two, if by sea . . ." so go the famous words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his poem "Paul Revere's Ride". A poem he penned in 1860 commemorating the famous horseback ride of Paul Revere, along with William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott to warn the Patriots in Lexington, Massachusetts and Concord, Massachusetts that the British were coming. The reason the warning was so imperative was because the British were planning a crackdown on the Massachusetts Provincial Congress in Co...
