Today in History

[Peter1469]

Today in History will be updated most days.

[Peter1469]

October 20 1947
Congress investigates Reds in Hollywood



During the Cold War communists tried to infiltrate the US. The reaction went over the top to an extent. But it did save us.

[MisterD]

I saw nic34 complaining about their 1st Amendment rights earlier. Members of the CPUSA was accused of violating the Smith Act. IOW, the were accused of plotting the violent overthrow of the US government. Not exactly an unreasonable suspicion in those days.

[Peter1469]

[MisterD]

[Peter1469]

We don't have a thanks feature yet. So this will have to do.

[MisterD]

This is great. There is a lot of color footage. It's footage supposedly footage of the 1st and 12th SS Divisions but there are clearly airborne troops in the video. I've never seen any of this before.

[Peter1469]

That is good stuff.

[Peter1469]

Oct 21
1861
Battle of Ball’s Bluff

This is a tiny battlefield closer to DC than Bull Run. Neat place.

"On this day in 1861, Union troops suffer a devastating defeat in the second major engagement of the Civil War. The Battle of Ball’s Bluff in Virginia produced the war’s first martyr and led to the creation of a Congressional committee to monitor the conduct of the war.

After the Battle of Bull Run, Virginia,on July 21, President Abraham Lincoln appointed General George McClellan to organize the defeated Federal Army of the Potomac. McClellan spent the fall assembling and training his force, but he was under pressure from Lincoln, the public, and Congress to take actionagainst the Confederates, who were waiting just across the Potomac River. McClellan ordered General George McCall to make a reconnaissance across the river, and he instructed General Charles Stone to watch the nearby town of Leesburg, Virginia, while McCall’s men were moving."

[Peter1469]

Admiral Lord Nelson defeats the combined French and Spanish fleet off the coast of Spain.



"In one of the most decisive naval battles in history, a British fleet under Admiral Lord Nelson defeats a combined French and Spanish fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar, fought off the coast of Spain.


At sea, Lord Nelson and the Royal Navy consistently thwarted Napoleon Bonaparte, who led France to preeminence on the European mainland. Nelson’s last and greatest victory against the French was the Battle of Trafalgar, which began after Nelson caught sight of a Franco-Spanish force of 33 ships. Preparing to engage the enemy force on October 21, Nelson divided his 27 ships into two divisions and signaled a famous message from the flagship Victory: “England expects that every man will do his duty.”

I have been to his tomb in London. I was in awe.