Monday, July 21, 2014

Today in History for July 21, 2014

Robert Burns
July 21, 1796 – Scottish poet and prominent freemason Robert Burns passed away at the age of 37 in Dumfries, Scotland. It’s believed that he wrote “Epistle to William Simson,” a trustee at the school in Belleville, Ala. in May 1785.

July 21, 1861 – The First Battle of Bull Run (also known as First Manassas) began in Prince William County, Va., near the city of Manassas, not far from Washington, D.C. Nearly 400 Confederate soldiers were killed in this battle, including six members of the Conecuh Guards - Dr. Samuel H. Wimberly, First Sergeant Louis Gatch, First Cpl. William Thomas, Jesse Peacock, John Robbins and James Strickland. Members of the Conecuh Guards known to have been wounded in the battle included 1st. Lt. Archibald D. McInnis, 2nd Lt. John G. Guice, First Sergeant Andrew J. Mosley (wounded in head and arm), Sgt. James M. Andrews (survived war and returned to Conecuh County), Fourth Cpl. Joseph A. Thomas, Blake Beard (wounded and honorably discharged), J.B. Bonnett (wounded and honorably discharged), John Mason (dropped from roll in 1862 and returned to live in Conecuh County), Evander McIver (wounded in two places, honorably discharged in September 1861 and moved to Texas after war), Owen Perry (honorably discharged, rejoined the army later, was captured and died in prison), and Theodosius Turk (honorably discharged under act of Congress in 1862). Capt. Pinckney D. Bowles had his canteen shattered at First Bull Run by a rifle ball fired by Union troops.

July 21, 1864 – A four-day Federal operation from Barrancas, Fla. toward Pollard, Ala. began with skirmishes at Camp Gonzales, Fla. and near Pollard, Ala.

July 21, 1873 - The first U.S. train robbery took place in Adair, Iowa when the James Gang held up the Rock Island Express.

July 21, 1887 – A rain of ants occurred in Nancy, France.

July 21, 1899 – Ernest Hemingway was born in Oak Park, Ill.

July 21, 1918 – Army Cpl. Will F. Alexander of Georgiana, Ala. was killed in action during WWI.

July 21, 1983 - The world's lowest temperature, -129°F, was recorded at Vostok Station, Antarctica.

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