Today in History for Aug. 27, 2017

Aug. 27, 1770 – Philosopher Georg Hegel was born in Stuttgart.

Aug. 27, 1776 - British forces under General William Howe and his brother, Admiral Richard viscount Howe, defeated Patriot forces under General George Washington at the Battle of Brooklyn Heights in New York.

Aug. 27, 1809 - Hannibal Hamlin, the 15th Vice President of the United States, who served under President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, was born in Paris, Maine.

Aug. 27, 1846 – Samuel G. Portis was commissioned as Monroe County, Alabama’s Sheriff.

Aug. 27, 1856 – R. Hunley Agee was born at Perdue Hill, Ala. He later became the president of the R.H.&W.C. Agee Grocery Co. and one of Selma’s leading businessmen. He served as a member of Selma’s city council and as city tax assessor for two years.

Aug. 27, 1858 - The first cabled news dispatch was sent and was published by "The New York Sun" newspaper. The story was about the peace demands of England and France being met by China.

Aug. 27, 1859 – Petroleum was discovered in Titusville, Pennsylvania leading to the world's first commercially successful oil well. It's been called "the most important oil well ever drilled" because it marked the beginning of the modern petroleum age. Petroleum had been discovered elsewhere, of course, but this was the first well successfully drilled in search of the stuff.

Aug. 27, 1861 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought at the Antietam Iron Works in Maryland.

Aug. 27, 1861 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought at Ball’s Crossroad, Va.

Aug. 27, 1861 – During the Civil War, King Kamehameha IV announced that his nation, Hawaii, would observe neutrality in the hostilities. This simplified matters for Pacific naval operations of both sides, but had little diplomatic effect.

Aug. 27, 1861 - Union ships sailed into Cape Hatteras, N.C., beginning a two-day operation to secure the area for the Federals and denying the Confederates an important outlet to the Atlantic. The capture of Cape Hatteras was an important victory for the Union, especially after the disaster at the First Battle of Bull Run, Va. one month earlier. It also gave the Union a toehold on the North Carolina coast, and it sealed an important outlet to the Atlantic.

Aug. 27, 1862 – During the Civil War, a skirmish occurred at Bridgeport, Ala.

Aug. 27, 1862 – During the Civil War, Fort McCook was attacked at Battle Creek, Tenn., and the Federals burned the fort and retreated.

Aug. 27, 1862 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought near Kossuth, Miss.; near Cumberland Gap, Murfreesborough, Reynolds Station, near Pulaski and Woodbury in Tennessee; and at Buckland Bridge (Broad Run,) Bull Run Bridge, Kettle Run (near Bristoe Station,) Salem and Waterford in Virginia.

Aug. 27, 1862 – During the Civil War, General John Pope was in deep, deep trouble and didn’t know it. He did know that he had suddenly lost communication with Washington because Fitzhugh Lee had cut the telegraph wires in Manassas Junction. Since he was in town waiting for his father (Robert E. Lee) Fitz decided he might as well send the tons of supplies he had captured at the railroad depot south instead of north, and burn what couldn’t be carried. Pope on this day moved north, thinking he had the younger Lee trapped at the old Bull Run battlefield, and that George McClellan would soon be arriving to help. Other generals would be arriving, all right, but their names were Lee, Longstreet and Jackson.

Aug. 27, 1863 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought with Indians at Fort Bowie in the Arizona Territory; at Bayou Meto, Ark.; in Carter County and at Clark’s Neck, in Lawrence County, Ky.; at Mount Pleasant and near Vicksburg, Miss.; near Shellmound, Tenn.; at Weaverville and Little Washington, Va.; and at Balls Mill and Beverly in West Virginia. A cavalry skirmish was also fought at Edward’s Ferry, Md.

Aug. 27, 1864 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought near Pine Bluff and Fayette in Arkansas; at Owensborough, Ky.; and at Duffield’s Station and Mutter’s Hill in West Virginia.

Aug. 27, 1864 – During the Civil War, a 10-day Federal operation began, encompassing Little Rock, Devall’s Bluff, Searcy, Fairview and Augusta in Arkansas.

Aug. 27, 1864 – During the Civil War, the project to completely surround Atlanta, Ga., was nearing completion on this day. General William Tecumseh Sherman had pretty much had his way with the city since the Battle of Atlanta more than a month before. With every step from Peachtree Creek to Ezra Church to this day, the Federal Armies of the Cumberland, the Ohio and the Tennessee would attack, the defenders would retreat, and General Hood would blame General Hardee for one lapse or another. The final assault was nearing on this day as Sherman launched the assault on the Macon & Western Railroad lines. The loss of the final supply route would force Hood to surrender, die--or evacuate.

Aug. 27, 1864 – During the Civil War, a Federal operation began against Oywhee Indians near Fort Boise in the Idaho Territory.

Aug. 27, 1865 - Charles Dawes, the 30th U.S. Vice President, who served under President Calvin Coolidge, was born in Marietta, Ohio.

Aug. 27, 1871 – Novelist Theodore Dreiser was born in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Aug. 27, 1881 – The Georgia hurricane made landfall near Savannah, Ga., resulting in an estimated 700 deaths.

Aug. 27, 1883 – During what is now known as the “Eruption of Krakatoa,” four enormous explosions destroyed the island of Krakatoa and caused years of climate change.

Aug. 27, 1886 – The Monroe Journal reported that cotton was “opening very rapidly during the warm, dry weather.”

Aug. 27, 1886 – The Monroe Journal reported that Monroeville had not received her first bale of new cotton up to that date.

Aug. 27, 1886 – The Monroe Journal reported that Sheriff Armstrong of Macon County, who was killed by Mr. B.C. Thompson at Tuskegee the week before, was a brother of Hon. Henry Clay Armstrong, U.S. Minister to the Brazilian Empire.

Aug. 27, 1886 – The Monroe Journal reported that noticeable improvements were being made to the store of F. Metts on East Side.

Aug. 27, 1886 – The Monroe Journal reported that the Russell and Hudson steam mill was “being overhauled, put in order for the fall ginning season.”

Aug. 27, 1886 – The Monroe Journal reported that “several young gentlemen and ladies of Monroeville attended the Dramatic Entertainment at Perdue Hill last week. All express themselves as being highly pleased with the two charming plays presented. Success to the Perdue Hill Dramatic Club.”

Aug. 27, 1893 – The Sea Islands hurricane struck the United States near Savannah, Ga., killing an estimated 1,000-2,000 people.

Aug. 27, 1899 – Novelist C.S. Forester was born Cecil Smith in Cairo, Egypt.

Aug. 27, 1902 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Manager Thos. Johns of the Telephone Exchange, with his family, had moved into the residence in front of the Evergreen Baptist church.

Aug. 27, 1902 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Mack Binion, the young son of E.M. Binion, had a very bad accident the previous week by being gored by one of his father’s cows, its horns lacerating the flesh between the knee and hip. At press time, the boy was doing “very well.”

Aug. 27, 1902 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Rev. A.G. Mosley, pastor of the Evergreen Baptist church, was expected to return to Evergreen and begin his regular services on the first Sunday in September.

Aug. 27, 1908 - Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, was born in Stonewall, Texas.

Aug. 27, 1912 – The character of Tarzan, King of the Apes, came to life for the first time in an All-Story Magazine story, “Tarzan of the Apes: A Romance of the Jungle” by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Aug. 27, 1914 – Brewton and Monroeville played a baseball double header in Brewton, Ala. Brewton won the first game, 3-2, and Monroeville won the second game, 1-0.

Aug. 27, 1915 – Uncle Jake Franklin, who lived near Brooklyn, died and was believed to have been 107 years old.

Aug. 27, 1916 - A “deplorable homicide” occurred on this Sunday night near the camp of the Alabama Turpentine Co. at Megargel in which Willie Whisenhant was shot and killed by Hiram N. Dilburn. Dilburn was warden of the state convicts employed at the camp while Whisenhant was an employee of the turpentine company. Some misunderstanding arose between the two men over the time or manner of working the convicts and hard feelings were aroused over the matter. It was said that Dilburn went to the boarding place of Whisenhant late on Sunday evening and angry words were exchanged. The two men walked a short distance from the house where the difficulty was renewed, culminating in the shooting. Dilburn was jailed in Monroeville.

Aug. 27, 1916 – The Kingdom of Romania declared war on Austria-Hungary, entering World War I as one of the Allied nations.

Aug. 27, 1916 - After Romania declared war on Austria-Hungary, formally entering World War I, Romanian troops crossed the border of the Austro-Hungarian Empire into the much-contested province of Transylvania.

Aug. 27, 1918 – During the Mexican Revolution at the Battle of Ambos Nogales, U.S. Army forces skirmished against Mexican Carrancistas in the only battle of World War I fought on American soil.

Aug. 27, 1921 - The owner of Acme Packing Company bought a pro football team for Green Bay, Wisc. J.E. Clair paid tribute to those who worked in his plant by naming the team the Green Bay Packers.

Aug. 27, 1921 – The British installed the son of Sharif Hussein bin Ali (leader of the Arab Revolt of 1916 against the Ottoman Empire) as King Faisal I of Iraq.

Aug. 27, 1929 – Author, dramatist and songwriter Ira Levin was born in New York City.

Aug. 27, 1937 - The movie “Dead End,” screenplay by Alabama author Lillian Hellman, was released.

Aug. 27, 1938 – Phyllis Newcombe, 22, died after spontaneously combusting in front of numerous witnesses around midnight during a dance at the Chelmsford Shire Hall in England.

Aug. 27, 1940 – Preseason football practice began at Monroe County High School under coach J.E. Williams. MCHS’s 1940 schedule was as follows: Oct. 4, v. Thomasville; Oct. 11, at Atmore; Oct. 18, v. Grove Hill; Oct. 25, v. Frisco City; Nov. 1, Open; Nov. 8, at Georgiana; Nov. 15, at Greenville; Nov. 22, v. Brewton.

Aug. 27, 1942 – The Evergreen Courant reported that construction of the Halso Mill Bridge over Pigeon Creek on Oaky Streak Road in Butler County, 10 miles southwest of Greenville, had been completed. At 920 feet, the bridge was the longest bridge in the Butler County. It was 20-1/2 feet wide and rested on 300 pilings and was constructed of creosoted timbers.

Aug. 27, 1943 - The USS Eldridge was officially commissioned with Lieutenant C. R. Hamilton, USNR, in command.

Aug. 27, 1943 - A movie version of Alabama author Lillian Hellman's play “Watch on the Rhine” was released.

Aug. 27, 1949 – Jeff Cook, who is best known as one of the founding members of the country music group Alabama, was born in Fort Payne, Ala.

Aug. 27, 1950 - The New York Yankees honored sportscaster Mel Allen with "Mel Allen Day" and other awards including a $10,000 cash prize. The play-by-play announcer for the Yankees for 25 years was born was born Melvin Israel in Johns (Jefferson County) in February 1913. In 1937, Allen left Alabama for a successful audition with the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) in New York, taking his father's middle name as his new on-air last name when the network suggested that he change his name to something "less Jewish." He took the job with the Yankees that made him famous in 1939.

Aug. 27, 1953 – Inverness, Ala. native Billy Hitchcock appeared in his final Major League Baseball game, taking the field one last time for the Detroit Tigers.

Aug. 27, 1955 – The first edition of the “Guinness Book of World Records” was printed.

Aug. 27, 1964 – Baldwin County High School principal C.V. Daniels announced that Vance McCrory of Frisco City had been named assistant coach and science teacher at Baldwin County High School in Bay Minette, Ala.

Aug. 27, 1964 – South Vietnamese junta leader Nguyễn Khánh entered into a triumvirate power-sharing arrangement with rival generals Trần Thiện Khiêm and Dương Văn Minh, who had both been involved in plots to unseat Khánh.

Aug. 27, 1969 – Alabama native Oscar Gamble made his Major League Baseball debut for the Chicago Cubs.

Aug. 27, 1970 - Vice President Spiro Agnew met with South Vietnamese president Nguyen Van Thieu in Saigon.

Aug. 27, 1970 - MACV (Military Assistance Command Vietnam) reported that 52 Americans died and 358 were wounded during the week August 16-22, the lowest casualty toll since the week of Dec. 3, 1966.

Aug. 27, 1972 - In the heaviest bombing in four years, U.S. aircraft flattened North Vietnamese barracks near Hanoi and Haiphong as part of ongoing Operation Linebacker I, part of President Nixon’s response to the NVA Easter Offensive. Planes also hit bridges on the northeast railroad line to China.

Aug. 27, 1976 – In Charles Branum’s debut as Evergreen High School’s head football coach, Evergreen lost to W.S. Neal, 19-0, in East Brewton. Tony Rogers led the offense and the defense with nine solos and five assists.

Aug. 27, 1976 – Actress Sarah Chalke was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Aug. 27, 1977 - The Sparta Academy Warriors were scheduled to open their 1977 football season in Evergreen on this Saturday night at Stuart-McGehee Field. Kickoff was set for eight o’clock against their traditional rival, the Greenville Academy Tornadoes. Head Coach Mike Bledsoe and assistant “Bo” Owens stated that their squad of 21 had been working hard and showing lots of enthusiasm.

Aug. 27, 1981 – Mike Qualls’ long-running “From the Sidelines” sports column made its first appearance in The Monroe Journal.

Aug. 27, 1982 - Oakland Athletics outfielder Rickey Henderson stole his 119th base of the year, breaking Hall of Famer Lou Brock's 1979 record for stolen bases in a season.

Aug. 27, 1985 – The “Claiborne-Murphy Bridge” at Claiborne, which opened to traffic in October 1930, was demolished and was replaced by a more modern bridge.

Aug. 27, 1986 – Excel’s Scott Bell played offensive tackle for the University of Alabama in the Tide’s 16-10 win over Ohio State in the “Kickoff Classic” in New York City. Between his careers at Excel and Alabama, he played offensive tackle at Miss. Delta Jr. College, where he was named to the Mississippi Junior College Conference All-State Football Team in 1985.

Aug. 27, 1986 - Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros earned his 250th career win against the Chicago Cubs.

Aug. 27, 1990 – Conecuh County public schools were scheduled to open for the first day of classes for students. Steve Coker was Conecuh County’s Superintendent of Education.

Aug. 27, 1990 - The U.S. State Department ordered the expulsion of 36 Iraqi diplomats. Fifty-two Americans also reached Turkey after leaving Iraq, and three young American men were detained by the Iraqis.

Aug. 27, 1992 – The Evergreen Courant reported that the 1992 Sparta Academy Warriors would have big shoes to fill, trying to better the record of 1991’s state runner-up championship team. According to Head Coach Mike Bledsoe, 1992 would be a “rebuilding year” for the Warriors. The Warriors were to begin their quest for glory on Fri., Aug. 28, in Luverne, facing off against the Cougars of Crenshaw Christian Academy. Joining Coach Bledsoe on the coaching staff were Headmaster David Clanton and assistant coach Michael Bledsoe.

Aug. 27, 1992 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Shane Lavigne, the son of Mrs. Joyce Lavigne Harper of Evergreen, was the recipient of the 1992 Wendell Hart Scholarship. This prestigious award was announced Tues., Aug. 25, by the scholarship committee. Shane was a graduate of Hillcrest High School where he was a member of the Aerospace Club, Student Government Association and Agri-business. He planned to attend Troy State University in the fall where he planned to pursue a degree in pre-engineering.

Aug. 27, 1994 - The largest mass balloon release --a staggering 1,592,744 balloons-- was staged by Disney Home Video in Wilts, UK.

Aug. 27, 2003 – Mars made its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years, passing 34,646,418 miles distant.

Aug. 27, 2001 - Former Monroe County Commissioner Howard Carlisle McClure, 43, of Monroeville died on this Wednesday at a New Orleans hospital. McClure, who served four consecutive terms as county commissioner, was elected in 1986 and at 27 years old was one of the youngest elected commissioners in the state’s history.

Aug. 27, 2007 - Michael Vick, a star quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, formally pleaded guilty before a Richmond, Va., judge to a federal felony charge related to running a dogfighting ring.

Aug. 27, 2011 – Hurricane Irene struck the United States east coast, killing 47 and causing an estimated $15.6 billion in damage.

Aug. 27, 2014 – Former Conecuh County Superintendent of Education, principal, teacher and coach Walter B. Hudson Jr. of Evergreen passed away at the age of 85 at West Florida Regional Medical Center in Pensacola, Fla. A native of Louisville, Ala., he served in Japan with the U.S. Air Force. He was buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Evergreen.