Today in History for Nov. 27, 2017

Charles Tait

Nov. 27, 1582 – William Shakespeare, 18, married Anne Hathaway, 26, of Shottery, a small hamlet a mile up the road from Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford.

Nov. 27, 1746 - Robert R. (or R.R.) Livingston — later known as “the Chancellor”—became the first of nine children eventually born to Judge Robert Livingston and Margaret Beekman Livingston in their family seat, Clermont, on the Hudson River in upstate New York. R.R. Livingston represented the Provincial Congress of New York at the Continental Congress in 1776 and helped to draft the Declaration of Independence, although he returned to New York before he was able to sign the document.

Nov. 27, 1786 – Scottish poet Robert Burns borrowed a pony from a friend and made his way from his home in Ayrshire to the city of Edinburgh, just a few weeks after the publication of his famous book, “Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect.”

Nov. 27, 1809 – Charles Tait began serving as a U.S. Senator from Georgia after being elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Milledge. Tait was reelected in 1813 and served in the Senate until to March 3, 1819. He would pass away in Claiborne, Ala. on Oct. 7, 1835.

Nov. 27, 1816 – The Town of Jackson, Ala. (originally called Pine Level) was officially incorporated by the Mississippi Territorial Legislature, a little over three years before Alabama even became a state in December 1819.

Nov. 27, 1829 – School teacher Murdock McPherson of Sparta, Ala., who was the first county clerk of Conecuh County, received the first Masonic funeral in Conecuh County history.

Nov. 27, 1830 - St. Catherine Laboure experienced a vision of the Virgin Mary standing on a globe and emanating rays of light from her hands.

Nov. 27, 1861 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought near Fairfax Courthouse, Va.

Nov. 27, 1861 – During the Civil War, the Ship Island (Miss.) Expedition sailed from Hampton Roads, Va. with the mission to establish a base of operations against New Orleans, La. and vicinity.

Nov. 27, 1862 – During the Civil War, a 12-day Federal expedition from Helena, Ark. to the vicinity of Grenada, Miss. began. Confederates also captured the steamboat, New River, near New River Landing, La. Skirmishes were also fought at Carthage, Mo. and at Mill Creek, Tenn.

Nov. 27, 1863 – Confederate cavalry leader John Hunt Morgan and his officers tunneled out of the newly opened Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus and escaped safely to the South. Morgan returned to his cavalry activities in Tennessee after his escape. However, at Greeneville, Tenn. in 1864, he was killed by Yankee cavalry.

Nov. 27, 1863 – During the Battle of Mine Run, Union forces under General George Meade took up positions against troops led by Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

Nov. 27, 1863 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Ringgold Gap, Taylor’s Ridge, Ga.; at La Fayette and Monticello, Ky.; and at Catlett’s Station, New Hope Church, Payne’s Farm, Wilderness Church and Locust Grove (or Robertson’s Tavern,) Va.

Nov. 27, 1864 - In Georgia, Union General Judson Kilpatrick began pursuing Confederate General Joseph Wheeler between Waynesboro and Millen. The engagement ended on Dec. 4. The battle allowed Union General Tecumseh Sherman to march to Savannah, Ga. on his famous "March to the Sea."

Nov. 27, 1864 – During the Civil War, a three-day Federal operation from Little Rock to Benton, Ark. began. Skirmishes were also fought at Sylvan Grove and Waynesborough, Ga. and at Piedmont, West Virginia.

Nov. 27, 1864 – During the Civil War, a 19-day Federal expedition from Baton Rouge, La. against the Mobile and Ohio Railroad began. On Dec. 10, the Federals would skirmish with Col. Robert McCulloch, who was leading the 2nd Mo. Cavalry and Willis’ Texas Cavalry, at McLeod Mills near present-day Vernal, Miss. The Federals managed to cross the Amite, Pearl, Black Rivers, as well as Red Creek passing through the towns of Greensburg, Franklinton and Fordsville, La. and Columbia and Augusta, Miss. They also crossed the Leaf and Chickasawhay Rivers. The Federal forces ended up in East Pascagoula, by way of West Pascagoula (present day Gautier, Miss.) This operation was known as the Davidson Raid and involved 4,000 cavalry troops with five support companies. The support companies included the pioneer corps [combat engineers], pontooniers, two batteries of light artillery, and a band. The Federals destroyed Camp Moore, La. effectively ending its use as a Confederate training camp. Given the large numbers of sweet potatoes that were foraged by the Yankee troops the raid became known locally as the “Great Sweet Potato Raid.” The only Yankee officer killed in the raid was Lt. Albert Westinghouse, a brother to inventor George Westinghouse. The yankee raider never got close to the M & O Railroad and it remained open to Meridian for the rest of the war.

Nov. 27, 1864 – During the Civil War, the federal vessel, Greyhound, Union Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler’s headquarters ship, exploded on the James River in Virginia, possibly the work of Confederate saboteurs.

Nov. 27, 1885 – The Monroe Journal reported that “the entertainment” given recently at the Monroeville Institute by the Perdue Hill Dramatic Club for the benefit of the Confederate soldier’s monument “was one of the happiest and most pleasant events of the season. The house was crowded with an intelligent and appreciative audience, and the performance throughout reflected credit upon the histrionic talent of the several members of the Club, and more especially the ladies who understood and acted their parts almost perfectly.”

Nov. 27, 1885 – The Monroe Journal reported that the Rev. B.H. Crumpton had been re-elected as the pastor of the Evergreen Baptist Church for the ensuing year.

Nov. 27, 1905 - The Jones Mill School (in present-day Frisco City) started the school year on this Monday with 97 pupils present.

Nov. 27, 1907 – National Baseball Hall of Fame first baseman Buck Leonard was born in Rocky Mount, N.C. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

Nov. 27, 1909 – Pulitzer Prize-winning author James Agee was born in Knoxville, Tenn. In 1936, Agee and photographer Walker Evans spent two months living with sharecroppers in Alabama on assignment for Fortune, and Agee turned it into a book, “Let Us Now Praise Famous Men” (1941. He won the Pulitzer posthumously for his 1957 autobiographical novel, “A Death in the Family.”

Nov. 27, 1910 – Around 9 p.m., Will Stallworth was killed at the “warehouse crossing” in Evergreen, Ala. by a passing train.

Nov. 27, 1910 – New York City’s Pennsylvania Station, better known as “Penn Station,” opened.

Nov. 27, 1914 – In Monroe County, Ala. Circuit Court, Torrey Puryear was convicted of the murder of her husband and given a life sentence.

Nov. 27, 1914 – Confederate veteran Williamson Henderson passed away at the age of 83. He was born in Edgefield, S.C. on July 13, 1831 and moved to Monroe County, Ala. when he was 16 years old. He married Georgia Ann Pridgeon at Claiborne, Ala. on Oct. 17, 1854. At the opening of the Civil War, he enlisted in Co. G of the 7th Alabama Cavalry in Forrest’s command.

Nov. 27, 1914 - German commander Paul von Hindenburg issued a triumphant proclamation from the battlefields of the Eastern Front, celebrating his army’s campaign against Russian forces in the Polish city of Warsaw.

Nov. 27, 1915 - Thomas Chalmers McCorvey Jr., the second son of Col. and Mrs. Thomas C. McCorvey, passed away at 7 p.m. at the home of his parents on the University of Alabama campus, “death coming to relieve a long struggle which had been made against odds, for the deceased had been an invalid for three years.” Tom McCorvey, as he was known throughout the state, was born on Oct. 28, 1886. He finished preparatory school and entered the University of Alabama in the fall of 1904, leaving two years later to accept a position in the City Bank and Trust Co. of Mobile in which he was the first assistant cashier. When physical strength was no longer sufficient for the demands of service, McCorvey was granted a leave of absence from the bank and in 1912 “he went west hoping that the climate would invigorate him. But failing to recover completely he returned to his native home where, surrounded by his loved ones, he fought a valiant but losing battle.” His father, Col. T.C. McCorvey, was “one of the oldest and best loved professors in the University and (was) one of the best known educators in Alabama, while his mother, a member of the distinguished Tutwiler family, has been a friend to the University boys for many years.” (Monroe Journal)

Nov. 27, 1924 – In New York City, the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held.

Nov. 27, 1939 – During a meeting of the Monroeville, Ala. Chamber of Commerce, four Mobile, Ala. Kiwanis Club field representatives (Hoyt W. Lee, Ed Rincher, R.W. Golsby and Ed Shortess) proposed the organization of a Kiwanis Club in Monroeville, Ala.

Nov. 27, 1941 – The Monroe Journal reported that Miss Alice Lee of Birmingham and Edwin Lee of Auburn had spent the previous weekend with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Lee.

Nov. 27, 1941 – The Monroe Journal reported that Alabama had ginned 146,391 more bales of cotton in 1941 than had been ginned to the same date, Nov. 1, in 1940. According to federal and state ginning reports, 733,349 bales had been ginned in the state from the crop of 1941. Monroe County ginned 7,133 bales in 1941 as compared with 10,050 bales ginned in 1940.

Nov. 27, 1942 – During World War II, at Toulon, the French navy scuttled its ships and submarines to keep them out of Nazi hands.

Nov. 27, 1942 – Football player and Olympic gold medal sprinter Henry Carr was born in Montgomery, Ala. During his football career, he played safety for Arizona State and the New York Giants.

Nov. 27, 1965 – During the Vietnam War, the Pentagon told U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson that if planned operations were to succeed, the number of American troops in Vietnam had to be increased from 120,000 to 400,000.

Nov. 27, 1965 -  The Viet Cong released two U.S. special forces soldiers captured two years earlier during a battle of Hiep Hoa, 40 miles southwest of Saigon. At a news conference in Phnom Penh three days later, the two Americans, Sgt. George Smith and Specialist 5th Class Claude McClure, declared that they opposed U.S. actions in Vietnam and would campaign for the withdrawal of American troops. Although Smith later denied making the statement, U.S. authorities announced that the two men would face trial for cooperating with the enemy.

Nov. 27, 1965 - In Washington, nearly 35,000 war protestors circled the White House for two hours before moving on to the Washington Monument. Dr. Benjamin Spock, Coretta Scott King, and activist Norman Thomas were among those who gave speeches.

Nov. 27, 1970 - A South Vietnamese task force, operating in southeastern Cambodia, came under North Vietnamese attack near the town of Krek. The South Vietnamese command reported repelling the assault and killing enemy soldiers. The South Vietnamese command also reported killing 33 Viet Cong in the Rung Sat special zone, 23 miles southeast of Saigon.

Nov. 27, 1971 – Pro Football Hall of Fame guard Larry Allen was born in Los Angeles. He went on to play for Sonoma State, the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.

Nov. 27, 1976 – Actor and screenwriter Jaleel White was born in Culver City, Calif. He is best remembered for his role as Steve Urkel on the sitcom “Family Matters.”

Nov. 27, 1977 - Four Monroe County, Ala. football players were listed in The Birmingham News’ 1977 all-state football teams, which were announced on this Sunday. Getting the highest honor was Keith Bender of Excel High School, who was listed on the second team as an end on the Class AA-A all-state team. Receiving honorable mention in this class was Kevin Barnes of J.U. Blacksher, also at end. Under the Class AAA all-state team, two Monroe County High School players received honorable mention. Anthony Wiggins was listed at guard, and Tony McCants as back.

Nov. 27, 1980 - Dave Williams of the Chicago Bears became the first player in NFL history to return a kick for touchdown in overtime.

Nov. 27, 1983 - Violence broke out among Cabbage Patch doll shoppers.

Nov. 27, 1984 - The Seaboard System Railroad ceased all railroad service to Elba, Ala., including freight service.

  

Nov. 27, 1994 - Joe Montana of the Kansas City Chiefs became the fifth quarterback to surpass 40,000 yards passing.

Nov. 27, 1997 – National Baseball Hall of Fame first baseman Buck Leonard passed away at the age of 90 in Rocky Mount, N.C. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

Nov. 27, 2003 - U.S. President Bush flew to Iraq and spent time with U.S. soldiers stationed there.

Nov. 27, 2007 – Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bill Willis died at the age of 86 in Columbus, Ohio. During his career, he played for Ohio State and the Cleveland Browns. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977.