Today in History for Dec. 15, 2017

Sidney Earnest Manning

Dec. 15, 37 A.D. – Roman emperor Nero was born in Antium, near Rome.

Dec. 15, 1654 - A meteorological office established in Tuscany began recording daily temperature readings.

Dec. 15, 1766 - Portion of a letter written on this day by James Grant to John Stuart, St Augustine: “…It was no doubt good Policy formerly to engage one Indian Nation to go to War with another, the more they were weakened the better for us, because knowing their Interest, they were disposed to favor the French as the least powerfull Nation; but since the Conquest of Canada and the Floridas, Britain has no contending Power upon this Continent, and of Course our Indian System must be very different… In this late affair of the Murder we should not look upon the Lower Creeks as being Concerned, they take very little if any part in the Chactaw War, they are gone out to Hunt as usual, they behave remarkably well to every body they meet in the Woods, they carry Plenty of Provisions to the Garrison of St. Marks, and both Mr. Wright the Commanding Officer there and Simpson the Interpreter write me that the Indians are quiet, friendly, and obliging…”

Dec. 15, 1776 - General Charles Lee was captured in Basking Ridge, New Jersey by British Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton and the 16th Queen's Light Dragoons. He had left his troops in search of female company on Dec. 12.

Dec. 15, 1778 – During the American Revolutionary War, British and French fleets clashed in the Battle of St. Lucia.

Dec. 15, 1791 – The United States Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, became law when ratified by the Virginia General Assembly. Virginia's ratification created the three-fourths majority required for the amendments to become law.

Dec. 15, 1815 - Jane Austen's "Emma" was published for the first time.

Dec. 15, 1818 - The “Third Georgia Land Lottery” was authorized on this day by an Act of the Georgia Legislature. The date of the drawing will be Sept. 1, 1820-Dec. 2, 1820. (This meant more of the Cherokee lands were confiscated and were sold to white settlers.)

Dec. 15, 1821 – West Point graduate and lawyer Edmund W. Martin was born near Montgomery, Ala. He led the “Lowndes County Volunteers” during Mexican-American War and served as an officer in the Civil War. He also represented Conecuh and Butler counties in the State Senate.

Dec. 15, 1821 – The Murder Creek Navigation Company was incorporated by the Alabama legislature and was formed to provide water transportation between Sparta, Ala. and Pensacola, Fla. The Sparta Bridge was named as the starting point.

Dec. 15, 1824 – During his tour of the United States, the Marquis de Lafayette was feted at the first commencement ceremony of George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Dec. 15, 1827 – Joseph Ganes Sanders, the “Turncoat of Dale County,” was born in South Carolina.

Dec. 15, 1832 – Civil engineer Gustave Eiffel was born in Dijon, France. He went on to build the Eiffel Tower for the World’s Fair in Paris in 1889.

Dec. 15, 1838 - The trek of the Cherokee across Southern Illinois was not a pleasant one. They were treated badly by the whites while waiting for the ice flows to stop on the Mississippi. “The Cherokees travele in 13 contingents to Oklahoma. One went by river, three took a southern route and nine traveled across Illinois. Each contingent was set up to take 1,000 people, all except the 13th, which was smaller.” Butrick crossed the Ohio on this day but didn't see the Mississippi River until Jan. 25. It took three more weeks to get everyone across. From the time the first contingent crossed the Ohio River in November, to the last part of Butrick's group crossed in February, the Cherokee spend three months in Southern Illinois. According to Butrick's diary, by Dec. 29, 1838, the detachments were spread out across the region. "One detachment stopped at the Ohio River, two at the Mississippi, one four miles this side, one 16 miles this side, one 18 miles, and one 13 miles behind us. In all these detachments, comprising about 8,000 souls, there is now a vast amount of sickness, and many deaths." Butrick was suffering from a fever and a cough.

Dec. 15, 1853 – Methodist minister Robert Shaw Rabb was assigned as the first minister to the Elba, Ala. Circuit on this day.

Dec. 15, 1861 – During the Civil War, a three-day Federal operation began on the lower Potomac River in Maryland that resulted in the capture of the Confederate sloop, Victory.

Dec. 15, 1861 – During the Civil War, a six-day Federal operation began in the vicinity of Meadow Bluff, West Va. A skirmish was also fought in Roane County, West Va.

Dec. 15, 1862 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Neosho, Mo.; and at White Hall Bridge, N.C.

Dec. 15, 1862 – During the Civil War, Nathan Bedford Forest’s command crossed the Tennessee River at Clifton, Tenn. to begin 17 days of sustained operations against Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant’s communication and supply lines sustaining his overland movement toward Vicksburg, Miss.

Dec. 15, 1862 - In Fredericksburg, Va., a truce was called so that Union forces could collect their dead and wounded after the Battle of Fredericksburg on Dec. 13. The blood still flowed on the field and in the hospitals set up in nearly every building still standing in the rear of Federal and Confederate lines alike, as the defeated Union army retreated back across the Rappahannock River. Blood, of a more metaphorical and political nature, flowed in the hallways of the War Departments in the respective capitals. In Richmond there were those who criticized Robert E. Lee for not following his successful defense of the heights with a counterattack. These critics seemed unaware that even after the bloodletting, the Confederate army was considerably outnumbered, and Federal artillery was undamaged across the river. In Washington, the rage against Burnside rained in from all directions. Hooker’s was perhaps the most vociferous, a fact which would be remembered later. Only Lincoln was unable to criticize; having fired McClellan for failing to fight, he could not very well castigate Burnside for having done so.

Dec. 15, 1863 – 59^TH ALABAMA: The 59^th Alabama took part in an action at Rutledge, Tenn.  (Lewis Lavon Peacock was likely there.)

Dec. 15, 1863 - Confederate General Archibald Gracie Jr. was wounded at the Battle of Bean's Station.

Dec. 15, 1864 – During the Civil War, the Battle of Nashville began in Nashville, Tenn. Over a two-day period, the Confederate Army of Tennessee under General John Bell Hood suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Union forces under George Thomas. More than 6,000 Rebels were killed or wounded and 3,000 Yankees lost their lives.

Dec. 15, 1864 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought on the Hassayampa Creek in Arizona; at Bean’s Station, in the vicinity of Livingston, and close to Pulaski, Tenn.; and near Sangster’s Station, Va.

Dec. 15, 1864 – During the Civil War, a naval attack was carried out on Forts Rosedew and Beaulieu on the Vernon River in Ga.; and operations were also carried out against Fort Fisher, N.C.

Dec. 15, 1888 – Rube Burrow and Leonard “Joe Jackson” Brock carried out Burrow’s sixth train robbery, robbing the northbound Illinois Central passenger train around 10 p.m. near Duck Hill, Miss. Robert Chester Hughes, 32, of Jackson, Tenn. was murdered during the robbery, and it was reportedly Burrow’s first murder.

Dec. 15, 1888 – Playwright Maxwell Anderson was born on a farm near Atlantic, Pa.

Dec. 15, 1890 - Deeply devoted to traditional ways, Sitting Bull believed that contact with non-Indians undermined the strength and identity of the Sioux. Sitting Bull and his tribe only wanted to be left alone to pursue their traditional ways. The spiritual revival known as the Ghost Dance began to grow among the Sioux, and Indian agents feared it might lead to an Indian uprising. Believing that Sitting Bull was the driving force behind the Ghost Dance, Indian Agent James McLaughlin sent 39 police and four volunteers to arrest the Chief at his small cabin on the Grand River near Standing Rock. The Indian police quietly took the naked chief from his bed at 6 a.m. on this morning. The 59-year-old chief refused to go quietly. Soon over 100 of Sitting Bull’s supporters gathered and a few threatened the Indian police. Someone fired a shot that hit one of the police, and they retaliated by shooting Sitting Bull in the chest and head. He was killed instantly. Before this all ended, four soldiers were killed and three wounded. Eight Sioux were killed. Sitting Bull was buried in a far corner of the post cemetery at Fort Yates. Later that week, the editor of the Aberdeen Saturday Pioneer wrote an editorial about Sitting Bull. One of the passages read as follows: "The proud spirit of the original owners of these vast prairies inherited through centuries of fierce and bloody wars for their possession, lingered last in the bosom of Sitting Bull. With his fall the nobility of the Redskin is extinguished, and what few are left are a pack of whining curs who lick the hand that smites them. The Whites, by law of conquest, by justice of civilization, are masters of the American continent, and the best safety of the frontier settlements will be secured by the total annihilation of the few remaining Indians." The author of this editorial was L. Frank Baum, best known as the author of “The Wizard of Oz”.

Dec. 15, 1905 - The Inter Se Circle of Perdue Hill High School was scheduled to have a public meeting at the town hall on this Friday evening and present a “very interesting program.” After the program, oysters were to be served for the benefit of the school building.

Dec. 15, 1914 – During World War I, the Serbian Army recaptured Belgrade from the invading Austro-Hungarian Army.

Dec. 15, 1915 – The Evergreen Courant reported that two threshing machines had been in operation in Evergreen for the past 10 days and had “attracted considerable interest and attention.” Hundreds of bushels of velvet beans were threshed, bagged and made ready for the market.

Dec. 15, 1915 - Allied forces began a full retreat from the shores of the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey, ending a disastrous invasion of the Ottoman Empire. The Gallipoli campaign resulted in 250,000 Allied casualties and a greatly discredited Allied military command. Roughly an equal number of Turks were killed or wounded.

Dec. 15, 1917 – During World War I, an armistice between Russia and the Central powers was signed.

Dec. 15, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Alto Lee Floyd, 25, of Opp, Ala. “died of disease.” Born on Feb. 28, 1893, he was buried in the Kinston Cemetery in Coffee County, Ala.

Dec. 15, 1920 – Major League Baseball first baseman Eddie (William Edward) Robinson was born in Paris, Texas. He would go on to play for the Cleveland Indians, the Washington Senators, the Chicago White Sox, the Philadelphia Athletics, the New York Yankees, the Kansas City Athletics, the Detroit Tigers and the Baltimore Orioles.

Dec. 15, 1923 – Physicist and writer Freeman Dyson was born in Crawthorne Village, England.

Dec. 15, 1928 – NFL fullback and punter Clarence “Butch” Edmund Avinger was born in Beatrice, Ala. Avinger was a first round selection (ninth overall pick) of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1951 NFL Draft out of the University of Alabama where he had played quarterback. As a professional, he only saw action in 1953 when he played for the New York Giants.

Dec. 15, 1930 – Novelist Edna O’Brien was born in County Clare, Ireland.

Dec. 15, 1933 – The 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution officially became effective, repealing the 18th Amendment that prohibited the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol.

Dec. 15, 1933 - There were 6,541 bales of cotton ginned in Conecuh County from the 1933 crop prior to Dec. 15 as compared with 6,799 ginned to the same date in 1932, according to the report issued by Bureau of Census of the Department of Commerce.

Dec. 15, 1936 - Alabama author Lillian Hellman's play “Days to Come” opened on Broadway.

Dec. 15, 1938 - U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt presided over the ground-breaking ceremonies for the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC.

Dec. 15, 1938 – Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive guard Billy Shaw was born in Vicksburg, Miss. He went on to play for Georgia Tech and the Buffalo Bills. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

Dec. 15, 1939 – “Gone with the Wind” debuted in Atlanta and became an instant hit, breaking all box office records. Produced by David O. Selznick and based on the novel by Margaret Mitchell, it premiered at Loew's Grand Theater in Atlanta. The movie starred Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable.

Dec. 15, 1940 – Pro Football Hall of Fame middle linebacker Nick Buoniconti was born in Springfield, Mass. He would go on to play for the Boston Patriots and the Miami Dolphins. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.

Dec. 15, 1942 – A large search party departed Escott Station in Australia in search of the Little Eva crash site, 13 days after the plane crashed.

Dec. 15, 1943 – NFL defensive end Pete Duranko was born in Johnstown, Pa. He would play his entire pro career for the Denver Broncos.

Dec. 15, 1944 – Major League Baseball pitcher Stan (Stanley Raymond) Bahnsen was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He would go on to play for the New York Yankees, the Chicago White Sox, the Oakland Athletics, the Montreal Expos, the California Angels and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Dec. 15, 1944 - A single-engine plane carrying U.S. Army Major Glenn Miller disappeared in thick fog over the English Channel while en route to Paris. The true fate of the plane and its passengers has never been determined.

Dec. 15, 1948 – Major League Baseball pitcher Doug (Douglas James) Rau was born in Columbus, Texas. He would go on to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the California Angels.

Dec. 15, 1950 – Lyeffion’s boys basketball team beat Repton, 28-20, in Repton, Ala. Miller Dees led Lyeffion with 10 points. James Andrews and Junior McMillan scored six points each to lead Coach Charles Pouncey’s Repton team.

Dec. 15, 1950 – Conecuh County Training School opened its 1950-51 basketball season with a pair of wins over Andalusia in Evergreen, Ala. The CCTS boys team beat Andalusia, 105-20, with Herbert Rankins leading CCTS with 42 points. The CCTS girls team beat Andalusia, 48-7.

Dec. 15, 1952 - J.F. Lathram Jr., local grocer, was named Monroeville’s “Man of the Year” for 1952 at the annual Kiwanis Club Christmas party and “Ladies Night” program, held in the local Community House, on this Monday night.

Dec. 15, 1953 – Evergreen High School’s Sam Cope signed a football scholarship with the University of Alabama.

Dec. 15, 1953 – “Santa Claus” was scheduled to make his annual trip to Monroeville, Ala. on this Tuesday as he was scheduled to arrive at the local airport around 2 p.m. via a special plane “direct from the North Pole.” He was to be met at the city water pump by the band from the Monroeville Rosenwald School after he’d been escorted to the city limits by the State Highway Patrol. Santa’s appearance was being held as part of the annual Christmas program, sponsored by the Monroeville Kiwanis Club.

Dec. 15, 1960 – Sidney Earnest Manning, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War I, passed away at the age of 68. He’s buried in Little Escambia Cemetery in Flomaton, Ala.

Dec. 15, 1960 – Richard Pavlick was arrested for plotting to assassinate U.S. President-Elect John F. Kennedy.

Dec. 15, 1961 – NFL wide receiver Daryl Turner was born in Wadley, Ga. He played his entire pro career for the Seattle Seahawks.

Dec. 15, 1962 – A 15-year-old Castleberry youth lost his life in a hunting accident near his home on this Saturday. Killed when a shotgun accidentally discharged was Jerry Earl Jones, a student at Conecuh County High School of Castleberry. Born in 1947, he was buried in the Springhill Methodist Church Cemetery in Conecuh County, Ala.

Dec. 15, 1965 - In the first raid on a major North Vietnamese industrial target, U.S. Air Force planes destroyed a thermal power plant at Uong Bi, l4 miles north of Haiphong.

Dec. 15, 1966 - The New Orleans Saints became the 16th NFL franchise.

Dec. 15, 1966 – Walt Disney passed away, and it was rumored that he was rushed into cryogenic suspension.

Dec. 15, 1966 – “A Joyful Noise,” a musical version of Alabama author Bordon Deal's book “The Insolent Breed,” opened on Broadway.

Dec. 15, 1967 – The Silver Bridge across the Ohio River at Point Pleasant, West Virginia collapsed, killing 46 people. The tragedy is forever linked in esoteric circles with the infamous cryptid Mothman who reportedly made multiple appearances in the Point Pleasant area in the weeks preceding the event.

Dec. 15, 1969 - Alabama author Michael Knight was born in Mobile, Ala.

Dec. 15, 1969 - President Richard Nixon announced that 50,000 additional U.S. troops would be pulled out of South Vietnam by April 15, 1970.

Dec. 15, 1970 - The Pinckney D. Bowles Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy met in the home of Mrs. Aubrey Griffin.

Dec. 15, 1972 – Evergreen High School’s undefeated varsity basketball team, led by Coach Charles Branum, improved to 14-0 on the season by beating Frisco City High School, 99-62, in the semi-final round of the Holiday Invational Tournament in Evergreen. Cleve Fields led Evergreen with 19 points, and Wavie Ausby followed with 16 points. Other outstanding Evergreen players in that game included David Thomas, Armstrong, Jones, Green, David Carroll, J. Stallworth and E. Stallworth.

Dec. 15, 1974 - The Miami Dolphins won at the Orange Bowl for the 31st consecutive time.

Dec. 15, 1976 – Major League Baseball second baseman Aaron Miles was born in Pittsburgh, Calif. He would go on to play for the Chicago White Sox, the Colorado Rockies, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Dec. 15, 1976 – Major League Baseball umpire Todd Tichenor was born in Lincoln, Neb.

Dec. 15, 1981 – A suicide car bombing targeting the Iraqi embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, leveled the embassy and killed 61 people, including Iraq's ambassador to Lebanon. The attack is considered the first modern suicide bombing.

Dec. 15, 1982 - Paul "Bear" Bryant announced his retirement as head football coach at the University of Alabama.

Dec. 15, 1985 – Weather reporter Earl Windham reported a low temperature of 18 degrees in Evergreen, Ala.

Dec. 15, 1989 – Carlisle Hall, near Marion, Ala., was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and History.

Dec. 15, 1992 - Nirvana released "Incesticide," a collection of b-sides and rarities.

  

Dec. 15, 1996 - Troy Aikman surpassed Roger Staubach's Dallas Cowboy record of 22,700 passing yards.

Dec. 15, 1996 - John Elway of the Denver Broncos won his 126th game to set an NFL record.

Dec. 15, 1996 - The televison program “The Summer of Ben Tyler,” teleplay by Alabama author Robert Inman, was broadcast.

Dec. 15, 1997 - The San Francisco 49ers retired Joe Montana's No. 16 jersey during halftime of a game against the Denver Broncos.

Dec. 15, 1997 – In “V for Vendetta,” Evey wished to assist V in his work, and V accepted.

Dec. 15, 2002 - Edgardo Alfonzo and the San Francisco Giants agreed on a four-year contract worth $26 million.

Dec. 15, 2010 - The U.N. Security Council gave a vote of confidence to the government of Iraq when they lifted 19-year-old sanctions on weapons and civilian nuclear power.

Dec. 15, 2010 – National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller died at the age of 92 in Cleveland, Ohio. He played his entire career for the Cleveland Indians. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962.

Dec. 15, 2011 – The Clive Shell Farm at Chapman in Butler County, Ala. was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.

  

Dec. 15, 2014 – Hillcrest High School’s varsity boys basketball team improved to 9-1 on the season by beating Sidney Lanier High School, 67-55, in Evergreen. That same night, Hillcrest’s girls basketball team beat Sidney Lanier, 58-23. Tyesha Rudolph led Hillcrest’s girls with 20 points, and Naajah Richardson followed with eight points. Alexis Holley and Cassie Riley finished the game with six points each. Other standout Hillcrest players in that game included Shanaya Grace, Destiny Simpson, Tyranesha Dukes and Temeisha Dees.