Today in History for May 10, 2018

Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson

May 10, 1497 – Amerigo Vespucci supposedly departed Cádiz for his first voyage to the New World.

May 10, 1503 – Christopher Columbus visited the Cayman Islands and named them Las Tortugas after the numerous turtles there.

May 10, 1692 – In connection with the Salem witchcraft trials, Jonathan Corwin and John Hathorne examined George Jacobs Sr. and his granddaughter Margaret Jacobs. Sarah Osborne died in prison.

May 10, 1755 – American captain and explorer Robert Gray was born in Tiverton, Rhode Island.

May 10, 1773 - The English Parliament passed the Tea Act, which taxed all tea in the U.S. colonies.

May 10, 1775 – During the American Revolutionary War, a small Colonial militia led by Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold captured Fort Ticonderoga from the British.

May 10, 1775 – During the American Revolutionary War, representatives from the Thirteen Colonies began the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

May 10, 1798 – English navigator and explorer George Vancouver passed away at the age of 40 in Petersham, Surrey, England.

May 10, 1802 – Warren A. Thompson, a noted explorer and original settler of Butler County, Ala., was born in Clark County, Ga. He moved to Alabama in 1816, he was a farmer, overseer and captain of the Butler County militia.

May 10, 1820 – Charles Tait was nominated by President James Monroe to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Alabama. Tait was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 13, 1820, and received his commission the same day. On March 10, 1824, the District was subdivided, and Tait was reassigned by operation of law to the newly created Northern District and Southern District of Alabama. Tait continued in service as the sole federal judge assigned to both districts until his resignation on Feb. 1, 1826.

May 10, 1833 – The desecration of the grave of the viceroy of southern Vietnam Lê Văn Duyệt by Emperor Minh Mạng provoked his adopted son to start a revolt.

May 10, 1834 – Young Mobile, Ala. printer Charles R.S. Boyington (of Boyington Oak fame) was seen accompanying Nathaniel Frost, an acquaintance who supposedly owed Boyington money, on a walk to the Church Street Graveyard on the outskirts of the city. Frost was later found stabbed to death and robbed near the cemetery. Boyington was found guilty of the crime and was executed on Feb. 20, 1835.

May 10, 1838 - John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, was born in Bel Air, Maryland.

May 10, 1840 - Mormon leader Joseph Smith moved his band of followers to Illinois to escape the hostilities they had experienced in Missouri.

May 10, 1861 – During the Civil War, riots occurred in St. Louis, Missouri.

May 10, 1861 - Missouri, as a border state, contained assets greatly desired by both sides. On this day, Capt. Nathaniel Lyon, with Frank Blair’s Home Guard troops, marched in and captured the St. Louis Arsenal from a "guard" of 700 Southern sympathizers. As they marched the Southerners through the streets to captivity a riot broke out. Someone in the crowd fired at the troops; the troops fired back, killing 28 civilians. Two non-combatants who just happened to be in town that day were nearly killed in the shooting: William T. Sherman, walking with his son and brother-in-law, and Ulysses S. Grant, colonel at this point of the 21st Illinois Volunteer Infantry.

May 10, 1861 - The first blockade patrol of Charleston Harbor, S.C. was begun with the USS Niagara.

May 10, 1862 – During the Civil War, the Battle of Plum Run Bend, Tenn. took place.

May 10, 1862 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought at Lamb’s Ferry, Ala.

May 10, 1862 – During the Civil War, a Federal reconnaissance began along the Alabama Road toward Sharp’s Mill, Miss.

May 10, 1862 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought near Farmington, Miss.; in the vicinity of Bloomfield, Mo.; and near Franklin and Giles Courthouse in West Virginia.

May 10, 1862 – During the Civil War, a naval engagement took place at Plum Point, near Fort Pillow, Tenn. A Federal flotilla of seven ironclad ships, under overall command of Capt. Charles H. Davis, was traveling the Mississippi River just north of Ft. Pillow, Tenn., where it was set upon by the Confederate River Defense Fleet. The Confederate River Defense Fleet was more impressive in name than in either equipment or discipline. It consisted of eight ships, but none of them were armored. They attacked anyway, and managed to ram and sink two Union ships, Cincinnati and Mound City. Four of the eight Confederate River Defense Fleet vessels were disabled in the engagement.

May 10, 1862 - Norfolk and Portsmouth in Virginia were occupied by Federal forces.

May 10, 1863 – During the Civil War, 39-year-old Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, one of the South’s boldest and colorful generals, died of pneumonia eight days after he is accidentally shot by his own troops during the Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia. In the first two years of the war, Jackson terrorized Union commanders and led his army corps on bold and daring marches. He fought at the Battle of Bull Run, the Seven Days battles and Second Bull Run.

May 10, 1863 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Horseshoe Bottom (or Bend) on the Cumberland River in Kentucky; at Phillips Fork, along Red Bird Creek in Kentucky; and at Caledonia and Pin Hook, or Bayou Macon, in Louisiana. The Federal Navy attacked Fort Beauregard, on the  Ouachita River, in Louisiana.

May 10, 1864 – 59^TH ALABAMA: The 59^th Alabama fought at the Battle of Chester Station, Va.

May 10, 1864 – 59^TH ALABAMA: Major General Ransom, with Gracie’s and Seth Barton’s brigades, marched out from Drewry’s Bluff on a mission to locate the position of the Yankees who had been reported at Winfree’s Farm, opposite Chester, Va. The 59^th would be engaged in three different fights. The first occurred at Drewry’s Bluff on May 10, but it was a small skirmish. They lost none, captured 60 Yankees and killed 10. Later that night, Major General Philip “Little Phil” Sheridan came from the wilderness with 10,000 cavalry to threaten Richmond. The 59^th was sent with General Ransom’s division to fight Sheridan’s cavalry. They met three miles out of Richmond. The 59^th was sent out as a second wave of skirmishers, met the Yankees and drove them back a few yards. Then, the Yankees flanked them on their right. General Gracie gave orders to fall back and the brigade retired from further action.

May 10, 1864 – During the Civil War, Colonel Emory Upton led a 10-regiment "Attack-in-depth" assault against the Confederate works at the Battle of Spotsylvania, which, though ultimately unsuccessful, would provide the idea for the massive assault against the Bloody Angle on May 12. Upton was slightly wounded but was immediately promoted to brigadier general.

May 10, 1864 – Sgt. William D. Clark of the Conecuh Guards was wounded at Spotsylvania Court House, Va. He survived war and returned to Conecuh County.

May 10, 1864 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Dardanelle, Ark.; near Charleston Harbor, on Pine Island, in South Carolina; at Winchester, Tenn.; at Chester Station and near Wytheville in Virginia; and at Lost River Gap and New River Bridge in West Virginia. A 15-day Federal operation between Pilot Knob, Mo. And Gainesville, Ark. began.

May 10, 1864 – During the Civil War, three corps of the Army of the Potomac - Hancock’s, Warren’s and Wright’s - concentrated their attack on the Army of Northern Virginia near Spotsylvania Court House. The Southerners were formed in a salient called the “Mule Shoe” and heavily entrenched. The Northerners fought up to the center of Ewell’s lines and pierced it briefly, but could not hold. They withdrew and dug trenches of their own.

May 10, 1865 – The Civil War officially ended by declaration.

May 10, 1865 – During the Civil War, Jefferson Davis, along with his wife and entourage, was captured by a cavalry detachment of Union General James H. Wilson’s near Irwinville, Georgia. Refusing to admit defeat, he hoped to flee to a sympathetic foreign nation such as Britain or France, and was weighing the merits of forming a government in exile when he was arrested by a detachment of the 4th Michigan Cavalry.

May 10, 1865 – During the Civil War, in Kentucky, Union soldiers ambushed and mortally wounded Confederate raider William Quantrill, who lingered until his death on June 6.

May 10, 1869 – The First Transcontinental Railroad, linking the eastern and western United States, was completed at Promontory Summit, Utah (not Promontory Point, Utah) with the golden spike.

May 10, 1871 - The humiliating defeat of Louis Napoleon’s Second Empire of France was made complete on this day when the Treaty of Frankfurt am Main was signed, ending the Franco-Prussian War and marking the decisive entry of a newly unified German state on the stage of European power politics, so long dominated by the great empires of England and France.

May 10, 1872 – Victoria Woodhull became the first woman nominated for President of the United States.

May 10, 1876 – The Centennial Exposition was opened in Philadelphia by U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant and Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II.

May 10, 1879 - There was to be a meeting of the Trustees of the Evergreen Academy at Dr. McCreary’s Drug Store on this Saturday at 4 p.m.

May 10-11, 1885 – According to the Monroe Journal’s correspondent from the Fork community, there was a frost on May 10 and May 11 at Fork.

May 10, 1886 – Monroe County Commissioners Court convened on this Monday.

May 10, 1886 – Monroe County Sheriff Burns left Monroeville on this Monday for Flowers’ mill in custody of Jeff Powell, who was convicted of assault with intent to murder during the recent term of Circuit Court and fined $200 and six months hard labor for the county. It was Burns’ intention to hire him out until he had paid the fine, but because of an indictment pending against Powell, he was unable to dispose of him. He then took him to Pratt Mines and not succeeding in disposing of him there, he returned with him on Wed., May 12, and again lodged him in jail, where he will probably remain at the public expense.

May 10, 1895 – A concert was scheduled to be given at the Masonic Hall at Perdue Hill at 8 p.m. “for the purpose of raising funds to purchase an organ for the Methodist church.”

May 10, 1895 – A rain and hail storm took place in Monroe County’s River Ridge community and was said to have been the “heaviest witnessed in 40 years,” according to the community’s oldest inhabitants.

May 10, 1899 – Famous dancer Fred Astaire was born in Omaha, Neb.

May 10, 1900 – Allen G. Coleman passed away at the age of 69 in Clarke County, Ala. and was buried in the Cammack Cemetery in the Suggsville community. The Allen community in Clarke County, Ala. was named in his honor in recognition of him being an early settler. The Allen post office was established in 1900. In 1813, a defensive fort was founded in this area and named Fort Madison for James Madison (1751-1836), president of the U.S. (1809-1817). After the Southern Railroad reached this point, the settlement was called Suggsville Station for the town located 1-1/2 miles to the east. The name was later changed to Allen. (Place Names in Alabama)

May 10, 1900 – British-American astronomer Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin was born in Wendover, England.

May 10, 1903 – German economist, jurist and SS officer Otto Bradfisch was born in Zeibrucken.

May 10, 1905 – The preliminary trial of Elbert Jones of Buena Vista, who was accused of murder, was held in Monroeville, Ala. Jones, the 15-year-old son of Tom Jones, allegedly killed a negro boy named “Jack” during an argument around 4 p.m. on April 10 in the “Kearly” field. Judge Slaughter set Jones’ bail at $1,000.

May 10, 1906 – The Monroe Journal reported, in news from the McNeil community, that N.A. McNeil and W.S. Gay were putting in a big saw and shingle mill.

May 10, 1906 – The Monroe Journal reported, in news from the Chestnut community, that the drought the community had had for several weeks was broken on Fri., May 4, by a fine rain accompanied by wind and hail. No damage was done except on low lands.

May 10, 1906 – The Monroe Journal reported that Capt. Thomas S. Wiggins spent a few days on his Flat Creek plantation during the previous week.

May 10, 1906 – The Monroe Journal reported that Capt. F.M. Jones was “still quite feeble, though better than for several weeks.”

May 10, 1906 – The Monroe Journal reported that Capt. W.S. Wiggins and Mrs. Wiggins spent a few days in Mobile during the previous week.

May 10, 1906 – The Monroe Journal reported that J.H. Johnston of Albertville, in Marshall County, had assumed the duties of pharmacist at the Peoples Drug Co.

May 10, 1908 – Mother's Day was observed for the first time in the United States, in Grafton, West Virginia.

May 10, 1909 – The “largest crowd of people that ever gathered at Owassa” witnessed the unveiling of a Woodmen of the World monument erected in memory of Bernie E. Pickens, who was killed in a railroad accident in Brewton a few months before. About 1,000 people were in attendance, many coming from Haynesville, Gregville, Georgiana, McKenzie, Garland, Evergreen and other neighboring towns. Pickens was born on March 28, 1881 and died at the age of 27 on Feb. 4, 1909. He is buried in the Olive Branch Baptist Church Cemetery.

May 10, 1909 – County music pioneer “Mother” Maybelle Carter was born in Maybelle Addington in Nickelsville, Va.

May 10, 1912 – The Agriculture School in Evergreen, Ala. held its closing exercises in the school chapel with Prof. C.M. Dannelly delivering the baccalaureate address. The graduating class included Nell Brown of Owassa, Kathleen Lundy, Ethel Kyser, Dora Amos, Glenn Lile, Early Gilchrist, Ernest Barlow, William Harper and Bertram Harper of Herbert.

May 10, 1913 - The New York Yankees committed eight errors against the Detroit Tigers. The Yankees won the game, 10-9, in 10 innings.

May 10, 1916 – Sailing in the lifeboat James Caird, Ernest Shackleton arrived at South Georgia after a journey of 800 nautical miles from Elephant Island.

May 10, 1916 - The Monroeville Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy observed Memorial Day/Decoration Day with a short program at the Baptist cemetery at 2:30 p.m. on this day, which was the 63^rd anniversary of Stonewall Jackson’s death. All Confederate veterans in Monroe County were invited to be present and were to be entertained by the men of Monroeville. All veterans who expected to attend the exercises were asked to notify Dr. G.C. Watson by May 6. Mrs. Frank Emmons of Monroeville was leading an effort to compile the names, regiments and companies of all Confederate soldiers who had died in Monroe County as well as the name of the graveyard where they were buried. During the program, all graves of Confederate soldiers that could be identified in both cemeteries were decorated with flowers. The program consisted of songs and addresses appropriate to the occasion. The invocation was offered by Rev. A.J. Kempton, and the address of welcome to the veterans present was delivered by the Hon. John McDuffie. The memorial address was delivered by Rev. A.C. Williams and an able address on the life and character of Stonewall Jackson was delivered by Prof. A.G. Harris. A splendid dinner was served at the Crook Hotel, covers being laid for 17 veterans. The following were present: Luke Brown, J.H. Simpson, S.R. Kelly, W.B. Jones, G.W. Salter Sr., Tom Lewis, J.L. Marshall, J.T. Snow, J.H. Tucker, W.L. Rikard, J.W. Morris, J.H. Rachels, D.J. Hatter, T.A. Nettles, N.C. Thames, L.R. Riley and A. Holloman.

May 10, 1916 - Dr. E.L. Kelly of Repton accompanied his father, S.R. Kelly to Monroeville, on this Wednesday to the Memorial exercises in Monroeville.

May 10, 1916 - The home of J.O. Rainer of Castleberry was destroyed with all contents by fire around 2:30 a.m. When the fire was discovered the roof was falling in and it was impossible to save anything. Rainer and his family had gone to Foley on a visit and no one was in the house at the time. It is supposed a spark from a passing locomotive started the fire. The loss was partially covered by insurance.

May 10, 1917 – The Monroe Journal reported that the Rev. J.G. Dickinson of Evergreen had accepted the invitation of the Monroeville chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy to deliver the address at the Methodist Church on the occasion of the celebration of Memorial Day on Sat., May 12. Dr. Dickinson was an “eloquent and pleasing speaker and all who attend have a rare treat in store,” according to The Monroe Journal.

May 10, 1917 – The Monroe Journal reported that “abnormally low temperatures” had “prevailed throughout this section for several days past. It is a rather odd but not uncommon thing to see citizens wearing overcoats at this season.”

May 10, 1922 – The Evergreen Courant reported that the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce had chosen the following officers: Dr. W.F. Betts, President; W.B. Ivey, Vice President; Byron Tisdale, Treasurer; R.A. Winston, Secretary.

May 10, 1923 - The game of baseball on this Thursday between Evergreen and Monroeville was witnessed by a large crowd at Gantt’s field in Evergreen. In the first inning, it looked like a walk-away for the home team, the visitors not being allowed to see the first base, and the locals marking up three scores. But the visitors tightened up and did not allow Evergreen to cross the plate again until the eighth frame, when two more runs were made. For a while, the score stood tied, 3-3. The final result was Evergreen 5, Monroeville 3. The Monroeville team was to return to Evergreen for another game on Fri., March 11. So far, Evergreen had not lost a game that season on their home diamond.

May 10, 1924 – J. Edgar Hoover was named acting director of the FBI, beginning a term that would span nearly 50 years, and establish the United States Department of Justice as we know it today.

May 10, 1929 – Former Wilcox County and Butler County resident John Trotwood Moore passed away at his home in Nashville, Tenn. at the age of 70. An author, novelist, magazine publisher, newspaper editor and columnist, teacher and State Librarian for Tennessee, he was born in Marion on Aug. 26, 1858. He lived in Monterey in Butler County, Ala. for four years and Pine Apple in Wilcox County, Ala. for two years. He was buried in the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville.

May 10, 1929 – Rain ended a baseball game early in the fifth inning between Evergreen High School and T.R. Miller on this Friday. At the time, Evergreen was leading, 6-2, and if the Aggies had retired two more, it would have been a “legal game.” “Mountain” Stallworth pitched for Evergreen and had allowed only two hits.

May 10, 1929 - Alabama author Hudson Strode's play “The End of the Dance” was performed on Broadway as part of the Little Theatre Tournament.

May 10, 1933 – In Germany, the Nazis staged massive public book burnings.

May 10, 1933 – Novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford was born in Leeds in the United Kingdom.

May 10, 1935 – On this Friday night, Mrs. Ely Bradley and her 12-year-old son, Ely Bradley Jr., were arrested in connection with the shooting and subsequent death of Hobson Mason at the Bradley home on the Lawrence Farm on the “old Castleberry road.” The Bradleys claimed to have shot at Mason when he attempted to come into their home by forcing a door open. Mason died on Sun., May 12, around 3 p.m.

May 10, 1938 – On this Tuesday, the Troy Trojans baseball team beat the Evergreen Greenies, 6-5, in Troy. Bryant, who was Evergreen’s new catcher, led Evergreen with three base hits.

May 10, 1941 – During World War II, Rudolf Hess parachuted into Scotland to try to negotiate a peace deal between the United Kingdom and Nazi Germany.

May 10, 1945 – That week’s edition of The Evergreen Courant announced that the German POW camp in Evergreen, Ala. had been closed and the prisoners and their guards had been transferred to Camp Rucker near Ozark.

May 10, 1945 – German SS officer Richard Glücks committed suicide at the age of 56 in Flensburg, Germany.

May 10, 1946 - The Boston Red Sox won their 15th straight game.

May 10, 1951 – Army Pvt. Carlos Duncan Weaver, 22, of Escambia County, Ala. was killed in action in Korea. He was a member of the 19^th Infantry, 24^th Infantry Division at the time of his death. He is buried in the Weaver Cemetery in East Brewton. He was born on Jan. 17, 1929.

May 10, 1953 – Second baseman Warren “Slugger” Bolton joined the Evergreen Greenies as they lost to Atmore, 4-2. In his first appearance with the team with no practice, Bolton played “flawlessly afield” and recorded two hits, including a home run over the left-center field fence. George Gaston pitched for Evergreen.

May 10, 1953 – Around 12:45 a.m. on this Sunday morning, Boss Griffin, 69, allegedly shot and killed Robert “Slick” Harris, 45, during an argument over 25 cents in a card game being played at Griffin’s home in the “Bear Mash” neighborhood on the lower end of Magnolia Avenue in Evergreen, Ala. Griffin allegedly shot Harris once in the abdomen with a .32 caliber pistol, and Harris was taken immediately to a Brewton hospital, where he died on May 11 around 10 p.m. Sheriff John H. Brock and Deputy Sheriff James Brock arrested Griffin a short time after the shooting and Griffin was confined in the Conecuh County Jail on charges of murder.

May 10, 1955 - A television version of Alabama author Ambrose Bierce's story "The Soldiers" was broadcast as part of the “Danger” series.

May 10, 1960 – The nuclear submarine USS Triton completed Operation Sandblast, the first underwater circumnavigation of the earth. The trip started on February 16.

May 10, 1962 – Marvel Comics published the first issue of “The Incredible Hulk.”

May 10, 1967 – Wilcox County native Hank Aaron hit an inside the park homerun.

May 10, 1968 - Jim Morrison of The Doors incited a riot during a Chicago concert.

May 10, 1969 - The National and American Football Leagues announced their plans to merge for the 1970-71 season.

May 10, 1969 – During the Vietnam War, the Battle of Dong Ap Bia began with an assault on Hill 937, which ultimately became known as Hamburger Hill.

May 10, 1972 - President Richard Nixon’s decision to mine North Vietnamese harbors was condemned by the Soviet Union, China, and their Eastern European allies, and received only lukewarm support from Western Europe.

May 10, 1973 - Leon Ridgeway, 56, a native of Conecuh County, Ala., died in a Fairhope hospital. He was a veteran of World War II and a Past Master of the Spanish Fort Masonic Lodge. Funeral services were held May 12 at the Fairhope Chapel of the Bayview Funeral Home and burial was in Repton Cemetery.

May 10, 1973 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Franklin “Frank” E. Murphy, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James T. Murphy, had been promoted to lance corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps. Murphy was stationed at Glynco, Ga.

May 10, 1973 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Navy Fireman Eric G. Pugh, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Pugh of Evergreen, had graduated from recruit training at the Naval Training Center in Orlando, Fla. A 1971 graduate of Monroe Academy in Monroeville, he was a former student of Patrick Henry Junior College in Monroeville.

May 10, 1979 - John McMullen became the CEO of the Houston Astros.

May 10, 1982 - Wayne Stafford became the new owner of Evergreen radio station WBLO, having assumed ownership on this Monday morning. He and Marv Heffington, the station’s new manager, were congratulated by Ernie Ashworth, noted country music and Grand Ole Opry entertainer, who was also Mrs. Wanda Stafford’s brother.

May 10, 1982 - Tommy Shipp of Castleberry showed the Grand Champion of the 17^th Annual Conecuh County FFA and 4-H Market Hog Show held on this Monday morning at the Evergreen Cooperative Stockyard Show Arena. Jeff Little, owner of Little’s Super Market in Castleberry, paid a premium $1 per pound for this fine hog.

May 10, 1990 - Alabama author Walker Percy died in Covington, La.

May 10-11, 1996 – On Mt. Everest in Nepal, eight climbers died near the summit during a storm on the mountain.

May 10, 1997 - The Chicago Cubs got the 68th triple play in Major League Baseball history.

May 10, 2000 – The Flat Rock Saints Church was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.

May 10, 2002 – Alabama Gov. Don Siegleman visited Evergreen, Ala. as part of a statewide tour to boost economic development.

May 10, 2005 – Jackson, Ala. voted to legalize alcohol sales.

May 10, 2007 – Hillcrest High School was scheduled to play Georgiana High School in a spring football game in Evergreen, Ala. Maurice Belser was Hillcrest’s head football coach.

May 10, 2008 - The 16^th Annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive was held on this Saturday and successfully collected 2,229 pounds of food from various communities in the Conecuh County area.