Happy Birthday USMC!! Role During the Civil War

Two battalions of Continental Marines were formed  on 10 November 1775 in Philadelphia as a branch on infantry troops able to fight on land or at sea.  This makes the proud organization 246 years old today.

The Marine Corps served a small role in the Civil War, mostly involved with blockade duty.  As more states seceded in the early days before war was fought,  about a third of the officer corps left U.S. service and started the Confederate States Marine Corps.

There was a battalion of Marine recruits performed poorly at the First Battle of Bull Run and retreated with the rest of the forces.

Blockade duty included sea-based amphibious operations to secure forward bases.  One of these occurred at Tybee Island, Georgia in late November 1861, when Marines and sailors from the USS Flag landed a reconnaissance in force to occupy the lighthouse and Martello Tower on the  northern end of the island .  

These positions were later used as the base of Army operations against nearby Fort Pulaski.

--Old Secesh

USMC 243rd Birthday: "Come On, You Sons Of..."

Today marks the 243rd birthday of America's U.S. Marine Corps.

Here's a World War I quote about them.

"Come on, you sons of botches!   Do you want to live forever?"

Gunny Sgt.  Daniel J. "Dan"  Daly, USMC.
Near Lucy-'le-Bocage as he led the 5th Marines' attack into Belleau Wood, 6 June 1918, during World War I.

And, tomorrow marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I and, of course, Veterans Day.

To the Corps!!  --Old SeceshMarine

Abraham Lincoln's Birthday Today

On February 12, 1809, Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was born in a log cabin in Hardin (now LaRue) County, Kentucky.

I have two other Lincoln related items taking place on this date in my Cooter's History Thing blog.

Essentially, Abraham Lincoln's election to the presidency was the final straw of many straws which led to the decision by Southern states to secede from the Union.

So, How Old Would He Be?  --Old Secesh

Where Were You 9-11?

Yesterday, I asked several people where they were on 9-11.  Most said at work.  Most said they would like to go to the ceremony in McHenry, Illinois' Veterans Park today, but, alas, they had to work again.

Today, my waitress at Steak 'N Shake in McHenry said she was at work.

The checkout person at Wal-Mart said that she was in the Marine Corps in an aircraft hangar and watched the events unfolding in the sergeant-major's office.

Then, at the Spring Grove Walgreens a lady stocking the Halloween aisle said she was at home and her daughter called to say she had to turn on the TV and watch.  Unfortunately, 9-11 is also her birthday so that kind of ruined the day for her.  I wished her a happy birthday and sang one verse of "Happy Birthday" to her.

Most of the time I could remember Mom's birthday because of its closeness to 9-11.  Her birthday was September 14.

I am devoting all my blogs to 9-11 today.

Here's a Thought of What to Do With the Lee-Jackson Birthdays and MLK One Occurring at the Same Time

In my last Confederacy Under Attack post I mentioned the problem in Lexington, Virginia, with the three men's birthdays being on the same weekend/day.  This is a problem in that they kind of represent the opposite sides of the spectrum

However. it should be he who first, which means the first one or ones to be celebrated should get the day.  That would mean Lee-Jackson get the day and MLK be moved to another day.

But, since the rest of the United States celebrates MLK, I have a proposition.

I would be in favor of moving the Lee-Jackson Day in return for the NAACP and other militant anti-Confederate organizations cease their attacks on the Confederacy.

I would then say to move it.

--Old Secesh

Arkansas Wonders What To Do About Shared MLK and Lee Birthdays

From the January 18, 2017, USA Today "State-By-State."

Arkansas Little Rock.

Every third Monday in January, Arkansas state offices close in observance of the shared birthdays of Martin Luther King Jr. and Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

But Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson wants to remove Lee from the holiday.  Critics of the governor say that move would belittle the state's Confederate heritage.

Let us consider whose birthday was celebrated on that day first?  That should determine who gets the date.

First Come.  --Old Secesh

Happy Birthday, Mr. President

Almost lost in all the celebration for the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln next year is the 200th birthday of his Confederate counterpart, Jefferson Davis who was born tomorrow back on June 3, 1808.

The Sons and Confederate Veterans and Daughters of the Confederacy are planning events all year.

BEAUVOIR-- One of the most important stories is the restoration of Davis' postwar home of Beauvoir in Biloxi, Mississippi, one of the hardest hit victims of Hurricane Katrina. It has now reopened and tomorrow there will be a program held there.


FAIRVIEW, KY-- This weekend, there will be a big celebration in Fairview, Kentucky, where Davis was born. There will also be access to the historic Bethel Baptist Church which stands on the exact spot where he was born. This is where he gave his famous "This is my own, my native land" speech at the church's dedication in the 1880s.

Again, Happy Birthday, Mr. President. The Soth's One and Only President. --Old B-Runner