Thursday, February 23, 2006
This Day in History
A pretty good day for our military.
On this day in 1847, elements of the American Army under General Zachery Taylor (a son of Virginia) defeated a Mexican Army which outnumbered them two to one at the battle of Buena Vista. Braxton Bragg, commanding artillery, was the hero of the battle. Although there was more fighting to go (and heroic deeds by future Southern Generals Lee, Jackson and Pickett to be performed) in the Mexican War, America's most unpopular war, this was the last big battle in North Mexico, and would be followed by a war winning drive to Mexico City by forces under General Winfield Scott.
On this day in 1945, American Marines raised an American Flag on the top of Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, twice. The first time, the battle stopped, men rose with tears in their eyes to the sight. The second time, only the photographers seemed to care but, cropped, the photo looks great. The fighting went on for weeks more and thousands of Americans and nearly all the Japanese on the island died, but the first flag raising was a moment of awe and triumph in a horrible month of untold suffering and loss.
On this day in 1847, elements of the American Army under General Zachery Taylor (a son of Virginia) defeated a Mexican Army which outnumbered them two to one at the battle of Buena Vista. Braxton Bragg, commanding artillery, was the hero of the battle. Although there was more fighting to go (and heroic deeds by future Southern Generals Lee, Jackson and Pickett to be performed) in the Mexican War, America's most unpopular war, this was the last big battle in North Mexico, and would be followed by a war winning drive to Mexico City by forces under General Winfield Scott.
On this day in 1945, American Marines raised an American Flag on the top of Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, twice. The first time, the battle stopped, men rose with tears in their eyes to the sight. The second time, only the photographers seemed to care but, cropped, the photo looks great. The fighting went on for weeks more and thousands of Americans and nearly all the Japanese on the island died, but the first flag raising was a moment of awe and triumph in a horrible month of untold suffering and loss.
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 6:59 AM 
