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Amnorix · 04-07-2009, 08:22 PM

April 6.

1652. Dutch sailors establish a resupply camp that will eventually grow into Cape Town, South Africa.

1814. Napoleon I abdicates and is exiled to Elba.

1862. The Battle of Shiloh begins in southwestern Tennessee. The battle began when Confederate forces under General Johnston -- a general very highly regarded within Confederate leadership, and Beauregard attack the camped Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant. Union forces were mostly taken by surprise, but rallied quickly to save their position, which was backed by a river and thus could have resulted in complete disaster had they been routed. By the end of the day, General Sherman learned he was serving a special commander -- most Union generals had a marked propensity for turning tail at the first sign of trouble. During the evening lull, however, Sherman went to Grant, who was sitting contemplatively under a tree, easing his leg which had been broken a few weeks earlier in an accident while riding his horse.

"Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?"

Grant looked up from his cigar. "Yep. Lick 'em tomorrow though."

The Confederates had suffered a grievous blow, already, however, General Johnston having been killed in the first day of combat.

That night, elements of Grant's forces that had been marching to meet him arrived (Grant having sent word that they should hasten along), and they crossed the river during the night. Over 15,000 fresh Union troops arrived by 4:00 a.m. Grant, a firm believer in always granting the initiative, launched his attack by dawn, and drove off the Confederates.

It was the first significant Union victory of the war, but it didn't help Grant's reputation at the time. Reporters reported that Grant had been drunk, which had resulted in the Confederates achieving surprise, and falsely reported that many Union forces had been bayoneted in their tents. The clamor rose for Lincoln to remove him. Lincoln stated (with Eastern general McClellan clearly on his mind): "I can't spare this man; he fights."

General Halleck, however, Grant's then-superior, arrived and took personal command, relegating Grant for a period of time as a useless second-in-command, with no actual power. Grant contemplated retirement, and reputedly began drinking out of sheer boredom and frustration. Sherman, however, bucked him up and when Halleck was promoted to Washington, the path to Grant's fame and success was paved.

1917. The United States declares war on Germany.

1941. Germany invades Yugoslavia and Greece, in part to rescue their Italian allies, whose invasion was in trouble. While the Germans easily trounce their enemies, the invasion diverts their forces and delays their timetables for the planned invasion of Russia, giving them less time to conquer the country before the onset of the Russian Winter.

1973. The American League starts using the Designated Hitter.

04-07-2009, 08:22 PM	#302
Amnorix In BB I trust Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, Mass. Casino cash: $10029808	April 6. 1652. Dutch sailors establish a resupply camp that will eventually grow into Cape Town, South Africa. 1814. Napoleon I abdicates and is exiled to Elba. 1862. The Battle of Shiloh begins in southwestern Tennessee. The battle began when Confederate forces under General Johnston -- a general very highly regarded within Confederate leadership, and Beauregard attack the camped Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant. Union forces were mostly taken by surprise, but rallied quickly to save their position, which was backed by a river and thus could have resulted in complete disaster had they been routed. By the end of the day, General Sherman learned he was serving a special commander -- most Union generals had a marked propensity for turning tail at the first sign of trouble. During the evening lull, however, Sherman went to Grant, who was sitting contemplatively under a tree, easing his leg which had been broken a few weeks earlier in an accident while riding his horse. "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up from his cigar. "Yep. Lick 'em tomorrow though." The Confederates had suffered a grievous blow, already, however, General Johnston having been killed in the first day of combat. That night, elements of Grant's forces that had been marching to meet him arrived (Grant having sent word that they should hasten along), and they crossed the river during the night. Over 15,000 fresh Union troops arrived by 4:00 a.m. Grant, a firm believer in always granting the initiative, launched his attack by dawn, and drove off the Confederates. It was the first significant Union victory of the war, but it didn't help Grant's reputation at the time. Reporters reported that Grant had been drunk, which had resulted in the Confederates achieving surprise, and falsely reported that many Union forces had been bayoneted in their tents. The clamor rose for Lincoln to remove him. Lincoln stated (with Eastern general McClellan clearly on his mind): "I can't spare this man; he fights." General Halleck, however, Grant's then-superior, arrived and took personal command, relegating Grant for a period of time as a useless second-in-command, with no actual power. Grant contemplated retirement, and reputedly began drinking out of sheer boredom and frustration. Sherman, however, bucked him up and when Halleck was promoted to Washington, the path to Grant's fame and success was paved. 1917. The United States declares war on Germany. 1941. Germany invades Yugoslavia and Greece, in part to rescue their Italian allies, whose invasion was in trouble. While the Germans easily trounce their enemies, the invasion diverts their forces and delays their timetables for the planned invasion of Russia, giving them less time to conquer the country before the onset of the Russian Winter. 1973. The American League starts using the Designated Hitter.
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