July 23
1862. Henry W. Halleck ("Old Brains") takes over as Commander in Chief of the Union Army. Lincoln appoints him in hopes of coordinating all Union armies and spurring the thus-far slow and reluctant Union commanders into action. He would be sorely disappointed in this, and would soon refer to him as "little more than a first rate clerk." And yet, Halleck would serve until the end of the war as a highly efficient administrator of the war effort. He would be replaced by Grant (his former subordinate in the West) as commander-in-chief, but Grant would stay with the Army of the Potomac, leaving administrative details to Halleck in Washington.
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Originally Posted by Historian Steven Woodworth
Beneath the ponderous dome of his high forehead, the General would gaze goggle-eyed at those who spoke to him, reflecting long before answering and simultaneously rubbing both elbows all the while, leading one observer to quip that the great intelligence he was reputed to possess must be located in his elbows
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1903. Ford Motor Company sells its first car.
1914. Austria-Hungary issues a demand to Serbia for Serbia to allow it to investigate the death of its crown prince, Franz Ferdinand. Serbia will refuse.
1984. Vanessa Williams resigns as Miss America after nude pictures of her are published in Penthouse.