[Amnorix]

July 26

811. Battle of Pliska. The last in a long series of battles between the forces of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire and Bulgaria, the Bulgarians ambush and slaughter the vast majority of the entire Byzantine Empire, killing the Emperor and seriously wounding his son. Afterwards, Khan Krum used the skull of the Emperor, Nicephorus, as a drinking cup -- one of the best documented instances of the "skull cup".

The dramatic defeat led Byzantium to avoid fighting the Bulgars for nearly 150 years, leading Bulgaria to vastly increase its territory and influence and creating the First Bulgarian Empire. That empire would be put to the sword by one of the greatest of all Byantine Emperors, Basil II ("Bulgarslayer").

1861. Following the Union's disastrous showing at the First Battle of Bull Run, George B. McClellan is appointed as commander in chief of the Army of the Potomac. He will raise training standards and morale tremendously during his tenure, but his complete lack of aggressiveness and wavering attitude towards how, and perhaps even whether, to win the war against the South will greatly tarnish his legacy. Eventually, believing in his misguided megalomania that Lincoln is a fool, he will run against Lincolin in the 1864 elections, losing decisively with even the majority of the Union troops who served under him, and who genuinely had loved him, voting for Lincoln.

Originally Posted by George McClellan

Lincoln is the original gorilla.

Originally Posted by George McClellan (regarding Lincoln)

What a specimen to be at the head of our affairs now!"

Originally Posted by George B. McClellan

Of all the men whom I have encountered in high position Halleck was the most hopelessly stupid. It was more difficult to get an idea through his head than can be conceived by any one who never made the attempt. I do not think he ever had a correct military idea from beginning to end.

Originally Posted by Union Commander in Chief Henry Halleck, who was himself an extremely cautious general

It requires the lever of Archimedes to move this inert mass. I have tried my best, but without success

Originally Posted by George B. McClellan, who was chronically convinced he was strongly outnumbered by the Confederates

If I am not reinforced…it is probable that I will be obliged to fight nearly double my numbers, strongly entrenched

Originally Posted by George B. McClellan, who carried these worthy goals much too far

It has always been my opinion that the true course in conducting military operations, is to make no movement until the preparations are as complete as circumstances permit, and never to fight a battle without some definite object worth the probable loss

Originally Posted by Stonewall Jackson

If he can handle his troops in the field with the same ability with which he organizes them in camp, he will be simply invincible

Originally Posted by Stonewall Jackson

....he lacks nerve.

Originally Posted by Confederate Commander Joseph Johnston

No one but McClellan could have hesitated to attack.

Originally Posted by soldier in McClellan's army during the ill-fated Peninsula Campaign

we cannot understand why we should entrench ourselves so powerfully, when we came here for the purpose of attacking. Our commander-in-chief is very timid, certainly, and the prospects for a further advance upon Richmond seem extremely slender

Originally Posted by soldier in McClellan's army after Antietam

He made absolutely no use of the magnificent enthusiasm which the army then felt for him

Originally Posted by Abraham Lincoln

Are you not over-cautious, when you assume that you cannot do what the enemy is constantly doing

Originally Posted by Abraham Lincoln

I have just read your dispatch about sore-tongued and fatigued horses. Will you pardon me for asking what the horses of your army have done since the battle of Antietam that fatigues anything?

Originally Posted by Abraham Lincoln

He excels in making others ready to fight.

Originally Posted by Abraham Lincoln

If General McClellan does not want to use the army, I should like to borrow it for a short while.

1941. In protest of the Japanese power grab in French Indo-China, President Roosevelt orders the seizure of all Japanese assets in the US.

1945. Barely two months after V-E Day, the Labour Party wins a stunning and overwhelming victory in elections, sweeping Winston Churchill out of power.

1945. The Potsdam Declaration is signed.

1947. President Truman signs the National Security Act of 1947, completely reorganizing the American intelligence/military system and creating the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CIA, the Department of Defense and the National Security Council.

1948. President Truman signs Executive Order 9981, desegregating American armed forces.

1990. President Bush (the first) signs the Americans with Disabilities Act into law.