Browsing named entities in Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing). You can also browse the collection for April 18th or search for April 18th in all documents.

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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Dinwiddie, Robert, 1690-1770 (search)
rginia responded to the call to arms by organizing a regiment of 600 men, of which Joshua Fry was appointed colonel and Major Washington lieutenant-colonel. The Virginians assembled at Alexandria, on the Potomac, whence Lieutenant-Colonel Washington, with the advance, marched (April 2, 1754) at their head for the Ohio. Meanwhile Captain Trent had recruited a company among the traders west of the mountains, and had begun the erection of a fort at the forks of the Ohio. They were attacked (April 18) by a party of French and Indians, who expelled Trent and his men, completed the fort, and named it Duquesne, in honor of the captain-general of Canada. News of this event reached Washington at Will's Creek (now Cumberland). He pushed forward with 150 men to a point on the Monongahela less than 40 miles from Fort Duquesne. There he was informed that a strong force of French and Indians was marching to intercept him. He wisely fell back to the Great Meadows, where he erected a stockade, an
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Harper's Ferry, (search)
ear, and in which from 80,000 to 90,000 stand of arms were generally stored. When the secession movement began, at the close of 1860, measures were taken for the security of this post. A small body of United States dragoons, under the command of Lieut. Roger Jones, was sent there as a precautionary measure. After the attack on Fort Sumter, rumors reached Harper's Ferry that the government property there would be speedily seized by the Virginians. The rumors were true. On the morning of April 18 the military commanders at Winchester and Charlestown received orders from Richmond to seize the armory and arsenal that night. They were further ordered to march into Maryland, where, it was expected, they would be joined by the minute-men of that State in an immediate attack on Washington. About 3,000 men were ordered out, but only about 250 were at the designated rendezvous, 4 miles from the Ferry, at the appointed hour—eight o'clock in the evening—but others were on the march. As a s
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Kentucky, (search)
ing States. On Jan. 22 the legislature accordingly resolved that the Kentuckians, united with their brethren of the South, would resist any invasion of the soil of that section at all hazards and to the last extremity. This action was taken because the legislatures of several free-labor States had offered troops for the use of the national government in enforcing the laws in seceding States. They decided against calling a convention, and appointed delegates to the Peace Congress. On April 18 a great Union meeting was held in Louisville, over which James Guthrie and other leading politicians of the State held controlling influence. At that meeting it was resolved that Kentucky reserved to herself the right to choose her own position; and that, while her natural sympathies are with those who have a common interest in the protection of slavery, she still acknowledges her loyalty and fealty to the government of the United States, which she will cheerfully render until that governm
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Battle of Lexington and Concord. (search)
Battle of Lexington and Concord. In the early spring of 1775, General Gage had between 3,000 and 4,000 troops in Boston, and felt strong in the presence of rebellious utterances that filled the air. He observed with concern the gathering of munitions of war by the colonists. Informed that a considerable quantity had been deposited at Concord, a village about 16 miles from Boston, he planned a secret expedition to seize or destroy them. Towards midnight, on April 18, he sent 800 men, under Lieutenant-Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn, to execute his designs. The vigilant patriots had discovered the secret, and were on the alert, and when the expedition moved to cross the Charles River, Paul Revere, one of the most active of the Sons of Liberty in Boston, had preceded them, and was on his way towards Concord to arouse the inhabitants and the minute-men. Soon afterwards church bells, musketry, and cannon spread the alarm over the country; and when, at dawn, April 19, Pitcairn, wit
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Mexico, War with (search)
uz (q. v.) on the 13th, and on the 27th it was surrendered with the castle of San Juan de Ulloa. Scott took possession of the city two days afterwards, and, on April 8, the advance of his army, under General Twiggs, began its march for the capital, by way of Jalapa. Santa Ana had advanced, with 12,000 men, to meet the invaders, and had taken post at Cerro Gordo, a difficult mountain pass at the foot of the Eastern Cordilleras. Scott had followed Twiggs with the rest of his army, and, on April 18, defeated the Mexicans at that strong pass, and, pushing forward, entered Jalapa on the 19th. On the 22d the American flag was unfurled over the Castle of Perote, on the summit of the Eastern Cordilleras, 50 miles from Jalapa. This was considered the strongest fortress in Mexico, excepting Vera Cruz. It was surrendered without resistance, and with it fifty-four pieces of cannon, some mortars, and a large amount of munitions of war. Onward the victorious army marched, and entered the f
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), New Orleans. (search)
troops, was at the Southwest Pass. The fleets comprised forty-seven armed vessels, and these, with the transports, went up the river, Porter's mortar-boats leading. When they approached the forts their hulls were besmeared with mud, and the rigging was covered with branches of trees. So disguised, they were enabled to take a position near the forts unsuspected. The Mississippi was full to the brim, and a boom and other obstructions near Fort Jackson had been swept away by the flood. On April 18 a battle between Fort Jackson and Porter's mortar-boats was begun. The gunboats supported the mortar-boats. They could not much affect the forts, and on the night of the 23d the fleet started to run by them, the mortar-boats helping. The perilous passage of the forts was begun at 2 A. M. The night was intensely dark, and in the gloom a tremendous battle was waged. The National naval force was met by a Confederate one. In that struggle the Na- The Levee at New Orleans. tionals were vi
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Norfolk, destruction of (search)
ngton. McCauley, apparently unsuspicious of treachery around him, neglected to carry out the instructions sent him until it was too late. His Southern-born officers deceived him by protestations of loyalty. You have no Pensacola officers here, they said to McCauley. We will never desert you; we will stand by you until the last, even unto death. On the day after the passage of the Virginia ordinance of secession, they deserted their flag and joined the Confederates. On the evening of April 18, General Taliaferro, commander of the forces in southeastern Virginia, appeared at Norfolk with his staff, and prepared to seize the navy-yard and the ships-of-war. The disloyal officers had corrupted the workmen in the navyyard, and these were also ready to join the Confederates. The military companies of Norfolk and Portsmouth were paraded under arms. Several companies of riflemen came from Petersburg, in number about 600, and a corps came from Richmond, bringing with them fourteen pi
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Omnibus bill, the (search)
of slaves within the District; that more effectual laws should be made for the restitution of fugitive slaves; and that Congress had no power to prohibit or obstruct the trade in slaves between the several States. Clay spoke eloquently in favor of this plan. Mr. Webster approved it, and Senator Foote, of Mississippi, moved that the whole subject be referred to a committee of thirteen—six Southern members and six Northern members—they to choose the thirteenth. This resolution was adopted April 18; the committee was appointed, and Mr. Clay was made chairman of it. On May 8, Mr. Clay reported a plan of compromise in a series of bills substantially the same as that of Jan. 29. It was called an omnibus bill. Long debates ensued, and on July 31 the whole batch was rejected except the proposition to establish a territory in the Mormon settlements in Deseret, called Utah. Then the compromise measures contained in the omnibus bill were taken up separately. In August a bill for the admi
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Oregon, (search)
Oregon, A battle-ship of the American navy; carries four 13-inch (67-ton) guns, eight 8-inch, four 6-inch, and thirty-one rapid-fire machine guns. At the outbreak of hostilities with Spain, the Oregon was ordered from San Francisco, where she was built, to the Atlantic coast. She left San Francisco March 19, and arrived at Callao, Peru, April 4, where she took on coal; reached Sandy Point April 18, and again took on coal; reached Rio de Janeiro April 30, Bahia May 8, Barbadoes May 18, and Jupiter Inlet, Florida, May 24. The entire distance run was 14,706 knots, at an expenditure of 4,155 tons of coal. While in Rio de Janeiro, Captain Clark received word that the Spanish torpedo-boat Temerario had sailed from Montevideo with the intention of United States battle-ship Oregon. destroying the Oregon. Captain Clark notified the Brazilian authorities that if the Temerario entered the harbor with hostile intention, she would be attacked; and at the same time left orders with the
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), State of Pennsylvania, (search)
arrisburg on the evening of April 17. Accompanied by forty regular soldiers destined for Fort McHenry, they went by rail to Baltimore the next morning, and while passing from one railway station to another were subjected to gross insults and attacked with missiles by a mob. They were without arms, for their expected new muskets were not ready when they got to Harrisburg. They found Maryland a hostile territory to pass through, but they reached the capital in safety early in the evening of April 18. They were received by the government and loyal people there with heartfelt joy, for rumors that the minute-men of Maryland and Virginia were about to seize Washington, D. C., had been prevalent all day. The Pennsylvanians were hailed as deliverers. They were marched to the Capitol grounds, greeted by cheer after cheer, and assigned to quarters in the hall of the House of Representatives. The startling rumor soon spread over the city that 2,000 National troops had arrived, well armed wit
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