Browsing named entities in Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing). You can also browse the collection for December 20th or search for December 20th in all documents.

Your search returned 13 results in 12 document sections:

1 2
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Baltimore, (search)
sts abounded everywhere, Mifflin, who was a disowned member of the Society of Friends, and had witnessed the sudden growing lukewarmness of the Congress, fearing the effect of Howe's proclamation upon both, strongly recommended the removal of that body from Philadelphia. General Putnam, who had been sent to that city to fortify it, earnestly seconded Mifflin's proposition; and the Congress, trembling for their personal safety, gladly complied, and adjourned (Dec. 12), to meet at Baltimore, Dec. 20. Putnam was invested with almost absolute control of military affairs in Philadelphia, and the Congress delegated its executive powers to a resident committee composed of Robert Morris, George Clymer, and George Walton, to act in their behalf during their absence. In Baltimore, the Congress reassembled (Dec. 20, 1776) in a spacious brick building that stood until within a few years, with fronts on Baltimore, Sharpe, and Liberty streets, and where, on the 23d, Rev. Patrick Allison, first
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Conduct of the War, (search)
onduct of the war, the committee to have power to send for persons and papers, and to sit through that session of Congress. The House concurred in the resolution on the following day, and on the 17th and 19th the committee was appointed, consisting of Senators Benjamin F. Wade, of Ohio; Zachariah Chandler, of Michigan, and Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee; and Representatives Daniel W. Gooch, of Massachusetts; John Covode, of Pennsylvania; George W. Julian, of Indiana, and Moses F. Odell, of New York. On Dec. 20 the committee held its first session and chose Senator Wade as chairman. This committee became an important factor in the early movements of the National army and navy. During its existence there were frequently complaints from officers in the field that their freedom of action was seriously impeded by this committee; and in other quarters it was asserted that many of the early campaigns were planned by civilians in Washington, without the advice of experienced military men.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Drainsville, skirmish at. (search)
Drainsville, skirmish at. The loyal people of the country became impatient because the Army of the Potomac, fully 200,000 strong, at the end of 1861, was seemingly kept at bay by 60,000 Confederates—a little more than their number at Manassas. There was a sense of relief when, on Dec. 20, Gen. E. O. C. Ord had a sharp skirmish with Confederate cavalry near Drainsville, led by Col. J. E. B. Stuart. Ord had gone out to capture Confederate foragers, and to gather forage from the farms of Confederates. He was attacked by Stuart, who had come up from Centreville. A severe fight occurred, and the Confederates were beaten and fled. The Nationals lost seven killed and sixteen wounded; the Confederates lost forty-three killed and 143 wounded. The Nationals returned to camp with sixteen wagon-loads of hay and twenty-two of corn.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Hartford conventions. (search)
itary district; and the failure of the government to pay the militia admitted to have been in the United States service; the proposition for a conscription; a bill before Congress for classifying and drafting the militia; the expenditure of the revenue of the nation in offensive operations on neighboring provinces; and the failure of the United States government to provide for the common defence, and the consequent necessity of separate States defending themselves. A committee, appointed Dec. 20, reported a general project of such measures as might be proper for the convention to adopt; and on the 24th it was agreed that it would be expedient for it to prepare a general statement of the unconstitutional attempts of the executive government of Handbill issued by Democratic party. the United States to infringe upon the rights of the individual States in regard to the military, etc., and to recommend to the legislatures of the States the adoption of the most effectual and decisive m
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Holland. (search)
s had already depredated upon Dutch commerce in time of peace, and the British government treated the Netherlands more as a vassal than as an independent nation. The British ministry found a pretext for war in October (1780), when Henry Laurens, late president of the American Congress, was captured on the high seas by a British cruiser, and with him were found evidences of the negotiation of a treaty between the United States and the Netherlands, which had been in progress some time. On Dec. 20 King George declared war against Holland. Before the declaration had been promulgated, and while efforts were making at The Hague to conciliate England and avoid war, British cruisers pounced upon and captured 200 unsuspecting merchant vessels laden with cargoes of the aggregate value of $5,000,000; orders had also gone forth for the seizure of the Dutch island of Eustatius. This cruel and unjust war deepened the hatred of continental Europe for Great Britain, for that government was rega
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), London Company, the (search)
lymouth, Bristol, and other places in the west of England, and this was known as the Plymouth Company. The King prepared a code of laws for the colonists, in which kindness to the Indians, regular preaching of the Gospel, and teaching religion to the pagans were enjoined; also providing for the wellordering of a civil community. Under this charter, and laws and instructions from the King, presented in November, 1606, the London Company sent three ships with emigrants from the Thames, on Dec. 20, under the command of Captain Newport, and they landed on the banks of the James River in May, 1607. The company desired more the immediate profits from precious metals discovered than to found a commonwealth. Indeed, the class of men they sent over were totally unfit for such a noble service. The disappointed company demanded impossibilities. In 1608 they sent word to the colonists that, if they did not send them commodities sufficient to pay the charges of the voyage in which their de
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Mexico, War with (search)
e fight in the streets of Monterey toria, the capital of Tamaulipas, with the intention of attacking Tampico, on the coast. Meanwhile, General Worth, with 900 men, had taken possession of Saltillo (Nov. 15), the capital of Coahuila. Taylor, ascertaining that Tampico had already surrendered to the Americans (Nov. 14), and that Santa Ana was collecting a large force at San Luis Potosi, returned to Monterey to reinforce Worth, if necessary. Worth was joined at Saltillo by Wool's division (Dec. 20), and Taylor again advanced to Victoria (Dec. 29). Just as he was about to proceed to a vigorous campaign, Taylor received orders from General Scott, at Vera Cruz, to send the latter a large portion of his (Taylor's) best officers and troops, and to act only on the defensive. This was a severe trial for Taylor, but he cheerfully obeyed. He and Wool were left with an aggregate force of only about 5,000 men, of whom only 500 were regulars, to oppose 20,000, then gathering at San Luis Potosi
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Sherman, William Tecumseh 1820-1829 (search)
ordered General Hazen to carry it by assault. It was a strong, enclosed redoubt, garrisoned by 200 men. It was carried, and this was the brilliant ending of the march from Atlanta to the sea. It opened to Sherman's army a new base of supplies. Sherman communicated with the officers of the fleet, and, on Dec. 17, he summoned Hardee to surrender. Hardee refused. Perceiving the arrangements made to cut off his retreat to Charleston, Hardee secretly withdrew on the dark and stormy night of Dec. 20, and, with 15,000 men, escaped to that city. The National army took possession of Savannah on Dec. 22, 1864. On the 26th Sherman wrote to President Lincoln: I beg to present to you, as a Christmas gift, the city of Savanah, with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about 25,000 bales of cotton. On his march Sherman had lived generously off the country, which was abundantly filled with provisions. He appropriated to the use of the army 13,000 beeves, 160,000 bushels of cor
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), State of South Carolina, (search)
State secession in any event whatever. This promise was uttered before the members of the convention had been chosen. They were chosen Dec. 3, 1860. They met at Columbia on the 17th, and chose David F. Jamison president. The great prevalence of small-pox there caused the delegates to adjourn to Charleston, where they proceeded at once to business. They chose several committees, one of which was to draft an ordinance of secession. J. A. Inglis was chairman of that committee, and on Dec. 20 reported the David F. Jamison. following ordinance: We, the people of the State of South Carolina, in convention assembled, do declare and ordain, and it is hereby declared and ordained, that the ordinance adopted by us in convention on the 23d day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, whereby the Constitution of the United States was ratified, and also all acts and parts of acts of the General Assembly of the State ratifying amendments of the said C
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Stone fleet, the (search)
Stone fleet, the The Confederates sank obstructions in the channel leading up to Norfolk in April, 1861. This hint was acted upon by the national government in December following. It sent a number of condemned merchant vessels, chiefly New England whale-ships, which had been stripped of their copper bottoms and filled with blocks of granite, to be sunk at the entrance to Charleston Harbor. Twenty-Five of them—some of 400 tons burden— arrived off Charleston Bar Dec. 20. In their sides, below water-mark, were holes filled with wooden plugs, to be removed when they were in a proper position. Sixteen of these were sunk on the bar at the entrance of the main ship-channel, 6 miles from Fort Sumter, at intervals, checkerwise, so as to form disturbing currents, that would perplex, but not destroy, the navigation. It was intended as a temporary interference, but was a fail
1 2