'Casablanca' Trivia-- Part 4: A Nod and a Cameo?

A SILENT NOD

During filming, Bogart was called to the studio to stand in Rick's Cafe and nod silently.

He had no idea why, but that shot would be added to the "La Marseillaise" scene, showing his character, Rick, giving the band the OK to play the French anthem.

*****************************

COMIC CAMEO

A Chicago newspaper reported in 1943 that funnyman Jack Benny visited the set when Bogart and Bergman were shooting a cafe scene.

"There were about 50 extras seated at tables, with a number of waiters scurrying around," the paper reported.  "There's where you will see Benny, among the waiters.  He borrowed a white coat and appears in the background."

This story has been much debated but Benny's daughter, Joan, said that she believed it was true.

--CootBlanca

This Month in the American Revolution: France Becomes Ally, Treaty of Paris Ends French and Indian War

From the American Battlefield Trust.

FEBRUARY 6, 1778

**  The United  States and France become allies.

FEBRUARY 10, 1763

**  The Treaty of Paris ends the French and Indian War.  The English drive the French from North America and the English national debt soars.  This led to the unpopular taxes in the colonies.

FEBRUARY 11, 1768

**  The Massachusetts Assembly  issues the Massachusetts Circular Letter, denouncing the Townsend Acts.

FEBRUARY 14, 1779

**  Battle of Turtle Creek, Georgia.

FEBRUARY 27, 1776

**  The Battle of  Moore's Creek, North Carolina.

--Cooter

Admiral David W. Bagley-- Part 3: World War I and the Sinking of the USS Jacob Jones

During the first month of 1917, Bagley  moved from the command of the USS Drayton (DD-23) to the USS Jacob Jones (DD-61).  By May 1917, his ship was conducting anti-submarine patols and convoy escort duties in the western approaches to the British Islands.  Later, his area of operations widened to include the Irish Sea and English Channel.

In December 6, 1917, the Jacob Jones left Brest Harbor, France,   At about 1621 that afternoon, the watch spotted a torpedo wake.  The destroyer tried to avoid it, but it struck the ship's starboard side and pierced the fuel oil tank.

Though Bagley and his crew worked frantically to save the ship, it went down within eight minutes, carrying 64 out of 99 crewmen with it.  Bagley and 37 others made it into the icy waters in boats and rafts. Thanks to the humanitarian effort by the German U-boat skipper Hans Rose, who radioed their location to Queenstown, they were picked up by December 8.

Bagley was given the Navy Distinguished Service Cross for his role.

--Cooter

Battlefield Preservation at Saratoga, New York

From the October 2022 American Battlefield Trust calendar.

SARATOGA, NEW YORK

26 acres saved

The American game-changing victory at Saratoga, New York, on October 7 (today), 1777, marked the end of British General John Burgoyne's efforts to control the Hudson River Valley and the beginning of a Franco-American alliance, which brought the American Revolution to a global stage.

The American Battlefield Trust, along with the Saratoga National Historical Park, has saved 26 acres at the upstate New York battlefield and continues to work with American Veteran Archaeology Recovery to coordinate archaeological endeavors in the storied terrain.

As I said before, I am very glad that the former Civil War Trust has expanded its efforts to include the two other wars fought on American soil, the American Revolution and the War of 1812.

--Cooter

 

USS Jacob Jones (DD-61)-- Part 4: The Sinking

In early December, the Jacob Jones helped escort a convoy to Brest, France, with five other Queenstown-based destroyers.  The last to depart from Brest and return to Ireland was the Jones and was steaming alone along a zig-zag pattern when she was spotted by  the German submarine U-53.  At 16:20 on December 6, 1917,  lookouts on the American ship spotted a torpedo 800 yards distant headed for the ship's starboard side.

Despite having her rudder put hard left and emergency speed rung up, the Jones was unable to move out of the way and the torpedo struck her rudder.  Even though the depth charges did not explode, the ship went adrift.  The jolt had knocked out the power, so the destroyer was unable to  send a distress signal since she was steaming alone.

No other ship was present that would know of the Jacob Jones' predicament.

--Cooter

Wreck of First U.S. Destroyer Lost to Enemy Action Found: The USS Jacob Jones

From the August 19, 2022, Chicago Tribune "WW I Navy destroyer."

The wreck of the first U.S. Navy destroyer lost to enemy action has been found off the coast of southwest England, 105 years after it was sunk by a German submarine.

A team of British divers announced the find on Facebook last week saying it was thrilled to have located the World War I ship, the USS Jacob Jones, about sixty nautical miles south of Newlyn, a fishing harbor in Cornwall.

More than a century ago, in 1917, after the United States entered World War I against Germany, the Jacob Jones left Boston for Ireland, whetre it performed rescue operations, picking up survivors from British steamships that had been hit by German submarines and escorting convoys through dangerous waters.

On December 6, 1917, the Jacob Jones left Brest, France, for Queenstown, Ireland, according to U.S. Naval records.  About 20 miles off the coast of southern England, a German submarine torpedoed the Jones.  There were seven officers and 103 crew members aboard the ship.  Eight minutes later, the ship sank, and 64 men  lost their lives.

--Cooter

Anne-Louis Toussard of the American Revolution

Last month and this month, I wrote quite a lot on this man in my Not So Forgotten: War of 1812 blog.  I had never heard of him before and came across an article about a letter he had written describing the big hurricane that hit New Orleans in 1812, while he was the French consul there.

It turns out he was a major force in early American history, especially during the American Revolution, but also later in the young country's history.  He was one of the French who saved the fledgling country.  I probably should have written about him more in this blog.

Just a short summary of some of what he did:

A French artillerist who served  in the American Continental Army under Lafayette and was given a commission.    He wrote an artillery book which became the training basis of the American Army as well as the one who pushed for a school to train officers (that became West Point).

You can go click on the My Blogs section to the right of this to read more about him, especially if you're really into the American Revolution.

This man should be as well known as Lafayette, but sure isn't.

--Cooter

About William A. Snow (Snow's Cut)-- Part 2: Service in World War I

William Arthur Snow was born in Fort Hamilton, New York, to Major General and Mrs. William J. Snow.  He graduated from West Point in 1916 and was assigned to the Corps of Engineers as a second lieutenant.

His first service was in Mexico from graduation to the spring of 1917.  In late September, 1917, he sailed to France with the 2nd Division.  There, he immediately started training his company in construction work and preparing for the ineviatble battle that was coming in World War I.

Snow was at the front in the Verdun Sector, Chateau Thierry, Belleau Woods and Soissons and was wounded twice and later served with the Army of Occupation in Germany.

By now he was a major and was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Silver Cross, Chevalier Legion d'Honneur, Croix de Guerre with Two Palms and the Silber Star Citation for his service during the war. 

--Cooter

Seven Things About Cinco de Mayo-- Part 3: Maximilian's Out. Juarez and Dias Battle for Control

5.  Continued.

With money running low in his coffers, Napoleon III decided in 1866 to end France's occupation of Mexico.  

Maximilian  unwisely stayed and briefly fought before surrendering his troops after they were routed at  Queretaro.  On June19, 1867, he and his generals were executed by firing squad.

6.  Porfirio Diaz began making a name for himself at Puebla.

Porfirio Diaz, Mexico's longest-serving president,  was a relatively unknown cavalry commander until the Battle of  Puebla, where he outflanked the French on their third charge and sent them into disorderly retreat.

Over then next several years, he won battles at Oaxaca and elsewhere.  Following the war, however, Diaz became  so disillusioned with his one-time friend Juarez that he unsuccessfully ran for president against him.

He later launched a couple coup attempts, finally seizing power in 1876.  Except for one four-year  break, his reign lasted until 1911, when he was finally deposed by the Mexican Revolution.

--Cooter

Seven Things About Cinco de Mayo-- Part 2: France Won the War Anyway

4.  After losing the Battle of Puebla, France went on to win  the war.

Mexican victory at Puebla slowed, but did not stop the French onslaught.  French Emperor Napoleon  III ordered another 30,000 troops sent to Mexico under a new commander.  They overran Puebla easily and captured Mexico City. 

Juarez and his followers escaped to the mountains and Napoleon installed  Ferdinand Maximilian von Hapsburg, second in line to the Austro-Hungarian throne as Mexico's ruler.

5.  The French occupation of Mexico was short-lived.

Back in France, Napoleon III was growing increasingly concerned about  Prussia, which had won victories against Denmark and Austria and figured they would next try to  reclaim the  the disputed territories of  Alsace and Lorraine.

Meanwhile, the Civil War in the United States had ended and  the U.S. government was putting pressure on him to get out and also supplying  weapons to  to Juarez's army.

Continued.

--Cooter

Seven Things About Cinco de Mayo-- Part 1: Not Just France

From the April 28, 2022, History "7 things you may not know about Cinco de Mayo" by Jesse Greenspan.

1.  Mexico had just gotten over a civil war in 1862.

2.  European troops invaded because Mexico was broke.  Owed lots of money to Spain, France and Great Britain.  With the U.S. too tied up with its own civil war, it would be unable to enforce the Monroe Doctrine.  Spain and Great Britain almost immediately left, but 7,000 French troops pushed on, aided by those Mexicans who had lost the civil war.

3.  France was considered a major military power at the time.  On May 5, they encountered Mexican forces at Puebla and despite three charges, were forced to retreat.  A major victory for the Mexicans.

--DaCoot

Eight Things About the Titanic That You Might Not Know

From the April 15, 2022 Buzz "These 8 Titanic secrets surfaced 110 years after the wreck."

The Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, 110 years ago.  It wasn't until 36 years ago that the wreck was discovered.

**  The 700+ third class passengers had to share just two bathtubs.

**  One of the ship's musicians wasn't officially declared dead until 2000.  As a matter of fact, the French Army declared him a deserter when he failed up to serve during World War I.

**  The ship's lookouts relied on their eyesight alone as the ship's second officer was replaced at the last minute and forgot to hand over the key to unlock the locker where the binoculars were stored.  In 2010, that key was auctioned for $130,000.

**  One of the richest men in the world, if not the richest, died in the wreck.  John Jacob Astor's worth was $3.5 billion in today's dollars.  His body was one of the ones recovered and had $60,000 on his pocket.

**  One of the ship's cooks survived at least two hours in the frigid North Atlantic waters thanks to copious amounts of whiskey he had drunk.

**  Most people died of hypothermia within 15 minutes.

**  The 1997 movie cost more to produce than what it cost to build the Titanic.

**  Despite what eyewitnesses said, it wasn't until the wreck was found that it was officially confirmed that the ship had split in two pieces.

**  The wreck could vanish by 2030.  Scientists believe bacteria will eat it away by then.

And, Who Says Drinking Is Bad for You?  --Cooter

February Events in the American Revolution: Port Royal Island, Allies, Circular Letter, Kettle Creek and Moore's Creek

From the American Battlefield Trust.

FEBRUARY 3, 1779

**  Battle of Port Royal Island, South Carolina.

FEBRUARY 6, 1778

**  The United States and France become allies.

FEBRUARY 7, 1778

**  British General Howe replaced by Henry Clinton.

FEBRUARY 11, 1768

**  Massachusetts Assembly issues Massachusetts Circular Letter, denouncing the Townsend Acts.

FEBRUARY 14, 1779

**  The Battle of Kettle Creek, Georgia.

FEBRUARY 27, 1776

**  Battle of Moore's Creek, North Carolina.

--Cooter

USS Confederacy-- Part 3: Convoy Duty and Almost Lost in a Storm

Can you imagine a ship in the U.S. Navy  with that name today.  Certain people would not be able to handle it.

From 1 May to 24 August 1779, she cruised the  Atlantic coast under the command of Captain Seth Harding.  While convoying a fleet of merchant ships on 6 June, she and the frigate USS Deane captured three ships, drove off two British frigates and brought the convoy safely into Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

On September 1779, the Confederacy was ordered to carry the French minister and his family back to France.  Later, John Jay, the first American minister to Spain, his secretary, and family were added to the passenger list.

During the passage on 7 November 1779, the ship was completely dismasted and almost lost in a storm  except for the seamanship and ability of Captain Harding to reach Martinique early in December.  After repairs, the ship returned to convoy duty.

--Brock-Perry

Arlington Marks Centennial of the Tomb of the Unknowns-- Part 1

From the July 2021 Military History magazine.

Arlington National Cemetery

Four identical caskets lay abreast in the room at City Hall in Chalons-en-Champagne, France, on October 24, 1921.  Each held the remains if an unidentified American soldier.  U.S. Army Sgt. Edward F. Younger had the solemn task of selecting one of them.

Approaching the caskets with a spray of white roses in hand, the decorated, twice-wounded Younger circled them, then set the flowers down on the third coffin from the left.  He had chosen America's Unknown World War I soldier.

Thus began the long journey home for one of hundreds if American soldiers killed in Europe during World War I whose names are "known but to God."

The casket chosen by Younger was transported by caisson and train to the port of Le Havre and placed aboard the protected cruiser USS Olympia for transport across the Atlantic to the Washington Navy Yard.  (The USS Olympia was Admiral Dewey's flagship at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War where he gave the famous order, "You may fire when ready, Gridley.")

A Native American Timeline-- Part 3: New Mexico, Seven Years' War, Treaties and Sacagawea

**  1680:  A revolt of Pueblo Indians in New Mexico threatens Spanish rule there.

**  1754:  The French and Indian War begins, pitting these two groups against the English settlements in North America.

**  MAY 15, 1756:  The Seven Years' War between the French and British begins, with the Indians siding with the French.

**  MAY 7, 1763:  Ottawa Chief Pontiac leads Indians into battle against the British at Detroit.  The British retaliate by attacking Pontiac's warriors in Detroit on July 31, in what is called the Battle of Bloody Run.  Pontiac and his forces  successfully fend them off, but there are several casualties on both sides.

**  1785:  The Treaty of Hopewell is signed in Georgia, protecting  Cherokee Indians in the United States and sectioning off their land.

**  1788/1789:  Sacagawea is born.

**  1791:  The Treaty of Holston is signed, in which the Cherokee give up all their land outside  of the borders previously established.

**  AUGUST 20, 1794:  The Battle of Timbers, the last major battle over Northwest Territory commences and results in an American victory.

--Cooter

Ten World Engineering Marvels-- Part 3: The Chunnel, Railroad and Liberty

6.  CHANNEL TUNNEL

Opened in 1994 after six years of construction connecting Great Britain with the rest of Europe.  Known as the "Chunnel"  Thirty-one miles long.  Since they built it from both ends don't you know they were kind of hoping they'd come together at the same spot.

7.  TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD

Work on it began even as the Civil War was being fought.  Went eastward from Sacramento, California and west from Omaha, Nebraska.  Completed with the Golden Spike in 1869.

Cross-country travel in the United States  was cut from months to under a week.

8.  STATUE OF LIBERTY

A symbol of friendship between France and the United States.  It was dedicated in New York Harbor in 1886.

--CootTun

Blacks in the Military-- Part 5: World War I

Many Blacks joined the U.S. military after the entry of the United States in World War  in 1917.  Of the 200,000 Blacks who served in the regular army, most did so in support roles within segregated units.  Some 170,000 never even left the country.

There were notable exceptions, though.  The 369th  Infantry Regiment, The Harlem Hellfighters, fought alongside the French Army for six months, during which 171 of its members earned the French Legion of Merit honor.

One member of the 369th also received a Medal of Honor, one of only two recipients of that honor among black troops during that war.

--Old Secesh

In Case You're Wondering About the Submarine at the Top of This Blog

From Wikipedia.

This is the German submarine SM U-118, one of 329 submarines Germany had during World War I.

It was commissioned in May 1918.  During the war, it sank two Allied ships.  With the surrender of the German Imperial Navy later that year, the SM U-118 was transferred to Fraallience and was to be broken up.  As it was being towed through the English Channel to Scapa Flow a storm was encountered and the towing hawser broke and the ship ran aground at Hastings in Sussex, England.

Attempts to get her off or destroy her failed.  The ship then became a popular tourist attraction.  definitely something you don't see that often on a beach.  Tours were made of the interior.

It was broken up between October and December 1919.  Part of the keel may still be buried in the beach.

Anyone Have a Shovel?  --Cooter

It Happened on July 31: Chris, Marq and Tommy

From the July 31, 2020, Chicago Tribune "On July 31..."

**  1498--  Christopher Columbus reached the island of Trinidad on his third voyage to the Western Hemisphere.  (Especially interesting in these days of rage when his statues are being attacked and removed.  He made a huge impact on world history regardless of where you stand on him.)

**  1777--  The Marquis de Lafayette, a 19-year-old French nobleman, was given the rank of major general in the American Continental Army.   That is very, very young.  But, without him and France, I don't think the colonies would have achieved their independence, and then all the leaders would have been branded as traitors and all sorts of bad things might have happened to them.)

**  1877--  Thomas Edison took out a patent leading to the development of the phonograph.  (And that development sure had a huge impact on my life.

--Cooter