11 Little-Known Facts About George Washington-- Part 1

From History.

This being what would have been his 290th birthday.

1.  He had only a grade school education.

2.  At age 22 , Washington led a disastrous military skirmish that sparked a world war.

As an officer in the Virginia militia, he led an attack on a French Army group that eventually led to the French and Indian War and the world-wide Seven Years' War.

3.  Washington's first love was  was the wife of one of his best friends.

4.  About those teeth.  No, they weren't wooden.

5.  He  wasn't always a great general, but he was an excellent spymaster.

If you want to know more about these, go to the site.

Happy Birthday and Thank You Mr. Washington.  We Would Not Have This Country Without You.  --Cooter

Ten Facts About the Battle of Princeton: Sneaking Away and That 'Intelligent Young Gentleman'

From George Washington's Mount Vernon.

The American victory at the Battle of Princeton (January 3, 1777)  was one of the most consequential f the American Revolution.  George Washington and his soldiers marched north from Trenton and attacked a British force south of Princeton.

Washington's victory  bolstered American  morale and provided  great confidence to his soldiers.

1.  WASHINGTON ESCAPED ONE ENEMY TO ATTACK ANOTHER AT PRINCETON.

The Americans had been able to repulse several attacks on January 2 at the Battle of Assunpink Creek (Battle of Second  Trenton), but still had the prospects of an all-out attack by  Gen. Charles Cornwallis' 8,000 man British Army the next day.

They were able to slip away through deceptive campfires and quietness to attack Princeton.

2.  "A VERY INTELLIGENT YOUNG GENTLEMAN" PROVIDED WASHINGTON WITH INTELLIGENCE.

Col. John Cadwalader was able to get detailed information and a map from this "intelligent young gentleman."  They didn't say who he was, though. But Washington had a detailed map of the British defenses and positions at Princeton.

--Brock-Perry

USS San Diego-- Part 4: Court of Inquiry Determines It Was a Mine

In August, the Navy Court if Inquiry appointed to investigate the loss of the cruiser concluded that the San Diego had been sunk by a mine..  Part of this was based on the fact that six contact mines had been found in the vicinity of where it sank.

The German submarine U-156 had earlier laid a number of mines along the south shore of Long Island and the sinking of the San Diego was attributed to her.

In 1999, a theory was advanced that a German spy by the name of Kurt Jahnke had planted explosives aboard the San Diego and caused its sinking.  This claim has been contested by the Naval Historical Center.

--Cooter

10 Forgotten Americans-- Part 2: Roger Sherman Signed Three Really Important American Documents

7.  ROGER SHERMAN--  Backed equal representation in the Constitutional Convention.  The only person to sign the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.

6.  MARY BOWSER--  Slave.  Union spy.  Served in the Confederate White House in Richmond, Virginia, and relayed what she overheard to Union lines.

5.  ANGIE TURNER WITTENMEYER--  Social and political activist.  Social worker in Iowa Civil War camp.  Pushed nutritional food to help sick and wounded soldiers recover.  Prominent in  Women's Christian Temperance Union.

--DaCoot