🧵 1/ Even though he was “just” a brigadier general in the Confederate Army, Lewis Armistead is my favorite Civil War general. The bravery he displayed at Gettysburg—leading his men over the stone wall in Pickett’s Charge, hat on sword tip—is admirable and the stuff of legend. Let’s trace his life from North Carolina roots to that fateful day. 2/ Lewis Addison Armistead was born February 18, 1817, in New Bern, North Carolina, into a military family—his father fought in the War of 1812, and his grandfather was a Revolutionary War hero. Raised in Virginia, young Lewis attended West Point in 1833 but was expelled in 1836 after breaking a plate over fellow cadet Jubal Early’s head during a mess hall brawl (though academic issues played a role too). Undeterred, he joined the U.S. Army in 1839 as a second lieutenant through family connections.

(Walker Keith Armistead, father of Lewis)

The Battle of Fredericksburg Reaches Its Bloody Climax

1/ On this day, December 13, 1862, the Battle of Fredericksburg raged in Virginia—a devastating Union defeat and a resounding Confederate victory in the Civil War’s Eastern Theater. General Ambrose Burnside’s 120,000 troops assaulted General Robert E. Lee’s 78,000 Confederates entrenched on Marye’s Heights. The day’s futile charges cost ~18,000 casualties, mostly Union, in one of the war’s most lopsided slaughters. This thread details the campaign’s context, the assault’s horror, and its impact—a low point that tested Northern resolve. Background to the Fredericksburg Campaign

2/ By fall 1862, President Abraham Lincoln sought aggressive action after General George B. McClellan’s slow Peninsula Campaign. He appointed Ambrose Burnside to lead the Army of the Potomac, hoping for a swift strike on Richmond. Burnside planned to cross the Rappahannock River at Fredericksburg and march south before Lee could react. Delays in pontoon bridges allowed Lee to fortify the heights west of town. By December, both armies faced off across the river—Union superiority in numbers offset by Confederate positions on high ground overlooking open fields.

OTD: Blackbeard is Defeated 🧵

1/ Often overshadowed by the JFK assassination, but the notorious pirate Blackbeard was also killed on this day in 1718. Let's dive into the tale of Edward Teach, the fearsome buccaneer who terrorized the seas. 2/ Blackbeard, born Edward Teach around 1680 in Bristol, England, rose from a privateer during Queen Anne's War to one of history's most infamous pirates. He captured ships off the American colonies, amassing a fleet and striking fear with his wild beard braided and lit with slow-burning fuses during battles.

JFK Assassination🧵

1/ On this day in 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas—shot while riding in an open limousine through Dealey Plaza. The official story pins it all on Lee Harvey Oswald, a lone gunman firing from the Texas School Book Depository. But the more you dig, the more holes appear in that narrative. Let's dive into some of the issues with the JFK assassination. 2/ Oswald’s rifle and marksmanship: The Warren Commission claimed he fired three shots in 6–8 seconds with a cheap, poorly maintained Mannlicher-Carcano—hitting JFK twice from 88 yards. Yet Oswald was rated a poor shot in the Marines, the rifle’s scope was misaligned, and while not impossible, some experts struggled with the shots.

🧵 1/ On this day in 1916, the Battle of the Somme finally comes to an end after 141 days of unimaginable slaughter—one of the bloodiest battles in human history, where British, French, and Commonwealth forces attacked German lines along a 15-mile front in northern France. What began as a grand Allied offensive to break the deadlock of trench warfare ended in a muddy stalemate. Let's unpack the scale, the horror, and what it ultimately amounted to. 2/ The Somme was planned as a joint Franco-British breakthrough to relieve pressure on Verdun and break through German defenses. General Douglas Haig commanded the British effort, pinning hopes on a week-long artillery barrage (1.7 million shells) to destroy barbed wire and trenches. On July 1, 1916—still the British Army's bloodiest day—120,000 men went over the top at 7:30 a.m. expecting a walkover. Instead, intact German machine guns mowed them down: 57,470 British casualties, 19,240 dead in hours.

The Siege of Knoxvill Begins🧵

1/ On this day in 1863, Confederate Lt. Gen. James Longstreet launched the Siege of Knoxville, Tennessee, opening his campaign to wrest the vital East Tennessee rail hub from Union Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside. Ordered by Braxton Bragg after Chickamauga to cut Federal supply lines and reclaim the region for the Confederacy, Longstreet’s 15,000 men faced a dug-in Union garrison of 5,000 in a cold, muddy, and ultimately frustrating 20-day operation. Let’s examine what took place. 2/ Longstreet’s Army of Northern Virginia veterans (Hood’s and McLaws’s divisions) detached from Chattanooga in early November, riding trains and marching 400 miles in bitter weather. Morale was high at first—Knoxville was lightly held, East Tennessee had strong Confederate sympathy, and reclaiming it would threaten Burnside’s supply line to Chattanooga and possibly force Grant to divert troops. Longstreet believed a quick strike could defeat Burnside and reopen the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad.

The Battle of Tippecanoe🧵

1/ The Battle of Tippecanoe on November 7, 1811, was a pivotal clash in the Northwest Territory that shattered Native American resistance and catapulted William Henry Harrison into national fame, setting the stage for his 1840 presidential run with the slogan "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too." This pre-War of 1812 fight symbolized American expansionism. Let's explore its background, the battle, and how it launched Harrison's campaign. 2/ The battle's roots lay in the tense frontier of early 1800s Indiana Territory, where Shawnee leaders Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa (the Prophet) formed a confederacy at Prophetstown to resist U.S. land grabs. Harrison, Indiana's territorial governor since 1800, negotiated treaties like Fort Wayne (1809) that ceded 3 million acres, fueling Native resentment. Born in 1773 to a Virginia planter family, Harrison's military upbringing (West Point dropout, aide to "Mad Anthony" Wayne) prepared him for conflict.

🧵 1/ On this day in 1861—November 6—Jefferson Davis was unanimously elected president of the Confederate States of America for a six-year term. A former U.S. senator, Secretary of War, and Mexican War hero, Davis had already served as provisional president since February. 2/ Born in Kentucky in 1808, Davis graduated West Point (1828), fought in the Black Hawk War, and earned fame leading the Mississippi Rifles at Monterrey and Buena Vista. Wounded at Buena Vista, he refused a brigadier general commission to return to the Senate.

🧵 1/ On this day in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln relieved General George B. McClellan of command of the Army of the Potomac after months of frustration with his overly cautious approach, replacing him with Ambrose Burnside. McClellan, dubbed "Little Mac," was a brilliant organizer but repeatedly hesitated to engage the enemy aggressively. Let's explore why this happened and McClellan's later political life. 2/ McClellan's caution defined his tenure: After building the Army into a powerhouse post-Bull Run (1861), he delayed offensives, overestimating Confederate numbers (e.g., 200,000 when Lee had 87,000 at Antietam). His Peninsula Campaign (1862) stalled near Richmond due to "slows," and at Antietam (Sept 17), he failed to pursue Lee despite a tactical win, letting the rebels escape. Lincoln fumed, "If General McClellan does not want to use the army, I would like to borrow it for a time."

The Battle of White Plains 🧵

1/ On this day, October 28, 1776, the Battle of White Plains erupted in Westchester County, New York—a sharp clash in the Revolutionary War’s New York Campaign. Gen. George Washington’s 14,000 patriots faced British Gen. William Howe’s 13,000 troops, following defeats at Long Island and Kip’s Bay. The battle cost ~613 casualties and ended in American retreat, but delayed British pursuit. This thread details the campaign’s desperation, the battle’s chaos, and its role—a holding action that preserved Washington’s army. Background to the New York Campaign

2/ By fall 1776, Britain aimed to crush the Revolution by seizing New York City. After routing Washington at Long Island (August 27), Howe occupied the city on September 15, pushing patriots north. Washington retreated up Manhattan, losing at Harlem Heights but gaining morale. Howe landed at Pell’s Point (October 18), flanking to trap Washington. The Americans fell back to White Plains, a supply hub. With winter looming, Washington sought to evade encirclement, while Howe pressed to destroy the Continental Army before it escaped.

The Second Battle of Fair Oaks Begins

1/ On this day, October 27, 1864, the Second Battle of Fair Oaks (Seven Pines) ignited near Richmond, Virginia—a desperate Union push in the Petersburg Siege. Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler’s 18,000 troops assaulted Confederate Lt. Gen. James Longstreet’s 13,000 defenders to divert Lee from Petersburg. The two-day clash cost ~1,700 casualties, ending in Confederate victory. This thread covers the siege’s context, the battle’s ferocity, and its role in the war’s end.
Background to the Petersburg Siege

2/ By fall 1864, Grant’s Overland Campaign had pinned Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia in a 40-mile trench network around Petersburg, cutting supply lines like the Weldon Railroad. Richmond remained Lee’s fallback, defended by Butler’s Army of the James. Butler, frustrated by his secondary role, planned a thrust at Fair Oaks—site of the 1862 battle—to threaten Richmond and force Lee to split forces. Lee, with 50,000 men, countered with Longstreet’s corps. The siege’s attrition favored Grant, but October’s fight tested both sides’ endurance.

Cornwallis Surrenders at Yorktown🧵

1/ On this day in 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered to American and French forces at Yorktown, Virginia, marking the decisive end of major combat in the Revolutionary War and paving the way for American independence. This pivotal moment effectively concluded the war, though formal peace took time. Let’s explore how Yorktown sealed Britain’s fate and what transpired until the Treaty of Paris. 2/ The Yorktown campaign began on September 28, with George Washington and French General Rochambeau besieging Cornwallis’s 8,000 troops, trapped by French naval victory at the Virginia Capes. After 21 days of artillery bombardment and assaults on British redoubts, Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, with 7,087 troops marching out to “The World Turned Upside Down.” This broke British morale and military resolve.

1/ On this day in 1492, Christopher Columbus achieved one of the greatest feats in human history: making landfall in the New World. After weeks of perilous sailing across uncharted waters, his unwavering determination and visionary spirit brought him to the shores of what we now know as the Americas. A true pioneer who changed the course of civilization forever! 2/ Columbus set sail from Spain on August 3, 1492, with three ships: the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María. Funded by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, he embarked on a bold quest to find a western route to Asia. Facing mutinous crews, fierce storms, and the unknown, his leadership and navigational genius kept hope alive.

Black Hawk Down: The Battle of Mogadishu Begins🧵

1/ On this day in 1993, the Battle of Mogadishu erupted in Somalia—a fierce urban clash between U.S. special forces and Somali militia that became known as “Black Hawk Down,” resulting in 18 American deaths and exposing the challenges of humanitarian intervention. Part of Operation Gothic Serpent, this 17-hour ordeal highlighted bravery amid chaos. Let’s detail the background, the battle, and the aftermath.

(Photo: scene from the movie Black Hawk Down) 2/ The background traces to Somalia’s civil war in 1991, where clan warfare and famine killed hundreds of thousands, prompting UN intervention in 1992 (UNOSOM I) to deliver aid amid chaos from warlords like Mohamed Farrah Aidid. U.S. forces joined under Operation Restore Hope in December 1992 to secure food distribution, but Aidid’s attacks on UN peacekeepers escalated tensions, leading to a shift from humanitarian aid to targeting Aidid. By August 1993, Task Force Ranger—comprising Delta Force, Rangers, and helicopters from the 160th SOAR—was deployed to capture him and his lieutenants in Mogadishu.

The Alamo

1/ 🧵 Just visited the Alamo in San Antonio—such an iconic spot steeped in Texas history! The site’s preserved ruins and memorials really bring the 1836 siege to life. I’ll share pics from key locations and explain what happened at each during the Battle of the Alamo, where ~200 Texian defenders held off 1,800 Mexican troops for 13 days before falling on March 6, 1836. This thread covers the mission church, long barracks, northwest wall, plaza, main gate, palisade, southwest lunette, and more. Let’s dive in!

2/ The Mission Church (Alamo Chapel): This was the easternmost structure, originally a Spanish mission from 1718. During the battle, it served as a fallback position and powder magazine. As Mexican forces breached the walls, survivors retreated here for a last stand—many were killed inside. Women and children took refuge in here during the battle. Today, it’s the site’s centerpiece, with artifacts like cannonballs embedded in walls. Pic: frontal view of the church, inside the church.

On This Day - The Battle of Chickamauga Begins

1/ On this day, September 18, 1863, the Battle of Chickamauga erupted in northwest Georgia—the Civil War’s bloodiest battle in the Western Theater. Union Maj. Gen. William Rosecrans’ 60,000 troops clashed with Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg’s 66,000 along Chickamauga Creek. Fought over two days, it cost ~34,624 casualties, ending in a Union rout that nearly lost Chattanooga. This thread traces the campaign’s roots, the battle’s chaos, and its impact—a Confederate triumph that set the stage for Union resilience. Background to the Chattanooga Campaign

2/ By mid-1863, the Union pushed deep into Tennessee, aiming for Chattanooga—a rail hub vital to Confederate supply lines. Rosecrans’ Army of the Cumberland, after victories at Stones River and Tullahoma, outmaneuvered Bragg’s Army of Tennessee, forcing a retreat from Chattanooga in early September. Bragg, reinforced by Longstreet’s corps from Virginia, sought to counterattack. The Confederacy needed a win to halt Union momentum in the West. Rosecrans, overconfident, pursued into rugged Georgia, unaware of Bragg’s trap along Chickamauga Creek’s dense woods.

1/ Happy Constitution Day! 🇺🇸 On this day in 1787, our Founding Fathers signed the U.S. Constitution—a groundbreaking document that laid the foundation for our republic. Fun fact: There wasn’t originally a Bill of Rights; that came later in 1791 after debates about protecting individual liberties. Today, let’s dive into some of the worst amendments that have reshaped (and arguably weakened) our system. 🧵 2/ The 14th Amendment (1868) was meant for post-Civil War reconstruction, but it gutted states’ rights by applying federal protections nationwide via the Due Process Clause. It also birthed the “anchor baby” rule through birthright citizenship, allowing anyone born on U.S. soil to claim citizenship—leading to immigration loopholes and debates over national sovereignty. A double-edged sword at best.

The Battle of Antietam: The Bloodiest Day in American History

1/ 🧵 On this day in 1862, the Battle of Antietam raged near Sharpsburg, Maryland, marking the bloodiest single day in American military history with over 22,000 casualties in just 12 hours of ferocious fighting—more dead, wounded, and missing than the American toll in the entire Revolutionary War. This clash between Union General George B. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac and Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia was a turning point in the Civil War, halting Lee’s first Northern invasion. Let’s chronicle the epic battle in detail, from its lead-up to the phases and aftermath. Prelude

2/ The battle’s prelude began with Lee’s Maryland Campaign in early September 1862, following Confederate victories at Second Manassas. Lee aimed to invade the North to resupply his army, rally Maryland sympathizers, relieve Virginia, and force a negotiated peace—splitting his 55,000 troops into detachments via Special Order 191. McClellan, with 87,000 men, pursued cautiously until discovering a lost copy of the order on September 13, revealing Lee’s divided forces. This intelligence windfall allowed McClellan to push through South Mountain on September 14, delaying Lee’s convergence and forcing him to concentrate at Sharpsburg along Antietam Creek for a defensive stand.

The Most Underrated U.S. President

1/ James K. Polk: One of America’s most underrated presidents. This man achieved more in a single term than many accomplish in two. He expanded the nation’s territory significantly, stabilized its economy, and honored his commitments. Let us explore why Polk merits greater recognition in American history. 2/ Polk is often overlooked, yet his presidency was remarkably effective. He entered office with specific objectives: annexing Texas, resolving the Oregon boundary dispute, acquiring California, and lowering tariffs. He accomplished each one within four years, demonstrating focused and efficient leadership without major controversies.

Inchon Landing🧵

1/ On this day in 1950, U.S. forces launched the daring Inchon Landing (Operation Chromite) during the Korean War, a high-risk amphibious assault that turned the tide against North Korean invaders and showcased General Douglas MacArthur’s strategic genius. This bold move at the port of Inchon, just 25 miles from Seoul, recaptured the South Korean capital and cut enemy supply lines. Let’s explore its background, execution, and impact. 2/ The Korean War erupted on June 25, 1950, when North Korea invaded the South, quickly overrunning U.N. forces (mostly U.S. and South Korean) and pushing them to the Pusan Perimeter by August. MacArthur, U.N. Supreme Commander, devised Inchon as a flanking maneuver to bypass the front lines, despite risks like 30-foot tides, mudflats, seawalls, and heavy defenses. Skeptics in Washington called it impossible, but Truman approved it amid desperate conditions. Preliminary naval bombardment and mine clearance began September 13.

Battle of South Mountain🧵

1/ On this day in 1862, the Battle of South Mountain erupted in Maryland during the Civil War’s Maryland Campaign, where Union forces under General George B. McClellan clashed with Confederate defenders led by General Robert E. Lee in a series of engagements at key mountain passes. This overlooked but crucial battle delayed Lee’s invasion of the North and set the stage for the war’s bloodiest day. Let’s unpack its background, key actions, and significance. 2/ The battle stemmed from Lee’s bold Maryland Campaign, launched after Second Manassas to invade the North, relieve Virginia, recruit sympathizers, and force a peace—splitting his army to capture Harpers Ferry while advancing. McClellan, pursuing with the Army of the Potomac, discovered Lee’s plans (Special Order 191) on September 13, enabling a rapid advance to South Mountain’s three strategic gaps—Crampton’s, Fox’s, and Turner’s—to exploit the divided Confederates and prevent their convergence. Lee, aware of the threat, rushed D.H. Hill and Longstreet’s troops to hold the passes.