Today in History

Month
Jun 1, 1813
Painting of a large ship that is on the water. There is lots of smoke billowing from the ship.

USS Chesapeake is captured by the British frigate HMS Shannon

Jun 1, 1825

John Hunt Morgan, Confederate Brigadier General, born

Jun 1, 1862

General Robert E. Lee takes command of the Army of Northern Virginia

Jun 1, 1862
This image depicts several soldiers stationed on the Seven Pines Battlefield.

Battle of Seven Pines, also known as Fair Oaks, fought from May 31 to June 1, ended

Jun 1, 1864
Cold Harbor | June 1, 1864 (July 2022)

Major Union attack at Cold Harbor, Virginia

Jun 1, 1868

James Buchanan, 15th President of the United States, died

Jun 2, 1763

During Pontiac's Rebellion, at what is now Mackinaw City, Michigan, Chippewas captured Fort Michilimackinac

Jun 2, 1774
Three British soldiers dressed in uniforms from the American Revolution in a forest.

The Quartering Act of 1774 is passed, allowing British troops to be housed in private homes and facilities

Jun 2, 1815
Union Major General Philip Kearny

Philip Kearny, Union Major General during the Civil War, was born

Jun 3, 1780
Thomas Hutchinson

Thomas Hutchinson, Royal Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay prior to the American Revolution, died

Jun 3, 1808
Close up of Jefferson Davis' face

Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War, was born

Jun 3, 1861
Photograph of Stephen Douglas

Stephen A. Douglas, known for participating in the Lincoln-Douglas debates against Abraham Lincoln, died

Jun 3, 1864
This image depicts a battle map detailing the events of Cold Harbor.

All-out Union assault at Cold Harbor, Virginia

Jun 4, 1813
Portrait of a man in an American Naval uniform.

James Lawrence, American Captain of the USS Chesapeake during the War of 1812, died

Jun 5, 1851

Harriet Beecher Stowe's anti-slavery serial, Uncle Tom's Cabin, or Life Among the Lowly, started a ten-month run in the National Era abolitionist newspaper

Jun 6, 1780
Alexander's Old Field

Battle of Alexander’s Old Field, also known as the Beckham’s Old Fields

Jun 6, 1865

William Quantrill, Confederate guerrilla leader during the American Civil War, was killed by Union soldiers

Jun 7, 1776

Lee Resolution: Richard Henry Lee proposes independence to the Second Continental Congress

Jun 7, 1863

Battle of Milliken's Bend

Jun 8, 1789

James Madison introduced twelve proposed amendments to the United States Constitution in Congress

Jun 8, 1845

Andrew Jackson, 7th President of the United States and Major General in the War of 1812, died

Jun 8, 1862

Battle of Cross Keys

Jun 9, 1772
An illustration of the burning of the revenue cutter Gaspee in Narragansett Bay

Gaspée Affair—A British ship patrolling for smugglers runs aground in Rhode Island, and a local mob burns it; the mob is then accused of treason

Jun 9, 1862

Battle of Port Republic

Jun 9, 1863

Battle of Brandy Station, also known as Fleetwood Heights

Jun 10, 1864
Photo of cabin at Brices Cross Roads by Mike Talplacido

Battle of Brice's Cross Roads, also known as Tishomingo Creek

Jun 11, 1741
Painting of a seated man with a black coat and white wig.

Joseph Warren, Major General in the American Revolution, was born

Jun 11, 1864

Battle of Trevilian Station, fought from June 11-12, started

Jun 12, 1776
Virginia Declaration of Rights

The Virginia Declaration of Rights is adopted

Jun 12, 1864

Battle of Trevilian Station, fought from June 11-12, ended

Jun 13, 1786

Winfield Scott, Commanding General of the U.S. Army from 1841 to 1861, was born

Jun 13, 1863
A historical map of the Battle of Second Winchester

Battle of Second Winchester, fought from June 13-15, started

Jun 14, 1775
Disbanding the Continental Army, at New Windsor, New York, November 3, 1783

The Continental Army was established by the Continental Congress, marking the birth of the United States Army

Jun 14, 1777

The Second Continental Congress passed the first Flag Resolution

Jun 14, 1801
Sketch of Benedict Arnold

Benedict Arnold, American general during the American Revolution, later turned British spy, died

Jun 14, 1811
Portrait of Harriet Beecher Stowe by Alanson Fisher

Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was born

Jun 14, 1864

Leonidas Polk, Confederate Lieutenant General during the Civil War, died

Jun 15, 1775

George Washington appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army

Jun 15, 1849

James K. Polk, 11th President of the United States, died

Jun 15, 1863
A historical map of the Battle of Second Winchester

Battle of Second Winchester, fought from June 13-15, ended

Jun 15, 1864
A funeral service passes through McClellan Arch at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.

Arlington National Cemetery is established and officially set aside as a military cemetery by U.S. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton

Jun 15, 1864
Pine Mountain, Ga., 1864, where Gen. Polk was killed

Battle of Gilgal Church, fought from June 15 to June 17, started

Jun 15, 1864
Photograph of soldiers standing in front of a cannon

Battle of Petersburg, fought from June 15-18, started

Jun 15, 1877
This is a portrait of Henry Ossian Flipper— the first black graduate of the United States Military Academy.

Henry Ossian Flipper becomes the first African American graduate of West Point

Jun 16, 1836

Wesley Merritt, Union Major General during the Civil War, was born

Jun 16, 1858

Abraham Lincoln's “House Divided” speech

Jun 16, 1862

Battle of Secessionville, also known as Fort Lamar

Jun 17, 1775
The Battle of Bunker's Hill, June 17, 1775 by John Trumbull

Battle of Bunker Hill

Jun 17, 1863

Battle of Aldie

Jun 17, 1864
Pine Mountain, Ga., 1864, where Gen. Polk was killed

Battle of Gilgal Church, fought from June 15 to June 17, ended

Jun 18, 1864
Photograph of soldiers standing in front of a cannon

Battle of Petersburg, fought from June 15-18, ended

Jun 19, 1781
Painted illustration of the Siege of Ninety Six

Siege of Ninety Six, fought from May 22 to June 19, ended

Jun 19, 1786
Portrait of Nathanael Greene

Nathanael Greene, Major General during the American Revolution, died

Jun 19, 1864
This is a painting depicting the conflict of the USS Kearsarge vs. CSS Alabama.

USS Kearsarge sinks CSS Alabama near France

Jun 19, 1865
Juneteenth Celebration

General Order No. 3 is issued by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger in Galveston, Texas

Jun 20, 1779

Battle of Stono Ferry

Jun 20, 1863

West Virginia joins the Union as the 35th state

Jun 21, 1788
Constitution

New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify the Constitution of the United States

Jun 21, 1863

Battle of Upperville

Jun 21, 1880

Theophilus H. Holmes, Lieutenant General during the Civil War, died

Jun 22, 1813

Battle of Craney Island

Jun 22, 1864
Kennesaw Mountain | Kolb's Farm | June 22, 1864 (June 2020)

Battle of Kolb's Farm

Jun 22, 1864
Jerusalem Plank Road | Jun 22, 1864 (October 2021)

Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road, part of the Petersburg Campaign

Jun 23, 1780
Battle of Connecticut Farms and Springfield

Battles of Connecticut Farms and Springfield

Jun 23, 1865
Stand Watie

Confederate Brigadier Gen. Stand Watie surrenders the last major Confederate force at Fort Towson in Oklahoma Territory

Jun 24, 1863
Sketch of the environs of Tullahoma, Tennessee

Battle of Hoover’s Gap

Jun 25, 1862
Gaines Mill Aftermath (700)

Seven Days Battles begin at Oak Grove

Jun 25, 1876

George Armstrong Custer, Union Major General in the Civil War, died

Jun 26, 1819
General Abner Doubleday in uniform

Abner Doubleday, Union Major General during the Civil War, born

Jun 26, 1862

Battle Beaver Dam Creek, also known as Mechanicsville

Jun 27, 1862
Gaines Mill Aftermath (700)

Battle of Gaines' Mill

Jun 27, 1864

Battle of Kennesaw Mountain

Jun 28, 1776
Sir Peter Parker's Attack Against Fort Moultrie, Reproduction of painting by James Peale

Battle of Sullivan’s Island

Jun 28, 1778
Painting of troops converging at Monmouth

Battle of Monmouth

Jun 28, 1836
This is a portrait painting of James Madison.

James Madison, 4th President of the United States, died

Jun 29, 1852

Henry Clay, 9th United States Secretary of State, died

Jun 30, 1862

Battle of Glendale, also known as Frazier’s Farm

Jun 30, 1863
Hanover | First Phase of Fighting | June 30, 1863 (March 2020)

Battle of Hanover

Month