Today in History

Month
Jul. 1, 1725
Portrait of Rochambeau

Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, French Lieutenant General during the American Revolution, was born

Jul. 1, 1862

Battle of Malvern Hill

Jul. 1, 1863
Photograph of Maj. Gen. John F. Reynolds

John F. Reynolds, Union Major General during the Civil War, died

Jul. 1, 1863
Union and Confederate troops engage in combat at Gettysburg.

Battle of Gettysburg, fought from July 1 to July 3, started

Jul. 2, 1777
This is an image of a map detailing Fort Ticonderoga's landscape.

Siege of Fort Ticonderoga, fought from July 2 - July 6, started

Jul. 2, 1822

Thirty-five slaves, including Denmark Vesey, are hanged in South Carolina after being accused of organizing a slave rebellion

Jul. 2, 1863
Union and Confederate troops engage in combat at Gettysburg.

Battle of Gettysburg, fought from July 1 to July 3, continues

Jul. 3, 1754
A general and his soldiers discussing plans.

George Washington surrenders Fort Necessity to French forces

Jul. 3, 1863
Union and Confederate troops engage in combat at Gettysburg.

Battle of Gettysburg, fought from July 1 to July 3, ended with a Union victory

Jul. 4, 1776
Founding Fathers with the Declaration of Independence

Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence

Jul. 4, 1802
This is a landscape sketch of West Point in the 1890s.

At West Point, New York, the United States Military Academy opens

Jul. 4, 1826
Portrait of John Adams

John Adams, 2nd President of the United States, died

Jul. 4, 1826
Portrait of Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States, died

Jul. 4, 1831

James Monroe, 5th President of the United States, died

Jul. 4, 1863
This is an illustration of a lone soldier waving the American flag amidst the smoke and dust on the battlefield.

Battle of Vicksburg, fought from May 18 to July 4, concluded with a Union victory

Jul. 5, 1775
Olive Branch Petition

Congress approves the Olive Branch Petition, a final attempt to avoid war with Britain

Jul. 5, 1801
David G. Farragut

David Farragut, Union Vice Admiral during the Civil War, was born

Jul. 5, 1814

Battle of Chippawa

Jul. 6, 1775
Declaration on the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms

Congress issues a “Declaration on the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms”

Jul. 6, 1777
This is an image of a map detailing Fort Ticonderoga's landscape.

Siege of Fort Ticonderoga, fought from July 2 - July 6, ended

Jul. 6, 1781
This map depicts Green Spring and its surrounding areas.

Battle at Green Spring

Jul. 6, 1802
Portrait of Daniel Morgan

Daniel Morgan, Patriot Brigadier General, died

Jul. 7, 1777

Battle of Hubbardton

Jul. 7, 1865
Stalking John Wilkes Booth

Conspirators in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln are executed

Jul. 8, 1758
A 18th century map of Fort Carillon at Ticonderoga

Battle of Fort Carillon

Jul. 8, 1777

Battle of Fort Ann

Jul. 9, 1755
Man atop a horse leading soldiers into battle.

Battle of Monongahela

Jul. 9, 1863
Brigade of soldiers marching at Port Hudson

Battle of Port Hudson, fought from May 21 to July 9, ended

Jul. 9, 1864

Battle of Monocacy

Jul. 9, 1868

14th Amendment is ratified, guaranteeing African Americans full citizenship and all persons in the U.S. due process of law

Jul. 10, 1754
A sketch of Native Americans ambushing the British forces

Albany Plan of Union—Benjamin Franklin proposes a single government for the colonies

Jul. 11, 1760

Peggy Shippen, wife of Benedict Arnold and British spy during the American Revolution, was born

Jul. 11, 1861
Illustration of the Rich Mountain Battle

Battle of Rich Mountain

Jul. 11, 1864

Battle of Fort Stevens, fought from July 11-12, began

Jul. 12, 1804

Alexander Hamilton, American Lieutenant Colonel and the 1st U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, died

Jul. 12, 1864

Battle of Fort Stevens, fought from July 11-12, ended

Jul. 13, 1787

Congress enacts the Northwest Ordinance

Jul. 13, 1863

Battle of Falling Waters, also known as Williamsport, fought from July 13 - 16, began

Jul. 13, 1881

John C. Pemberton, Confederate Lieutenant General, died

Jul. 14, 1864

Battle of Tupelo, also known as Harrisburg, fought from July 14-15, started

Jul. 15, 1864

Battle of Tupelo, also known as Harrisburg, fought from July 14-15, ended

Jul. 16, 1779

Battle of Stony Point

Jul. 16, 1862
David Glasgow Farragut

David Farragut is promoted to rear admiral, becoming the first officer in the United States Navy to hold an admiral rank

Jul. 16, 1863

Battle of Falling Waters, also known as Williamsport, fought from July 13 - 16, ended

Jul. 17, 1744
portrait drawing of eighteenth century man

Elbridge Gerry, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Vice President during the War of 1812, was born

Jul. 17, 1863

Battle of Honey Springs, also known as the affair at Elk Creek

Jul. 18, 1792
Portrait of John Paul Jones

John Paul Jones, Patriot Naval Captain during the American Revolution, died

Jul. 18, 1863

Battle of Fort Wagner, fought from July 28 to September 7, began

Jul. 18, 1863

Robert Gould Shaw, Union Colonel during the Civil War, died

Jul. 18, 1864

Battle of Cool Spring, also known as Castleman’s Ferry

Jul. 18, 1887
Portrait of Dorothea Lynde Dix

Dorothea Dix, Superintendent of the Army Nurses during the Civil War, died

Jul. 19, 1863
An illustration depicting the entry of Morgan's Freebooters into Washington, Ohio

Battle of Buffington Island was fought, ending in a Union victory

Jul. 20, 1864

Battle of Peach Tree Creek

Jul. 21, 1861
Black and white photograph of a residence on the Bull Run battlefield

First Battle of Bull Run

Jul. 22, 1864

James B. McPherson, Union Major General during the Civil War, died

Jul. 22, 1864
This is a painting of the violent conflict at the Battle of Atlanta.

Battle of Atlanta

Jul. 23, 1885

Ulysses S. Grant, General-in-Chief of the Union Army and 18th President of the U.S., died

Jul. 24, 1864

Second Battle of Kernstown

Jul. 25, 1750
Sketch of Henry Knox standing in front of a cannon

Henry Knox, Patriot Major General and Chief of Artillery during the American Revolution, was born

Jul. 25, 1814

Battle of Lundy’s Lane, also known as Niagara Falls

Jul. 26, 1814

John Hunt Morgan was captured at Salineville, Ohio, ending Morgan’s Raid

Jul. 27, 1752

Samuel Smith, Patriot Lieutenant Colonel during the American Revolution, was born

Jul. 27, 1864
Massard Prairie Battlefield Park

Battle of Massard Prairie

Jul. 27, 1864

First Battle of Deep Bottom, also known as Darbytown or Strawberry Plains, fought from July 27-29, started

Jul. 28, 1864
"Deadbrook at Ezra Church" (700x)

Battle of Ezra Church

Jul. 29, 1862
Photograph of Maria "Belle" Boyd

Confederate spy Belle Boyd was captured by Union soldiers

Jul. 29, 1864

First Battle of Deep Bottom, also known as Darbytown or Strawberry Plains, fought from July 27-29, ended

Jul. 30, 1864

Battle of The Crater at Petersburg, Virginia

Jul. 30, 1875

George E. Pickett, Confederate Major General during the Civil War, died

Jul. 31, 1875

Andrew Johnson, 17th President of the United States, died

Month