Today In History.............

In 1739.............

Great Britain declared war on Spain in what was called "The War of Jenkin's Ear". This war was so named after English ship's Captain Richard Jenkins who having his ship boarded by Spanish coastal guardians was assaulted and had his ear cut off. The Spaniard who did this, told Jenkins "Take this to your King and tell him I would do him likewise" Jenkins took the ear to show to the English Parliament and it served to fan the flames of hatred for Spain. This war was little more than a continuation of the multiple wars for empire going on in the world at the time. It was notable since it did serve to finalise the boarder between Spanish Florida and the English colony of Georgia as well as allowing American colonist to serve in the British forces. One notable Virginian, thinking so highly of the British naval commander at the battle of Cartagena resolved to name his home after him. The British commander, was Edward Vernon. The Virginian, was Lawrence Washington, brother of George. George later inherited from his brother the home and plantation named Mount Vernon.

In 1781.............

General Charles Lord Cornwallis surrendered his command on the Yorktown peninsula in Virginia to his excellency George Washington commander of the Continental Army and Count de Rochambeau commander of the French expeditionary forces. The British surrendered 7152 army personnel as well as 840 seamen and while it was a significant lost, it did not end the war, which dragged on for two more years. The final treaty was signed in 1783.

In 1812..............

Napoleon Bonaparte leading the Army of France began the long cold nightmarish retreat from Moscow. The Russians had followed a scorched earth policy which prevented the French from living off the land as they had done in other countries. Combined with the distance back to France as well as the cold of the Russian winter this served to destroy the cream of the French Army.

It was a lesson that the German Army would learn only too well in 1941. General Winter controls the battles on the steppes.