On this day in history.

[J. A.]

December 17, 1770:
Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer, was born.

Google is celebrating his birthday with this doodle:

 

[giradman]

December 17, 1770:
Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer, was born.

Thanks Johanna for the reminder and the video - will need to pull out some of my Beethoven recordings (just looked @ my database and have over 150 discs!) - will probably concentrate on some chamber works w/ Susan in the house, otherwise I'd have to wear headphones w/ the symphonies - Dave

Addendum: well, wife out to a luncheon meeting and then some shopping, SO pulled out one of the 6 Beethoven symphony cycles that I own w/ the stereo 'con blasto' - decided on the period instrument recordings below w/ Jos Van Immerseel.
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[J. A.]

December 22, 1858:
Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini, Italian composer, was born.
Giacomo Puccini - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[giradman]

December 22, 1858:
Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini, Italian composer, was born.
Giacomo Puccini - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hi Johanna - Giacomo Puccini is not in my classical music collection (about 4200 discs @ the moment) nor any other operas (just not into that genre) - I probably own several dozen discs or so of chamber works (and some Requiems & Masses) written by a number of opera composers (many more if going back into the Baroque era, e.g. Handel), but one of my favorites are the String Quartets by Luigi Cherubini (1760–1842) - in fact, I own the two versions shown below - Dave
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[giradman]

Sherman presents Savannah, GA to Lincoln for a Christmas present this day in 1864!

Sherman marches across Georgia from Atlanta and captures the beautiful city of Savannah and astounded by its beauty, did no destruction; below a pic of Sherman's headquarters in the city and a second short quote - for more discussion & pics, see my Hilton Head Island travelogue.

Of course, the last 'major' Confederate port to fall was in my state in February 1865, i.e. Fort Fischer followed by Wilmington, NC - the war was over in a few months. Dave

On this day in 1864, Union General William T. Sherman presents the city of Savannah, Georgia, to President Abraham Lincoln. Sherman captured the city after his famous March to the Sea from Atlanta. Savannah had been one of the last major ports that remained open to the Confederates.

After Sherman captured Atlanta in September 1864, he did not plan to stay for long. There was still the Confederate army of General John Bell Hood in the area, and cavalry leaders like Nathan Bedford Forrest and Joe Wheeler, who could threaten Sherman’s supply lines. In November, Sherman dispatched part of his force back to Nashville, Tennessee, to deal with Hood while Sherman cut free from his supply lines and headed south and east across Georgia. Along the way, his troops destroyed nearly everything in their path. Sherman’s intent was to wreck the morale of the South and bring the war to a swift end (Source).

General Sherman's Headquarters in Savannah. It was in this home that General Sherman chose to make his headquarters after his famous "March to the Sea" where he helped seal the doom of the Confederacy. It was from this home on December 22, 1864 where General Sherman sent the telegraph to President Lincoln stating, ""I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the City of Savannah, with one hundred and fifty guns and plenty of ammunition, also about twenty-five thousand bales of cotton."

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[giradman]

Well, no activity here in a few days, but a couple of events of interest to me today - first:

Vincent van Gogh cut off his left ear - he did a famous self-portrait shown below - notice that the right ear is bandaged (he must have been looking in a mirror?) - for those interested in a movie about this mentally tortured artist, I own Lust for Life (1956) on blu-ray w/ Kirk Douglas as van Gogh & Anthony Quinn as Paul Gauguin - highly recommended; plus, if unfamiliar w/ Don McLean's Starry Starry Night, then take a listen - Dave

On this day in 1888, Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, suffering from severe depression, cuts off the lower part of his left ear with a razor while staying in Arles, France.He later documented the event in a painting titled Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear. Today, Van Gogh is regarded as an artistic genius and his masterpieces sell for record-breaking prices; however, during his lifetime, he was a poster boy for tortured starving artists and sold only one painting (Source).

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[giradman]

George Washington resigned his commission as Commander in Chief in Annapolis, MD on this day in 1783!

George resigns his position and returned to private life (but not for long!) - an exchange between the American painter, Benjamin West and King George III - "King George III happened to meet Benjamin West, an American living in London. The King asked West what he thought Washington would do now that the war was over. West said that he had heard Washington planned on retiring back to his farm. George said "If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world."" See the second quote below about the Roman who similarly relinquished power - for this act, Washington is often called the American Cincinnatus - Dave

On this day in 1783, following the signing of the Treaty of Paris, General George Washington resigns as commander in chief of the Continental Army and retires to his home at Mount Vernon, Virginia.

Washington’s willingness to return to civilian life was an essential element in the transformation of the War for Independence into a true revolution. During the war, Congress had granted Washington powers equivalent to those of a dictator and he could have easily taken solitary control of the new nation. Indeed, some political factions wanted Washington to become the new nation’s king. His modesty in declining the offer and resigning his military post at the end of the war fortified the republican foundations of the new nation (Source).

Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus (519–430 BC) was a Roman aristocrat and statesman whose service as consul in 460 BC and dictator in 458 BC and 439 BC made him a model of civic virtue.[1]

Cincinnatus was regarded by the Romans, especially the aristocratic patrician class, as one of the heroes of early Rome and as a model of Roman virtue and simplicity.[2] He was a persistent opponent of the plebeians.[2] When his son, Caeso Quinctius, was convicted and condemned to death, Cincinnatus was forced to live in humble circumstances, working on his own small farm, until an invasion caused him to be called to serve Rome as dictator, an office which he resigned two weeks later, after completing his task of defeating the rival tribes of the Aequians, Sabines, and Volscians.

His immediate resignation of his near-absolute authority with the end of the crisis has often been cited as an example of outstanding leadership, service to the greater good, civic virtue, lack of personal ambition, and modesty. As a result, he has inspired a number of organizations and other entities, many of which are named in his honor (Source).

 

[giradman]

Washington wins first major U.S. victory at Trenton this day 1776!

Seems to be a George Washington thread - early in the American Revolution and just after the disastrous campaign for the Americans on Manhattan - General Washington crosses the Delaware River (famous but fictionalized painting below) and surprises the Hessians in Trenton, New Jersey losing just a few men - not a major military victory but one that revitalized the cause; for those interested, I own the A&E adaptation of this event w/ Jeff Daniels as Washington - highly recommended. Dave

At approximately 8 a.m. on the morning of December 26, 1776, General George Washington’s Continental Army reaches the outskirts of Trenton, New Jersey, and descends upon the unsuspecting Hessian force guarding the city. Trenton’s 1,400 Hessian defenders were still groggy from the previous evening’s Christmas festivities and had underestimated the Patriot threat after months of decisive British victories throughout New York. The troops of the Continental Army quickly overwhelmed the German defenses, and by 9:30 a.m.Trenton was completely surrounded (Source).

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[scifan57]

December 26, 1946;

Mobster Bugsy Siegel opens the Pink Flamingo Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Flamingo Las Vegas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It was the third resort to open on the strip and is the oldest one still in operation.

 

[giradman]

December 26, 1946;

Mobster Bugsy Siegel opens the Pink Flamingo Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Flamingo Las Vegas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It was the third resort to open on the strip and is the oldest one still in operation.

Oh yes, Las Vegas! I've been there four times, but has been a while - all have been to medical meetings - first was the American Roentgen Ray Society held @ the Convention Center - stayed at the adjacent Marriott Hotel (see map w/ blue arrows) - other stays, twice at the Mirage and last time at the Venetian - Susan & I are not much into gambling, so seeing these huge fabulous properties & attending shows have been the major attractions for us; of course, the food has greatly improved and is excellent.

BUT, I must say that my favorite times have been getting out of the city into the desert - visiting Valley of Fire State Park, seeing Boulder Dam, and taking a boat ride on Lake Mead - all MUST dos! On my first visit, a colleague and I did all of those activities - the bridge was not there then and a tour of the dam included going to the bottom - when I returned w/ Susan to the dam, the latter was no longer an option (9/11 etc.). Below a few pics. Dave
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[scifan57]

Oh yes, Las Vegas! I've been there four times, but has been a while - all have been to medical meetings - first was the American Roentgen Ray Society held @ the Convention Center - stayed at the adjacent Marriott Hotel (see map w/ blue arrows) - other stays, twice at the Mirage and last time at the Venetian - Susan & I are not much into gambling, so seeing these huge fabulous properties & attending shows have been the major attractions for us; of course, the food has greatly improved and is excellent.

BUT, I must say that my favorite times have been getting out of the city into the desert - visiting Valley of Fire State Park, seeing Boulder Dam, and taking a boat ride on Lake Mead - all MUST dos! On my first visit, a colleague and I did all of those activities - the bridge was not there then and a tour of the dam included going to the bottom - when I returned w/ Susan to the dam, the latter was no longer an option (9/11 etc.). Below a few pics. Dave
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View attachment 69616 View attachment 69617 View attachment 69618 View attachment 69619

On your last photo, showing the dam, you can really see how low the water level in the lake is. there's no sign it's going to get better any time soon.

 

[giradman]

On your last photo, showing the dam, you can really see how low the water level in the lake is. there's no sign it's going to get better any time soon.

Yep, my first boat ride on Lake Mead was w/ my colleague and the water was much higher up the mountain sides, plus we were able to get pretty close to the dam - on my second one w/ Susan, the level was lower and we could not get near the dam - now the latter was possibly 8 years ago (cannot remember), so I'm sure the water level is much lower - really a shame because of the 'water activities' generated by that lake, now disappearing - out of curiosity, found the stat quoted below - my first boat ride on that lake was likely in the late '80s (would have to check my CV - now in a basement cabinet). Dave

Years of unrelenting drought are straining a large reservoir of water between Nevada and Arizona, new satellite images reveal. Images taken July 25 show that Lake Mead's water level has dropped by about 120 feet (37 meters) from where the water reached 15 years ago, on July 6, 2000.

 

[giradman]

U.S. Army massacres Indians at Wounded Knee on this day in 1890!

A few excerpts from the source at the end - if interested in this subject, the the book below by Dee Brown is highly recommended - first released in 1970 which was my first read - reread a second time probably a few decades later. Also, there is a much more recent HBO film (2007) (see pic below) - if you have Amazon Prime, then a free streaming option - saw this movie just once, so might do a re-watch? Dave

On this day in 1890, in the final chapter of America’s long Indian wars, the U.S. Cavalry kills 146 Sioux at Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota.

On December 29, the U.S. Army’s 7th cavalry surrounded a band of Ghost Dancers under the Sioux Chief Big Foot near Wounded Knee Creek and demanded they surrender their weapons. As that was happening, a fight broke out between an Indian and a U.S. soldier and a shot was fired, although it’s unclear from which side. A brutal massacre followed, in which it’s estimated almost 150 Indians were killed (some historians put this number at twice as high), nearly half of them women and children. The cavalry lost 25 men (Source).

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[J. A.]

January 1, 1801: Italian monk and astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi discovers Ceres, the first dwarf planet.

Giuseppe Piazzi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ceres (dwarf planet) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[giradman]

On January 1, the events below took place (Source) - Dave

Batista forced out by Castro-led revolution in 1959!
On this day in 1959, facing a popular revolution spearheaded by Fidel Castro’s 26th of July Movement, Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista flees the island nation. Amid celebration and chaos in the Cuban capitol of Havana, the U.S. debated how best to deal with the radical Castro and the ominous rumblings of anti-Americanism in Cuba.

The Emancipation Proclamation takes effect in 1863!
On this day in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signs the final Emancipation Proclamation, which ends slavery in the rebelling states. A preliminary proclamation was issued in September 1862, following the Union victory at the Battle of Antietam in Maryland. The act signaled an important shift in the Union’s Civil War aims,expanding the goal of the war from reunification to include the eradication of slavery.