"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers"

The French were reeling 600 years ago from their unexpected, even shocking defeat at the hands of the English at the Battle of Agincourt. The battle was one of the turning points in the Hundred Years War. The conflict arose over claims to the throne of the French kingdom, which the English felt they had a right to because William the Conqueror was originally from Normandy, France.

Photo: telegraph.co.uk

Henry V of England began his campaign against the French with a siege of Harfleur, a seaport on the northwestern coast of France in 1415. The city resisted for a month until surrendering on September 22, but it cost Henry 3000 soldiers. October marked the end of the campaign season but instead of retreating back to England with only one town conquered, Henry attempted to make his way to the English town of Calais in northern France.

Photo: collections.vam.ac.uk

The French had attempted to raise an army to counter Henry during the siege but were unable to muster enough men. When Henry moved north along the coast, the French army followed, recruiting local nobles and hoping to pin the English against the River Somme. Instead, the English found a ford and crossed the river. By October 24, the two armies were in place for battle but the French delayed, hoping for more nobles to join their forces. The exact numbers of the armies is unclear but it was clear the English were in desperate straits: they had little food, were outnumbered, and they were infantry and archers versus French cavalry. The prospects looked bleak for Harry the King.

Photo: historum.com

Despite the odds, the English prepared for battle. Henry gave a speech to inspire the troops, which was dramatized famously by Shakespeare in his play Henry V, known as the St. Crispin's Day speech. The battle commenced and the English longbows prevailed in a shocking victory for Henry, who established himself as a legitimate threat to the French and returned to England as a conquering hero. 

The war dragged until 1453. After that date, the French and English were still technically at war but the English were occupied by the War of the Roses at home and, ultimately, the English relinquished their claim to the French throne in 1475.

Photo: donatoart.com

The Battle of Agincourt was won by the underdogs but also by the countrymen of England. Their performance in defiance of what appeared to be certain annihilation was an inspiration for Shakespeare and generations of Englishmen to come:

"And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day!"  


 

"The DAR sent us a cannon for the courthouse square!"

That line from "The Music Man" song "Wells Fargo Wagon" was my introduction to the Daughters of the American Revolution, the DAR. October 11, 2015 marked the 125th anniversary of the establishment of the organization. The DAR was created in 1890 because the other organizations tracing their roots back to the Revolutionary War refused to admit women. In response, women created their own. 

Photo: sar.org

1889 marked the 100th anniversary of George Washington's presidential inauguration and a renewed time of patriotism. Both the Sons of the Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) were exclusive organizations that did not allow women. The Sons of the Revolution required that members be descendants of a man who served in the military during the War for Independence, while the SAR required members to be descendants of someone who actively supported the war. 

Photo: blogs.loc.gov (23rd street Arch, New York City, Washington Inaugural Centennial parade)

Mary Smith Lockwood was denied membership to the SAR. In response, she published the story of Hannah White Arnett, a woman who convinced men of Elizabethtown, New Jersey to refrain from proclaiming loyalty to the British. Lockwood asked in the article how Arnett, obviously a patriot who contributed to the war effort, would be remembered. A great-grandson of Arnett offered to help Lockwood form a society for Daughters of the American Revolution.

Photo: dar.org

Mary Smith Lockwood, Mary Desha, Ellen Walworth and Eugenia Washington are considered the four founders of the DAR, but there were 18 people at the first meeting who helped to establish the society. The first woman to hold the post of President General of the society was Caroline Harrison, the First Lady to US President Benjamin Harrison. First Lady Harrison was in the process of renovating the White House and was interested in historic preservation. This interest helped her to draft the goals of the DAR: Historical, Educational and Patriotic. 

Photo: loc.gov (First Lady Caroline Harrison)

The Historical goal was to remember those who worked for and achieved American Independence. The Educational goal was to follow George Washington's encouragement "to promote, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge." The Patriotic goal was to maintain the institutions of American freedom and to foster a love of country. 

Photo: dar.gov (First DAR Congress)

Since its establishment, the DAR has grown and surpassed the SAR. Today, there are chapters in all 50 states as well as 12 other countries and there have been 930,000 members since 1890. While October 11th is the anniversary date, the DAR is commemorating its 125th anniversary throughout the year of 2015 through community service, education and supporting patriots. 

Photo: dar.org

The First World Series

On Sunday, the regular season of baseball ended and today the march to the World Series begins. While the series between the Providence Grays and the New York Metropolitans in 1884 coined the term "World Champs," that is not viewed as the first World Series by Major League Baseball.

Photo: cosmicbaseball.com

The National League was established in 1876 and the American League in 1901, replacing the American Association. While the American League was new, there was no friendship between the two leagues. Hoping for an end to the bitter rivalry, in 1903 managers Barney Dreyfuss and Henry Killilea agreed that their two teams, winners of their respective pennants, should play each other in a best of nine series. 

Photo: jewishsports.net (Barney Dreyfuss)

October 1 saw the first game of the series between the Boston Americans (American League) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (National League), and fans who attended were not disappointed. Pittsburgh's pitcher, Deacon Phillippe, gave up six hits and right fielder Jimmy Sebring hit the World Series' first home run, a grand slam that led the Pirates to a 7-3 victory.

The next game, Boston's pitcher threw a three hitter and won the game 3-0. Due to injury and illness, Phillippe pitched five complete games and won three of them. However, Cy Young was brought in by Boston to take the lead in the series, which lasted until October 13.

Photo: latestnewslink.com

The first World Series was a pitcher's duel and in the end, Boston of the American League won the first "official" World Series. This year's Fall Classic will be the 111th match up between the American League and the National League since 1903. Once we know which team is the National League Champion and the American League Champion, then the 2015 World Series can commence. Play ball!

Photo: news.sportslogos.net