"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

Sino-American Relations

This past Friday I attended the Arrival Ceremony for the President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan on the South Lawn of the White House. As with every state visit by a foreign president, there was much pomp and circumstance, including performances of both nations national anthems, a 21 gun salute and a musical review of representatives from the five military branches of the United States.

Photo: Hilary Grabowska

President Xi had visited the US before but never as the president of China. In his opening remarks, President Barak Obama said "that when the United States and China work together, it makes our nations and the world more prosperous and more secure." President Xi also addressed this by saying that he came to the US to "promote peace and advance cooperation." 

Photo: Hilary Grabowska

In 1972, President Nixon became the first US President to visit China, but official relations between the two countries did not begin until January 1, 1979. These official diplomatic relations allowed the two nations to work together for trade and cooperation, since both nations are permanent members of the Security Council of the United Nations. While official diplomatic relations have only been in place for the last 36 years, the two countries had negotiated treaties long before. 

Photo: pages.ramapo.edu

In 1844, the Treaty of Wanghia marked the beginning of formal Sino-American relations, but at that time China was a very different country than it is today. This treaty, as well as the defeat of the Chinese by the British in the Opium Wars, ended China's age of isolationism and allowed Western nations into port for trade opportunities. Relations soured with the building of the trans-continental railroad. Many of the workers were Chinese immigrants and they were blamed for depressed wage levels. Reactions to Chinese workers resulted in the first Immigration Exclusion Act of 1882, which banned Chinese immigration to the US and made it very difficult for them to find jobs. The ban lasted for 60 years. 

Photo: digitalhistory.uh.edu

In 1931, Japan invaded China and when China fought back in 1937, the US backed China. Americans were sympathetic toward the Chinese because of the atrocities committed by the Japanese Army, as well as stories of the country from American missionaries. Once the US entered World War II, the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed. Despite sending aid to China during the war, America was not welcomed by the rising Communist Party in China. The US did not officially recognize the People's Republic until 1979. 

Photo: cfr.org

Diplomatic relations have made it easier for the two nations to work together but relations are far from perfect, as to be expected between the world's preeminent democracy and a country ruled by the Communist Party. Nonetheless, the two nations have been able to cooperate on several fronts despite being competitors for influence around the world. China has the largest population in the world and the second largest economy, and as such can be a key ally in combating climate change. As both President Obama and President Xi highlighted on Friday, when the two nations work together, the world can benefit. 

Photo: usnews.com

The Spy

The name Benedict Arnold is infamous in American history but what about the name John André? André was the man who helped Arnold to betray America and commit treason. On September 21, 1780, André and Arnold met to discuss plans to allow British troops to take West Point, which was under the command of Arnold at the time. 

Photo: uppercanadahistory.ca

The meeting between Arnold and André in 1780 was a long time coming and the nail in the coffin for André. André was born May 2, 1750 in London to wealthy parents who sent him to school in Geneva. At the age of 20, he joined the British Army and was sent to the New World to fight in the American Revolutionary War. In November 1775, André was captured by the Continental Army and held as a prisoner of war until December 1776 when he was released in a prisoner exchange. By 1778, he was promoted to Major. 

Photo: uppercanadahistory.ca

With his promotion, he became head of British secret intelligence in America. When the British occupied Philadelphia (1777-1778), André lived in Benjamin Franklin's house and became friends with Peggy Shippen, the daughter of a prominent loyalist. After the British left Philadelphia, Shippen and André remained in contact. 

During the reoccupation of Philadelphia by the Continental Army, Benedict Arnold, then the military commander of the city, became romantically involved with Shippen and they were married in 1779. Shippen's correspondence with André allowed Benedict Arnold to work with the secret intelligence officer to betray the Continental Army. 

Photo: thehermitage.org (Peggy Shippen)

The conspirators came up with a plan for Arnold, by then in command of West Point, to surrender the fort in exchange for £20,000. This was a highly desirable strategy because it would allow the British to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies. On September 21 Arnold handed over to André the plans of West Point, which he himself had weakened in anticipation of a British attack.

When the two left, André was led by Joshua Hett Smith, whose help Arnold had enlisted. But Smith was a shifty character and appears to have been a double agent, for he convinced André to wear civilian clothing and led him towards American lines. André was captured and the plans of West Point were found. Since he was wearing civilian clothing instead of his uniform, André was arrested as a spy. 

Photo: newenglandhistoricalsociety.com

When word got to Arnold that John André had been arrested as a spy, he escaped to British controlled New York City. George Washington, the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, was open to exchanging the spy for the traitor but the British had a policy of not returning Americans who had switched sides. While many British disliked Arnold, they did not renege on this policy.

Arnold continued to fight the war as a general in the British army while André was convicted of espionage and hanged. André held his head high as he went to his death while Arnold was held in suspicion by the British as a mercenary. The contrasting character of the two men, the patriotic spy and the traitor, further vilified Arnold among both the Americans and the British. 

Photo: mountvernon.org

Birmingham 1963

On September 15, 1963, an explosion rocked the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. This explosion was a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement and in the words of Martin Luther King Jr., it was "one of the most vicious and tragic crimes ever perpetrated against humanity." Children in churches were thought to be safe, but four girls were killed that day as they got ready in their Sunday best. The congregation knew that this was an act of terrorism, not an accident. At that time, Birmingham was known as "Bombingham" because of the number of explosions that affected the city. 

Photo: nydailynews.com

In January 1963, George Wallace gave his inauguration speech as governor of Alabama. He famously said, "I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever." His words set the stage for Birmingham to be a battleground between staunch segregationists and civil rights activists. 

Photo: washingtonpost.com

May 2, 1963 saw the beginning of something new: the participation of children in the peaceful Civil Rights Movement. Starting at the 16th Street Baptist Church, children marched in peaceful protest for equal rights. Police Chief Bull Connor responded with violence: he ordered that police dogs be used to attack the children, for fire hoses to be blasted at them and to hit them with batons. Connor's tactics were televised and shocked the nation. 

Photo: blackhistorycollection.org

When the 16th Street Baptist Church was bombed, the nation was horrified and the federal government became more involved in the Civil Rights Movement. The nation had witnessed violence towards children but this attack was too much because it took the lives of four innocent girls. 

Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson and Carol Denise McNair were attending church on Youth Day, when children had the opportunity to attend with the adult congregation. They were in the basement of the church, getting themselves ready in anticipation for an exciting day. 

Photo: apr.org

The actions of Ku Klux Klan members Thomas Blanton, Bobby Frank Cherry, Herman Frank Cash and Robert Edward Chambliss changed the emotions from excitement to grief. By 1965 the FBI knew that these men were Klan members and had bombed the church, but did nothing.

Finally, in 1977 Robert Chambliss was charged and convicted of the murder of Carol Denise McNair. Thomas Blanton was charged and convicted on four counts of murder in 2001 and Bobby Cherry was also charged and convicted on four counts of murder in 2002. Herman Cash died in 1994 and was never charged.

Their actions were meant to terrorize the members of the 16th Street Baptist Church. Instead, they spurred the Nation on towards the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 

Photo: learnnc.org (President L. B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964)

Denali: The High One

Last week, President Obama sent a powerful message to America: we should recognize and honor indigenous culture. On August 30, 2015, Mount McKinley's political-stunt-inspired existence ended and Denali was born again, after 119 years.

Photo: parkadvocate.org

Denali is the tallest mountain in North America and is today protected by Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Long before Europeans arrived, Alaska Natives had their own name for the mountain in their own language. These people, the Koyukon Athabaskans, have lived near the mountain for centuries and they called it Denali, meaning "The High One." When the Russians arrived in Alaska, they called it Bolshaya Gora, a literal translation of the indigenous name "Denali".

Then in 1896, American gold prospector William Dickey renamed the mountain as a political statement of support for presidential candidate William McKinley. The government officially recognized the name as McKinley when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Mount McKinley National Park Act of February 26, 1917. 

Photo: nps.gov

In 1975, the Alaska state legislature requested that the U.S. Congress change the name of the mountain back to its original native name, which was how it was commonly referred to within the state. However, members of the Ohio congressional delegation blocked the efforts by Alaskans since McKinley was from that state, so the Board of Geographic Names was incapable of making the change.

The fight to keep the name was led by Ohio Representative Ralph Regula. Instead of simply blocking the name change, Regula offered a compromise: keep the name Mount McKinley but change the name of the national park surrounding it to Denali. The compromise was accepted but not by Alaskan lawmakers, who continued to fight for a name change. Regula continued to block the effort until his retirement in 2009. 

Photo: projects.washingtonpost.com (Ralph Regula)

William McKinley, a native Ohioan, was the 25th President of the United States, and though the tallest mountain in north America was named after him, McKinley never visited Alaska. The reason gold prospector William Dickey named it after the Presidential candidate was because McKinley was in favor of using the gold standard while his opponent was in favor of the silver standard. McKinley is not a well-known president, except for the fact that he was assassinated in his second term and his vice president was Theodore Roosevelt, who then became president. The Ohio delegation fought to maintain the name of Mount McKinley simply to honor a fellow Ohioan. 

Operating under President Obama's order, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced the official name change. She was empowered to do so because of a federal law stating that if the Board of Geographic Names does not act in a reasonable amount of time, the Secretary of the Interior can take action. Jewell said, "I think any of us would think that 40 years is an unreasonable amount of time." (http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/08/31/hailing-mckinley-ohio-lawmakers-blast-obamas-denali-name-change) 

Photo: doi.gov (Sally Jewell)