How the Cruiser Olympia Led the Asiatic Squadron to Victory in Manila Bay
In the evening of April 30th, 1898, a message was sent out to the Spanish Admiral Patricio Montojo, commander of the Pacific Squadron at Manila.…
5 Generals Who Went on to Lead Nations
In the modern world, it is unusual for a general to become the leader of an important nation. Political and military leadership have become two…
Seven Reasons Why Napoleon Should Have Lost in Italy
From 1792 to 1797, France fought a multi-fronted war against the First Coalition, the first of many attempts to bring the revolutionary nation to heel.…
Room Discovered Which May Have Belonged to Thomas Jefferson’s Alleged Lover, Sally Hemings
Thomas Jefferson is rumored to have had six children with one of his slaves, Sally Hemings. Recently, archaeologists studying a description of Hemings’ room determined…
“My plans are perfect” – 5 Victorian Generals Disastrously Promoted Beyond Their Abilities
“Brains! I don’t believe in brains.” – Prince George, Duke of Cambridge and Commander-in-Chief of the British army until 1895. The “Peter Principle”, where people…
12 Key Moments in the History of Artillery
In creating gunpowder weapons, European engineers took a Chinese innovation and made a deadly weapon of war. From the start, this was as much about…
10 Key Developments in the History of Cavalry
Devastating in their impact, terrifying for both their enemies and their steeds, cavalry units have been a key component of war for most of military…
Edward A. Carter, Jr. Received the Medal of Honor for Killing Six Soldiers and Using the Surviving Two as a Bodyshield
Edward Allen Carter Junior was born on May 26th, 1916 in Los Angeles, California. Carter had a unique upbringing. His father was an African-American missionary,…
A Battle With Only One Army – Karansebes Is A Reminder That Great Stories Are Seldom Entirely True
Normally, it takes two to make a battle. Occasionally, three or more sides may fight, whether in alliance or all against all. In very few…
A Sailor’s Life For Me – A day in the life of a Royal Navy Sailor from 1806
The life of a sailor has never been easy, and during wartime, it is doubly true. It was particularly so in the Royal Navy at the…
Wars Fought For Stupid Reasons: Stray Dog Sparked War Between Greece and Bulgaria in 1925
Wars had started over land, resources, religion, and politics. When people say that “wars have been fought over less,” however, they’re usually right; in 1925,…
Frederick the Great Leads The Prussian Army – The Pinnacle Of European Military Power In Their Day
The snow muffled all sound save the moan of the wind. The winter skeletons of trees showed black against the blank canvas. Grey sky heavy…