tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82349930718065185942024-03-12T16:02:19.818-07:00FIXED BAYONET MODEL SOLDIERSa showcase for fixed bayonet toy and model soldiers but one that includes a lot of other stuffUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger532125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-68216834240072694522023-01-14T06:19:00.002-08:002023-01-15T10:11:37.392-08:00last guns<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14px;">At the turn of the century, smuggling across the international border with Mexico was a serious problem. Arizona became a "dry" state with the banning of alcohol on January 1, 1915. But because Cochise County was bordered by "wet"</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0645ad; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Mexico">Mexico</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14px;">and</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0645ad; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="New Mexico">New Mexico</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14px;">, it quickly became a conduit for both American and Mexican alcohol smugglers.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5qgMADn3ga1ijECDhIC663zbCqsjyK_gZmsjJw28Y712TBW6wi437x7LAWBz3_gFVwgq5lkznQ-X632k09tbtDSOoPMLzO4_RnSPWPQeV93mO-lxUZ_q5DwwnNTpSd1qNKHydA975DcUeXF2TqAHc37NnIHPbzaNmXXYr_n9FWYcJnQyQVWxnHve/s1024/R.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5qgMADn3ga1ijECDhIC663zbCqsjyK_gZmsjJw28Y712TBW6wi437x7LAWBz3_gFVwgq5lkznQ-X632k09tbtDSOoPMLzO4_RnSPWPQeV93mO-lxUZ_q5DwwnNTpSd1qNKHydA975DcUeXF2TqAHc37NnIHPbzaNmXXYr_n9FWYcJnQyQVWxnHve/s320/R.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px;">Harry Wheeler, a former Captain of the Arizona Rangers and the Sheriff of Cochise County was an enthusiastic enforcer of the state's ban on the sale and manufacture of liquor. Throughout his tenure in office, Wheeler and his deputies arrested dozens of violators and routinely patrolled the border with New Mexico and the International Boundary with Mexico for smugglers. Several of Wheeler's deputies engaged bootleggers in shootouts throughout Cochise Count</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-25513477237315569032023-01-14T05:34:00.000-08:002023-01-14T05:34:01.195-08:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOH2uZG-wGLjbky5bR8cEfOB-zdYVeQRaPPpCZ5KhlpDZSQhfpL_D2bvC-1bxBMQZgu1qLwUFjb7DsfkNeYJJNG-a3_y-fDrmklQ50OpIpiygtbloPrxHKwf9L7susuQlfcOzAXZcOBiN-nV-ioFNiLAIa0H1vn_JykUNehXHOC5JadWz87pDocgM6/s996/1922045_382103355276522_3358347150332694161_n-MIX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="996" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOH2uZG-wGLjbky5bR8cEfOB-zdYVeQRaPPpCZ5KhlpDZSQhfpL_D2bvC-1bxBMQZgu1qLwUFjb7DsfkNeYJJNG-a3_y-fDrmklQ50OpIpiygtbloPrxHKwf9L7susuQlfcOzAXZcOBiN-nV-ioFNiLAIa0H1vn_JykUNehXHOC5JadWz87pDocgM6/s320/1922045_382103355276522_3358347150332694161_n-MIX.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-38773908349355237972023-01-09T09:45:00.002-08:002023-01-09T09:45:32.307-08:00britains deetail conversion<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQW_06quSbuydVAUBpep7kEgM51NHV4dpl21AOF27JjOc1b5yVesnO1ijzGSrF3w8nSCAJAVE7nq4D-L0KhPeKHPPQxe4JHKSMLvHItkCvZaTPZXLCDC_-gDF47uRHjrbCe8_kOolaaHyOQZMSlCFJuTjTjn1lXtAUcRE6gqxb1TzRngAvatWDuiNR/s1148/$_57%20(15).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="1148" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQW_06quSbuydVAUBpep7kEgM51NHV4dpl21AOF27JjOc1b5yVesnO1ijzGSrF3w8nSCAJAVE7nq4D-L0KhPeKHPPQxe4JHKSMLvHItkCvZaTPZXLCDC_-gDF47uRHjrbCe8_kOolaaHyOQZMSlCFJuTjTjn1lXtAUcRE6gqxb1TzRngAvatWDuiNR/s320/$_57%20(15).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-28291608898000776672015-10-31T15:21:00.001-07:002015-10-31T15:21:23.373-07:00The march of the miniature heroes: Auction of toy soldiers <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></h1>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="clear" style="border: 0px !important; clear: both; float: none !important; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0px !important; height: 0px !important; line-height: 0 !important; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: auto;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Nothing evokes lost childhood as vividly as glimpses of its toys. More than half a century ago, like most boys of my time, I spent hours with my nose pressed against the windows of toy shops, gazing dreamily at ranks of brilliantly painted, infinitely glamorous and desirable little soldiers on the shelves. Pocket money never seemed to go far, to build the army I craved.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Today, those same lead figures, long vanished from playrooms, have become the stuff of collectors' passions.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
At Bonhams auction house in Knightsbridge yesterday, memories flooded back, as I watched an amazing collection of toy soldiers come under the hammer: 'Lot 24 Royal Artillery at the halt... Lot 36 Band of the Royal Marine Light Infantry... Lot 242 the Seaforth Highlanders... Lot 285 the Bengal Lancers.' </div>
<div class="clear" style="border: 0px !important; clear: both; float: none !important; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0px !important; height: 0px !important; line-height: 0 !important; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: auto;">
</div>
<div class="thinCenter" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px auto; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; width: 470px;">
<a class="lightboxPopupLink" href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/01/article-1166262-04339680000005DC-238_468x286_popup.jpg" rel="" style="color: #003580; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="clickToEnlargeTop">Enlarge</span> <span class="clickToEnlarge"></span><span class="clickToEnlargeButton"> </span><div class="image-wrap" style="margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<img alt="The glorious band of Royal Marines" class="blkBorder" height="286" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/01/article-1166262-04339680000005DC-238_468x286.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="468" /></div>
</a><div class="imageCaption" style="min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
The glorious band of Royal Marines which were set to fetch the highest prices because their white helmuts are are thought to be the prettiest</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
What am I bid for the pipes and drums of the Scots Guards, and for the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders at the charge?</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Hour after hour, the regiments of the British Empire's history passed in parade. I sat captivated, watching sets most of which in my boyhood cost the huge sum of seven shillings and sixpence knocked down for hundreds, in some cases thousands, of pounds.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
They belonged to a 76-year-old Californian doctor named Bill McDade. He was given his first set by his mother in 1941. He preserved the soldiers of his childhood into adulthood, then in 1969 began to build a historic collection.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
He bought the Coronation coach and the South Australian Lancers at full gallop, Venezuelan infantry and a 1937 RAF monoplane complete with pilot, and masses more. Back in, say, 1955, when I was nine, what would I not have given for a fraction of old Dr McDade's wonderful hoard? </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
At yesterday's London sale, 388 lots comprising some 3,000 soldiers were sold for a total of £99,000, around a quarter of this paid by American bidders.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
I asked a dealer if the recession was hurting the market. 'What recession?' he said. 'The prices are still great. You should have seen the crowd at the London Toy Soldier Show last weekend. Better than buying shares, isn't it?'</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Alan Spalding, a 57-year-old TV and film designer from Ealing, West London, has been collecting for 20 years and owns more than 10,000 soldiers, arranged in displays all over his house. </div>
<div class="clear" style="border: 0px !important; clear: both; float: none !important; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0px !important; height: 0px !important; line-height: 0 !important; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: auto;">
</div>
<div class="thinCenter" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px auto; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; width: 470px;">
<a class="lightboxPopupLink" href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/01/article-1166262-04338787000005DC-272_468x312_popup.jpg" rel="" style="color: #003580; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="clickToEnlargeTop">Enlarge</span> <span class="clickToEnlarge"></span><span class="clickToEnlargeButton"> </span><div class="image-wrap" style="margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<img alt="Alan Spalding won a few toy soldier collections at Bonhams auctions in Knightsbridge" class="blkBorder" height="312" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/01/article-1166262-04338787000005DC-272_468x312.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="468" /></div>
</a><div class="imageCaption" style="min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Prized possession: Alan Spalding who has been collecting for 20 years and owns more than 10,000 soldiers at the Bonhams auction</div>
</div>
<div class="clear" style="border: 0px !important; clear: both; float: none !important; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0px !important; height: 0px !important; line-height: 0 !important; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: auto;">
</div>
<div class="thinCenter" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px auto; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; width: 470px;">
<a class="lightboxPopupLink" href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/01/article-1166262-043385EE000005DC-391_468x294_popup.jpg" rel="" style="color: #003580; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="clickToEnlargeTop">Enlarge</span> <span class="clickToEnlarge"></span><span class="clickToEnlargeButton"> </span><div class="image-wrap" style="margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<img alt="Life-like: These toy soldiers are part of a collection once owned by Californian doctor Bill McDade" class="blkBorder" height="294" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/01/article-1166262-043385EE000005DC-391_468x294.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="468" /></div>
</a><div class="imageCaption" style="min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
These toy soldiers are part of a collection once owned by Californian doctor Bill McDade</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
'I suppose they were the toys I couldn't afford when I was a child,' he says. He reckons to spend £4,000 a year on adding to his collection, and was bidding busily yesterday.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Little white-haired Bill Kingsman is 73, and has been collecting and dealing in model soldiers almost since he left the Army, after five years as a drummer with the Seaforth Highlanders.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
At Bonhams, he whisked out of his pocket a photograph of himself in the full glory of his ceremonial uniform - looking charmingly like a toy soldier.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Today, he lives in Maidstone, but his customers extend all over Britain: 'I sell to solicitors, professors, dustmen - and there's a plumber in</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Blairgowrie who's mad keen,' he says. His own vast collection emphasises Scottish figures, 'but we're magpies, aren't we? We pick up all sorts of things that take our fancy.'</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
What does his wife think about it? 'Not a lot,' he replies laconically. 'But after 50 years, she's got used to it.'</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
At Bonhams, there were Lancers and Dragoons, mule batteries and searchlight crews, Fusiliers and Grenadiers, Uruguayan infantrymen and French chasseurs, Italian cavalry and Prussian infantry.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Around 60 collectors and dealers, almost all past middle age, battled for the spoils. I asked one of them, from Surrey, why he was willing to pay several hundred pounds for eight little running figures in scarlet tunics:</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
'Well, money in the bank isn't doing much good, is it?' he said. 'This way, I have my box of soldiers. And it's history, isn't it?' </div>
<div class="clear" style="border: 0px !important; clear: both; float: none !important; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0px !important; height: 0px !important; line-height: 0 !important; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: auto;">
</div>
<div class="thinCenter" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px auto; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; width: 470px;">
<a class="lightboxPopupLink" href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/01/article-1166262-0433967D000005DC-762_468x256_popup.jpg" rel="" style="color: #003580; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="clickToEnlargeTop">Enlarge</span> <span class="clickToEnlarge"></span><span class="clickToEnlargeButton"> </span><div class="image-wrap" style="margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<img alt="Well-preserved: A Royal Horse Artillery team with gun and limber made in 1940" class="blkBorder" height="256" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/01/article-1166262-0433967D000005DC-762_468x256.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="468" /></div>
</a><div class="imageCaption" style="min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Well-preserved: A Royal Horse Artillery team with howitzer made in 1940</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Yes, it is. I do not collect toy soldiers, but discreetly at the top of the house I hoard a few from my own past. I love them as tokens of a great national heritage. I am still enchanted by those lines of brilliantly coloured little figures: Cameron Highlanders in their kilts and sporrans, 21st Lancers with fluttering pennons, the Warwickshire Regiment at present arms.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Most of those that dominate sale rooms today were made by the London firm of W. Britain, between 1893 and the Sixties, when horrid plastic supplanted dangerous lead.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
The earliest of Dr McDade's sets sold yesterday was a group of five Royal Irish Lancers, which fetched £430. They were made in 1895.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Each year through almost a century that followed, Britains produced new varieties of little hollow-cast lead models to please successive generations of boys - and more than a few men.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
When the Boer War came in 1899, they made little Boer riflemen and Imperial Yeomanry, Dublin Fusiliers in their new khaki uniforms such as were worn by the men who served with the British Army in Natal.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
They produced British and Egyptian infantry and cavalry like those who fought with Kitchener against the dervishes at Omdurman in 1898, and Bikaner Camel Corps and horse artillery. </div>
<div class="clear" style="border: 0px !important; clear: both; float: none !important; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0px !important; height: 0px !important; line-height: 0 !important; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: auto;">
</div>
<div class="thinCenter" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px auto; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; width: 470px;">
<div class="image-wrap" style="margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<img alt="Keen buyers: Collectors gather in the Bonhams auction rooms to bid for toy items - one of which £4,600" class="blkBorder" height="311" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/01/article-1166262-04338590000005DC-670_468x311.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="468" /></div>
<div class="imageCaption" style="min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Collectors gather in the Bonhams auction rooms to bid for for the lots. One set sold for £4,600</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
There were model naval blue jackets and the guns which they manned ashore; Russian and Japanese infantry when the Russo-Japanese war broke out in 1904; American cowboys and Indians; boy scouts signalling with flags and Serbian and Montenegrin soldiers at the time of the Balkan conflicts that preceded World War I.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
And from the beginnings of Britains' history to the end, there were always masses of Guardsmen and Household Cavalry, in full dress with their bands, Trooping the Colour and Changing the Guard.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
About now, if you are a politically correct modern British parent, you will no doubt demand a sick bag, saying: 'But all this was glorifying horrible wars! What a way to make little boys raving militarists. It was children brought up to play with toy soldiers who started two World Wars.'</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
I do not believe for a moment that is true, and I hope you do not, either. Rather, such toys as those gave generations of boys from Winston Churchill onwards infinite innocent pleasure, and a sense of their past. </div>
<div class="clear" style="border: 0px !important; clear: both; float: none !important; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0px !important; height: 0px !important; line-height: 0 !important; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: auto;">
</div>
<div class="thinCenter" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px auto; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; width: 470px;">
<a class="lightboxPopupLink" href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/01/article-1166262-0433967A000005DC-871_468x243_popup.jpg" rel="" style="color: #003580; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="clickToEnlargeTop">Enlarge</span> <span class="clickToEnlarge"></span><span class="clickToEnlargeButton"> </span><div class="image-wrap" style="margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<img alt="toy soldiers" class="blkBorder" height="243" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/01/article-1166262-0433967A000005DC-871_468x243.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="468" /></div>
</a><div class="imageCaption" style="min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
One of the 388 lots, comprising some 3,000 soldiers, which were sold</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
The firm Britains portrayed the British Empire in miniature. There it was again yesterday, marching through the sale room in Knightsbridge. A file of the West India Regiment, led by a white officer on a chestnut horse, was knocked down for £200.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Australian infantrymen, 23 of them in blue ceremonial dress with an officer with a moustache, went for £120.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
A dealer from the Portobello Road told me about a collector who recently paid £21,000 for Britains' Set No.7, Royal Fusiliers made in 1893. I asked where the buyer came from: 'East Hampton,' he answered. 'The Americans are very big in this.'</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Serious collectors care passionately not only about the condition of the models, but about that of their delicious deep red boxes, the sight of which gave boys a thrill of sensuous pleasure when they appeared at Christmas and birthdays through most of the last century.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
All I cared about, however, was to deploy the contents in lines and columns across the nursery floor.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
We generals in short trousers knocked them down with brutal glee. Millions of today's grown-ups can today think ruefully about the broken toys of our past, which might today fetch thousands if we had been more careful.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Dr McDade of California was potty about bands. There were enough of them at Bonhams yesterday to stage a hundred Royal Tournaments: musicians of the Brigade of Guards, the U.S. Marine Corps, the Bahamas Police (£2,200), the Royal Berkshire Regiment (£540) and many more. </div>
<div class="clear" style="border: 0px !important; clear: both; float: none !important; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0px !important; height: 0px !important; line-height: 0 !important; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: auto;">
</div>
<div class="thinCenter" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px auto; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; width: 470px;">
<div class="image-wrap" style="margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<img alt="toy soldiers" class="blkBorder" height="734" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/01/article-1166262-04339683000005DC-925_468x734.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="468" /></div>
<div class="imageCaption" style="min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Around 60 collectors and dealers gathered in the auction rooms to pick over the model offerings</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
The bands of the Royal Marines fetch by far the highest prices, because in their white helmets they are thought the prettiest.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
One set, of 21 figures, sold yesterday for £4,600. Almost all the high-quality lots went for prices in excess of estimates. There was oohing and aahing in the room when a French army ambulance wagon made in 1912 sold for £1,800.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
There was a terrific Royal Horse Artillery team with gun and limber made in 1940 which I loved, though not enough to match the £2,900 which somebody paid for it.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
I asked several of the collectors bidding yesterday about their own children. Were they interested, even in the tiniest degree, in toy soldiers? To a man, they shook their heads.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
In the age of the video console, of virtual games and Harry Potter, miniature 11th Hussars and 6th Dragoons possess no more allure for today's young than the plastic model ships and aircraft which our age-group built in fleets, and which are now almost extinct.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Children are much keener to gaze at exotic images on a screen than to handle weird little artefacts, especially military ones.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
No modern child plays cowboys and Indians. It would be hard to get less politically correct than to invite a modern child to pit Zulus against Redcoats, Bedouin Arabs against the French Foreign Legion, on the bedroom floor.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Who can imagine a modern toy shop selling Britains' old foxhunting set, complete with fox, hounds and ladies riding side-saddle?</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
But for me, the sight of that miniature army parading through Bonhams yesterday brought a glow of nostalgia to my heart.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
When I asked Alan Spalding what he loves so much about his Britains' soldiers, he said that it is the naivete of the models. I know what he means.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
They reflected an age of innocence, when knowledge of neither sex nor violence played any part in childhood, when patriotism was bred in the bone and children played with toys rather than sat hypnotised before screens. The notion of warrior romance and martial glory were very strong.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Today, we think we are wiser. We know that war is not pretty or colourful or amusing, except to lunatics. Real soldiers are almost as much out of fashion as toy ones.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
There was a pathos about the white-haired old men gathered at Bonhams, cultivating a hobby that has no message for the young, for whom all those tiny figures were originally created. But there is also a charm about their little world, which struck a chord with me.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Maybe schools would today find it less difficult to teach history to children, if their enthusiasm was roused, as was that of so many boys from earliest times until the Seventies, by our playroom arrays of Waterloo Redcoats and Victorian cavalry.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
I doubt that little boys will ever again use little soldiers as playthings. Poor souls, they will never know what they are missing.</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"><br /><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-25902927551504134882015-05-31T08:06:00.003-07:002023-01-15T10:18:25.206-08:00trail<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPH1fSJLG2olhR4YXrQpBzygAoRxHRrbMAiudiL7odkZOy8RFipXoFP6BuF-4Pk79G4mIU9R3LneucN93rRFnY49AT33YmSsQquNc0oSN6q0AbjGFjc5zrwrPGue-gn4zo4UTSeOXw4JYSL-SKYT2Efm7YAlWcDq0pl9m-q4wHc3vgLGIWlKYcwu09/s640/comanche_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPH1fSJLG2olhR4YXrQpBzygAoRxHRrbMAiudiL7odkZOy8RFipXoFP6BuF-4Pk79G4mIU9R3LneucN93rRFnY49AT33YmSsQquNc0oSN6q0AbjGFjc5zrwrPGue-gn4zo4UTSeOXw4JYSL-SKYT2Efm7YAlWcDq0pl9m-q4wHc3vgLGIWlKYcwu09/s320/comanche_11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />In 1867, beneath a bluff a few miles from Carlsbad,</span><img src="http://52wednesdays.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Carlsbad-Caverns-NM-4.jpg" /> New Mexico, two Texas cattlemen—one of them a trail-hardened 52 year old, the other a 23-year-old roughneck—were fighting for their lives, surrounded by a marauding party of Comanches.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If recorded at all, such an event would have been no more than a blip on the historical calendar of the American West, but this one—and its aftermath—turned out to be one of the most amazing examples of courage, loyalty and sheer grit in all the annals of the frontier.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kentucky-born Oliver Loving was a remarkable cattleman-entrepreneur who, in 1858, partnered John Durkee in taking a herd from Palo Pinto County<img src="http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kera/files/styles/x_large/public/201408/StatePark4.jpeg" />in Texas to Chicago, Illinois, the very first such drive on the historical record. In 1859, he blazed another trail to Denver via Pueblo, Colorado,<img height="358" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS0h76RPkZonGkwjDwJuun3-nO7MULCEWm2FfkK7di1EPuxxFx-" width="640" /> and throughout the Civil War, he supplied the Confederacy with beef. In 1866, he teamed up with a 30-year-old cattleman named Charles Goodnight, well over 20 years his junior.<img height="640" src="http://www.yesterdish.com/wp-content/gallery/images-in-posts/2013-12-31-charles-goodnight.jpg" width="439" /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They put together a herd of 2,000 and blazed a new trail up the Pecos River<img src="http://www.texastejano.com/images/history/527/1_pecos_river.jpg" /> into New Mexico and on to Denver, Colorado. The following year, they started another herd west over the same route, striking the Pecos the latter part of June. About 100 miles upriver, Loving traveled ahead of the herd on horseback in order to bid on the contracts, which were to be let in July.<img src="http://www.southwestpaddler.com/images/Pecosmap51.gif" /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: black; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because Loving was impatient, even reckless, Goodnight not only insisted he be accompanied by one of Goodnight’s top men, Arkansas-born herder Bill Wilson, a who had already lost an arm somewhere in his 20-odd years, but also made Loving promise to ride only by night. After only two nights, however, Loving—who detested night riding—talked Wilson into changing tactics so they could proceed by daylight.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Loving probably didn’t have to work too hard: by all accounts—including this one—Wilson was a man ready to ride any river, with many stories spun about him. He was said (unreliably) to hold off a posse after one of his brothers, George, shot a sheriff in Palo Pinto County. The matter of his lost arm is also a moveable feast: it may have been bitten off by a mean horse before Wilson was five years old, or it may have been congenital. Another story claims a hay baler ripped it off, which would be historically inconsistent, since the injury happened before the 1860s.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Crossing the plain in broad daylight, the two riders, visible for miles, were spotted by a Comanche raiding party<img src="http://www.amren.com/ar/2010/07/01a-Comanche-War-Party.jpg" /> that came thundering after them. The cowmen made a four-mile run for the Pecos, spurring their horses over an incline and down to a sand dune at the foot of a bluff, where it formed a shallow cave open to view only from across the river. As the Comanches surrounded them, Loving and Wilson readied themselves for a fight to the death.<img src="http://www.yesterdish.com/wp-content/gallery/box-of-l-r-from-winston-salem-north-carolina/chuck-wagon-casserole.jpg" /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: black; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fighting For Their Lives</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wilson was armed with a revolving six-shot rifle and saddle holsters as well as his own cap-and-ball six-shooter, while Loving had pistols and a Henry rifle. <img src="http://web.ivenue.com/cowboycabin/images/Gun1860Henry5.jpg" />The Comanches—Wilson estimated that they numbered several hundred—swarmed down the bluffs around them, but the first one who fired at the cowboys from across the river got shot by Loving, after which no others tried to open the ball.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Late in the evening, the drovers heard someone call from the bluff in Spanish. Realizing it could be a trap, but with the situation bordering on the hopeless, Wilson took a chance and stepped up on the dune to parley, with Loving behind him, Henry rifle in hand, his holsters across his arm. As Wilson stepped into view, Indians hidden in a clump of <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">carrizo</em>,<img src="http://www.nokeslandscapedesign.com/images/r87liv1sgvt5.jpg" /> or cane, opened fire, with one of their bullets smashing through Loving’s wrist and ploughing into his side. Wilson hastily fell back into the ditch, giving his attention to Loving. After staunching the bleeding, they readied themselves for a siege.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“The Comanches shot their arrows high into the air to make them fall at a sharp angle into the ditch, while Wilson and Loving hugged close to the low but perpendicular wall of the washout, and the arrows either stuck in the sand above them or passed over their backs into the other bank,” Goodnight told J. Evetts Haley in the 1920s. He would share the cowman’s life story in his 1936 book.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Next, Goodnight recalled, the Comanches tried bombarding their quarry with gravel, but that didn’t work either.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: black; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The evening wore into dusk; weak from loss of blood, Loving was racked with pain and fever. Wilson managed to get to the river and brought back a bootful of water for the suffering man, but Loving’s condition worsened, and he implored Wilson to escape, if possible, and carry the story of his fate downriver to Goodnight and to his family. “I’ll stand the Comanches off the best I can,” he told Wilson, “but rather than be taken and tortured to death, I will shoot myself and fall into the river. If the Indians leave me and I find strength enough to travel, I’ll head downstream a couple of miles and hide.”</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wilson agreed to make the attempt. They calculated carefully; if he could hold out for a day and a half, he would have a good chance of meeting the advancing Goodnight.</span><img src="http://www.truewestmagazine.com/jcontent/images/stories/Sep-2013/Sep-13_loving-goodnight_slideshow/the-great-cattle-trail-by-edward-s-ellis.jpg" /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“He spread their five six-shooters and Goodnight’s rifle by Loving’s sound arm, but took the Henry and its metallic cartridges, which would be unaffected by water, for to escape by the river was his only chance,” Goodnight said. “When the moon went down, he told Loving goodbye, moved to the mouth of the gully, and divesting himself of his clothing, hid his clothes in one place, and his knife, which dropped from his pocket, in another, all beneath the water. He pulled off everything but his hat, drawers and undershirt, which he hoped would protect him from the sun, and slipped into the treacherous stream.”</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: black; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A Swim For Survival</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The river was quite sandy and difficult to swim in, Wilson recalled, “so I had to pull off all of my clothes except my hat, shirt and breeches.”</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He nearly drowned, trying to hold on to the rifle with his one hand, so he “leaned it up against the bank of the river, under the water, where the Comanches would not find it,” Wilson said. “Then I went down the river about a hundred yards, and saw an Indian sitting on his horse out in the river, with the water almost over the horse’s back. He was sitting there splashing the water with his foot, just playing. I got under some smart weeds and drifted by until I got far enough below the Indian where I could get out. Then I made a three days’ march barefooted. Everything in that country had stickers in it. On my way I picked up the small end of a tepee pole which I used for a walking stick.”</span><img src="http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/b2/5b22712d-8610-5a1f-8792-7d9cfc89352f/5196c9f41981e.preview-620.jpg" /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On the last night of his slow and painful journey, he was followed by wolves all night. “I would give out, just like a horse, and lay down in the road and drop off to sleep and when I would awaken the wolves would he all around me, snapping and snarling. I would take up that stick, knock the wolves away, get started again and the wolves would follow behind. I kept that up until daylight, when the wolves quit me,” Wilson recalled. “About 12 o’clock on that last day, I crossed a little mountain and knew the boys ought to be right in there somewhere with the cattle. I found a little place, a sort of cave, that afforded protection from the sun, and I could go no further <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">[sic]</em>. After a short time the boys came along with the cattle and found me.”</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">During their earlier drive to Denver, Loving and Goodnight had discovered a valley about two miles long and a mile wide close to the New Mexico line, near the upper end of which were some gravel hills; in one of them, a cave extended back 10 or 15 feet, which they marked as a splendid hiding place for Comanches planning a surprise attack.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“[I] was…watching carefully for Indians,” Goodnight remembered, “suspecting they might be behind the hill, [when] I saw a man come out of the cave and go back into it.”</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Goodnight gave orders for the herd to be held and for the men to be ready for a fight. When Wilson came out of the cave, a quarter of a mile away, and gave the old frontier signal, ‘Come here,’ Goodnight said he “knew positively that it was Wilson, and…I immediately put the horse down to full speed and went to him. For a few moments he seemed unable to talk, probably overwhelmed with emotion, knowing his life was saved at last.”</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With what was left of his underwear, saturated with red sediment from the river, Wilson was the “most terrible object I ever saw,” Goodnight said. “His eyes were wild and bloodshot, his feet were swollen beyond all reason, and every step he took left blood in the track. I inquired about Loving, but he could scarcely make a reply, and what he did mutter was entirely unintelligible. I put him on my horse and got him to the herd as soon as possible…I tore up a blanket, wet it, wrapped his feet to remove the fever and then made him a light gruel of meal, which I gave him at intervals for about an hour. By then he was perfectly himself. I asked him for particulars and he told me in detail of the trip and the attack by the Indians.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“When Wilson finished his story, I decided to start immediately.… We rode the rest of the evening and all that night. It not only rained, but it rained torrents, and was so dark at times we were forced to halt. When I reached the place where Wilson told me he had left the trail, I recognized it easily from his description, although the plains were unmarked, or would have appeared so to the untrained. Besides his description, the place was distinguished by the fact that a bunch of Comanches had again come out of the mountains and passed over the same trail they had taken when chasing the two men. Their tracks seemed as fresh as ours, and we supposed they were under the bluffs still trying to get Mr. Loving…[but] when we got to the top of the bluff, there was not an Indian in sight.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“In a moment, I found where Mr. Loving had been in the ditch, which was now half filled with stones, and its banks perforated with probably a hundred arrow shafts, though the Indians had gathered the arrow[head]s before leaving. I knew they had not got him, as there was ample evidence that they had been hunting for him everywhere. We searched down the river…but…no tracks could be found. I believed he had carried out his threat; that he had shot himself and floated down the river, the torrent obliterating all traces. After dark the party sadly made its way back to the herd and again took the trail.”</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But Loving was not dead.<img src="https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/resources/keep-texas-wild/vaqueros-and-cowboys/images-1/oliver_loving.jpg" /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: black; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Loving’s Courageous Crossing</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After Wilson left, the Comanches had continued to shower Loving’s position with rocks, and they tunneled through the dune to within a few feet of where he lay, but lacked the courage to get closer. Racked with hunger and the fever of his wounds, he somehow managed to keep his attackers at bay, but few men could endure a shot-shattered wrist and three foodless days and sleepless nights without collapse. In spite of his age, however, Loving was blessed with an iron constitution. When no help showed up, he followed Wilson’s lead. On the third night, he crawled into the water and started upstream, instead of downstream, hoping to reach the trail crossing [present-day Carlsbad] about six miles above, where some passerby might help him.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“At last he gained the crossing and lay down in the shade…about four feet above the water,” Goodnight told Haley. “He attempted to shoot some birds that came into the trees, but the river had soaked his powder and caps, and the guns were useless. He tried to eat his buckskin gloves, but could not kindle a fire to parch them to a crisp, and again settled back to wait. For two days and nights he stayed there, too weak to move, but satisfying his thirst by tying his handkerchief to a stick and dipping it in the river below. On the third day his superb endurance broke and he sank into a stupor.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Three Mexicans and a German boy, in a wagon drawn by three yoke of oxen,<img src="http://www.telusplanet.net/public/clcjmuir/Photos/Smallwagons/CWagonOxen.jpg" /> passing through on their way to Texas, stopped at the crossing to prepare their dinner. The boy…found Loving, apparently asleep.… He was taken to the wagon, where the Mexicans prepared him some atole,<img src="http://cocina.linio.com.mx/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/large.jpg" /> similar to our corn meal mush...after which he offered them $250 to take him to Sumner, about 150 miles away.”<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Fort_Sumner.jpg" /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Meanwhile Goodnight’s herd kept moving north. “About two weeks after this,” Wilson said, “we met a party coming from Fort Sumner, and they told us Loving was at Fort Sumner.</span> The bullet which had penetrated his side did not prove fatal, and the next night after I had left him, he got into the river and drifted by the Indians as I had done, crawled out and lay in the weeds all the next day. The following night he made his way to the road where it struck the river, hoping to find somebody traveling that way. He remained there for five days, being without anything to eat for seven days. Finally some Mexicans came along and he hired them to take him to Fort Sumner.”<img height="481" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Ft_sumner_nm.jpg/250px-Ft_sumner_nm.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Some 30 miles from Fort Sumner, a courier brought Goodnight the news that although Loving was alive, gangrene had set in and his arm needed to be amputated. “Loving did not want the operation performed unless I was there,” Goodnight said, “as he feared he might not survive it.... The old doctor was in Santa Fe…and the young doctor put me off from day to day with various excuses.... Fortunately I found him at the hospital alone, and told him briefly and in no uncertain words that I presumed he was putting me off because we were rebels, and that he must now operate or make wounds on me.”</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The doctor performed the amputation, and Loving seemed to be doing well. Just to be on the safe side, Goodnight paid a man (reportedly Winfield Scott Moore) $500 to ride to Las Vegas and bring back Dr. John H. Shout; they arrived two days later only to find out that Loving had suffered a relapse. “In spite of neglect, starvation and punishment he lived for 22 days, perfectly rational to the last, [when] his mind turned back to Texas,” Goodnight recalled, “and at last he said, ‘I regret to have to be laid away in a foreign country.’ I assured him that he need have no fears, that I would see his remains were laid in the cemetery at home [in Weatherford, Texas].</span><img src="http://images.topix.com/gallery/up-ICBQUERKQ9EV5FH3.jpg" /> He felt that this would be impossible, but I told him it would be done.”</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: black; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Loving died on September 25, 1867, and his body was temporarily buried in a simple wooden casket at Fort Sumner. Four months later, Goodnight returned.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: black; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Riding Shotgun Over a Tin Casket</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: black; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Transporting the remains of his friend back to Texas would be a daunting task, but the cattleman was determined to keep his promise. Gathering scattered oil cans from about the fort, his cowboys beat them out, soldered them together and made an immense tin casket. Inside this, they placed the rough, wooden one, several inches of powdered charcoal packed around it, sealed the tin lid and crated the whole in lumber. They lifted a wagon bed from its bolsters and carefully loaded the sarcophagus on to it. On February 8, 1868, with six big mules strung out in harness, the rough-hewn cowmen from Texas rode ahead and behind the strangest and most affecting funeral cavalcade in the history of the cow country, bringing Oliver Loving home. “The Pecos—the graveyard of the cowman’s hopes,” Goodnight humanized the bleak terrain.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Down the relentless Pecos and across the implacable Plains, the [388-mile] journey was singularly peaceful,” Goodnight told Haley. “Through miles of grazing buffaloes, they approached the Cross Timbers,<img height="480" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Jack_County.JPG/300px-Jack_County.JPG" width="640" /> reached the settlements and at last delivered the body to the Masonic Lodge at Weatherford, Texas, where it was buried [in Greenwood Cemetery] with fraternal honors.”<img height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7TOBOM7V1pohBxGHtAzKuqcfLcPcCn2YfXFgh6dcIaqWJToGwyWcjHFl3H2cbIbMYSgcI7SIr1c-SWL9zZxlNbP548HRZD1qC6719zzIlzEFzHfkUhmJXVw8cSGC1VZfyVYx8ILDk3w/s640/greenwoodlittledrummerboy.jpg" width="480" /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; line-height: 18px;">http://www.yesterdish.com/2014/01/01/great-beef-and-macaroni-casserole/</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="line-height: 22px;">The most legendary culinary job in all of American history is probably the cattle drive cook, or “cookie.” While kids looked up to cowboys, cowboys looked up to the cook. You’d never know it from the way Hollywood has portrayed the wagon cook, which is either as an unreliable flake or a feeble old man, and always as subservient to the cowhands.</span><img src="http://thisistrovegeneralstore.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/chuckwagon1.jpg" /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The reality was <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">exactly the opposite</em>. The wagon cook was usually one of the toughest men on the drive. He had to wake up hours before the cowhands to make breakfast and stayed up later to secure the chuck wagon (chuck being a slang word for food, like chow). When the herd was being driven from location to location, he rode ahead on the wagon to set up a meal at the next stop, facing any dangers–human, animal, or environmental–either alone or with minimal support.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A Cookie not only maintained all of the food for the drive; as he had one of the few wagons on the ride, he kept many of the tools, much of the ammunition, and all of the money to be distributed along the way. He’d also have whatever medical supplies came along for the ride and was expected to know how to use them.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And it didn’t hurt if he knew how to cook, too.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The cook held the success or failure of the drive in his hands. But because of the diverse skill-sets required, it was a tricky job to fill, and one that commanded a salary that hovered around double the salary of the other cowboys on the ride. A Cookie would be second in command to the trail boss, and even the trail boss had to maintain a degree of deference to his Cookie’s decisions.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(A trail boss was in charge of a wagon cook in the same way that a restaurant patron is in charge of his waiter. Imagine the results of upsetting the waiter at a meal, then imagine this is the only restaurant in town, the waiter gets to order for you, and you have to eat three meals a day for sixteen weeks. Under these circumstances, you would rapidly come to discover the value of being <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">extremely polite</em> in issuing directives.)</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The wagon cook was the Renaissance man of the cattle drive, and the chuck wagon was his workshop. At least, after it was invented in 1866 by Charles Goodnight.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="ngg-gallery-singlepic-image ngg-right" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; float: right; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px auto 1em 10px; max-width: 225px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="line-height: 22px;">If you’ve studied any amount of cowboy (or Texas) history, you’ve probably read about Charles Goodnight. For lack of a better descriptor, he was a real-life composite of every character John Wayne ever played: rugged, quiet, hard-working, impossibly accomplished, and basically decent, despite rough edges and a preference for justice over the rule of law.</span></span></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He was born in Illinois on March 5, 1836, the day before the fall of the Alamo. His family moved to Texas when he was nine, just before Texas was granted statehood. (Yes, I know Wikipedia says he arrived in 1846. I don’t know what to tell you. My sources say 1845.)</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before the Civil War, he worked as a cowboy, fought Comanche in a town militia, and became a Texas Ranger. When war broke out, he enlisted in the Confederate army.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(While some people called him “Colonel,” it was most likely an honorific. There’s no evidence he achieved a rank any higher than private in anything I’ve been able to find.)<img alt="2013-12-31-goodnight-loving-trail" src="http://www.yesterdish.com/wp-content/gallery/images-in-posts/dynamic/2013-12-31-goodnight-loving-trail.jpg-nggid043373-ngg0dyn-580x0x100-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg" /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To accomplish this ride, Goodnight decided there was a better way to carry provisions than what he’d been accustomed to. Before the chuck wagon, trail food was whatever a cowboy could fit in his saddlebags, which tended to mean a lot of jerky and dry biscuits for the 12 to 16 week trip.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To improve life on the trail, Goodnight created the chuck box, a tall collection of shelves and drawers covered by a hinged piece of wood. The shelves and drawers would carry dry provisions. When loaded on the back of a wagon, the hinged cover folded down and legs folded out to form a table upon which the wagon cook could prepare meals.</span></span></div>
<table class="inposttable" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 4px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tbody style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px rgb(17, 17, 17); margin: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: black; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Digression: this ain’t the Oregon Trail</span></em><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When you ask an average American to name a covered wagon, you’re likely to get one answer–the famous, massive Conestoga wagon, the used by pioneers going West in the 18th and early 19th centuries. That’s <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">not</em> a chuck wagon. Apart from being separated by about 50 years, a Conestoga wagon could carry up to eight tons. The category of wagons used as chuck wagons tended to max out around one ton.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In short, chuck wagons have more in common with red Radio Flyer wagons than they do with Conestoga wagons.</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The original chuck wagon was a U.S. Army Civil War surplus wagon built by Indiana’s Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, better known for manufacturing cars from 1905 to the mid-1960s. The inside of the wagon was used for storage, and while the chuck box was the focal point of the wagon, its entire function was converted to logistics and support for the cattle drive. Kindling would be suspended on a tarp underneath the wagon; water would be kept in barrels carried alongside; cupboards toward the front would carry tools for fixing everything from a horse’s shoes to a human’s bite.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A water-resistant cloth would be stretched over the top of the wagon to protect the provisions inside. When making camp, this would typically be peeled off for easy access to the contents of the wagon; in some configurations, it could be peeled back from the front bows and supported with legs behind the wagon to become a lean-to awning over the food preparation area. And when it was in this configuration, it was, in essence, the beating heart of the camp, the position around which all other decisions were made.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The wagon needed its own fire, so a flat, dry, and clear section of land would be required. That part was typically easy. But then, the entry of the camp had to be far enough from the chuck wagon that no dust would be kicked up and enter the food. No horses could be hitched too near the wagon (let alone <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">to</em> it) in case something spooked them and the wagon was spoiled.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="ngg-gallery-singlepic-image ngg-left" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 10px 1em auto; max-width: 580px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a class="shutterset_913229c76a29a5bffad068fd22b377a0" data-description="Chuck wagon near Ashland, Kansas, 1898." data-image-id="3375" data-src="http://www.yesterdish.com/wp-content/gallery/images-in-posts/2013-12-31-irwin-brothers.jpg" data-thumbnail="http://www.yesterdish.com/wp-content/gallery/images-in-posts/thumbs/thumbs_2013-12-31-irwin-brothers.jpg" data-title="2013-12-31-irwin-brothers" href="http://www.yesterdish.com/wp-content/gallery/images-in-posts/2013-12-31-irwin-brothers.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: black; border: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self" title="Chuck wagon near Ashland, Kansas, 1898."><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="2013-12-31-irwin-brothers" class="ngg-singlepic" src="http://www.yesterdish.com/wp-content/gallery/images-in-posts/dynamic/2013-12-31-irwin-brothers.jpg-nggid043375-ngg0dyn-580x0x100-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px -8px; max-width: 800px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="2013-12-31-irwin-brothers" width="580" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But once all of those requirements were satisfied, the food produced from the wagon would be whatever could be made from things carried along the trial. All of that said… what <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">did</em>the Cookie have at his disposal?<img src="http://www.andreaeurope.com/fotos/andrea/detallegran/S4-S11-01.jpg" /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cornmeal, coffee, lard, tobacco, dried beans, dried beef and salt pork were omnipresent essentials–if any of them wasn’t available, the drive would likely wait to stock them before moving onward. If white flour was available, that’d be stocked, too, along with a sourdough starter; this tended to be more common on the Western portions of the trail and less common in Texas. Dried raisins, dates, and prunes would be around, along with “airtights”–canned goods, most frequently tomatoes.<img src="http://images.frpgames.org/products/product_51598.jpg" /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Along the way, cowboys would sometimes happen upon game birds or rabbits, but it wasn’t a priority and there wasn’t a great deal of organized hunting going on. If a town was available, other than restocking the wagon, the most frequently obtained “treats” tended to be milk, buttermilk, spices, and beef.<img alt="Battle of the Little Big Horn 54mm TSSD Mounted Indian Warriors 12 Piece Set" height="640" src="http://www.prestoimages.net/store30/rd392/392_pd1621128_8.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Another strange assumption people make is that there was a lot of beef on cattle drives. There was dried beef, it’s true, but it’s not like anyone was butchering a calf along the trail. This was almost entirely because of the extra time it would take–actually, in the early years of drives, a calf born <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">en route</em> was killed and left just to avoid having it slow down the herd. Eventually, Goodnight developed a wagon specifically to carry the calves to market.)</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By the way, Charles Goodnight had a long life after this invention, and would ultimately come to outlive it. He became an employee and partner in the JA Ranch, the first ranch in the Texas panhandle,<img src="http://updatethemetroplex.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Bitter-Creek-Ranch-0-Highway-70-79237-Briggs-Freeman-Sothebys-luxury-home-for-sale-in-Dallas-Fort-Worth-fence.jpg" /> which at one point covered over a million acres, before starting his own ranch. He’d use some of his wealth to start a school, Goodnight College, which would close in 1916, and the now-abandoned town of Goodnight, Texas was named after him.<img src="http://photoresearch.beethomas.com/wp-content/main/2011_10/DSC_0580a.jpg" /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After his wife’s death in April 1926, he took ill. He’d been corresponding with Corrine Goodnight, a distant cousin who was a nurse in her 20s,<img src="http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasPanhandleTowns/GoodnightTexas/GoodnightTXPedenHome4c.jpg" /> which started because they noticed they had the same name. She came to take care of him. In March of 1927–two years before he died–Charles Goodnight expressed the desire that Corinne inherit his estate, so the 91-year-old Charles married the 27-year-old Corinne, giving her the improbable name of Corinne Goodnight Goodnight, which sounds more like a Bond girl than a deeply religious nurse.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, given all of this information, how does this recipe fit in?</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Looking at the recipe on this card, very few of these items were available to a chuck wagon. In fact, one of them in particular didn’t even exist in the States until there weren’t any wagon trails: corn chips.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By the end of the 19th century, long-distance cattle drives were unnecessary; enough rail had been laid that move cattle by railroad was cheaper and easier. Meanwhile, corn chips made from fried masa (which we’ve talked about a lot, most recently in the post for<a href="http://www.yesterdish.com/2013/12/23/yesterdishs-hot-tamales/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Yesterdish’s Hot Tamales">Yesterdish’s Hot Tamales</a>) entered the U.S. market in 1932, when San Antonio’s Elmer Doolin bought a local recipe for the snacks from Mexico-born Gustavo Olquin, who called them little fried things, or <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">fritas</em>. Doolin named his company the Frito Corporation… but that’s another story.Tamales are a Christmastime tradition in Mexico and in the Latino community here in the U.S., where friends and families will gather together in a <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">tamalada</em>, a tamal-making party.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(By the way, I’ll likely use both <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">tamal</em> and<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">tamale</em> to refer to these items in the singular. While tamal is technically correct and the word tamale emerged because English doesn’t pluralize the same way Spanish does, I’ve heard tamale for too many years for it to sound strange to me.)</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A tamalada is a lot like a cookie-decorating party; it distributes a labor-intensive job among a group of friends and family in a way that makes it seem like it’s not work at all. Children learn the family traditions and secret recipes while aunts and uncles comment on how big they’re getting. It’s also an exceptionally old tradition.</span></span></div>
<blockquote style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); border-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: 0.025em; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 8px 8px 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These are only suggested fillings. If a diversity of fillings was good enough for the Aztecs, then it’s good enough for me.</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We talked about the Aztecs and the process of making nixtamalized corn in the recipe for<a href="http://www.yesterdish.com/2013/07/12/tortillas/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Tortillas">tortillas</a> from Ceres, California. If you need a refresher on nixtamalization, read that, first; if not, let’s move on. The Aztecs were making various types of tamales at least as far back as 5,000 B.C., which was when they started cultivating corn.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="ngg-gallery-singlepic-image ngg-right" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; float: right; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px auto 1em 10px; max-width: 300px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a class="shutterset_817293e9899be8bb310133e20276be01" data-description="" data-image-id="3304" data-src="http://www.yesterdish.com/wp-content/gallery/yesterdish-originals/tamales_filling.jpg" data-thumbnail="http://www.yesterdish.com/wp-content/gallery/yesterdish-originals/thumbs/thumbs_tamales_filling.jpg" data-title="tamales_filling" href="http://www.yesterdish.com/wp-content/gallery/yesterdish-originals/tamales_filling.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: black; border: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self" title=""><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="tamales_filling" class="ngg-singlepic" src="http://www.yesterdish.com/wp-content/gallery/yesterdish-originals/dynamic/tamales_filling.jpg-nggid043304-ngg0dyn-300x0x100-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px -8px; max-width: 800px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="tamales_filling" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="line-height: 22px;">While nixtamalization made the corn easier to eat and more nutritious–which is important for a culture that relies on its warriors for survival–warriors couldn’t very well just stop in the jungle and start the elaborate process of making </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nixtamal</em><span style="line-height: 22px;"> (the Aztec word for the processed corn, which, semi-obviously, the process was named after).</span></span></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Instead, the nixtamal would be wrapped in a corn husk (or banana leaf or avocado leaf), tied shut, and then could be heated in the coals of the fire or eaten on the go. From that basic framework, the Aztecs produced a diversity of tamales. By using a variety of meats, vegetables, fruits, and nuts, tamales could be energy bars, protein bars, or even granola bars of a sort, depending on what the maker thought was required at a given time.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="ngg-gallery-singlepic-image ngg-left" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 10px 1em auto; max-width: 300px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a class="shutterset_36430cc79e7a449bcbad5a60dc288730" data-description="" data-image-id="3297" data-src="http://www.yesterdish.com/wp-content/gallery/yesterdish-originals/tamales_tied.jpg" data-thumbnail="http://www.yesterdish.com/wp-content/gallery/yesterdish-originals/thumbs/thumbs_tamales_tied.jpg" data-title="tamales_tied" href="http://www.yesterdish.com/wp-content/gallery/yesterdish-originals/tamales_tied.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: black; border: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self" title=""><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="tamales_tied" class="ngg-singlepic" src="http://www.yesterdish.com/wp-content/gallery/yesterdish-originals/dynamic/tamales_tied.jpg-nggid043297-ngg0dyn-300x0x100-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px -8px; max-width: 800px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="tamales_tied" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="line-height: 22px;">In Mexico, that diversity still exists. In Veracruz, tamales are made with pork, fresh corn, and an aromatic called </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">hoja santa</em><span style="line-height: 22px;">, or sacred leaf,which tastes sort of like a mixture of tarragon and nutmeg. In Sinaloa, there’s a variety with sweet beans and pineapple. And in Michoacan, they make an iteration called </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">corundas</em><span style="line-height: 22px;">, which are unfilled nixtamal wrapped in green corn leaves to make a triangular shape that resembles </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">onigiri</em><span style="line-height: 22px;">, Japanese rice balls.</span><img alt="2013-12-23-corundas" src="http://www.yesterdish.com/wp-content/gallery/images-in-posts/dynamic/2013-12-23-corundas.jpg-nggid043315-ngg0dyn-250x0x100-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg" /></span></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: black; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
<div class="oldrecipe" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 4px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: black; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chuck Wagon Casserole</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 lb. ground beef<br />1/2 cup chopped celery<br />1/2 cup chopped onion<br />1/4 cup diced green pepper<br />1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste<br />1/2 cup water<br />1 Tablespoon chili powder<br />1 teaspoon salt<br />1 teaspoon paprika<br />2 cups (1 lb. can) drained lima beans<br />2 cups (1 lb. can) pork and beans</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In a large skillet, brown ground beef. Add celery, onion, and green pepper; cook until vegetables are tender; drain. Add tomato paste, water, chili powder, salt, paprika, and beans. Simmer while preparing topping; see below.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Transfer hot meat mixture to casserole, if desired. Place biscuits around edge of fry pan or casserole, sealed edge facing center, on hot meat mixture. Bake in a 425 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: black; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Topping</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">5 ounces American or Cheddar cheese, cut into 10 half-inch cubes<br />1 can (8 oz.) buttermilk or country style biscuits<br />2 tablespoons milk<br />2 cups corn chips, crushed</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Separate biscuit dough into 10 biscuits. Place a cheese cube in the middle of each biscuit; fold in half; firmly press edges to seal. Dip biscuits in milk and coat both sides with crushed corn chips.When the Spaniards came to the New World in the 1500's, they brought along cattle -- live cattle. A live cow would remain in eating condition a lot longer than one cut up into portions and stowed in the hold of a slow ship.</span></span></div>
<div style="position: static;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Naturally, over the years a few of the cows and a bull or two escaped from captivity and adapted to the conditions of the South Texas brush country. Eventually they became the famous Longhorns. They were mean, lean and could live off discarded cardboard boxes.</span></span></div>
<div style="position: static;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Long before the Civil War, residents of Texas were making cattle drives into Louisiana, especially New Orleans. This was much against the law, but a man has to feed his family. After the Civil War, the folks up north developed a preference for beef over the pigs they had been eating since they came here. The Texans, quick to realize that a few bucks could be made, started thinking about getting cows up north. There were no railroads or interstate highways, so the best way to get a cow to the railhead in Abilene, Kansas was to let her walk. Thus began the storied cattle drives.</span></span></div>
<div style="position: static;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />The trail drive cowboys were just as tough as the cows they prodded along, but even a tough cowboy has to eat once in a while. The first trail drives were pretty basic affairs. Each cowboy was in charge of bringing his own breakfast, dinner and supper. The menu wasn't fancy; most of the cowboys brought some salt, some coffee and a sack of either pone or hard biscuits. If some wild game was found along the way, it did not go to waste.</span></span><br />
<div style="position: static;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When the demand for beef on the hoof grew much larger, the ranchers soon found they could attract a lot better class of cowboy if they fed them a decent fare. It was impractical for each rider to carry his own supplies, so a wagon was employed. The first wagons on the trail were just wagons that hauled the food and provided a place to haul the cowboys' bedding and associated tack.<b>Charles Goodnight</b>, one of the leaders of the trail drive era is given credit for designing the chuck wagon in its present form. Mr. Goodnight added heavy-duty running gear to the wagon and built a cook's cabinet on the rear. The cabinet had many compartments for holding various things needed for cooking, as well as a fold-down door that served as the cook's work table.</span></span></div>
<div style="position: static;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The chuck wagon cook was second in command on the trail drive. In his domain, which was the wagon and a 60-foot radius around it, he was <em>the</em> boss, and no one crossed him. It was said that if a chuck wagon cook was not fractious, he just had not been cooking long enough.</span></span></div>
<div style="position: static;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The cooks also served as doctors, gravediggers (if their doctoring didn't take) and equipment repairmen. This could include anything from shoeing a horse to sewing up a cowboy's ripped jeans. It was not a specialized job. The cook was so important to the success of the trail drive that he was paid more than the regular cowboy, and the boss would tolerate behavior that would have sent an ordinary hand packing. When the cowboys were well fed and comfortable, they worked a lot better than they did if their needs were not satisfied. The most important thing that came from the chuck wagon and the cook was coffee. The cowboys could manage most any situation if there was enough strong, black coffee.</span></span></div>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Chuck Wagon Food</span></span></h2>
<i class="quote" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid maroon; float: right; font-weight: bolder; line-height: normal; margin: 10px; padding: 10px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -2px 3px; width: 383.5px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The cowboys could manage most any situation if there was enough strong, black coffee.</span></span></i><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The first trail coffee came as green coffee beans that had to be roasted before they could be ground and made into coffee. In <time datetime="1865">1865</time>, John and Charles Arbuckle, who were grocers in Pittsburgh, patented a process for roasting coffee beans and treating the roasted beans with a mix of egg white and sugar to preserve freshness. The coffee made from these pre-roasted beans was an immediate success and is still available today. The usual coffee formula on the trail was one handful of ground coffee per cup of water. It was often called "six shooter coffee", as it was strong enough to float a six shooter.</span></span><br />
<div style="position: static;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Next on the list of trail essentials was a constant supply of sourdough biscuits. The cowboys preferred biscuits to bread in loaves. The cook guarded his sourdough crock zealously. It contained yeast -- a living thing that required warmth and feeding. On cold nights, the cook would sleep with his sourdough crock to keep it warm.</span></span></div>
<div style="position: static;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Beans made up a large portion of the cowboy's diet. Usually they were pinto beans, and occasionally a red bean would slip in. The beans were originally known as frijoles. Soon frijoles came to mean any beans. Beans were a favorite with all as they were cheap, easy to transport, they kept well in the dried state and were filling. The cook added a bit of salt pork to make them flavorfulBean cooking has not changed over the years. The night before cooking, the beans are picked through to remove any rocks or other debris. They soak overnight and then go on slow fire until they are tender. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwD338jqilqerNcwJZmDncVuLiFD946YCt_Fguhtg8oZy0cOylmFlOzDLx5e01W8aeYaggVC-Klvvv2DkS94ULKj36fYPhcYqVV1JB4PzQ78pmL2R15_uTZKBYgLwiRiLiOBZ60fswBkECvOnYsnFSRzbN3OtlnaQrLNNDEK0aXO-kSuL8Zs04Eg0/s1200/Spicy-Cowboy-Chili_EXPS_TOHFM20_148521_B09_23_4b-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwD338jqilqerNcwJZmDncVuLiFD946YCt_Fguhtg8oZy0cOylmFlOzDLx5e01W8aeYaggVC-Klvvv2DkS94ULKj36fYPhcYqVV1JB4PzQ78pmL2R15_uTZKBYgLwiRiLiOBZ60fswBkECvOnYsnFSRzbN3OtlnaQrLNNDEK0aXO-kSuL8Zs04Eg0/s320/Spicy-Cowboy-Chili_EXPS_TOHFM20_148521_B09_23_4b-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></span></div><div style="position: static;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This usually took three to four hours. They could be and would be served morning, noon or night.</span></span></div>
<div style="position: static;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Given coffee, sourdough and beans, the cowboy could survive and work, but for maximum performance there had to be more in his diet.</span></span></div>
<div style="position: static;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The subject of the type and amount of meat in the cowboy's diet is open for discussion. The whole operation was centered around a couple of thousand prime beeves on the hoof. I doubt there were fresh steaks every day, but when it did occur, the killing would take place in the evening so the meat could cool in the night air. The next morning, the supply of beef would be wrapped in insulating material such as the cowboys' bedrolls to keep it cool. The next evening, it would be unwrapped and cooled again. The meat still didn't keep very well. As it began to age, it was used in stew or chili.</span></span></div>
<div style="position: static;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The better chuck wagon cooks would prepare treats for their cowboys as often as required. Sometimes the treats were just to build good relations between the wagon cook and the wranglers, and sometimes to reward a particular wrangler or wranglers for a good deed.</span></span></div>
<div style="position: static;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are about out of space for this month. Tune in next month for <a class="link2" href="http://www.texascooking.com/features/oct2009-chuck-wagon-cooking2.htm">Part Two</a> of "Cooking for Cowboys" when we will have more cattle drive lore and maybe some authentic recipes from the Old West.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-71111508743132459282015-05-22T23:48:00.001-07:002015-05-22T23:48:20.290-07:00my new figures<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlWU3FpgkDUbA4ZBQM6cZvgZkSVaikaq36URirpCwiMzKSZ7jXOdq-CC-0zdIYBKvedIrOipFZe7HUYA9D8cwwWqQU5o5MBGwGuvxOFCJhcDuBmYTvWbmIQiD2PF7OG4QLsYKLolxdtY/s1600/DSCF0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlWU3FpgkDUbA4ZBQM6cZvgZkSVaikaq36URirpCwiMzKSZ7jXOdq-CC-0zdIYBKvedIrOipFZe7HUYA9D8cwwWqQU5o5MBGwGuvxOFCJhcDuBmYTvWbmIQiD2PF7OG4QLsYKLolxdtY/s640/DSCF0001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQB1nlwHvPdiu-dnSwfWvsZgiLBe2mlUtEgahGczYB1hWZTkW2cB95e6Oy6p4Bhvttknj3iRSn9G13fGHwy8rm8JfIGHltXxBpQq8l7leoe_AyoKMaR13c14cfmT6JsqBq226ey7Vm0TM/s1600/DSCF0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQB1nlwHvPdiu-dnSwfWvsZgiLBe2mlUtEgahGczYB1hWZTkW2cB95e6Oy6p4Bhvttknj3iRSn9G13fGHwy8rm8JfIGHltXxBpQq8l7leoe_AyoKMaR13c14cfmT6JsqBq226ey7Vm0TM/s640/DSCF0002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmspFrzn1XqK0-xf5c1KNZ6qwS3Xq2XnCsrdO3-SKJy1jKpGx0QsEoOSRoiy_AaJ37y4oZkE8Z4zSwm7WzSsN8bySMSnMDs9CQfdKp7uGTbRJ03W7HVnXxo376OM2WwonUJsgudYefFhI/s1600/DSCF0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmspFrzn1XqK0-xf5c1KNZ6qwS3Xq2XnCsrdO3-SKJy1jKpGx0QsEoOSRoiy_AaJ37y4oZkE8Z4zSwm7WzSsN8bySMSnMDs9CQfdKp7uGTbRJ03W7HVnXxo376OM2WwonUJsgudYefFhI/s640/DSCF0003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrteryIYBoJf-Tar2IZP5nTJB6Y_vGwCah_ay7GHoIN9nQmlWbnu8-MsFrHF0Va8lowd6_-E4VIVpfFHQayX3neRhPwluPvv4r3DNkFvcucBRYcfAoCbo_dYdFzBbipaQCaKadiBPEtQ/s1600/fixed_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrteryIYBoJf-Tar2IZP5nTJB6Y_vGwCah_ay7GHoIN9nQmlWbnu8-MsFrHF0Va8lowd6_-E4VIVpfFHQayX3neRhPwluPvv4r3DNkFvcucBRYcfAoCbo_dYdFzBbipaQCaKadiBPEtQ/s640/fixed_2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWnuQRdxbxDaOWWJs8ijjjYgM_TzfXePuopTHWEtgaV5x5GyuualCdUxpqpYdxUsdgqT76j_h2JRKnFbP-jBsfiPrR-8oK5sYtSy0_nKg_hkF5KsZ0kJnk1T9NS3y5bRy0iRiylT0v-o/s1600/fixed_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWnuQRdxbxDaOWWJs8ijjjYgM_TzfXePuopTHWEtgaV5x5GyuualCdUxpqpYdxUsdgqT76j_h2JRKnFbP-jBsfiPrR-8oK5sYtSy0_nKg_hkF5KsZ0kJnk1T9NS3y5bRy0iRiylT0v-o/s640/fixed_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1T_D_HC2mvcZGHbn2zppO1HamyOz5Huy7vZ4sAb07Vg-EsJZwqyXK5adyRoKVV8SkiVDFb4CG0aOaATZiKfY6eYl9ui-p2pVwMqgLJcCtCYVN2O5zeMtK55frMEMAwCsqeJSwAPuIT0/s1600/fixed_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1T_D_HC2mvcZGHbn2zppO1HamyOz5Huy7vZ4sAb07Vg-EsJZwqyXK5adyRoKVV8SkiVDFb4CG0aOaATZiKfY6eYl9ui-p2pVwMqgLJcCtCYVN2O5zeMtK55frMEMAwCsqeJSwAPuIT0/s640/fixed_4.jpg" width="552" /></a></div>
all figures are in unpainted form and are 10 pounds each</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-16698541815999562692015-05-19T04:26:00.006-07:002023-01-15T10:28:21.335-08:00sepoys<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div _msthash="39046722">
<span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="4041206" lang="en"><img src="http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-d4OnfOdBIq4/TXI2kmLLebI/AAAAAAAABLM/6PO5xyU6iWc/s1600/__hr_Sepoys+1857.jpg" />The term "sepoy" or "sipāhi" is derived from the Persian word "sipāh" meaning "army".</span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="19210516" lang="en"> In its most common application Sepoy was the term used in the British Indian Army, and earlier in that of the British East India Company, for an infantry private (a cavalry trooper was a Sowar).</span><br />
<br />
<img height="418" id="il_fi" src="http://geopolicraticus.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/sepoy-mutiny.jpg%3Fw%3D460%26h%3D301" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="640" /></div>
<div _msthash="126424324">
<span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="3334617" lang="en">A painting showing a Sowar (Sepoy), 6th Madras Light Cavalry of British India. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="27796431" lang="en">Circa 1845.The term sepoy came into use in the forces of the British East India Company in the eighteenth century, where it was one of many, such as peons, gentoos, mestees and topassess used for various categories of native soldiers. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="4685447" lang="en">Initially it referred to Hindu or Muslim soldiers without regular uniform or discipline. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="5556928" lang="en">It later generically referred to all native soldiers in the service of the European powers in India.</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXp_dc22bm6KGTzCvurfA9U_NoY3YM2JbOTXYvcuL82dyd5ePZl5u99yLKw6SfU-zXS-SN79JHTxLKa2_ZxDwBbk_Ofgcwsecy4E97jE9EC9qSolGDkpURAi_SgNKSBojgOc_JHIYeeE4/s1600/002.JPG" /></div>
<div _msthash="745107753">
<span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="75231" lang="en"> </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="25323103" lang="en">Sepoys in British serviceInitially the British recruited sepoys from the local communities in the Madras and Bombay Presidencies, the emphasis being on recruits having adequate physique and being of sufficient caste. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="9952202" lang="en">In the Bengal Army however, recuitment was only amongst high caste Brahman and Rajput communities of erstwhile Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="7028671" lang="en">Recruitment was done locally by battalions or regiments often from the same community, village and even family. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="5653713" lang="en">The commanding officer of a battalion became a form of substitute for the village chief or "gaon bura". </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="4388995" lang="en">He was the "mai-baap" or the "father and mother" of the sepoys making up the "paltan" (unit). </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="12163645" lang="en">There were many family and community ties amongst the troops and numerous instances where family members enlisted in the same battalion or regiment. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="3407690" lang="en">The "izzat" or honour of the unit was represented by the regimental colours; </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="2680041" lang="en">the new sepoy having to swear an oath in front of them on enlistment. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="5113498" lang="en">These colours were stored in honour in the quarter guard and frequently paraded before the men. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="1027910" lang="en">They formed a rallying point in battle. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="9406683" lang="en">The oath of fealty by the sepoy was given to the East India Company and included a pledge of faithfulness to the salt that one has eaten<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMhnCE1KfGcE2nFERj1fwLd5mKzLD7cFCK20KaSHh6tlywWvujyj3aDjvMcKfmLiGNLLo7nMPUS_cLyoUqe7wRZuBkMPdioBpHxujdJRvtRYzr9KbhBy7oWCt2mx98RZ3Z1hYGw1Plgs2eEFXt7RO5OJ38fpOfTGSDYbTI-EMzN6C27ay7Ll1ksRZ/s520/DSCN065854mSIKS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="520" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMhnCE1KfGcE2nFERj1fwLd5mKzLD7cFCK20KaSHh6tlywWvujyj3aDjvMcKfmLiGNLLo7nMPUS_cLyoUqe7wRZuBkMPdioBpHxujdJRvtRYzr9KbhBy7oWCt2mx98RZ3Z1hYGw1Plgs2eEFXt7RO5OJ38fpOfTGSDYbTI-EMzN6C27ay7Ll1ksRZ/s320/DSCN065854mSIKS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></div>
<div _msthash="171778074">
<span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="14706601" lang="en">The salary of the sepoys employed by the East India Company, while not substantially greater than that paid by the rulers of Indian states, was usually paid regularly. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="6150287" lang="en">Advances could be given and family allotments from pay due were permitted when the troops served abroad. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="2156492" lang="en">There was a commisariat and regular rations were provided. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="9693567" lang="en">Weapons, clothing and ammunition were provided centrally, in contrast to the soldiers of local kings whose pay was often in arrears. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="7774585" lang="en">In addition local rulers usually expected their sepoys to arm themselves and to sustain themselves through plunder.</span></div>
<div _msthash="26209950">
<span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="25616734" lang="en">This combination of factors led to the development of a sense of shared honour and ethos amongst the well drilled and disciplined Indian soldiery who formed the key to the success of European feats of arms in India and abroad.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyzrRWw0BZBxtm0V8eHB8WWnd33O-PdQE7COof_mgkLjmoKAm57M7AT4GrwskGmYmkH2k_I1wiN5DiePeg7JSFaauwy8SJQ3c-xcAm2JFbQ4eEHTHtKQ0z0cmY2BWbHkUCrXs_oqaPA1C_6IHt-AdjJwaW2BxdzURVFGafI4s1VBc6X-h2dkgaho9/s500/DSCN0461mut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="500" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyzrRWw0BZBxtm0V8eHB8WWnd33O-PdQE7COof_mgkLjmoKAm57M7AT4GrwskGmYmkH2k_I1wiN5DiePeg7JSFaauwy8SJQ3c-xcAm2JFbQ4eEHTHtKQ0z0cmY2BWbHkUCrXs_oqaPA1C_6IHt-AdjJwaW2BxdzURVFGafI4s1VBc6X-h2dkgaho9/s320/DSCN0461mut.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzx7EdOXCVwVTKKRVSLFK3yrIuwQSWZWu4aSfw8lf0FhV2QCWBM922FwXH_n9DC_1YS5c2SluNW0NBTMbYYs8y-YAxik1leyws0j0x4lmso-DrSPjhyXEdyOoc61DJCzV4_02V0HpcHPcqViQp41X4IZNw4x07JZ4lut3CLCrFnuFLAA0ilP-N0ZL1/s697/DSCN109454mGurka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="520" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzx7EdOXCVwVTKKRVSLFK3yrIuwQSWZWu4aSfw8lf0FhV2QCWBM922FwXH_n9DC_1YS5c2SluNW0NBTMbYYs8y-YAxik1leyws0j0x4lmso-DrSPjhyXEdyOoc61DJCzV4_02V0HpcHPcqViQp41X4IZNw4x07JZ4lut3CLCrFnuFLAA0ilP-N0ZL1/s320/DSCN109454mGurka.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br /></span></div>
<div _msthash="59525349">
<span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="13898170" lang="en">Following the Indian Rebellion of 1857 the surviving East India Company regiments were merged into a new Indian Army under the direct control of the British Crown. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="17271878" lang="en">The designation of "sepoy" was retained for Indian soldiers below the rank of Lance-naik, except in cavalry and rifle regiments where the equivalent ranks were "sowar" or "rifleman".<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmql6g1dD6sCWg2O8EO5-HqRuFb54ZNm0S2EBaHsHuu6o7fV3UpbOx7AJEkWIDjsO7rGaCv-6StqxCvR7HsBg3OeYJLo0ymFGRMqxWAW8UAG34T_0yJZFhd2Jk-v3Jld4npe9qtkxpRCJ4LGHjlxy6n9HyKaj0XKeIZW06QRSb3ucJepmvWwF3cPW/s500/DSCN0461mut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="500" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmql6g1dD6sCWg2O8EO5-HqRuFb54ZNm0S2EBaHsHuu6o7fV3UpbOx7AJEkWIDjsO7rGaCv-6StqxCvR7HsBg3OeYJLo0ymFGRMqxWAW8UAG34T_0yJZFhd2Jk-v3Jld4npe9qtkxpRCJ4LGHjlxy6n9HyKaj0XKeIZW06QRSb3ucJepmvWwF3cPW/s320/DSCN0461mut.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div _msthash="216519524">
<span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="39985179" lang="en">Following the formation of the French East India Company (Compagnie des Indes) in 1719, companies of Indian sepoys (cipayes) were raised to augment the French and Swiss mercenary troops available. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="1863914" lang="en">By 1720 the sepoys in French service numbered about 10,000.</span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="52673907" lang="en">[3] Although much reduced in numbers after their decisive defeat in India at the Battle of Wandewash in 1760, the France continued to maintain a Military Corps of Indian Sepoys (corps militaire des cipayes de l'Inde) in Pondicherry (now Puducherry) until it was disbanded and replaced by a locally recruited gendarmerie in 1898.</span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="24570" lang="en">[4]</span></div>
<div _msthash="52734227">
<span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="75232" lang="en"> </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="3442998" lang="en">Sepoys in Portugese service</span><br />
<span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="3442998" lang="en">Sepoys were also recruited in Portuguese India. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="8277087" lang="en">Some Portuguese sepoys were later sent to serve in other territories of the Portuguese Empire, especially those in Africa. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="7323810" lang="en">The term "sipaio" (sepoy) was also applied by the Portuguese to African soldiers and African rural police officers.</span></div>
<div _msthash="48133670">
<span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="75233" lang="en">[edit] </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="4925024" lang="en">Other useagesThe same Persian word has reached English via another route in the form of Spahi. </span><span _mstchunk="true" _msthash="22277255" lang="en">Zipaio, the Basque version of the word, is used by leftist Basque nationalists as an insult for members of the Basque Police, implying that they are not a national police but servants of a foreign occupier.</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-60825366879087282632015-05-18T00:25:00.000-07:002015-05-18T00:25:06.466-07:00american mexican war<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxDDKhpA0Iqn5QHUrYQRP2IhVCGCcjp89cAEzq2SJtMBbiiPOhVO2KQ2J2tGoFdn8I6ibK40rX_fETNTR3V1u0PcgNb93FW96YjMObB_H6PHX6J1cyFOsZ-ufSUInl2Fngp6PYMkswCo/s1600/mexam13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxDDKhpA0Iqn5QHUrYQRP2IhVCGCcjp89cAEzq2SJtMBbiiPOhVO2KQ2J2tGoFdn8I6ibK40rX_fETNTR3V1u0PcgNb93FW96YjMObB_H6PHX6J1cyFOsZ-ufSUInl2Fngp6PYMkswCo/s640/mexam13.jpg" width="480" /></a>The United States had two armies during the 19th century. The first, a standing army commonly referred to as the U.S. Army, had been authorized by the Congress in 1789. Designated the regular army, this force was composed of officers commissioned by Congress and enlisted men who joined for a five year period. In 1792, Congress created a second army intended as an auxiliary to the regulars called the militia. One major difference between the regulars and militia was the first was a national force while the second was the armies of the various states. Congress stipulated three instances when the militia could be called into federal service: to execute the laws of the United States, to suppress insurrections, and to repel invasions. This two-tiered arrangement formed the basis of the American military establishment during the Mexican War. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcojLYB52ha0m18sbYpmxG45ZgrxsNa2DT3_QxSZbs1GHWw_ML31Sap4fXDP1-HKyhf7cUDRC_JuytgWleQN34l-mjH5s3nGaLjZYD3L8HiLgapFxnuoSag79b8BH45ze8c0_GGy1rdY/s1600/DSC04485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcojLYB52ha0m18sbYpmxG45ZgrxsNa2DT3_QxSZbs1GHWw_ML31Sap4fXDP1-HKyhf7cUDRC_JuytgWleQN34l-mjH5s3nGaLjZYD3L8HiLgapFxnuoSag79b8BH45ze8c0_GGy1rdY/s640/DSC04485.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The U.S. Army was unprepared for war. While Congress had authorized a strength of 8,613 men and officers, the actual number of soldiers in uniform was fewer than 5,500. Many of the regimental commanders had entered the service before the War of 1812 and were too elderly and infirm for active duty. Companies were far below their authorized strength of forty-two privates with many carrying only half that number on their rolls. Reacting to the poor state of the army once war broke out, Congress increased the number of privates within individual companies to one hundred. It also created a company of the U.S. Engineers as well a new regiment of U.S. Mounted Rifles. These measures turned out be stopgaps at best.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The presence of a large number of graduates from the United States Military Academy worked in favor of the U.S. Army. These officers, mostly lieutenants and captains, formed a tight knit corps whose leadership ability and training helped offset the initial shortage of manpower. Historians point out that their ranks included men such as George G. Meade, Ulysses S. Grant, George B. McClellan, P.G.T. Beauregard, Braxton Bragg, Joseph E. Johnston, and Robert E. Lee, officers who later went on to command the great armies of the Civil War.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The militia system had already proven unreliable by the time of the Mexican War and had undergone substantial revision. Two issues emerged during the War of 1812 that demonstrated its flaws. First, many states prohibited their troops from participating in military operations on foreign soil. Second, by law a militiaman could only serve for a period of ninety days, meaning that recruiting, training, and marshaling occupied most of a unit's time with little left over for campaigning. As a solution to this problem, Congress created a subclass of militia called volunteers who were not confined by these two restrictions. On May 13, 1846, Congress authorized President Polk to raise 50,000 12-month volunteers.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Although both composed a part of the American Army, regulars and volunteers were notably different. Observers noted little interaction between officers and men, with each occupying a clearly defined station within the military establishment. Most Americans avoided enlisting in the regulars, guaranteeing that a high percentage of privates, corporals, and sergeants were foreign born. The combination of aristocratic officers and foreign "hirelings" made many Americans suspicious of the regulars. After all, what American citizen would settle for $7 a month as an army private unless forced to by dire circumstance? The volunteer, on the other hand, seemed to fit the spirit of the young republic because he was a citizen-soldier. Politics entered into the system as most volunteers elected their own officers. Volunteer units were raised locally, allowing friends, neighbors, and relatives to serve together. Although nominally under federal authority, volunteers maintained strong ties to their home states. The democratic nature of the volunteers meant that discipline in this corps was more lax than in the regulars.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
More troops were needed as the war progressed. In November 1846, Congress issued an additional call for volunteers after realizing that most of the one year men would leave at the expiration of their terms. This second wave of volunteers was enlisted for the duration of the war. On February 11, 1847, Congress created ten additional regiments of regulars to serve for the period of the war. In all, 26,922 regulars and 73,260 volunteers served at some point during the Mexican War.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The combat elements were the same for both the regulars and the volunteers. The majority of troops were raised and trained as infantry and armed with flintlock muskets. The regulars maintained two regiments of light cavalry called dragoons with a third created for the war. Several regiments of mounted volunteers were raised that served mainly with Taylor's Army of Occupation and Kearny's Army of the West. Artillery formed the third branch of service. Just prior to the outbreak of the war, the army equipped several companies as "flying artillery" in which each cannoneer had his own mount. The innovation meant that the unit could gallop around the battlefield, bringing its guns to bear wherever they were most needed. This style of artillery was instrumental in several U.S. victories.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Readers who like military history will find the battles and leaders of the Mexican War extremely interesting. The American military is fascinating, too, because it reveals much about society in the Age of Jackson. Several works are recommended to those who want to learn more about the American Army in the Mexican War. John Porter Bloom's 1953 Emory University Ph.D. dissertation, "With the American Army in Mexico, 1846-1848," remains an outstanding study of the American soldier in Mexico. More accessible to most readers will be James M. McCaffrey's Army of Manifest Destiny: The American Soldier in the Mexican War, 1846-1848. A more recent work which examines the army is Richard Bruce Winders' "Mr. Polk's Army: The American Military Experience in the Mexican War." Also recommended are the many volumes of published letters and diaries that place the war on a personal level, giving the reader a "soldier's eye view" of the war.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BmlGEvRx5xyX6LGvpfCfx2rQ_-WgSKMJkTCypJl1tDAmp1Txct9cbZiekRfzvWhLhO3t6kXVkXdVzAe_1v8JUqJc85D_yi4PYRqZlWzwnR-0tHFo7Av7mcXl6PnTj7siDjyd3bBdgxw/s1600/400px-1847ColtWalker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="116" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BmlGEvRx5xyX6LGvpfCfx2rQ_-WgSKMJkTCypJl1tDAmp1Txct9cbZiekRfzvWhLhO3t6kXVkXdVzAe_1v8JUqJc85D_yi4PYRqZlWzwnR-0tHFo7Av7mcXl6PnTj7siDjyd3bBdgxw/s320/400px-1847ColtWalker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-90819906263111641362015-05-11T08:14:00.003-07:002021-08-14T08:08:42.412-07:00last charge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="beta" style="line-height: 2.6rem; margin-bottom: 1rem;"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 2.6rem;"><span style="color: white;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 2.6rem;"><img height="433" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTyI6AP6B3k-b0Dyyl3eVZtu6K7IXwwaVbeDOynU8HEVIzB0S4F" width="640" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="long-description" style="line-height: 19.5px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yet as the British would discover, even these armoured troopers were by no means invincible as this breastplate brings home with shocking force.<img height="640" src="http://traditionoflondonshop.com/product_thumb.php?img=images/30mm_Willie_E129-d1660749.jpg&w=378&h=400" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" width="604" /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The bulk of Napoleon’s heavy cavalry was made up of the twelve regiments of Cuirassiers, but the elite of the arm, in their own eyes at least, were the men of</span><img height="640" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSdpJDCLTsagxz3pSIvpts6-vSW3y_x5f80nM3Yx3_SqQHYUeLg" width="477" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> the two regiments of Carabiniers. With a lineage running back to 1679, the Carabiniers had only been given cuirasses in 1809.<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgZgexZSBuSsURPa5_SYniALmZvOSuyL0OnfVvhLfa8NjOfKZZTPP4VqnFpBxgTqBs0CRpdF-5rybCzKpmsC0b1zVGkzb6modMVOKZUvKpPZba7ybET9F4goA7NdQlfFocsSoIY0wodYr/s1600/French_Cuirassiers_07.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" /> Unlike the cuirassiers, their armour was gilded with brass rather than being of polished iron, and their old blue uniforms were changed for white.</span><img src="https://www.toysoldierco.com/sitecm/i/brp07959mc-french-cavalry-mint-on-card-cropped-and-saved-to-1-26-x-327.jpg" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Both regiments served with distinction throughout the Napoleonic Wars, and in 1815 were brigaded together under Général de Brigade Blanchard as part of</span><img height="425" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT6LAc55cTTpKHs_n6fwJS2gintvVM2QrMIg8xpT4LsOry_8F3n3w" width="640" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Général de Division Kellermann’s III Corps de Cavalerie.</span><img src="http://www.louis-liljedahl.se/bild-js-img064.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 1px;" /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Riding in the ranks of the 2eme Carabiniers was 23-year-old trooper François-Antoine Fauveau. A recent recruit, Fauveau’s height of 1.79 metres gave him the </span><img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzY4WDEwMjQ=/z/5UsAAOxyaTxTTqLq/$_59.JPG?set_id=8800005007" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ideal stature for a heavy cavalry regiment. These, after all, were intended to be big men on big horses, riding down the enemy by the weight of their charge. The young man’s service papers also record that he had a long, freckled face with a large forehead, blue eyes, aquiline nose, and a small mouth.</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCBiT6qzMufWdp_49M-juB_EHlZnqfNops-_oxCkGM1uyn990Y3bFPrfx_mi3Ui4dUaLpM0DCgtSgC-rZSNhG0H2uBK9SgCltlWkwEFR7TdjDaS6RiU6GUmZzbVj2wYHqo6puYrL_K4po/s1600/French_Cuirassiers_01.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 1px;" /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">During the afternoon of June 18th, the Carabiniers, along with the rest of the French heavy cavalry, were thrown repeatedly against the squares of allied infantry on the ridge forming the centre-right of Wellington’s line. As the cavalry charged, allied gunners kept them under fire until the last moment before dashing for the safety of their supporting infantry, and it was from one of their guns that Fauveau received his death-wound. Although impressive to look at, and capable of turning a sword-stroke or a pistol ball, no cuirass could deflect a cannon shot.<span style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyrEdvVzqEclThrD1wBGf2StVgSQZQjFDIMiN1CXGPJycgt9F_FURDE2lFqbbIFN9cTtXSluUy-h52-sgabRkZiOyM0PFnNcxJgAHle7bUvdkThdQUxcV5y1JgqTfcV8Zg-bjKNrslwG9/s1600/French_Cuirassiers_10.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" /></span><br />There is, however, a twist to the tale. Family legend has it that when his call-up papers arrived, François-Antoine was on the point of getting married, so his brother joined up, and died, in his place. Yet whoever was wearing it on June 18th, this cuirass serves to emphasise the brutality of Napoleonic warfare at a most personal level</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-6265327115941665052015-05-05T23:42:00.001-07:002015-05-05T23:42:17.568-07:00the goths march to death<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img src="http://www.arts.cornell.edu/jrz3/DBM/25mmLIR15.jpg" height="416" width="640" />T<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">he summer and fall of 376, tens of thousands</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">of displaced Goths and other tribes arrived on the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> Danube River, </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Travel/Pix/pictures/2008/09/04/danube460.jpg" height="384" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" width="640" /></span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">on the border of the Roman Empire, requesting asylum from the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Huns<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">.</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Fritigern<img src="http://www.all-generals.ru/assets/images/polkovodci/DM/Germantci/fritigern.jpg" height="640" width="398" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, a leader of the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Thervingi<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, appealed to the Roman emperor</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Valens<img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4120/4736384644_7deff462d3_b.jpg" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">to be allowed to settle with his people on the south bank of the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Danube<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, where they hoped to find refuge from the Huns, who lacked the ability to cross the wide river in force. Valens permitted this, and even helped the Goths cross the river,</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">probably at the fortress of</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Durostorum<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Durostorum-walls.jpg/800px-Durostorum-walls.jpg" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">(modern</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Silistra<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">), Bulgaria.</span></span></span><img src="http://www.toysoldiercollector.com/articles/Roman3.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /></div>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Valens promised the Goths farming land, grain rations, and protection under the Roman </span></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmQUbrhp1cxCa22r89zcpdJHjphJxpGnfQhQ9NyJ7ur5qkE6DGFEuRMduQ4gin45rY0kTz1X4H1KlW9aVZBqsSxcvOIil78FoS77FebDGO8lbgsfCznYFTT_2usOvfqIUNlEfVTctIx0p/s1600/P1100093.JPG" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">armies as foederati. His major reasons for quickly accepting the Goths into Roman territory were to increase the size of his army, and to gain a new tax base to increase his treasury.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The selection of Goths that were allowed to cross the Danube was unforgiving: the weak, old, and sickly were left on the far bank to fend for themselves against the Huns.<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Hunnen.jpg" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">The ones that crossed were supposed to have their weapons confiscated;</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">however, the Romans in charge accepted bribes to allow the Goths to retain their weapons.</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">The </span><b style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Huns</b><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> were a </span>nomadic<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> group of people who are known to have lived in </span>Eastern Europe<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, the </span>Caucasus<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">,</span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/View_of_the_village_Zrikh_in_Dagestan%2C_RF.jpg" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> and </span>Central Asia <span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">between the 1st century AD and the 7th century. They were first reported living east of the </span><img alt="Volga Ulyanovsk-oliv.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Volga_Ulyanovsk-oliv.jpg/1280px-Volga_Ulyanovsk-oliv.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volga_River" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-decoration: none;" title="Volga River">Volga River</a><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, in an area that was part of </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Scythia</span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Scythia-Parthia_100_BC.png" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> at the time; the Huns' arrival is associated with the migration westward of a Scythian people, the </span>Alans<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">.(</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">The</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><b style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Alans</b><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, or the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><b style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Alani</b><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, occasionally termed</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><b style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Alauni</b><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">or</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><b style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Halani</b><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">or</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><b style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Yancai</b><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">were an</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Iraniannomadic pastoral<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">people of</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>antiquity.</span></span><img height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQWnAdekSWuSiH7jM4qt9dl-xVyyaRqSKhoq8UyL6m-1vb5FqTmJzqvbTRsDASafDQc4EgRp_oz16a_bU6FCbpaFyI5hMJOwenU1Ky3mWBmVHMiRudOpY4dlP8bmmXCXTJJ7JitVtAA/s640/7+germans.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" width="640" /><br />
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Alans are first mentioned by Chinese authors in the 1st century BC as living near the Aral Sea <img alt="AralSea1989 2014.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/AralSea1989_2014.jpg/240px-AralSea1989_2014.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">as vassals of the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Kangju<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">under the name of</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><b style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Yancai</b><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, and were later mentioned by</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Roman<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">authors in the 1st century AD.</span><img src="http://i.imgur.com/RN9hXaB.png" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">At the time they settled the region north of the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Black Sea<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, and frequently raided the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Parthian Empire<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">and the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Caucasian</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">provinces of the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Roman Empire<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">.</span><img height="550" src="http://theminiaturespage.com/news/pics/2008/aug/495896a.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" width="640" /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Upon the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Hunnic<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">defeat of the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Goths<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">on the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Pontic Steppe<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">around 375 AD, many of the Alans migrated westwards along with other</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Germanic tribes<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">.</span><img alt="Picture" src="http://theminiaturespage.com/news/pics/2008/aug/495896b.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> They</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossing_of_the_Rhine" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-decoration: none;" title="Crossing of the Rhine">crossed</a><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Rhine</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">in 406 AD along with the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandals" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-decoration: none;" title="Vandals">Vandals</a><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">and</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suebi" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-decoration: none;" title="Suebi">Suebi</a><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, settling in</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Orléans</span><img alt="The statue of Jeanne d'Arc, Place du Martroi." height="424" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Orleans1.jpg/270px-Orleans1.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" width="640" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">and</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Valence<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">. Around 409 AD they joined the Vandals and Suebi in the crossing of the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Pyrenees<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">into the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Iberian Peninsula</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">,</span><img src="http://www.fat-wally.com/sitebuilder/images/Picture5-600x450.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> settling in</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Lusitania</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">and</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Carthaginiensis</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">.</span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Spain_LaCoruna_tower.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">The Iberian Alans were soundly defeated by the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Visigoths</span></span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1e/Alaric_entering_Athens.jpg/640px-Alaric_entering_Athens.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">418 AD, and subsequently surrendered their authority to the</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Hasdingi<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Vandals</span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/026_Rekonstruktionsversuch_wandalicher_Trachten_von_dem_%C3%84u%C3%9Fere_Karpatensenken_und_Westbeskiden%2C_2_bis_3_Jh._PR_DSC_1315_przeworsk.JPG/640px-026_Rekonstruktionsversuch_wandalicher_Trachten_von_dem_%C3%84u%C3%9Fere_Karpatensenken_und_Westbeskiden%2C_2_bis_3_Jh._PR_DSC_1315_przeworsk.JPG" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">.</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">In 428 AD, the Vandals and Alans crossed the</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Strait of Gibraltar</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">into</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">North Africa</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, where they founded a</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">powerful kingdom</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">which lasted until its conquest by the</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Byzantine</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Emperor</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Justinian I</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><img alt="Meister von San Vitale in Ravenna.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Meister_von_San_Vitale_in_Ravenna.jpg/640px-Meister_von_San_Vitale_in_Ravenna.jpg" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">in the 6th century AD.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Alans who remained under Hunnic rule are said to be the ancestors of the modern Ossetians.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">The Alans spoke an</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Eastern Iranian<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">language which derived from</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Scytho-Sarmatian<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">and which in turn evolved into modern</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Ossetian<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">.</span> They were first mentioned as Hunnoi by </span>Tacitus<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">. In 91 AD, the Huns were said to be living near the </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Caspian Sea</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Caspian_Sea_Kazakhstan_Mangistau.jpg/1024px-Caspian_Sea_Kazakhstan_Mangistau.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /></span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">and by about 150 AD had migrated southeast into the </span>Caucasus<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">.)</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> By 370 AD, the Huns had established a vast, if short-lived, dominion in Europe</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"></span></span></span></div>
<h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: 'Linux Libertine', Georgia, Times, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">With so many people in such a small area, famine struck the Goths, and Rome was unable to supply them with either the food they were promised or the land; they herded the Goths into a temporary holding area surrounded by an armed Roman garrison. There was only enough grain left for the Roman garrison, and so they simply let the Goths starve. The Romans provided a grim alternative: the trade of slaves (often children and young women) for dog meat. When Fritigern appealed to Valens for help, he was told that his people would find food and trade in the markets of the distant city of</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Marcianople<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">. </span></span></span><img src="http://www.grandmanner.co.uk/admin/images/LR69.jpg" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Having no alternative, some of the Goths trekked south in a</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>death march<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, losing the sickly and old along the path.</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">When they finally reached Marcianople's gates, </span><img src="http://www.hobbyandleisure.co.uk/hlstore/catalog/images/6138.jpg" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">they were barred by the city's military garrison and denied entry; to add insult to injury, the Romans unsuccessfully tried to assassinate the Goth leaders </span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDpf2BTRBmg66bazSxsV3L4656XWUk4Jok7-SuJcRDwEQlQh2gGj3QVKSc3jwvqAkhZOjQRvIWZdha-G8fa9-jjGZlF49ni4aVxpdIc4MD2YZWL2f9xaB4QRbp36RyeYiJnhuDrqOKVY/s1600/P1100375.JPG" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">during a banquet. Open revolt began. The main body of Goths spent the rest of 376 and early 377 near the Danube plundering food from the immediate region.</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eE6h-RFTGM0UpCB-cja4cymSuo35t4VFO6JpBqlL4F1qOK-Y3yjzmVULzXPkGNUm8GOTWS20DhHeJ2DzRLRdbaKhHYzR33JGXOWqKoVIQeUMB_QkSw2jaydjQ5_TAeXjC6VOy4jiyKw/s1600/P1100374.JPG" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> Roman garrisons were able to defend isolated forts but most of the country was vulnerable to Gothic plunder.</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">In late winter 377 war began in earnest and would last for six years before peace would be restored in 382.</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBhyenNLeD6g5AHdetzgTl1BZD1JYfUJQAcBWPORgxR2KyR89tzXlNZQbHE4gT-uxGS_CHZWJry93EDuRm5Lu4oLWTgUo5zPvudttBiUpzpPazIRBgylhxCPHavH_0CQk-4-odInEhQY/s1600/P1100208.JPG" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> The remaining Goths moved south from the Danube to Marcianople, and next appeared near Adrianople. </span><img src="https://s1.scalemates.com/products/img/0/9/2/110092-11067.jpg" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">The Roman response was to send a force under Valens to meet and defeat the Goths. In 378 Valens moved north from</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Constantinople<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Bizansist_touchup.jpg/1280px-Bizansist_touchup.jpg" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">and was defeated (and himself killed) at the</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Battle of Adrianople (378)<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">(modern</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Edirne<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">). </span><img alt="Selimiye Mosque, commissioned by Selim II and designed by Mimar Sinan in 1575." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Edirne_7333_Nevit.JPG" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">The victory gave the Goths freedom to roam at will, plundering throughout</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Thrace<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">for the rest of 378. In 379 the Goths met only light Roman resistance and advanced north-west into</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Dacia<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, plundering that region.</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">In 380 the Goths divided into Terving and</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Greuthung<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">armies, in part because of the difficulty of keeping such a large number supplied. The Greuthungi moved north into</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Pannonia</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">where they were defeated by western emperor</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Gratian<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">. </span></h2>
<h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: 'Linux Libertine', Georgia, Times, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">(</span><i><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Latin<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">: </span><span lang="la" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" xml:lang="la">Flavius Gratianus Augustus</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">;</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> 18 April/23 May 359 – 25 August 383) was </span>Roman emperor<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">from 375 to 383. The eldest son of </span>Valentinian I<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">,</span></i><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Solidus_de_Valentinien_MAN.jpg/300px-Solidus_de_Valentinien_MAN.jpg" /><i><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> during his youth Gratian accompanied his father on several campaigns along the </span>Rhine</i><img alt="Loreley mit tal von linker rheinseite.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Loreley_mit_tal_von_linker_rheinseite.jpg/1280px-Loreley_mit_tal_von_linker_rheinseite.jpg" /><i><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> and </span>Danube<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> frontiers. Upon the death of Valentinian in 375, Gratian's brother </span>Valentinian II</i><img alt="Statue of emperor Valentinian II detail.JPG" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Statue_of_emperor_Valentinian_II_detail.JPG/220px-Statue_of_emperor_Valentinian_II_detail.JPG" /><i><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> was declared emperor by his father's soldiers. In 378, Gratian's generals won a decisive victory over the </span>Lentienses<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, a branch of the </span>Alamanni<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, at the </span>Battle of Argentovaria<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">. Gratian subsequently led a campaign across the </span>Rhine<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, the last emperor to do so, and attacked the Lentienses, forcing the tribe to surrender. That same year, his uncle </span>Valens<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> was killed in the </span>Battle of Adrianople</i><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Roman_soldier_end_of_third_century_northern_province_-_cropped.jpg/640px-Roman_soldier_end_of_third_century_northern_province_-_cropped.jpg" /><i><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> against the </span>Goths<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> –</span></i><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Grande_Ludovisi_Altemps_Inv8574.jpg/1280px-Grande_Ludovisi_Altemps_Inv8574.jpg" /><i><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> making Gratian essentially ruler of the entire Roman Empire. He favoured </span>Christianity<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> over </span>traditional Roman religion<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, refusing the </span>divine attributes of the Emperors<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> and removing the</span>Altar of Victory<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> from the </span>Roman Senate</i><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><i>.</i>)</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Gratian was the son of Emperor</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Valentinian <span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">by</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Marina Severa<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, and was born at </span>Sirmium<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><img src="http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/d8/6e/30/sirmium-palatium-imperiale.jpg" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">(now</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Sremska Mitrovica<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">,</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbia" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-decoration: none;" title="Serbia">Serbia</a><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">) in</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Pannonia<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">. He was named after his grandfather</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Gratian the Elder<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">. Gratian was first married to</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Flavia Maxima Constantia<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, daughter of</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Constantius II<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">.</span><img alt="Bust of Constantius II (Mary Harrsch).jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Bust_of_Constantius_II_%28Mary_Harrsch%29.jpg" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> His second wife was</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Laeta<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">. Both marriages remained childless. His stepmother was Empress</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Justina<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">and his paternal half siblings were Emperor</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Valentinian II<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">,</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Galla<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">and Justa.</span></span></span></h2>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On 4 August 367 he received from his father the title of <i>Augustus</i>. On the death of Valentinian (17 November 375), the troops in Pannonia proclaimed his infant son (by a second wife Justina) emperor under the title of Valentinian II.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Gratian acquiesced in their choice; reserving for himself the administration of theGallic provinces, he handed over Italy, Illyricum and Africa to Valentinian and his mother, who fixed their residence at Mediolanum. The division, however, was merely nominal, and the real authority remained in the hands of Gratian.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Gratian's general Mallobaudes, a king of the Franks,</span></span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/A.D._400-600%2C_Franks_-_025_-_Costumes_of_All_Nations_%281882%29.JPG/800px-A.D._400-600%2C_Franks_-_025_-_Costumes_of_All_Nations_%281882%29.JPG" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> and </span>Naniemus<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, completely defeated the </span>Lentienses<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, the southernmost branch of the </span>Alamanni<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, in May 378 at the </span>Battle of Argentovaria<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">. Upon receiving news of the victory, Gratian personally led a campaign across the Upper Rhine into the territory of the Lentienses. After initial trouble facing the Lentienses on high ground, Gratian blockaded the enemy instead and received their surrender. The Lentienses were forced to supply young men to be levied into the Roman army, while the remainder were allowed to return home. Later that year, Valens met his death in the</span>Battle of Adrianople<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> on 9 August. Valens refused to wait for Gratian and his army to arrive and assist in defeating the host of </span>Goths<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, </span>Alans<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> and </span>Huns<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">; as a result, two-thirds of the eastern Roman army were killed as well.</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqVvHUEgpEBMqbOnb2MKVSCGcvYmjD6OLPPy14ykpxJxoaJBILCOa-Dog7wjmaefg3MM8drCXwF0GTLM4A4JwkEGpVCn0dojiF06VGpLwN-r1rrlE5cOgVd3TTv57FvTdS0GxHK6hckE/s1600/romans_outdoor2.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /></div>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the same year, the government of the Eastern Empire devolved upon Gratian, but feeling himself unable to resist unaided the incursions of the barbarians, he promoted Theodosius I on 19 January 379 to govern that portion of the Empire. Gratianus and Theodosius then cleared the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praetorian_prefecture_of_Illyricum" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum">Illyricum</a> of barbarians in the Gothic War (376-382).</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For some years Gratian governed the Empire with energy and success but gradually sank into indolence, occupying himself chiefly with the pleasures of the chase, and became a tool in the hands of the Frankish general Merobaudes and bishop St. Ambrose of Milan.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By taking into his personal service a body of Alans, and appearing in public in the dress of a Scythian</span></span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Scythians_shooting_with_bows_Kertch_antique_Panticapeum_Ukrainia_4th_century_BCE.jpg/1280px-Scythians_shooting_with_bows_Kertch_antique_Panticapeum_Ukrainia_4th_century_BCE.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> warrior, after the disaster of the Battle of Adrianople, he aroused the contempt and resentment of his </span>Roman troops<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">. A Roman general named </span>Magnus Maximus<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> took advantage of this feeling to raise the standard of revolt in </span>Britain<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> and invaded </span>Gaul<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> with a large army. Gratian, who was then in </span>Paris<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, being deserted by his troops, fled to </span>Lyon<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">. There, through the treachery of the governor, Gratian was delivered over to one of the rebel generals, </span>Andragathius<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, and assassinated on 25 August 383.</span></div>
<h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: 'Linux Libertine', Georgia, Times, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;">
<br /></h2>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The reign of Gratian forms an important epoch in ecclesiastical history, since during that period Nicene Christianity for the first time became dominant throughout the empire.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Gratian also published an edict that all their subjects should profess the faith of the bishops of Rome and Alexandria (i.e., the Nicene faith). The move was mainly thrust at the various beliefs that had arisen out of Arianism, but smaller dissident sects, such as the Macedonians, were also prohibited.</span></span></div>
<h3 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Gratian, under the influence of his chief advisor the Bishop of Milan Ambrose, took active steps to repress Pagan worship.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> This brought to an end a period of widespread, if unofficial, religious tolerance that had existed since the time of Julian. "<i>In the long truce between the hostile camps</i>", writes historian Samuel Dill "<i>the pagan, the sceptic, even the formal, the lukewarm Christian, may have come to dream of a mutual toleration which would leave the ancient forms undisturbed but such men, living in a world of literary and antiquarian illusions, know little of the inner forces of the new Christian movement.</i>"</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In 382, Gratian appropriated the income of the Pagan priests and Vestal Virgins, forbade legacies of real property to them and abolished other privileges belonging to the Vestals and to the pontiffs. He confiscated the personal possessions of the colleges of Pagan priests, which also lost all their privileges and immunities. Gratian declared that all of the Pagan temples and shrines were to be confiscated by the government and that their revenues were to be joined to the property of the royal treasury.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He ordered another removal of the Altar of Victory from the Senate House at Rome, despite protests of the pagan members of the Senate, and confiscated its revenues. Pagan Senators responded by sending an appeal to Gratian, reminding him that he was still the Pontifex Maximus<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/August_Labicana_Massimo_Inv56230.jpg/640px-August_Labicana_Massimo_Inv56230.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> and that it was his duty to see that the Pagan rites were properly performed. They appealed to Gratian to restore the Altar of Victory and the rights and privileges of the Vestal Virgins and priestly colleges. Gratian, at the urging of Ambrose, did not grant an audience to the Pagan Senators. In response to being reminded by the Pagans that he was still the head of the ancestral religion, Gratian refused to wear the insignia of the </span><i style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Pontifex Maximus</i><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> as unbefitting a </span>Christian<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, renouncing the title and office of Pontifex Maximus under the influence of Ambrose, declaring that it was unsuitable for a Christian to hold this office. Gratian was quickly faced with a revolt from </span>Magnus Maximus<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/162_Magnus_Maximus.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> to the throne because he was more sympathetic to the Pagan cause.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Notwithstanding his actions, Gratian was still deified after his death.</span></span></div>
<h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: 'Linux Libertine', Georgia, Times, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">The Tervingi under</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Fritigern<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4Y8H1ZxPGyDbtobm5hIBC7Uyn6Bvlfw0sCGMRbasrhkmdSy8LL6PsU9QGqWQxcJaMwcqxlLb_jFIxczLzgi2xsmGbW-hxwRu2J3TLxb4tSIk_cUUPCydHnCuMZV14WOhhZ8OcMAOY2k/s1600/Adrian%25C3%25B3polis3.jpg" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">moved south and east to</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Macedonia<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, where they took "protection money" from towns and cities rather than sacking them outright. In 381, forces of the western Empire drove the Goths back to Thrace, where finally in 382, peace was made on October 3.</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">By the end of the war, the Goths had killed a Roman emperor, destroyed a Roman army and laid waste large tracts of the Roman Balkans, much of which never recovered. The Roman Empire had for the first time negotiated a peace settlement with an autonomous barbarian tribe inside the borders of the Empire, a situation that a generation before would have been unthinkable.</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">The lesson was not lost on other tribes, as well as the Goths themselves, who would not remain peaceful for long. Within a hundred years the Western Empire would collapse under the pressure of continued invasions as the Empire was carved up into barbarian kingdoms.</span></span></span></h2>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-65418627366508566572015-05-04T10:27:00.000-07:002015-05-08T08:23:28.603-07:00images<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjib93wQciS5iFNv2n5uf2Mvm4CRgHbz23p5hQe1emf6RcNd-8EueRR1lgNUGEKec4pm8yJXFBXGtL1Yj92fV0cbALPS8cnSh3HLiMXE3_BbVcArTo__afxrD6pt9aIokLXHOVuSo_ybZg/s1600/10422357_695968810525548_6482943064970688992_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjib93wQciS5iFNv2n5uf2Mvm4CRgHbz23p5hQe1emf6RcNd-8EueRR1lgNUGEKec4pm8yJXFBXGtL1Yj92fV0cbALPS8cnSh3HLiMXE3_BbVcArTo__afxrD6pt9aIokLXHOVuSo_ybZg/s640/10422357_695968810525548_6482943064970688992_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0egpl9z5JDMMQcZhOX_tZere7H0QcLGXUZv-_ohTkIZD4GqnTTg66aY4xZhlnT9oqCRMF8tdOjRoqNd8QmCdmO8bwLPc2vcVqga9V0zIAzhAdH_4w-BHsd-ysC9Mi9gUJGHZ6dJ9RUQ/s1600/10924700_695968767192219_1342398898836516927_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0egpl9z5JDMMQcZhOX_tZere7H0QcLGXUZv-_ohTkIZD4GqnTTg66aY4xZhlnT9oqCRMF8tdOjRoqNd8QmCdmO8bwLPc2vcVqga9V0zIAzhAdH_4w-BHsd-ysC9Mi9gUJGHZ6dJ9RUQ/s640/10924700_695968767192219_1342398898836516927_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVSi-zgKGqvo_-LlTBdn7tikyHGDsAJULBUO43VI87U1k80eRYkgIE6GanqxSz7lVAXMbW0mce0iNdnHDrNPIeXxq1ti4cYaqiR0rdO7sy2KXLk5DqCIT8o1iZkk6apqC3UiGwKTOd6o/s1600/10995484_695968807192215_740821092828550378_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVSi-zgKGqvo_-LlTBdn7tikyHGDsAJULBUO43VI87U1k80eRYkgIE6GanqxSz7lVAXMbW0mce0iNdnHDrNPIeXxq1ti4cYaqiR0rdO7sy2KXLk5DqCIT8o1iZkk6apqC3UiGwKTOd6o/s640/10995484_695968807192215_740821092828550378_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMY9l9T1OJ39WAf-yK8SldycHwU3NSZXtKn45X1PDnSHjyGK_oN_QQC0bbDMk-FGodPwKGe0ggnjwm0NpKbWFH08EuJrPLlQcEHBMiUS1V97XijejAsOJP3W3SqU2cIJk-FSz3MXDxYY/s1600/11128853_695968827192213_1291519493504486107_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMY9l9T1OJ39WAf-yK8SldycHwU3NSZXtKn45X1PDnSHjyGK_oN_QQC0bbDMk-FGodPwKGe0ggnjwm0NpKbWFH08EuJrPLlQcEHBMiUS1V97XijejAsOJP3W3SqU2cIJk-FSz3MXDxYY/s640/11128853_695968827192213_1291519493504486107_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8XPE05odErnWjDhVyKUbNuG_Kb4ZcKnmjcCgKi20pGZIiZTbI6uf543KVHyjO6iQZ7K154t74F-kq02a4GvKHCa9UbrF2SZ_38rSP4HSnsBVMad5PQec45WCgyK5KXtCBgYHg-omaeA/s1600/11150225_695968887192207_6891080809952035366_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8XPE05odErnWjDhVyKUbNuG_Kb4ZcKnmjcCgKi20pGZIiZTbI6uf543KVHyjO6iQZ7K154t74F-kq02a4GvKHCa9UbrF2SZ_38rSP4HSnsBVMad5PQec45WCgyK5KXtCBgYHg-omaeA/s1600/11150225_695968887192207_6891080809952035366_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyt1GYD4qa7piDDUFaKOpBEMsOYuelrTV8jFGnhqtTAk_Su1MqKod52MUsd5I_8VDFX9Eg7sjpDN-leBC-OgR_Gh56eaTKYamOp6fFYPxLDmjyeyPuNpeZBHseWGL29tEYxdujTOu1p4/s1600/11150511_695968937192202_2316579668100056498_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyt1GYD4qa7piDDUFaKOpBEMsOYuelrTV8jFGnhqtTAk_Su1MqKod52MUsd5I_8VDFX9Eg7sjpDN-leBC-OgR_Gh56eaTKYamOp6fFYPxLDmjyeyPuNpeZBHseWGL29tEYxdujTOu1p4/s1600/11150511_695968937192202_2316579668100056498_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_rhAnOKxAIL84oXnUGODVAxxPXx-vgw9urvmxxXlyQdXyDNWlgJ7uNnIUupHjF5ui6joMdwHdVRHHSR0RfatmZ1EUh5pKYrf9P89DzaXaW_ARpYNRdujmqBKNPFqH2q8x-j-EOC_f_w/s1600/11156292_695968867192209_4786246202288655972_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_rhAnOKxAIL84oXnUGODVAxxPXx-vgw9urvmxxXlyQdXyDNWlgJ7uNnIUupHjF5ui6joMdwHdVRHHSR0RfatmZ1EUh5pKYrf9P89DzaXaW_ARpYNRdujmqBKNPFqH2q8x-j-EOC_f_w/s1600/11156292_695968867192209_4786246202288655972_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8vvQdODLcRa3M6eNmyGdOONx3WrSJvZHGjWNni-2C3v5rjrLmasdCd4gCYOXBa3YFyfIx6Tb2_rOWCV3S6BGBMKcTIvZgdvjvIyESyb0aXtXCtivroP0c3dFH0BlsDVOnKoVCqt61uI/s1600/11165109_695968860525543_7622758356166177694_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8vvQdODLcRa3M6eNmyGdOONx3WrSJvZHGjWNni-2C3v5rjrLmasdCd4gCYOXBa3YFyfIx6Tb2_rOWCV3S6BGBMKcTIvZgdvjvIyESyb0aXtXCtivroP0c3dFH0BlsDVOnKoVCqt61uI/s1600/11165109_695968860525543_7622758356166177694_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxlq-v34ngIYIOGF7L_214fRhIaMjsQ3JdB2lViQIVCXO0WO3SKVmrFH0JduFHrDUyc09tbaSgGM-0Q0XQ_5ofBpNmMhwuf9yuBOED2BLNsb0HnQJzlOKeiprFW4X4CNVDp9J_wRf2yw/s1600/11167670_695968913858871_4145792180709321294_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxlq-v34ngIYIOGF7L_214fRhIaMjsQ3JdB2lViQIVCXO0WO3SKVmrFH0JduFHrDUyc09tbaSgGM-0Q0XQ_5ofBpNmMhwuf9yuBOED2BLNsb0HnQJzlOKeiprFW4X4CNVDp9J_wRf2yw/s1600/11167670_695968913858871_4145792180709321294_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-17462126078255778302015-05-03T15:10:00.001-07:002015-05-03T15:10:22.017-07:00harris<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjBqlmXV8_X2xSCvK9qDy-oFJTFUTMOh5kIfWapUq2fqAyFVOdeFCW68jEJWXn0vdQNuWHKUSLdf5yEF9Zp2nQyIZDLHu0VowyBCMyK5n7-jjhkYN1UUaMfxOKkW7Tbk0ucr2Q-8RoXc/s1600/DSCF0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjBqlmXV8_X2xSCvK9qDy-oFJTFUTMOh5kIfWapUq2fqAyFVOdeFCW68jEJWXn0vdQNuWHKUSLdf5yEF9Zp2nQyIZDLHu0VowyBCMyK5n7-jjhkYN1UUaMfxOKkW7Tbk0ucr2Q-8RoXc/s640/DSCF0003.jpg" height="480" px="true" width="640" /></a>All soldiers are sold unpainted unless you ask first.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
toy soldiers are painted (these are the garibaldi series.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
a compendium of the soldiers I have for sale at the moment all designed by myself and made in the u.k. These pieces are based on a tale told by RIFLEMAN Harris. all pieces are 10.00 and build into a set of 7 pieces.Apart from these I have Terence Hill character from french foreign Legion film MARCH OR DIE firing machine gun plus US/Mexican war 8 figures here plus Garibaldi in naples. all sets come in wooden boxes and we are the best value of any company.Post 10 per cent or cost. To the USA its just 5% at the moment as a way of enticing our USA friends.You may purchase any of the soldiers here in kit form.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAB5r4jALjx9594zKstrCWJS2ThQqFFrsQTFghBAdtn6Pyfev0RfoaXaBcny1alzIxe3I5D45NgHkmjbLMJlXXVmuKlqvAOIWHRSIB4her5F20Qc1QqEPOuypHxZNa9IJeGd1sWGIXuNI/s1600/DSC05473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAB5r4jALjx9594zKstrCWJS2ThQqFFrsQTFghBAdtn6Pyfev0RfoaXaBcny1alzIxe3I5D45NgHkmjbLMJlXXVmuKlqvAOIWHRSIB4her5F20Qc1QqEPOuypHxZNa9IJeGd1sWGIXuNI/s640/DSC05473.JPG" height="480" px="true" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiST7bgtzgs5Ad-h3lrRPyFbiZDpO8mPqVKeMQvI_igEya-wZXO-n1QiVhd4IrU7b1QmcyIOIDq_xIgCa_Z1sDdHm00XpbbgvRzIJgOh6GLr8xAf3haAupObJylyOvQk5CFjthDz-Y-WTs/s1600/DSC05484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiST7bgtzgs5Ad-h3lrRPyFbiZDpO8mPqVKeMQvI_igEya-wZXO-n1QiVhd4IrU7b1QmcyIOIDq_xIgCa_Z1sDdHm00XpbbgvRzIJgOh6GLr8xAf3haAupObJylyOvQk5CFjthDz-Y-WTs/s640/DSC05484.JPG" height="480" px="true" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5E5zS3GkdyIykxmchOYO2-3T2Fg_QRK-HFV3bU_V5bM8EUOnT3yaZ2QX2GfUF-3qCEjzxWMfFLuXvX-LaZfE7mrOjf4WEDRVnLmalImFCVEL3QpVtNMB9eWu4W_HsAlDSX_uR91XdwZA/s1600/DSC05489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5E5zS3GkdyIykxmchOYO2-3T2Fg_QRK-HFV3bU_V5bM8EUOnT3yaZ2QX2GfUF-3qCEjzxWMfFLuXvX-LaZfE7mrOjf4WEDRVnLmalImFCVEL3QpVtNMB9eWu4W_HsAlDSX_uR91XdwZA/s640/DSC05489.JPG" height="480" px="true" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"><b>The Recollections of Rifleman Harris</b></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> is a memoir published in 1848 of the experiences of an enlisted soldier in the </span>95th Regiment of Foot<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> in the British Army during the </span>Napoleonic Wars<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">.</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4209cTy1_XxUvR_uqDg9Nq1cbN60vQFmwInE61mCPGy25BsHWcmfi11QU2vdjzAvF_LV8ANd81Nelv0rNzDvo2Amw1js9cpE-3QFf4T5AS32RVHF6henKKdDPnTjSRb21jWg6QEvxwQ/s640/DSC05474.JPG" style="text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> The eponymous soldier was </span>Benjamin Randell Harris<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">, a private who joined the regiment in 1803 and served in many of the early campaigns in the </span>Peninsula War<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">.</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJCkdq4OHZw0GzJrp94T6d7Ebb2pKQDMU-QKPq7H3Nj16yEvaOhFFfWv7m1CNT7ZdC_o40b7I_qNY6rZbcQpfahyphenhyphenxlfxojS1Mjr4ppXWXiuVa-f3YpH6-eWI5Xxa8ppxsA1Um-63RDT0/s640/DSC05480.JPG" style="text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> In the mid-1830s, Harris was working as a</span>cobbler<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> in London when he met an acquaintance, Captain Henry Curling, who asked him to dictate an account of his experiences of army life.</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHi4Jw2-Jg77Nw4-CrHBHRyfxJMccOG3pdp_0CcGpjTj_KSlmtdk9GPL9ydnBYPSpn8Ky8bCXbHGhkqW_ZADRC-6x3joMSqrqsr8gGn-sQnthp_hNdBhk69HIzzpzfSlB1SqxPj-IUOyo/s640/DSC05481.JPG" style="text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> This account was then held by Curling until 1848, when he succeeded in getting the manuscript published, preserving one of the very few surviving</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT25MXC-J-0paeSn4sJiTY9cef5bRxb5gyKaWs0YB-MlUT6ObrO5kuSP1lQtlOa4tbQW4xuku34eiMGH_9vuAmWxCM02VNf0g5MDssYAb__j4RaYLeYBIfOnnWmPaXM9BxLGrV7hdng68/s640/DSC05477.JPG" style="text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> accounts of military service in this era from a private soldier.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">The account begins with a description of Harris’ </span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KZObTjO7cTTZZ05JmLzYpjsRwTYQsSVfRAkD-m0GOG6kvSzJJALUAahKxoFVQD_vU9i8H5YJgsZoH52n3xTh00rYVfNRbB4RxWww6OQR4C_L82ErEqU11pk7wcULCsssXp38GWdME_c/s640/DSC05490.JPG" style="text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">recruitment in the army via the militia and the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>66th Regiment of Foot<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/The_Maiwand_Lion%2C_Forbury_Gardens%2C_Reading_2.jpg/800px-The_Maiwand_Lion%2C_Forbury_Gardens%2C_Reading_2.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">in</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Stalbridge<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">, from where he was sent on garrison duty to Ireland and joined the 95th Rifles. </span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvTCwgBp-YvFgI1mXxdOF3ivHU4pw1buY6jx_NgsHTsaHK9ARsJQCVXSapFc8lor6ocAzQNTX9EMpQ4k3rDVhLX5ZNRUc6VDY0GgzcvtQIr1pVKyG-yBcai4UoYZaBB3yR6roOmsWb_0/s640/DSC05483.JPG" style="text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">The account reveals many details of army life in the period, including a graphic depiction of an execution by firing squad and a description of the actions and progress of a recruiting party through </span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rIcaGSL6bsL8M-ouYkMuQhns0gg2xjAW8Wa5mEqXrRyRLbq9h8tjmRfvxDUWVBBBs12nGeZnU1ntbtrBH1oVSTwiZ14WbHcb4LR4SQni5nMZsxb2sK1jge_7OlD2ra3UAtwIyRS5BTU/s640/DSC05475.JPG" style="text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">Ireland, which reveals the endemic alcoholism and religious rivalry which Ireland and the army of the time was subject to. Harris notes particular difficulty in separating Catholic and Protestant Irish recruits.</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2t79D47cEmnsBUG4KSHiPW-xxgxUlJPSgNDGsV79i5ER39-YIjn4ZuxZWUIP0P-Px3MK0SrrwrMcuVn-7_56FVmrxUMixctkZsSmd0YYNwZFRqJIVM-JoyFg3-xv3vpP7KfeEvL_vCg/s640/DSC05488.JPG" style="text-align: left;" /></div>
<h3 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
</h3>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Harris was sent to Denmark in 1807, where he participated in the campaign which surrounded the bombardment of Copenhagen,<img alt="Copenhagen on fire 1807 by CW Eckersberg.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Copenhagen_on_fire_1807_by_CW_Eckersberg.jpg" height="640" style="background-color: transparent;" width="498" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> including seeing his first fighting near</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Køge<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">and</span><img alt="Køge Torv with its statue of Frederick VII" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/K%C3%B8ge_-_statue_af_Frederik_7._-_Torvet.jpg/800px-K%C3%B8ge_-_statue_af_Frederik_7._-_Torvet.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> observing</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Congreve rockets</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">in action for the first time. Harris also recounts further experiences of drunkenness and ill-discipline amongst the largely inexperienced soldiery. He also served in 1808 with several men who had participated in the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>South American expedition of 1807<img alt="La Reconquista de Buenos Aires.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/74/La_Reconquista_de_Buenos_Aires.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, and offers comment and anecdotes on that campaign and the subsequent trial of General</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">John Whitelocke</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">,</span><img alt="John whitelocke.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/John_whitelocke.jpg/220px-John_whitelocke.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> whom Harris holds in contempt.</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RMRjJJLSruJ7u2RhQ0jDtiRe9JtaNIqGmwFqMFCFMr2MgCDo2PAAHHFN0q8cyRgO3ZlYzVEss57wW7s4amzRFI6T3vjOIPrygn7bxDxgWVD524KW-Dh1o04uH0nzFqmknQtLzuCR024/s640/DSC05487.JPG" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /></div>
<h3 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
</h3>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
In the summer of 1808 Harris was dispatched to Portugal to participate in the opening actions of the Peninsula War, seeing action in the opening skirmish at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93bidos,_Portugal" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Óbidos, Portugal">Óbidos</a> and subsequently the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Rolica" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Battle of Rolica">Battle of Rolica</a>, where Harris’ unit was heavily engaged and Harris offers a vivid description of the engagement, at which a number of his close friends were killed. This is followed by a description of the Battle of Vimeiro <img alt="Batalha do Vimeiro.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Batalha_do_Vimeiro.jpg/1024px-Batalha_do_Vimeiro.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">where he was again heavily engaged and follows the army on the ensuing march to </span>Salamanca<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><img alt="View of Salamanca" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/Salamanca_2008.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">and the clash with the French at </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Sahagún</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">. This is followed by a graphic depiction of the horrific march northwards during the Galician campaign culminating in the </span>Battle of Corunna<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">.</span><img alt="36 214430~death-of-sir-john-moore-(1761-1809)-january-17th-1809,-from-'the-martial-achievements-of-great-britain-and-her-allies-from-1799-.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/36_214430~death-of-sir-john-moore-%281761-1809%29-january-17th-1809%2C-from-%27the-martial-achievements-of-great-britain-and-her-allies-from-1799-.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> Harris and his regiment were amongst the final troops evacuated from the beaches, and they returned to England where Harris served in recruitment and training positions, thus providing readers with a rare insight into rural Georgian England from a lower class perspective.</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5guNkC2rDW2qAz6jRV1su5YJjAZ7QVFDjEZU6ui8PPgAvHGWD7dpKxO8MTamDt8HxjVH3xDYwZCRhuBHohCvNOYLkWJI30qnIsDucLkKbgORPHtyLRKLm5J1X1Kfm2_VI0PO9yvhvtM/s640/DSC05485.JPG" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /></div>
<h3 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
</h3>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
From England Harris and the 95th were sent to Walcheren to participate in the catastrophic Walcheren Expedition. The narrator acutely demonstrates the squalid conditions and indecisive generalship which led to the ensuing disaster in the marshy land and high summer of Holland. Harris himself fell ill from the ague which killed two thirds of the expeditionary force, and thus also provides an insight into the medical care and treatments available to soldiers during the Georgian period, a disease from which he never fully recovered. For the next three years, despite determined efforts to rejoin his unit in Spain, Harris was unable to participate in the wars due to his recurring malarial fevers. During this period of inactivity and ill-health at the depot in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hythe,_Kent" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Hythe, Kent">Hythe</a>, Harris recounts many stories told to him by his comrades and contemporaries of their service on the Peninsula, including tales of the <img alt="Siege of Badajoz, by Richard Caton Woodville Jr.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Siege_of_Badajoz%2C_by_Richard_Caton_Woodville_Jr.jpg/1024px-Siege_of_Badajoz%2C_by_Richard_Caton_Woodville_Jr.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Siege of Badajoz</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> and the Siege of San Sebastian.</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7C0-HtSGfmofzr6lWIVVpHYC_tvZSjM4GwZ524spg3BMJeHhBV0bQFpeEPAMcM0PRSOrn7eqBbZMUYKOjM5Qvc-CCfSI-NK_vfPoKODY2qFiXMlDUDUNVUwn6vRzLBpeRWmbMG0xjrUs/s640/DSC05478.JPG" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
In 1813 and 1814, Harris was attached to the 8th Veteran's Battalion based in London, having been rejected from foreign service by the Duke of Wellington, who decreed no survivors of Walcheren were to serve in his army as none were fit for marching or fighting. There he served alongside several detachments of French deserters, again witnessing the frequent brutal punishment of the day, when a man was given 700 lashes for desertion. Stricken with illness, he was unable to rejoin his regiment during the Hundred DaysCampaign and thus forfeited his pension. Nonetheless, Harris’ final words on the subject are very revealing. <i>"I enjoyed life more whilst on active service than I have ever done since, and I look back on my time spent on the fields of the Peninsula as the only part worthy of remembr</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">The book is perhaps most important in the manner in which it provides the viewpoint of one of Wellington's foot soldiers at a time when so many were illiterate. Whilst many officers</span><span style="font-size: 11.1999998092651px; line-height: 11.1999998092651px; white-space: nowrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">kept diaries or wrote memoirs of their service, ‘’The Recollections of Rifleman Harris’’ is rare because unlike the grand actions or great people recalled by his superiors, Harris mentions dozens of men whose history is no longer remembered and whose names would otherwise be lost, and records the details of daily</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><i style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">ennui</i><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> with interesting and colloquial prose. He describes medicine from a patients’ point of view, punishment from a friend of the victim's view and military life from the bottom up, giving otherwise unknown insight to the daily life of a soldier in the Napoleonic Wars, as well as a unique primary source to some of the British campaign.</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">During Harris’ life the book was neither popular nor well-received </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><img src="http://www.exciting.org.uk/postcards/chelsea/a-f/burrage/12.jpg" height="419" style="background-color: transparent;" width="640" /></span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">critically, fading into obscurity for many years before being rediscovered in the early years of the twentieth century. The book has since been republished many times, with a number of commentaries, some rather poorly researched, even reporting Harris’ first name as John.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">In more recent times a freshly researched volume by historian Eileen Hathaway has been published which removes many of the older mistakes and contains a foreword by the author</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Bernard Cornwell</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, who used the memoir as a source for his</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Sharpe series</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, even basing a minor character on Harris, albeit with a very different career. Likewise in the</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><i style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Sharpe</i><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">TV series, the actor</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Jason Salkey</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">played a rifleman very loosely based on Benjamin Harris. Salkey later recorded an audiobook version of</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><i style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">The Recollections of Rifleman </i><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfEuep9qCGzYF8QzER55sKiXsXS1Ncz2e8a51FUq2nsTp46SEiqYl-maRM459-0ImAhlGUjfP_4OGDYpe5Gh-BedYySKklHO0DKrrVUpNPLR8Ub9Hz7ycfQwSEJ_Fc1ektnMflT-1CoY/s640/DSC05486.JPG" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /></span><i style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Harris</i><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">.</span></div>
</div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F_SERTIMZuS88%2FTKcyhvy8abI%2FAAAAAAAASgc%2F1e6SlHLopoA%2Fs640%2FDSC05480.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJCkdq4OHZw0GzJrp94T6d7Ebb2pKQDMU-QKPq7H3Nj16yEvaOhFFfWv7m1CNT7ZdC_o40b7I_qNY6rZbcQpfahyphenhyphenxlfxojS1Mjr4ppXWXiuVa-f3YpH6-eWI5Xxa8ppxsA1Um-63RDT0/s640/DSC05480.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F_SERTIMZuS88%2FTKc0-YL8zGI%2FAAAAAAAAShA%2FUMpQTH6EhKc%2Fs640%2FDSC05490.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KZObTjO7cTTZZ05JmLzYpjsRwTYQsSVfRAkD-m0GOG6kvSzJJALUAahKxoFVQD_vU9i8H5YJgsZoH52n3xTh00rYVfNRbB4RxWww6OQR4C_L82ErEqU11pk7wcULCsssXp38GWdME_c/s640/DSC05490.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F_SERTIMZuS88%2FTKcz2dai0MI%2FAAAAAAAASgw%2Fr8r9K2vtijM%2Fs640%2FDSC05486.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfEuep9qCGzYF8QzER55sKiXsXS1Ncz2e8a51FUq2nsTp46SEiqYl-maRM459-0ImAhlGUjfP_4OGDYpe5Gh-BedYySKklHO0DKrrVUpNPLR8Ub9Hz7ycfQwSEJ_Fc1ektnMflT-1CoY/s640/DSC05486.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_SERTIMZuS88%2FTKcy6mMEh8I%2FAAAAAAAASgg%2Fm844Vx7gz9A%2Fs640%2FDSC05481.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHi4Jw2-Jg77Nw4-CrHBHRyfxJMccOG3pdp_0CcGpjTj_KSlmtdk9GPL9ydnBYPSpn8Ky8bCXbHGhkqW_ZADRC-6x3joMSqrqsr8gGn-sQnthp_hNdBhk69HIzzpzfSlB1SqxPj-IUOyo/s640/DSC05481.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_SERTIMZuS88%2FTKcwpVHsjYI%2FAAAAAAAASgI%2FvCQ4TZtkg88%2Fs640%2FDSC05474.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4209cTy1_XxUvR_uqDg9Nq1cbN60vQFmwInE61mCPGy25BsHWcmfi11QU2vdjzAvF_LV8ANd81Nelv0rNzDvo2Amw1js9cpE-3QFf4T5AS32RVHF6henKKdDPnTjSRb21jWg6QEvxwQ/s640/DSC05474.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F_SERTIMZuS88%2FTKcxHRVE7WI%2FAAAAAAAASgM%2FWJONDed0Xb8%2Fs640%2FDSC05475.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rIcaGSL6bsL8M-ouYkMuQhns0gg2xjAW8Wa5mEqXrRyRLbq9h8tjmRfvxDUWVBBBs12nGeZnU1ntbtrBH1oVSTwiZ14WbHcb4LR4SQni5nMZsxb2sK1jge_7OlD2ra3UAtwIyRS5BTU/s640/DSC05475.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_SERTIMZuS88%2FTKczOpQ7I-I%2FAAAAAAAASgk%2FR6R8wTPBkjk%2Fs640%2FDSC05483.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvTCwgBp-YvFgI1mXxdOF3ivHU4pw1buY6jx_NgsHTsaHK9ARsJQCVXSapFc8lor6ocAzQNTX9EMpQ4k3rDVhLX5ZNRUc6VDY0GgzcvtQIr1pVKyG-yBcai4UoYZaBB3yR6roOmsWb_0/s640/DSC05483.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_SERTIMZuS88%2FTKc0BfE-koI%2FAAAAAAAASg0%2F_k2Kk9jqCQc%2Fs640%2FDSC05487.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RMRjJJLSruJ7u2RhQ0jDtiRe9JtaNIqGmwFqMFCFMr2MgCDo2PAAHHFN0q8cyRgO3ZlYzVEss57wW7s4amzRFI6T3vjOIPrygn7bxDxgWVD524KW-Dh1o04uH0nzFqmknQtLzuCR024/s640/DSC05487.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F_SERTIMZuS88%2FTKcyM8KbCOI%2FAAAAAAAASgY%2F2myzl-VBXUw%2Fs640%2FDSC05478.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7C0-HtSGfmofzr6lWIVVpHYC_tvZSjM4GwZ524spg3BMJeHhBV0bQFpeEPAMcM0PRSOrn7eqBbZMUYKOjM5Qvc-CCfSI-NK_vfPoKODY2qFiXMlDUDUNVUwn6vRzLBpeRWmbMG0xjrUs/s640/DSC05478.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_SERTIMZuS88%2FTKcx0y8dsjI%2FAAAAAAAASgU%2FkhMjQmsOuec%2Fs640%2FDSC05477.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT25MXC-J-0paeSn4sJiTY9cef5bRxb5gyKaWs0YB-MlUT6ObrO5kuSP1lQtlOa4tbQW4xuku34eiMGH_9vuAmWxCM02VNf0g5MDssYAb__j4RaYLeYBIfOnnWmPaXM9BxLGrV7hdng68/s640/DSC05477.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_SERTIMZuS88%2FTKc0LueQcmI%2FAAAAAAAASg4%2Fu9ruVNOYsdM%2Fs640%2FDSC05488.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2t79D47cEmnsBUG4KSHiPW-xxgxUlJPSgNDGsV79i5ER39-YIjn4ZuxZWUIP0P-Px3MK0SrrwrMcuVn-7_56FVmrxUMixctkZsSmd0YYNwZFRqJIVM-JoyFg3-xv3vpP7KfeEvL_vCg/s640/DSC05488.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F_SERTIMZuS88%2FTKczs0H0aMI%2FAAAAAAAASgs%2F2HA_xSs8Mes%2Fs640%2FDSC05485.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5guNkC2rDW2qAz6jRV1su5YJjAZ7QVFDjEZU6ui8PPgAvHGWD7dpKxO8MTamDt8HxjVH3xDYwZCRhuBHohCvNOYLkWJI30qnIsDucLkKbgORPHtyLRKLm5J1X1Kfm2_VI0PO9yvhvtM/s640/DSC05485.JPG" -->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-64785243251460996122015-04-30T04:29:00.001-07:002015-04-30T04:29:47.086-07:00T.62s<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><img alt="Andy Claesens built Trumpeters 1/35 IT-1 Missile tank" src="http://www.militarymodelling.com/sites/1/images/article_images_month/2013-06/trump%20it-1%20article_header.jpg" /></span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> This is an unusual and little known area of Cold War thinking and is based on the T-62 chassis. As I've built one of the Trumpeter T-62s before I did not expect any nasty surprises along the way and the build was very enjoyable and the kit was almost vice less (but more on that shortly).</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">During the mid-Fifties, with the progression of Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) as effective weapons, Soviet tank design bureaus found themselves under great pressure from the very top to develop ATGM armed vehicles. The Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev was convinced that conventionally armed tanks were reaching the end of their lives and in 1956 he ordered that the four main Tank Design Bureaus start moving things forward to develop this ATGM concept. The Soviet military was resentful of his perceived meddling and involvement and their reluctance to take things further was supported by the technical impracticalities of the time.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However, in the early-Sixties projects were begun and the Kartsev Design Bureau in NizhnyTagil began work on Obiekt 150, a missile armed tank based on the hull of a T-62 with a redesigned low-profile turret. It had a crew of three, driver, gunner and commander in conventional layout and was armed with a pop-up missile launcher fitted into the turret along with a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun with 2000 rounds of ammunition. Twelve 3M7 Drakon (Dragon) missiles were stored in an automatic loader with a further three stored in an unarmoured box on the back of the turret. The Drakon was specially developed for usage in Obiekt 150 and although details of the missile are largely unknown it was believed that it may have used the AT-1 Falanga missile as it’s’ basis. Launched slightly upward and at an angle to offset any wind drift during the first second of unguided flight the missile was tracked using a tracer on the rear of the missile. This allowed the guidance system to track the missile and transmit radio commands to it (using a combination of seven frequencies and two codes to prevent vehicles within a single unit interfering with each other) which were decoded by the missile and translated into deflection of the missiles fins. Night-vision equipment enabled some night operation but reduced the missile's range considerably. This relatively conventional design layout was the least adventurous of those put forward by the Design Bureaus and the only design that made it to production status.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In September 1964 Nikita Khrushchev observed a firepower demonstration of the Obiekt 150 at Kubinka, where in short succession three moving tank targets were destroyed. He excitedly reported his observations to a Party Conference the following day and told them he believed that tanks would become obsolescent. He had already cancelled heavy tank production and it was widely felt that medium tank production was also under threat. So, the Ground Forces heaved a huge sigh of relief when one month later Khrushchev was ousted from power by Leonid Brezhnev, who adopted a far more traditionalist approach to the military and military production.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A small production series of Obiekt 150 was ordered as IT-1 (Istrebitel Tankov or Tank Destroyer) and used to form two Tank Destroyer Battalions. One was manned by tank crews whilst the other by artillery troops as a test of concept. One served in the Carpathian Military District and the other in the Byelorussian Military District. Further production occurred between 1968 and 1970 but the IT-1 was not well liked for a number of reasons. The guidance system was heavy, weighing 520 Kg which affected the vehicles performance, the size of the missile meant that ammunition storage was not great pointing towards constant resupply and the large dead-zone around the tanks due to the missiles' minimum range all contributed to its unpopularity. With the pressure for this type of weapon system lessening all the vehicles were removed from service and converted to recovery variants. The only survivor that I am aware of is the one in the Kubinka Museum.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From a build perspective the rolling gear and lower hull were very straightforward. On this example however there had been a “short moulding” issue with the rear side of the hull, which left a chunk missing. A shame and an unusual situation in a modern kit but it was no great problem to deal with. Patched with plasticard it was resolved rapidly and I could look to closing up the hull. The upper hull went on simply and all the tool boxes etc were fitted easily. On the glacis plate the light guards are provided as two parts, which frankly don’t look great. Making a replacement with wire makes a huge difference and sits better in terms of scale thickness.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I left off the fender mounted fuel cells until towards the end of the build as they needed some work. Trumpeter has fallen into the same pit that Tamiya have with their T-62. Despite the box art showing the lifting handles on the fuel cells to be in the correct position they are moulded incorrectly and need rectifying. Again this is not difficult just a little annoying when their box art artist can get it right. Before final fitting of the cells the obvious external plumbing that is a feature of all T-54/55s and T-62s needs to be made. This I did with my trusty coil of old BT cable, utilising the outer sleeve as connectors. The odd nature of the turret and missile system are well represented by new sprues and this bit of the build went together well with no issues at all. The individual link tracks went together like a dream, (far easier than I remember doing on the previous T-62). A footnote to this build is something I only noted on the final stages when marrying up the turret to the hull. The turret actually fouls on the drivers hatch and approximately one millimetre has to be removed from the rear of the hatch to allow it to sit right. I thought it might be the way that I had fitted the hatch but there is no slack in the fitting of it and it is where it is.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Paint options are limited… green with no decals. The fact that this beast had such a limited service career pushed me to the view that a museum exhibit finish would be the way to go. This decision then presents further challenges in making a monochromatic scheme interesting and not being able to hide any flaws with mud & dust. I started with a primer coat of Halfords Matt Black. Not my usual choice but I was looking at a deeper finish to the green. Using Tamiya TS-28 Olive Drab 2 from their rattler range the whole thing had two coats and was allowed to cure. After that I had a go at a variation on the fractal style that Steve Zaloga used when he built his T-62 for the magazine. Stippling on various different mixes of Tamiya Field Grey with Games Workshop Catechan Green and Commando Khaki was enough to add interest to the basecoat and I'm quite happy with the end result. The tracks were painted with Games Workshop Chaos Black and then whilst still wet, heavily dry-brushed with Games Workshop Boltgun Metal.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Overall this was a great kit to build and aside from the few issues I encountered went together very well. Maybe not the most attractive vehicle in the world I can't see Trumpeter selling as many of these as they will their T-62s & T-64s. Nonetheless I think they are to be applauded for tackling some lesser well known subjects and I am pleased that it adds an interesting item to my Soviet Equipment Inventory . I'd like to thank Robin for the opportunity to build it for the site and I'd happily recommend the kit to all.</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-611656929412664962015-04-27T13:05:00.002-07:002023-01-14T05:37:28.209-08:00bande nere<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img src="http://www.ivid.it/fotogallery/imagesearch/images/giovanni_dalle_bande_nere_vittorio_gassman_sergio_grieco_008_jpg_ggas.jpg" /><span face="sans-serif" style="line-height: 22.4px;">According to the tradition, the </span><i style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">frazione</i><span face="sans-serif" style="line-height: 22.4px;"> of Governolo was the seat of the meeting between </span>Pope Leo I</span></span><img alt="Herrera mozo San León magno Lienzo. Óvalo. 164 x 105 cm. Museo del Prado.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Herrera_mozo_San_Le%C3%B3n_magno_Lienzo._%C3%93valo._164_x_105_cm._Museo_del_Prado.jpg/220px-Herrera_mozo_San_Le%C3%B3n_magno_Lienzo._%C3%93valo._164_x_105_cm._Museo_del_Prado.jpg" /><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"> and </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Attila</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"> in 452. Also in Governolo the </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">condottiero</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Giovanni dalle Bande Nere</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><img alt="Gbnere pace 1.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Gbnere_pace_1.jpg/220px-Gbnere_pace_1.jpg" style="background-color: black; color: white;" /><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">was shot by a </span><img height="400" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y41/viltianus/2009/2009001/DSCN1315.jpg" width="322" /><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">cannonball in 1526, later dying out of the wounds received.</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">Giovanni was born in the Northern Italian town of</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Forlì</span><img alt="Piazza Saffi" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Piazza_Saffi_al_tramonto.JPG/800px-Piazza_Saffi_al_tramonto.JPG" style="background-color: black; color: white;" /><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">to</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Giovanni de' Medici</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">(also known as</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><i style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">il Popolano</i><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">) and</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Caterina Sforza</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">,</span><img alt="Caterina Sforza.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Caterina_Sforza.jpg/250px-Caterina_Sforza.jpg" style="background-color: black; color: white;" /><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"> one of the most famous women of the</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Italian Renaissance</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">.</span><img src="http://www.mole24.it/m24-content/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/battaglia-di-Governolo.jpg" style="background-color: black; color: white;" /><br />
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">From an early age, he demonstrated great interest and ability in physical activity, especially the martial arts of the age: horse riding, sword-fighting, etc.<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> He committed his first murder at the age of 12, and was twice banished from the city of</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Florence</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">for his unruly </span><img src="http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc431/Histcon/P1010004.jpg" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">behavior, including involvement in the rape of a sixteen-year-old boy, Giovanni being about thirteen at the time.</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">He had a son,Cosimo</span><img alt="Agnolo Bronzino - Cosimo I de' Medici in armour - Google Art Project.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Agnolo_Bronzino_-_Cosimo_I_de%27_Medici_in_armour_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/229px-Agnolo_Bronzino_-_Cosimo_I_de%27_Medici_in_armour_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">(1519–1574), who went on to become Grand Duke of Florence.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">As a symbol of mourning for the death of Pope Leo X (December 1, 1521), Giovanni added black </span><img height="415" src="http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc431/Histcon/CIMG0544.jpg" width="640" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">stripes to his</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">insignia</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">, whence comes his nickname, Giovanni dalle Bande Nere (or Giovanni of the </span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yk__KAZKApVZv0_ZKriAaBVu33Jakb86GymS-0ik6e3SBr__4E7XnZ974uPwvE3m3xq2sBE-WhyxmUoGO2nQTV2li68cHgYmgdNssnn-bVfTRhlxmaLCYH0l5yP90l4eXX76CG4Ot2g/s1600/pavia+035.JPG" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Black Bands). In August 1523 he was hired by the</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Imperial</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">army, and in January 1524 he defeated the French and the Swiss at</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Caprino Bergamasco</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">.</span><img alt="Church" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/CaprinoBG1.JPG/800px-CaprinoBG1.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> In the same year another Medici, Giulio di Giuliano, became Pope, and took the name of</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Clement VII</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">. The new Pope paid all of Giovanni's debt, but in exchange ordered him to switch to the French side of </span><img src="http://www.olsi.it/cronache/ita1550.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">the ongoing conflict. He did not take part in the</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">battle of Pavia</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">, but was soon severely wounded in a skirmish and later had to move to</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Venice</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">to recuperate from his wounds.</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Giovanni became </span><img src="http://www.lanazione.it/cultura/2012/11/19/804802/images/1610330-mestiere_delle_armi.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">a</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><i style="line-height: 22.4px;">condottiero</i><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">, or mercenary military captain, in the employ of</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Pope Leo X</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">(Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici) and on March 5, 1516 led</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>the war<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">against</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Francesco Maria I della Rovere, Duke of Urbino</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">. He </span><img src="http://www.perry-miniatures.com/images/ao/ao28.jpg" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">thenceforth formed a company of his own, mounted on light horses and specializing in fast but devastating skirmishing tactics and ambushes. In 1520 he defeated several rebel barons in </span><img src="http://www.mole24.it/m24-content/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/il-mestiere-delle-armi.jpg" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">the</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Marche</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">. The following year Leo X allied with </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Emperor Charles V</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">against King</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>Francis I of France</span><img alt="Francis1-1.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Francis1-1.jpg/640px-Francis1-1.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><br />
<span style="color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">t<span style="background-color: black;">o regain Milan,</span></span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>Parma<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">and</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>Piacenza<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">; Giovanni was called in under the command of</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/RetratoColonna.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></span></span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Prospero </span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Colonna</span></span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">, defeating the French at</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Vaprio d'Adda</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">in November.</span></span></span><img alt="The river Adda from Vaprio d’Adda." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Adda_at_Canonica_d%E2%80%99Adda_%28Ian_Spackman_2007-007-19%29.jpg" style="color: white; line-height: 22.4px;" /></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In 1526 the War of the League of Cognac broke out.<img alt="Emperor charles v.png" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Emperor_charles_v.png/640px-Emperor_charles_v.png" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> The League's captain general, Francesco Maria I della Rovere, abandoned Milan in the face of the </span><img src="http://www.mole24.it/m24-content/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/lanzichenecchi-2.jpg" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">overwhelming superiority of the Imperial army led by</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Georg von Frundsberg</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">. Giovanni was able to defeat the</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Landsknechts</span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Landsknechte.jpg/1280px-Landsknechte.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">rearguard at the confluence of the</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>Mincio<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">with the</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Po River</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">.</span><img alt="Cremona Po Bridge.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Cremona_Po_Bridge.jpg/800px-Cremona_Po_Bridge.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></span></div>
<h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); font-family: "Linux Libertine", Georgia, Times, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;"><span face="sans-serif" style="line-height: 22.4px;">On the evening of November 25 he was hit by a shot from a</span><span face="sans-serif" style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>falconet<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6f/HalfMoonFalconet.jpg/1024px-HalfMoonFalconet.jpg" /><span face="sans-serif" style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span face="sans-serif" style="line-height: 22.4px;">in a battle near</span><span face="sans-serif" style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>Governolo</span><img height="426" src="http://www.insolitomincio.it/web/images/stories/3.5_luoghi_rivalta/3.5_luoghi_rivalta01.jpg" width="640" /><span face="sans-serif" style="color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px;">.</span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span face="sans-serif" style="font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px;">According to a contemporary </span><span face="sans-serif" style="font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px;">acco</span><span face="sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">unt</span></span><span style="font-size: 20px;"> </span><span face="sans-serif" style="font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px;">by Luigi Guicciardini, the ball shattered his right leg above the knee</span><span face="sans-serif" style="font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span face="sans-serif" style="font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px;">and he had to be carried to San Nicolò Po, near</span><span face="sans-serif" style="font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Bagnolo </span></span></span><img height="480" src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/AG2BVhQSQ4A/hqdefault.jpg" style="color: white; font-size: medium;" width="640" /><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.3;">San </span>Vito<span face="sans-serif" style="font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px;">, where no doctor could be found. He was taken to</span><span face="sans-serif" style="font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.3;">Aloisio Gonzaga</span><span face="sans-serif" style="font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px;">'s palace, marquis of</span><span face="sans-serif" style="font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.3;">Castel Goffredo</span><span face="sans-serif" style="font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px;">, in</span><span face="sans-serif" style="font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.3;">Mantua</span><span face="sans-serif" style="font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px;">, where the surgeon Abramo,</span></span></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhU6nfa1bx-OeYP_p9UJozada_vmiwoRfjoiFGaifqUILXCCickejaoUCA6yKv4dL8S7LIUj0iz3HzV17RzCMQObThKoqDV2gj7s3DSFAwKbkuRFapFCwsNNIakl4YVTBW70mRmlhMCMScwAA2BU841TVpE4P9JkwM=" /><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px;"> who had cared for him two years </span><img height="147" src="http://www.unipi.it/images/stories/Fig.2.jpg" width="400" /><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px;">earlier, amputated his leg. To perform the operation Abramo asked for 10 men to hold down the stricken</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><i style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 22.4px;">condottiero</i><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 22.4px;">.</span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Pietro Aretino, eyewitness to the event, recalled in a letter to Francesco Albizi:</span></div>
<blockquote class="templatequote" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; margin-top: 0px; overflow: hidden;">
<div style="line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">'<i>Not even twenty' Giovanni said smiling 'could hold me', and he took a candle in his hand, so that he could make light onto himself, I ran away, and shutting my ears I heard only two voices, and then calling, and when I reached him he told me: 'I am healed', and turning all around he greatly rejoiced.</i></span></div>
<br /></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Despite the surgery Giovanni de' Medici died five days later, supposedly of septicemia, on 30 November 1526.<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwb-ZNj2EXpJxw-vI9k1nErACEHidmHmWyyLVCehC7qlBwHaVXosutoQ1DApAp5ecctoq4hcOm5JE1ZuWm0pkGVA5VYQymbWRxKY_52DgFxFbJxybqVMpYL88YSbnhS4bPGdiNFZSmjFk/s1600/1.jpg" /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Giovanni's body was exhumed in 2012 along with that of his wife to preserve the remains, </span><img src="http://www.cinemedioevo.net/Film/AC/condottier01.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">which were damaged in the 1966 flood of the Arno river, and to ascertain the cause of his death.</span><img src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/7d/6a/78/7d6a7898514421e0af9130f78a069e79.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<a href="http://www.mole24.it/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Giovanni-secondo-Ermanno-Olmi.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="http://www.mole24.it/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Giovanni-secondo-Ermanno-Olmi.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" width="400" /></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> Preliminary investigation revealed that his leg was amputated below the knee. No damage </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">was found to the thigh, where the shot supposedly hit. The tibia and fibula, the bones of the lower leg, were found sawed off from the amputation. There was no damage to the femur.</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCmkQoNIDxORu_f74_U8352SqyVtdOs8j0JGvEqTF8WRrtTUBECuF-Vv2zrs3WD2XqLhQRs_ceDsOrUJS5m30p9gJeXO3JjBvYF9nRs9VmD33pd_o6rTl6msy3gBDwo5n9jqrLwkuQac/s1600/DSC00035.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> It is now thought that de' Medici may have died of gangrene.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Giovanni's premature death</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>metaphorically<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">signaled the end of the age of the</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><i style="line-height: 22.4px;">condottieri</i><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">, as</span></span><img height="400" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQPHKkw0g0MeGg3YN4LTyRir_IyrQEmn7wg77sCXAAvlmPbV0Vh" style="line-height: 22.4px;" width="286" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"> their mode of fighting (which emphasized armored knights on horseback) was rendered practically obsolete</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">by the introduction of the mobile field</span></span></span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">cannon</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">. He is therefore known as the last of the great</span></span></span><img height="457" src="http://www.cinemedioevo.net/classici/images/mestier03.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" width="640" /><span style="background-color: black; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> Italian</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><i style="line-height: 22.4px;">condottieri</i><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">. His lasting reputation has been kept alive in part thanks to</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Pietro Aretino</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">,</span></span></span><img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT-TWe5eKFbE9NwnuW8GZISTFM1a6ndEc8luwnaWBTXo8lusPwe" style="color: white; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> the Renaissance author, satirist, playwright and "scourge of the</span></span></span><img src="http://www.compagniabandenere.it/themes/images/esposizione/spadoncino-da-duello.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"> princes", who was Giovanni's close friend and accompanied him on some of his exploits.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">A noble-but-brutal Renaissance warrior who fell to a battle wound may not have died exactly as historians had believed, according to a new investigation of the man's bones.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Italian researchers opened the tomb of Giovanni dalle Bande Nere, or Giovanni of the Black Bands, this week to investigate the real cause of his death. Giovanni was born in 1498 into the wealthy and influential Medici family, a lineage that produced three Popes and two regent queens of France, among many other nobles (Another branch of the family, the Medicis of Milan, boasted a fourth Pope). He worked as a mercenary military captain for Pope Leo X (one of the Medici family's Popes), </span></span><img alt="soldati-04.jpg" src="http://www.compagniabandenere.it/assets/components/gallery/connector.php?action=web/phpthumb&ctx=web&w=265&h=265&zc=1&far=C&q=90&src=%2Fassets%2Fgallery%2F14%2F27.jpg" /><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">and fought many a successful skirmish in his name. When Pope Leo X died in 1521, Giovanni </span></span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">altered his uniform to include black mourning bands, earning him his nickname</span></span><img alt="testata-soldati-01.jpg" src="http://www.compagniabandenere.it/assets/gallery/9/13.jpg" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Giovanni was wounded in battle in 1526; reportedly, his leg was amputated and he died several days later of infection. However, the new investigation of the Giovanni remains reveals that it was not his leg that was sawn off, but his foot. Nor is there any damage to the man's thigh, where the shot supposedly hit.<a class="make_big" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="#custom33662" style="cursor: pointer; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Archaeologists open the tomb of Giovanni dalle Bande Nere in Florence.</span></a></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Giovanni's grave has been opened five times already, including an investigation in 1945. This confirmation of the man's actual wound has created a medical mystery.</span></span></div>
<div class="article_img_left" style="clear: both; float: left; font-family: "Open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 40px 15px 40px 0px; max-width: 162px;">
<div style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; width: 162px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">"Giovanni was wounded in the right leg (maybe above the knee) but was amputee[d] [at the] foot," Marco Ferri, a spokesman for the Superintendent of Fine Arts of Florentine Museums, wrote in an email to LiveScience. "Why? The surgeon was not a good doctor or the news [that] reached us [is] not accurate."</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Giovanni's bones rest with those of his wife, Maria Salviati in two zinc boxes in the crypt of the Medici Chapels in Florence. The man's tibia and fibula, the bones of the lower leg, were found sawed off from the amputation. There was no damage to the femur (thigh bone). </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br />Ferri said the team would further measure and analyze the bones before reburying them. The findings are preliminary and have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.Preliminary measurements suggest that Giovanni was about 5 feet, 10 inches tall (178 centimeters). Researchers, led by paleopathologist Gino Fornaciari of the University of Pisa, also found a tubelike glass container with a rolled-up card inside that may bear an inscription. This container was not mentioned in reports of earlier investigations of the crypt.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">
</span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<!--Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stpauls.it%2Fjesus03%2F0106je%2Fimages%2F0106j72a.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhU6nfa1bx-OeYP_p9UJozada_vmiwoRfjoiFGaifqUILXCCickejaoUCA6yKv4dL8S7LIUj0iz3HzV17RzCMQObThKoqDV2gj7s3DSFAwKbkuRFapFCwsNNIakl4YVTBW70mRmlhMCMScwAA2BU841TVpE4P9JkwM="-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-28991006481452091602015-04-19T15:11:00.002-07:002023-01-09T09:54:54.452-08:00colt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img height="512" id="il_fi" src="http://theautry.org/colt/images/pg460_004_005_001.jpg?width=640&height=514" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="640" /><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 12.6px; line-height: 20.16px;">There is a very well known scene, for example, in the film</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 12.6px; line-height: 20.16px;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.6px; line-height: 20.16px;">The Good, the Bad and the Ugly</i><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 12.6px; line-height: 20.16px;"> </span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 12.6px; line-height: 20.16px;">where Blondie (played by</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 12.6px; line-height: 20.16px;"> </span>Clint Eastwood<span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 12.6px; line-height: 20.16px;">) loads a breech-loading</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 12.6px; line-height: 20.16px;"> </span>Colt 1851 Navy Revolver<span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 12.6px; line-height: 20.16px;">.</span><img alt="Colt Navy Model 1851" height="264" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Colt_Navy_Model_1851.JPG/1280px-Colt_Navy_Model_1851.JPG" width="640" /><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 12.6px; line-height: 20.16px;"> </span><br />
<span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 12.6px; line-height: 20.16px;">The film is set in 1862, during the American Civil War, but this is not an anachronism since the Smith & Wesson metallic cartridge conversion of the Navy or other Colt revolvers did indeed exist all along the American Civil War.</span><img src="http://www.miniatures.de/america/toyway-43504-timpo-us-infantry.jpg" /><br />
<b style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Colt's Manufacturing Company</b><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">(</span><b style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">CMC</b><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">, formerly</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><b style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company</b><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">) is a United States</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>firearms<span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">manufacturer, founded in 1855 by</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>Samuel Colt<span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">. </span><img alt="Samuel Colt engraving by John Chester Buttre, c1855.png" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Samuel_Colt_engraving_by_John_Chester_Buttre%2C_c1855.png/640px-Samuel_Colt_engraving_by_John_Chester_Buttre%2C_c1855.png" /><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">It is the successor corporation to Colt's earlier firearms-making efforts since 1836. Colt is known for the engineering, production, and marketing of firearms, most especially between the 1850s and World War I, when it was a dominating force in its industry and a seminal influence on manufacturing technology. Colt's earliest designs played a major role in the popularization of the</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>revolver<span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">and the shift away from earlier single-shot pistols. Although Samuel Colt did not invent the revolver concept, his designs resulted in the first very successful ones.</span><img height="480" src="http://thumbs4.picclick.com/d/l400/pict/371287326195_/Timpo-Vintage-American-Civil-War-Union-Soldier-Firing.jpg" width="640" /><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
The most famous Colt products include the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Walker" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Colt Walker">Colt Walker</a>, made 1847 in the facilities of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eli_Whitney" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Eli Whitney">Eli Whitney Jr.</a>, the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_Action_Army" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Single Action Army">Single Action Army</a> or Peacemaker, and the Colt Python. <img alt="Colt-Python.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Colt-Python.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Browning" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="John Browning">John Browning</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> worked for Colt for a time, and came up with a design for a </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiautomatic_pistol" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Semiautomatic pistol">semiautomatic pistol</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">, which debuted as the </span>Colt M1900<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> pistol</span><img alt="Colt M1900 AdamsGuns.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Colt_M1900_AdamsGuns.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> and eventually evolved into the Colt </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1911_Colt_pistol" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="M1911 Colt pistol">M1911</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> pistol. </span><img height="720" src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/mx15l4L4Zlk/maxresdefault.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" width="891" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Though they did not develop it, for a long time Colt was primarily responsible for all </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AR-15" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="AR-15">AR-15</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="M16 rifle">M16 rifle</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> production, as well as many derivatives of those firearms. The most successful and famous of these are numerous M16 carbines, including the </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Commando" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Colt Commando">Colt Commando</a><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/USAF_MP_with_Colt_Commando.JPEG/1024px-USAF_MP_with_Colt_Commando.JPEG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> family, and the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="M4 carbine">M4 carbine</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
In 2002, Colt Defense was split off from Colt's Manufacturing Company. Colt Manufacturing Company now serves the civilian market, while Colt Defense serves the law enforcement, military, and private security markets worldwide. The two companies remained in the same West Hartford,<img alt="Blue Back Square in West Hartford, Connecticut 2, August 10, 2008.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Blue_Back_Square_in_West_Hartford%2C_Connecticut_2%2C_August_10%2C_2008.jpg/1024px-Blue_Back_Square_in_West_Hartford%2C_Connecticut_2%2C_August_10%2C_2008.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> CT</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> location however, even cross-licensing certain merchandise, before reuniting in 2013.</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Colt" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Samuel Colt">Samuel Colt</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">received a British patent on his improved design for a revolver in 1835,</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Roe1916p166_2-0" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt%27s_Manufacturing_Company#cite_note-Roe1916p166-2" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a></sup><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">and two U.S. patents in 1836, one on February 25 (later numbered</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>U.S. Patent 9430X<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">) and another on August 29 (</span>U.S. Patent 1,304<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">). That same year, he founded his first corporation for its manufacture, the</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><b style="line-height: 22.4px;">Patent Arms Manufacturing Company of Paterson, New Jersey, Colt's Patent</b><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">.</span><img src="http://www.vectis.co.uk/AuctionImages/493/6403_l.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">The first firearm manufactured at the new Paterson plant, however, was the</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>Colt First Model Ring Lever rifle<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">beginning in 1837. This was followed shortly thereafter in late 1837 by the introduction of the</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>Colt Paterson<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">.</span><img alt="Colt Paterson No 5.JPG" height="325" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Colt_Paterson_No_5.JPG/1280px-Colt_Paterson_No_5.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" width="640" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">This corporation suffered quality problems in production. Making firearms with</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>interchangeable parts<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">was still rather new (it had</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>reached commercial viability<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">only about a decade before), and it was not yet easy to replicate across different factories. Interchangeability was not complete in the Paterson works, and traditional gunsmithing techniques did not fill the gap entirely there. The</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>Colt Paterson<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">revolver found patchy success and failure; some worked well, while others had problems. The</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>United States Marine Corps<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">and</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>United States Army<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">reported quality problems with these earliest Colt revolvers.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Production had ended at the New Jersey corporation by 1842.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Colt made another attempt at revolver production in 1846 and submitted a prototype to the US government. During the Mexican–American War (1846–1848), this prototype was seen by Captain Samuel Hamilton Walker <img height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdCl5IM2U8JQw_lMlZrcC4IA-_21nn2b89HIUL2ujLXzpFFy0yyhl0CGvPTDXNwR4NipeC6HcOlXCS2J76aMJRh7IOgA3A5Ka7UrON3rczwG2rJWueO63eoGTn6UdGsFq7HvGCaM3J-jl/s640/DSC01642.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" width="480" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">who made some suggestions to Colt about making it in a larger caliber. Having no factory or machinery to produce the pistols, Samuel Colt collaborated with the Whitney </span>armory<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> of Whitneyville, Connecticut.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">This armory was run by the family of </span>Eli Whitney<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">.</span><img alt="Eli Whitney by Samuel Finley Breese Morse 1822.jpeg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Eli_Whitney_by_Samuel_Finley_Breese_Morse_1822.jpeg/640px-Eli_Whitney_by_Samuel_Finley_Breese_Morse_1822.jpeg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> Eli Whitney Jr (born 1820), the son of the cotton-gin-developer patriarch, was the head of the family armory and a successful arms maker and innovator of the era. Colt used a combination of renting the Whitney firm's facilities and subcontracting parts to the firm to continue his pursuit of revolver manufacture.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Colt's new revolvers found favor with Texan volunteers (the progenitors of later Texas Rangers cavalry groups), and they placed an order for 1,000 revolvers that became known as the Colt Walker, <img alt="1847Colt Walker.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/1847Colt_Walker.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">ensuring Colt's continuance in manufacturing revolvers</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> In 1848, Colt was able to start again with a new </span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAMKb7hJo-3Gef0WHFKclytmFDAQXjC4JbvtoP2MAKDePqfoIm7he9WTEuvVS9XZxbB4bTjrZZqJ64cw-w8tpT9PUacGMAO7M8Iy8XE0xZTq2YK28C43qM6-iUY6HJRKQdgsV4SxSDrS_/s1600/Town+Cowboy+5b+550.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">business of his own, and 1855, he converted it into a corporation under the name of </span><b style="line-height: 22.4px;">Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company</b><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> in Hartford, Connecticut.</span><img height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiAFNw3nSh7H4Js4KrQDmO89MTneIHY44jWG_bZlneexwr3lxCKaTo5lETRw7j6d1PfJDNWKIv1EYCkEtrgIns53M7r9uvlaTUIJQLQE86_FfkMabmOHeQxtC0jKJKhvDWu-UNyMy674esP-yZnA_V4zRDsxU6sKjAoNEnWdswuOMfQH5RDsMSgf_3ebINWV-cTVslbOGO1aNo0qctDuwn0asFeQ8SXg_aheQfZF3nri823Tik=" style="line-height: 22.4px;" width="640" /></div>
<div class="thumb tright" style="background-color: white; clear: right; color: #252525; float: right; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1.3em 1.4em; width: auto;">
<div class="thumbinner" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13.16px; min-width: 100px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px; text-align: center; width: 352px;">
<br />
<div class="thumbcaption" style="border: none; font-size: 12.3704px; line-height: 1.4em; padding: 3px;">
<div class="magnify" style="float: right; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 0px;">
<a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colt_Armory_(1857).jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; background-color: initial; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent), url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%20standalone%3D%22no%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2011%2015%22%20width%3D%2215%22%20height%3D%2211%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3Cg%20id%3D%22magnify-clip%22%20fill%3D%22%23fff%22%20stroke%3D%22%23000%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22bigbox%22%20d%3D%22M1.509%201.865h10.99v7.919h-10.99z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22smallbox%22%20d%3D%22M-1.499%206.868h5.943v4.904h-5.943z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A); color: #0b0080; display: block; height: 11px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 15px; user-select: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 15px;" title="Enlarge"></a></div>
Colt's Armory from an 1857 engraving viewed from the East</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Colt purchased a large tract of land beside the Connecticut River, where he built his first factory in 1848, a larger factory called the Colt Armory in 1855, a manor that he called Armsmear <img alt="Armsmear (Hartford, CT).jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Armsmear_%28Hartford%2C_CT%29.jpg/800px-Armsmear_%28Hartford%2C_CT%29.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">in 1856, and employee tenement housing.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">He established a ten-hour day for employees, installed washing stations in the factory, mandated a one-hour lunch break, and built the Charter Oak Hall, a club where employees could enjoy games, newspapers, and discussion rooms. Colt ran his plant with a military-like discipline, he would fire workers for tardiness, sub-par work or even suggesting improvements to his designs.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
In an attempt to attract skilled German workers to his plant, Colt built a village near the factory away from the tenements which he named Coltsville and modeled the homes after a village in Pottsdam. In an effort to stem the flooding from the river he planted German osiers,<img alt="Salix alba Morton.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Salix_alba_Morton.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> a type of willow tree in a 2-mile long dike. He subsequently built a factory to manufacture wicker furniture made from these trees.</span><img src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRUJOSIOGAyh7MSxaNMw-p1f9Ak8EcmIF0ugK0Ad4729-g0iHcg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
The 1850s were a decade of phenomenal success for the new Colt corporation. Colt was the first to widely commercialize the total use of interchangeable parts throughout a product. It was a leader in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assembly_line" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Assembly line">assembly line</a> practice. It was a major innovator and training ground in manufacturing technology in this decade (and several after).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Roe1916pp164-185_8-0" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt%27s_Manufacturing_Company#cite_note-Roe1916pp164-185-8" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[8]</a></sup> Soon after establishing his Hartford factory, Colt set out to establish a factory in Europe and chose London, England. He organized a large display of his firearms at the Great Exhibition of 1851 at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Park,_London" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Hyde Park, London">Hyde Park,</a><img alt="Crystal Palace from the northeast from Dickinson's Comprehensive Pictures of the Great Exhibition of 1851. 1854.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Crystal_Palace_from_the_northeast_from_Dickinson%27s_Comprehensive_Pictures_of_the_Great_Exhibition_of_1851._1854.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Park,_London" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Hyde Park, London"> London</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> and ingratiated himself by presenting cased engraved Colt revolvers to such appropriate officials as Britain’s Master General of the Ordnance.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> At one exhibit Colt disassembled ten guns and reassembled ten guns using different parts from different guns. As the world’s leading proponent of mass production techniques, Colt went on to deliver a lecture on the subject to the </span>Institute of Civil Engineers<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> in London.</span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Instituion_of_Civil_Engineers.jpg/800px-Instituion_of_Civil_Engineers.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">The membership rewarded his efforts by awarding him the </span>Telford Gold Medal<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">.</span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Lake_Biwa_Canal_Museum_of_Kyoto_IMG_5473_a-9.JPG/640px-Lake_Biwa_Canal_Museum_of_Kyoto_IMG_5473_a-9.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Colt's presence in the British market caused years of acrimony and lawsuits among British arms makers, who doubted the validity of Colt's British patent and the desirability of the American system of manufacturing.<br />
It took many more years and a UK government commission before the point became universally accepted that such manufacture was possible and economical.<br />
Colt opened his London plant on the River Thames at Pimlico and began production on January 1, 1853. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/old-new-london/vol5/pp39-49<br />
Many English people saw Colt’s advanced steampowered machinery as proof of America’s growing position as a leader in modern industrial production.<br />
On a tour of the factory, Charles Dickens was so impressed with the facilities that he recorded his favorable comments of Colt's revolvers in an 1852 edition of <i>Household Words</i>.<br />
<i style="line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></i><i style="line-height: 22.4px;">Household Words</i><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> was published every Saturday from March 1850 to May 1859. </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Each number cost a mere </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_pence_(British_pre-decimal_coin)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Two pence (British pre-decimal coin)">tuppence</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">, thereby ensuring a wide readership. The publication's first edition carried a section covering the paper's principles, entitled "A Preliminary Word":</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span>Most significant, the Colt factory’s machines mass-produced interchangeable parts that could be easily and cheaply put together on assembly lines using standardized patterns and gauges by unskilled labor as opposed to England's top gunmakers.<img alt="Scripophily.com is a name you can TRUST!" src="http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/scripophily/coltpatentfirearms1800uni.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
In 1854 the British Admiralty ordered 4,000 Navy Model Colt revolvers.<img height="376" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTvmkiK7l_sOgUlUd-TJ08ju52NhKQusUFroe4I6Ck3ngMdU10h" style="line-height: 22.4px;" width="400" /><br />
In 1855 the British Army placed an order for 5,000 of these revolvers for army issue.<br />
Despite a following order later in the year for an additional 9,000 revolvers, Colt failed to convince the British to adopt his revolver as the issue sidearm for the army.<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4QMUE4R-w_Sfu6GAHdt_XcygcYFAbgBGonKznk7MtZmyZdQYoS5DInmMHXaz1Fhwez-mRQjapJJr0E45R2pQ5Gx5ywOL462V-sgVigUqoSO0Xz9xPqX5o4rgi1Cndp8k3GozWT2bw6s/s1600/54mm+Cowboy+5+550.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><br />
Colt began to realize that British sales were failing to meet his expectations. Unable to justify the London factory’s expenses, Colt closed the London factory in 1856. Over the next few months his workmen crated and shipped the machinery and unassembled firearms back to America.<img alt="Picture" src="http://theminiaturespage.com/news/pics/2011/feb/690024a.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Though the U.S. was not directly involved in the Crimean War (1854–1856),<img alt="Panorama dentro.JPG" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Panorama_dentro.JPG/800px-Panorama_dentro.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> Colt's weapons were used by both sides. In 1855 Colt unveiled new state-of-the-art armories in the Hartford and London factories stocked with the latest </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_tool" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Machine tool">machine tools</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> (some of which were of Colt's devising), many built by </span>Francis A. Pratt<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><img alt="FrancisPratt.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/FrancisPratt.jpg/640px-FrancisPratt.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">and </span>Amos Whitney<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">,</span><img alt="AmosWhitney.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/AmosWhitney.jpg/640px-AmosWhitney.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> who would found the original </span>Pratt & Whitney<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/The_Pratt_%26_Whitney_Shops%2C_Hartford%2C_Conn%2C_1896.jpg/1024px-The_Pratt_%26_Whitney_Shops%2C_Hartford%2C_Conn%2C_1896.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>toolbuilding<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> firm a few years later. For example, the </span>Lincoln miller<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> debuted to industry at these armories.</span><img src="http://www.helmetsoldiers.co.uk/images/full%20size/17TH%20LANCER2.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Colt had set up libraries and educational programs within the plants for his employees.<br />
Colt's armories in Hartford were seminal training grounds for several generations of toolmakers and other machinists, who had great influence in other manufacturing efforts of the next half century.<br />
Prominent examples included F. Pratt and A. Whitney (as mentioned above); Henry Leland (who would end up at Cadillac and Lincoln); Edward Bullard Sr of the Bullard firm; and, through Pratt & Whitney, Worcester R. Warner andAmbrose Swasey (of Warner & Swasey).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
In 1852 an employee of Colt's, Rollin White, came up with the idea of having the revolver cylinder bored through to accept metallic cartridges. He took this idea to Colt who flatly rejected it and ended up firing White within a few years.<br />
Colt historian RL Wilson has described this as the major blunder of Sam Colt's professional life.<br />
Rollin White left Colt's in December 1854 and registered a patent on April 3, 1855 in Hartford, Connecticut, as patent number 12,648: <i>Improvement in Repeating Fire-arms</i>.<br />
On November 17, 1856 White signed an agreement with Smith & Wesson for the exclusive use of his patent. The contract stipulated that White would be paid 25 cents for every revolver, but that it was up to him to defend his patent against infringement as opposed to Smith & Wesson.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
During the 1850s and 1860s, Rollin White had been permanently trying to keep control on his breech-loading system patent, bringing a lawsuit to any breech-loaded manufactured gun. He nevertheless obtained an advance against royalties for using his patent from Smith & Wesson, a company that not only introduced its first revolver in 1857 (Smith & Wesson Model 1, a rear-loader) but also started, as of 1858, to convert cap & ball percussion guns into rear-loaders, even with formerly Colt manufactured revolvers.<br />
But the Colt's company itself was prevented by American laws from infringing the Rollin White patent and all along the 1850s and 1860s continued manufacturing percussion guns. In 1860 it produced a new revolver model for the United States Army. This Colt Army Model 1860 <img alt="Colt-arme-1860-p1030159.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Colt-arme-1860-p1030159.jpg/1280px-Colt-arme-1860-p1030159.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">appeared just in time for the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="American Civil War">American Civil War</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">.</span><img height="444" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS7NBXE8EiuVLIjA1dqRRlWukAfKmescc62zFGP90Ninq4vZsek" style="line-height: 22.4px;" width="640" /></div>
<h4 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
<span class="mw-headline" id="1860.E2.80.931865:_American_Civil_War">1860–1865: American Civil War</span></h4>
<div class="thumb tright" style="background-color: white; clear: right; color: #252525; float: right; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1.3em 1.4em; width: auto;">
<div class="thumbinner" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13.16px; min-width: 100px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px; text-align: center; width: 222px;">
<a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coltnewmodles.jpg" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" data-file-height="768" data-file-width="1024" height="165" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Coltnewmodles.jpg/220px-Coltnewmodles.jpg" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Coltnewmodles.jpg/330px-Coltnewmodles.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Coltnewmodles.jpg/440px-Coltnewmodles.jpg 2x" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); vertical-align: middle;" width="220" /></a><br />
<div class="thumbcaption" style="border: none; font-size: 12.3704px; line-height: 1.4em; padding: 3px;">
<div class="magnify" style="float: right; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 0px;">
<a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coltnewmodles.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; background-color: initial; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent), url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%20standalone%3D%22no%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2011%2015%22%20width%3D%2215%22%20height%3D%2211%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3Cg%20id%3D%22magnify-clip%22%20fill%3D%22%23fff%22%20stroke%3D%22%23000%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22bigbox%22%20d%3D%22M1.509%201.865h10.99v7.919h-10.99z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22smallbox%22%20d%3D%22M-1.499%206.868h5.943v4.904h-5.943z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A); color: #0b0080; display: block; height: 11px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 15px; user-select: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 15px;" title="Enlarge"></a></div>
Colt Navy (top) and Army Models from 1861 and 1860</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
The American Civil War was a boon to firearms manufacturers such as Colt's, and the company thrived during the conflict. Sam Colt had carefully developed contacts within the ordnance department signing the very first government contract for 25,000 rifles. Colt's Factory was described as "an industrial palace topped by a blue dome" and powered by a 250-horsepower steam engine. During the American Civil War Colt had 1,500 employees who produced 150,000 muskets and pistols a year. In 1861 and 1863 the company sold 107,000 of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Army_Model_1860" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Colt Army Model 1860">Colt Army Model 1860</a>, alone, with production reaching 200,500 by the end of the war in 1865.<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ng8ZGBcVle_2nnm0MR_-8TCJ2dzbU_-4zDKC8UP_yaAfnG6CuDG8OAyNlWxCSVhNRwKvOD0Vk0Yf76tEHnPa-UouL87kcJC4taik7LtPntL3p7idfd7b8C7DybPCzAM5gAtJ_SBMSxI/s1600/002.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
During the war, Colt's was still prevented by the American laws from infringing Rollin White's patent. Nevertheless the war made a huge fortune for the company, allowing Sam Colt to become America's first manufacturing tycoon, but he did not live to see the end of it. He died of rheumatic fever on January 10, 1862, and his close friend and firearms engineer, Elisha K. Root,<img src="http://connecticuthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ElishaKRoot-e1337470766645.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> took over as Colt's company president. On February 4, 1864 a fire destroyed most of the factory including arms, machinery, plans, and factory records.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">On September 1, 1865 Root died leaving the company in the hands of Samuel Colt's brother-in-law, </span>Richard Jarvis<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">The company's Vice-president was </span>William B. Franklin<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">, who recently left the Army at the end of the Civil War.</span><img alt="William B. Franklin enh.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/William_B._Franklin_enh.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> With the Civil War over and no new military contracts Colt's Manufacturing had to lay off over 800 employees.</span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Colt_Roots_British_Carbine.JPG/1280px-Colt_Roots_British_Carbine.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
The company found itself in a precarious situation, the original revolver patents had expired and other companies could produce copies of his designs. Additionally, metallic cartridge revolvers had been gaining in popularity, but Colt could not produce any because of the Rollin White patent held by rival, Smith & Wesson. Likewise, Colt had been so protective of its own patents that other companies were unable to make revolvers similar to their design. As the Rollin White patent was nearing expiration, Colt moved toward developing a metallic cartridge revolver.</div>
<h4 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
<span class="mw-headline" id="1865.E2.80.931880s:_Post.E2.80.93Civil_War">1865–1880s: Post–Civil War</span><img src="http://www.vectis.co.uk/AuctionImages/420/748_l.jpg" /></h4>
<div class="thumb tleft" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #252525; float: left; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.5em 1.4em 1.3em 0px; width: auto;">
<div class="thumbinner" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13.16px; min-width: 100px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px; text-align: center; width: 222px;">
<a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colt_Factory_engraved.JPG" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" data-file-height="1059" data-file-width="1944" height="120" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Colt_Factory_engraved.JPG/220px-Colt_Factory_engraved.JPG" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Colt_Factory_engraved.JPG/330px-Colt_Factory_engraved.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Colt_Factory_engraved.JPG/440px-Colt_Factory_engraved.JPG 2x" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); vertical-align: middle;" width="220" /></a><br />
<div class="thumbcaption" style="border: none; font-size: 12.3704px; line-height: 1.4em; padding: 3px;">
<div class="magnify" style="float: right; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 0px;">
<a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colt_Factory_engraved.JPG" style="-webkit-user-select: none; background-color: initial; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent), url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%20standalone%3D%22no%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2011%2015%22%20width%3D%2215%22%20height%3D%2211%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3Cg%20id%3D%22magnify-clip%22%20fill%3D%22%23fff%22%20stroke%3D%22%23000%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22bigbox%22%20d%3D%22M1.509%201.865h10.99v7.919h-10.99z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22smallbox%22%20d%3D%22M-1.499%206.868h5.943v4.904h-5.943z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A); color: #0b0080; display: block; height: 11px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 15px; user-select: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 15px;" title="Enlarge"></a></div>
Factory-engraved Colt SAA</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Colt's first effort toward a metallic cartridge revolver was by conversion of existing percussion revolvers. The first of these conversions was patented on September 15, 1868 by Colt engineer, F. Alexander Thuer as patent number 82258. The Thuer conversion was made by milling off the rear of the receiver and replacing it with a breechplate containing six internal firing pins. The cartridges were loaded through the mouths of the chambers. Colt made 5000 of these but they were not well accepted. Colt found the mechanism so complex it included a spare percussion cylinder with each revolver.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Colt tasked its superintendent of engineering, Charles Richards, to come up with a solution. <img src="http://www.miniatures.de/america/toyway-43505-timpo-confederate-infantry.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">The Richards conversion was performed on the </span>Colt 1860 Army<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> revolver. The caliber was </span>.44 Colt<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> and the loading lever was replaced by an ejector rod. This conversion added a breechplate with a firing pin and a rear sight mounted on the breechplate. Cartridges were loaded into the cylinder one at a time via a loading gate. Colt manufactured 9000 of these revolvers between 1873 and 1878. In 1873, Colt performed the same conversion on the M1851 and M1861 revolvers for the US Navy in .38 rimfire.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Another of Colt's engineers, </span>William Mason<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">, improved this conversion by placing the rear sight on the hammer and, along with Richards, he was granted patents in 1871 to convert percussion revolvers into rear-loading metallic-cartridge revolvers. Those converted revolvers are identified as the "Richards-Mason conversion".</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">There were approximately 2100 Richards-Mason M1860 Army conversions made from 1877 to 1878 in a serial-number range 5800 to 7900.</span></div>
<div class="thumb tright" style="background-color: white; clear: right; color: #252525; float: right; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1.3em 1.4em; width: auto;">
<div class="thumbinner" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13.16px; min-width: 100px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px; text-align: center; width: 222px;">
<a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colt_Deringer.jpg" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" data-file-height="576" data-file-width="1024" height="124" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Colt_Deringer.jpg/220px-Colt_Deringer.jpg" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Colt_Deringer.jpg/330px-Colt_Deringer.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Colt_Deringer.jpg/440px-Colt_Deringer.jpg 2x" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); vertical-align: middle;" width="220" /></a><br />
<div class="thumbcaption" style="border: none; font-size: 12.3704px; line-height: 1.4em; padding: 3px;">
<div class="magnify" style="float: right; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 0px;">
<a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colt_Deringer.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; background-color: initial; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent), url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%20standalone%3D%22no%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2011%2015%22%20width%3D%2215%22%20height%3D%2211%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3Cg%20id%3D%22magnify-clip%22%20fill%3D%22%23fff%22%20stroke%3D%22%23000%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22bigbox%22%20d%3D%22M1.509%201.865h10.99v7.919h-10.99z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22smallbox%22%20d%3D%22M-1.499%206.868h5.943v4.904h-5.943z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A); color: #0b0080; display: block; height: 11px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 15px; user-select: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 15px;" title="Enlarge"></a></div>
Colt Deringers, at right 1st Model (1870 - 1890), at left 3rd Model (1875 - 1912)</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
In November 1865, Franklin had attempted to purchase a license to the Rollin White patent from competitor Smith & Wesson. White and Smith & Wesson would take no less than $1.1 million, but Franklin and Colt's directors decided it was too large an investment on a patent that would expire in 1868.<br />
In the meantime, Colt turned its attention to manufacturing goods other than firearms, such as watches, sewing machines, typewriters and bicycles.<br />
In 1868 Rollin White requested an extension to his patent, but the request was rejected. He then turned to the Congress, but the request was again rejected, this time by the Senate and on the initiative of President Ulysses Grant, in January 1870.<br />
This led the patent to expire, allowing competitors to develop their own breech-loading guns and metallic cartridges. Following this, on that same year of 1870, Colt's bought the National Arms Company, a Brooklyn, New York company known for manufacturing derringers and for circumventing the Rollin White patent by utilizing a unique cartridge.<br />
Colt continued to produce the.41 Short derringer<img alt=".41 Short Rimfire ammunition box.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/.41_Short_Rimfire_ammunition_box.jpg/800px-.41_Short_Rimfire_ammunition_box.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> after the acquisition, as an effort to help break into the metallic-cartridge gun market, but also introduced its own three Colt Derringer Models, all of them also chambered in a .41 rimfire unique cartridge. The last model to be in production, the third Colt Derringer, was not dropped until 1912.</span><br />
The first metallic cartridge breech-loading weapons sold by Colt's were those Derringers, in 1870, that were formerly conceived by the National Arms Company, but Colt's also started developing its own rear-loading guns and cartridges.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
In 1871, Colt's introduced its first revolver models using rear-loaded metallic cartridges: the .41 caliber Colt House Revolver<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Colt_Cloverleaf_House.JPG/1024px-Colt_Cloverleaf_House.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><br />
(also known as the Cloverleaf under its four-round cylinder configuration) and the .22 cal Colt Open Top Pocket Model Revolver.<img src="http://www.rockislandauction.com/photos/54/p_standard/PAY52-K-F1-H.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> But Colt's wanted a more powerful practical handgun loaded with metallic cartridges so the company </span><img src="http://www.militaryminiatureshq.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/KIng-and-country-civil-war-artillery-7.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">put forward William Mason, who in 1871 began work on Colt's first .44 caliber metallic-cartridge revolver: the </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Colt Model 1871-72 Open Top</span><img alt="Colt 44 Open Top.JPG" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Colt_44_Open_Top.JPG/1280px-Colt_44_Open_Top.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> The company registered two patents for the Open Top, one in 1871, the other in 1872, the same patents mentioned in the markings of </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Colt Single Action Army revolvers</span><img alt="1956prime2.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/1956prime2.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">,</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> a nowadays legendary and long produced model, improved and based on the Open Top. Production of the Open Top started in 1872 and stopped in 1873 when the Single Action Army model started to be delivered to the US Army.</span><img src="http://www.vectis.co.uk/AuctionImages/493/6410_l.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> But the Open Top was already a completely new design. The parts, for example, would not interchange with the older percussion pistols. Mason moved the rear sight to the rear of the barrel as opposed to the hammer or the breechblock of the earlier efforts. </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">The caliber was </span>.44 rimfire<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><img alt="44henryammo.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/44henryammo.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">and it was submitted to the </span>US Army<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> for testing in 1872. The Army rejected the pistol and asked for a more powerful caliber with a stronger frame. Mason redesigned the frame to incorporate a topstrap, similar to the Remington revolvers, and placed the rear sight on the rear of the frame; he consulted with Richards on some other improvements. The first prototype of the new gun was still chambered in .44 rimfire, but the first model was in the newest caliber known as the </span>.45 Colt<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">. </span><img src="http://www.vectis.co.uk/AuctionImages/493/6412_l.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">The revolver was chosen by the Army in 1872, with the first order, for 8000 revolvers, shipping in the summer of 1873:</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">The </span>Colt Single Action Army<img alt="1956prime2.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/1956prime2.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> or "Peacemaker", also known as the Colt Model 1873, was born. This revolver was one of the most prevalent firearms in the </span>American West<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><img src="http://www.vectis.co.uk/AuctionImages/92/2563_l.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">during the end of the 19th century and Colt still produces it, in six different calibers, two finishes and three barrel lengths.</span><img src="http://www.vectis.co.uk/AuctionImages/463/5525_l.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
In the new market of metallic cartridge rear-loading pocket revolvers, Colt's not only introduced its three Derringer Models (as of 1870) or the Colt House and the Open Top Pocket (the last two as of 1871) but also introduced in 1873 a subsequent design called its “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_New_Line" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Colt New Line">New Line</a>” revolver models, based on William Mason's patents.<img src="http://www.vectis.co.uk/AuctionImages/329/649_l.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
After the success of the Colt Single Action Army and Colt's conversion of existing percussion revolvers to Richards-Mason conversions, Mason went on to design Colt's firstDouble-action<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Trigger_mechanism_bf_1923.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> revolver, the </span>Colt M1877<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">.</span><img alt="Colt 1877 Lightning.JPG" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Colt_1877_Lightning.JPG/1024px-Colt_1877_Lightning.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> Following this, he once again teamed up with Richards to produce a larger-framed version, the </span>Colt M1878<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> Frontier.</span><img alt="Colt DA Mod 1878 cal 45 cal 44-40.JPG" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Colt_DA_Mod_1878_cal_45_cal_44-40.JPG/1024px-Colt_DA_Mod_1878_cal_45_cal_44-40.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> It was Colt's first large-frame, double-action revolver. It combined the front end of the Single Action Army revolver with a double-action, 6-shot frame mechanism. It was available commercially in numerous calibers.</span><img height="455" src="http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/goldkeep/Swoppets/pacw01.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" width="640" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
The 1870s and 1880s provided sales opportunity to the Colt company via the spread of European-American society ever further westward across the continent, and the demand for firearms that it engendered in various ways. As white Americans displaced Indians from the Indian Territory, both sides were eager for firearms.<img src="http://www.vectis.co.uk/AuctionImages/493/6405_l.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> On the white side, both the U.S. Army and civilians were customers of Colt. The Army carried Colt revolvers through the last of its </span>Indian Wars<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">. </span><img src="http://www.vectis.co.uk/AuctionImages/493/6438_l.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">On the Indian side, Colt weapons were captured when possible, or bought from whoever was selling. Even among whites in towns where Indians had been vanquished, a thriving demand for guns existed, from the criminals to the police to self-defending civilians. Memoirs of Americans including </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Walter Chrysler</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> and </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Jack Black</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Jack_Black_%28author%29_mugshot.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">speak of what it was like growing up in Western towns where most people had guns and </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">open carry</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> was common (such as in Kansas and Missouri, which were considered "out West" at the time—now considered the </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Old_West" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="American Old West">Old West</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">).</span></div>
<h4 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
<span class="mw-headline" id="1890s">1890</span></h4>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Colt finally left the "loading gate concept" for a swing-out cylinder on its revolvers with the Colt M1889 Navy revolver<img src="http://www.frfrogspad.com/1895-2.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">, which resembled the Colt M1878 and was based on another design by Mason. The model was produced for three years between 1889 and 1892, and eclipsed by the </span>Colt M1892<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><img alt="Colt Model 1892 Revolver.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/07/Colt_Model_1892_Revolver.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">chambered in </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.38_Long_Colt" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title=".38 Long Colt">.38 Long Colt</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">.</span><img alt="38 long colt.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/38_long_colt.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> The M1892 was replaced by the </span>New Service<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> Double Action </span><img alt="Colt New Service 1370.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Colt_New_Service_1370.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">revolver in 1899. In caliber .45 Colt, the New Service was accepted by the U.S. Military as the Model 1909 .45 revolver. The New Service revolver was available in other calibers such as .38 Special and, later in the 20th century, .45 ACP (as the </span>M1917 revolver<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">) and .357 Magnum.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Under a contract with the U.S. Army, Colt Arms built the Model 1895 ten-barrel variant of the Gatling Gun, <img alt="Gatling gun.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Gatling_gun.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">capable of firing 800-900 .30 Army rounds per minute, </span><img height="554" src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTE5NFgxMzcz/z/9rYAAOSwxYxU1Qqg/$_35.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" width="640" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">and used with great effect at the </span>Battle of San Juan Hill<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">.</span><img alt="San Juan Hill by Kurz and Allison.JPG" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/San_Juan_Hill_by_Kurz_and_Allison.JPG/800px-San_Juan_Hill_by_Kurz_and_Allison.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Parker1898pp131-138_44-0" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt%27s_Manufacturing_Company#cite_note-Parker1898pp131-138-44" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[44]</a></sup><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> The </span>M1895 Colt-Browning machine gun<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> or "Potato Digger" was built by Colt. The Colt-Browning was one of the first gas-operated machine guns, originally invented by John Browning.</span><img alt="Colt Potato Digger.JPG" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Colt_Potato_Digger.JPG/1024px-Colt_Potato_Digger.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> It became the first automatic machine gun adopted by the United States and saw limited use by the U.S. Marine Corps at the </span>invasion of Guantánamo Bay<img alt="First Marine Battalion (United States) landed on eastern side of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on 10 June 1898.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/First_Marine_Battalion_%28United_States%29_landed_on_eastern_side_of_Guantanamo_Bay%2C_Cuba_on_10_June_1898.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> and by the </span>1st Volunteer Infantry<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><img alt="RoughRiders.jpeg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/RoughRiders.jpeg/800px-RoughRiders.jpeg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">in the Santiago campaign during the </span>Spanish-American War<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">. In 1901, </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Elizabeth Jarvis Colt</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2657/3768306487_5ef7c05766.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">sold the company to a group of outside investors based in New York and Boston.</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt%27s_Manufacturing_Company#cite_note-45" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[45]</a></sup></div>
<h3 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
</h3>
<h4 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
<span class="mw-headline" id="1900.E2.80.931920s">1900–1920s</span></h4>
<div class="thumb tleft" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #252525; float: left; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.5em 1.4em 1.3em 0px; width: auto;">
<div class="thumbinner" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13.16px; min-width: 100px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px; text-align: center; width: 222px;">
<a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Model_of_1911_US_Army.jpg" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" data-file-height="573" data-file-width="864" height="146" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Model_of_1911_US_Army.jpg/220px-Model_of_1911_US_Army.jpg" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Model_of_1911_US_Army.jpg/330px-Model_of_1911_US_Army.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Model_of_1911_US_Army.jpg/440px-Model_of_1911_US_Army.jpg 2x" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); vertical-align: middle;" width="220" /></a><br />
<div class="thumbcaption" style="border: none; font-size: 12.3704px; line-height: 1.4em; padding: 3px;">
<div class="magnify" style="float: right; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 0px;">
<a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Model_of_1911_US_Army.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; background-color: initial; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent), url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%20standalone%3D%22no%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2011%2015%22%20width%3D%2215%22%20height%3D%2211%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3Cg%20id%3D%22magnify-clip%22%20fill%3D%22%23fff%22%20stroke%3D%22%23000%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22bigbox%22%20d%3D%22M1.509%201.865h10.99v7.919h-10.99z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22smallbox%22%20d%3D%22M-1.499%206.868h5.943v4.904h-5.943z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A); color: #0b0080; display: block; height: 11px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 15px; user-select: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 15px;" title="Enlarge"></a></div>
Model of 1911 Colt Pistol, U.S. Army, first year of production (1912)</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="thumb tleft" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #252525; float: left; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.5em 1.4em 1.3em 0px; width: auto;">
<div class="thumbinner" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13.16px; min-width: 100px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px; text-align: center; width: 222px;">
<a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colt_vintage_semi_autos.jpg" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" data-file-height="768" data-file-width="1024" height="165" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Colt_vintage_semi_autos.jpg/220px-Colt_vintage_semi_autos.jpg" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Colt_vintage_semi_autos.jpg/330px-Colt_vintage_semi_autos.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Colt_vintage_semi_autos.jpg/440px-Colt_vintage_semi_autos.jpg 2x" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); vertical-align: middle;" width="220" /></a><br />
<div class="thumbcaption" style="border: none; font-size: 12.3704px; line-height: 1.4em; padding: 3px;">
<div class="magnify" style="float: right; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 0px;">
<a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colt_vintage_semi_autos.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; background-color: initial; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent), url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%20standalone%3D%22no%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2011%2015%22%20width%3D%2215%22%20height%3D%2211%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3Cg%20id%3D%22magnify-clip%22%20fill%3D%22%23fff%22%20stroke%3D%22%23000%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22bigbox%22%20d%3D%22M1.509%201.865h10.99v7.919h-10.99z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22smallbox%22%20d%3D%22M-1.499%206.868h5.943v4.904h-5.943z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A); color: #0b0080; display: block; height: 11px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 15px; user-select: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 15px;" title="Enlarge"></a></div>
A modern re-creation of the 1911 as it was in 1917 and a .25 Auto Vest Pocket Model of 1908 made in 1922</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="thumb tright" style="background-color: white; clear: right; color: #252525; float: right; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1.3em 1.4em; width: auto;">
<div class="thumbinner" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13.16px; min-width: 100px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px; text-align: center; width: 222px;">
<a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Campbell_Thompson.jpg" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" data-file-height="524" data-file-width="970" height="119" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Campbell_Thompson.jpg/220px-Campbell_Thompson.jpg" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Campbell_Thompson.jpg/330px-Campbell_Thompson.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Campbell_Thompson.jpg/440px-Campbell_Thompson.jpg 2x" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); vertical-align: middle;" width="220" /></a><br />
<div class="thumbcaption" style="border: none; font-size: 12.3704px; line-height: 1.4em; padding: 3px;">
<div class="magnify" style="float: right; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 0px;">
<a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Campbell_Thompson.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; background-color: initial; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent), url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%20standalone%3D%22no%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2011%2015%22%20width%3D%2215%22%20height%3D%2211%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3Cg%20id%3D%22magnify-clip%22%20fill%3D%22%23fff%22%20stroke%3D%22%23000%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22bigbox%22%20d%3D%22M1.509%201.865h10.99v7.919h-10.99z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22smallbox%22%20d%3D%22M-1.499%206.868h5.943v4.904h-5.943z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A); color: #0b0080; display: block; height: 11px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 15px; user-select: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 15px;" title="Enlarge"></a></div>
Colt-Thompson Model 1921 with Type C drum magazine</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
During World War I, Colt surpassed all previous production achievements. Prior to America's entry into the war, orders from Canada and the United <img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjQwWDQ4MA==/$(KGrHqJ,!jYE5,zz!)LWBOZh2,Ubig~~60_35.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Kingdom swelled the backlog of orders to three years. Colt hired 4,000 more workers, making a total of </span><img height="400" src="http://thumbs4.picclick.com/d/l400/pict/381068176523_/TOY-SOLDIERS-METAL-AMERICAN-CHICAGO-1930s-GANGSTER.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" width="346" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">10,000 employees—and its stock's price increased by 400%. By 1918, Colt had produced and sold 425,500 of the famous </span><img alt="JOHN M. BROWNING.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/JOHN_M._BROWNING.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">John Browning</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">-designed </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">M1911</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">.</span><img alt="M1911A1.png" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/M1911A1.png/1024px-M1911A1.png" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> Because the factory could not keep up with demand for this pistol, the US Military decided to accept </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Colt New Service</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> revolvers in caliber .45 ACP, called the </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">M1917 revolver</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">,</span><img alt="Colt New Service 1370.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Colt_New_Service_1370.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> as a substitute weapon. Competing manufacturer </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Smith & Wesson</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> made double-action revolvers in .45 ACP, which were accepted and issued by the U.S. military under the same name. Colt produced </span><img src="http://www.vectis.co.uk/AuctionImages/493/6429_l.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">151,700 revolvers during the war as well as 13,000 Maxim-Vickers machine guns and 10,000 Browning machine guns with an additional 100,000 under subcontract to other companies.</span><img height="608" src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDc1WDUwMA==/z/nuQAAMXQ0pNRr0Va/$T2eC16FHJIIE9qTYI4O(BRr0V,(fWw~~60_35.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" width="640" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Since Auto-Ordnance had no tooling for production of the newly developed Thompson submachine gun, John T. Thompson,<img alt="JohnTaliaferroThompson.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/JohnTaliaferroThompson.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> in August 1920, entered into contact with Colt's to manufacture 15,000 </span>Thompson 1921 submachine guns<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">. </span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Thompsonad1sm.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">The contract was signed on August 18, 1920. Colt's tooled up and produced the 15,000 units between April, 1921 and March, 1922.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
The <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_market_crash_of_1929" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Stock market crash of 1929">stock market crash of 1929</a> and the ensuing Great Depression resulted in a slowing down of production for Colt. In anticipation of this, company presidents <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_C._Skinner" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="William C. Skinner">William C. Skinner</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_M._Stone" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Samuel M. Stone">Samuel M. Stone</a> implemented a diversification program similar to that done at the close of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="American Civil War">American Civil War</a>. Colt acquired contracts for business machines, calculators, dishwashers, motorcycles, and automobiles; all marketed under a name other than Colt. Samuel Stone acquired a firm which manufactured plastics and renamed it "Colt rock" as well as a company that manufactured electrical products. Colt weathered the financial crises of the time by cutting the work week, reducing salaries, and keeping more employees on the payroll than they needed. These measures kept the company in business but ate up the cash surplus they had acquired during the World War I years.</div>
<h4 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
</h4>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
In 1935, after employees voted to disband a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_union" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Labor union">labor union</a>, 1,000 workers went on strike for 13 weeks. Strikers became violent, attacking workers and detonating a bomb in front of company president Samuel M. Stone's house. The company set up a barracks, dining room, and recreation room for workers within the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Armory" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Colt Armory">Colt Armory</a> during the strike. On June 3, 1935 the National Recovery Administration ruled that the company was within its rights not to deal with the union and the strike ended. In the year following the strike, the factory was hit by a hurricane and flood. Many company shipping records and historical documents were lost as a result.</div>
<h4 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
</h4>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
At the beginning of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="World War II">World War II</a>, Colt ceased production of the Single Action Army revolver to devote more time to filling orders for the war.<br />
During the war Colt manufactured over 629,000 M1911A1 pistols as well as a large number of M1917 water-cooled machineguns. <img alt="Browning1917.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Browning1917.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">The company had a workforce of 15,000 men and women in three factories and production ran on three shifts, 24 hours a day, and won the Army-Navy rating of "E" for excellence.</span><img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/Mzk4WDYwMA==/z/-XwAAOSwPhdU186a/$_12.JPG?set_id=880000500F" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Colt ranked 99th among United States corporations in the value of World War II military production contracts.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">However, the company was losing money every year due to mismanagement, an embittered workforce that had been stretched to its limits, and manufacturing methods which were becoming obsolete.</span><img src="https://nandbtoysoldiers.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/fullsizerender9.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></div>
<h4 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
</h4>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
As the war ended and demand for military arms came to a halt, production literally ceased. Many long-time workers and engineers retired from the company and nothing was built from 1945 to 1947. <img src="http://www.imfdb.org/images/thumb/3/38/DH2ColtPython-10.jpg/400px-DH2ColtPython-10.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Mismanagement of funds during the war had a serious impact as the 105-year-old firm faced possible bankruptcy. In September 1955 the board of directors voted to merge Colt with an upstart conglomerate called Penn-Texas, which had </span><img height="273" src="http://www.imfdb.org/images/thumb/6/63/DH2ColtPython-9.jpg/400px-DH2ColtPython-9.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" width="640" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">acquired </span>Pratt & Whitney Machine Tool<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> the same year. Also in 1955, Colt released one of the most famous revolvers in history, the Colt Python. </span><img alt="Colt-Python.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Colt-Python.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">In 1958 Penn-Texas merged with </span>Fairbanks-Morse<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> to form the Fairbanks-Whitney Corporation and in 1964 the conglomerate reorganized as Colt Industries. In 1956 Colt resumed production of the Single Action Army revolver and in 1961 began making commemorative versions of their classic models.</span><img src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hi5KpD3vyrE/maxresdefault.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></div>
<h4 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
</h4>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">The 1960s were boom years for Colt with the escalation of the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Vietnam War">Vietnam War</a><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">, </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_McNamara" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Robert McNamara">Robert McNamara</a><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> shutting down the Springfield Armory, <img alt="SpringfieldMA Oldarm.gif" height="640" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/SpringfieldMA_Oldarm.gif" style="line-height: 22.4px;" width="535" /></span></span><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">and the </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Army" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="U.S. Army">U.S. Army</a><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">'s subsequent adoption of the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="M16 rifle">M16</a><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">, for which Colt held the production rights and would sell over 5 million units worldwide. Colt would capitalize on this with a range of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AR-15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="AR-15">AR-15</a><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> derivative carbines. </span><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><img src="http://www.angelfire.com/biz/toysoldierhq/zarcoviet.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></span></span><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">They developed AR-15-based Squad Automatic Weapons, and the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_SCAMP" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Colt SCAMP">Colt SCAMP</a><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">, an early </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDW" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="PDW">PDW</a><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> design. The Colt XM148 grenade launcher was created by Colt's design project engineer,</span><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><img alt="Patroling Vietnam War (5pcs) (Plastic model)" height="448" src="http://www.1999.co.jp/itbig16/10167816.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" width="640" /></span></span><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10167816</span></span><br />
<span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">gun designer Karl R. Lewis. The May 1967 "Colt's Ink" newsletter announced that he had won a national competition for his selection and treatment of materials in the design.</span><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><img src="http://www.1999.co.jp/itbig16/10167816a.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></span></span><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> The newsletter stated in part "In only 47 days, he wrote the specifications, designed the launcher, drew all the original prints, and had a working model built". At the end of the 1970s, there was a program run by the Air Force to replace the M1911A1. The Beretta 92S won, but this was contested by the Army. The Army ran their own trials, leading eventually to the </span><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Beretta 92F</span><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><img alt="Beretta 92 FS" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Beretta_92_FS.gif" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></span></span><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">being selected as the M9.</span></div>
<h4 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
<span class="mw-headline" id="1980s.E2.80.931990s">1980s–1990s</span></h4>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
The 1980s were fairly good years for Colt, but the coming end of the Cold War would change all that. Colt had long left innovation in civilian firearms to their competitors, feeling that the handgun business could survive on their traditional revolver and M1911 designs. Instead, Colt focused on the military market, where they held the primary contracts for production of rifles for the US military. This strategy dramatically failed for Colt through a series of events in the 1980s. In 1984, the U.S. military standardized on the Beretta 92F.<br />
This was not much of a loss for Colt's current business, as M1911A1 production had stopped in 1945. Meanwhile, the military rifle business was growing because the U.S. military had a major demand for more upgraded M16s, the M16A2 model had just been adopted and the Military needed hundreds of thousands of them.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
In 1985, Colt's workers, members of the United Auto Workers went on strike for higher wages. This strike would ultimately last for five years, and was one of the longest running labor strikes in American history.<br />
With replacement workers running production, the quality of Colt's firearms began to decline. Dissatisfied with Colt's production, in 1988 the U.S. military awarded the contract for future <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="M16 rifle">M16</a> production to Fabrique Nationale<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Herstal_-_Entr%C3%A9e_FN.jpg/1280px-Herstal_-_Entr%C3%A9e_FN.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Some criticized Colt's range of handgun products in the late 1980s as out of touch with the demands of the market, and their once-vaunted reputation for quality had suffered during the UAW strike. Colt's stable of double-action revolvers and single-action pistols was seen as old-fashioned by a marketplace that was captivated by the new generation of "wondernines" - <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/CZ75-p1030111.jpg/1024px-CZ75-p1030111.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">high-capacity, </span>9x19mm Parabellum<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><img alt="9 19 parabellum FMJ.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/9_19_parabellum_FMJ.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">caliber handguns, as typified by the </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glock_17" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Glock 17">Glock 17</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">. Realizing that the future of the company was at stake, labor and management agreed to end the strike in an arrangement that resulted in Colt being sold to a group of private investors, the State of Connecticut, and the UAW itself.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
The new Colt first attempted to address some of the demands of the market with the production in 1989 of the <i>Double Eagle</i>,<img alt="ColtDoubleEagle.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/ColtDoubleEagle.jpg/1024px-ColtDoubleEagle.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> a double-action pistol heavily based on the M1911 design, which was seen as an attempt to "modernize" the classic Browning design. Colt followed this up in 1992 with the </span><i style="line-height: 22.4px;">Colt All American 2000</i><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">,</span><img alt="Colt2000.jpg" height="481" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/Colt2000.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" width="640" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> which was unlike any other handgun Colt had produced before—being a polymer-framed, rotary-bolt, 9x19mm handgun with a magazine capacity of 15 rounds. It was designed by </span>Reed Knight<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">, with parts manufactured by outside vendors and assembled by Colt; its execution was disastrous.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> Early models were plagued with inaccuracy and unreliability, and suffered from the poor publicity of a product recall. </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">The product launch failed and production of the All American 2000 ended in 1994.</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> This series of events led to the company's </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapter_11,_Title_11,_United_States_Code" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code">Chapter 11 bankruptcy</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> in 1992.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">(</span><b style="line-height: 22.4px;">Chapter 11</b><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> is a chapter of </span>Title 11<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> of the United States </span>Bankruptcy Code<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">, which permits reorganization under the </span>bankruptcy<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> laws of the </span>United States<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every </span>business<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">, whether organized as a </span>corporation<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">, </span>partnership<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> or </span>sole proprietorship<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">, and to individuals, although it is most prominently used by corporate entities.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">In contrast, </span>Chapter 7<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> governs the process of a </span>liquidation<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> bankruptcy (although liquidation can go under this chapter), while </span>Chapter 13<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> provides a reorganization process for the majority of private individuals.)</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUUKYKRO3Zf0-GkQJL6syxNymosAqZYe022ZPTOgPnxVXr3ra9ZQYC1fo8sdDsFBhjTP6MUo5qmrhB9yI7oTgpF_2aAI6Af0SO1jkbIU7L_4oGjDgwQI_LiLAGmZQUfObN_QFHRL4HuU/s1600/P6130019.JPG" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
The 1990s brought the end of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Cold War">Cold War</a>, which resulted in a large down turn for the entire defense industry. Colt was hit by this downturn, though it would be made worse later in the 1990s by a boycott by the shooting public in America.<br />
In 1994, the assets of Colt were purchased by Zilkha & Co, a financial group owned by Donald Zilkha. It was speculated that Zilkha's financial backing of the company enabled Colt to begin winning back military contracts.<br />
In fact during the time period it won only one contract, the M4 carbine.<img alt="M4A1 ACOG.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/M4A1_ACOG.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><br />
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> However, the U.S. Military had been purchasing Colt Carbines for the past 30 years (See </span>Colt Commando<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">). During a 1998 </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Washington Post</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> interview, </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">CEO</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> Ron Stewart stated that he would favor a federal permit system with training and testing for gun ownership. This led to a massive grass-roots </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boycott" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Boycott">boycott</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> of Colt's products by </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Firearm_License" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Federal Firearm License">gun stores</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> and US gun owners.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Zilkha replaced Stewart with <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steven_Sliwa&action=edit&redlink=1" style="background: none; color: #a55858; text-decoration: none;" title="Steven Sliwa (page does not exist)">Steven Sliwa</a> and focused the remainder of Colt's handgun design efforts into "smart guns," a concept favored politically, but that had little interest or support among handgun owners or Police Departments. This research never produced any meaningful results due to the limited technology at the time.<br />
Colt announced the termination of its production of double action revolvers in October 1999.</div>
<h3 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
<br /></h3>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
The boycott of Colt gradually faded out after William M. Keys, a retired U.S. Marine Lt. General, took the helm of the company in 2002. Keys salvaged Colt's reputation and brought Colt from the brink of bankruptcy to an international leader in Defense production.<br />
In 2010 Gerald R. Dinkel replaced Keys as CEO of Colt Defense LLC, while Keys remained on the Board of Directors for Colt Defense.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Colt has to compete with other companies that make M1911-style pistols such as Kimber<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Kimberstainlesscustomii.jpg/1024px-Kimberstainlesscustomii.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> and AR-15 rifles such as </span>Bushmaster<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">. </span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Bushmaster_Carbon-15_SBR.jpg/800px-Bushmaster_Carbon-15_SBR.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Bushmaster has subsequently overtaken Colt in the number of AR-15s sold on the civilian market. Colt suffered a legal defeat in court when it sued Bushmaster for </span>trademark infringement<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> claiming that "M4" was a </span>trademark <span style="line-height: 22.4px;">that it owned. The judge ruled that since the term M4 is a generic designation that Colt does not specifically own, Colt had to pay monetary reimbursement to Bushmaster to recoup Bushmaster's legal fees. The M4 designation itself comes from the U.S. military designation system, whose terms are in the </span>public domain<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Colt has entered in several US contracts with mixed results. For example, Colt had an entry in the Advanced Combat Rifle <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/NIMcase444ACRtest.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">(ACR) program of the 1980s, but along with other contestants failed to replace the M16A2. Colt and many other makers entered the US trials for a new pistol in the 1980s, though the Beretta entry would win and become the </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M9_pistol" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="M9 pistol">M9 Pistol</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">. The </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_OHWS" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Colt OHWS">Colt OHWS</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> handgun was beaten by H&K for what became the </span>MK23 SOCOM<img alt="Mark23SuppressedLeft.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Mark23SuppressedLeft.jpg/1024px-Mark23SuppressedLeft.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">, it was lighter than the H&K entry but lost in performance. Colt did not get to compete for the </span>XM8<span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><img alt="Xm8 sideview.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Xm8_sideview.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">since it was not an open competition. Colt is a likely entrant in any competition for a new US </span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">service rifle</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">. Current M16 rifles have been made primarily by FN USA since 1988. However, Colt remains the sole source for M4 carbines for the US military. Under their license agreement with Colt, the US military could not legally award second-source production contracts for the M4 until July 1, 2009.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
In 2013, Colt Defense acquired Colt's Manufacturing, in part to protect a licensing agreement set to expire in 2014, where Colt's Manufacturing sold sporting rifles marketed to consumers that were manufactured by Colt Defense.<img height="640" src="http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mGSCxAS7rFR1NZWckfqIaQA.jpg" style="line-height: 22.4px;" width="625" /></div>
<div class="thumb tright" style="background-color: white; clear: right; color: #252525; float: right; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1.3em 1.4em; width: auto;">
<div class="thumbinner" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13.16px; min-width: 100px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px; text-align: center; width: 222px;">
<a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Taloclap.JPG" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" data-file-height="1584" data-file-width="2376" height="147" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Taloclap.JPG/220px-Taloclap.JPG" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Taloclap.JPG/330px-Taloclap.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Taloclap.JPG/440px-Taloclap.JPG 2x" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); vertical-align: middle;" width="220" /></a><br />
<div class="thumbcaption" style="border: none; font-size: 12.3704px; line-height: 1.4em; padding: 3px;">
<div class="magnify" style="float: right; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 0px;">
<a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Taloclap.JPG" style="-webkit-user-select: none; background-color: initial; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent), url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%20standalone%3D%22no%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2011%2015%22%20width%3D%2215%22%20height%3D%2211%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3Cg%20id%3D%22magnify-clip%22%20fill%3D%22%23fff%22%20stroke%3D%22%23000%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22bigbox%22%20d%3D%22M1.509%201.865h10.99v7.919h-10.99z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22smallbox%22%20d%3D%22M-1.499%206.868h5.943v4.904h-5.943z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A); color: #0b0080; display: block; height: 11px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 15px; user-select: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 15px;" title="Enlarge"></a></div>
TALO-Wiley Clapp Concealed Carry Officer's 45. A hybrid with commander slide and barrel and alloy Officers Model Frame</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="thumb tright" style="background-color: white; clear: right; color: #252525; float: right; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1.3em 1.4em; width: auto;">
<div class="thumbinner" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13.16px; min-width: 100px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px; text-align: center; width: 222px;">
<a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mustangwiki.JPG" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" data-file-height="1728" data-file-width="2592" height="427" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Mustangwiki.JPG/220px-Mustangwiki.JPG" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Mustangwiki.JPG/330px-Mustangwiki.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Mustangwiki.JPG/440px-Mustangwiki.JPG 2x" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); vertical-align: middle;" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="thumbcaption" style="border: none; font-size: 12.3704px; line-height: 1.4em; padding: 3px;">
<div class="magnify" style="float: right; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 0px;">
<a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mustangwiki.JPG" style="-webkit-user-select: none; background-color: initial; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent), url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%20standalone%3D%22no%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2011%2015%22%20width%3D%2215%22%20height%3D%2211%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3Cg%20id%3D%22magnify-clip%22%20fill%3D%22%23fff%22%20stroke%3D%22%23000%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22bigbox%22%20d%3D%22M1.509%201.865h10.99v7.919h-10.99z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22smallbox%22%20d%3D%22M-1.499%206.868h5.943v4.904h-5.943z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A); color: #0b0080; display: block; height: 11px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 15px; user-select: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 15px;" title="Enlarge"></a></div>
Colt Mustang .380</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<!--Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2Fa%2Fa7%2FColt_Armory_%25281857%2529.jpg%2F350px-Colt_Armory_%25281857%2529.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiAFNw3nSh7H4Js4KrQDmO89MTneIHY44jWG_bZlneexwr3lxCKaTo5lETRw7j6d1PfJDNWKIv1EYCkEtrgIns53M7r9uvlaTUIJQLQE86_FfkMabmOHeQxtC0jKJKhvDWu-UNyMy674esP-yZnA_V4zRDsxU6sKjAoNEnWdswuOMfQH5RDsMSgf_3ebINWV-cTVslbOGO1aNo0qctDuwn0asFeQ8SXg_aheQfZF3nri823Tik="-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-14893012168536429692015-04-18T11:56:00.000-07:002015-04-18T11:56:17.121-07:00Gordon Douglas master of westerns<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">They’re the studio men, the directors who took assignments, working on Comedies, Westerns, Musicals and Horrors. They directed top stars, the youngsters coming up and the stars on the way down. They helmed movies the front office loved and second-rate features studios didn’t care about.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">N</span>ot long after <em>Shane</em> (1953), Alan Ladd left Paramount, the
studio that made him a star, and launched his independent company,
Jaguar. Their first film was <em>Drum Beat</em> (1954). Based on the
1873 Modoc War, Ladd plays an Indian fighter recruited by President
Grant to find a way to peace with the Modoc. Turns out the tribe wants
peace, but a chief named Captain Jack (Charles Bronson) and his band of
renegades are lousing things up. Repeated attempts for a peaceful
resolution are unsuccessful, and we get a very exciting last couple of
reels.
Though I’m not a big Alan Ladd fan, I really liked this one. It wears
its “sympathetic treatment of the Indians” thing well, but never
forgets that it’s action that puts people in the seats. Boy, a lot of
people get shot in this thing.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Ladd and Daves (and, of course, DP J. Peverell Marley) shot <em>Drum Beat </em>in
Warnercolor and the then-new CinemaScope. As was the custom with ‘Scope
at the time, they avoided close-ups, went for long takes whenever
possible, and gave us lots of gorgeous vistas of Sonora, Arizona, and
the Coconino National Forest. Daves always showed off the landscape in
his Westerns, making each setting an essential element of the film,
and this is one of <em>Drum Beat</em>’s great strengths. If there’s a film that makes better use of the Sonora area, I don’t know what it is.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">The cast is a 50s Western fan’s dream: James H. Griffith (as a Civil
War veteran who lost a leg at Shilo), Frank Ferguson, Elisha Cook, Jr.,
Willis Bouchey, Perry Lopez, Anthony Caruso, Denver Pyle and Strother
Martin (who I heard was in it, but somehow missed). Of course, Charles
Bronson makes quite an impression as Captain Jack in his first film
under his new name (it had been Buchinsky, which was considered too
Russian-sounding in the HUAC years).</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">With<em> Drum Beat,</em> Warner Archive gives us a pretty
good-looking DVD. The Warnercolor is, well, Warnercolor — but here it
looks as good as I’ve ever seen it look. The image is a tad soft at
times (varying from shot to shot), some of which we can blame on the
early CinemaScope. The audio is excellent; I love the stereo sound of
these early Scope pictures, with an actor’s voice following them as they
move around within the wide frame. This is a really good film, and a
real treat in widescreen and stereo (I’d love to see a Blu-ray turn up
someday). Highly recommended.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Alan Ladd and Delmer Daves reunited for <em>The Badlanders</em> (1958), also available from Warner Archive. I haven’t seen it in ages, and I’m really eager to revisit it.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Along with <em>Drum Beat</em>, two more Ladd Westerns came riding into town, thanks to <a href="http://shop.warnerarchive.com/search.do?query=alan+ladd">Warner Archive</a>.<strong>The Big Land</strong> (1957)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Directed by Gordon Douglas</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">CAST: Alan Ladd, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O’Brien, Anthony Caruso, Julie Bishop and John Qualen
</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Ladd’s a cattle man who works to build a town around a railroad hub,
which will benefit the local ranchers. Of course, there’s someone who
doesn’t want all this to happen.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">As a drunk, Edmond O’Brien steals every scene he’s in. He’s terrific.
This is WarnerColor again, and it’s not as well-behaved as it is in <em>Drum Beat</em>. Good movie, though, especially if you’re a fan of O’Brien or Virginia Mayo. Gordon Douglas is as dependable as ever.</span></span><br />
<strong><a href="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/avalon-ladd-crain-roland-arm.jpg" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="avalon-ladd-crain-roland-arm" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10469" height="369" src="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/avalon-ladd-crain-roland-arm.jpg?w=500&h=369" width="500" /></span></a></strong><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><strong>Guns Of The Timberland</strong> (1960)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Directed by Robert D. Webb</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">CAST: Alan Ladd, Jeanne Crain, Gilbert Roland, Frankie Avalon</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">This time, Ladd’s a lumberjack who arrives in the Northwest to take
out a lot of trees. The townspeople are afraid Ladd’s efforts will cause
mudslides and do other environmental harm. Frankie Avalon sings “Gee
Whiz Whillikins Golly Gee,” which Bugs Bunny used to sing in the bumpers
to <em>The Bugs Bunny Show</em> on Saturday mornings. This tune is just one of the things that put <em>Guns Of The Timberland</em>
in that goofy time period that a lot of series Westerns exist in, where
Old and New West, cars and buckboards peacefully coexist.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Jeanne Crain is beautiful, Gilbert Roland is as cool as ever, and
Lyle Bettger actually gets to be a good guy for once. The Technicolor
makes it to DVD looking like a million bucks, while alcohol has Ladd
looking just terrible.</span></span><br />
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2014/08/10/dvd-review-drum-beat-1954-and-a-couple-other-ladds/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: black;" title="Permanent Link to DVD Review: Drum Beat (1954) And A Couple Other Ladds."><span style="color: white;">Read Full Post »</span></a><br />
<div class="post-10301 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-1954 category-1957 category-1958 category-alan-ladd category-charles-bronson category-delmer-daves category-edmond-obrien category-forrest-tucker category-gordon-douglas category-monogramallied-artists category-virginia-mayo category-warner-archive" id="post-10301">
<div class="posttitle">
<h2>
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2014/06/26/50s-westerns-dvd-news-151-riding-herd-on-warner-archive/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">50s Westerns DVD News #151: Riding Herd On Warner Archive.</span></a></h2>
<div class="post-info">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Posted in <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/1954/" rel="category tag">1954</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/1957/" rel="category tag">1957</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/1958/" rel="category tag">1958</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/alan-ladd/" rel="category tag">Alan Ladd</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/charles-bronson/" rel="category tag">Charles Bronson</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/delmer-daves/" rel="category tag">Delmer Daves</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/edmond-obrien/" rel="category tag">Edmond O'Brien</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/forrest-tucker/" rel="category tag">Forrest Tucker</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/gordon-douglas/" rel="category tag">Gordon Douglas</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/monogramallied-artists/" rel="category tag">Monogram/Allied Artists</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/virginia-mayo/" rel="category tag">Virginia Mayo</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/warner-archive/" rel="category tag">Warner Archive</a> on June 26, 2014 |
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2014/06/26/50s-westerns-dvd-news-151-riding-herd-on-warner-archive/#comments" title="Comment on 50s Westerns DVD News #151: Riding Herd On Warner Archive.">107 Comments »</a> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="entry">
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/fusilladeatucson.jpg" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="fusilladeatucson" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-10302" height="782" src="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/fusilladeatucson.jpg?w=500&h=782" width="500" /></span></a><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">A while back, I brought up an exclusive at Collector’s Choice on some Alan Ladd <a href="http://wp.me/pEScW-2Cv">pictures </a>from
Warner Archive. Well, that arrangement has about run its course, and
those titles will soon be available through normal Warner Archive
channels.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><strong>Drum Beat</strong> (1954)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Directed by Delmer Daves</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Starring Alan Ladd, Audrey Dalton, Charles Bronson and Elisha Cook, Jr.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><strong>The Big Land</strong> (1957)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Directed by Gordon Douglas</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Starring Alan Ladd, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O’Brien, Anthony Caruso, Julie Bishop and John Qualen.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><strong>Guns Of The Timberland</strong> (1960)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Directed by Robert D. Webb</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Starring Alan Ladd, Jeanne Crain, Gilbert Roland and Frankie Avalon</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">__________</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">There’s another exclusive, this time with <a href="http://www.oldies.com/">Oldies.com</a>, on a couple Allied Artists CinemaScope Westerns to be released July 15.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><strong>Oregon Passage</strong> (1958)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Directed by Paul Landres</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Starring John Ericson and Lola Albright</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Paul Landres made some solid low-budget Westerns (<em>Frontier Gun</em>, for instance), so I have high hopes for this <a href="http://www.oldies.com/product-view/9043ED.html">one</a>. Incidentally, it’s working title was <em>Rio Bravo</em>. Wonder how the change in title went down, with Howard Hawks’ own <em>Rio Bravo</em> in production around the same time?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><strong>Gunsmoke in Tucson</strong> (1958)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Directed by Thomas Carr</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Starring Mark Stevens and Forrest Tucker</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">I’ve been on the lookout for this <a href="http://www.oldies.com/product-view/9042ED.html">one</a> for
quite some time, which goes into familiar range
war/brothers-on-opposite-sides-of-the-law territory. I’d also love to
see Carr’s <em>The Tall Stranger</em> (1957), starring Joel McCrea and Virginia Mayo, turn up on DVD.</span></span><br />
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2014/06/26/50s-westerns-dvd-news-151-riding-herd-on-warner-archive/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: black;" title="Permanent Link to 50s Westerns DVD News #151: Riding Herd On Warner Archive."><span style="color: white;">Read Full Post »</span></a></div>
</div>
<div class="post-10075 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-1954 category-1957 category-alan-ladd category-charles-bronson category-delmer-daves category-dvd-reviews-releases-tv-etc category-edmond-obrien category-gordon-douglas category-james-whitmore category-post-1959 category-virginia-mayo category-warner-archive" id="post-10075">
<div class="posttitle">
<h2>
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2014/05/15/50s-westerns-dvd-news-147-four-alan-ladd-pictures/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">50s Westerns DVD News #147: Four Alan Ladd Pictures.</span></a></h2>
<div class="post-info">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Posted in <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/1954/" rel="category tag">1954</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/1957/" rel="category tag">1957</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/alan-ladd/" rel="category tag">Alan Ladd</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/charles-bronson/" rel="category tag">Charles Bronson</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/delmer-daves/" rel="category tag">Delmer Daves</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/dvd-reviews-releases-tv-etc/" rel="category tag">DVD reviews, releases, TV, etc.</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/edmond-obrien/" rel="category tag">Edmond O'Brien</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/gordon-douglas/" rel="category tag">Gordon Douglas</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/james-whitmore/" rel="category tag">James Whitmore</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/post-1959/" rel="category tag">Post-1959</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/virginia-mayo/" rel="category tag">Virginia Mayo</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/warner-archive/" rel="category tag">Warner Archive</a> on May 15, 2014 |
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2014/05/15/50s-westerns-dvd-news-147-four-alan-ladd-pictures/#comments" title="Comment on 50s Westerns DVD News #147: Four Alan Ladd Pictures.">13 Comments »</a> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="entry">
<a href="http://www.ccvideo.com/pg/5708/Alan-Ladd-Exclusives-Sale" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="ccv-AlanLadd-05-14-hero-20140508071500" class="alignnone wp-image-10082 size-large" height="151" src="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/ccv-alanladd-05-14-hero-20140508071500.jpg?w=500&h=151" width="500" /></span></a><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Warner Archive has given Collector’s Choice an exclusive on four Alan
Ladd films, three of them Westerns. This is stuff many of us have been
asking for. Click on the banner for more information.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><strong>Drum Beat</strong> (1954)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Directed by Delmer Daves</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Starring Alan Ladd, Audrey Dalton, Charles Bronson and Elisha Cook, Jr.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">This CinemaScope Western was the first film from Ladd’s Jaguar
Productions, and it offered a good early role for Charles Bronson. Note
the photo below: Daves, Jack Warner and Ladd commemorate <em>Drum Beat</em> with a cake.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><strong>The Big Land</strong> (1957)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Directed by Gordon Douglas</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Starring Alan Ladd, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O’Brien, Anthony Caruso, Julie Bishop and John Qualen.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">I think we all take Gordon Douglas for granted, maybe because he didn’t
“specialize” in Westerns the way so many of our favorites did. This one,
<em>Fort Dobbs</em> (1958) and <em>Yellowstone Kelly</em> (1959) are all terrific.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><strong>Guns Of The Timberland</strong> (1960)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Directed by Robert D. Webb</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Starring Alan Ladd, Jeanne Crain, Gilbert Roland, Frankie Avalon</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Have to admit I’ve never seen this one. Looking forward to it.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">A fourth film,<em> The Deep Six</em> (1958), is not a Western.
Directed by Rudolph Maté, it’s a World War II picture with William
Bendix and James Whitmore. Does it get any better than Whitmore in a war
film?</span></span><br />
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/optimized-daves-warner-ladd-cake-1.jpg" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="optimized-daves-warner-ladd-cake-1" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-10083" height="611" src="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/optimized-daves-warner-ladd-cake-1.jpg?w=500&h=611" width="500" /></span></a><br />
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2014/05/15/50s-westerns-dvd-news-147-four-alan-ladd-pictures/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: black;" title="Permanent Link to 50s Westerns DVD News #147: Four Alan Ladd Pictures."><span style="color: white;">Read Full Post »</span></a></div>
</div>
<div class="post-9483 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-1950 category-1957 category-audie-murphy category-budd-boetticher category-columbia category-dorothy-malone category-dvd-reviews-releases-tv-etc category-forrest-tucker category-gordon-douglas category-post-1959 category-randolph-scott category-richard-boone category-skip-homeier" id="post-9483">
<div class="posttitle">
<h2>
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/dvr-alert-sony-movie-channels-western-round-up-marathon/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">DVR Alert: Sony Movie Channel’s Western Round-Up Marathon.</span></a></h2>
<div class="post-info">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Posted in <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/1950/" rel="category tag">1950</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/1957/" rel="category tag">1957</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/audie-murphy/" rel="category tag">Audie Murphy</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/budd-boetticher/" rel="category tag">Budd Boetticher</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/columbia/" rel="category tag">Columbia</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/dorothy-malone/" rel="category tag">Dorothy Malone</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/dvd-reviews-releases-tv-etc/" rel="category tag">DVD reviews, releases, TV, etc.</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/forrest-tucker/" rel="category tag">Forrest Tucker</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/gordon-douglas/" rel="category tag">Gordon Douglas</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/post-1959/" rel="category tag">Post-1959</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/randolph-scott/" rel="category tag">Randolph Scott</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/richard-boone/" rel="category tag">Richard Boone</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/skip-homeier/" rel="category tag">Skip Homeier</a> on January 12, 2014 |
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/dvr-alert-sony-movie-channels-western-round-up-marathon/#comments" title="Comment on DVR Alert: Sony Movie Channel’s Western Round-Up Marathon.">9 Comments »</a> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="entry">
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/04_nevadan-the-1950_lc.jpeg" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="04_Nevadan, The (1950)_LC" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-9484" height="384" src="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/04_nevadan-the-1950_lc.jpeg?w=500&h=384" width="500" /></span></a><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">The Sony Movie Channel’s Western Round-Up Marathon serves up a
weekend full of excellent Westerns featuring folks like Audie Murphy (<em>The Texican</em>,
1966), Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster and James Garner. Of particular
interest to fans of 50s Westerns is a Sunday morning devoted to Randolph
Scott.</span></span><br />
<strong style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Sunday, January 26</span></strong><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">10 AM <strong>The Nevadan</strong> (1950) Gordon Douglas directs
Scott, Dorothy Malone, Forrest Tucker, Frank Faylen and George Macready.
The Cinecolor looks OK, but it takes a lot more than an oddball color
process to spoil Lone Pine.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">11:30 AM <strong>The Tall T</strong> (1957) The second of the Scott-Boetticher-Kennedy Ranown Cycle (the first was 1956’s <em>Seven Men From Now</em>) is one of the best, maybe <em>the</em> best. Richard Boone is terrific and Skip Homeier gets his face blown off.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">1 PM <strong>Comanche Station</strong> (1960) The last of the
Ranowns, with Boetticher and Charles Lawton Jr. shooting Lone Pine in
CinemaScope. Claude Akins is the bad guy this time, and Skip Homeier’s
back for good measure.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">While we’re on the subject of Randolph Scott, Henry Cabot Beck brought a Budd Boetticher <a href="http://worldcinemaparadise.com/2014/01/08/budd-boetticher-a-maverick-voice-from-the-past/">interview</a> to my attention. Good stuff.</span></span><br />
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/dvr-alert-sony-movie-channels-western-round-up-marathon/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: black;" title="Permanent Link to DVR Alert: Sony Movie Channel’s Western Round-Up Marathon."><span style="color: white;">Read Full Post »</span></a></div>
</div>
<div class="post-8873 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-1953 category-1954 category-1958 category-20th-century-fox category-dale-robertson category-dvd-reviews-releases-tv-etc category-gordon-douglas category-jock-mahoney category-mara-corday category-richard-widmark category-rory-calhoun" id="post-8873">
<div class="posttitle">
<h2>
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2013/08/07/50s-westerns-dvd-news-129-three-from-fox/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">50s Westerns DVD News #129: Three From Fox.</span></a></h2>
<div class="post-info">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Posted in <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/1953/" rel="category tag">1953</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/1954/" rel="category tag">1954</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/1958/" rel="category tag">1958</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/20th-century-fox/" rel="category tag">20th Century-Fox</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/dale-robertson/" rel="category tag">Dale Robertson</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/dvd-reviews-releases-tv-etc/" rel="category tag">DVD reviews, releases, TV, etc.</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/gordon-douglas/" rel="category tag">Gordon Douglas</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/jock-mahoney/" rel="category tag">Jock Mahoney</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/mara-corday/" rel="category tag">Mara Corday</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/richard-widmark/" rel="category tag">Richard Widmark</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/rory-calhoun/" rel="category tag">Rory Calhoun</a> on August 7, 2013 |
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2013/08/07/50s-westerns-dvd-news-129-three-from-fox/#comments" title="Comment on 50s Westerns DVD News #129: Three From Fox.">14 Comments »</a> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="entry">
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/fiend-who-walked-the-west-tc.jpg" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="Fiend who walked the west TC" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-8874" height="379" src="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/fiend-who-walked-the-west-tc.jpg?w=500&h=379" width="500" /></span></a><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">I’ve fallen a bit behind on the upcoming DVD and Blu-ray releases, so here’s a post to get things caught up.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><strong><em>The Fiend Who Walked The West</em></strong> (1958) is a black and white CinemaScope remake of <em>Kiss Of Death</em>
(1947), remounted as a Western, with Robert Evans overacting his way
through the Richard Widmark part. Hugh O’Brien stars. You never come
across anything positive about this film, though I found it a lot better
than its reputation. Directed by Gordon Douglas and shot by Joe
MacDonald in B&W ‘Scope — it deserves another chance.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><em><a href="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/silver-whip-ad.png"><img alt="Silver Whip ad" class="alignleft wp-image-8875" height="328" src="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/silver-whip-ad.png?w=196&h=328" width="196" /></a><strong>The Silver Whip</strong></em>
(1953) stars Dale Robertson, Rory Calhoun, Robert Wagner, Kathleen
Crowley and James Millican. Many of us have been on a Calhoun kick of
late, and I’m really looking forward to this one. Directed by Harmon
Jones, who also directed the excellent <em>A Day Of Fury</em> (1956), starring Robertson, Jock Mahoney and Mara Corday.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><strong><em>Siege At Red River</em></strong> (1954) was an
independent picture from Panaramic Productions, a company hoping to take
advantage the widescreen craze (1.85 in this case). Directed by Rudolph
Mate, it’s got a good cast: Van Johnson, Joanne Dru, Richard Boone,
Milburn Stone and Jeff Morrow. At various times, Dale Robertson (who
starred in <em>Gambler From Natchez</em> for Panaramic) and Tyrone Power were listed in the trades as having the lead.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">All three 20th Century-Fox Cinema Archives titles are available from major online retailers.</span></span><br />
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2013/08/07/50s-westerns-dvd-news-129-three-from-fox/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: black;" title="Permanent Link to 50s Westerns DVD News #129: Three From Fox."><span style="color: white;">Read Full Post »</span></a></div>
</div>
<div class="post-8649 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-1951 category-dvd-reviews-releases-tv-etc category-gordon-douglas category-gregory-peck category-olive-films category-ward-bond category-warner-bros" id="post-8649">
<div class="posttitle">
<h2>
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/50s-westerns-dvd-news-127-only-the-valiant-1951/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">50s Westerns DVD News #127: Only The Valiant (1951).</span></a></h2>
<div class="post-info">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Posted in <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/1951/" rel="category tag">1951</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/dvd-reviews-releases-tv-etc/" rel="category tag">DVD reviews, releases, TV, etc.</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/gordon-douglas/" rel="category tag">Gordon Douglas</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/gregory-peck/" rel="category tag">Gregory Peck</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/olive-films/" rel="category tag">Olive Films</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/ward-bond/" rel="category tag">Ward Bond</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/warner-bros/" rel="category tag">Warner Bros.</a> on June 21, 2013 |
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/50s-westerns-dvd-news-127-only-the-valiant-1951/#comments" title="Comment on 50s Westerns DVD News #127: Only The Valiant (1951).">5 Comments »</a> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="entry">
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/only-the-valiant-os.jpg" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="Only The Valiant OS" height="770" src="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/only-the-valiant-os.jpg?w=500&h=770" width="500" /></span></a><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Gregory Peck was loaned out to Warner Bros. for <em>Only The Valiant</em>
(1951), a picture produced by James Cagney’s brother William and
directed by Gordon Douglas — and coming on DVD and Blu-ray from Olive
Films in August.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">The combination of Gordon Douglas and Ward Bond is hard to resist,
but I’ve always had a hard time with this film — along with anything
else the tragic Barbara Payton appeared in. To me, she personifies the
dark side of Hollywood, and it’s hard to disconnect her sad story from
the image on the screen.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">The cast also includes Gig Young, Lon Chaney, Michael Ansara and John
Doucette. It’s based on a book by Charles Marquis Warren. And though
Gregory Peck never missed a chance to knock the film (granted, it’s a
long way from 1950’s <em>The Gunfighter</em>), it’s a pretty solid early-50s cavalry picture.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">The old release from Lions Gate had to be one of the worst-looking
DVDs ever released — almost as bad as the various dollar-store copies of
<em>One-Eyed Jacks</em> (1961) I’ve wasted my money on. I’m sure we can count on Olive Films to give us something worth looking at.</span></span><br />
<em style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Thanks, Paula.</span></em><br />
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/only-the-valiant-still-1.jpg" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="Only The Valiant still 1" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-8655" height="361" src="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/only-the-valiant-still-1.jpg?w=500&h=361" width="500" /></span></a><br />
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/50s-westerns-dvd-news-127-only-the-valiant-1951/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: black;" title="Permanent Link to 50s Westerns DVD News #127: Only The Valiant (1951)."><span style="color: white;">Read Full Post »</span></a></div>
</div>
<div class="post-8572 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-1956 category-columbia category-dvd-reviews-releases-tv-etc category-forrest-tucker category-gordon-douglas category-john-ireland category-john-sturges category-joseph-h-lewis category-pre-1950 category-randolph-scott category-ray-enright" id="post-8572">
<div class="posttitle">
<h2>
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/50s-westerns-dvd-news-126-tcmsonys-randolph-scott-westerns-collection/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">50s Westerns DVD News #126: TCM/Sony’s Randolph Scott Westerns Collection.</span></a></h2>
<div class="post-info">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Posted in <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/1956/" rel="category tag">1956</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/columbia/" rel="category tag">Columbia</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/dvd-reviews-releases-tv-etc/" rel="category tag">DVD reviews, releases, TV, etc.</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/forrest-tucker/" rel="category tag">Forrest Tucker</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/gordon-douglas/" rel="category tag">Gordon Douglas</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/john-ireland/" rel="category tag">John Ireland</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/john-sturges/" rel="category tag">John Sturges</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/joseph-h-lewis/" rel="category tag">Joseph H. Lewis</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/pre-1950/" rel="category tag">Pre-1950</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/randolph-scott/" rel="category tag">Randolph Scott</a>, <a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/category/ray-enright/" rel="category tag">Ray Enright</a> on June 3, 2013 |
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/50s-westerns-dvd-news-126-tcmsonys-randolph-scott-westerns-collection/#comments" title="Comment on 50s Westerns DVD News #126: TCM/Sony’s Randolph Scott Westerns Collection.">46 Comments »</a> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="entry">
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/216594392_o.jpg" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="216594392_o" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-8573" height="398" src="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/216594392_o.jpg?w=500&h=398" width="500" /></span></a><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Depending on your outlook, this latest set from Sony and Turner Classics might be seen as a prayer answered. <strong>The Randolph Scott Westerns Collection</strong> gathers up four really good ones for a September release:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><em><strong>Coroner Creek</strong></em> (1948) This tough Cinecolor
picture from Ray Enright, based on a Luke Short novel, is one of Scott’s
best pre-Boetticher Westerns. His character here is practically a
prototype for the burned-out, obsessed guy we know from the Ranowns.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><em><strong>The Walking Hills</strong></em> (1949) is John Sturges’
first Western. Scott is joined by Ella Raines, Edgar Buchanan, Arthur
Kennedy and folk singer Josh White. The crisp black and white location
work in Death Valley is really something to see.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><strong><em>The Doolins Of Oklahoma</em></strong> (1949, above) comes
from Gordon Douglas. George Macready, Louise Allbritton, John Ireland
and Noah Beery Jr. are on hand. Douglas has Yakima Canutt on his second
unit, and as you’d expect, the action scenes are excellent.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><em><strong>7th Cavalry</strong></em> (1956) comes up on this blog
quite often, as we’ve warned each other about some lousy DVDs. It’s a
Joseph H. Lewis cavalry picture in Technicolor and widescreen (1.85),
with Barbara Hale, Jay C. Flippen, Frank Faylen, Leo Gordon, Denver
Pyle, Harry Carey Jr. and Michael Pate. It’s not as strong as <em>A Lawless Street</em>
(1955), Scott and Lewis’ previous collaboration, but the cast and
director alone make it worthwhile. Cross your fingers that it’s
presented 16×9.</span></span><br />
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/picture-38.png" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="Picture 38" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-8579" height="595" src="https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/picture-38.png?w=500&h=595" width="500" /></span></a><br />
<a href="https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/50s-westerns-dvd-news-126-tcmsonys-randolph-scott-westerns-collection/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: black;" title="Permanent Link to 50s Westerns DVD News #126: TCM/Sony’s Randolph Scott Westerns Collection."><span style="color: white;">Read Full Post »</span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-20509347348412930772015-04-18T01:35:00.001-07:002015-04-18T01:35:39.763-07:00ghosts of the west<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0P4UJaEBMTJM8IqPJBrThpE1IQm9TZ7WUnGlHw4bFlMSreSnWbsLY6NKpu0O4WP9AY0g43-gV9znVh1xop5ilvXnJNgG8ZZyuAe1PvRhMwN3laoWoZGDjPDv2_LrVkJjtlxZZ-TVN7U75/s1600/%2521CE%2529nQVgCGk%257E%2524%2528KGrHqF%252C%2521lkE1F390t3UBNS-QdMF7w%257E%257E_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0P4UJaEBMTJM8IqPJBrThpE1IQm9TZ7WUnGlHw4bFlMSreSnWbsLY6NKpu0O4WP9AY0g43-gV9znVh1xop5ilvXnJNgG8ZZyuAe1PvRhMwN3laoWoZGDjPDv2_LrVkJjtlxZZ-TVN7U75/s640/%2521CE%2529nQVgCGk%257E%2524%2528KGrHqF%252C%2521lkE1F390t3UBNS-QdMF7w%257E%257E_12.jpg" width="488" /></span><span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Silver City is the queen of Idaho ghost towns. And while she may be a ghost town during the winter months, in the summer a </span></a><img src="http://playsetaddict.com/000xwt1bdS.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0P4UJaEBMTJM8IqPJBrThpE1IQm9TZ7WUnGlHw4bFlMSreSnWbsLY6NKpu0O4WP9AY0g43-gV9znVh1xop5ilvXnJNgG8ZZyuAe1PvRhMwN3laoWoZGDjPDv2_LrVkJjtlxZZ-TVN7U75/s1600/%2521CE%2529nQVgCGk%257E%2524%2528KGrHqF%252C%2521lkE1F390t3UBNS-QdMF7w%257E%257E_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;">combinatioon of weekend visitors and local residents make for a busy community. </span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="http://www.ghosttowngallery.com/ghostsid/silvercityid12.jpg" height="335" id="il_fi" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="500" /><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;">During the late 1960's and early 1970's the Dave & Arvilla Mills family began hauling in historic local Kern Valley structures, (many of which were slated for destruction) to the present site in </span><img src="http://thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mNTf_KVxu4sW9G-4mKSuNsA.jpg" height="611" style="text-align: left;" width="640" /><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;">Bodfish. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">"Represented in this composite town are over twenty historic buildings (most not visible from Lake Isabella Blvd) from the mining camps of Keyesville, Whiskey Flat, old Isabella, Claraville, Hot Springs, Miracle, Southfork and other local frontier settlements"</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;"> Silver City was closed for over 15 years until it was purchased by the Corlew family in 1990 and re-opened to the public shortly thereafter. Over the years it had fallen in disrepair and had been "modernized". </span><img src="http://playsetaddict.com/000xwt7wideS.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;">The Corlew's have logged more than 20,000 man hours of loving restoration work on the site. Many people have donated labor and support (special thanks to Hal Brown and Don and Emily Diggles) and materials to the effort.</span><img src="http://www.lakeisabella.net/silvercity/images/sc1.jpg" height="640" style="text-align: left;" width="480" /></div>
<div align="justify" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">It is now operated as a museum to the Kern Valley's long and colorful history. Like Bodie Ghost Town in Northern California, Silver City has adopted a policy of �arrested decay�. Corlew says, �We want to show how local gold outposts may have looked after the gold ran out and the miners moved on, we are not trying to make it look brand new�. Visitors can go inside the original Isabella jail (gunslinger, Newt Walker was locked up here in 1905).</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;">Owner and local historian J. Paul Corlew is knowledgeable about other settlement sites nearby and will guide Ghost Town argonauts to these remnants of the "Kern Valley Diggin's" rich history.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Many believe that Silver City is haunted by spirits from that past and the site is listed in the �National Directory of Haunted Places�. Which brings to mind the question: Since most of the buildings were moved to the present site over a quarter of a century ago, did the ghost's move with the buildings or move in because it looked like home? Corlew, once a doubting Thomas, heard many stories over the years of poltergeist activity. But it was only after seven years of working on the site that he had his first conclusive sighting. �When you and two other people (all sober!) see a heavy miners lunch pail fly twelve feet across a room unaided you become a believer real quick�, says Corlew. Others have reported bottles floating in the air and doors and windows opening and closing by themselves.</span><img src="http://www.lakeisabella.net/silvercity/images/sc5.jpg" height="640" style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;" width="480" /></div>
<div align="justify" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">The infamous violin hanging in front of the general store sometimes seems to move by itself and many have heard the strings pluck as they walk by, according to Corlew. Reporter Kurt Rivera from Bakersfield�s Channel 17 News (TV) station called Silver City �The most haunted site in Kern County� after he and his television crew spent an eerie night in The Apalatea/Burlando house a few years back.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">Take a look at some of the many photos taken at Silver City by visitors and staff alike over the years and decide for yourself...</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"> </span><a href="http://www.lakeisabella.net/silvercity/ghost.htm" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small; text-align: left;">apparition and orb photos</a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">In addition, check out Biography Channel�s �My Ghost Story� video which explores decades of alleged hauntings on site in a great 9 minute video available for download on demand see link below.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white;">
</div>
<br />
<div align="justify" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Now open year round: Open 7 days per week 10 AM-4 PM, 5 PM weekends, May 15th through September 14th. Open weekends only 10 AM-4 PM September 15th through May 14th. Often open other days by chance (and anytime by appointment)Open all major holidays except New Years Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-77960764540572632452015-04-16T00:54:00.001-07:002015-04-16T00:54:11.889-07:00warpath<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">For two decades, Fort Bowie strategically controlled Apache Springs along the Butterfield Trail in the Arizona Territory in its conflict with the Chiricahuas. Gen. George Crook led his cavalry from Bowie and Fort Huachuca for ten months across the Southwest and into Mexico to find Geronimo and negotiate his first surrender in 1885-’86.</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> At the time of European encounter, they, with their close kinsmen of the </span>Tchihende<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> and </span>Ndendahe<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> groups, were living in 15 million acres (61,000 km</span><sup style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11.1999998092651px; line-height: 1;">2</sup><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">) of territory in southwestern </span>New Mexico<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> and southeastern </span>Arizona<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> in the </span>United States<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, and in northern </span>Sonora<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><img src="http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Sonora/SonoraTexasDowntown1898SonoraCofC.jpg" height="410" width="640" /><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">and </span>Chihuahua<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> in </span>Mexico<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">. Today, only two tribes of the Chiricahua Apache located in the United</span><img height="360" src="http://thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mSk280dJgd-Azk876xixHvg.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> States are</span>federally recognized<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">: the </span>Fort Sill Apache Tribe<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, located near </span>Apache, Oklahoma<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">; </span><img alt="Amphlett Brothers Drug and Jewelry Store in Apache" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Amphlett_Brothers_Drug_and_Jewelry_Store.jpg/800px-Amphlett_Brothers_Drug_and_Jewelry_Store.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">and the Chiricahua tribe located on the</span>Mescalero<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><img alt="Mescalero Apache Tribal Offices Community Center New Mexico.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Mescalero_Apache_Tribal_Offices_Community_Center_New_Mexico.jpg/800px-Mescalero_Apache_Tribal_Offices_Community_Center_New_Mexico.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Apache reservation near </span>Ruidoso,<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Mescalero_tipis.jpg" height="235" width="400" /> New Mexico<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-dY2V5IyITcrT_AMI9_pxLbtp_bSSVseW8FZOD5BhCW1K5SqD2-MotPwIr0SDLq4D6JMK7CIm9NPGKzP_7h9F-amEbvBH81RT5MqTTcY6u0d1joZbrUsBooF6pPn-984UEPYfDNNi03m/s1600/11081096_10152719411945264_3432374411351331218_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-dY2V5IyITcrT_AMI9_pxLbtp_bSSVseW8FZOD5BhCW1K5SqD2-MotPwIr0SDLq4D6JMK7CIm9NPGKzP_7h9F-amEbvBH81RT5MqTTcY6u0d1joZbrUsBooF6pPn-984UEPYfDNNi03m/s1600/11081096_10152719411945264_3432374411351331218_n.jpg" height="416" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">Tsokanende (Chiricahua) Apache division was once led, since the beginning of the 18th century, by chiefs as</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Pisago Cabezon<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Relles<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Posito Moraga<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Yrigollen<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Tapilà<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Teboca<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Vivora<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Miguel Narbona<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Esquinaline<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">, and finally</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Cochise<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">(whose name was derived from the Apache word</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span><i style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">Cheis,</i><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">meaning "having the quality of oak") and, after his death, his sons</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Tahzay<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">and, later,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Naiche<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">, under the guardianship of Cochise's war chief</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Nahilzay<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">, and the independent chiefs</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Chihuahua<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Skinya<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">and</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Pionsenay<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">; Tchihende (Mimbreño) people was led, during the same period, by chiefs as</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Juan Josè Compa<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">, Fuerte a.k.a.</span>Soldado Fiero<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Mangas Coloradas<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Cuchillo Negro<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Delgadito<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">, Ponce,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Nana<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Victorio<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Loco<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Mangus<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">; Ndendahe Apache people, in the meanwhile, was led by</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Mahko<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Mano Mocha<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Coleto <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Curry_County_Eastern_New_Mexico_2010.jpg/1280px-Curry_County_Eastern_New_Mexico_2010.jpg" style="text-align: left;" />Amarillo<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Luis<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Laceres<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Felipe<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Natiza<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>Juh<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">and</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span><i>Goyaałé</i><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">(known to the Americans as Geronimo);</span><img alt="Edward S. Curtis Geronimo Apache cp01002v.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Edward_S._Curtis_Geronimo_Apache_cp01002v.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> after Victorio's death, Nana, Geronimo, Mangus (youngest Mangas Colaradas' son) and youngest Cochise's son</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span><i style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">Naiche</i><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Chief_Naiche.png" style="text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">were the last leaders of Central Apaches, and their mixed Apache group was the last to continue to resist</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>U.S. government<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">control of the</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> </span>American Southwest<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;">.</span><img src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/b5/e5/9e/b5e59eb930e2e321cb6bc50e258872fa.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Several loosely affiliated bands of Apache came improperly to be usually known as the Chiricahuas. These included the<i>Chokonen</i> (recte: Tsokanende), the <i>Chihenne</i> (recte: Tchihende), <img src="http://terrykreuzer.com/images/Apache_Bird_Woman_mask.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">the </span><i style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Nednai</i><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> (</span><i style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Nednhi</i><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">) and </span><i style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Bedonkohe</i><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> (recte, both of them together: Ndendahe). Today, all are commonly referred to as Chiricahua, but they were not historically a single band nor the same Apache division, being more correctly identified, all together, as "Central Apaches".</span><img src="http://e-humanity.org/multimedia/nmai/2/12391_NMAI_315952/full/P09901.700x700.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Many other bands and groups of Apachean language-speakers ranged over eastern Arizona and the American Southwest. The bands that are grouped under the Chiricahua term today had much history together: they intermarried and lived alongside each other, and they also occasionally fought with each other. They formed short-term as well as longer alliances that have caused scholars to classify them as one people.<img height="640" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/1d/df/68/1ddf68986544d60f8a13411171fa4ed9.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" width="469" /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">The Apachean groups and the Navajo peoples were part of the Athabaskan migration into the North American continent from Asia, across the Bering Strait from Siberia.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"> As the people moved south and east into North America, groups splintered off and became differentiated by language and culture over time. Some anthropologists believe that the Apache and the Navajo were pushed south and west into what is now New Mexico and Arizona by pressure from other Great Plains Indians, such as the Comanche and Kiowa<img alt="In Summer, Kiowa.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/In_Summer%2C_Kiowa.jpg/640px-In_Summer%2C_Kiowa.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">. Among the last of such splits were those that resulted in the formation of the different Apachean bands whom the later Europeans encountered: the southwestern Apache groups and the Navajo. Although both speaking forms of Southern Athabaskan, the Navajo and Apache have become culturally distinct.</span></span></span></div>
<h3 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Apaches_Ba-keitz-ogie,_(The_Yellow_Coyote),_called_Dutchy_Chiricahua_scout_(F19052_DPLW).jpg" height="640" width="409" /></span></span></h3>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">From the beginning of EuropeanAmerican/Apache relations, there was conflict between them, as they competed for land and other resources, and had very different cultures. Their encounters were preceded by more than 100 years of Spanish colonial and Mexican incursions and settlement on the Apache lands.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">The United States settlers were newcomers to the competition for land and resources in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwestern_United_States" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Southwestern United States">Southwest</a>, but they inherited its complex history, and brought their own attitudes with them about American Indians and how to use the land. By the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the US took on the responsibility to prevent and punish cross-border incursions by Apache who were raiding in Mexico.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">The Apache viewed the United States colonists with ambivalence, and in some cases, enlisted them as allies in the early years against the Mexicans. In 1852, the US and some of the Chiricahua signed a treaty, but it had little lasting effect.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">During the 1850s, American miners and settlers began moving into Chiricahua territory, beginning encroachment that had been renewed in the migration to the Southwest of the previous two decades.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">This forced the Apachean people to change their lives as nomads, free on the land. The US Army defeated them and forced them into the confinement of reservation life, on lands ill-suited for subsistence farming, which the US proffered as the model of civilization. Today, the Chiricahua are preserving their culture as much as possible, while forging new relationships with the peoples around them. The Chiricahua are a living and vibrant culture, a part of the greater American whole and yet distinct based on their history and culture.<img alt="Farny 44.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Farny_44.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">The <b>Apache–Mexico Wars</b>, or the <b>Mexican Apache Wars</b>, refer to the conflicts between Spanish or Mexican forces and theApache peoples. The wars began in the 1600s with the arrival of Spanish colonists in present day New Mexico. War between the Mexicans and the Apache was especially intense from 1831 into the 1850s. Thereafter, Mexican operations against the Apache coincided with the Apache Wars of the United States, such as during the Victorio Campaign.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"> Mexico continued to operate against hostile Apache bands as late as 1915.<b style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Victorio 's War</b><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><img alt="Victorio Chiricahua Apache Chief.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/Victorio_Chiricahua_Apache_Chief.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /></span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, or the </span><b style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Victorio Campaign</b><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, was an </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">armed conflict</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> between the </span>Apache<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> followers of </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Chief</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Victorio<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, the </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">United States</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, and </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Mexico</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> beginning in September 1879. Following his escape from the </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">San Carlos Indian Reservation</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> in <img src="http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/soldier/images/sitec3.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /></span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">southeastern </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Arizona</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, Victorio led a </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">guerrilla war</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> across the </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Southwest</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> and northern Mexico. Many engagements were fought until the </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Mexican Army</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> killed Victorio and defeated his </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">warriors</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> in October 1880. After Victorio's death, Chief </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Nana</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> continued the war into 1881. Following the </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Battle of Cibecue Creek</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">,<img src="http://www.scenicusa.net/images/JN10CibecueCreekPD.jpg" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /></span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> in August 1881, Nana and his band joined </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Geronimo</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-64814586405331605422015-04-13T10:09:00.002-07:002015-04-13T10:09:29.247-07:00russia wins <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img src="http://www.italeri.com/gest/resize.asp?path=6112_tavolaLR.jpg&width=530&height=330" height="399" width="640" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; text-align: justify;">The idea that the United States was the savior of Europe in World Wars I and II is popular in some circles on both sides of the Atlantic, but is demonstrably false.</span><img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/9yEAAMXQCZ1Tc3Zz/$_57.JPG" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; text-align: justify;"> Between the formal entry of the United States into the Great War in April 1917 and the last German offensive in March 1918, hundreds of thousands of Entente </span><img src="http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa229/davidjamesleonard/IMG_5523_zps80ee356d.jpg" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; text-align: justify;">soldiers were killed, mainly British in the summer and autumn of 1917 after the frightful slaughter of the French army in the spring; and in that period of nearly a year, fewer than two hundred Americans died.</span><img src="http://www.italeri.com/imgup/6112_foto_tedeschi_profiloLR.jpg" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; text-align: justify;"> In the course of that war, the Frenchmen killed defending their country were twice as numerous as all theAmericans who have died in every foreign war taken together from 1776 until today. (the soldiers ofgothatone are sold on ebay)</span><img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/QusAAOSwQJ5URsdz/$_57.JPG" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; text-align: justify;">As a matter of historical fact, the Third Reich was defeated by the Red Army and not by the Western democracies. Even though over one hundred thirty-five thousand American GIs died – a startling figure today – between D day and V-E day, more than ten million Russians were killed.</span><img src="http://www.italeri.com/imgup/6112_foto_T34_profiloLR.jpg" /><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
It was Stalin’s blindness to Hitler’s pre-invasion manoeuvres that allowed the Germans to occupy Russia’s industrial heartland at a stroke.To retreat was a crime against the motherland: in 1941 and ’42, according to the historian Dmitri Volkogonov, 157,593 men were executed for “cowardice”.<img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/AsMAAOSwcu5URsd5/$_57.JPG" style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
The Soviets’ contribution to the war effort, which was vast and decisive. In fact it’s even <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">more</em> marvelous what they accomplished, given the handicaps imposed by their leaders. Without the Soviet contribution, the western democracies couldn’t have defeated Hitler’s armies on their own. But could the Soviets, fighting on <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">their</em> own, have defeated Hitler – say, if the democracies had capitulated after the fall of France?<img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/shEAAOxynwlTcTbp/$_57.JPG" style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
Perhaps a better way to compare the effectiveness of the western and eastern armies is not to compare Allied deaths but to compare <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">German</em> deaths. Estimates vary widely, but since I’m looking for a ratio rather than a total, . For military deaths only:</div>
<table style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<tr style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Killed by Soviet Union</strong></td><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Killed by other Allies</strong> <a href="https://orangeraisin.wordpress.com/2010/06/24/did-the-red-army-defeat-the-third-reich/#redarmy3" sl-processed="1" style="color: #bb4411; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">[3]</a></td></tr>
<tr style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2,742,909</td><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">534,683</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
The Red Army was roughly 5.5 times as lethal as the other Allied forces combined.<img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/k28AAOSwofxUfN1C/$_57.JPG" style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
The Third Reich was defeated by the Red Army and not by the Western democracies. Germans willingly surrended to the allies rather than fight on against the Red Army as the knew what surrender meant <img src="http://www.italeri.com/imgup/6112_box.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 21.6000003814697px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
Germans were much better off on the West front as the figures below show </div>
<table style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<tr style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></td><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Killed in action</strong></td><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Missing</strong></td><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">KIA + missing</strong></td></tr>
<tr style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Eastern front:</strong></td><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1,105,987</td><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1,018,365</td><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2,124,352</td></tr>
<tr style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">West + southwest:</strong></td><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">157,523</td><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">603,695</td><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">761,488</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
(These data omit the final months of the war, and also exclude Navy and Air Force deaths.) Note that on Germany’s eastern front the number of confirmed deaths slightly exceeds the number of missing, while in the west and southwest (i.e. western Europe, Italy, and Africa) the number of missing is <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">almost four times</em> the number of confirmed deaths.<img src="http://www.italeri.com/imgup/6112_foto_T34_sfocLR.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
Regardless of how many German soldiers the Soviets killed or captured, they tied up the bulk of the Third Reich’s military capacity. It’s no great achievement to take a German bullet, but that’s one less bullet the Germans have to fire elsewhere. The Red Army held off the Germans at the critical point in the war, allowing the Americans and Brits to get organized and open up a second front.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
Millions of Russians died so that millions of Americans didn’t have to. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
The myth that American GIs dealt Nazism its greatest blow on the cliffs of Omaha Beach is obvious if we understand that DDay would have been a disaster if the red army had not defeated the bulk of the German army.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.6000003814697px;">Without Russian fighting power in Europe and in time the United states would have ceased to exist </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.6000003814697px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.6000003814697px;">would have been purely and simply wiped off the map </span><img src="http://www.italeri.com/imgup/6096_sprue.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-top: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
The Americans massive financial help only staved off certain defeat,<span style="line-height: 21.6000003814697px;">the armaments, food, and other assistance supplied to the Allies by the United States under the lend-lease program.But it is will that wins wars and that will manifested itself in the best tanks of WW2 , tanks win wars at least then .If you do not believe this then look at the Italian army wiped off the face of battle because they lacked a tank able to withstand the not so deadly British ones( and British ones were knocked out easily by panzers)</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-7575155588961190552015-04-05T16:29:00.002-07:002021-08-14T08:10:39.432-07:00bunch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Who was the Wild Bunch? What crimes can be attributed to the gang? And who participated in those crimes? These questions defy simple answers.</span>William Cruzan<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/11082611_10152705213125264_2558436930768917016_n.jpg?oh=d58ebce85bb034098566239b08fe8c31&oe=55B71078&__gda__=1437373485_670158648456ce3316289f810cefcfce" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" /></span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: black; border: 0px; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Take the last: Who participated in the gang’s crimes? The bandits almost always escaped, which makes identifying them difficult.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Eyewitnesses are unreliable at best, and they are especially dodgy regarding masked perpetrators. Witnesses to Wild Bunch crimes disagreed on descriptions, even on how many bandits were involved. Those indicted were usually acquitted. So how can we, a century later, determine the truth? We can only try.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On June 24, 1889, Butch Cassidy, Matt Warner and Tom McCarty (abetted by others, perhaps including Bill Madden and Butch’s brother, Dan Parker) robbed the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride, Colorado,<img src="http://www.camelsgarden.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/telluride-town-center.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" /> of around $20,000. Considering that trio as the root of the Wild Bunch, we can fold in later crimes in which they participated.<img src="http://www.franksrealm.com/Indians/Outlaws/The%20Wild_Bunch.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tom McCarty and Matt Warner along with Tom’s brothers Bill and George, his nephew Fred, his brother-in-law Hank Vaughan, and George’s wife Nellie staged about 10 holdups in Oregon, Washington and Colorado between 1890 and 1893. The outlaws’ tastes were catholic: They hit trains, banks, casinos and stores. <img src="http://www.gjsentinel.com/images/photos/imgkit_sized/122214_FD_Delta_Main_Street_1893_600x400.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" />The gang dissolved after Fred and Bill died during an 1893 attempt on the Farmers and Merchants Bank in Delta, Colorado.<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6GFawriyGzkZz6DYhR4T149745bsCmAgKfBKmUxcu_o-ZN33ioB7GD1IXpSB54SFLGYkregBkM6JZp0LgXuMKrXRd9egEQ5xNwj1TMCJcWrrJz-6OzVepWOGve5od_gFBjQjFbxZFaY/s1600/25.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Rocky Mountain branch of the Wild Bunch made an inauspicious start on November 29, 1892, near Malta, Montana, when three men—probably the Sundance Kid, Harry Bass and Bill Madden—held up the Great Northern No. 32 and netted less than $100. Bass and Madden were caught and implicated Sundance, who had escaped.<img src="http://www.crusaderminiatures.com/images/ccw003.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Butch Cassidy’s outlaw career resumed in 1896, after a two-year prison term for horse theft. On August 13, he, Elzy Lay and Bub Meeks robbed Idaho’s Bank of Montpelier of $7,165. The money went to attorneys defending Matt Warner for murder. On April 21, 1897, Butch, Lay and perhaps Meeks and Joe Walker stole a $9,860 mine payroll in Castle Gate, Utah.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On June 28, 1897, six bandits flubbed a holdup of the Butte County Bank in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Tom O’Day <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/AndersHeintz/Blog%20Pics/aaro_1.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" />was caught hiding in a saloon privy. His cohorts included Walt Punteney, George “Flat Nose” Currie, Harvey Logan (making his debut in the Wild Bunch) and Sundance. Butch may have participated, but it’s doubtful. The bungling bandits got $97. O’Day was tried and acquitted; Punteney was arrested, but the charges were dropped.<img src="http://www.truewestmagazine.com/jcontent/images/stories/NovDec-2002/NOV02-Wild-Bunch-slideshow/Blackjack-duotone.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Butch’s reputation outpaced his criminal record. In a story headlined “King of the Bandits,” a Chicago daily declared in early 1898 that “Butch Cassidy is a bad man.” Not just any bad man, but “the worst man” in Utah, Colorado, Idaho and Wyoming, the leader of a gang of 500 outlaws “subdivided into five bands.”</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On July 14 that year, a trio of bandits, said to have been Sundance, Logan and Currie (though they were never identified), held up the Southern Pacific No. 1 near Humboldt, Nevada, <img src="https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/images/d/d9/800px-Santa_Rosa_Range,_NV_2008.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" />escaping with $450. Two other men were tried for the holdup and acquitted.<img height="392" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSjrELg6Z6z-8VrXooU1QKq9UuwjLDu43wFXvZitCK2S3jPTuEzyQ" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" width="640" /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Humboldt threesome struck again on April 3, 1899, robbing a saloon in Elko, Nevada,<img src="http://elkorose.schopine.com/elkopics/elko1950s.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" /> of several hundred dollars. The Wild Bunch holding up saloons? Maybe not. (Unsolved crimes are often attributed to famous outlaws.) Three local cowboys were tried for the robbery and acquitted.<img src="http://www.summitpost.org/images/original/321595.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Meanwhile, other outlaws were roaming the Southwest. Three Texas delinquents, Tom “Black Jack” Ketchum, Dave Atkins and Will Carver, held up a Southern Pacific train near Lozier, Texas,<img height="480" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4149/4985497497_a91478887a.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" width="640" /> on May 14, 1897, taking upwards of $42,000. Reinforced by Tom’s brother, Sam, and possibly Bruce “Red” Weaver, they robbed the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe No. 1<img height="403" src="http://www.railswest.com/images/atsflagrandestations.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" width="640" /> on September 3, 1897, of several thousand dollars. Weaver was later tried for the crime and acquitted.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="s1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Success bred carelessness. On December 9, 1897, five bandits, probably the Ketchum brothers, Carver, Atkins and Edward H. Cullen, attempted to rob the Southern Pacific No. 20 near , but met a fusillade from armed guards. Cullen was killed; the other four, though wounded, escaped. Unchastened, four men—probably the Ketchum brothers and perhaps Carver and Ben Kilpatrick—robbed the Texas Pacific No. 3 at Mustang Creek, Texas, </span>on July 1, 1898, grabbing between $1,000 and $50,000 in cash. (Victims were not forthcoming about how much was stolen. Sometimes employees pocketed overlooked money and included it in the amount said to have been taken by the bandits. At other times, initial accounts lowballed the sums, and the truth came out decades later.)<img src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/02/article-2182753-1458D51D000005DC-525_634x423.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Elzy Lay joined the gang just in time for its train-robbing blitz to come to a bloody halt. On July 11, 1899, Sam Ketchum, Lay and Carver overpowered the crew of the Colorado & Southern No. 1 and galloped off with some $30,000. (Weaver, thought to have been standing guard nearby, separated from the others.) After the holdup, the three principals were surprised by a posse. When the dust settled, one posse member was dead and two were wounded, one mortally; Sam Ketchum was <img src="http://users.hal-pc.org/~berrys/72samuel_k.gif" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" />mortally wounded; Lay was wounded and later captured; and Carver escaped. (Some say the third bandit was Harvey Logan, not Carver.)</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tom Ketchum, meanwhile, picked an inauspicious moment to launch a solo career<img height="640" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/KetchumHanging.JPG/220px-KetchumHanging.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" width="541" />. On August 16, 1899, he attempted holding up the Colorado & Southern No. 1 near Folsom, New Mexico, but was shot, captured, tried, convicted and hanged.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These calamities should have been a lesson to Carver and Kilpatrick, but they merely moved north and joined the Wild Bunch proper.below doolin<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Doolinbody.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="s2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The first crime that consolidated what was left of the various gangs was the June 2, 1899, robbery of the Union Pacific Overland Flyer No. 1 near Wilcox, Wyoming. </span><img height="504" src="https://wyostatearchives.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/epperson-neg-808-interior-of-rail-car-after-wilcox-train-robbery-june-18991.jpg?w=500" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" width="640" /></span><br /><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span class="s2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This holdup, which yielded between $3,400 and $50,000, made the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang nationally famous. “They were lawless men who have lived long in the crags and become like eagles,” averred the <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">New York Herald</em>. Yet we can’t place Butch or Sundance at the scene with any precision. Witnesses reported six masked men; most historians count George Currie, Harvey Logan, his brother Lonnie Logan and their cousin Bob Lee among them.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="s1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The lawless eagles swept down again on August 29, 1900, robbing the Union Pacific Overland Flyer No. 3 near Tipton, Wyoming, </span>of between $55.40 (the initial account) and $55,000 (a later report). The five bandits included Butch and probably Sundance and Harvey Logan. Also suspected were Ben Kilpatrick, Tom Welch and Billy Rose. Tipton was the first crime in which Butch and Sundance are generally agreed to have teamed up. They were just six months from fleeing the country.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Three weeks later, on September 19, three or four bandits struck the First National Bank in Winnemucca, Nevada, <img src="http://www.winnemucca.nv.us/images/interior_main_photo_accommodations.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" />collecting between $32 and $40,000. Sundance, Carver and Logan are thought to have participated, but some suspected local miscreants, and others called it an inside job. The bank’s head cashier, George Nixon, at various times agreed and disagreed that Butch was present. A few years later, a newspaper recounted a conversation in which Sundance supposedly disclosed that he, Butch and Carver were responsible. Stories that the bandits had camped near Winnemucca as early as September 9, however, have prompted researchers to question whether Butch could have been at both Tipton and Winnemucca, 600 miles apart.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Butch and Sundance left for Argentina in February 1901. Today popularly considered the leaders of the Wild Bunch, they had teamed up on only two or three robberies. As crime sprees go, it was not much of a run. Their colleagues sputtered on, but within a couple of years most were dead or in jail.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On July 3, 1901, what was left of the gang on North American soil attacked the Great Northern Coast Flyer No. 3 near Wagner, Montana, fleeing with about $40,000. There were four to six bandits, including Harvey Logan, Ben Kilpatrick and O.C. Hanks.<img src="http://www.toymania.com/334archives/butch/hanks.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" /> Kilpatrick and Logan went to prison for passing bank notes from the holdup, and Hanks died the next year in a confrontation with authorities in Texas.<img alt="Carded O.C. Hanks" src="http://www.toymania.com/334archives/butch/hanks_carded.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="s1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Logan, who had escaped from jail in 1903, rounded up two friends, probably from Ketchum territory,</span><img alt="Sundance Kid" src="http://www.toymania.com/334archives/butch/sundance.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" /><span class="s1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> for what would be his farewell appearance,</span><img alt="Carded Sundance Kid" src="http://www.toymania.com/334archives/butch/kid_carded.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" /><span class="s1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> the botched holdup of the Denver & Rio Grande near </span><img alt="Loose Butch" src="http://www.toymania.com/334archives/butch/butch.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" />Parachute, Colorado,</span><br /><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> on June 7, 1904. Wounded and cornered, Logan committed suicide. The list of possible accomplices is long, but George Kilpatrick (Ben’s brother) and Dan Sheffield are high on it. George is thought to have been mortally wounded, although his body was never found.<img alt="Carded Butch" src="http://www.toymania.com/334archives/butch/butch_carded.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The northern hemisphere’s Wild Bunch was kaput, except for one footnote. Ben Kilpatrick, released from prison in 1911, joined former cellmate Ole Beck to rob the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio No. 9 near Sanderson, Texas, <img height="640" src="http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/07/41/57/1973200/3/622x350.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" width="471" />on March 13, 1912. Quick-witted Wells Fargo messenger David Trousdale fatally bludgeoned Kilpatrick with an ice mallet, borrowed his rifle, and dropped Beck.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, what was the Wild Bunch? Between the late 1880s and early 1900s, there were several gangs, comprising several dozen outlaws, who are part of the Wild Bunch story. The McCarty-Warner and Ketchum Gangs had more coherence than the Rocky Mountain Wild Bunch, perhaps because they<img alt="Cafe" src="http://www.toymania.com/334archives/butch/cafe2.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" /> were family based. All the bandits put together committed or attempted more than two dozen <img alt="Western Cafe" src="http://www.toymania.com/334archives/butch/cafe.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" />holdups. They probably didn’t do some they’ve been blamed for, and they probably pulled others they’ve never been accused of.<img alt="Carded Horse" height="640" src="http://www.toymania.com/334archives/butch/bluff_carded.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px;" width="460" /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Of the approximately 20 outlaws who can be counted in the Rocky Mountain Wild Bunch during its heyday, the 1896-1901 Montpelier to Wagner era, few participated in crimes together more than a couple of times, and the gang’s holdups in that period numbered a scant five to seven. Butch and Sundance—surprisingly, given their later iconic status as a joined-at-the-holster outlaw duo—teamed up in the United States no more than three times. If they hadn’t gone to South America and died together, the 1969 movie would never have been made, nor this article written.</span><br /><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">“</span><span style="line-height: 22px;">In Search of Butch Cassidy” made the case that Cassidy and his partner, the Sundance Kid, were not killed in 1908 in a shootout with a Bolivian cavalry troop — the fate that was etched into the popular imagination by the movie starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman.</span></span></span><br /><div class="grid_8" id="left-rail" style="display: inline; float: left; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;">
<br /><article class="asset" id="story"><div class="hnews hentry item">
<div class="p402_premium">
<div class="asset-body clearfix" id="article_body" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(224, 224, 224); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(224, 224, 224); zoom: 1;">
<div class="asset-main" id="article_main">
<div class="entry-content">
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pointer argued that Cassidy, whose given name was Robert LeRoy Parker, survived the shootout, returned to the United States and lived peacefully in Spokane, Wash.<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BEbZQy50QQHcBEMELCUh-ZLI_48G0XEMW67W3PZal1SYs6W0Dyvl-m1EEUTnxGCSZCuFAFVJucXaensxAswBkyxUUXCE_z_H_O1qG1vT1SlJ8vN1eZeHl7gKEz-5etSQYVVjN1O_ObNN/s1600/SpokanePic2010-Full.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; line-height: 18px; padding: 1px;" />, under the alias William T. Phillips until his death in 1937.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pointer’s book did well. It was published by the prestigious University of Oklahoma Press, was translated into Spanish and Japanese, sold something like 30,000 copies and remains in print.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now living in Billings, Pointer recently published a second book on Butch Cassidy. This one might be even more provocative — and it turns Pointer’s earlier theories about Butch Cassidy on their head.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The new book consists of the complete manuscript “The Bandit Invincible: The Story of Butch Cassidy,” written by William T. Phillips, with extensive notes and an introduction by Pointer.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When Pointer wrote his earlier book, he had access only to an abridged version of that manuscript. His reading of the abridged version, and his other research, had convinced Pointer that Phillips was actually Butch Cassidy, and that he was telling his own life story in “The Bandit Invincible.”</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But his study of the complete manuscript, and his study of photographs of Cassidy and some of his associates, threw all of his previous theories into confusion. Previously, he thought Cassidy looked enough like Phillips to convince him they were one and the same man.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then, last August, he obtained a photo of an associate of Butch Cassidy by the name of William T. Wilcox.<img src="http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/billingsgazette.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/d1/0d1a0076-8514-5c91-aa85-2d0a2d211fc1/4fa0cc56389e8.preview-620.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; line-height: 18px; padding: 1px;" /> Wilcox, he realized, was actually the same person as Phillips, and Phillips was not Cassidy.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Also, the complete manuscript contained numerous descriptions of robberies and other exploits supposedly involving Butch Cassidy at a time when Cassidy not only wasn’t in the state in question, but was already in South America.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pointer no longer has a firm opinion on the fate of Butch Cassidy, but his suppositions come down to this: He thinks Wilcox was in prison in Laramie, Wyo., with Robert LeRoy Parker, and Parker was then using the alias George Cassidy.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Somehow, Pointer said, Parker and Wilcox both started using the alias Butch Cassidy, perhaps to throw off the authorities. And when Wilcox/Phillips sat down to write “The Bandit Invincible,” Pointer believes, he actually narrated a dual biography of himself and the Butch Cassidy known to history, blending elements of both their lives in the tale.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It’s complicated and confusing, as Pointer is the first to admit. But history consists of the information available at any given time, and his new book, which offers Phillips’ long-lost manuscript to the world, doesn’t so much answer questions as open up new lines of inquiry.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pointer is a native of Sheridan, Wyo., and when the movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kind” came out in 1969, he was living in Lander, Wyo., where he taught life sciences and coached the rodeo team at Central Wyoming College.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He started hearing from locals that the movie was lots of fun but mostly hogwash. Many people, Pointer said, talked matter-of-factly about how Cassidy often came back to the Lander area to visit old friends long after his supposed demise in Bolivia.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of Pointer’s students said his grandmother was an old girlfriend of Butch Cassidy, and she had talked of his coming to see her in the 1930s. All that talk fired Pointer’s imagination, and it led to his first book.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pointer’s research brought him into contact with James K. Dullenty, a reporter who wrote an investigative series on William T. Phillips for the Spokane Daily Chronicle. It was Dullenty who was given the abridged manuscript of “The Bandit Invincible,” provided by a longtime friend of Phillips, and Dullenty allowed Pointer to use the manuscript for his first book on Butch Cassidy.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pointer wasn’t planning to write another book about Cassidy. He switched from teaching college to working for the government, first for the Bureau of Land Management and then the National Park Service, from which he retired in 1997. He also wrote a few more books, including a work on the painter Harry Jackson and a book called “Rodeo Champions.”</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Meanwhile, in Provo, Utah, Brent Ashworth, a collector of antiquarian books and Western memorabilia, had become infatuated with Butch Cassidy after reading Pointer’s first book in 1988. Over the years he amassed a sizable collection of materials related to Cassidy and his Hole in the Wall Gang.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Like Pointer, Ashworth was aware that at some point the manuscript of “The Bandit Invincible” had been condensed from a 900-page original. Then, in 2009, Ashworth punched in the title of the manuscript on the Internet — and up popped an offer to sell the long-lost work on eBay.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ashworth bought the manuscript — it was typed, and its 220 pages jibed with the length of the 900-page handwritten original — for an undisclosed price from the family of a deceased book dealer. The dealer supposedly bought the manuscript from Phillips’ widow, and the whole thing was typed on the backside of W.T. Phillips General Machine Work stationery.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ashworth eventually got a hold of Pointer for help in authenticating the manuscript, and in 2011 Ashworth turned over a copy of the manuscript to Pointer to prepare for publication. He also gave Pointer access to his entire Cassidy collection.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pointer and his wife, Dotti, put in countless hours preparing the manuscript for publication, starting with a word-by-word comparison of the abridged manuscript and the complete version. Then they had it typed up exactly as written, to preserve its authenticity.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Proofreading was doubly hard. Larry and Dotti Pointer not only wanted to catch mistakes, but also to preserve those “mistakes” present in the manuscript. When that job was complete, Pointer worked on the notes for each chapter, in which he provided history, context and clarification for Phillips/Wilcox’s narrative. He worked on the notes from last October to December.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“It was 100 percent of my life, 24 hours a day,” he said.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Although his previous books had all been released by publishers, Pointer self-published this book. He’d had a world of trouble with editors on his rodeo book, he said, and this time he wanted “complete editorial control.”</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He acknowledges that there are “some big gaps and holes” in the story of Butch Cassidy and Phillips/Wilcox, and he doesn’t pretend to have solved any mysteries by publishing the full text of “The Bandit Invincible.” He just wanted to get it out into the world, giving other people the materials to continue unraveling the mystery.<img src="http://www.outpostwargameservices.co.uk/images/Web%20Photos/pw/PWB3.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; line-height: 18px; padding: 1px;" /></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“I think this is the discovery of all time for this subject,” Pointer said. Even so, he added, “For me, this is just a ribbon-cutting for future researchers.”<span style="line-height: 18.36px;">In 1991, a grave in San Vicente, Bolivia, was dug up said to contain the remains of Butch and his sidekick, Harry Longabaugh - the Sundance Kid. DNA testing revealed the bones weren't the outlaws, but Buck, a writer who lives in Washington, D.C., said his research proved the two indeed died in a shootout with Bolivian cavalry in 1908.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</article></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-23368755584801590442015-04-05T10:02:00.001-07:002015-04-05T10:02:06.391-07:00revenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img src="https://www.kshs.org/portraits/graphics/quantrill_william.jpg" />William Quantrill addressed his<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZB8VDUdUsTKGE9WHXDIKnwcc0sjoick_z90tOlLbD23PwAJ0dSR_52oPLjUOggRXXJC2HVHuEcXxp9cJmhH_w63FaJqDqaDdc-emX0wRivEeH3UiDeqACoZoa7BpXcqN0VlOC73gm0w/s1600/001.JPG" /> ragtag army on the evening of August 20, 1863. “Boys, this is a hazardous ride, and there is a chance we will all be annihilated.”<img src="http://www.dixon-minis.com/images/quantrlls%202%20001.jpg" height="460" width="640" /></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
A few men slunk away, but the rest rode through the night with their 25-year-old commander. Their mission—vengeance.</div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Not long before, military commander Thomas Ewing Jr.<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Gen-TEwingJr.jpg/220px-Gen-TEwingJr.jpg" /> had taken several of Quantrill’s female relatives prisoner, housing them in a makeshift jail. On August 14 the building collapsed, killing five and injuring several others. Quantrill, convinced the deaths were no accident, was livid.<img src="http://worldonline.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2011/04/27/only_mass_st_t625x625.jpg?36625162b648365af2338930b9abad56a3d4766c" /></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Shortly after sunrise on August 21, the mob of nearly 450 men reached Lawrence. After smashing a camp of the 14th <img height="614" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQUh3cSS5gkcto7ncTFu3SuyFRX965bERFKaVy7gjmVflDiGp3X" width="640" />Kansas Regiment, Quantrill led the main body of his guerrillas down Massachusetts Street<img src="https://www.planning.org/greatplaces/streets/2010/gallery04/image01.jpg" /> to the Eldridge House. The provost marshal of Kansas, a guest there, surrendered the hotel. Quantrill accepted, then ordered <img src="http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p56/The1stLt/BugleandGuidon2086.jpg" />his men to take the city, wheeling his horse as he cried out: “Kill! Kill and you will make no mistake! Lawrence should be thoroughly cleansed, and the only way to cleanse it is to kill! Kill!”<img src="http://www.legendsofamerica.com/photos-kansas/LawrenceMassSt1908.jpg" /></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The massacre was on. The brutality, carnage and devastation can hardly be imagined. Nearly 200 men—representing around 20 percent of the male population of Lawrence—were killed during the attack, many murdered in front of their <img src="http://www.dixon-minis.com/images/quan6.jpg" />families. Dozens of homes and businesses were burned to the ground. By the time it was over, the city had 85 new widows and about 250 fatherless children.</div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Lawrence had been founded nearly a decade earlier by settlers from the New England Emigrant Aid Company, determined to see the territory enter the Union as a Free State.<img src="https://queencityma.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/haverhill.jpg" /> From its inception, the town was a hotbed of abolitionist sentiment. But clashes occurred all along the Kansas-Missouri <img src="http://www.dixon-minis.com/images/acwc32.jpg" height="640" width="588" />border area. In 1856, John Brown led an attack on Missouri raiders at the Battle of Black Jack.<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MkTxAJYA2n7umz5RntzKot-44kyaiOiygHFRuy2-zqxiFHCEio7oLufqdAVdL70mL1VGEi0H6QBJvl2ctjeAfwsstVNrknCjCH77TJDAlGRAULWSUPbLd_kbTVw46IUQEL232Kf8dofA/s400/2014-01-04005_zpsb7d631e4.jpg" /> As this was the first armed conflict between abolitionist and pro-slavery forces, some historians maintain that this was the real beginning of the Civil War.<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11008545_10152705168400264_7241057013679616028_n.jpg?oh=63c6f52dd50405216684cc8f3bba19a5&oe=559BA072&__gda__=1437918733_d74ddb43ef2103ffc2e6cb438f3acae1" /></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The assault on Lawrence didn’t end the way the Quantrill’s Raiders expected. “Rather than scaring people into heading back East, the raid actually strengthened the resolve of the people living here,” says Julie McPike, managing director of Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area, which oversees historical sites in 41 counties along the Kansas-Missouri border.</div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“The town was founded by hardy abolitionist settlers, and they didn’t take the Quantrill Raid sitting down,” notes Keith Manies, assistant manager of the Lawrence Visitor Information Center. “If anything, it made them more determined to rebuild.”</div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
And rebuild they did, aided by the arrival of the rail lines in 1864 and 1867. Lawrence’s population, which had been 1,645 in 1860, soared to 8,320 by 1870.</div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Today’s Visitor Information Center, located in Lawrence’s restored Union Pacific depot, holds a slew of exhibits on the Border War. The center also offers several tours, one along the route of Quantrill’s Raid, others on segments of the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails.</div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Much of the town’s post-raid, 19th-century architecture has been preserved in the Old West Lawrence Historic District. The Plymouth Congregational Church, which stands nearby, has been described as a “vision of spires, buttresses and stained glass.”</div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Even now the city’s seal shows a Phoenix rising from the ashes. “People here were very proud of that heritage back then, and still are today,” Manies says. “The Raid has been a rallying point for the town for 150 years.”</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-8552248509020825562015-03-25T10:29:00.001-07:002015-03-25T10:29:53.832-07:00medici<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OGnfusYkhjZ_CvvXO_BCn2oJci0W1WUboAvx0i6YKlKtxpaPSplmMNkNprjLCNXvgP5eab6si_Ui2uONSC9lwMPyySA5hwP5kU7sCuQc0ELIxlt428AaeM_w1VlpB8VBf-swGnu86KE/s1600/DSCN2453.jpg" /> Famiglia de' Medici was a political dynasty, banking family and later royal house that first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de' Medici<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Cosimodemedicitheolder.jpg/220px-Cosimodemedicitheolder.jpg" /> in the Republic of Florence<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/FlorenceCoA.svg/85px-FlorenceCoA.svg.png" /> during the late 14th century. The family originated in the Mugello region<img src="http://www.holidayhomestuscany.com/image/109-map.jpg" /> of the Tuscan countryside, gradually rising until they were able to found theMedici Bank. The bank was the largest in Europe during the 15th century, </span><img height="298" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" width="400" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">seeing the Medici gain political power in </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Florence</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> — though </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">officially</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> they remained simply citizens rather than monarchs.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> The fatal blow was the </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wars of the Roses</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, which rendered</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Edward IV</span><img alt="King Edward IV.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/King_Edward_IV.jpg/229px-King_Edward_IV.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> unable to repay the loans (the best he could do in way of repayment was to lift all tariffs on the Medici exporting English wool until such time as the debt was repaid), and the branch had loaned far too much to the </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lancastrian</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> rebels (and not</span><img alt="Medieval Archers - Airfix 54mm Knights and Men at " src="http://www.toysoldierco.com/i/5454L_2.jpg" height="393" width="640" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> to a number of </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yorkist</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> loyalists), who would never repay their loans after their deaths and defeats.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> The London branch finished its liquidation in 1478, with total losses of 51,533 gold florins.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">The succeeding </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tudors</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> never paid off the outstanding </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Plantagenet</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> debt.</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv1cBpy_pUdOj_-gbT7ho_IKPy-AZ-UCCi8LtIa8TLc6UxBYc9bN84MBn-WyIhZMUmKEWUrmgjo0PH0gnwji6dVb3iiU7y-GTpKXU39aRicqN2bgHTfxYbU8hyphenhyphenvEVFrc4L816Rg9T9iE/s1600/Hobby+&+eBay+030.JPG" /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">The Medici produced four Popes of the Catholic Church—Pope Leo X (1513–1521), Pope Clement VII (1523–1534), Pope Pius IV<img alt="Pius IV 2.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Pius_IV_2.jpg/220px-Pius_IV_2.jpg" />(1559–1565), and Pope Leo XI<img alt="Leo XI 2.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Leo_XI_2.jpg/220px-Leo_XI_2.jpg" /> (1605); two regent queens of France—Catherine de' Medici <img alt="Catherine-de-medici.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Catherine-de-medici.jpg/220px-Catherine-de-medici.jpg" />(1547–1559) and Marie de' Medici(1600–1610)<img alt="0 Marie de Médicis - Frans Pourbus le Jeune - Louvre (INV1710) - (2).JPG" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/0_Marie_de_M%C3%A9dicis_-_Frans_Pourbus_le_Jeune_-_Louvre_%28INV1710%29_-_%282%29.JPG/220px-0_Marie_de_M%C3%A9dicis_-_Frans_Pourbus_le_Jeune_-_Louvre_%28INV1710%29_-_%282%29.JPG" />; and, in 1531, the family became hereditary Dukes of Florence. In 1569, the duchy was elevated to a grand duchy after territorial expansion. They ruled the Grand Duchy of Tuscany from its inception until 1737, with the death of Gian Gastone de' Medici<img alt="A peri-wigged man is resplendent in gold, ermine-fringed coronation robes. The man holds the royal sceptre of Tuscany in his right hand; at the same time clenching the royal crown. The cross of the order of Saint Stephen Pope and Martyr adorns his neck. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore lies crumbling against a dark sky outside the window." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Giangastonecoronation.jpg/220px-Giangastonecoronation.jpg" />. The grand duchy witnessed degrees of economic growth under the earlier grand dukes, but by the time of Cosimo III de' Medici,<img alt="Cosimo-III-BR.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Cosimo-III-BR.jpg/220px-Cosimo-III-BR.jpg" /> Tuscany was fiscally bankrupt.<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgKNK5-yAlFj5OnBbAayLV8HJGuSRtK0bjzLS2phqVeCXI4Fo72tNamZmPDzw2BYLos5qdge8c7BFJkA2cFFBF_fYcl1iAP30fE7AF0pb6miyxqyGhtQMMkvoa4-egraVqWQThCYTZC0/s640/swiss1.jpg" /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">Their wealth and influence initially derived from the textile trade guided by the guild of the <i>Arte della Lana</i>. Like other signore families they dominated their city's government. They were able to bring Florence under their family's power, allowing for an environment where art and humanism could flourish. They fostered and inspired the birth of the Italian Renaissance along with other families of Italy, such as the Visconti and Sforza of Milan<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Muzio_Attendolo_Sforza_%281369-1424%29.jpg/220px-Muzio_Attendolo_Sforza_%281369-1424%29.jpg" />, the Este of Ferrara, and the Gonzaga of Mantua.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Medici Bank was one of the most prosperous and most respected institutions in Europe. There are some estimates that the Medici family were the wealthiest family in Europe for a period of time. From this base, they acquired political power initially in Florence and later in wider Italy and Europe. A notable contribution to the profession of accounting was the improvement of thegeneral ledger system through the development of the double-entry bookkeeping system for tracking credits and debits.</span><img src="http://www.touringclub.com/allegati/7_bronzino_ritratto_di_guidobaldo20della20rovere_100708041852_58007.jpg" height="640" width="496" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> This system was first used by </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">accountants</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> working for the Medici family in Florence.The Medici family came from the agricultural </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mugello region</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> north of Florence, being mentioned for the first time in a document of 1230.</span><sup class="Template-Fact" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1em; white-space: nowrap;">[</sup><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The origin of the name is uncertain, although </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Medici</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> is the plural of </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">medico</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, also written "del medico" or "</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Delmedigo</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">", meaning, "medical doctor".</span><img alt="Risultati immagini per bande nereolmi cinema" height="358" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" width="640" /></span></b></div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; background-image: none; border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0.17em; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></h3>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Medici family was connected to most other elite families of the time through marriages of convenience, partnerships, or employment, as a result of which the Medici family had a </span><img src="http://nuovocinemalocatelli.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/94129_1159731_il_mestier_8939613_medium.jpg" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">position of centrality in the social network: several families had systematic access to the rest of the elite families only through the Medici, perhaps similar to banking relationships. This has been suggested as a reason for the rise of the Medici family.</span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/it/thumb/d/df/Mestiere2.jpg/280px-Mestiere2.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Members of the family rose to some prominence in the early 14th century in the wool trade, especially with France and Spain. Despite the presence of some Medici in the city's </span><img src="http://www.cinemedioevo.net/castello/images/mestiere17.jpg" height="339" width="640" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">government </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">institutions</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, they were still far less notable than other outstanding families such as the </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Albizzi</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> or the</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Strozzi</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;"> One Salvestro de' Medici <img alt="Risultati immagini per Salvestro de' Medici" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" />was speaker of the woolmakers' guild during the Ciompi revolt, and one Antonio was exiled from Florence in 1396.<img src="https://arteis.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/img_1872_knights.jpg?w=500&h=467" /> The involvement in another plot in 1400 caused all branches of the family to be banned from Florentine politics for twenty years, with the exception of two: from one of the latter, that of Averardo de' Medici, originated the Medici dynasty.</b></span></div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; background-image: none; border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0.17em; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></h3>
<div class="thumb tleft" style="background-color: white; clear: left; float: left; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0.5em 1.4em 1.3em 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; width: auto;">
<div class="thumbinner" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 12px; min-width: 100px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px !important; text-align: center; width: 162px;">
<a class="image" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ghirlandaio_a-pucci-lorenzo-de-medici-f-sassetti_1.jpg" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Ghirlandaio_a-pucci-lorenzo-de-medici-f-sassetti_1.jpg/160px-Ghirlandaio_a-pucci-lorenzo-de-medici-f-sassetti_1.jpg" height="640" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); vertical-align: middle;" width="598" /></b></span></a><br />
<div class="thumbcaption" style="border: none; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.4em; padding: 3px !important; text-align: left;">
<div class="magnify" style="background-image: none !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border: none !important; float: right;">
<a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ghirlandaio_a-pucci-lorenzo-de-medici-f-sassetti_1.jpg" style="background-image: none !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border: none !important; color: #0b0080; display: block; text-decoration: none;" title="Enlarge"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;"><img alt="" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/static-1.20wmf6/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" height="11" style="background-image: none !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border: none !important; display: block; vertical-align: middle;" width="15" /></b></span></a></div>
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;"><i>The Confirmation of the Rule</i>by Domenico Ghirlandaio.</b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Averardo's son, Giovanni di Bicci, increased the wealth of the family through his creation of the Medici Bank, and became one of the richest men in the city of Florence.</span><img src="http://www.claudiocolombo.net/FotoDVD/ilmestieredellearmi.jpg" height="360" width="640" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Although he never held any political charge, he gained strong popular support for the family through his support for the introduction of a proportional taxing system. Giovanni's son Cosimo the Elder, <i>Pater Patriae</i>, took over in 1434 as gran maestro, and the Medici became unofficial heads of state of the Florentine republic</span><img src="http://www.claudiocolombo.net/FotoDVD/ilmestieredellearmi2.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cosimo, Piero, and Lorenzo, three successive generations of the Medici, ruled over Florence through the greater part of the 15th century, without altogether abolishing representative government, yet while clearly dominating it.</span><img src="http://wpcontent.answcdn.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Gbnere_pace_1.jpg/220px-Gbnere_pace_1.jpg" height="640" width="589" /></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These three members of the Medici family had great skills in the management of so "restive and independent a city" as Florence, but when Lorenzo died in 1492, his son Piero proved quite incapable, and within two years he and his supporters were forced into exile [with] a republican government replac[ing] him.</span><img alt="illuminations: novembre 2012" src="http://www.bulgaria-italia.com/bg/info/cinema/images/mestiere_armi_jivkov_cavallo.jpg" /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">Piero de' Medici (1416–1469), Cosimo's son, stayed in power for only five years (1464–1469). He was called "Piero the Gouty" because of the gout<img alt="A small fierce creature with sharp teeth is biting into a swollen foot at the base of the big toe" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/The_gout_james_gillray.jpg/230px-The_gout_james_gillray.jpg" /> that afflicted his foot, and it eventually led to his death.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;"> Unlike his father, Piero had little interest in the arts. Due to his illness, he mostly stayed at home bedridden, and therefore did little to further the Medici control of Florence while in power. As such, Medici rule stagnated until the next generation, when Piero's son Lorenzo took over. Piero's illegitimate son, Lenihanio, fled from Italy and lived in the Alps for 15 years.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">Lorenzo de' Medici (1449–1492), called "the Magnificent"<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsF_9_OnzJoyInR9s0kU94umYQIOeFtwEjS9Txu3EV2Grnw3MbSf7Fu4VOcRSiTxb_VMMhpso01XRmgm7oMWvtNz9frtad6GTATv_WnUKB-zxxn2qK8q1QOO1mlB0KyVUkmSp4iqBAIRu/s640/lorenzo_de_medici+vasari+uffizi.jpg" height="640" width="488" />, was more capable of leading and ruling a city; however, he neglected the family banking business, leading to its ultimate ruin. To ensure the continuance of his family's success, Lorenzo planned his children's future careers for them.<img src="http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh54/fredericdelatour/madonnal.jpg" height="640" width="446" /> <span style="text-align: -webkit-center;">Born in Florence, Clarice is the fourth daughter of Lorenzo de’ Medici and Clarice Orsini. She is little like her humanist father, and takes after her mother’s strict religious personality. She has, however, inherited the Medici pride. She is quick to form judgements on people, and most fall short of her high expectations.</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-center;"> </span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;"><br style="text-align: -webkit-center;" /><span style="text-align: -webkit-center;">Since the death of her father, Clarice has accompanied her elder brother Piero to Rome in exile, to honour her marriage contract.</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-center;"> </span>He groomed the headstrong Piero II<img alt="Agnolo Bronzino - Piero il Fatuo.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Agnolo_Bronzino_-_Piero_il_Fatuo.jpg/220px-Agnolo_Bronzino_-_Piero_il_Fatuo.jpg" /> to follow as his successor in civil leadership; Giovanni (future Pope Leo X) was placed in the church at an early age; and his daughter Maddalena was provided with a sumptuous dowry to make a politically advantageous marriage to a son of Pope Innocent VIII.<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Piero took over as leader of Florence in 1492. After a brief period of relative calm, the fragile pacific equilibrium between the Italian states, laboriously constructed by Piero's father, collapsed in 1494 with the decision of King </span>Charles VIII<img alt="Charles VIII Ecole Francaise 16th century Musee de Conde Chantilly.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Charles_VIII_Ecole_Francaise_16th_century_Musee_de_Conde_Chantilly.jpg/220px-Charles_VIII_Ecole_Francaise_16th_century_Musee_de_Conde_Chantilly.jpg" /> of France<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">to cross the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Alps<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">with an army in order to take the</span>Kingdom of Naples<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, claiming hereditary rights. Charles had been lured to Italy by</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Ludovico Sforza<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, (Ludovico il Moro), ex-Regent of</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Milan<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, as a way to eject Ludovico's nephew</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Gian Galeazzo Sforza<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">and replace him as Duke.</span></b></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">After settling matters in Milan, Charles moved towards Naples. He needed to pass through Tuscany, as well as leave troops there, securing his lines of communication with Milan. Piero attempted to stay neutral, but this was unacceptable to Charles, who intended to invade Tuscany. Piero attempted to mount a resistance, but received little support from Florentine elites, who had fallen under the influence of the fanatical Dominican priest Girolamo Savonarola<img alt="Girolamo Savonarola.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Girolamo_Savonarola.jpg/220px-Girolamo_Savonarola.jpg" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">; even his cousins defected to Charles's side.</span></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">Piero quickly gave up as Charles's army neared Florence and surrendered the chief fortresses of Tuscany to the invading army, giving Charles everything he demanded. His poor handling of the situation and failure to negotiate better terms led to an uproar in Florence, and the Medici family fled. The family <i>palazzo</i> was subsequently looted, and the substance as well as the form of the Republic of Florence was re-established, with the Medici formally exiled. A member of the Medici family was not to rule Florence again until 1512.</b></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Piero and his family at first fled to</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Venice<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">with the aid of</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Philippe de Commines<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">.</span><img alt="Commynes-recueil-Arras.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Commynes-recueil-Arras.jpg/200px-Commynes-recueil-Arras.jpg" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> In 1503 however, as the French and Spanish continued their struggle in Italy over the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Kingdom of Naples<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, Piero was drowned in the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Garigliano River<img alt="GariglianoFoce.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/GariglianoFoce.jpg/290px-GariglianoFoce.jpg" height="436" width="640" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">while attempting to flee the aftermath of the</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>battle<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, which the French (with whom he was allied) had lost.</span><img alt="File:Innocent VIII 1492.JPG" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Innocent_VIII_1492.JPG/524px-Innocent_VIII_1492.JPG" /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">There was a conspiracy in 1478 to kill Lorenzo with his brother Giuliano during Easter services, the assassination attempt ending with the death of Giuliano and an injured Lorenzo (later Giuliano and Lorenzo were buried together in the Medici Chapel)</b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;"> The conspiracy involved the Pazzi <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Retrato_de_Bernardo_di_Bandino_Baroncelli_executado.jpg/220px-Retrato_de_Bernardo_di_Bandino_Baroncelli_executado.jpg" />and Salviati families, who were both rival banking families seeking to end the Medici influence, the priest presiding over the church services, the Archbishop of Pisa and even Pope Sixtus IV to a degree.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;"> The conspirators approached Sixtus IV in the hopes of gaining his approval, as he and the Medici had a long rivalry themselves, but the pope gave no official sanction to the plan. Despite his refusal of official approval, the pope nonetheless allowed the plot to proceed without interfering, and, after the failed assassination of Lorenzo, also gave dispensation for crimes done in the service of the church. After this, Lorenzo adopted his brother's illegitimate son, Giulio de' Medici (1478–1535), the future Clement VII. Unfortunately, all Lorenzo's careful planning fell apart to some degree under the incompetent Piero II,</b></span><img alt="Agnolo Bronzino - Piero il Fatuo.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Agnolo_Bronzino_-_Piero_il_Fatuo.jpg/220px-Agnolo_Bronzino_-_Piero_il_Fatuo.jpg" /><b style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> who took over as the head of Florence after his father Lorenzo's death. Piero was responsible for the expulsion of the Medici from 1494-1512.</b></div>
<div class="quotebox" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px; margin: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: -webkit-auto; width: 831px;">
<div style="position: relative;">
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">In the dangerous circumstances in which our city is placed, the time for deliberation is past. Action must be taken... I have decided, with your approval, to sail for Naples immediately, believing that as I am the person against whom the activities of our enemies are chiefly directed, I may, perhaps, by delivering myself into their hands, be the means of restoring peace to our fellow-citizens. As I have had more honour and responsibility among you than any private citizen has had in our day, I am more bound than any other person to serve our country, even at the risk of my life. With this intention I now go. Perhaps God wills that this war, which began in the blood of my brother and of myself, should be ended by any means. My desire is that by my life or my death, my misfortune or my prosperity, I may contribute to the welfare of our city... I go full of hope, praying to God to give me grace to perform what every citizen should at all times be ready to perform for his country.</b></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">Lorenzo de' Medici, 1479</b></span></i><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">This exile lasted only until 1512, however, and the "senior" branch of the family — those descended from Cosimo the Elder — were able to rule on and off until the assassination of</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span>Alessandro de' Medici<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">,</span><img alt="File:Jacopo Pontormo 056.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Jacopo_Pontormo_056.jpg/488px-Jacopo_Pontormo_056.jpg" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> first</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span>Duke of Florence<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">, in 1537. This century-long rule was only interrupted on two occasions (between 1494–1512 and 1527–1530), when popular revolts sent the Medici into exile. Power then passed to the "junior" Medici branch — those descended from</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span>Lorenzo the Elder<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">, younger son of Giovanni di Bicci, starting with his great-great-grandson</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span>Cosimo I the Great<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">.</span><img alt="Agnolo Bronzino - Cosimo I de' Medici in armour - Google Art Project.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Agnolo_Bronzino_-_Cosimo_I_de%27_Medici_in_armour_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/229px-Agnolo_Bronzino_-_Cosimo_I_de%27_Medici_in_armour_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> The Medici's rise to power was chronicled in detail by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span>Benedetto Dei<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">. Cosimo and his father started the Medici foundations in banking, manufacturing - including a form of franchises - wealth, art, cultural patronage, and in the Papacy that ensured their success for generations. At least half, probably more, of Florence's people were employed by them and their foundational branches in business.</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">However, the Medici remained masters of Italy through their two famous 16th century popes, Leo X and Clement VII, who were <i>de facto</i>rulers of both Rome and Florence. They were both patrons of the arts, but in the religious field they proved unable to stem the advance ofMartin Luther's ideas. Clement VII was the pope during the sack of Rome by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, and later was forced to crown him. Clement frequently changed his alliances between the Empire and France, which eventually led him to marry off his first cousin, twice removed, Catherine de' Medici, to the son of Francis I of France, the future Henry II of France. This led to the Medici blood being transferred, through Catherine's daughters, to the royal family of Spain through Elisabeth of Valois, and the House of Lorrainethrough Claude of Valois.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">The most outstanding figure of the 16th century Medici was Cosimo I<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Cosimo_I_de_Medici_by_Jacopo_Carucci_%28called_Pontormo%29.jpg/170px-Cosimo_I_de_Medici_by_Jacopo_Carucci_%28called_Pontormo%29.jpg" />, who, coming from relatively modest beginnings in the Mugello, rose to supremacy in the whole of Tuscany, conquering the Florentines' most hated rival Siena and founding the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Cosimo purchased a portion of the island of Elba from the Republic of Genoa and based the Tuscan navy there. He died in 1574, succeeded by his eldest surviving son Francesco, whose inability to produce male heirs led to the succession of his younger brother,Ferdinando, upon his death in 1587. Francesco married Johanna of Austria, and with his consort produced Eleonora de' Medici, Duchess of Mantua, and Marie de' Medici, Queen of France and of Navarre. Through Marie, every succeeding French monarch (bar the Napoleons) are descended from Francesco.<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Angelo_Bronzino_005.jpg" height="640" width="524" /></b></span></div>
<div class="thumb tright" style="clear: right; float: right; margin: 0.5em 0px 1.3em 1.4em; width: auto;">
<div class="thumbinner" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 12px; min-width: 100px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px !important; text-align: center; width: 202px;">
<br />
<div class="thumbcaption" style="border: none; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.4em; padding: 3px !important; text-align: left;">
<div class="magnify" style="background-image: none !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border: none !important; float: right;">
<a class="internal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coat_of_arms_of_the_Grand_Duchy_of_Tuscany_(1562-1737).svg" style="background-image: none !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border: none !important; color: #0b0080; display: block; text-decoration: none;" title="Enlarge"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;"><img alt="" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/static-1.20wmf6/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" height="11" style="background-image: none !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border: none !important; display: block; vertical-align: middle;" width="15" /></b></span></a></div>
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">.</b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">Ferdinando eagerly assumed the government of Tuscany. He commanded the draining of the Tuscan marshlands, built a road network in Southern Tuscany and cultivated trade in Leghorn. To augment the Tuscan silk industry, he oversaw the planting of Mulberry trees <img alt="Morus alba FrJPG.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Morus_alba_FrJPG.jpg/220px-Morus_alba_FrJPG.jpg" />along the major roads (silk worms feed on Mulberry leaves). He shifted Tuscany away from Habsburg hegemony by marrying the first non-Habsburg candidate since Alessandro, Christina of Lorraine, a granddaughter of Catherine de' Medici. The Spanish reaction was to construct a citadel on their portion of the island of Elba</b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;"> To strengthen the new Franco-Tuscan alliance, he married his niece, Marie, to Henry IV of France. Henry explicitly stated that he would defend Tuscany from Spanish aggression, but later reneged, after which Ferdinando was forced to marry his heir, Cosimo, to Maria Maddalena of Austria to assuage Spain (where Maria Maddalena's sister was the incumbent Queen consort). Ferdinando sponsored a Tuscan expedition to the New World with the intention of establishing a Tuscan colony. Despite all of these incentives to economic growth and prosperity, the population of Florence at the dawn of the 17th century was a mere 75,000, far smaller than the other capitals of Italy: Rome, Milan, Venice, Palermo and Naples. Francesco and Ferdinando, due to lax distinction between Medici and Tuscan state property, are thought to have been wealthier than their ancestor, Cosimo de' Medici, the founder of the dynasty.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;"> The Grand Duke alone had the prerogative to exploit the state's mineral and salt resources, and the fortunes of the Medici were directly tied to the Tuscan economy.</b></span></div>
<h3 style="background-image: none; border-bottom-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0.17em; padding-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;"><br />In France, Marie de' Medici was acting as regent for her son, Louis XIII. Louis repudiated her pro-Habsburg policy in 1617. She lived the rest of her life deprived of any political influence.Ferdinando, despite no longer being a cardinal, exercised much influence at successive conclaves. In 1605, Ferdinando succeeded in getting his candidate, Alessandro de' Medici, elected Pope Leo XI. He died the same month, but his successor, Pope Paul V, was also pro-Medici. Ferdinando's pro-Papal foreign policy, however, had drawbacks. Tuscany was overcome with religious orders, not all of whom were obliged to pay taxes. Ferdinando died in 1609, leaving an affluent realm; his inaction in international affairs, however, would have long-reaching consequences down the line.<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Cosimo_ii_de%27_medici_adn_two_.jpg/220px-Cosimo_ii_de%27_medici_adn_two_.jpg" height="640" width="499" /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="line-height: 15px;">(from left to right) </span>The Grand Duchess Maria Maddalena<span style="line-height: 15px;">, </span>The Grand Duke Cosimo II<span style="line-height: 15px;">, and their elder son, the future </span>Ferdinando II</b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">Ferdinando's successor, Cosimo II, reigned for less than 12 years. He married Maria Maddalena of Austria, with whom he had his eight children, including Margherita de' Medici, Ferdinando II de' Medici, and an Anna de' Medici. He is most remembered as the patron of astronomer Galileo Galilei, whose 1610 treatise, Sidereus Nuncius, was dedicated to him. Cosimo died of consumption (tuberculosis) in 1621.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">Cosimo's elder son, Ferdinando, was not yet of legal maturity to succeed him, thus Maria Maddalena and his grandmother, Christina of Lorraine, acted as regents. Their collective regency is known as the <i>Turtici</i>. Maria Maddelana's temperament was analogous to Christina's, and together they aligned Tuscany with the Papacy, re-doubled the Tuscan clergy, and allowed the heresy trial of Galileo Galilei to occur. Upon the death of the last Duke of Urbino (Francesco Maria II), instead of claiming the duchy for Ferdinando, who was married to the Duke of Urbino's granddaughter and heiress, Vittoria della Rovere, they permitted it to be annexed by Pope Urban VIII. In 1626, they banned any Tuscan subject from being educated outside the Grand Duchy, a law later overturned but resurrected by Maria Maddalena's grandson, Cosimo III.Harold Acton, an Anglo-Italian historian, ascribes the decline of Tuscany to the <i>Turtici</i> regency.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">Grand Duke Ferdinado was obsessed with new technology, and had a variety of hygrometers, barometers, thermometers, and telescopes installed in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palazzo_Pitti" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Palazzo Pitti">Palazzo Pitti</a>.In 1657, Leopoldo de' Medici, the Grand Duke’s youngest brother, established the Accademia del Cimento, organized to attract scientists to Florence from all over Tuscany for mutual study.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">Tuscany participated in the Wars of Castro (the last time Medicean Tuscany proper was involved in a conflict) and inflicted a defeat on the forces of Urban VIII in 1643.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;"> The war effort was costly and the treasury so empty because of it that when the Castro mercenaries were paid for, the state could no longer afford to pay interest on government bonds, with the result that the interest rate was lowered by 0.75%. At that time, the economy was so decrepit that barter trade became prevalent in rural market places.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">Ferdinando died on 23 May 1670 afflicted by apoplexy and dropsy. He was interred in the Basilica of San Lorenzo<img alt="File:Basilica di san lorenzo 33.JPG" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Basilica_di_san_lorenzo_33.JPG/800px-Basilica_di_san_lorenzo_33.JPG" />, the Medici's necropolis.At the time of his death, the population of the grand duchy was 730,594; the streets were lined with grass and the buildings on the verge of collapse in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisa" style="background-image: none; text-decoration: none;" title="Pisa">Pisa</a>.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ferdinando's marriage to Vittoria della Rovere produced two children: Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Francesco Maria de' Medici, Duke of Rovere and Montefeltro. Upon Vittoria's death in 1694, her allodial possessions, the Duchies of Rovere and Montefeltro, passed to her younger son.<span style="line-height: 18px;">Catherine de Medici played an important part in the history of Sixteenth Century</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span>France<span style="line-height: 18px;">. Catherine de Medici has been held partly responsible for starting the</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span>French Wars of Religion<span style="line-height: 18px;">. But has her contribution been exaggerated? It is all but impossible to blame one person for a</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span>war<span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">let alone what turned into a series of wars. There are many other factors involved such as factional rivalry and religious intolerance which cannot be blamed on Catherine. However, there are problems which can be attributed to her.</span></span><img src="http://www.parvimilites.it/images/5_RINASCIMENTO/rinascimento%20italiano/6.jpg" /></span></b><br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 18px;">
<center>
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></b></center>
</div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">Catherine was born in Florence in 1519. Her Italian background was always held against her by those in the French court. She married the future Henry II in 1533 and had ten children. She was the mother of Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III. While her husband was king she stayed in the background as there was no reason for her to grasp the limelight as her husband epitomised the strong king and the nobility appeared to be tamed under his strong leadership of the country. Catherine seemed to be happy in her role of mother. On Henry's sudden death she had to come to the forefront as her eldest son, Francis, did not have the aura that his father had. Francis was a sick and weakly boy. The marriage of Francis to Mary Stuart (Mary, Queen of Scots) further undermined Catherine's influence at court. The obvious physical weakness of Francis stimulated an attempt by the nobles to regain their power that had been curtailed under Francis I and Henry II. It was this move by the nobility that Catherine attempted to stop.</b></span></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As Regent to Charles IX, Catherine succeeded in ousting the powerful Guise family from the royal court. Her appointment of Anthony of Bourbon as Lieutenant-General of France was a move to buy him off in his attempt to become Regent himself. Was this appointment a wise move ? It could only worsen the rivalry between the leading noble families in France. The Guise family lost out as a result of this appointment and as they were considered the most powerful Catholic family in France, they could use religion as a tool to further their claims to royal appointments as over 90% of France was Catholic. The Guise family could simply appeal for the support of the French people. In the 1560's support for the Calvinists was </span><img src="http://www.parvimilites.it/images/5_RINASCIMENTO/rinascimento%20italiano/7.jpg" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">limited to a few areas of France and these were away from Paris, the centre of government.</span></span></b></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">By removing the Duke of Guise from court, Catherine had made a powerful enemy who could play on defending the nation's faith as a away to gain support from the people. He could also try to get aid from Catholic countries such as Spain, Bavaria and the Papal States. The removal of the Guise family from court was a huge blow to their prestige in France, and the family's humiliation was made worse by the fact that their removal had been done by a woman. In a society where women were seen as being subservient to men, this was a painful blow to the family.</b></span></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">Catherine put the interests of her children above all else. As three of them were to become kings of France, it could be argued that she was putting the interests of the realm above all else and that it was the noble families who were destabilising France. However, her handling of the nobility only gained her short term results. Catherine had little if any knowledge of statesmanship but by putting herself at the forefront of the political arena on the death of Henry II, it seems unlikely that she could have adapted to the political scenario that existed in France with speed. </b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Did Catherine fail to understand the religious problem in France ? There were few who could claim to be a Politique and it is possible that if more had been and both sides had been less intransigent then the wars would never have started. However, a politician has to use what exists at that time and there was no evidence to suggest that either side on the religious divide was willing to compromise.</span> <span style="font-size: small;">In that sense, was Catherine being unrealistic in her drive to get a solution to the religious issue ? It</span> would <span style="font-size: small;">appear that she failed to understand the depth of feeling on both sides and had she done so she might have concluded that compromise, at best, was very difficult to achieve and, at worst, impossible.</span></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b style="background-color: black;">However, a compromise was worth Catherine's efforts. Why ? If either side was militarily victorious it would almost certainly turn on her and her children. Would the Huguenot Bourbon family, if successful , tolerate a catholic monarchy ? Would a victorious Guise family tolerate a woman who appointed a Huguenot as Lieutenant-General of France ? Or discussed issues with Beza ? Catherine needed compromise as each family was so powerful.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">Her involvement in the start of the second war was an accident. In June 1565, Catherine met her daughter, Queen Elizabeth of Spain at Bayonne. Also present there was the Duke of Alba. He was a staunch Catholic and military leader and Huguenot leaders in France assumed that, they were planning a Spanish invasion to destroy the Huguenots. There is no evidence to uphold this but such was the political climate in France that it was believed especially as Alba then moved from France to theSpanish Netherlands to put down rebellious Calvinists using Spanish soldiers and the region was very near the French border and a cross-border invasion would have been much easier than the Spanish having to navigate a passage through the Pyrenees in the south. </b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">Rather than wait to be attacked, the Huguenots attempted to capture the king at Meaux — but they failed. In response, the Catholics took up arms and the war started. The actions of the Huguenots at Meaux shocked Catherine de Medici especially as her son was the intended target and her sole aim was to protect him. She dropped her policy of toleration and moved to the hard-line Catholics. In 1568 as regent, Catherine issued an edict withdrawing all freedom of worship for Huguenots and ordered all Huguenot ministers to leave the country. Who was at fault here? The Huguenots for acting on unsubstantiated rumour or Catherine de Medici for acting in a way that she assumed was protecting her so ? As Regent, her main purpose was to protect the position or the monarch. Catherine also ordered the arrest of Coligny and Condé. This was a sensible move on her part as these two were the two main military leaders in the Huguenot ranks. However, it lead to the third war.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">The third war exposed the crown's chronic financial weakness and a prolonged war was too great. Catherine tried to negotiate a settlement but any conciliatory moves towards the Huguenots was met with anger by the leading catholic families. Catherine de Medici seemed to have got herself into a position by 1570 that whatever she did was greeted with suspicion by the fighting factions and that a compromise towards one side would provoke the other and vice versa.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">Catherine de Medici moved back to a policy of moderation after 1570. Was this a realistic move ? A peaceful settlement would greatly benefit France so it is difficult to criticise her for this move but was it a feasible policy ? Catherine then produced what was considered a masterful move to weaken the power of the Guise family. She planned to marry her daughter to Philip II on Spain. This would give Catherine influence in the court of Madrid at a time when Spain was considered a major military power and the Guise family could not voice a complaint over this as Philip was known to be a staunch catholic.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> However, Philip refused the marriage proposal. Catherine then did something it is difficult to explain - she married her off toHenry of Navarre, son of the Huguenot Anthony of Bourbon. Such a move could only provoke the Catholics of France and it appeared as if Catherine de Medici was simply arranging family links to suit her purposes. The marriage to Philip if it had come off would only have angered less than 10% of the population. The marriage of a catholic member of the royal family to a Huguenot angered a substantial number and for this reason alone it is difficult to follow Catherine de Medici’s logic.</span><img src="http://www.cinemedioevo.net/Film/LO/mestiere05.jpg" /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">In 1571, Charles IX came under the influence of Coligny. The king called him ‘mon pere’ ('my father'). Coligny got Charles to think in terms of aiding the Calvinists in Holland. Catherine was furious at her loss of influence over her own son and it was made worse when Charles, persuaded by Coligny, sent an army to aid the anti-Spanish Louis of Nassau in the Spanish Netherlands. The French army was defeated and Catherine was fearful that France would be dragged into a war with Spain simply as a result of Coligny’s hold over her son. Catherine decided on a simple solution.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">On August 1572, the nobles of France gathered at the wedding of Margaret and Henry of Navarre. At this happening, Coligny was shot and wounded. If Charles IX ordered an inquiry Catherine's involvement would become plain for all to see. Catherine decided on a massacre of all Huguenot leaders and she persuaded her son that they, the Huguenots, were planning a general takeover of France and that they had abused their friendship of the king. The Saint Bartholomew’s Massacre followed. This was celebrated throughout catholic Europe. Almost certainly Catherine wanted a limited operation but about 6000 Huguenots were murdered in a plan that got out of hand. The consequence of this massacre was to put Catherine de Medici at the mercy of the Guise family who knew of her role in it. In fact, the Duke of Guise supervised the murder of Coligny himself. Catherine de Medici lost all her influence. "Her role shriveled into one of pathetic manoeuvring between the noble factions which really governed France." (Williams)<img src="http://webgossip.myblog.it/media/01/01/3481016022.jpg" style="line-height: 19px;" /></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Her sudden move to extremism alienated both the Politiques and the Huguenots. Catherine was identified with the Catholics at their most extreme and intolerant. The crown was seen to be all but impotent and the Huguenots and Politiques set-up what was essentially a state-within-a-state in the south. This was called Languedoc. The region was lead by Henry of Montmorency-Damville. "Damville was the <span style="font-size: small;">de facto ruler of all France south of the Loire." (Lockyer) This was a damning indictment of the crown's weakness. However, many in </span></span><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3006/3092256057_f8ff30e42c.jpg" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Languedoc looked to Catherine's youngest son, the Duke of Alençon to lead them. Alencon hated his brothers as they stood in the way of his desire for the throne. Alencon attempted a coup d’etat which failed and Catherine arrested both Alençon and Henry of Navarre.</span></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEP4Ozjw_5kUpilmS8NIS_U_ptN2LbILuXYoqSNkp3KNYhvivmRzazXqJmG7q-CWwn1d8jgl3QtS7ZtXhVqmHVzyiE3SGsCAFY6DXHpQT6VXavV9d1ydOusQ8kNR1ihNKXADt9xfwlRF7/s640/matrimoniodicaterina_75387.jpg" height="640" width="387" /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b style="background-color: black;">On the death of Charles IX, the Duke of Anjou returned from Poland and became Henry III in February 1575. Catherine urged Henry III to organise his court and then moved away from politics as she expected her son to easily cope with problems. But both Navarre and Alencon escaped from prison and went to Languedoc where Damville protected both. Both men blamed the Guise family for the problems of France as opposed to the monarchy and they organised a military force. The fifth war was uneventful and both Henry III and Catherine realised that the crown would have to come to terms with the Huguenots. Alencon was now Duke of Anjou — a title his brother had given up. He negotiated the Peace of Monsieur in May 1579. This produced a huge catholic backlash and lead to the creation of the Catholic League or Holy Christian Union lead by Henry of Guise. They saw their task as defending the catholic faith at all costs.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: small;"><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1577 to 1584 was an era of tenuous and fragile peace which could have been broken at any time. In 1588 Henry III dismissed those ministers who had been appointed by him on the advice of Catherine and in 1589 Catherine died of pneumonia</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">.</span></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-77884611216888040842015-03-25T10:14:00.001-07:002015-03-25T10:14:24.972-07:00war in wisconsin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img src="http://www.oldgloryprints.com/Bardans_Sharpshooters_by_Troiani.jpg" height="507" width="640" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">With the outbreak of the</span><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span>American Civil War<span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">, the northwestern state of</span><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span>Wisconsin<span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">raised 91,379 soldiers for the</span><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span>Union Army<span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">, organized into 53</span><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span>infantry<span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span>regiments<span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">, 4</span>cavalry<span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">regiments, a company of</span><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span>Berdan’s <img src="http://www.gijoecanada.com/images/oryon_union%20sharpshooters_db6034.jpg" height="426" width="640" />sharpshooters<span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">, 13</span><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span>light artillery batteries<span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">and 1 unit of heavy artillery. Most of the Wisconsin troops served in the</span><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span>Western Theater<span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">, although several regiments served in Eastern armies, including three regiments within </span><img height="358" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSGkHco2GyUzpaE86oYwhfvRT6DT5SZh527jKJu3fPPXJT502MAdQ" width="640" /><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">the famed</span><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span>Iron Brigade<span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">. 3,794 were killed in action or mortally wounded, 8,022 died of disease, and 400 were killed in accidents. The total mortality was 12,216 men, about 13.4 percent of total enlistments.</span><img alt="File:OldAbe005.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/OldAbe005.jpg" /></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Approximately 1 in 9 residents (regardless of age, sex or qualification for service) served in the army, and, in turn, half the eligible voters served. Wisconsin was the only state to organize replacements for troops that had already been fielded, leading northern generals to prefer having some regiments from the state under their command if possible.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A number of Wisconsin regiments were distinguished, including three that served in the celebrated Iron Brigade— the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Wisconsin_Volunteer_Infantry_Regiment" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment">2nd Wisconsin</a>, 6th Wisconsin, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7th_Wisconsin_Volunteer_Infantry_Regiment" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment">7th Wisconsin</a>. <img alt="File:Flag of Wisconsin.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Flag_of_Wisconsin.svg/675px-Flag_of_Wisconsin.svg.png" style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;" /><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">All were noted for their hard fighting and dashing appearance, being among the only troops in the </span>Army of the Potomac<span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> to wear Hardee hats and long frock coats. They suffered severely at the </span>Battle of Gettysburg<span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> in July 1863. The 8th Wisconsin, another hard-fighting regiment, was often accompanied into battle by its mascot, Old Abe,</span><img alt="File:OldAbe005.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/OldAbe005.jpg" height="640" style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;" width="467" /><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> a bald eagle.</span><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">Northeast Wisconsin saw a huge influx of immigrants from Belgium in the mid 1800s. It began in 1852 when two Belgian families decided to make the move to America. They were unhappy with the monarchy and sought what is now known as the "American dream".</span><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">Belgians then flooded Brown, Door and Kewaunee counties. They settled towns named after cities in the Old Country, such as Brussels, Namur and Rosiere. These three counties still hold a significant amount of people with Belgian roots.</span></span><img height="350" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;" width="640" /></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was not long before the new immigrants were forced into major issue the United States was facing, the Civil War. War rosters were first filled by volunteers. When newspapers made more reports of casualties, the number of volunteers fell, forcing states like Wisconsin</span><img src="http://0.static.wix.com/media/15695a07de03a45b48ac63e325e48b6e.wix_mp_256" style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> to start a draft. Belgians thought they were safe because they didn't consider themselves citizens, but the government stretched definitions to fit most men. In order for immigrants to receive land, they had to sign a "Declaration of Intent" which said they intended to become American citizens at some point. This made them eligible for the draft.</span><img src="http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mjECPTw9Zi3_jRjNuG8_qyA.jpg" style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;" /></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Draft Processes</span></b><img src="http://www.civilwar.si.edu/soldiering_images/berdanuniform.jpg" style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;" /></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Each town's assessor was assigned to gather a list of men, age 18-45, healthy enough to fight. Belgian families felt they were unfairly targeted by those in charge of drafts. In Door County,</span><img height="425" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTC3V_4UHE_vBR0fHn1MJo9XYzHLSkTBKJ914_q9-IGN2B62woN1w" style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;" width="640" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> 40 of the 63 men drafted were Belgian. There were options for men to skip the draft, but not many, especially Belgian men, were successful. Doctors were flooded by potential soldiers claiming disabilities, which would allow them to stay home. Among the ailments claimed, there were hernias, lameness, poor sight or hearing, varicose veins and ulcers. In September 1862, Dr. H. Pearce verified disability 246 of the 454 men that sought a way out. Of those, 21 were Belgian. Shortly after, the first Civil War draft in Wisconsin was in November 1862. Finances surely came into play when it came to paying out of the draft as of 1863. Those who were desperate and able would pay $300 to get out of the war. A total of 862 men paid this, with a mere 18 of them being Belgian. The last option was for the draftee to find a substitute. This came into effect in 1864. It was difficult to find someone willing to go to war, but a substitute could have been a full-blooded Native American, a minor, or a non-citizen.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Riots</span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After it seemed to many Belgian people that the draft was fixed, emotions began to run high. One of the biggest issues was the language barrier. Few Belgian immigrants spoke English, therefore could not understand why they were being drafted into a war they had no intent of being a part of. Anger soon overcame these men. They would form marches with clubs, pitchforks and guns. They wanted to see fair enrollment processes. In one of the most explosive <span class="goog_qs-tidbit goog_qs-tidbit-0" style="background-color: inherit; color: inherit; display: inline !important; text-decoration: inherit;">demonstrations, colonists formed and marched into the city of Green Bay.</span> They stood outside Senator Howe's home and demanded action. How addressed the crowd from his home. But because of the language barrier, the immigrants could not understand, Howe felt threatened and fled the city. Not feeling satisfied, the mob continued to march around the town until they found a fellow Belgian, O.J. Brice. Brice was able to calm the crowd in their native French. He explained that the drafting process would be filled with justice and fairness. The group was satisfied with his explanation in their own language. They then dissembled and returned home without damage or arrests<span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">While men were fighting, women were often forced to learn how to farm and do other manual labor. Besides having to tend to the home and children while the men were away at war, women also contributed supplies. Quilts and blankets were often given to soldiers. Some had encouraging messages sewn on them. One quilt that was made in 1864 by a group of women in Green Bay had the following poem:</span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">For the gay and happy soldier</span></span></div>
<pre style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px dashed rgb(47, 111, 171); font-family: monospace, Courier; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.3em; padding: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We're contented as a dove,
But the man who will not enlist
Never can gain our love.
If rebels attack you, do run with the quilt
And safe to some fortress convey it;
For o'er the gaunt body of some old secesh
We did not intend to display it.
T'was made for brave boys, who went from the West;
And squiftly the fiar fingers flew,
While each stitch, as it went to its place in the quilt,
Was a smothered "God bless you, boys," too.</span></pre>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-61059374692672895442015-03-23T14:39:00.001-07:002015-03-23T14:39:46.900-07:00harris<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The account begins with a description of Harris’ recruitment in the army via the militia and the 66th Regiment of Foot in Stalbridge<img alt="050113 02 Stalbridge church.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/050113_02_Stalbridge_church.jpg" style="line-height: 1.6;" /><span style="line-height: inherit;">, from where he was sent on garrison duty to Ireland and joined the 95th Rifles. The account reveals many details of army life in the period, including a graphic depiction of an execution by firing squad and a description of the actions and progress of a recruiting party through Ireland, which reveals the endemic alcoholism and religious rivalry which Ireland and the army of the time was subject to. Harris notes particular difficulty in separating Catholic and Protestant Irish recruits.</span></span><img src="http://www.dorsets.co.uk/photos/data/media/3/stallbridge_high_street.jpg" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6;" /></div>
<h3 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
<span class="mw-headline" id="Denmark" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Denmark</span></span></h3>
<div style="line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black;">Harris was sent to Denmark in 1807, where he participated in the campaign which surrounded the bombardment of Copenhagen</span><span style="background-color: black; line-height: 1.6;"><img alt="Copenhagen on fire 1807 by CW Eckersberg.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Copenhagen_on_fire_1807_by_CW_Eckersberg.jpg" height="640" style="line-height: 1.6;" width="498" /></span><span style="line-height: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black;">,</span><span style="background-color: black;"> including seeing his first fighting near</span></span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="line-height: inherit;"> </span>Køge<span style="line-height: inherit;"> </span><span style="line-height: inherit;">and observing</span><span style="line-height: inherit;"> </span>Congreve rockets<span style="line-height: inherit;"> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Congreve_rocket_img_2950.jpg/300px-Congreve_rocket_img_2950.jpg" style="line-height: 1.6;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: inherit;">in action for the first time. Harris also recounts further experiences of drunkenness and ill-discipline amongst the largely inexperienced soldiery. He also served in 1808 with several men who had participated in the</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: inherit;">South American expedition of 1807</span></span><img alt="La Reconquista de Buenos Aires.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/74/La_Reconquista_de_Buenos_Aires.jpg" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: inherit;">, and offers <span style="background-color: black;">comment and anecdotes on that campaign and the subsequent trial of General</span></span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: inherit;">John Whitelocke</span><img alt="John whitelocke.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/John_whitelocke.jpg/220px-John_whitelocke.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: inherit;">, whom Harris holds in contempt.</span></span></span></div>
<h3 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
<span class="mw-headline" id="The_Peninsula"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The Peninsula</span></span></h3>
<div style="line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the summer of 1808 Harris was dispatched to Portugal to participate in the opening actions of the Peninsula War, seeing action in the opening skirmish at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93bidos,_Portugal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Óbidos, Portugal">Óbidos</a>and subsequently the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Rolica" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Battle of Rolica">Battle of Rolica</a>, where Harris’ unit was heavily engaged and Harris offers a vivid description of the engagement, at which a number of his close friends were killed. This is followed by a description of the Battle of Vimeiro <img alt="Batalha do Vimeiro.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Batalha_do_Vimeiro.jpg/800px-Batalha_do_Vimeiro.jpg" style="line-height: 1.6;" /><span style="line-height: inherit;">where he was again heavily engaged and follows the army on the ensuing march to</span><span style="line-height: inherit;">Salamanca</span><span style="line-height: inherit;"> </span><span style="line-height: inherit;">and the clash with the French at</span><span style="line-height: inherit;"> </span><span style="line-height: inherit;">Sahagún</span><span style="line-height: inherit;">. This is followed by a graphic depiction of the horrific march northwards during the Galician campaign culminating in the</span><span style="line-height: inherit;"> </span><span style="line-height: inherit;">Battle of Corunna</span><span style="line-height: inherit;">. Harris and his regiment were amongst the final troops evacuated from the beaches, and they returned to England where Harris served in recruitment and training positions, thus providing readers with a rare insight into rural Georgian England from a lower class perspective.</span></span></div>
<h3 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Walcheren_and_illness">Walcheren and illness</span><img src="http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/lookandlearn-preview/A/A012/A012268.jpg" style="line-height: 1.6;" /></span></h3>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is brash and noisy where once it was sleepy. There are crowds of people where once folk drifted by in twos and threes. There are cars, sounding like clockwork trains as they chug past in low gear, where once big raw-boned horses stepped sedately. There is hygiene, clean air and concrete where once there were stagnant waters and flies. There is life where once there was a graveyard.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Where? On the island of Walcheren at the mouth of the River Schelde on the southern frontier of Holland. There in 1809 a British army lay down and died, victim of criminal neglect, by its government, its leaders and its doctors.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The army had been sent to Walcheren to weaken Napoleon in the west. By destroying the enemy’s fleet in the Schelde, by destroying its arsenals at Flushing and Antwerp, Britain would not only have smashed a significant concentration of Napoleon’s forces but she would have established a powerful base from which to operate in the Low Countries.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Unfortunately, although the scheme looked well on paper, it was based on faulty intelligence about the plans and strength of the enemy and about the nature of the territory and waters.<span id="more-16016"></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Worse still, the Government was unfortunate in its choice of leaders. To command the expedition it chose Lord Chatham. He was a good soldier but he had one fault, he was lazy and, as a result, unpunctual; he was known as the late Lord Chatham, long before his death.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In charge of the naval force was Sir Richard Strachan, again an excellent seaman, but given to eccentric conduct. Either of the two men might have done great things by himself; together, they were the worst possible choice for an operation that depended essentially on co-operation and timing.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In early summer, the expedition was assembled, the greatest armament that had sailed from British shores. The troops numbered about 40,000 and there were 35 ships of the line, 23 frigates and 180 gun-boats and other craft. But it did not sail until July; this was not just a bad omen, it presented practical problems, since the waters along the coast of Holland were notoriously dangerous and the great fleet would have to navigate channels of constantly-changing form in unpredictable weather.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The French were expecting the force. The Government had tried to plan the expedition in secret but French spies kept Napoleon well informed as to its date of sailing and their information was corroborated by some escaped prisoners of war. Napoleon at once ordered the fortifications of the towns on Walcheren to be reinforced.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After its bad start, the expedition soon encountered further difficulties. Although the main force was to be concentrated on the Walcheren towns – Flushing, Veere and Middleburg – another section was intended to capture the island of Kadzan which lay opposite Flushing and formed a twin sentry at the mouth of the Schelde.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The main army ran into trouble with the weather as it approached Walcheren, changed its landfall and unloaded its troopships in foul seas, leaving men sprawled on the shores barely able to stand from sea-sickness.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The force bound for Kadzan was also unable to make its proper landfall and discovered too late that the island was more strongly held than had been imagined.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Eventually, the main army took Middleburg and Veere and turned to Flushing. But Kadzan remained untouched. This factor changed the course of the campaign. From the smaller island, re-inforcements were ferried across to Flushing. Thousands of men sailed from one garrison to the other and, owing to the disposition of their ships and men, the British could do nothing about it.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The siege of Flushing began. But not without difficulty. The siege-guns had to be hauled into position by gun-horses but they travelled slowly over the island’s narrow roads and, when they were taken across country, they became bogged down in the water-logged fields.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It had begun to rain, the dismal, grey sheets of unceasing rain that Holland knows so well. And, if that were not enough, Napoleon had ordered the sea dykes to be breached, flooding the British lines. Outside Flushing, the best regiments of the British army floundered knee- then thigh-deep in their trenches, vainly battering the town.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then in the damp, disease began to spread. Slowly at first, but with gathering momentum. Men fell sick from pneumonia, from rheumatism and from consumption, but most of all they went down with malaria and typhoid fever. Why? The low-lying moist ground was a breeding-place for diseases of this sort and the flies that hovered over the camp and the rats that ran around it helped to spread them.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Government itself was much to blame. It had assembled a great array of men and armour but had failed to back it up with sufficient money. The troops were quartered in dilapidated hovels and barns, instead of being billeted on the local people, to save the expense of providing accommodation. Their food was salty meat and weevilly biscuit, to save expenditure on fresh supplies from the area. To quench their thirst and drown their misery, the soldiers swigged Dutch spirits, ate tainted fruit and drank impure water. Sickness quickly followed. But, again as an economy, the sick were without warm clothing or blankets.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">An eye-witness, an officer visiting his men, wrote: “I was distressed to see in what miserable places the soldiers were put up. In one house I found fifteen men belonging to the 5th Regiment in a room scarce twelve feet square and with twelve of the men sick, and nothing but a couple of blankets to lie down upon.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At last Flushing fell. But Lord Chatham realised that his men could go no further. Over 4,000 were sick and more were falling ill every hour. His surgeons did what they could for the invalids but they had few resources. Later the Army medical authorities claimed that if the affair had not been a secret and if they had known to where the force was bound, they would have taken special precautions.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Once the condition of the forces was known, however, they were not much help. They tried to recruit local nurses, but in vain. They tried to bring out veterans to act as attendants; but since the Physician in Chief to the Army refused to venture out to the island, claiming that he knew nothing of soldiers’ diseases, it is scarcely surprising that they had little success. Eventually two leading medical men did come out to see what could be done but by then it was too late. All they could recommend was that the sick should be evacuated as soon as possible.<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3041/3006519826_a904461e15_o.jpg" style="line-height: 1.6;" /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was not only the sick who needed to be taken off Walcheren. It was the entire army. It was bogged down, its numbers gravely reduced, while its commanders quarrelled between themselves and quarrelled with the Government. It was clear that nothing more could be done on the island <img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQGEPZ7PAYN6UPC4z5cCjKi05VIaAHS6VEjiLfLHba3wgKu614G" style="line-height: 1.6;" /><span style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px;">and information was coming in that Napoleon was planning a counter-attack while the force was under strength. In October the Government agreed to a withdrawal and by </span><img height="480" src="https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/LKKG9LEqe28/hqdefault.jpg" style="line-height: 1.6;" width="640" /><span style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px;">December the last man had left. At the final count, it was discovered that 106 men had died in battle; 4,000 had died of sickness; and that of the 35,000 survivors, some 11,500 were invalids.</span><img src="http://w0.fast-meteo.com/locationmaps/Vlissingen.8.gif" style="line-height: 1.6;" /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There have been several instances in British history when a campaign has become notorious for the inefficiency of its leaders, for the ill-fortune of its plans or for the hardships endured by its armies. <img src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/5f/b6/b7/5fb6b7cc92212c79198c73e46c478777.jpg" style="line-height: 1.6;" /><span style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px;">But rarely have all three disasters occurred on such a scale. A great enterprise was begun with </span><img height="429" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="line-height: 1.6;" width="640" /><span style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px;">overwhelming confidence for which there was no justification and was mismanaged in such a way that Britain lost many of her best soldiers at a time when she needed every man she could muster.</span><img src="http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/small/31634777.jpg" height="640" style="line-height: 1.6;" width="504" /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.8400001525879px;">It was fortunate for all concerned that the successes of Wellington in Spain and of the Allies on the continent gradually blotted out the infamous affair of Walcheren Island.</span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Topografie-Walcheren.jpg/1138px-Topografie-Walcheren.jpg" style="line-height: 1.6;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Starting on 30 July 1809, a </span>British<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> armed force of 39,000 men landed on Walcheren, the </span><span style="line-height: inherit;">Walcheren Campaign</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, with a view to assisting the </span><span style="line-height: inherit;">Austrians</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> in their war against </span><span style="line-height: inherit;">Napoleon</span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, and attacking the </span>French<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> fleet moored </span><img src="http://www.gamewire.belloflostsouls.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/LateFrenchLightInfantry600x320.jpg" style="line-height: 1.6;" /><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">at </span>Flushing<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> (Vlissingen). The expedition turned into a disaster – the Austrians had already been decisively defeated at the </span>Battle of Wagram<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> in early July and were suing for peace. Meanwhile the French fleet had moved to </span>Antwerp</span><img alt="OlV toren en Boerentoren Antwerpen vanaf Linkeroever.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/OlV_toren_en_Boerentoren_Antwerpen_vanaf_Linkeroever.jpg/1024px-OlV_toren_en_Boerentoren_Antwerpen_vanaf_Linkeroever.jpg" style="line-height: 1.6;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, and the British lost over 4,000 men to a disease called "Walcheren Fever", thought to be a combination of </span>malaria<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> and </span>typhus<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, as well as to enemy action. The French suffered some 4000 dead, wounded and captured. With the strategic reasons for the campaign gone and the worsening conditions, the British force was withdrawn in December.</span><span style="line-height: inherit;">From England Harris and the 95th were sent to</span><span style="line-height: inherit;"> </span><span style="line-height: inherit;">Walcheren</span><span style="line-height: inherit;"> </span><span style="line-height: inherit;">to participate in the catastrophic</span><span style="line-height: inherit;"> </span>Walcheren Expedition<span style="line-height: inherit;">. The narrator acutely </span><img height="384" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQVYm012AIyO-ZgInT25-oiGPEpQbr_8NRkHdUEv750uKG84obfAQ" style="line-height: 1.6;" width="640" /><span style="line-height: inherit;">demonstrates the squalid conditions and indecisive generalship which led to the ensuing disaster in the marshy land and high summer of Holland. Harris himself fell ill from the ague which killed two thirds of the expeditionary force, and thus also provides an insight into the medical care and treatments available to soldiers during the Georgian period, a </span><img src="http://www.vectis.co.uk/AuctionImages/440/4125_l.jpg" style="line-height: 1.6;" /><span style="line-height: inherit;">disease from which he never fully recovered. For the next three years, despite determined efforts to rejoin his unit in Spain, Harris was unable to participate in the wars due to his recurring</span><span style="line-height: inherit;"> </span>malarial<span style="line-height: inherit;"> </span><span style="line-height: inherit;">fevers. During this period of inactivity and ill-health at the depot in</span><span style="line-height: inherit;"> </span>Hythe</span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Hythe1830.jpg" style="line-height: 1.6;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: inherit;">, </span><span style="line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: inherit;">Harris recounts many stories told to him by his comrades and contemporaries of their service on the Peninsula, including tales of the</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: inherit;">Siege of Badajoz</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: inherit;">and the</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: inherit;"> </span>Siege of San Sebastian<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: inherit;">.</span></span><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3762/11731861143_3bb27c4663_b.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6;" /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In 1813 and 1814, Harris was attached to the 8th Veteran's Battalion based in London, having been rejected from foreign service by the Duke of Wellington, who decreed no survivors of Walcheren were to serve in his army as none were fit for marching or fighting. There he served alongside several detachments of French deserters, again witnessing the frequent brutal punishment of the day, when a man was given 700 lashes for desertion. Stricken with illness, he was unable to rejoin his regiment during the Hundred Days Campaign and thus forfeited his pension. Nonetheless, Harris’ final words on the subject are very revealing. <i>"I enjoyed life more whilst on active service than I have ever done since, and I look back on my time spent on the fields of the Peninsula as the only part worthy of remembrance"</i>.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234993071806518594.post-38578320238281020742015-03-19T13:40:00.002-07:002023-01-14T05:47:26.813-08:00last charge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="beta" style="background-color: white; color: #706f6f; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 2.2rem; line-height: 2.6rem; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
<div style="font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">
<img alt="Antoine Fauveau Cuirass" src="http://www.nam.ac.uk/waterloo200/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Antoine-Fauveau-Cuirass-700x500.jpg" style="font-size: 2.2rem; line-height: 2.6rem;" />This is a French cuirass, a breastplate worn as body armour by French cavalry.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AD9yCqsQUyB4ejruHF78f06Wawbo7fMEWZGo55EwpB60GLpYfh0E3n3YGGMZjaUvbpAxF-gCvzMzdLog025GOoCyoVSb15uF2fTaR1B8vON7rhw-qWu0pBlNNvMivoel-Ed_h9SvucFLSWSzl13rXzyi41XU5PGtI0Ch245pKLPfqIPyIt2Oz6vk/s452/breastplate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="371" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AD9yCqsQUyB4ejruHF78f06Wawbo7fMEWZGo55EwpB60GLpYfh0E3n3YGGMZjaUvbpAxF-gCvzMzdLog025GOoCyoVSb15uF2fTaR1B8vON7rhw-qWu0pBlNNvMivoel-Ed_h9SvucFLSWSzl13rXzyi41XU5PGtI0Ch245pKLPfqIPyIt2Oz6vk/s320/breastplate.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br /> </div><div style="font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">The hole is from a British cannonball that smashed through the unlucky soldier’s chest.<img height="640" src="http://traditionoflondonshop.com/images/tennfigurer/30mm_War_game_Figures_Tradition_FC2.jpg" style="font-size: 2.2rem; line-height: 2.6rem;" width="640" /><span style="font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 2.6rem;"> The Waterloo campaign was the first occasion that British troops found themselves face to face with Napoleon’s heavy cavalry, whose armoured cuirasses and metal helmets made them a daunting foe.</span><img height="256" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQxLB1j9zBa00Xe8s_NwgxcKimgooi7hneUSUqtyVIjh8H1XQZf" style="font-size: 2.2rem; line-height: 2.6rem;" width="640" /></div>
</div>
<div class="long-description" style="background-color: white; color: #706f6f; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">
<div style="font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">
Yet as the British would discover, even these armoured troopers were by no means invincible as this breastplate brings home with shocking force.<img height="640" src="http://traditionoflondonshop.com/product_thumb.php?img=images/30mm_Willie_E129-d1660749.jpg&w=378&h=400" style="font-size: 13px;" width="604" /></div>
<div style="font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">
The bulk of Napoleon’s heavy cavalry was made up of the twelve regiments of Cuirassiers, but the elite of the arm, in their own eyes at least, were the men of the two regiments of Carabiniers. With a lineage running back to 1679, the Carabiniers had only been given cuirasses in 1809.<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgZgexZSBuSsURPa5_SYniALmZvOSuyL0OnfVvhLfa8NjOfKZZTPP4VqnFpBxgTqBs0CRpdF-5rybCzKpmsC0b1zVGkzb6modMVOKZUvKpPZba7ybET9F4goA7NdQlfFocsSoIY0wodYr/s1600/French_Cuirassiers_07.jpg" style="font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-size: 1.1em;"> Unlike the cuirassiers, their armour was gilded with brass rather than being of polished iron, and their old blue uniforms were changed for white. Both regiments served with distinction throughout the Napoleonic Wars, and in 1815 were brigaded together under Général de Brigade Blanchard as part of Général de Division Kellermann’s III Corps de Cavalerie.</span><img src="http://www.louis-liljedahl.se/bild-js-img064.jpg" style="font-size: 13px;" /></div>
<div style="font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">
Riding in the ranks of the 2eme Carabiniers was 23-year-old trooper François-Antoine Fauveau. A recent recruit, Fauveau’s height of 1.79 metres gave him the ideal stature for a heavy cavalry regiment. These, after all, were intended to be big men on big horses, riding down the enemy by the weight of their charge. The young man’s service papers also record that he had a long, freckled face with a large forehead, blue eyes, aquiline nose, and a small mouth.<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCBiT6qzMufWdp_49M-juB_EHlZnqfNops-_oxCkGM1uyn990Y3bFPrfx_mi3Ui4dUaLpM0DCgtSgC-rZSNhG0H2uBK9SgCltlWkwEFR7TdjDaS6RiU6GUmZzbVj2wYHqo6puYrL_K4po/s1600/French_Cuirassiers_01.jpg" style="font-size: 13px;" /></div>
<div style="font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">
During the afternoon of June 18th, the Carabiniers, along with the rest of the French heavy cavalry, were thrown repeatedly against the squares of allied infantry on the ridge forming the centre-right of Wellington’s line. As the cavalry charged, allied gunners kept them under fire until the last moment before dashing for the safety of their supporting infantry, and it was from one of their guns that Fauveau received his death-wound. Although impressive to look at, and capable of turning a sword-stroke or a pistol ball, no cuirass could deflect a cannon shot.<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyrEdvVzqEclThrD1wBGf2StVgSQZQjFDIMiN1CXGPJycgt9F_FURDE2lFqbbIFN9cTtXSluUy-h52-sgabRkZiOyM0PFnNcxJgAHle7bUvdkThdQUxcV5y1JgqTfcV8Zg-bjKNrslwG9/s1600/French_Cuirassiers_10.jpg" /><br />
There is, however, a twist to the tale. Family legend has it that when his call-up papers arrived, François-Antoine was on the point of getting married, so his brother joined up, and died, in his place. Yet whoever was wearing it on June 18th, this cuirass serves to emphasise the brutality of Napoleonic warfare at a most personal level.</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0