Today In History
5 Fun Facts About April 21 In West Virginia History
1. In 1863, Confederate General William E. Jones led his troops in a surprise attack on the Union garrison at Summersville, in what is now Nicholas County. The Confederates were able to capture the town and its supplies, but were forced to retreat the next day after an unsuccessful attempt...
5 Fun Facts About April 20 In West Virginia History
1. On April 20, 1863, West Virginia officially became the 35th state of the United States of America. After years of tension and conflict between the Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War, West Virginia was able to secure statehood to become its own entity within the country. 2....
5 Fun Facts About April 19 In West Virginia History
1. The Battle of Salem took place on April 19, 1863, during the Civil War. Union soldiers under the leadership of General William Rosecrans defeated Confederate troops and effectively secured control of northwestern Virginia. 2. On April 19, 1907, the West Virginia Legislature passed a law prohibiting the use of...
5 Fun Facts About April 18 In West Virginia History
1. In 1775, the First Virginia Convention met in Williamsburg and elected delegates to the Continental Congress, including three from present-day West Virginia, George Rogers Clark, Andrew Lewis, and Adam Stephen. 2. On April 18, 1861, Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee seized the U.S. Arsenal at Harpers Ferry,...
5 Fun Facts About April 17 In West Virginia History
1. On April 17, 1861, Virginia seceded from the Union. This decision was met with resistance in what is now West Virginia, leading to the formation of the new state in 1863. 2. In 1934, the first large-scale labor strike in West Virginia history began on April 17. Known as...
5 Fun Facts About April 16 In West Virginia History
1. The Battles of Charleston and Porter's Plantation: On April 16, 1862, Confederate General William W. Loring launched an attack on Union forces in Charleston, which resulted in the Battles of Charleston and Porter's Plantation. The Confederate forces were ultimately successful, but both sides suffered significant losses. 2. The West...
5 Fun Facts About April 15 In West Virginia History
1. The Blair Mountain Battle: On April 15, 1922, the Battle of Blair Mountain in Logan County, West Virginia began. This conflict marked the largest armed labor uprising in United States history, as over 10,000 coal miners fought against coal companies to demand fair pay and working conditions. The battle...
5 Fun Facts About April 14 In West Virginia History
1. In 1865, Union general Stoneman led a raiding party into southwestern Virginia and West Virginia starting from the Cumberland Gap. The raid was aimed to disrupt Confederate forces, destroy supply lines and liberate Union prisoners held in various Confederate prison camps. The raid ended on April 25 after covering...
5 Fun Facts About April 13 In West Virginia History
1. The Battle of Charleston occurred on April 13, 1862, during the American Civil War. Confederate forces led by General John B. Floyd attempted to retake Charleston, West Virginia, which had been occupied by Union troops. Despite outnumbering the Union forces, the Confederates were unsuccessful in their attack. 2. The...
5 Fun Facts About April 12 In West Virginia History
1. The state of West Virginia was officially admitted to the Union on April 12, 1862. This came after a long and tumultuous process which saw the western counties of Virginia break away from the Confederate state during the Civil War. 2. In 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt passed away...
5 Fun Facts About April 11 In Washington History
1. On April 11, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, also known as the Fair Housing Act, into law. This landmark legislation prohibited discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, or national origin. 2. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge, a suspension bridge that connected...
5 Fun Facts About April 10 In Washington History
1. In 1790, President George Washington signed into law a bill establishing the District of Columbia as the capital of the United States. The new federal district was carved from land ceded by Maryland and Virginia. 2. On April 10, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to...