The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1929-04-25
APRIL IN L. S. HISTORY.

April has for years been known as
the fateful month in American his
tory. For it was in April that five
of our six great wars began. And the
Civil War, that greatest of all Am
erican tragedies came to a close IN
April. The Revolutionary War began
with the Battle of Concord and Lex
ington, on April 10, ITS. The Mexi-
can War commenced on April "a, 1916,
on the Texas frontier. The Civil War
began with the bombarding of Fort
Sumter by Comfortable troops on April
Il, 1861. The Spanish-American War
began officially on April 10, 1898, and
hostilities between the United States
and Germany commenced April 6,
1917.
The only major American war in
which America took part, that did
not begin in the month of April was
the War of 1912, and it is note
worthy fact that this is the only war
in which we have engaged that was
not complete victory for American
arms. AS noted above the Civil War
closed in the month of April, It was
brought to an end by the surrender of
Lee at Appamarox, Virginia, in April,
1865.
But to go back before the Reyolu-
ton we find April was troublesome
month then too. It was on April 20,
1876, that Bacon's rebellion commenc-
ed in the colony of Virginia. This
little war, although we do not talk
much about it today, caused quite a
lot of excitement at the time. One of
our Indian struggles broke out in
April too. This was the Blackhawk
war which commenced April 81, 1921
The Blackhawk war is notable in that
both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson
Davis were officers in the army that
took part in the struggle.
Everyone of course knows the story
If Concord and Lexington which
brought the opening of the Revolu-
ton, on April 10, IT'S. And on the
night before this struggle came the
famous ride of Paul Revere, which
has been immortalized in song and
story. The forces which took part in
the fight at Concord were small and
the battle would be called skirmish
in modern warfare. But is was of
prime Importance nevertheless. 1t
proved that the American farmers
could stand up against the trained
regulars Of the British army and the
success of the Americans in the strug-
gle at Concord bridge sent thrill of
patriotism through the entire thirteen
colonies.
Another important event in Ameri-
can history took place in April, IT'S.
For it was on the first day of the
month that Daniel Boone and a party
Of forty followers completed their his
toric journey over the Wilderness
Trail" and camped in Kentucky, on the
site of the present city of Boones-
borough. The march of western
civilization over the mountains was
on, even before the country had won
its freedom from Great Britain.
The United States added greatly to
its territory through the Mexican War
which commenced in April, 1876, but
even before this date we had a great
accession in territory coming in
April, through treaty and not through
force of arms. On April 80, 1903
was consummated the purchase of the
Louisiana Territory from France by
President Jefferson. The price was
fifteen millions and for this sum the
United States secured territory in the
middle west out Of which later We're
carved many Of our finest modern
commonwealths.
AS noted above the Civil War was
inaugurated by the bombardment Of
Fort Sumter, April IL, 1861. Three
days later President Lincoln calico
for 75,00D volunteers; on April II
Virginia seeded, and two days later
QhaOll NOluubSCtS NeAe HtldCk6u DIV
mob in Baltimore.
April, 1862, looms large in our his
tory too. On Aprils6 was fought the
battle Of Shiloh and during the month
the Union forces captured ISLAND
Number Ten, Beaufort and New Or
leans. On April 16, of the same
year, Congress passed an act abolish
ing human slavery in the District 0.
Columbia.
April, 1865, finally brought tn,
close of the great struggle between
the states. Petersburg and Richmon,
fell to the Union forces early in tn,
month. Following Lees surrender
noted above, General Johnston and tn
last Confederate army surrendered Of
April Goth. But in the meantime tn
whole country, North and South ha,
been saddened by the assassination 0
President Lincoln, on April 18th, il
Ford's theater. at Washington. TIL
story of this crime is too we'll know