May 24 in U.S. military history: NYC fire fighters occupy Alexandria, and the first submarine rescue

1818: Gen. (future U.S. pres.) Andrew Jackson and his expeditionary army march into Spanish-controlled Florida, easily capturing the Gulf-coastal town of Pensacola. Col. José Masot, the Spanish governor, retreats to nearby Fort San Carlos de Barrancas (originally built by the British as “the Royal Navy Redoubt”) where he briefly puts up a token resistance – to save face – before hoisting the white flag there, too.

1861: Less than 24 hours after Virginia secedes from the Union, a regiment of Zouave infantry consisting of volunteer fire fighters from New York City land at Alexandria and occupy the town. The regiment’s commander (and personal friend of President Abraham Lincoln), Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth, becomes the first Union officer killed in the Civil War when he is shot while taking down a Confederate flag.

1939: A day after the submarine USS Squalus sinks during a series of test dives off the coast of Portsmouth, N.H., the submarine salvage ship USS Falcon arrives and begins rescue operations. Although 26 sailors drowned instantly when the submarine went down, divers use a newly designed rescue chamber to save the remaining 33 crewmembers. Four divers are awarded the Medal of Honor for the world’s first rescue of a submarine crew in deep water, and

Excerpt - read the rest at UNTO THE BREACH

A hotel now stands on the site where Col. Elmer Ellsworth was killed.  The Sons of Confederate Veterans put up a plaque honoring the innkeeper without mentioning that "damn yankee" who was killed there.

Thanks for this!

WoW! The MOH for the rescue divers! I didn't know that.

Double post

Today in history. Operation Red Wing is underway..  at least prepping for the hike to the hide site

Today , 32 years ago,  I stood on the yellow footprints for the first time...

Grant begins to parole the Confederates captured at Vicksburg.

75 years ago, the Battle of Edson's (Bloody) Ridge.

Not a mention of it in MSM.