Here are a few things that have happen in history on this historic day:

July 4, 1776 – The Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress.

July 4, 1863– Vicksburg, the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River, surrendered to Gen. Grant and the Army of the West after a six week siege. With the Union in control of the Mississippi, the Confederacy was effectively split in two, cut off from its western allies.

July 4, 1882 – The "Last Great Buffalo Hunt" began on Indian reservation lands near Hettinger, North Dakota as 2,000 Teton Sioux Indians in full hunting regalia killed about 5,000 buffalo. By this time, most of the estimated 60-75 million buffalo in America had been killed by white hide hunters who usually left the meat to rot. By 1883, the last of the free-ranging buffalo were gone.

Birthday – Novelist and short-story writer Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was born in Salem, Mass. His works included; The Scarlet Letter, The House of the Seven Gables and The Blithedale Romance.

Birthday – Song writer Stephen Foster (1826-1864) was born in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania. Among his nearly 200 songs were; Oh! Susanna, Camptown Races, Swanee River, Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair, and Beautiful Dreamer. He died in poverty at Bellevue Hospital in New York.

Birthday – Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) the 30th U.S. President was born in Plymouth, Vermont.  He became President on August 3, 1923, after the death of Warren G. Harding.  In 1924. Coolidge was elected President but did not run for re-election in 1928.

We hope that all enjoy their celebration of freedom in this great nation.  Have a great 4th of July.

Loretta