Military calendar traces historic battles, pivotal events

I have a military daily calendar — one of those I keep in the bathroom — and it has something for every day. It seems like throughout history there have always been wars. Here are a few examples.

On Sept. 3, 1651, in England, there was the Battle of Worcester. Cromwell’s New Army smashed Charles II’s Royalists, killing 3,000 with his 28,000 troops and forcing the king into exile.

On April 29, 1429, Joan of Arc entered Orleans, France, rallying French troops to lift the English siege in the Hundred Years’ War. Her 4,000 soldiers broke the six-month blockade, killing 500 English. For what it’s worth, I have been in Joan of Arc’s bedroom in France, as part of her house still exists.

In 313, there was the Battle of Tzirallum. Roman Licinius defeated Maximinus Daia, killing 34,000 in Rome’s civil war and securing the Balkans. In 1898, Commodore Dewey’s U.S. fleet destroyed Spain’s Pacific squadron in Manila Bay, killing just 361 in the Spanish-American War. His six ships outgunned Spain’s 13 ships.

Then, as a sideline, in 1789 there was the Mutiny on the Bounty. Fletcher Christian led the mutiny, seizing the ship while stranding Capt. Bligh in the Pacific.

Roger Gregory served as a captain in the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. He is a Priest River businessman.