JUNE 3 — 1781 – Jouett warns Jefferson of British attack; 1956 Santa Cruz bans rock n roll; 1916 Wilson signs National Defense Act; 1871 Jesse James robs bank, steals $15G
JUNE 3
1781 – Jack Jouett rides to warn Thomas Jefferson of British attack.
…The government in Virginia was under constant harassment by the British redcoats led by General Lord Charles Cornwallis. As Virginia governor, Jefferson was having a hard time keeping it together, dealing with a ruined state economy, out-of-control inflation, a never-ending need for supplies and troops, and a despised enlistment policy. Cornwallis intended to conquer Virginia, once the largest and richest English colony, to cripple American’s war effort.
He sent Lt. Col. Banister Tarleton, or as the continental army called him, Bloody Tarleton, and 250 mounted British soldiers to go after Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, Benjamin Harrison, and General Thomas Nelson Jr. Cornwallis had intercepted intel that Jefferson and his officers were holed up in Charlottesville resuming legislation.
But here comes the Paul Revere of the south. Captain Jack Jouett, a 26-year old fierce captain, saw Tarleton’s army head towards Charlottesville. He guessed their plan, and got a headstart. Jouett, according to Jefferson, knew the byways of the neighborhood, passed the enemy’s encampment, rode all night, and before sunrise of the next day called at Monticello. The ride took 40 miles.
Jefferson even supposedly offered Jouett a glass of Madeira before he continued onto Charlottesville to rouse the assemblymen there. By the time Tarleton arrived, Jefferson had escaped further south to Lynchburg.
Unfortunately for some reason Jouett never gained the widespread fame that Paul Revere got, but here this forum, like a boss!
1956 – Santa Cruz bands Rock n Roll,
…and sparks protests. Sleepy little Santa Cruz, just 70 miles south of San Francisco with a predominantly older population, made national headlines when local authorities banned that dirty music at public gatherings, calling the music “detrimental to both the health and morals of our youth and community.”
Is there something wrong with that? The ban was issued after a dance was shut down at a local civic center where police said that teenagers were engaged in obscene, abandoned, and highly suggestive dancing to the provocative rhythms of an all-negro band.
Ah the 1950s!
This sort of thing can only lead to juvenile delinquency and degeneracy will not be tolerated in the city of Santa Cruz, said police chief Al Huntsman. White people interacting with black people! When a white band played the same type of music at the civic center it wasn’t a big deal, so WTF? Oh no, said Huntsman. We have not problem with rock and roll music. It’s just what some people do while listening to it.
1916 – the Professor signs the National Defense Act.
… President Woodrow Wilson signed this federal law that updated the Militia Act of 1903, which related to the organization of the military, particularly the National guard. The 1916 act included an expansion of the Army and the National Guard, the creation of an Officers and an Enlisted Reserve Corps, and the creation of a Reserve Officers Training Corps.
The President was also given expanded authority to federalize the national guard, which changes to the duration and the circumstances under which he could call it up. The army began the creation of an Aviation arm, and the federal government took steps to ensure the immediate availability of wartime weapons and equipment by contracting in advance for production of gunpowder and other materiel.
1871 – Jesse James
…and his gang robs Obocock Bank in Corydon Iowa, takes off with 15 large, cold hard cash.
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