MAY 19 — 1864 Harris Farm Engagement, Spotsylvania; 1884 Ringling Bros. start circus; 1892 Charles King invents pneumatic hammer; 1992 Amy Fisher shoots Buttafuoco’s wife; 1976 NBA: Happy birthday KG!
MAY 19
1864 – in Civil War news, The Harris Farm Engagement
…continues in the Battle of Spotsylvania. Confederate forces commanded by Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell attacked Brig. Gen. Robert O. Tyler’s heavy artillery division on the Union right flank near the Harris farm. Newly arrived from the forts protecting Washington DC, the inexperienced “heavies” fought infantry and stubbornly held their ground.
At dark, Ewell withdrew, ending the last major engagement of the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. The Confederates suffered 900 casualties at the Harris farm, the Federals about 1500. Two days later, the Union army marched to the North Anna River as Grant maneuvered south toward Richmond.
I know all this because I read it off a sign on Smith Station Road in Spotsylvania in Virginia on the right hand side if you’re traveling south about a half a mile from Courthouse Road. The result by the way is uncertain except for the unbelievable rives of blood that flowed. And the worst of the bloodshed was yet to come.
1884-The Ringling brothers start a circus.
Animal cracker anyone? Fun to bite the heads off! Five of the seven Ringling brothers, Albert, August, Otto, Alfred, Charles, John and Henry began promoting the Greatest Show On Earth around the state of Wisconsin. They juggled and performed skits and would later purchase the Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1907.
1892 – Charles Brady King invents the pneumatic hammer.
This is one of handful inventions this great American established. King was born February 2 1868 at Camp Reynolds on Angel Island, California. Is dad was a Civil War Union Army general, general John Haskell King. King was the first person in Detroit to design, build and drive a self-propelled automobile, three months before Hendry Ford built his automobile. At least, according to the Detroit Public Library, Automotive History Collection under King Papers. King also gave us the railcar brake beam, sparking mechanism, transmission, lubricated pulley, steam shovel and its apparatus, the valve-gear, steering mechanism, ballast-unloaded, spring suspension, and more.
1992 – Vice President Dan Quayle attacks Murphy Brown
…for being a single mother and as a poor example of family values. Murphy Brown was a situation comedy which aired on CBS from 1988 to 1998, and starred Candice Bergen as Murphy Brown a famous investigative journalist and news anchor for FYI, a fictional CBS TV newsmagazine.
When Quail made his comments on May 19 at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, the criticism led to the season premiere episode You Say Potato, I say Potato, in and implicit reference to Quayle’s famous inability to correctly spell the word potato. The episode focused on celebrating the diversity of modern American family.
The Brown-Quayle feud was cited by E! as #81 on its list of “101 Reasons the 90s ruled”.
Another reason the 90’s ruled in America is the Long Island Lolita.
1976 — Happy birthday KG!
No one and I mean no one has gotten more defensive rebounds in all of NBA history other than Kevin Garnett. He started his profession in high school when he became a McDonald’s All-American, then skipped college and went straight to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1995.
He was dangerous from the start. The Big Ticket Garnett led the Wolves to eight straight playoff seasons. Kevin the Franchise Garnett has also received the MVP, 15 All-Star games, won an All-Star MVP award, named defensive player of the year, and several other NBA and Defensive awards, not to mention the records he has in Minnesota.
Then he was traded in a massive deal to the Boston Celtics, where he took them to a championship. In 2013 he was traded again to the Brooklyn Nets and finally back to Minnesota where he retired in 2016. In all, The Kid Kevin Garnett has stolen 453 rebounds in his 22 years in the NBA. Happy birthday KG!
1992 — 17 year old Amy Fisher shot and severely wounded Mary Jo Buttafuoco, the wife of her lover Joey Buttafuoco. She was initially charged with first degree attempted murder but eventually pleaded guilty to first degree aggravated assault and served six years in prison. After her parole in 1999, Fisher became a journalist and writer, and when the career didn’t work she became a porn star.
Good times.