#OnThisDay September 27, 1862, Union Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler mustered into service the first African-descent regiment officially brought into the Union Army, the 1st Louisiana Native Guards, later redesignated as the 73rd United States Colored Infantry (USCI). Butler also commissioned 30 men of African descent as officers to command the regiment on the company level. battlefields.org/learn/artic…

July 1776 saw 56 statesmen in Philadelphia declare independence. But August 1776 witnessed tens of thousands of soldiers fight for that principle in Brooklyn. Without the sacrifice of the latter, the courage and political vision of the former would have been meaningless. Explore these exceptional events and the cities that shaped them in the newest issue of Hallowed Ground Magazine, Summer 2026 edition! Read several features online now, or become a member to receive a copy of this award-winning magazine straight to your mailbox. Learn more below ⬇️ battlefields.org/give/member…

Did you know that infamous traitor, Benedict Arnold, was critically important in the Patriot victory at the Battle of Saratoga? Join us in historic Saratoga, New York, for the newest episode of Historically Correct, as we challenge visitors at iconic historic sites and battlefields on The Liberty Trail to see how much they really know about the events that shaped our nation. This season of Historically Correct has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities (@NEHgov).

British victory at the Battle of Brandywine opened the road into the American capital at Philadelphia. They continued to advance, undeterred by the Battle of the Clouds and the attack at Paoli. The British entered Philadelphia unopposed #OnThisDay September 26, 1777. They held the city until June 1778. battlefields.org/learn/maps/…

Santos Benavides was the commander of the 33rd Texas Cavalry Regiment and the highest-ranking Tejano in the Confederate army. During the Civil War, he successfully defended Confederate cotton trade routes with Mexico and defeated Union forces at the Battle of Laredo. In May 1865, he participated in the last land battle of the Civil War, the Battle of Palmito Ranch. #HispanicHeritageMonth Learn more: bit.ly/4As519X

Even after the British took Philadelphia, the Patriots held onto Ft. Mifflin outside of the city. Its position prevented British warships from landing in Philadelphia, which limited their access to supplies. British Gen. Sir William Howe ordered a siege against the American position #OnThisDay September 26, 1777. The siege lasted until November 15, when the Americans finally surrendered the fort. battlefields.org/learn/revol…

The Nashville and Decatur Railroad, which supported Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman’s men during the Atlanta Campaign, was protected by fortifications at Sulphur Creek Trestle. #OnThisDay September 25, 1864, Maj. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Confederate cavalry surrounded Sulphur Creek Trestle and began an artillery bombardment. After two hours of bombardment, Union forces surrendered. battlefields.org/learn/civil…

Philip Bazaar was a Chilean immigrant who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the assaults on Fort Fisher in North Carolina in January 1865. During the battle, Bazaar carried dispatches under Confederate artillery fire, risking his life to ensure communications reached Union leadership. As part of the boat crew detailed to one of the generals on shore, he was also one of six men who entered the fort during the assault. #HispanicHeritageMonth battlefields.org/learn/biogr…

Join Garry Adelman on the Gettysburg Battlefield for another exciting preservation opportunity. With your help, we continue to piece together this battlefield, creating an expanded park for future generations. Learn more and donate today: bit.ly/4hrqk2P

Statesman and future Chief Justice John Marshall was born in Fauquier County, Virginia #OnThisDay September 24, 1755. President John Adams appointed him Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1801. As Chief Justice, Marshall helped to establish the principle of judicial review, defined the Necessary and Proper Clause within the Constitution, and deemed monopolies unconstitutional, which have all remained relevant in contemporary Court rulings. battlefields.org/learn/biogr…

#OnThisDay September 24, 1789, President George Washington signed the Judiciary Act, which outlined how the judicial branch operated and established a Supreme Court to review lower-court rulings and ensure they adhered to the Constitution. Since this Act’s passage, the judicial branch has only gone through minor changes in its operational policies. battlefields.org/learn/prima…

During the Texas Revolution, Tejanos, or Spanish-speaking settlers, fought on both sides of the conflict. These Tejanos fought for different reasons – land, religion, slavery, community – and they illustrate the complexity of the Revolution. In honor of #HispanicHeritageMonth, we’re sharing the stories of some of these Tejano heroes like Plácido Benavides, Carlos de la Garza, and Juan Seguín; check out the article below to learn more! battlefields.org/learn/head-…

During the Revolutionary War, Capt. John Paul Jones was given command of the USS Bonhomme Richard, which he sailed to Britain in 1779 to raid commerce ships around Scotland and Ireland. #OnThisDay September 23, 1779, Jones engaged a merchant fleet consisting of the HMS Serapis and Countess of Scarborough. Although the Serapis outgunned him, he refused to surrender and eventually captured the two British ships. battlefields.org/learn/biogr…

Juan de Miralles, a wealthy Spanish merchant and secret envoy for Spain during the American Revolution, established himself in Philadelphia in 1778. While in Pennsylvania, he gathered intelligence on British military movements and coordinated aid to the Continental forces, including arms, gunpowder, medicine, and monetary loans. #HispanisHeritageMonth battlefields.org/learn/biogr…

Through Margaret “Peggy” Shippen, British Major John André began corresponding with Benedict Arnold, whose anger at the Continental Congress motivated him to betray the American cause. After Arnold confirmed their partnership to help the British capture West Point in writing, André was stopped in Westchester County by patriot militiamen #OnThisDay September 23, 1780. When they searched him, the militiamen found papers confirming Arnold’s betrayal. André was charged in military court and found guilty of espionage. He was sent to the gallows and hanged on October 2, 1780. battlefields.org/learn/biogr…

#OnThisDay September 22, 1864, Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan’s Union corps outflanked Confederate Maj. Gen. Jubal Early by moving along Little North Mountain and attacking them on Fisher’s Hill. Confederate cavalry offered weak resistance, and the infantry, surprised, could not hold their own against Sheridan. When Early retreated to Rockfish Gap after being defeated, he opened the Shenandoah Valley to Sheridan’s two-week “scorched earth” campaign. battlefields.org/learn/civil…

President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation #OnThisDay September 22, 1862, after the bloody Battle of Antietam. The preliminary document stated that if the Southern states did not cease their rebellion by January 1, 1863, then the Emancipation Proclamation would go into effect. battlefields.org/learn/artic…

Who were the Union Army of the Potomac’s greatest division commanders? One honorable mention is James Ricketts! Find out who makes the full list on the newest episode of our podcast, Boom Goes the History.

While no official records exist of spy Nathan Hale’s final speech before his hanging 250 years ago #OnThisDay September 22, 1776, tradition holds that he uttered the now-famous phrase: “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” #American250 battlefields.org/learn/biogr…

Who were the Union Army of the Potomac’s greatest division commanders? Join Kris White, Garry Adelman, and Chris Mackowski as they debate and rank their top three picks, exploring the leadership, battlefield performance, and lasting impact of these often-overlooked commanders in the newest episode of our podcast, Boom Goes the History. Who makes the list—and who gets left out? Find out on today's episode! open.spotify.com/episode/0cu…