Tuesday, February 1, 1876. The War Department takes over.

The Secretary of the Interior relinquished jurisdiction over all Plains Indians not on reservations to the War Department.

On the same day, the Secretary of the Interior reported that Sitting Bull's band had not reported to the reservation.

Last edition:

Monday, January 31, 1876. Expiration of ultimatum.

Labels: 1870s, 1876, Great Sioux War, Indian Wars, Native Americans, Northern Plains Region, The Frontier West

War Department

Donald Trump’s selection of Pete Hegseth to lead the Defense Department signals the incoming administration’s intention to enact significant changes at the Pentagon. Some of what the administration aims to pursue seems ill-advised; waging a culture war inside the U.S. military is a specious enterprise, whether prosecuted by the left or the right. However, the Trump administration could swiftly enact one cultural change at the Pentagon that would be for the good, and send a powerful signal aligned with the administration’s priorities: Trump could ask Congress to redesignate the Defense Department as the War Department.

The Atlantic. 

Thursday, March 11, 1824. Bureau of Indian Affairs formed.

 Today In Wyoming's History: March 11

Formed on this day, in 1824.  Taking over the role of various predecessor agencies, Secretary of War John C. Calhoun formed the bureau as a department within the Department of War, doing so without authority.

Last prior:

Friday, March 5, 1824. The First Anglo Burmese War commences.

Saturday, March 27, 1943. News of the bazooka.

 

Demonstration photograph of M1A1 Rocket Launcher.

The War Department officially released news of a new weapon, the M1A1 Rocket Launcher; the first "bazooka".

The first of a series of weapons, it would prove to be an enormously successful series which continues on in the form of various other rocket launchers, particularly those with an anti armor role.

U.S. Marine with a FGM-148 Javelin, a modern descendant of the first bazooka.

The British engaged in frontal attack on the Mareth Line, inflicting heavy losses on the Afrika Korps.  At El Hamma the Afrika Korps is forced to retire to new positions.

The heaviest RAF raid on Berlin to date took place.

Monday, December 24, 1900. Banning a hereditary right of slaughter.

The Eight Nation Alliance presented their twelve conditions for reform to the Chinese government.  Included amongst them were that China was to reduce its military, punish Boxer rebels, and pay $500,000,000 to the eight nations over a period of 60 years.

Secretary of War Elihu Root barred the hereditary right of slaughtering which had been granted a monopoly to the descendants of the Countess of Buena Vista in Cuba. They's sue, but lose.

Horse drawn street cars came to an end in Boston in favor of electric trolleys and elevated trains.

Pope Leo XIII conducted ceremonies to close the Holy Year, with the closing of the holy door in St. Peter's Basilica a year after it had been opened.

Last edition:

Sunday, September 23, 1900. AM.

Labels: 1900, 1900s, China, Philippines, Qing Dynasty, Radio, technology, Telegraph, Women

Friday, June 8, 1900. Boxers attack the racetrack.

Boxers burned the grandstand of the horse racing track at the country club for western diplomats in Beijing.  It unfortunately turned lethal when British horsemen at the track rode out to investigate and one drew a pistol and killed a Boxer, causing the Chinse government to surround the foreigners at the Peking Legation Quarter.

The War Department authorized the production of telescopic sights for rifles.  The rifle at the time was the Krag–Jørgensen rifle, which had proven unsatisfactory in comparison to the M93 Mauser used by Spain in the Spanish American War.

The sight consists of a telescope which is attached by means of brackets to the left side of the rifle. The front bracket is secured to the lower band by two screws, and the ring through which the telescope passes has a horizontal motion to provide for drift and windage. A ball-and-socket joint in this ring allows the telescope to be moved in any direction … The rear bracket is screwed to the side plate of the receiver, and the ring which holds the telescope has a vertical movement for changes of elevation.

Telescopes of three different powers are submitted for trial, viz. 8 diameters, 12 diameters, and 20 diameters. The medium power (12 diameters) gave the best results.

The telescope is of practically universal focus; that is, it does not require readjustment for different marksmen or for different ranges. The eye can be placed close to the eyepiece or several inches away without any apparent difference in the focus. Danger of being struck in the eye when the piece recoils can therefore be avoided.

The lenses are large and are held in place by having the metal of the tubes in which they are mounted spun over their outer edges. The telescope is light, but at the same time strong. The brackets for attaching the telescope to the rifle are strong and durable and there appears to be no tendency to jar loose.

The sight was tested by actual firings up to a range of 2,000 yards, each member of the board participating in the firings. As a result of this test, the board is of the opinion that the use of this telescopic sight appears to be of especial value in hazy or foggy weather and at long ranges. In either case the target can be seen with remarkable clearness, and the marksman can be absolutely sure that he is aiming at the proper object. This would be of especial importance to sharpshooters acting independently.

The ordinary sight is useful for accurate firing at a regular target up to about 2,000 yards; but it is impossible to see a man or even a small body of men clearly at that range unless projected against the sky or under other very favorable conditions. It is for this reason that volley firing is so largely resorted to at long ranges.

With a telescopic sight a man could be distinguished easily at 2,000 yards, even with an unfavorable background.

The board is of the opinion that this sight is suitable for use in the U.S. service, and recommends a number of them be purchased for trial by troops in the field. If found to be satisfactory, a sufficient number should be purchased to supply such a number of the sharpshooters of each organization as experience in the field shall indicate to be desirable.

Only seven scoped Krags were produced. Work was already commencing on a replacement for the Krag which would soon produce the M1903 Springfield, a rifle much more suitable for a scope, but which was not equipped with one for sniping purposes until World War One.

Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, June 8, 1900.

Last edition:

Thursday, June 7, 1900. Carrie Nation's first act.

Labels: 1900, 1900s, Alcohol, Kansas, Women's Christian Temperance Union