Today in History

1775		George Washington orders recruiting officers to accept free blacks into the army.
1852		The richest year of the gold rush ends with $81.3 million in gold produced.
1862		Union General William Rosecrans' army repels two Confederate attacks at the Battle of Murfreesboro (Stone's River).
1910		John B. Moisant and Arch Hoxsey, two of America's foremost aviators, die in separate plane crashes.
1911		Helene Dutrieu wins the Femina aviation cup in Etampes. She sets a distance record for women at 158 miles.
1915		The Germans torpedo the British liner Persia without any warning killing 335 passengers.
1923		The Sahara is crossed by an automobile for the first time.
1930		Brewery heir Adolphus Busch is kidnapped.
1941		General MacArthur reports that U.S. lines in Manila have been pushed back by the Japanese.
1942		After five months of battle, Emperor Hirohito allows the Japanese commanders at Guadalcanal to retreat.
1944		Hungary declares war on Germany.
1965		California becomes the largest state in population.
1977		Cambodia breaks relations with Vietnam.