The British had tens of thousands of troops in America throughout the war, but still found it  necessary to increase their numbers by hiring foreign troops. German rulers hired out some of their regular army units to Great Britain to fight against the Patriots in the American Revolution.  By 1776 thousands of soldiers called “Hessians” […]

Last of the great Pirates of the Gulf, the legend of Jean Laffite is well known in Louisiana. We know little about his first 20 years, but by 21 we know that he had survived two duels. Ever been to  the Court of Two Sisters Restaurant in New Orleans? That’s where Laffite fought 3 more

“First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” These famous eloquent words about George Washington come from a eulogy written by Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee. Light Horse Harry was a highly-decorated officer in the Continental Army, member of the Continental Congress, governor of Virginia, father of the famous

There were plenty of fierce battles in the American Revolution, but few were as violent as six hours of hand-to-hand fighting that took place 100 miles from the Canadian border. Patriot General Herkimer and 800 militiamen were marching through a forest and bog so dense that you could not see a man 30 feet away.

The British Red Ensign Flag was well-known in the American Colonies during the 1700s.  The English Royal Navy adopted in in 1625, and it was used by English merchant ships from about 1650. During the 1700s the British Red Ensign Flag was the official British flag, and since the American colonies were British, it was

Americans from all 13 Colonies – now all states in the U.S. –  played vital roles in the War of Independence.  But the first rebel victory of the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Fort Ticonderoga, was won by a militia of less than 100 men, known as the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont.   Ethan

Things were tense on the West Coast in 1846. California was Mexican territory, but American settlers were a growing population. Mexico had reason to worry. They had already lost Texas to rebellion. When word reached California that a Mexican-American war was approaching, the California Americans were concerned the Mexican army might strike them first. American

The Irish flag, also known to many as the Irish tricolor or Bratach na hÉireann in local dialect, is easy to mistake with several other flags for sale, like Italy’s or Ivory Coast’s. But after reading all the interesting trivia about it, people will remember it and have a renewed respect for the country, its

The 50-Star Flag, also known as the ‘Stars and Stripes’, became the United States official flag on Monday, July 4, 1960, following Executive Order No. 10834 of the Late President Dwight Eisenhower. Prior to the Executive Order published on Tuesday, August 25, 1959, the United States recognized both of the 48-Star Flag and the 49-Star

Taking a gander at the German flag, you may wonder about the story behind the dark, red and gold. Beyond question, it is stacked with culture and custom. The flag itself passes on a rich German history, and the shades portray a specific pride for the German people. The following is a summary of 9