has read the history of the United States chronologically will here have an opportunity to review the subject in a new order, with new relations and from a fresh point of view. The fact made apparent in this book that every day is an anniversary often of several events of contending importance may well check our over-readiness to declare a holiday upon any and every occasion. Indeed, so widespread is the field of usefulness that spreads before such a book as this that one hesitates to set limits upon it.

The care of the author to clear up moot questions. and obscure incidents is shown throughout the book. How the Declaration of Independence was signed; who actually said, "Millions for defense but not a cent for tribute!" to mention but two and at random. Equally worthy of note are the pains taken to bring the annals up to date: President Wilson's phrase, "Peace without Victory"; and the authoritative handling of the celebration of the first Catholic mass in America are but two of countless cases in point.

Oliver Wendell Holmes took delight in matching his life with that of the lexicographer Samuel Johnson who lived exactly a century before the genial Autocrat of the Breakfast Table. "American Anniversaries" enables the reader to look backward through the vista of the years and from this catalog of our national treasure in men and events to appraise anew the glory of our country's career. WILLIAM RABENORT.

New York, June 1, 1918.

NOTE

The various standard authorities on United States History have not fully agreed upon dates and other statistical details of a considerable number of events. The dates and other statistics given in this volume are the consequents of painstaking research. Corrections, or any authoritative information intended to eliminate discrepancies and fix details with permanent accuracy, will be received with gratitude by

THE AUTHOR.

JANUARY

January 1 (1752)-Betsy Ross (née Elizabeth Griscom) born at Philadelphia, Pa., year 1752; died at Philadelphia, Jan. 30, 1836. She was the widow of John Ross who was the nephew of Col. George Ross, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. It is claimed by her descendants that she was engaged by Washington to make the first American Flag showing stars and stripes. This claim was first formally made by William J. Candy in a paper read before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in the year 1870. (See Flag Day, June 14, 1777.)

Jan. 1 (1863)-The Emancipation of negro slaves went into effect, in accordance with Lincoln's proclamation, year 1863. (See Negro Emancipation, Sept. 22, 1862.)

Jan. 1 (1913)-Parcel Post system was inaugurated in the United States, year 1913.

Jan. 2 (1776)-First American Flag bearing seven red and six white stripes was raised over headquarters of the American army commanded by Washington, at Cambridge, Mass., year 1776. (See Flag Day, June 14.)

Jan. 2 (1863)—Battle of Murfreesboro (or Stone's River), Tenn., year 1863. This date is the anniversary, though the battle lasted from Dec. 31 to Jan. 3. General William S. Rosecrans (Union, 44,000 men) vs. General Braxton Bragg (Confederate, 45,000 men). Union loss. 9,500 killed and wounded; Confederate loss 9,236. The Confederates captured 2,800 Union men. In a technical military sense it was a drawn battle. In its aftereffects it was a Union victory.

Jan. 3 (1777)—Battle of Princeton, N. J., year 1777. General Washington (American, 3,000 men) vs. Colonel Mawhood (British, 1,800 men). American loss 100; British loss 430. A brilliant American victory.

Jan. 4 (1896)-Utah was admitted into the Union, year 1896.

Jan. 5 (1608)-Capt. John Smith was captured by Indians in Virginia. His life was saved by the Indian Princess Pocahontas, year 1608.

Jan. 5 (1777)-"Battle of the Kegs." First use of floating "mines" in American military history, year 1777. The kegs were loaded with explosives and set afloat in the Delaware river with intent to destroy the British fleet at Philadelphia. The attempt failed; none of the mines exploded.

Jan. 6 (1838)-Alfred Vail's successful telegraph instrument was completed and tested, year 1838. Three miles of wire were stretched around a room to test. It is the Vail receiving instrument, and not the Morse, which has survived in telegraphy.

Jan. 6 (1912)-New Mexico was admitted into the Union, year 1912.

FIRST NATIONAL ELECTION IN THE UNITED STATES

January 7, 1789

The Constitutional convention, after the necessary nine States had approved the Constitution, in 1788 reassembled and named "the second Wednesday in January, 1789," as the day upon which the States should hold an election to choose “electors" who would later choose the first President and Vice-President of the United States. (See April 6.)

The first national election was not a popular presidential election such as we have nowadays. Only Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts and New Jersey voted directly for the presidential electors. Seven of the other States had provided that these electors should be chosen by the legislatures. The remaining two, Rhode Island and North Carolina, had not yet accepted the Constitution and did not at all provide for any election. The cam

paign preceding the election was a contest between the "Federalists" and the "Anti-Federalists," the first two political parties in the nation. The Federalist leaders were Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay. The Anti-Federalist leaders were Patrick Henry, Aaron Burr, and Governor George Clinton of New York. Both parties favored George Washington for President and the contest was waged mainly to decide who should be VicePresident. The chief candidates for Vice-President were John Adams of the Federalists and George Clinton of the Anti-Federalists. There was a deadlock in the New York legislature between the Senate and the Assembly of that State, and no electors were chosen, so it was that New York did not participate in the election of the first President of the United States.

The men of Virginia, Maryland and Georgia at this election voted "viva voce," and not by ballot. They were required to speak aloud the names of the candidates they desired to vote for, and the clerks of election recorded the voters' names and their choices in the polling book. In New Jersey, the other State that voted directly, secret ballots were used.

The Federalists won overwhelmingly. April 6, three months later, the electors met at New York. The apportionment of electoral votes by States was as follows: New. Hampshire 5, Massachusetts 10, Connecticut 7, New York 8, New Jersey 6, Pennsylvania 10, Delaware 3, Maryland 8, Virginia 12, North Carolina 7, South Carolina 7, Georgia 5-a total of 88 votes. Rhode Island had been left out of the apportionment. No delegates appeared from New York and North Carolina. Two delegates of Maryland were absent, and there were two vacancies in the Virginia delegation. The law did not provide for "alternates," so the total number of electoral votes cast was actually 69.

Washington received the unanimous vote for President. The following was the vote for Vice President:

John Adams of Massachusetts 34; John Jay of New York 9; Robert H. Harrison of Maryland 6; John Rutledge of South Carolina 6; John Hancock of Massachusetts 4; George Clinton of New York 3; Samuel Huntington of Connecticut 2; John Milton of Georgia 2; James Armstrong of Georgia 1; Edward Telfair of Georgia 1; Benjamin Lincoln of Massachusetts 1.

John Adams therefore became first Vice President of the United States.

Jan. 7 (1800)-Millard Fillmore, thirteenth President of the United States, born in Cayuga County, N. Y., year 1800; died at Buffalo, N. Y., March 8, 1874. Was nominated by the Whig party for Vice President in 1848 and elected with Zachary Taylor, the candidate for President. On the death of President Taylor, he was inaugurated President, July 10, 1850, and served 2 years, 7 months and 24 days. The chief events of his administration were the passage of Henry Clay's "Omnibus Bill" (intended to settle the Slavery Question) in the year 1850, the settlement of the boundary between Texas and Mexico, the second invasion of Cuba by Lopez, and the reduction of letter postage to 2 cents.

Jan. 7 (1861)-Convention of seven seceding states met at Jackson, Miss. First flag of the Confederacy, colloquially called "the Bonnie Blue Flag," was unfurled, year 1861.

Jan. 8 (1790)-First annual Presidential message, delivered in a spoken address by President Washington to Congress, in New York, year 1790.

Jan. 8 (1815) Battle of New Orleans, year 1815. Gen. Andrew Jackson (6,000 Americans) vs. Gen. Pakenham (10,000 British). Overwhelming American victory. American loss 8 killed and 13 wounded. British loss 700 killed, 1,400 wounded, 500 prisoners. (See March 15, Birthday of Andrew Jackson.)

Jan. 9 (1861)-Steamship Star of the West sent by the Federal government from New York with supplies