Kennedy's Military History Blog July 2007 Archive

July 31, 1667 - After two years of fighting, England and the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands end the Second Anglo-Dutch War by signing the Treaty of Breda. ... Read More

July 29, 1014 - At Kleidion in southwest Bulgaria, Byzantine forces under Emperor Basil II destroy the main Bulgarian army of Tsar Samuil. The culmination of decades of conflict, ... Read More

July 27, 1880 - Near Maiwand, Afghanistan an 8,500-man Afghan army led by Ayub Kahn routs and almost destroys a British brigade commanded by Brig. Gen. George Burrows. Departing ... Read More

July 26, 657 - The forces Ali ibn Abi Talib clash with those of Muawiyah I on the Plain of Siffin in Syria. Fought in an attempt to reunite ... Read More

July 25, 1969 - In a press conference, President Richard M. Nixon outlines his "Nixon Doctrine." This approach to foreign policy stated that the United States would continue to ... Read More

July 24, 1943 - Arriving over Hamburg at 12:57 AM, over 700 British bombers (left) strike targets, setting the city ablaze in the initial raid of Operation Gomorrah. ... Read More

July 23, 1923 - While driving through Parral, Chihuahua, Mexican revolutionary leader Francisco "Pancho" Villa is killed by unknown assailants. Beginning his career as a colorful bandit, Villa became ... Read More

July 22, 1298 - The Scottish army of Sir William Wallace is defeated by Edward I at the Battle of Falkirk. Marching north in 1298, Edward sought avenge the ... Read More

July 21, 1403 - The Royalist forces of King Henry IV (left) of England defeat a rebel army at the Battle of Shrewsbury. Feeling slighted by the king after ... Read More

July 20 ,1864 - On the anniversary of Confederate General John Bell Hood's (right) debut as commander of the Army of Tennessee at the Battle of Peachtree Creek, we take ... Read More

July 18, 390 BC - Facing a much superior Gallic army, the forces of the Roman Republic are routed at the Battle of the Allia. The conflict originated following ... Read More

In this photo gallery we take a look at the generals who guided Union armies during in the Civil War. Unlike the Confederacy, the Union had a series of ... Read More

July 16, 1862 - In reward for his stunning capture of New Orleans, Flag Officer David G. Farragut (left) is promoted the newly created rank of rear admiral. Farragut ... Read More

We wrap up our overview of the American Civil War with a look at the last two years of fighting in the Eastern theater. Following his triumphs in the ... Read More

July 13, 1900 - International troops under British Lt. Gen. Alfred Gaselee recapture Tientsin (Tianjin) from Chinese Boxer rebels. The army then pushed on to capture Beijing and relieve ... Read More

July 12, 100 BC - Future Roman general and leader Julius Caesar (right) is born in Rome. The son of Gaius Julius Caesar and Aurelia Cotta, Caesar joined the ... Read More

July 11, 1274 - Scottish king and military leader Robert the Bruce (left) is born. The first son of Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale and Marjorie, Countess ... Read More

July 9/10, 1943 - Operation Husky commences as Allied airborne and seaborne forces land on Sicily. Allied planners consented to the operation after deciding it was not feasible to ... Read More

July 9, 1790 - Fighting in the Gulf of Finland, near Svensksund (left), Swedish naval forces defeat the Russians leading to the end of the Russo-Swedish War. After launching ... Read More

We continue our look at the Civil War with this article focusing on the war in the West between 1863 and 1865. Follow Rosecran's campaign to defeat at Chickamauga ... Read More

July 7, 1798 - The US Congress rescinds all treaties with France and orders the US Navy to seek out and destroy French privateers and warships. Resulting from diplomatic ... Read More

July 5-6, 1809 - Near the village of Deutsch-Wagram, Napoleon (right) defeats an Austrian army under Archduke Charles, effectively ending the War of the Fifth Coalition. Following his defeat ... Read More

July 4, 1976 - Members of the Israeli Sayeret Matkal special forces raid the airport in Entebbe, Uganda and successfully rescue hostages taken from Air France Flight 139. On ... Read More

July 3, 1898 - Off the coast of Cuba, US ships led by Rear Admiral William T. Sampson and Commodore Winfield S. Schley destroy a Spanish squadron under Admiral Pascual ... Read More

July 2, 1644 - West of the city of York, an Allied army of Parliamentarians and Scots Covenanters defeats Prince Rupert and the Royalists at the Battle of Marston Moor. ... Read More

July 1, 1863 - At Gettysburg, PA the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia begin the Battle of Gettysburg. The largest and bloodiest battle ever ... Read More