Today In History

‘Andrew Cailloux, a Black captain, was a major figure in the First and Third Native Guards’ assaults on rebel positions at Port Hudson, LA, (a Civil War battle) on this date May 27, 1863. This victory helped the Union gain control of the Mississippi River.’

(picture: Creole Officers of the Louisiana Native Guards)

- CARTER Magazine

May 27th 1941: Bismarck sunk

On this day in 1941 during World War Two, the German battleship Bismarck was sunk in the North Atlantic. Of the 2,200-man crew, only 200 survived. The ship was named after Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, the driving force behind German unification in 1871. Despite suffering heavy damage in the previous days, the cause of the ship’s sinking is disputed; some claim it was due to British torpedoes, others claim the crew deliberately sunk it. The wreck of the Bismarck was discovered in 1989 by Robert Ballard who, just four years earlier, had discovered the wreck of the Titanic.

Today In History - 1894

Nicholas II becomes the last Tsar of the Russian Empire. His accolades include being the sexiest East European in his day and unsuccessfully increasing Russian influence in the Balkans which successfully caused the first World War. Although a nice guy, he was bad at his job. The Bolsheviks executed him and his entire family (including 2 servants and the cook) in order to insure there would be no spectacular return to the throne.

How they did it over there. [African American] troops of the 505th Engineers that returned on S.S. Roma showing how they used cold steel on the Huns. 05/26/1919 

Today In History

‘Althea Gibson, tennis legend, won the women’s singles championship in the French Open on this date May 26, 1956, becoming the first Black to win a major tennis title.’

(photo: Althea Gibson)

- CARTER Magazine