History Photog

History Photog To say I am a history geek, well it’s the truth. I have a passion for it, ranging from researchin

01/07/2026

On January 7, 1789, America completed its first presidential election under the newly ratified Constitution. George Washington was unanimously elected by the Electoral College with 69 votes, setting a powerful precedent.

12/08/2025

Virginia in the American Revolution

07/09/2025

in 1755, the Battle of the Monongahela, or Braddock's Defeat, occurred in present-day North Braddock and Braddock, PA.

The British began their advance on Fort Duquesne early, expecting an ambush from the French and their Native allies at either of the two fords the army crossed that morning. To their surprise (and relief!), no ambush came. They continued the march to the fort in high spirits, believing the worst to be over.

Meanwhile, the French and their Native allies, led by Captain Daniel Liénard de Beaujeu, had been delayed in leaving Fort Duquesne--too late to take advantage of the vulnerability of their enemy at the ford crossings. Around 1 p.m., they ran into the British advance guard, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Gage, in the woods about ten miles from Fort Duquesne. Seeing the French and Indians in the trees, Gage ordered his men to open fire. Captain Beaujeu was killed within the first few minutes of the battle, throwing the French into disorder. However, the Natives rallied and continued the fight, taking it to the British flanks, attacking in a half-moon formation. Gage's advance guard, under heavy fire, began to withdraw--colliding with the rest the British column. The British, taking to their training, grouped in tight formations, making easy targets for the Natives and French. In the smoke from the gunfire and confusion of the attack, several British platoons accidentally fired on each other. The entire column dissolved in disorder.

For three hours the British fought against the French and Natives. Then General Braddock, was shot in the lung and fell from his horse. At that point, the British fight fell apart. They began to retreat to the river, which was orderly, at first. But Native attacks in close quarters turned the retreat into a bloody rout, with soldiers running in sheer panic back the way they had marched earlier that day.

George Washington, who served as an aide-de-camp to General Braddock, was, despite his lack of command, able to form a rearguard and coordinate the retreat, as well as ensure the mortally wounded General Braddock was conveyed back to safety.

07/06/2025

By July 4, 1863 word had spread that the Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania had been repulsed at Gettysburg. The Pittsburgh Gazette “managed to get out an extra” that afternoon, “slips of which were thrown from the office windows and eagerly scrambled for by the anxious multitude.”

Although the citizens of Pittsburgh and Allegheny continued to labor on earthen defenses in their communities, this 87th observance of Independence Day brought with it even more reason to celebrate. The Pittsburgh Daily Post described the scene:

“In every direction flags were flying, artillery booming, guns and pistols cracking, and fireworks of all kinds were exploding… Old and young, rich and poor alike joined in the universal jubilee. After dark rockets from the forts sprang up into the clouds in every direction, showing the locality of the different lines of fortifications that completely encircle the city.”

Image: Fort Herron on Herron’s Hill, from which fireworks were first set off on July 4, 1863 (Carnegie Library Collection)

Cashtown InnDuring the Gettysburg Campaign, the inn became the headquarters for many Confederate officers and staff, inc...
06/30/2025

Cashtown Inn
During the Gettysburg Campaign, the inn became the headquarters for many Confederate officers and staff, including Generals A. P. Hill, John D. Imboden, and Henry Heth. The basement also served as a field hospital during the battle, and it is said that so many amputations were performed, that the limbs piled up outside blocked any sunlight from coming in the cellar window.

#

By 6:30 a.m. on June 6, 1944, about 18,000 soldiers were on the ground. The Gold, Juno, Sword and Utah beaches were won ...
06/06/2025

By 6:30 a.m. on June 6, 1944, about 18,000 soldiers were on the ground. The Gold, Juno, Sword and Utah beaches were won quickly by British and Canadian forces, but Omaha Beach proved difficult.

“Guys were drowning. The water was red with blood. Guys getting wounded and killed. I really wasn’t afraid of any of that. I was afraid of drowning. Once I got on land, things were worse, you know?” - Pvt. Rocco Moretto.

By 8:20 a.m. on Omaha Beach, Germans were shooting at American soldiers. The Allies encountered rising tides and obstacles on the beach, and more than 3,000 soldiers couldn't fight anymore.

The battle continued, and three hours later, the Allies had launched a formidable response. Prime Minister Winston Churchill told members of parliament, "So far the commanders who are engaged report that everything is proceeding according to plan. And what a plan!"

Meanwhile, Adolf Hi**er reassured his commanders that the invasion was a good thing; he reasoned that it gave the N***s access to the Allied forces.

But near Normandy, the Allies continued to advance against the Germans, with more than 156,000 troops on shore by the end of the day.

Up to 12,000 Allies and 9,000 Germans were killed that day.

The Allies went on to liberate Bayeux on June 7.

"They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

"The 6th June is not a day like others: it is not just the longest day or a day to remember the dead, but a day for the living to keep the promise written with the blood of the fighters, to be loyal to their sacrifice by building a world that is fairer and more human." — French President Francois Hollande

Let us not forget those who sacrificed so much in the name of freedom -

"When you go home tell them of us and say: for your tomorrow we gave our today"

05/29/2025

in 1763, three men reached Fort Pitt with news that American Indians had raided Col. William Clapham's plantation on the Youghiogheny River, near what is now West Newton.

This uprising, later called Pontiac's Rebellion after the Ottawa chief who played a key role, brought together tribes from the Great Lakes and Ohio regions. They aimed to push the British army and settlers back across the mountains to keep control of their land. A few days after the raid on Clapham's plantation, Native American forces began a siege of Fort Pitt, which lasted until early August.

📷 A painting by Nat Youngblood that shows the picketed Ohio Bastion with the burned remnants of the Lower Town (destroyed in hopes of denying cover to the attacking force) in the background.

Parker’s RevengeApril 19th, 1775Parker's Revenge is the name given to the second engagement between the British regulars...
04/19/2025

Parker’s Revenge
April 19th, 1775
Parker's Revenge is the name given to the second engagement between the British regulars and the Lexington militia company under Captain John Parker.

#250

The Lexington Militia Re-enter the FightApril 19th, 1775 #250
04/19/2025

The Lexington Militia Re-enter the Fight
April 19th, 1775

#250

Munroe TavernApril 19th, 1775Munroe Tavern was built in 1735 by David Comee. In 1770, William Munroe bought the retail s...
04/19/2025

Munroe Tavern
April 19th, 1775
Munroe Tavern was built in 1735 by David Comee. In 1770, William Munroe bought the retail shop from John Buckman Jr.
He obtained permission from the town to operate as a tavern in 1774. It then served as a temporary headquarters and field hospital for British Brigadier General Earl Percy and his 1,000 reinforcements on the afternoon of April 19, 1775. Fourteen years later, President Washington dined at the tavern when he visited the Lexington battlefield in 1789. The Munroe Tavern is owned and operated by the Lexington Historical Society.

#250

Hartwell TavernApril 19th, 1775The battles of Lexington and Concord took form before dawn on April 19, 1775. Soldiers pa...
04/19/2025

Hartwell Tavern
April 19th, 1775
The battles of Lexington and Concord took form before dawn on April 19, 1775. Soldiers passed by the tavern on their way to Concord, and again on their way back to Boston. Three of the Hartwells' children — Samuel, John and Isaac — were in the Lincoln minutemen that fought at Old North Bridge and on the battle road. All three later served in the Revolutionary War.
Paul Revere and William Dawes were detained by a British Army patrol nearby during the "Midnight Ride" to Concord of April 18. Samuel Prescott, who was also riding with them, escaped by jumping his horse over a wall and into the woods. Prescott emerged at the Hartwell Tavern, awakened Ephraim and informed him of the pending arrival of the British soldiers. Ephraim sent his black slave, Violet, down the road to alert his son and his family. Mary then relayed the message to Captain William Smith, commanding officer of the Lincoln minutemen, who lived a little to the west and whose home still stands along Battle Road. The minutemen received the notice in time, and arrived at Old North Bridge before their enemy. Prescott made it to Concord.

#250

The Bloody AngleApril 19th, 1775As the British column retreated through two sharp bends in the road today known as the B...
04/19/2025

The Bloody Angle
April 19th, 1775
As the British column retreated through two sharp bends in the road today known as the Bloody Angle they were met with enemy fire on both sides of the road. Catching the regulars in a devestating crossfire, one Militiaman recalled, "...[the] enemy left many dead and wounded and a few tired..." Another militiaman estimated at least eight regulars were killed at the Bloody Angle with scores of others wounded.
.
Unfortunately, for the weary British column, the fire did not end after passing the second road curve. With more militia joining, the battle swept through woodlots and farmfields leading toward the Hartwell homesteads. When the fighting continued eastward, at least three militiamen and an unknown number of British regulars lay dead near the Hartwell property.

#250

Address

Lower Burrell, PA

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when History Photog posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category