December 4th, 2008

Today in History

1864:
At Waynesboro, Georgia, forces under Union General Judson Kilpatrick prevent troops led by Confederate General Joseph Wheeler from interfering with Union General William T. Sherman campaign of destroying a wide swath of the South on his march to the Gulf of Mexico (Union forces did suffer more than three times the casualties as the Confederates, however).

1791:
The first issue of The Observer, the world's first Sunday newspaper, is published.

1978:
Following the murder of Mayor George Moscone, Dianne Feinstein becomes San Francisco, California's first woman mayor (she served until January 8, 1988).

771:
Austrasian King Carloman dies, leaving his brother Charlemagne king of the now complete Frank kingdom.

1921:
The Virginia Rappe manslaughter trial against actor and film director Roscoe Arbuckle ends in a hung jury.