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February Twenty-Second

First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in the humble and endearing scenes of private life; pious, just, humane, temperate, and sincere; uniform, dignified, and commanding, his example was as edifying to all around him, as were the effects of that example lasting. HENRY LEE

(Father of Robert E. Lee)

George Washington born, 1732

February Twenty-Third

Won in the Name of Virginia; Governor Patrick Henry to Colonel George Rogers

Clark:

"You are to retain the Command of the troops now at the several posts in the county of Illinois and on the Wabash, which fall within the limits of the County now erected and called Illinois County. You are also to take the Command of five other Companies, raised under the act of Assembly which I send herewith, and which if completed, as I hope they will be speedily, will have orders to join you without loss of time, and are likewise to be under your command. The honor and interest of the State are deeply concerned in this."

George Rogers Clark appears before Vincennes, 1779 Battle of Buena Vista; Col. Jefferson Davis wounded, 1847 Mississippi readmitted to the Union, 1870

February Twenty-Fourth

The importance of this brilliant exploit was destined to be far greater than even Clark foresaw, for when the treaty of peace was being negotiated at Paris in 1782, our allies, France and Spain, were both more than willing to sacrifice our interests in order to keep us out of the Mississippi Valley, and the western boundary of the United States would undoubtedly have been fixed at the Alleghanies instead of the Mississippi, but for the fact that this western region was actually occupied by Virginians.

S. C. MITCHELL

The vast Northwest had been thus won by a heroic band of volunteers, led by one of the most dauntless warriors that ever risked life for country.

THOMAS E. WATSON

George Rogers Clark stipulates to Governor Hamilton the terms of surrender of the Northwestern territory, 1779

February Twenty-Fifth

From Inscription on tablet in St. Michael's Church, Charleston, South Carolina.

"As a Statesman

he bequeathed to his country the sentiment, 'Millions for defence

not a cent for tribute.'

999

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney born, 1746

February Twenty-Sirtb

IN THE PETERSBURG TRENCHES Winter poured down its snows and its sleets upon Lee's shelterless men in the trenches. Some of them burrowed into the earth. Most of them shivered over the feeble fires, kept burning along the lines. Scanty and thin were the garments of these heroes. Most of them were clad in mere rags. Gaunt famine oppressed them every hour. One quarter of a pound of bacon and a little meal was the daily portion assigned to each man by the rules of the War Department. But even this allowance failed when the railroads broke down and left the bacon and the flour piled up beside the tracks in Georgia and the Carolinas. One sixth of this daily ration was the allotment for a considerable time, and very often the supply of bacon failed entirely. . . .

HENRY A. WHITE

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