1864: “I’d rather die than be whipped,” cried Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart as he was carried, mortally wounded, from the Battle of Yellow Tavern, but his cavalry corps is tactically whipped by the Union cavalry under Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan and he died in Richmond the next day.
Also today in history, in the U.S. and elsewhere:
1846: President James K. Polk called for and received Congress’ declaration of war against Mexico. Think you know everything about James Polk? Take a short quiz on HistoryNet.com to find out.
1862: Unable to clear a sandbar that was trapping it in the James River northwest of Norfolk, the Confederate casemate ram CSS Virginian was blown up by its crew, which made its way upriver to Drewry’s Bluff.
1960: In Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ricardo Klement was taken into custody by members of the Mossad, who took him to Israel to face a crime trial under his real name: Adolf Eichmann.
Today in history: May 11
