June 18, on this day in history many remarkable things happened. The day after the Battle of Bunker Hill (fought on June 17, 1775), the first major battle in the US revolutionary war, Abigail Adams from her farm near Charleston wrote to her husband John, who was in Philadelphia serving in the Continental Congress.
The book I have and found this info in is The American Patriot's Almanac: Daily Readings on America by William J. Bennett and John T.E. Cribb.
From a hill on their farm Abigail Adams saw the smoke of the battle rising above Charlestown. In her letter to her husband beginning "Dearest Friend", Abigail wrote "The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong, but the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Trust in him at all times ye people, pour out your hearts before him. God is a refuge for us - Charlestown is in ashes."
She further wrote that when their farm is deemed unsafe she will go to retreat at John's brother's home. Brave woman. One reason she wrote this letter is to mourn the death of their dear friend Dr. Joseph Warren who was killed in the battle and to inform John of the death, "Great is our loss. He has distinguished himself in every engagement, by his courage and fortitude, by animating the soldiers and leading them on by his own example."
Other notable events on June 18: In 1873 Suffragist Susan B. Anthony is fined $100 for trying to vote. in the 1872 Presidential election, a fine she refuses to pay.
In 1928 Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly across the Atlantic as a passenger on a flight piloted by Wilmer Stultz. She later became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.
In 1983 Sally Ride became America's first woman in space aboard the space shuttle Challenger.
In 1948 Columbia Records unveils a remarkable new product, a long playing 33 1/3 rpm phonograph record. How many of you had those records? My dad bought me my first one, Blue Hawaii by Elvis Presley, I loved that record, the movie and those songs. My dad bought the album for me as a surprise and told me he was the cool dad and he was. Many people strongly objected to Elvis, he was too sensual for them back in the old days.
